6.30

As with so many things having to do with Torchwood, or perhaps just them, even first dates didn't go as planned.

Not that it was actually their first time having dinner together, and not that it had anything to do with Torchwood. Yet it seemed the as if the shadow of both hung over them from the start.

The Rift had been quiet the entire afternoon, and Tosh had assured the team it should be just as quiet that night, if not for the next few days. And so everyone had gone home early, even Ianto. If he was going to follow through with Jack's invitation and have an actual date with the man, then he was going to separate it from work as much as he could—at least this first time. Who knew where it would go after that, if anywhere. Probably right back to where it had started, knowing Jack: quick shags in the archives, longer ones in the office. He had no expectations whatsoever, because he knew Jack.

Or he thought he did, anyway.

They were meeting for a late dinner and movie, which was exactly what Jack had proposed several weeks ago, just after he'd returned from his trip with the Doctor. It had seemed to be an impulsive question that Ianto had answered without really thinking about it, flustered by Jack's unanticipated return, John Hart's unwelcome appearance, and the unexpected invitation. Yet apparently Jack had been serious, because he had kept his word, trying to plan their date for the last fortnight.

Unfortunately, after the debacle with John Hart, the Rift had run them ragged every day since. They'd barely had a chance to talk let alone grab a quick take away on their own. And the sex they'd once had just about everywhere in the Hub? Ianto knew he wasn't ready to jump into bed with Jack again, but apparently neither was Jack, and that thought concerned Ianto more than anything: Jack Harkness, asking him on a date but not propositioning him for casual sex? Something had changed.

Ianto knew that Jack had been through a lot while he had been away. He didn't know quite what had happened, except that it had been far longer for Jack than it had for them, and that Jack had suffered a lot because of it. He was a changed man in more ways than Ianto wanted to acknowledge. He didn't say anything, but it made him even more angry at the Doctor, that Jack had waited years for the man, only to go through hell for him. It seemed cruel and unfair, and it was one of many reasons that Ianto could not back out of his spontaneous acceptance of Jack's date: he did not want to add to Jack's pain, not when Jack seemed so sincere.

Ianto went back to his flat, poured himself a drink to calm unexpected nerves, and set about getting ready for their date. He hated thinking of it that way, but that was how Jack had asked him and that's how Jack had referred to it since. And so it was official: a date with the immortal man who also happened to be his boss and one time secret lover.

Only at Torchwood. Sometimes Ianto was fairly certain his life couldn't be any more messed up and any less romantic.

After a quick shower and shave, he pulled on a pair of dark khaki trousers and was debating whether or not to wear a tie with the dress shirt and sports coat he had chosen earlier when there was a sound at the door. Knocking back the rest of his drink, Ianto hurried to answer it, silently cursing the interruption. He was supposed to meet Jack at the restaurant in thirty minutes, and it would take him at least twenty to get there. Yet when he opened the door, he was surprised to find Jack standing in the corridor, looking almost as awkward as he had in the office block two weeks ago.

"You're still here," he said by way of greeting, then offered a genuine smile. "Good."

"I'm still getting ready," Ianto replied, trying not to sound confused. "I thought we were meeting at seven?"

"We are," said Jack with a nod. "But I wanted to do the proper thing and pick you up."

Ianto raised an eyebrow. "Proper and perhaps a bit old fashioned for the 21st century?" he suggested, and Jack gave him the look he had when he pretended to be hurt.

"Proper and romantic. There's no such thing as old-fashioned when it comes to dating. So are you ready, or may I come in and wait?" He leaned forward, glancing around Ianto's flat curiously.

Ianto could have kicked himself for his lack of manners, even with Jack. "Since we're doing this properly, please come in. I'll be done in a minute."

"You look ready," said Jack, following him inside. "You look great. I love the coat."

Ianto rolled his eyes at the compliment; he didn't do compliments, especially unexpected ones from Jack that sounded genuine. He wanted to accept it and preen a little, but it felt too strange. "That's my line."

"Well, you haven't used it in a while, so I figured I could borrow it." Jack winked and began to poke around the flat. "It looks different in here. I like what you've done."

Ianto shrugged in self-conscious response. Yes, he'd done a bit of redecorating while Jack was gone. Before that it had not felt like much of a home, but he hadn't cared given how much time he spent at the Hub. Yet after Jack had disappeared, he'd found himself staring at the blank walls and hating it. Tosh had helped him turn it into more than an empty flat, and it finally felt like his own space. The project had helped them both cope with Jack's disappearance, and they had found his newly decorated flat to be a comforting retreat at times from the insanity that was Torchwood some days (and nights), as well as a reminder that life continued outside the Hub.

There was a soft purr from around his ankles, and Ianto glanced down to see his other nod to domesticity curling around his feet. Jack looked down in surprise as the cat began to wrap herself around his legs as well.

"Apparently she likes you," said Ianto, nodding in surprise and with a touch of relief. "She hasn't stopped hissing at Owen."

"You have a cat," said Jack, as if it were the most amazing thing in the world, and again Ianto shrugged.

"Her name is Branwen." Before Jack could even say anything, Ianto shook his head. "And no, I did not name her. Gwen did. We found an abandoned box of kittens after a retrieval near some railroad tracks. I adopted most of them out through the tourist office once Owen made sure they weren't alien, but for some reason this one would not leave me alone."

"I can understand why," Jack murmured; Ianto ignored him again. "So Gwen convinced you to take her home?" Jack knelt down before Branwen and started scratching her ears, then running his index finger down her nose. The purring increased exponentially, and she quickly flopped onto her back to allow him easy access to her favorite places for petting and rubbing.

"No, Tosh insisted I take her home before Gwen did. And she helped me with the redecorating after she came by to check on us and saw how pathetic it was." He laughed to himself when he remembered Tosh's reaction to his dark, dull flat: she'd immediately begun planning the renovation over dinner and hadn't stopped until it was finished over wine and dessert. Ianto was grateful for everything; Tosh's friendship, a nicer flat to come home to, and a cat to cuddle with had all got him through many difficult nights.

"What else did I miss?" Jack asked, standing up with Branwen nestled snug in his arms as he continued to play with her, teasing her by dangling his fingers out of reach so that she kept reaching up with her paws to grab his hand. "You're not hiding any more domestic secrets, are you?" He sucked in a breath as soon as he realized what he had said, eyes wide with panic. "Gods, Ianto—I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way—"

Ianto rolled his eyes, not the least bit offended by Jack's slip; if anything, it was another sign that Jack had moved past Ianto's betrayal. "I know. And no, that's about all. Bit of redecorating and a cat. No engagement ring, no wedding, nothing like that."

Jack looked contrite as he set Branwen down on the floor. "I never even asked if you were seeing anyone, did I?"

"I wouldn't have accepted your invitation if I was," Ianto pointed out. He suddenly felt uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking and turned back toward his bedroom to finish getting ready before things grew more awkward. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a minute."

"Need help?" Jack called.

"Not when I'm trying to get dressed instead of undressed," Ianto called back over his shoulder, hiding his smirk. He had missed this, the banter with Jack. As uncomfortable as he felt with the idea of a date, he was looking forward to the chance to spend time with Jack outside of work. Which, when he thought about it, was exactly what a date was; Ianto shook his head at his ridiculous line of thinking.

"We could just skip dinner," Jack suggested. He had followed Ianto into the bedroom and was standing at the door to the ensuite as Ianto ran one last comb through his hair. He glanced at his reflection and decided to forgo the tie as too formal, too much like work. He met Jack's eyes in the mirror.

"Nope," he said with a grin. "You said dinner, so we're going to dinner."

"And a movie," Jack added as Ianto brushed past him, ignoring the spark that Jack's touch sent through him. It never failed to amaze him, though now it confused him as well, because Jack had been gone for months, and Ianto had wanted so badly to get over Jack. A part of him still wanted to, but deep down he knew it wouldn't happen, not when such a simple touch still did such things to him.

"And a movie." Ianto grabbed his wallet and keys from the dresser and motioned toward the door of the flat. "After you, before you get any ideas."

"Hey, I've been good, haven't I?" asked Jack as Ianto followed him this time. He made sure Branwen had food and water, gave her a quick pet goodbye, and turned off the lights before heading out the door.

"That's what worries me," Ianto replied, locking the flat behind them. They headed downstairs and out to the car park next to his building. Ianto took one look at the SUV and shook his head. "Company car for private business, Jack? For shame."

"You never know what might come up," Jack said. "It is Cardiff, after all."

"Tosh said the Rift should behave," Ianto replied. "Let's take mine." Without giving Jack a choice, he headed toward his Audi.

"Can I at least drive?" asked Jack. He sounded exceptionally earnest, as if it were important. Ianto shook his head.

"No, you may not. My car, my keys, my hands on the steering wheel."

"But I wanted to pick you up," Jack said, reluctantly climbing into the passenger door.

"Why? We could have met there just as easily, and you wouldn't have had to drive all the way out here."

"I thought it would be more romantic this way," said Jack. Ianto gave him an odd sideways look.

"So where are my flowers?" he asked dryly. Jack grinned.

"On the passenger seat of the SUV, you Welsh prat."

Ianto stopped halfway out of the parking space. "You're joking."

"No, I'm not," Jack replied. "I told you I wanted to be romantic."

Ianto shook his head as if to clear it of confusion before he started driving again. That was the third time Jack had used the 'r' word and Ianto was not sure what to think. "Jack, we don't do romantic. We're not like that."

"Why not?" Jack asked. "I bet you were with Lisa."

"That was different," Ianto protested, though he knew exactly what response that would get.

"Why?"

With a sigh, Ianto steered the car toward the upscale restaurant where Jack had made reservations. "I don't know. It just was. This is different. This is us. We capture aliens, we chase psychotic time travelers, we save the world. We don't do romance," he repeated. Why he was protesting so much, he wasn't sure. But as soon as he said it, he realized he'd made a mistake. He knew Jack, and Jack would now take it as a challenge to disprove Ianto.

"That doesn't mean we can't try," Jack replied, giving him a funny smile that Ianto couldn't quite place. He reached over and took Ianto's hand, holding it all the way to the restaurant. When Ianto parked the car, Jack leaned over and kissed him, long and hard before he motioned Ianto to stay seated, then hurried around the front of the car to open Ianto's door for him.

They headed into the pub, walking close, and Ianto let his mind wander as the hostess led them to their table. It wasn't the first time they'd kissed since Jack had come back, but it had somehow felt different. This was really a date. Jack had come to pick him up, had brought him flowers and opened his door. Jack wanted romance.

This was new, and Ianto wasn't quite sure how to deal with whatever it was. But if he could chase a Weevil down a dark alley, then Ianto could deal with Jack Harkness attempting a bit of romance. Maybe he meant it.

And maybe it would even be romantic.

Author's Note:

Quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable; impulsive and often rashly unpredictable. (from dictionary dot com)

I've covered the post-Cyberwoman, post-Countrycide, post-Something Borrowed, and post-Adrift requirements for Torchwood fanfiction. As a dutiful fan, I now attempt the first date. A short story of 5-6 chapters, it's something that I've had on my computer for a while and would like to finish and share. I decided to post it today in honor of Ianto Jones's birthday, even though it has nothing to do with his birthday.

Rating and title could change. Thank you for reading!