John murmured in his sleep. It was one of those hazy moments just before you wake up. The ones where you could go back to sleep if you really felt like it or, if there was something to look forward to, you could jump up ready to go.
"I know you're up John."
The man sighed heavily. He looked up at the Captain. "Just have to ruin a lovely moment don't you?"
Jack rolled his eyes.
John looked around a bit. "As lovely as it is to wake up in your arms again Jackie, I feel as though there was another party involved last night."
The other Time Agent nodded. "That is part of the reason I woke you up. You remember how rough we were?"
John sat bolt upright. "Is he okay?" He asked immediately.
Jack laughed a bit. "You know, you actually almost sound concerned."
The other man scowled.
"He's fine. He's fine." Jack soothed. "But we did do him pretty hard, yeah?"
"Of course." John scoffed. "I barely would have been able to move after one. I can't imagine he's feeling very good. Did you throw him in the tub or something?"
The door suddenly swung open.
"Come on. Come on, you two." Ianto chided as he bustled in. "It isn't a weekend nor a holiday. Jack you especially. Get up and get going."
John's mouth fell open completely. He eyed the Welshman with shock. Ianto simply pulled a suit coat out from the closet and on to his shoulders. Ianto looked back at the bed and his eyes immediately pinned themselves to the injuries across both of the men's necks. He shook his head.
"John, my shower is right through there." He pointed. "Jack, you know where the guest shower is. Up you get the both of you."
The two people tracked the Archivist's motion until he was out the door.
Jack clapped his hands. "And there you have it."
The other naked man's mouth finally closed. "He… Eyes Candy just…. How did he…." He sputtered.
"Isn't that the mystery?" The captain smirked.
"He's walking around like he slept by himself!" John huffed.
Jack rolled his shoulders easily and his neck twanged at the tiny pain in the bruise left there.
John frowned. "Now how come that didn't heal right up?" He poked at it. "You've got that super special power don't you?"
The other just rolled his shoulders. "I guess I don't feel the need for them to heal right away. They take a bit longer. Plus," Jack grinned a bit, "Ianto gets a bit motherhen-ish at the sight of an injury he inflicted. You'll get even better treatment, seeing as mine can be hidden. Your precious hickeys will be on display all day."
"I like the sound of it."
"You should. You'll get your coffee first, first choice of lunch, all the best." Jack twisted sideway and slid his legs out of the bed. He yawned and stretched. "Hop up or you'll get an earful of Welsh."
John groaned and rolled slowly off the bed. The Captain stood up while John watched.
"Still like what you see?" The man grinned.
The other nodded and hauled himself out from under the blankets. "Which way is this shower?"
Jack pointed. "Through that door."
"Mm." John hummed bobbing his head as he passed. "Last one back, Jackie!" He grinned.
The Torchwood leader just yawned as if he could have cared less if he was the last person on earth to take a shower. Jack meandered out into the hallway in his all-together. John shrugged and walked into Ianto's master bathroom. His eyes flicked around quickly. The place was just as neat and clean as the rest of the place.
"Lovely, Eye Candy." He commented.
A noise caught his attention. John stepped back and peered through the doorway. Speak of the devil, Ianto had come back in and was stripping the bed of its sheets. He moved about with deft, practiced movements. The archivist was all dressed minus his shoes.
"Everything alright?" The Welsh voice lifted him from his reverie.
John tapped his own face trying to wake up. "Perfect."
Ianto turned to him. "There is a bottle of styling gel that had a similar smell to what you were wearing previously on the counter. Anything else in the bathroom is, of course, fair game. Be my guest. Breakfast will be ready in half an hour. Then we do actually need to be going."
The Time Agent ran a hand through his mussed up hair. "This is Fifty-first century stuff. Or it was."
"Give me a chance here." The archivist tilted his head. "Try what I found."
"I can give you something more than a chance." John grinned suggestively.
The Welshman gave him a blank look. "Go shower." He walked out with the sheets thrown over his shoulder.
"Hey, Eye Candy," John called after him, "Where did my bloody clothes go?"
"Shower first!" Was the only response he received.
Down the hall the sound of another shower already running met his ears. That plus Ianto's soft, almost silent humming made for a sickeningly sweet homey sound. John frowned. It actually wasn't quite as sickening as it was almost comforting. It had been a long time since he stayed anywhere but cheap intergalactic hotels. Cheap by his standard at least. All the false sense of comfort and fake luxury. This felt. Real.
John shook his head of the thought before it could go any further. "Alright, shower."
The Time Agent gazed blankly at the knobs. There were three of them! Three stupid knobs! Which one did what? John growled. This was part of the reason why he and Jack hated staying too far in the past. Nothing made sense coming from a futuristic time period. The last shower he been in had been a thirtieth century Insta-Clean. John bent down. There was even an extra spout! What did that one do?
"I hate the Twenty-First century." He proclaimed. "And everything before it."
"Need some help?" Ianto came in was a sorry look in his eye.
John scowled a bit.
"Jack needed help when he first got in here too." Ianto knelt next to the man at the tub. "This bit is quite old fashioned. This knob is hot water." He gave it a turn and scalding water poured out of the lower nozzle. "Cold water." Ianto gave it a spin and the temperature came to something resembling a decent temperature. "Then this one sends it," He turned it, "Up."
Water burst out of the shower. The Welshman backed off just in time to stay dry. John sputtered as the water hit his head.
"Did not appreciate that." He growled.
The archivist wasn't listening to him anymore. His pretty blue eyes were locked on the dark purple and blue bruising ringing the Time Agent's neck.
John half-grinned. "You wanna kiss it better Eye Candy?"
Ianto looked at him dryly. John laughed at his own joke then looked back to the assorted bottles inside the shower. It took all his years of experience not to jump, lips gently glided over the marks around his shoulder. He tipped his head back and Ianto followed the marks around softly before sitting back on his knees.
"Better?" He tilted his head innocently.
John grinned widely.
Ianto chuckled. "Get in the shower."
"Yes sir." John saluted smartly.
The archivist tapped his heels together in proper military manner. "That will be all Captain." He headed out.
John just shook his head in surprise. Eye Candy was much more than his name.
The warm shower didn't do quite as much to help as Eye Candy's display but it did sooth some muscles. The gel that the archivist had pulled out did actually smell like his own. It held as well too. John grabbed a towel and chaffed at himself. Re-entering the bedroom, Jack was drying his hair off.
"Good shower?" Jack asked casually.
"Oh yeah, Eye Candy came to join me." John prodded his old friend's temper. "Man is he good with his tongue."
Oddly enough the provocation didn't affect him at all. The Torchwood leader just laughed. "You only got the half of it last night. But I doubt you got any this morning. It would have taken him another hour to get ready again. I know from experience that would make for one very unhappy Ianto."
The other man snorted in amusement. He turned his head slightly noticing that two set of clothes sat neatly folded on the dresser. They looked freshly cleaned and pressed.
"Eye Candy strikes again." John muttered.
"You bet." Jack answered, pulling his under garments out.
John yanked his underwear and pants on before throwing the gun belt over top. He suddenly froze.
"What the hell is this?" He muttered with accusation.
The Captain looked over. "Your shirt." He shrugged.
The Time Agent held the stark white garment up. "It can't be." He sniffed it. "It is." He glanced at Jack. "This hasn't been white since I started at the academy!" He just gaped. "Thousands of people have tried to clean this thing." John shook the cloth.
Jack just shrugged. "They never met Ianto. Just put the shirt on and hurry up. I'm hungry."
John dressed in silent shock. He kept tugging at his tighter hugging shirt even as he finished messing with his red jacket. He followed Jack down the hallway. There was toast with butter laid out and assorted other breakfast foods as if the Welshman didn't quite know what to serve.
"About time." Ianto greeted them with a raised eyebrow. "What was all your fuss about Hart?"
"Aww. So endearing." John dramatically grabbed his chest. "Did you hear Jack, he called me his heart."
The Welshman flushed slightly but laughed with them. Jack sat down at the table and immediately received a cup of coffee. John hurried to follow his example, having sampled Ianto's trademarked fair the day before.
John paused at the first sip. He grinned at the archivist. "I see what you did there. Got everyone well trained don't we Eye Candy?"
A spark filled the blue eyes as Ianto sat down with the file he was looking over. "Hurry up and eat."
The realization didn't impact Jack or John's hunger. They ate heartily. Ianto stood and wandered over to the fridge. Opening the door he huffed in displeasure.
"What?" Jack asked stretching lethargically.
The younger man shook his head. "We forgot desert. It won't last more than a day or two." Ianto abruptly looked out the window skittishly. "I suppose. You'll just have to come back. Very, very soon."
John shared a wide grin with his old companion.
"Of course." Jack said through his smile. "But don't we have to be into the HUB soon?"
Ianto glanced at his watch and scowled. "Come on. Clean up. Let's go."
They scrambled the mess together and the Welshman uncharacteristically left the dishes in the sink, unfinished.
"I want to ride with Eye Candy!" John called jovially.
Jack immediately shook his head. "No. You're with me." He sheparded him toward the Torchwood SUV.
Ianto turned the key to him over car and grinned at the comically sad face hanging out the passenger window of the other car.
"Why could I go with him?" John whined.
The Captain twitched a bit. "Because I haven't apologized." He said almost silently.
"What did you do?" John abruptly picked his head up off the window.
Jack flinched. "Uh. Last night wasn't exactly planned."
"He was ready with dinner. Then. Ohhhhh." John deadpanned and rolled the thought over in his mind a bit. "He didn't seem particularly distraught."
"Still."
"Well you did warn me either. Where's my apology?"
A hard blue eye turned to him. "And here I was under the impression you enjoyed yourself. Don't worry; I'll let Ianto know you won't return tonight."
John elbowed him hard in the side. "Knock off."
Jack parked the SUV neatly in the garage. Ianto was already out of the car and striding down to the archives, griping the file he had been working at with single minded proceeding.
"Look at that build." John admired.
Jack just got a very sad and miserable look on his face. He sagged over the rail. "Coffee." He whined after the man, dragging out the last vowel.
The Welshman looked back. "I'll be right back. Just give me five minutes."
Jack moaned miserably. John smiled at the game then adopted the same manner. He threw himself over the rail like his feet had given out.
"Ouch." He stood back up immediately rubbing his neck where he had crushed one of his bruises into the pole.
Ianto came back immediately. He gave a concerned look to John. "Come on then, I've got a little time."
Jack snickered as the man disappeared. "That was brilliant."
"Hurts." John grumbled, rubbing his neck.
The Captain grabbed his shoulder and led him on toward the kitchen. They stepped into the small-ish room. The suited man gestured to the chairs around the wooden table and they immediately took them.
"Here you are." Ianto handed out their steaming drinks.
"Thank you." Jack whimpered pathetically.
The other time agent just moaned into his cup. John leaned back enjoying the sensation of hot coffee spreading through his stomach.
The Welshman watched with fond amusement as he picked his file back up. "I'll see you later on. I need that paperwork done, sir."
The Captain nodded without paying attention. As the man vanished, the door alarm went off impatiently. Owen and Gwen came in bickering. Toshiko came in behind them with an annoyed expression.
"Oi," Owen called out, "What's he doing here?"
"Leave it Owen." A voice immediately commanded. Ianto skimmed back into the kitchen. "Or you'll be on decaf."
The medic grumbled but sneering looked away. Gwen sniffed disdainfully. Ianto went about making the rest of the coffee. Jack noticed the imminent fight as John shifted tensely in his chair.
"Come on you." Jack nudged him. "Office, now."
He hauled his old friend up the stairs. John gave Ianto an "accidental" nudge on the way out. The Welshman didn't respond. The time agent shook his head sadly: ignored. They shoved into Jack's office and John flopped on the couch.
"Tired already?" Jack teased.
"Yes." The other rumbled. "Your team holds grudges like an elephant."
The Captain took to his desk chair, glaring at the paperwork. "Well not all of them have the sex session to change their opinion."
"Now there's an idea!" John exclaimed. "You up for it?"
Jack laughed. "No. Owen might be up for that though. You interested?"
John opened his mouth for a typical enthusiastic response then paused. He dropped his head to the cushion deep in thought. "Actually, I'm a bit busy with the domineering side of Eye Candy at the moment."
"Ha. Domineering?" Jack scrawled his name on a line. "You haven't even seen that side yet."
The other man perked up. "Uh-oh. That sound fun. Also kinky."
"Trust me it is." The Captain leaned back in his chair. "He's so good. Definitely not an amateur. Plus his mouth gets so dirty you could go off in your pants listening to him."
The man moaned at the thought. "We have to do that tonight."
Jack flinched uncomfortably. "I don't know. I don't even know if we're going over there. I still need to talk to him."
"Open your eyes Harkness." John snapped. "Eye Candy was at large and in charge the entire time. He had us both right where he wanted us. I didn't know you were so pussy whipped until last night!"
"Hey!" Jack sat up straighter. "Watch it old friend. From what I saw you weren't any better off."
The other grinned. "Did it look like I wanted it any other way?" He leaned his head back. "My god I can't stop thinking about him. So much talent there."
A knock on the door cut them off. Ianto pushed in. His eyes flicked to John on the couch immediately.
"Are you alright?" The Welshman set the tray down on Jack's desk.
John opened his mouth to respond but shut it as Ianto put his hand over the Time agent's forehead in a mother hen-ish fashion. The time agent's mouth sagged back open.
"Seriously?" John gaped. "You literally just checked my temperature."
Ianto sat next to him on the couch with a cocked eyebrow. "I did."
John flopped his head into the Welshman's shoulder. "Fussy, adorable, nursemaid, you." He grumbled inhaling Ianto's freshly showered and coffee scent.
The Welshman shifted his shoulder and tucked his arm around John. The Time Agent pretty much fell into his lap, Jack noted with amusement. Neither party seemed to mind much. Jack went back to his paper work. Ianto carded through John's short, coarse hair.
Jack looked up suddenly. "Is he asleep?" He asked with astonishment.
The archivist nodded.
Jack pushed back away from his desk a bit. "I guess he was more tired than I thought." He looked down at his hands. "Listen Yan, I know that that night was really abrupt and mostly uncalled for on my end but thank you. Thank you for just going with it whenever I stop thinking. I know you-"
"Jack." Ianto cut him off. "Come here." He motioned to the floor by his knees.
The ex-Time Agent scrambled over, sitting on the floor, and leaned back on the edge of the couch. Ianto's hand found his hair and Jack moaned, closing his eyes.
"Everything is fine Jack." He soothed. "Last night actually was a good time. You are at fault for nothing."
Jack sighed heavily, feeling relieved and buried his face into Ianto's thigh. The Welshman's hand carded through his hair lightly and for the second time in a very short span he actually fell into an oddly heavy sleep. The door swung opened.
"Jack I-" Gwen started with the other two right behind her.
Ianto sent them the most furious, protective look that dead ended all the comments. The trio backed out of the doorway slowly in order to avoid death by Welsh glare. Ianto was busy and the other two were asleep and he was damn well going to keep it that way.