Title: Eye of the Storm
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None really
Summary: "He closed his eyes and everything was gone – no sounds, no sights, just the beckoning and the tugging."
Disclaimer: The boys don't belong to me, RTD and BBC own 'em
Author's Note: A really short one. My nan died a couple of weeks ago and I needed to exorcise some demons (I've just had really eratic thoughts recently). I turned to my art to sort it out, but things have built up again and I needed to thrash an idea out with the boys. I found it really calming to write and I hope you like it!
Eye of the Storm
Ianto moved to the edge of the wharf and looked out over the bay. It was cold and grey and the rain was lashing at him with the ferocity of a lion. He looked up in the rolling clouds, bruising the horizon. They crackled and glowed with unrepentant lightning, boiling with painful thunder.
He shielded his eyes from the sight and looked down at the waves, a hundred feet below. They writhed and lashed upwards, beckoning and sneering, encouraging and enticing. He looked at the steel grey movement, the harsh, angular lines of the furious water below. He felt a strange tugging deep within him.
He took a step forwards, his toes moving out over the abyss, no more brick work to support them. He could feel himself swaying gently in the battling winds. He closed his eyes and everything was gone – no sounds, no sights, just the beckoning and the irresistible tugging. It would feel so good to just give in, weightless and free from restraint.
He swayed again and in one, blissful moment the wind stopped and everything was clear and calm. He leaned forwards and let himself fall. He fell, faster and harder until his eyes snapped open and he could see the waves rushing to meet him in a painful, exultant embrace.
He didn't have time to take a final breath as he hit the hard, cold surface of the water…
With a yell, Ianto woke up, sitting bolt upright and gripping at the mattress on either side of him. He took hard, deep breaths, eyes wide with fear as he felt the water rushing across him and pouring into his lungs.
"Hey, it's okay." He felt arms around him, holding him securely against a warm, firm body. He gripped tightly at the arms across his shoulders and closed his eyes again. He took deeper breaths, slower and more deliberate, listening to the gentle murmurs of comfort and the feel of both their hearts beating. "It's okay, Ianto – I've got you."
Ianto turned into Jack's embrace, resting his head against the strong shoulder, breathing in again and taking the time to focus on Jack – on everything about him.
Jack pressed a kiss against his forehead and Ianto sighed, letting his eyes drift closed once more. He didn't try to sleep, just listened. The rest of the world was sleeping. It was just him and Jack, curled up in bed in the darkness. A thin sliver of moonlight fell across the floor through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the peace and silence that hung around them.
"What was it about tonight?" Jack asked gently, a hand stroking Ianto's arm gently as the young man curled towards him a little more.
"It was the bay again." Ianto said stiffly, Jack pausing for a moment before tightening his embrace a little.
"It's gone now. Get some sleep, I'll be right here." Jack's voice was warm and calm and Ianto couldn't help but trust him implicitly. He reached up and pulled Jack's face down slightly , kissing him firmly, locking their lips together for a reassuring, gentle moment.
With a softsigh, Ianto broke away and tucked his head under Jack's chin again, letting himself drift to sleep again, knowing Jack was there to keep him safe – even if only for the next few hours.
It was all he could really ask for in a life with Torchwood.