This is just the short opening chapter of a fluffy,angsty fic that I'm writing. I don't think updates will be as quick sadly but hopefully it will be a good story. This is very short-sorry-but I needed to leave it there as the next chapter is going to be quite long.
"Hey." Jack bounded across the Hub floor to join Ianto. "You going?"
"No, Jack." Ianto sighed heavily. "I'm going to do some paperwork."
"Oh…" Jack looked disappointed, a fact which made Ianto hurt inside.
"It's just that, you know, we haven't, like, worked together for some time now. I gotta lot of 'paperwork' I need your help with…" Jack trailed off. Ianto sighed slightly, trying to force himself not to give in.
"I have a lot of paperwork I need to do Jack. Sorry." He apologised and started to back away slowly. All the time keeping back tears.
"You okay, Yan? You've been acting kinda funny lately."
"I'm fine…just, you know, enjoying the break from aliens. Weird, isn't it? Like the Hub's given us some time out."
"Yeah." Jack didn't sound convinced. He looked as if he was about to say something but a call from Gwen stopped him.
"Well. Later then?"
"Maybe later." Ianto said, trying not to sound too interested. Jack frowned but headed off towards the others, leaving Ianto on his own.
"Owen, can I have a word?"
"Sure." The medic followed his boss into his office. "What's up, Doc?"
"You're the doctor." Jack didn't even smile.
"Well, that one went down like a lead balloon. Oh, and probably killed a few people while it was at it…" Owen watched Jack's face closely. Nope, no amusement. Something was up. He wasn't even insulting Owen's jokes…
"Yeah. Whatever. I need you to watch Ianto." It seemed painful for Jack to say it…probably because he wasn't used to needing other people. Not in this sort of thing…
"Why?" Owen asked after going through a few things in his mind quickly.
"You can give me your professional opinion. I think something's up. I need to know what-but don't let Ianto know, okay? Just in case."
"Just in case it's not Ianto." Owen stated what had gone unsaid thoughtfully. "You think that's it? An alien?"
"No. I think something's the matter. But I could be wrong. Ianto…he doesn't seem himself round me anymore. You, now…he trusts you." Owen laughed.
"He hates my guts!"
"You know you're friends really. He knows you have to be a bastard in order for you to cover up your pain."
"Don't know what you're talking about."
"He has his quirks too."
'His suits, right?' Owen almost said. 'The way he hides behind his clothes, his butler duties, that kind of thing, to cover up his pain? The grief you don't even know he hides? Watch him for once, Jack, really watch, the way I do and you'll see…'
Instead he said, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Jack smiled. "Secret, though, okay?"
"Sure, sure."
Actually, Owen had noticed the change as well. Ianto had been 'off', not acting differently…just…being differently. It wasn't anything you'd notice unless you were really watching. It was the expression in his eyes, the fire that had gone out. The pain that was now visible, that even his suits couldn't hide anymore.
Owen had made up his mind to figure this out anyway. His only problem was that Jack might notice something…
Well. Problem sorted.
He'd start the next day…talk to Ianto, be subtle at first, try and see what subjects hurt him to talk about.
He would help his friend get better from whatever was hurting him.
Some subtle hints of Owen lusting after Ianto there...I'm not sure if this will turn into Jack/Ianto-which I love-or Owen/Ianto-which I'd like to experiment with. Please review!
