A/N: This is the sequel to my other "Torchwood" fic, "Headcase", if you haven't read it, go and do so now, cause if you don't like it, you certainly won't like this one. While you're there, be sure to leave a review.
TO those of you who HAVE read it: Thanks for reading it! From the way "Headcase" ends, and this fic begins, you could be forgiven for thinking it starts right where the other left off. I'm actually scheduling it at least three months later. Also, I've decided to put in some Welsh, here and there. It will look like this. Unfortunatly, unlike Alex, I don't have Ianto Jones as my personal tutor, and am making do with an internet translator, which is probably crap. I'm putting translations of any welsh that appears at the end of each chapter. So if I get it wrong, someone please correct me!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood, if I did, I'd be able to pronounce the pteradactyl's name. Is it Myfanwy? Everyone seems to think it is, but I've only seen the first season so far, and it hasn't come up.
WARNING: Male/male flirting and mentions of sex stuff! But come on! If I take that out, then I might as well shove this in the "Scooby-Doo" section. Also, multiple OC's. If you don't like them, go away.
Now, on with the show!
ONE: MIRROR, MIRROR
Alex awoke with a jump and a half scream. Sheets pooled in his lap and sweat beaded on his forehead as his head turned wildly in the darkness. His bare chest rose and fell rapidly, in time with his panicked breathing. His skin was a hellish red, thanks to the light cast on him by the alarm clock on the far side of the room.
A formless mass in the sheets began to shift. Alex forced himself to stifle a "manly" scream as his body was encircled by large, strong arms. He relaxed visibly as he realised he wasn't being attacked.
"Mmm," Soft vibrations coursed through his body as the man behind him purred "goomornin." Alex took a moment to translate the mumbling, and laughed.
"Good morning to you too." Alex moaned as large fingers threaded through his long blonde hair and turned his head for a deep, lip bruising, tonsil tickling kiss.
"Mmm," the man above him purred again as they broke apart "you still taste like me."
"Ew!" Alex pulled away sharply. "That, is the least sexy thing you've ever said. I'm using your toothbrush for that."
"I thought it was cute."
"It wasn't." Alex shot back as he swung himself off the bed and made his way into the tiny bathroom. It consisted of a sink, mirror, shower and a small rack with a towel on it. Scattered bottles and various toiletries broke up the monotony of the immaculate porcelain. He stepped into the shower, closing the glass door behind him, and gave the "hot" tap a good, sharp twist. Immediately, needles of warm water beat down on his naked skin, soothing the muscles that had been stretched and strained by yesterday's activities. Some of it had been actual exercise too.
He tried not to think about the dream. He reminded himself that she was dead. It was ironic really. Now that there was no way she could ever harm him, he had become more frightening than she ever had been in life. She would pop into his head at the oddest times, and when he slept…well, the less said, the better. He washed his hair and scrubbed himself as quickly as he could, before turning the water off with a squeak.
He stepped out and grabbed the towel, knotting it around his waist, before moving to the fogged up mirror and removing the condensation with a swipe of his hand across the glass. He screamed and jumped back, slipping and twisting on the puddle that had formed under him. He grabbed the towel rack just in time to stop himself hitting the floor.
"Are you okay?" The sleepy voice drifted over from the other room.
"Yeah," No "I'm fine." I'm insane.
Alex slowly pulled himself up onto his feet and willed himself to turn around and face the mirror. Through the slit of defogged glass, only his bright green eyes stared back. That was new. He wasn't used to seeing her outside those brief times when somebody would do something to trigger some terrible memory. Those were enough of a shock as it was. But, now, to have her cold, grey eyes staring at him, in place of his reflection, was just…well, there weren't words. He pushed the thought out of his mind, brushed his teeth and exited the stark white room as quickly as he could.
He felt the playful gaze on him as he walked in a circle around the bed, gathering his scattered garments into a bundle in his arms before moving over to his "overnight bag", a large black satchel that contained, among other things, a change of clothes. Not that he minded smelling of sex, buthe was sick of getting bitched at. With most of yesterday's outfit tucked under his arm, he rummaged in his bag with the other. Odd. He could have sworn he had made especially sure put them in there to make sure that-
"Looking for these?" A husky voice asked. Alex rolled his eyes and turned to see his blue pinstripe boxers dangling on a hand.
"Jack," He warned "give them back. Now."
"Sorry," Jack pulled his arm back and out of reach as Alex made a move to grab them "no can do. I keep a memento of all my conquests."
"But you've conquered me loads of times," Alex whined deliberately, hoping to score pity points with the hard-eyed, hard-bodied, hard-etc man "that's my last pair! What are you even gonna do with them? It's not like they even fit you."
"What would you know?" Jack asked, pulling back again as Alex lunged for the boxers, pinning him to the bed by placing the other hand on his chest. Alex rolled his eyes. Even from here, he could easily overpower Jack and take them back, but it was fruitless. Last time he had tried, the bastard had broken into his apartment and taken them; if only he knew where Jack stashed them all.
"Fine," Alex snorted, annoyed, as Jack let him up "I guess I'm going commando." He grabbed the jeans poking out of his overnight bag and started pulling them over his legs.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked.
"Getting ready for work."
"You can't go yet," Now it was Jack's turn to whine as Alex buckled his belt "all this rough-housing has got me excited."
"Well, you should've thought of that before I had freezing cold metal in sensitive areas." Alex retorted, voice slightly muffled as he pulled a form-fitting shirt (much better than his old baggy ones, or so he was told) over his head. "As it is, I'm not in the mood. If you want a hummer, do it yourself."
"Okay." Jack retorted grinned like a sexy, naked, dishevelled Cheshire cat as Alex pulled on his socks and shoved his feet into sneakers before swinging the bag onto his shoulder and disappearing up the ladder.
Ianto looked up at the familiar sound of someone descending the metal stairs, echoing and ghostlike in the Hub, which was otherwise empty, except for Toshiko, who had come in half an hour early to check on a new invention of hers, which she had been keeping very quiet about. He looked up from the coffee machine to see Alex, tying his damp hair back as he went. The young man flashed him a wide, innocent smile that would have fooled almost anyone.
"Good morning." Ianto greeted his friend, colleague and casual lover.
"Bore da." The boy replied, jumping the last few steps "How was that?"
"Not bad," Ianto smiled as Alex bent down to grab a can of coke from the bar fridge "soon, we'll be able to pass you off as a native."
"I'm a fast learner," Alex smirked as he popped the tab "given the proper incentive. Speaking of which…"
"It's Wednesday." Ianto cut him off before he could finish.
"So?"
"Wednesday is 'rest day'." Ianto replied "Check the timetable."
"Rest, schmest." Alex waved his hand dismissively, something he often did when he heard something he didn't like "Who needs a rest? I don't need a rest."
Just then, the large circular door turned back with a rumble, and Gwen emerged. She strolled over, smiling gratefully as Ianto passed her a steaming mug off coffee. Alex immediately stood to attention. She took a sip, gave Ianto a conspiratorial wink, and turned to face Alex, fighting to maintain a straight face.
"In the movie 'Clueless'," She enunciated each word slowly and carefully, deliberately dragging out the tension "what did Cher's biological mother die of?"
"Complications during plastic surgery." There was a long, pregnant pause.
"Correct." Gwen drew a lollipop from her jacket pocket and tossed it to Alex, who caught it in his free hand, tearing the wrapper off with his teeth before cramming it in his mouth. Ianto smiled.
Since his joining, late last year, each member of the Torchwood team had taken it upon themselves to help Alex integrate into society, after spending most of his childhood as a prisoner, and his early teens as a drifter. It had been mostly Gwen's idea. Alex was a young, attractive, gay man in the social centre of Cardiff. It was time he looked and acted the part. He had picked up a bit, over the years, but not enough to really pass himself off as an ordinary eighteen year old
Gwen covered pop culture, a topic he found incredibly dull, surprisingly, but it seemed that she, too, had found the 'proper incentive'. Ianto watched as Alex sucked unabashedly on the lollipop, the white stick moving from side to side.
"If you eat much more of those, you're going to rot your teeth." He warned.
"Oo wiff oo were the wowipop." Alex replied, not bothering to take it out of his mouth. Ianto's retort died on his lips as Alex swirled the sweet around his mouth, humming with obscene pleasure, like some sort of porn star. He pulled it free with an audible pop. "Admit it," Alex grinned "you want me."
"I think we've already established that," Ianto deadpanned "Every Monday and Friday, actually."
"But you want me all the time." Alex clarified "And how could you not? I mean look at me: I'm sexier than sexed up sex!"
"Not to mention modest." Ianto rolled his eyes.
Alex was saved from responding by Owen's sudden entry, heralded by his moaning and bitching about what was apparently the worst hangover ever. The way he was carrying on, one would think he'd been tied down and forced to drink God knows how many pints.
"I don't suppose you could make yourself useful and make me a coffee?"
"We're all out." Ianto called back "Gwen got the last of it." Owen looked at Alex expectantly. The boy sighed theatrically.
"Alright, I'll go get the bloody coffee." He moved over to the petty cash jar and grabbed a couple of ten pound notes. "I need more underwear anyway. Anybody else want anything?" It slipped out before he realised it. He slapped his head and groaned as orders were fired at him from every direction. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen.
"Okay people, let's try this again. Slowly."
To Be Continued...
A/N: Don't worry people, it's gonna get better. There's gonna be ACTION!! ROMANCE!! TEARS!! KARAOKE!! This chapter was basically a brief re-introduction to the characters, and how they get along with Alex after he's been hanging around for a while.
Bore da - Good morning.
What, you were expecting something else? Get your minds outta the gutter! And remember, the update machine runs on reviews! The more I get, the faster it goes!