New Ground
TWTWTW
Ianto woke up early on that sunny June morning and decided to shower and go straight into work, not even thinking about eating breakfast or making the first coffee of the day. Parking his car, he walked to the tourist office. Before going in, he admiring the way the sun skimmed over the flat water of Cardiff Bay. Smiling to himself, Ianto unlocked the door and went inside. He looked around at all the unopened boxes, sighed and then checked his watch. 5.17am. He decided there was plenty of time for him to spend half an hour putting out the new brochures, leaflets and timetables; it would save him doing it later, he thought. More time to do the reports and other things on the agenda for today.
Just over 35 minutes later, he entered the Hub through the cog door. Jack's office light was already on.
Ianto swallowed hard, looking at his watch. He wasn't late...Jack was early!
On hearing the cog door opening, Jack went to his door and stood on the steel platform outside his office, arms crossed over his chest, a smile curled his lips.
"Morning, Ianto."
"Good morning." Ianto smiled, looking up. "You're up early, sir." He frowned.
"Mmm, couldn't sleep. Been up quite a while, actually."
"You should have called. I was in the tourist office for over…."
"….half an hour." Finished Jack.
"Sir?"
"CCTV," Jack said, wistfully. "I've been watchin' you."
"I see." Ianto walked further into the Hub. "Why, exactly have you been watching me?"
Jack shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, as if not knowing what to do with them and shrugged. "Why not?"
A smiled pulled at the corners of the young Welshman's mouth. "Why not indeed. Shall I make coffee then, sir?"
"Thought you'd never ask." The hands came out of his pockets and across his chest again.
Ianto made his way to the coffee machine. His eyes opened wide with surprise. "It's a new one!" He touched the machine lovingly. "The latest model!"
Jack started walking down the stairs. "Thought we could use a new one. You repaired the old one, but, I wanted to get you this. Had it installed last night."
"It's a beauty! But how..."
Jack stood behind Ianto. "Certainly is." He shook his head, clearing it. "I called in a favour."
"Thank you." Ianto set about putting cold water in the reservoir and filter paper and coffee in the top. He switched it on and smiled as the water made its way through the metal tubes to the filter paper, gurgling and spluttering as it went. The aroma was instantaneous and exquisite, making Ianto close his eyes and breath it in. "Mmm, delicious." He touched the machine lovingly.
Jack smiled. "Oh, yeah!"
Ianto was oblivious to the look on Jack's face, as he watched his Welsh colleague making coffee.
"So, what woke you up so early this morning?" asked Jack.
Ianto shrugged. "Dunno. It was light. The sun was out. Why not?"
Jack tilted his head slightly to one side and hitched an eyebrow. "Why not indeed."
Ianto poured two cups of coffee, passing one to Jack.
"Thank you. Shall we?" Jack indicated to the stairs leading up to his office.
Ianto smiled and followed his boss.
Once in the office, Jack seated himself behind the desk and Ianto sat in the chair opposite.
"What's on the agenda for today then?"
"Oh, I thought, a few hours in the archives. There's those documents to photocopy for UNIT. Then, an hour or so in the tourist office, before lunch. Which by the way, needs to be paid for by someone other than me!" Ianto sat up straighter in his chair, waiting for a rebuttal.
Jack laughed. "Duly noted."
"Mmm. Don't get me wrong," Ianto began, squirming in his seat. "I don't mind ordering it. Even going to get it. But I've paid for it all this week…."
"I'll spring for it today. How's that?"
"You, sir?"
"Yes, me, sir!"
"Arh…."
"What?"
"I've never seen you pay for anything, that's all."
"Ianto, you wound me!"
"How so, sir?"
"I paid for lunch."
"You did?" Ianto's brow furrowed. "And when was that exactly?"
Jack thought for a moment. "6th of May 1943." Jack chuckled. "I remember it well. The sun was shining, this guy…oh, he was stunning, and we were almost naked, when the waiter walked in on us…."
"Thank you, sir." Interrupted the Welshman. "Too much information, I think."
Jack smiled as Ianto turned a nice shade of pink. "But that was a long time ago, I must admit."
"Long before my time, sir."
A smile formed on Jack's lips. "Quite." Jack sipped his coffee. "Got a date tonight?" he asked, fishing.
Ianto smiled. "When do I have time to meet anyone to take on a date? I'm here for most of the day, and sometimes the evenings." He shook his head.
"Mmm, I suppose you are." Jack took another sip of his coffee "We really ought to get out more."
"We, sir?"
"Yeah. I was thinkin'….dinner. Somewhere nice. A movie or a walk maybe after."
"Are you inviting me out on a date?"
"Yep, I suppose I am." Jack smiled. "You interested?"
Ianto sipped his coffee, then, "Well, er, yes, I might be."
Jack shook his head. "A simple yes or no will do, Ianto."
"Yes-yes, I'm interested." He smiled shyly.
"Good."
Ianto ran a hand through his hair.
"Do I make you feel uneasy?"
"No! No, it's just….I've never been attracted to a man before. It's all new to me, that's all."
Jack just smiled. "Are you attracted to me, Ianto?"
"Y-yes."
Jack stood, pushed his chair back and went to perch on the edge of the desk just in front of Ianto. "Tell me more."
Ianto laughed nervously. "What do you want me to say, sir. Yes, I'm….attracted to you."
"Since when?"
Ianto looked passed Jack at a mark on the brickwork behind the Captain's head. "Since that first night, actually."
"Yeah, me, too." Jack leaned forward, placing a kiss on Ianto's forehead.
"S-so what happens now?" asked the young Welshman.
"Well, I could whisk you off down into my bunker," Jack's eyes strayed to the ladder, a wicked glint in his ice blue eyes. "Or, we could just start off with a date, like normal people."
Ianto smiled. "Yep."
"Good. How about Bellini's tonight, 7.30pm?"
"If my boss lets me off a little earlier, I might just be able to make that." Ianto smiled.
"I'll have a word with him for you."
Ianto bowed his head slightly. "That, would be much appreciated, sir."
Jack watched as the young Welshman finished his coffee, stood and started to walk towards the door.
"Let's keep it smart casual, shall we? No suit required."
Ianto turned, an amused smile on his face. "As you wish, sir." Ianto left.
Both men had smiles on their faces.
TBC