Backbone (263 words)
back•bone [bak-bohn]
- noun
Strength of character; resolution.
What Jack needed to do was grow a backbone. Tell Ianto how he felt before it was too late.
Five days passed between Jack's decision to express his feelings and an opportunity at which he could do so without fear of interruption. The Hub was quiet; Gwen had gone on a date night with Rhys, which was fine with Jack. He went looking for Ianto, and found his other half at the coffee machine. He walked up and hugged the shorter man from behind.
'Hey, Jack,' sighed Ianto as he reclined into the touch. Jack twirled him around gracefully so he could embrace him properly and look him in the eyes. He could see the uncertainty in Ianto's eyes; nothing like this had occurred between them before. Jack kissed him, slowly, to make sure he kept quiet.
He pulled back. His palms were sweating uncomfortably. His heart was beating fast. 'Ianto Jones, I love you.'
He stood there, feeling uncomfortable with how he had acted so uncharacteristically. Ianto was looking at him, as though studying to see whether or not there was truth to his statement. Finally, his face softened and he pulled Jack back in, pressing their lips together gently. 'I love you too, Jack. What's brought this on?'
'I was worried that I'd lose you without you knowing what you meant to me. I don't think I could live with that,' breathed Jack into Ianto's warm chest.
'You're not going to lose me, Jack.' The words provided some comfort, and the two kissed once more before retreating to Jack's warm bed.