part 11 - "Ianto" ficlet series

Title: Ianto’s morning after the night before.
Author: __justaday
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All BBC property. Only playing.
Summary: Ianto is confused about what happened last night.
Spoilers: Takes place just after 1x06 Countrycide, and mentions a little of 1x03 Cyberwoman.

As much as I have tried to make every fic a stand alone in an overall story arc, you really need to read part 10 to get a better understanding for this one. Apologies!



Ianto woke before Jack did. He slipped out of his bed quietly, picked up his discarded trousers from last night and carefully shut the bedroom door behind him.

So many thoughts were racing through his mind as to what happened last night. What it meant, did it mean anything, if at all? Was it a one off? So many different scenarios of what would happen next played out in his imagination, but they usually ended up with him being thrown out of Torchwood.

He looked at the clock on his mantelpiece; it ticked 9.24am. They had the morning off thanks to the rift monitor that Jack had, which very gratefully hadn’t blipped all weekend. He curled up on his couch, with his knees tucked up tight to his chest and pressed the button on the remote control. Jeremy Kyle flickered to life on the screen – ‘My teenage daughter is pregnant – who’s the father?’. “Bloody hell” he muttered under his breath as he seen the states that was appearing on the show. He flicked through the rest of the channels, and found the news. More news on Iraq, more suicide bombs, another few teenage murders around London. “So much love in the world these days” he sighed and switched off the TV. In his dismay, Ianto got up from the couch and did what he usually did in times like these; headed for his coffee machine before taking the morning shower.

*****

Jack opened his eyes to an empty bed. He sighed, and slapped his palm to his forehead, and pulled it down his face rubbing his eyes in the process. He threw back Ianto’s bed covers and swung his legs out of the bed. He padded across Ianto’s flat in his bare feet, tentatively looking round the doors for Ianto. As he walked towards the bathroom he heard Ianto’s shower hitting the floor of the bath. He paused before walking to the kitchen to put the kettle on listening to the splash of the water hitting the bath as it fell from Ianto’s body. Ianto’s naked body. What had happened last night? If he didn’t know, Ianto sure as hell wouldn’t know. He had taken care of Ianto in arguably the most damaging way possible. He sighed and left the hall to go to the kitchen.

As he was putting the tea bags in the pot, he noticed one of Ianto’s mugs on the shelf. He smiled at the words written on the side; “You don’t have to be mad to work here but it helps”. It was faded, and had a chip on the rim, and dark stains on the inside. It had been used a lot.

*****

As the water pounded onto his back, Ianto’s thoughts again turned to what had happened the night before. Was last night Jack just being Jack? Or was it something different? He had said tonight was for him. It wasn’t about Jack, just Ianto.

He didn’t know what to feel. He had wanted this, he had old Jack he wanted it. But why was it different now?

Ianto switched off the water, stepped out of the shower and towelled himself off. He fitted it round his waist, and stepped out into the hall.

“Tea’s brewing.” Ianto was startled and jumped just a little at Jack’s voice.

Jack’s eyebrows raised as his eyes wandered over Ianto’s clean torso, and Ianto’s head bowed, cheeks glowing.

“I, um. Morning.” Jack was looking at him. He could feel his eyes on him and he raised his arms, covering what he could of his bare chest, still feeling shy about the night before.

Jack was leaning lazily against the wall holding a mug, and dressed in his trousers and a t-shirt.

“Em...” Muttered Ianto. What was he meant to do now? Would you like round two Jack? Ianto’s mind was flooded with a hundred different thoughts all over again. What did it mean? Was it a one off? How was he supposed to act with Jack? Was Jack just feeling sorry for him?

“I’ve made a cup of tea for you.” Jack held out the chipped mug. And then the guilt hit Ianto again like a stab in the gut.

“Lisa gave me that mug.” Ianto said shakily, reaching out and taking the faded mug from Jack’s hand. “I’ll just go and get changed.” Despite the bruises on his chest that were still painfully apparent, the guilt hurt him more than his physical wounds.

*****

Once Ianto was back in his room, Jack punched a fist into the palm of his hand. He’d been an idiot. Confusing Ianto about his sexuality just after he’d almost died at the hands of a cannibal especially since he’d just recently lost his long term girlfriend isn’t exactly what the doctor prescribed.

He’d back off. Keep it strictly professional. No mention of what had happened last night, and definitely no more sleeping over on either of their parts. It just made it all the more complicated, for both of them, not just Ianto. He should go, get out of the way so that Ianto could get himself ready for the afternoon’s work.

Jack walked down the hall and shoved his feet into his shoes which were at the side of Ianto’s door, and took the coat off the hanger and slipped it on.

“Ianto” He called. “I’m going back to the Hub, I’ll see you when you get in.”

“Ja-” The door slammed before Ianto could finish Jack’s name.