flashfic_hub | Challenge Response: Five Ways Ianto Surprised Jack

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, they were created by RTD.

Title: Five Ways Ianto Surprised Jack

Summary: Pretty self-explanatory. Content ranges from gen to shippy.

Pairing: JackxIanto

Rating: strong R overall for some very heavy petting near the end.

Spoilers and settings by part: One-None. Pre-series. Two-“Cyberwoman”, set somewhere in between “Small Worlds” and “Countrycide”. Three-“Fragments”, set within Ianto’s flashback in “Fragments”. Four-None really, maybe “End of Days”, set after “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang". Five-None, Set sometime before “Cyberwoman.”

“Five Ways Ianto Surprised Jack”

I.

It was Ianto’s second day working at Torchwood 3 and he’d already proved himself more useful than Jack had ever wagered. Not only was Ianto Jones highly skilled at brewing one of the best cups of coffee Jack had ever tasted, his organizational skills were superb. Within a single day, Ianto had completely re-vamped The Hub’s database. It was alphabetized and categorized for quickness and ease of finding record of any case file or encountered alien species. Even Owen had been impressed.

More surprising was the fact that Jack hadn’t even asked him to do the job. Before leaving last night, Ianto had popped into Jack’s office: ‘I noticed the database was completely out of order so I went ahead and re-catalogued it. Hope you don’t mind. Should run much more smoothly now.’

Jack hadn’t minded one bit. He admired anyone who could stomach the little details and boring aspects of any job. Filing, note-taking, any manner of paperwork, Jack avoided like the plague. He liked the idea of someone else being around to pick up his slack.

Jack’s thoughts were interrupted by Ianto’s appearance in the doorway with a tray of coffee mugs. He smiled at him, enjoying the perk of having a handsome young man bring him his morning caffeine fix.

“Lots of cream, two sugars, right?” Ianto inquired.

Jack accepted the mug gratefully and took a careful sip, mindful of how hot it would be. “Ah, perfect, Ianto. I could really get used to this.”

Ianto arched an eyebrow mischievously, “That’s the plan, isn’t it?”

II.

Jack loaded a magazine into the small automatic pistol. Ianto stood by, strangely calm though his eyes were a bit too wide. Guns made Ianto nervous.

Jack would never forget how Ianto’s hand had trembled when he’d leveled it upon them on the night of Lisa’s rampage. While he’d been thankful then, he didn’t want to imagine Ianto fumbling for a sidearm when he really needed it.

“The first thing you need to understand is that guns are just another type of weapon,” Jack explained, “A baseball bat bludgeons, a knife cuts and slashes, a gun shoots a deadly projectile. There’s nothing to be afraid of once you learn how to use it.”

“Right,” Ianto nodded stiffly as he took the gun from Jack after he showed him how to cock it.

Jack frowned as Ianto aimed it at one of the many shooting range’s weevil shaped targets. His grip was one-handed and his arm held a slight tremour. The shot went wild as Jack had suspected it would.

“Shit,” Ianto swore.

“Bring your other arm up to help steady your hand,” Jack urged gently.

“I thought you only had to do that with the higher-caliber guns,” Ianto replied mildly.

Jack raised his eyebrows, impressed. “Sure, but it’ll help you aim with more control until you’re more comfortable with a gun.”

Ianto nodded, adjusted his grip and fired another round. This time it hit a cut-out in the chest, slightly off center from the heart.

“Nice,” Jack praised and earned a rare smile. “Try again.”

Another shot rang out, this time hitting the chest dead center. Jack laughed out loud, surprised and delighted. “Ianto Jones, I do believe you’re a natural.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Ianto lowered the gun and looked at Jack. He had the eyes of a hungry, eager pupil. “Shall we try a higher caliber?”

“Empty that clip,” Jack replied, “If you do well, I’ll consider it.”

III.

Jack woke up early, dressed quickly, and went to look at the CCTV. He went right to the camera feed for the front of the building and grinned at what he discovered.

There he was, pacing anxiously and carrying a thermos. He wore jeans and a comfortable-looking hooded sweatshirt. Jack sighed ruefully, wishing that men had a better sense of style in this day and age. He would have been willing to bet this one would look gorgeous in a suit.

Jack pulled a pocket watch out of his vest’s pocket and checked the time. It was nearly seven; most of the team didn’t roll in until eight or nine. Jack had plenty of time….

He took the invisible lift to the surface and met Ianto Jones in the street, not even pretending that he didn’t know he would be there. “You really shouldn’t be here,” he told him in lieu of a greeting.

Ianto smiled faintly, “I told you I’d be here and I keep my promises, Sir.”

Jack shook his head, “You’re a persistent man, Ianto Jones.”

He held out the thermos as an offering, “I also have excellent computer skills, am highly organized, and fairly proficient with hand-to hand combat.”

“I’ll bet,” Jack drawled, “but there’s still no work for you here. I run a small operation. Sorry.”

“You have three other team members. Surely a forth wouldn’t make that much of a difference.”

“Go home. Take the first train back to London and try to live a normal life. If you’d like I can give you the number of a guy in UNIT for a retcon dose.”

“No,” Ianto insisted, “I can’t go back to civilian life.”

“Then become a civil servant,” Jack suggested.

“You wouldn’t have to train me, Sir,” Ianto insisted. “Think about it: I’ve already seen what comes out of the rift. I have a frame of reference that the others surely lacked upon recruitment.”

Jack sighed deeply. That certainly was a tempting prospect. Yet was it enough? Jack didn’t like the concept of four lives in his hands. It seemed like too many and Ianto was still young, still able to start over….

“Forget it; forget me and forget Torchwood,” Jack spoke in his most authoritarian tone.

Ianto made an exasperated sound, “At least take the bloody coffee.”

Jack rolled his eyes as he took the thermos. “Don’t come back here, Ianto. I mean it.”

As he turned and began to stalk back toward the lift, Ianto called after him. “I miss the coat, Jack!”

Impulsively, Jack turned and grinned at him as he walked backwards. “Don’t you know that a good suit makes a better impression on a potential employer?”

“Would it help that much?” Ianto’s desperation was tempered nicely with a sexy smirk.

“That all depends on how well you wear it,” Jack shot back before turning to climb the steps and vanish behind the lift’s perception filter.

IV.

It was no way to end their first real date. Thunder rolled and rain came down in sheets. They’d left the SUV back at The Hub, opting instead to walk and take the underground trains to where they wanted to be. It had been a brilliant way for Jack to catch up on all he’d missed, encouraging Ianto to talk.

Unfortuantly, now they were stuck in front of the restaurant they’d dined at, huddled under its awning. The nearest train station was a block and a half away, and the late evening traffic was curiously devoid of cabs.

“I can’t believe you didn’t bring an umbrella,” Jack shook his head incredulously.

“Relax,” Ianto soothed him with those charming Welsh vowels, “If it doesn’t let up soon, I’ll call a taxi service.”

“Couldn’t you do that now?” Jack asked, dangerously close to whining.

“Hush, I’m enjoying this,” Ianto murmured softly.

“What?” Jack was annoyed and confused by Ianto’s response. Though it was a character trait Jack was incessantly working on, he still hated it when things didn’t go his way.

“Watch the people going by,” Ianto replied cryptically.

Jack sighed softly and scanned the still bustling pedestrian traffic. Many were just rushing to get out of the rain, but quite a few slowed to check them out. Women smiled and flirtatiously flipped their hair; men boldly looked them up and down.

“They’re all looking at you,” Ianto continued as he leaned in close to him. Jack could smell the lingering scent of his aftershave. “You could have any one of them, Jack, but you’re here with me.”

Jack mused aloud as he shifted his weight slightly so that there was hardly a breath of space between them. “They are just that, Ianto: They. You are you and that’s all that matters to me.”

He neglected to point out that they were looking at Ianto, too. Though he was well enough aware that he was attractive, Ianto had no idea just how extraordinarily handsome he was.

“Meaning?” Ianto arched an eyebrow.

Jack suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and wrapped his arms around Ianto’s waist. He was a bit surprised that Ianto was allowing him to be this forward in public.

“Meaning, as far as I’m concerned you’re the only one worth looking at,” Jack murmured against Ianto’s ear.

Ianto’s blue eyes went wide and smoldered with longing. He fingered the lapel of Jack’s coat and then proceeded to stun Jack senseless by kissing him full on the mouth. Jack was swiftly lost in the taste of him. He’d missed this more than he could possibly articulate. Jack’s tongue coaxed open Ianto’s lips and he deepened the kiss as Ianto groaned softly.

Public displays of affection turned Jack on. He pictured in his mind’s eye how they must look: Handsomely dressed young men, completely into each other, and utterly fearless in this strangely divisive century. Jack wondered how many people were jealously looking on, wishing to be in one or the other’s place or perhaps a fly on the wall once he and Ianto were somewhere they could be alone and far more intimate.

“Bloody hell, will you look at that!” A woman’s voice was loud and rude, referring to their impromptu snogging session.

“Hush, Mum,” Her son’s voice was soft and embarrassed.

“I’ll not ‘hush’. There’s no decency anymore. I don’t care what those queers do in their own rooms but honestly, there are children about!” The old woman continued to complain as she and her son entered the restaurant, her voice fading.

The mood broken and kiss ended, Jack sighed regretfully. He was, however, pleased to notice Ianto looked more indignant than mortified.

“Narrow-minded old bat,” Ianto groused as produced his mobile phone.

“Getting us a cab?”

“Hm,” Ianto grunted with a nod before kissing Jack quick and hard, “Wouldn’t want to offend anyone else, eh?”

Jack frowned, wishing Ianto could live in a world or time where sexuality wasn’t scrutinized and picked apart. It was so strange to Jack that a passerby would criticize them on account of their gender rather than the fact that they’d been shamelessly making out in a public place.

“Don’t worry,” Jack whispered in the ear that wasn’t covered by the phone’s receiver. “She was probably just jealous that no one’s ever kissed her so thoroughly.”

V.

Jack felt like a teen-ager all over again. His heart jack-hammered in his chest, lips ached, and fingers ran through Ianto’s short hair. He’d lost track of time in losing himself in the man that was currently straddling his lap. He gasped for air as Ianto began to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses over his throat.

Jack made a sound that was half chuckle, half moan of pleasure. He stroked the back of Ianto’s head gently, not wanting to push the issue even though he was quite sure that tonight was the night. Months of patience, finally paid off. Jack had never courted someone for so long without bedding them in a timely manner, but Ianto had proved to be a challenge despite his obvious interest. Something about Ianto made Jack sure he was worth the long pursuit. It had been a long damned time since he’d been so intensely attracted to someone within minutes of laying eyes on them.

As Ianto started unbuttoning Jack’s shirt, Jack let his hands wander over Ianto’s body. He explored at a leisurely pace and with clever fingers removed Ianto’s tie, unbuttoned his waistcoat, and untucked his shirt. He touched Ianto under the fine, expensive fabric and felt his muscles tense with arousal.

Ianto made an annoyed sound as he tugged at Jack’s undershirt. “Need to feel you,” he panted. His accent was thicker, rougher with his passion. Never one to deny the desperate request of a handsome man, Jack took a bit of time away from feeling Ianto up in order to shuck his shirts.

Ianto actually moaned at the sight of his bare chest and ran his hands up, then down his torso in clear appreciation. Jack bit his bottom lip; by this point he was hopelessly aroused. He really hoped Ianto didn’t abort like he always did. Jack thought he might internally combust if he had to stop this time, but was pretty sure it wasn’t going to happen. It was clear as day that Ianto was just as turned on as Jack was.

As Ianto returned to his previous task of kissing down Jack’s body, Jack took a chance on his instincts being correct and touched him more boldly than he’d ever dared. He slid one of his hands between Ianto’s thighs and lightly rubbed the hard shape of his erection.

Ianto squirmed as he gasped harshly. Ianto lifted his face to look into Jack’s eyes. His expression was lustful, albeit a touch confused.

“Like that?” Jack asked as he began to massage him with slow, circular strokes.

“Yeah,” Ianto panted as he thrust helplessly into Jack palm. “That’s good. Actually it’s…quite brilliant….”

Jack chuckled as he reached to unbuckle Ianto’s belt, “If you like that, you’re gonna love this.”

Ianto hissed sharply as Jack unbuttoned and unzipped his trousers. Jack’s mouth watered in anticipation. Yet as he put his hand in Ianto’s shorts, Ianto began to push him away.

“Stop,” He breathed, “Jack please.”

Jack looked as him incredulously, “What? Now why?” He didn’t mean to snap, but this was really starting to get ridiculous.

“It feels too good,” Ianto murmured as he began to put his clothes back in order.

“And that’s a bad thing?” Jack asked, softening his tone.

“Yes,” Ianto said firmly before turning to leave Jack’s office. Shocked and disappointed, Jack watched him go.

As he began to gather his clothing up and get dressed, he puzzled over his would-be lover. Jack just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Finis.
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