Title: I Still Want that Essay, Jones.
Author: AnotherBlueScript
Rating: T (M rated chapters will be noted as so)
Summary: "Jack, you are his teacher; it is wrong!" "No, John, it is not wrong. I love him. We are both legal, consenting adults so please explain, because I, for the life of me, cannot understand." Jack Harkness, newly employed lecturer, is on his last chance. Young pupil Ianto Jones has always been unlucky in love... When the pair collide what could possibly go wrong?
Warnings: NC-17 in future chapters, language.
The desk was empty and, if he was honest, fairly bleak; however, this was no reflection on the university Jack Harkness found himself in. It had elegant, sleek, curved contemporary buildings that were a perfect match to the eccentric, and equally futuristic, man that ruled them.
John Smith.
A common name for an extraordinary man, Jack though with a distant smile gracing his tanned features. The things I did for him.
Loudly, Jack sighed as he felt suddenly very old, considering the things he had done and the things he had gone through for that man, but still he had an inability to hold a grudge. It would not be fair to do so, he believed.
It felt like a different life he had been leading when gallivanting with John around the galaxies, in reality they'd simply delved in some minor shoplifting. Only for Jack the 'minor shoplifting' had escalated causing him to be- for only a short while- out of even John's control.
A short spell in prison gave him the 'kick up the behind' that he needed and luckily John was forgiving and trusting enough to share his time with Jack. The result of his patience: Jack being advised to engage in civilised teacher training over a course of several years. During the course Jack not only gained successful, trustworthy qualifications to get him back on track but also gained a future from a somewhat different source; after 4 years of knowledge gaining hard work John trusted Jack had proved his worth and felt safe in his friend's choices again.
Despite his offer coming as such a shock, Jack had been immensely grateful when his dearest friend offered a job; Jack was a man of little tolerance and had been despising the mere thought of job searching, yet on the other hand, John's invitation came with a stern warning:
"Jack, if I'm to permit you into my department I must be able to trust that you will be accountable for all your actions, yes? And you'll promise to stay clear of everyone? Believe me Jack, this is your one and only chance. I have worked hard for this university; I am taking a big risk allowing you here so no messing around!"
"I promise John. Best behaviour only, you know me!" Jack said with a cheeky smile, but his eyes indicated that he had not taken the warning in vain.
"Yes," John murmured, "that I do Jack, which is precisely why the warning is required…Oh and Jack? Please, go nowhere near Rose. She's… different."
Jack paused for a moment, acknowledging the twist in his gut. "By that, I presume, you mean she's special?"
"Something like that." John muttered, gazing in thought towards the floor.
After a curt nod and a failed attempt at hiding the hurt he felt towards John's ability to ignore what Jack had been so sure they had, Jack strode from the room, his recently acquired coat swishing behind him.
She'd been awake for at least half an hour when her friend first emerged from his bedroom, his eyes were red and she smiled encouragingly. He opened his arms wide and she crossed the room to settle in his embrace: sometimes Ianto Jones woke and needed a hug. It was a fact.
"Oh Toshiko," he sighed into her hair, "what would I do without you?"
"Why you'd shrivel and die, of course!"
He laughed at her gruesome humour. "I very likely would."
She stretched away from his embrace but did not completely pull out of it and rubbed his side comfortingly, when Ianto gave a loud sigh she knew he was preparing for the day and thus stepped back, giving him a moment to organize his thoughts.
Ianto looked as though about to speak then thought better of it with a shake of his head and allowed Toshiko to open conversation: "Are you sure you want to go back?"
He blew a long breath from his nose and said slowly, "Tosh, I grieve but do not break. I must continue on."
"Alrighty then, I know you Ianto, when the philosophy comes out you've made up your mind."
"It's not philosophy Tosh, it just sounds like it." He smiled, glad that she didn't try to psychoanalyse him like a certain law student Ianto knew…
Tosh gave Ianto a pointed look but didn't say anything more on the subject. Instead she chose to make a coffee.
"Ah-ah!" Ianto tutted. "Only the king makes the coffee around here."
"Ah I bow before you mighty one, please forgive my sins!" she laughed, gladly slithering into the high stools placed around the island in their flats kitchen as it meant the prospect of Ianto Jones's legendary coffee.
Toshiko watched the man sink into his familiar routine and a smile graced her face as she did; it was a positive sight; it meant Ianto was healthy. Lisa Hallet, Ianto's deceased girlfriend, had been 'caught in a terrible blaze' the exact details of which were still not fully understood and the burn in Ianto's heart was only now beginning to dull. Ianto's favourite coffee shop, 'Coffee Mania', was where the couple had met and he had not stepped a foot closer to the café since Lisa's passing than strictly necessary, and going in was no longer suggested- Ianto's pale face and devastating quiet had silenced the likes of even Gwen Cooper.
Toshiko saw the sign that Ianto was drinking and making coffee as a optimistic one, it meant he was coping and this greatly pleased Tosh as she had lived her own dilemma of problems with love. Her fixation with Owen Harper was only number one on a very long list of problems she faced.
Yet Toshiko was a strong woman, and she understood with a grace so pure that she was not hard done by. It is something people like to believe they often feel and understand but Toshiko really did feel and believe it- she had seen what poverty did to her mother and she had seen what a broken heart had done to her best friend, despite his attempts to hide it. She could honestly say she had never experienced anything close to the gut wrenching ache she knew he felt when Lisa died. All she could hope would be for it to never happen again.
"Yan..Toh, okay? Ianto." she said at his pointed look.
"Is it really that hard, Tosh?"
"You call me Tosh!"
"Yeah but 'Yan' is not even in my name, technically it would be 'Ian' so… Iain." She giggled. "Don't you dare call me Iain!"
"I swear never to call you Iain…Yan."
He smiled, "But really, don't Toshiko."
She laughed and he grinned back. It felt amazing to have a structure again, Ianto thought. The holiday had been killing him; he had not a clue what to do with himself. Extreme running had been the only thing he could find that slashed time and, thanks to it, Ianto was in amazing shape.
He grabbed his coffee mug then looked at the clock and grumbled- he wasn't late, but he knew it would be wise to talk to Mr Ellis before their lecture began because the man had taken a dislike to him from the moment they met and Ianto's lack of attendance in the last term was bound to have wound the lecturer up, despite Ianto's valid excuses.
"Tosh, should I speed drink this or take a flask?"
"Ianto Jones rush something? Well I never!"
He laughed, "Flask it is."
He grabbed the cylindrical thermos and expertly poured the liquid, savouring the rich aroma. He grabbed his satchel bag and yelled a speedy goodbye to Tosh before whooshing from the room.
He crossed the bitterly cold grounds to the dark, gleaming and tall building that was home to the history department. Seeing Owen he gave him a nod and smiled when the man yelled, "Tea-Boy!"
Once he reached the 6th floor after a long spiral staircase, Ianto took a moment to admire that he was not out of breath. However, his new found fitness had not improved how dizzy the Welshman became- but lifts closed in on him and a hatred had grown for them; even the silver doors as they opened made him start.
"JONES? Ianto Jones?" Mr Ellis called, his polished shoes clacking on the ground as he stormed down the corridor.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Jones, with me." Ianto followed uncertainly, he was always nervous when alone with a teacher- lecturer or otherwise. "Your incomplete coursework. I expect it due on Thursday the 8th."
"But Sir, I may not have enough time to complete all this along with other coursework… May I have an extension, please Sir? You know I would never ask unless necessary."
He sneered, "I understand history may not be the only think you are studying however it is your main subject. Your titbits on the side are for your free time alone. And as such I do not appreciate the news about your musical lesson."
"Sorry, Sir, my music lesson?"
"Yes, Jones, the one you feel the need to interrupt classes for."
"Sir, I am afraid you must be mistaken." he replied, "Mr Ellis, I-"
"Sir, Jones. We use the word 'Sir' in this establishment."
Ianto almost yelled, "But Sir I do remember one time you mentioned wanting originality to our speech, 'a little flow of the tongue' was the phrase I believe was used?" He stopped at the sight of Ellis's face and continued through tightly gritted teeth. "Sorry Sir, I must have misunderstood; however, I think you have misunderstood as well- I do not do music."
"A new man is here. Harless or something. I was told that a place for your 'lessons' had become available."
"Oh, Sir, that was last year I required lessons."
"Well then, boy. You'd best be running down to Harless and telling him so- he's expecting you, oh, look at that," Ellis said with a wicked grin, "he wanted you around about now."
Ianto growled a little. "Then I must be off, lucky music is in this building. Thank you for the work, Sir."
He fled from the man's sight and pounded down the stairs and along a landing to music where he was met my Miss Jones, the singing teacher.
"Hello there, Ianto! Here to meet our newest teacher? I didn't know you were a music man."
"If I am to be honest, Miss Jones, I'm not. I'm here to tell Mr… Sorry, Ellis- I mean Mr Ellis was not sure of his name."
"Our new teacher? Harkness, but he'll tell you that himself." She laughed. Ianto didn't understand, but he smiled graciously anyway. "He will be in room 506."
"Ah, thanks. I've got to tell him that I'm unavailable for lessons this year- it was a year ago I requested them."
"A lot can change in a year, eh?" Martha Jones replied, not thinking of how true it was for Ianto.
"Yes, yes it can, Miss Jones."
"Oh, Ianto I didn't mean-"
"It's okay, really, I am okay."
Her eyes had softened slightly and now gave the impression of respectful sadness. "Good, keep your spirits up Ianto. You're a truly special lad- I'm not surprised that she loved you."
Ianto smiled, "Not as much as I loved her." He admitted with a heavy heart. "Anyway. Off we go, busy times!"
Martha groaned. "Too busy for my liking Ianto! I'm too young to teach people the same age as me!"
Ianto laughed, "Dr Smith is very good at employing young ones, isn't he?"
"Yeah he is. Donna, sorry, Miss Noble, believes that it is because once we can finally live on Mars he wants us to all be alive to see it!"
Ianto laughed, "He's mad, Miss."
"Yes, Ianto he is. But, as you said: busy times; places to go, people to meet!"
Ianto bid her farewell and headed to 506. Once there he flattened his shirt then knocked on the door.
"Come in!" a confident voice boomed.
Ianto cautiously opened the door and gulped at the sight that met him- not only was the room a complete mess, but the man had been smoking. His open window did nothing to hide the smell.
Ianto choked a low, "Jesus!" escaping from his lips.
"Hey there, you alright, I-anto?"
"It's- It's Yanto- like it's w-with a 'Y'."
"Oh, sorry." He beamed, patting Ianto on the back. "You alright there?"
Ianto blinked a few times, still doubled over and not quite sure who he was talking to. "You understand, Sir, that in Britain it is a criminal offence to smoke in a public place?"
"Yeah I know, sorry about that. Just got a craving."
"To smoke," he paused to gain a breath and begin to rise from his slouched, cough induced position, "for all the tea in C-Chi-China, Sir?"
Ianto's witty response came out as a choke. But, this time it was for completely different reasons.
His blood had rushed south.
The man in front of him took his breath away, he was beautiful, and, oh, Ianto wanted to take him right there.
He cleared his throat and straightened, rising to his fullest height. The man gave him an appraising look and was clearly about to comment when, with a shake of his tanned head, he stopped himself.
Jack's sighed to himself; his retort was hard to swallow down it was so flirtatious, and he struggled with controlling his voice when he did speak. "I..Hello there then, Yaunto."
Shifting slightly Ianto explained. "Yanto. It is 'yan' as if it rhymed with 'man' and 'toe' like on your foot."
"Okay," Jack beamed as he began to form the word, "Ymanteo. But with no 'm' so…Yanto."
"Kinda, less stress on the Yan though."
"Yaanto."
"That was more stress on the 'Yan' rather that less, Sir."
Jack's eyebrows flew to his hairline, "Sir? Am I old or something?"
"No, no, Sir, I mean Mr Harkness."
"Mr Harkness? Mr? That is for those in their early thirties, Yunto."
Ianto exhaled at the man's profound inability to pronounce his name; however, his American accent did nothing to displease Ianto slightly lower down. In fact, Ianto thought, that could get a little uncomfortable: he changed his train of thought from how he wanted to thrust the American against the wall and keep him there until he was moaning Ianto's name, preferably correctly, to how old the man could actually be.
He wasn't in his early thirties and can't have been in his forties because he did not want to be 'Sir' but Ianto did not see him being as old as late thirties and mid-thirties simply did not seem correct. So, he must be in his twenties, Ianto concluded, probably late twenties. Then again, late thirties wasn't that old, so perhaps he was in-between his thirties and forties. Or perhaps he was in mid-thirties? Ianto close to groaned and gave up, the man's beauty either hid his age or floundered it.
"So.." Ianto mumbled, "what do I call you?"
"Jack. That's what I called my lecturers, actually that is not quite true; I didn't call them Jack, obviously, but it was first names." He badly joked.
In truth, Jack had called all his lecturers sir, but the kinkiness of Ianto calling him sir was too much for Jack to bare and first names were the only solution flying to mind. He made a mental note to make sure that other students called him Jack. Then, as things below were spiralling out of control, he swiftly sat down and indicated that Ianto should too.
"Jack." Ianto said bluntly and awkwardly, he knew most teachers names and sometimes used them but straight way, while he still had no clue about this man, felt a little odd. Still, it was better that Mr Ellis's harsh ways. "I no longer.." Ianto began, pausing when he thought of the previous stir in his pants and how he already longed for this man, but permitting sense to strike he continued, "I no longer wish to play the piano."
"Oh." Jack stated, crestfallen. "Well then, do you want to cancel our lessons? I hope it was not the smoking that put you off?"
"No, but Mr Hark- sorry Jack, I would advise you to never do that again and also do boot the fags- they are terribly disgusting, in my opinion." Ianto paused, slightly stunned, and was about to apologise for being so blunt when Jack whole heartedly replied.
"So you don't find them sexy?"
Ianto was at first taken aback, and while he revelled the flirtation it was a very direct approach that he knew should have made him uncomfortable. His reply was on the tip of his tongue when the classroom door was swung open.
"Jack could I-" Mr Smith stilled as he saw Ianto's flustered face, then turned to glare snapping, "Jack!" loudly whilst sparing Ianto a second glance. "Do come to my office now. I mean it Jack. Now!"
Ianto turned his head quickly from the doorway in which Mr Smith had only a moment ago vacated, to Jack, who had a decidedly confused and fearful look on his face. He turned to smile at Ianto, but it was a weak, resigned smiled and his eyes told a story of an awaited and accepted fate.
"Well then, Yaunto, it was lovely meeting you but I am afraid we have to part." Jack said feeling far more saddened by the fact than he let on.
"Yes, Si-Jack. Good luck with Mr Smith."
"Yes, yes. Thank you." He acknowledged as he stepped out the door and began to run after the man. He was unsure what could be wrong; focussing on anything was hard due to the lust filling his brain. A more beautiful man Jack had never seen before, that was for sure. He had to keep Ianto Jones learning piano… That was if he was keeping his job, of course.
At that thought, Jack ran a little faster.
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