DISCLAIMER: Don't own, highly doubt I ever will – the characters. Except the ones based on the peeps I know. It should be clear who those are – but, just in case, you'll need to know that I don't work for Torchwood. At least not Torchwood Three.
Metal and Wood. Two things so unalike, yet so grounding. All the surfaces in the kitchen gleaming. The knives stuck in the wooden knife block. The aluminum kettle, canisters and even toaster showing his reflection as he moved around the small room.
It had been a long day and Ianto wanted nothing more than to have a cup of tea, a light snack and take the hottest shower he could stand before falling into his bed. But there had been Erin, the one bright spot in his day. He smiled thinking about her. Today wasn't the first day they had come across one another, oh no, they saw each other a lot. She worked at the bookstore-coffee bar Ianto would sneak out to during lunch most days. Because of her.
Over the course of the last three months, he had learned that she was American – that much was clear from the moment she had asked him if she could help him. American, like Jack, but not quite. He winced a little at the thought of Jack. But that was behind him now, wasn't it? He brushed the thought away with another of this wonderful woman.
She had moved to Cardiff half a year ago, wanting something more. In the States, she was a certified CSI, but once she had gotten here, she found the job she was in now more rewarding. Besides, she and her roommates were trying to get their own capital together to open their own bookstore. He remembered her telling him that she regarded this as research. And then she had flipped her hair. Her beautiful, long, dark hair. Hair that smelled like citrus. But that was beside the point. She was sweet and that made him forget Jack. He needed to forget Jack. Especially since Jack himself had moved on. But again, Ianto pushed the thought from his mind and went to hang his coat.
Pulling a hanger from the closet, he thought. He thought that he was thinking too much, actually. Too much time on his hands now that Jack wasn't hanging around bugging him to watch a movie. Bugging him to go to dinner. Generally bugging him, come to think of it. He was sure then that Erin was not like that at all. She looked more the type to let Ianto decide. She laughed at all his jokes, and admitted to him, shyly, that she was learning Welsh and could do with a few lessons if he had the time. And then she had given him a wink. And her phone number on the napkin of the scone he had purchased. He still hadn't gotten the nerve to call her, even though that had been a week ago.
He looked at the clock. It was early. He had pulled an all-nighter with the crew – investigating yet another Weevil uprising. Sodding Weevils. How he hated them with ever fiber of his being. Almost as much as Jack. The bitterness crept up again and Ianto glanced at the clock again before going to take a shower. Only two minutes had passed. He found himself wondering if Erin was at work yet. Or was this her day off? He found he wasn't sure, but went to take a shower, deciding to skip the tea and just go out and get it. Wasn't it always better when someone else made it, anyway?
He went into his bedroom and looked around. More wood – the bureau, the ornately carved headboard, the armoire – greeted him. On his bureau was a little silver change tray and a couple sets of gleaming cufflinks. He set the contents of his pockets beside them and started the shower.
His clothes went into the hamper – he hated an unnecessary mess – and, moving his towel from the towel bar to the shower bar, he got in and let the hot water run over him.
He smelled like the Hub, all musty and damp. Not the best smell in the world, and he made a mental note to see if it was beginning to seep into his suits. He soaped up and rinsed off, making sure to wash his hair as well, before finally turning off the spray.
He stepped out and dried, inspecting himself in the mirror for stubble before deciding that he could easily go another day. Since he and Jack had split, there was really no need to spiff himself up everyday. He could go back to his old habit of slacking off for a bit. And, he had to admit, it felt good.
Ianto walked back into the bedroom and opened the armoire, amazed that it was such a bleak selection. He had been wearing the suits for so long that he had all but phased out the other clothes he used to wear. Oh, there were the odd tees that he kept to pair with his pajama bottoms, but that was it. He searched for a bit more before remembering that he had stashed a pair of jeans in the armoire's bottom drawer the last time he had arranged. They would have to do until he could get something else.
He pulled them out and set them on the bed. Back to the bureau for a tee that was presentable enough. He settled on one that had Abercrombie and Fitch written on the chest. He definitely would need to do some shopping if he was going to start going casual. Brushing his teeth, he wondered why he was doing this at all. He should be getting sleep, not knowing if Jack would call him again tonight. But he wasn't, was he? He was getting ready to go to see if Erin was working. No, that was wrong. He was going out to get tea – because it tasted better when somebody else made it. That's right, he told himself.
He found a pair of jogging shoes near the door – left over from one of those spurts when he thought he could stand to get in shape. Slipping them on without socks was hard, but he managed. And added another item to his list. He reached in the closet where he had put his jacket earlier for the other one hanging and bumped the top shelf enough to cause things to fall out on top of him. He was picking them up and putting them back when he saw the ball cap. Shrugging, he put in on his head and continued to pick up before taking the coat. He pocketed his keys and went out the door, smiling.
Okay - so - trying something new here. Have the parts of this written and will be posting one a day. Let me know what you think. Oh yeah, and I am going to finish my other stuff once I get this out. I am also waiting to see what happens to the Doctor - so far, I have lost all the nails on my left hand watching and re-watching last weeks eppy.
