Ice-Cream

This is my first Torchwood fanfic. It was originally going to be a one-shot, but I decided to write a sequel to it which will be posted soon as a second chapter. I own nothing, everything is Russel's :(

As far as days at Torchwood went, it had been surprisingly quiet. According to Tosh, there had been no rift activity outside of normal parameters. As there was nothing for her to do, she had left for "home". Home, of course, meaning out with Owen, not that either of them would ever admit it. Gwen had also left to spend her evening with Rhys, "Spag Bol," she had said. That left Jack and Ianto alone.

"Jack?" Ianto called.

"Yeah?"

"You hungry?" Ianto appeared in the doorway of jack's office.

"I guess I am, why?" Jack was curious as to what the Welshman was planning.

"Just wondered if you fancied and ice-cream."

"I'd Love one. Shall I get my coat?" Jack stood and started to walk toward his coat stand where his period military coat hung.

"Well, according to Sian Lloyd's weather forecast it's a bit breezy outside, so I would. Wouldn't want the infamous captain catching a cold now would we?" Ianto spoke with his usually dead pan tone when making such a remark. Jack felt a smile creep onto his face.

They left the hub, via 'the scenic route' as jack liked to call it. Really, it was just a glorified lift with an inbuilt chameleon circuit which somehow was calibrated similar to the perception filter that the TARDIS had. No matter how many times Ianto had left the Hub this was, it still made him feel uneasy. He felt a gentle arm wrap around his waist, pulling him closer to Jack in reassurance.

"You really don't like getting out this way do you?"

"I just don't see what's wrong with leaving the good old fashioned way, you know, through a door." They both smiled at each other then looked away.

They felt the 'breeze' that Sian Lloyd had somehow predicted correctly as they reached the surface. Since when did weather forecasters ever get it right? Must be alien technology.

They stepped off the kerb and began to walk side by side. Jack in his usual slacks and shirt, topped of by his greatcoat and Ianto donned another of his immaculately kept signature suits. Ianto gently bumped into Jack a few times until the Captain had had enough and grasped Ianto's hand in his. Their fingers softly interlaced and entwined, palm to palm.

As clichéd as it may have been Ianto's hand fit Jack's perfectly. Another irrefutable sign that the pair were supposed to be together. Jack felt himself drifting into memories, memories of the others whose hands had fit his perfectly. It then dawned on him, he needed to live for now, love the people who loved him and not push them away just because what might happen in the future which would be his past, wow, now he was confused. It clicked though, that he should let Ianto love him, and love Ianto in return.

"Jack?" The captain had been quiet for near on five minutes and he'd had a distant look on his face, "You alright?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sorry, I was just thinking."

Ianto knew not to pry, but gave Jack's hand a gentle squeeze.

As the pair walked along the Plass they reached a small ice-cream parlour. Ianto still tightly clutching Jack's hand, almost afraid to let him go, lead him inside the small shop.

"Ah, Ianto. Right on time." The man behind the counter greeted him with a warm smile.

"When am I never on time, Mark?" The two friends laughed.

Mark left his place behind the counter and gestured for the two men to follow him. "I guess you'll want the usual table."

Ianto nodded and lead Jack to a small table in the corner of the room, next to the window. That sat down opposite each other and Jack gave Ianto a quizzical look, Ianto's face remained unreadable.

"I'll just go and get them," Mark said, then walked away with a smile on his face.

Mark reappeared from the front of the shop carrying two bowls. The one that was put down in front of Ianto was filled with chocolate ice-cream, topped with a wafer. Simple and uncomplicated. Jack's, on the other hand, was an array of different colours, flavours and textures. Far from simple, and highly complex.

Jack raised an eyebrow and a warm smile was reflected back, and he went back to eating without question.

In those few minutes that they had been sitting and eating ice-cream, Ianto realised that was why he loved the Captain, undoing one part of the puzzle created many harder ones and he could live with that, For Jack was one puzzle he was determined to solve.

As Mark watched the interaction between the pair, he could tell that there was something about them. He loved this planet, the interaction, the emotion and the complexity of those who inhabited this tiny rock, and if it was up to him, he wouldn't ever leave.

Any mistakes you find are mine :D Reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for reading, RasberrySmile.