A/N: This is my first Torchwood fic. Any sort of reviews are welcome, but I especially appreciate constructive criticism.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Torchwood, and I am in no way implying that these are actual Torchwood events. That's why it's called fanFICTION.
Ianto couldn't sleep. Had he really said yes? Or had it all been a dream? Had they really been that close? No, surely not. But it had all seemed so real. Even though Ianto's parents had always told him he had a very vivid and active imagination, Ianto knew that there was no way that he could have imagined that wonderful smell.
He looked at his alarm clock. 2:15 am. Hadn't the Captain said first thing in the morning? Even if he hadn't, Ianto technically was an employee now.
Let's see them abandon one of their own, Ianto thought.
Ianto stood up and padded softly across his bedroom. He pulled aside the thick drapes covering the window. It was still dark, of course. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting to see outside because there was nothing but the normal nighttime view from his flat, but the moment allowed him the time to give the decision one last thought. As if he'd needed it.
Ianto picked out his favorite jeans, the ones that made his arse look the best, and laced up his trainers. His t-shirt was white and sort of tight; it went well with his jeans. After one look in the mirror, Ianto grabbed a black blazer from his coat rack, and was out into the wee dark hours of the morning.
Images of the Captain drifted into his mind as he walked. Cold air invaded his nose, bringing his attention to the crisp sensation and away from the Captain. Ianto was glad he had decided to wear his jacket. Each time he breathed the cold air seemed to chase the images from his mind. It became a cycle. Jack, cold, Jack, cold. From what he remembered, the Captain was nothing close to being cold.
Ianto's mind was someplace else, but his feet knew just the route to take, just the place to stop. Before he knew it, he was descending quietly into the sidewalk and into a world he had longed to see since the first time he had seen those blue coattails disappearing around a corner.
He took a deep breath once the lift had stopped and settled slightly. The sight before him was not what he had expected in the least. The Captain was crouched next to the creature that Ianto had revealed to him only hours before. He was whispering nonsense to it and stroking its long nose softly. The winged animal was shifting its wings a little, but otherwise seemed completely at ease.
Ianto took a couple steps away from the lift before quietly clearing his throat. The Captain turned. A smile broke onto both of their faces, and as the Captain stood and moved toward Ianto, the creature suddenly took flight. Neither man noticed, really.
"Early. Great characteristic in a man," Jack said with a smile. "Sometimes."
"Sir, it is first thing in the morning," Ianto replied. He was relieved that he had yet to be tossed back out onto the street. He looked up, aware that the flying animal had let out a loud, ear-shattering screech.
"She's glad to be out of that warehouse," Jack said. "She's a lot happier here. More room to fly."
"She?" Ianto said.
"When you've been around for as long as I have, son," Jack chuckled, "it's easy to see subtle, distinguishing characteristics."
Ianto took another step forward, closing the gap between the two men. It occurred to him to change the subject quickly, before he was drawn too far into the man's wiles. He held out his hand.
"Ianto Jones, sir. Reporting for day one of duty."
Jack laughed and shook his hand. "Captain Jack Harkness. You can start by making me some coffee. Pot's over there." Jack pointed off to the right. "I'll be in my office." He walked off toward what Ianto guessed must be his office, and Ianto couldn't help but watch his retreating figure. Without thinking, Ianto said, "You look ... better without your coat, sir." Jack laughed without turning back, and enjoyed the images of his new employee which were floating lazily through his mind.
A soft knock sounded from toward the doorway in Jack's office. Ianto was standing just past the threshold and Jack nodded his approval for the man to come in. He set a coffee mug in front of Jack, who mumbled a 'thank you' and sat in the chair opposite Jack's. He looked around him. Everything here just reeked of the Captain. His jacket, the one Ianto had always seen him wearing, was hanging on a coat rack in the opposite corner. Ianto got a sudden image of himself clutching the large military coat to his chest and breathing deeply. He imagined he could get lost in that smell, in that man.
"I think you'll enjoy working here," Jack said, breaking Ianto's reverie. He moved to sit on the corner of his desk, across from the other man, and sipped lightly on his coffee.
"Oh, I'm quite sure I will, sir," Ianto said distractedly. All of his senses were being slowly overwhelmed by Jack. Ianto knew he wouldn't last long; he knew what was coming.
In one smooth movement, Ianto stood, positioning himself between Jack's legs, and captured the man's mouth in a kiss. Ianto's heart was racing. Jack, it seemed, had been expecting something like this to happen all along. He smiled against Ianto's mouth and returned the fervor evident in Ianto's eager kiss. Jack sat his coffee mug down on the desk beside him before snaking his arms around Ianto's waist. Ianto let loose a little sound, something that could be mistaken for a beg, and bit Jack's lip and slipped a little bit of his tongue in, praying that Jack would comply and give a little of himself to this experience.
Ianto stopped suddenly. Eyes locked with Jack's and lips only a breadth apart, Ianto panted, "So wrong. I've got a Lisa.. girlfriend."
"Oh?" Jack said. "Let's have her over for tea tomorrow night, then. The more the merrier."
The smile on Jack's face melted any thoughts of Lisa left in Ianto's mind. "Uh huh," Ianto managed to say before he and Jack were once more engaged in themselves.
Jack maneuvered them both so that Ianto was now sitting on the desk, which he cleared off with one fell swoop of his arm, sending even the mug to the floor with a crash. He had Ianto right there, on his desk, in the few hours before the rest of the team would arrive.
But, when the team finally started to trickle in, Ianto and Jack were nowhere to be found, for they had retired to Jack's quarters, behind his office, and were caught up in a nice cuddle and a lie in. There were no thoughts of Lisa in Ianto's mind while he slept, only of the man beside him, and he was very happy for that.