Rain
A Torchwood Fanfic
It was raining the night Ianto had first met Lisa. They had been at a pub with some friends from work. And when someone had bought a round of drinks, they had reached for the same glass. Their eyes had locked.
Ianto had walked her to her flat. He had held her bright red umbrella to shield her from the rain.
It had rained on their first date, as well. And on the second. It had rained the night they had first slept together, and on the night Ianto had moved in with her. And always, Ianto had held the umbrella.
The night she had died, when his teammates had taken her life because he could not do it himself, Ianto had walked home in the rain. It was one of the kind that begins a light drizzle after midnight, and steadily becomes a harsh rain as the night progresses.
Once at his flat, he stood. Staring at the key in his hand. Unable to make himself open the door. So he just stood.
And stood.
And stood.
Until the rain no longer hit him. And he looked up to see a black umbrella.
"Why are you standing in the rain?" His Captain had asked.
Ianto shook his head. Jack had taken the key from him, open the door and tried to usher him inside.
But Ianto wouldn't budge. He remained rooted to his doorstep. He felt the chill sinking into his bones. Rainwater dripping past the collar of his shirt, leaving trails down his back.
"Ianto…"
And he had turned to his Captain, then. And before he realized it, he was sobbing. Soaking the front of Jack's coat, the one Ianto had loved so much.
Jack had just held the umbrella steady, shielding him from the rain. And held him as Ianto had cried away his mistakes, the harsh words, the secrets, the lies, the hate, the anger, the despair. And he just let Jack soak it into his coat.
The following Monday, the rain had begun again. After everyone else had left for home, Ianto had stayed. And stayed, until he could no longer avoid going home.
"Want me to walk you?" Ianto had looked up to see Jack, umbrella ready.
Ignoring the existence of the SUV, they had walked. And Jack had held the umbrella, shielding him from the rain.
Disclaimer: Torchwood is the property of Russell T. Davies.