*disclaimer: I have no right to Torchwood, the characters, Celtic Thunder or their music, Willie Nelson, nor the songs "Did you get my Message?" or "Mr. Curiosity" those belong to Jason Mraz, a very talented and wonderful Musician.
*Note:I, my duckies, am American *gasps* I know. So please be kind, I'm trying my best. My only exposure to British slang is BBC America. If you see a mistake, or something that Ianto said that should be different, please let me know and I'll fix it.
*Warning: This will end up being a Janto fic. If you do not like the pairing, or dislike slash in general, leave. I will not tolerate flames for the warnings I give. At this point the most from Jack and Ianto you can expect to get is a hug.
It was yet another late night at Torchwood, and while Tosh and Gwen stumbled out of the door and into the elevator, Ianto looked around, surveying the Hub. Owen was zonked out on the couch and Jack was in his office.
Nodding to himself and waving bye to Tosh, who had run back in after forgetting her purse, Ianto moved over to wake Owen up. The couch wasn't comfortable, and he couldn't let the poor man sleep there all night. He wouldn't be able to move in the morning.
Gently waking the good, if not snarky, Doctor up was a bit of a chore, and after promising Owen a thermos of coffee for the road, or rather the taxi ride home Ianto had called for him, he got the man out the door and safely tucked away into the taxi, paying the driver in advance.
Re-entering the hub, the Welshman set about cleaning up the few odd bits and pieces that had been left out.
When he finished cleaning the Hub, the youngest member at Torchwood Three debated going and popping in on Jack to make sure he was all right up there. Yawning slightly he climbed the stairs, reaching the top in time to see Jack heading off towards the vaults. Ah he was probably just feeding the Weevils.
Writing a quick note to Jack, Ianto was off to head home his own self just as the Rift alarm went off. Stopping Mid-step, Ianto turned around and looked at Jack who had come running to see what the matter was.
"Yan?"
Quickly walking up to Tosh's work station, he brought up the channel and sighed. "More Weevils I'm afraid, sir. Shall I ring the others?"
"No, I'll handle this. You just stay here and man the place, let me know if anything else pops up okay?"
"Yes sir."
And with a flourish of Jack's ever present RAF jacket, the immortal American left, leaving Yan alone for not the first time.
About half an hour went by and Jack had rung in to say that he was having particular trouble with this one, and after all but ordering Ianto to stay where he was, said he'd be back when he could. Yawning widely, he decided that coffee and his iPod were in order to stay awake long enough to make sure Jack didn't get himself killed...again.
Walking into the Kitchenette, Ianto fished for his iPod in his deep pockets, finding it under his keys and wallet. Popping the ear buds into his ears, he switched the machine on and-though he'd never be caught dead doing this with the others around..especially Owen- hopped onto the counter and started to sing along with the music.
Yeah he wasn't the best, but he liked to sing, and it kept him from falling asleep. It wasn't like anyone was there to really complain either, and it wasn't like Janet (Jack's "pet" weevil) or any of the other creatures they had down there could hear him.
If you took a look at his iPod play list it was kind of scary when compared to the man his teammates saw on a daily basis. But then again, Ianto Jones at work was much different that Ianto when he was at play. Everything from Celtic Thunder to the Willie Nelson on there. Though honestly, the American music he could blame on Jack, if it was just the two of them, he'd blast whatever he felt like digging out and put it on. It was annoying at first, but now it was just one of those things that if it didn't happen there was cause for worry.
He had several full albums of all sorts of different artists were on there, and there were multiple albums as well.
After finishing "Heartbreaker" from Celtic Thunder, which always gave him a chuckle to hum around Owen, Jason Mraz came on. Hmm, he didn't remember setting it to shuffle, but he didn't care. Checking the Coffee Machine, Ianto poured himself a cup and wandered out of the kitchenette, humming along to the end of "Did you Get my Message?" and sat down in Tosh's chair, back to the Hub door and started to sing along when "Mr. Curiosity" started.
"Hey Mr. Curiosity
Is it true what they've been saying about you
Well are you killing me?
You took care of the cat already
And for those who think it's heavy
Is it the truth
Or is it only gossip?
"Call it mystery or anything
just as long as you'd call me
I sent the message on did you get it when I left it
See well this catastrophic event
It wasn't meant to mean no harm
But to think there's nothing wrong is a problem
"I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
Love is a mystery
Mr. Curious..."
And it was true, Ianto was looking for love, but love it seemed, just wasn't written in the stars for him.
"Come back to me
Mr. waiting, ever patient can't you see
That I'm the same the way you left me
In a hurry to spell check me
And I'm underlined already in envy green
And pencil red.."
Ianto was so into his singing that he didn't notice Jack pulling up in the SUV on CCTV, nor when he led the Weevil in through the back entrance. Not even when the man had walked back into the Hub, just about to ask Ianto why he hadn't given him a hand.
Eyes closed, his face showing the feelings he never let slip, Ianto was just too far in his own world-this being one of those rare moments that no one ever got to see from him except on those way too rare occasions- to notice that he had a very observant audience of one, and that he was reading the voice and the face.
"And I've forgotten what you've said
Will you stop working for the dead and return
Mr. curious well I need some inspiration
It's my birthday and I cannot find no cause for celebration
The scenario is grave but I'll be braver when you save me
From this situation laden with hearsay
"I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
And love is a mystery
Mr. Curiosity
Be Mr. please
Do come and find me!"
While the part that was out of his rang played, Ianto took a deep breath trying to keep the tears that were filling his eyes behind his lids from spilling over. That would never do, Men don't cry.
"I'm looking for love this time
Sounding hopeful but it's making me cry
And Trying not to ask why
Cause love is a mystery
Mr. curiosity
Be Mr. please
Do come and find me
"Love is blinding when your timing's never right
Oh who am I to beg for difference
Finding love in an instant
But I don't mind
at least I tried, well I tried...I tried..."
Sighing Ianto was startled when someone came up behind him and gently set and hand on his shoulder. Looking up and back he was ready for someone to have snuck in -though he was sure he would have heard them- to find it was only Jack. Only Jack and he was staring at him like he was just seeing him for the first time.
"Sir?" Ianto asked, slipping back into the facade he held onto so tightly at work. Still piercing blue eyes stared at him and he grew increasingly worried that something bad had happened. "Jack? Jack!"
The Welshman got up and gently set a hand on Jack's arm, the other man's hand having slid off his shoulder when he stood.
"Yeah?" he asked, seemingly coming out of that trance.
"Are you all right? Should I ring Owen?"
"No, no Yan. I'm fine. I just never knew you could sing." Ianto for his part turned a very nice shade of red and looked away, pulling his ear buds out and stuffing them and the little music player they were attached to back into his pocket.
"Yes, well, I'm not very good. When did you get back?"
"Some time between 'pencil red' and 'I've forgotten' I think. I've never heard that song before what's it called?"
Ianto blushed redder and looked over Jack's shoulder towards the kitchenette. "I made coffee."
"Okay. What's the song called? It sounds familiar.."
Ianto shrugged and walked towards the kitchenette. "I'm not sure. A mate of mine put it on there and never titled it for larks. I haven't been able to take it off without deleting my entire play list. Just a silly song anyway." He shrugged and Jack could defiantly see Ianto's age at that moment, and sighed. Obviously he wasn't going to talk to Jack.
"All right Yan. You should go home. You deserve it." he informed as he embraced the younger man and headed up.
Ianto was thanking God that Jack never looked back down, otherwise he would have seen him standing there like an idiot frozen in the moment, shocked that Jack had hugged him like that. Yeah he was shagging Jack, or rather Jack was shagging him, but that was just sex. Nothing really intimate-despite the act its self being intimate. They didn't date, Jack never called him 'Yan' in front of the others, and he never, ever said the three little words that everyone wants to hear and know that the speaker meant. Never.
Recovering, Yan grabbed his coat and rushed out of there, into the Tourist office. He paused briefly to lock the door and then hurried to his car and got out of there as soon as he could.
Reaching his flat, Ianto flew up the stairs and through his door, only to slump against it when he locked it. Sliding down to the floor, a single tear spilled over and trailed down his cheek.
He'd been trying his hardest, but Jack just wouldn't get the hint.
Bowing his head Ianto resigned himself to his loneliness and felt the extreme pain in his chest right where his heart was suppose to be. Despite the beating he could easily feel, Ianto Jones was sure that he had just lost his heart for good.