AN: Warning, there's an fbomb in this chapter…maybe more than one teehee
Nerves:
Ianto sighed to himself, from where he was stood in front of the coffee maker in the small, messy kitchen, he could hear his tad ranting and raving at the telly from the other room. His father moved into the kitchen to angrily jerk open the fridge, pulling out a beer and slamming it back shut. Ianto's distaste must have shown on his face because he only just managed not to burn himself with the scalding liquid he was pouring when his father cuffed him on the side of the head.
Ianto didn't get any of the boiling hot coffee on his hands, but he'd managed to spill a fair bit on the cuff of his school shirt.
"Fuck!"
He cursed quietly and hurried upstairs to change. No way was he going to school today with stained cuffs!
It was chamber auditions and the teacher took tidiness and promptness into account. He'd have to hurry if didn't want to be late for registration.
Up in his room Ianto searched frantically for a clean shirt, yanking the stained one over his head and tossing it at the hamper. The damn hanger was caught on something! Opening the closet door all the way to try and find what it was caught on, Ianto couldn't stop a smile when he saw the laces of his muddy old trainers had got wrapped around the hanger after he'd chucked them in last night.
Jack collapsed on the wet grass next to Ianto, slightly out of breath from their lengthy game of one on one. A lazy smile on his handsome face he turned to look at the boy next to him. Face flushed from running, dark hair damp and sticking to his forehead with sweat, Jack thought Ianto looked breathtaking- not that he'd ever admit it. That was just uncool.
Shaking himself from his thoughts with a grin he reached over to lightly thump the younger boys shoulder,
"Good game, yeah?"
Ianto grinned back, blue eyes twinkling and responded breathily;
"Good game".
The pair lay in the cool grass in companionable silence for a few minutes before Ianto broke the quiet, looking at his watch and swearing softly.
"It's getting late. I've got to get home before- I've got to get home."
He finished awkwardly, looking at some distant point in the grey sky. Jack threw him a concerned glance.
"Yeah, I'd better get back too. I promised the Doctor I'd look in on his experiments tonight."
Jack finally said, thinking idly of his absent uncle and guardian.
The boys heaved themselves off the grass and Jack noted that Ianto pushed himself up rather stiffly, as if his back ached.
"Hey Ianto" he began warily, "how are things, you know, with your dad? Everything alright at home?"
Ianto shot him a quick glance, his eyes flashing with distrust, but replied neutrally.
"It's fine Jack. Why do you ask?"
Jack shot a look back that clearly said 'yeah right', and continued gazing at his friend intensely.
Ianto fidgeted under Jack's scrutiny and looked away. Biting back a sigh Jack put a tentative hand on his shoulder, noting grimly the other boy's minute flinch at the gesture.
"Ianto, you know you can talk to me, right?"
Ianto nodded and flicked a brief look in Jack's direction. He took a deep breath to steady himself and forced his eyes to linger on his friend's anxious face.
"I know Jack, it's just- I just, don't… I don't really like to talk about it. Ever since my mam died, I don't know, he's been different that's all."
Jack studied Ianto's face, searching for any hint of dishonesty. Satisfied with what he saw, Jack smiled softly.
"I know you really don't have to explain. But if you ever want to talk, I'm here."
Ianto smiled shyly in return.
"I will. Thanks Jack, and thanks for today, I know you probably had other things to do, but thanks. It was fun."
"No problem Ianto, I had fun too. And I really didn't have any other plans."
When Ianto only shrugged in response Jack frowned.
"Is it really so hard to believe that I want to spend time with you outside of school Yan?"
Ianto shrugged again and looked away. Before he could stop himself Jack was reaching out to grasp the smaller boy's shoulder, squeezing gently but firmly and forcing him to meet his gaze.
"I really wanted to see you today Ianto, I've missed spending time with you. I- hell- Ilikeyouok?"
He blurted the last bit out in an embarrassed rush and dropped his hand awkwardly from Ianto's shoulder. Ianto blinked at him and let his mouth drop open before snapping it closed with an audible clack.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
Ianto barely managed to get out the door in time to run right into Tosh in a mesh of limbs, school blazers and black violin cases, well violin and viola.
"Sorry Tosh! Oh, thanks for keeping my viola last night."
"No problem Ianto, would you take it already? I need to readjust my backpack and I only have two hands."
Ianto chuckled and quickly took both instruments from her hands. He waited until she resettled her backpack and handed the smaller of the two back.
"Ta Ianto! So, are you ready for today?"
He managed a half grimace, half smile and shook his head somewhat miserably.
"Eh, no. Not really. I'm still a bit stiff and I'm nervous as fuck!"
Tosh scoffed gently at him,
"Don't be nervous Ianto, you made chamber last year and the audition is just a formality really. You're a cinch."
Uncomfortable with the compliment Ianto shrugged and looked away. Tosh sighed and bumped his shoulder gently and linked their arms together.
"Honestly Yan, you'll do fine. You know the piece backwards and forwards. Anyway, tell me about last night. Did you have a good time with Jack?"
Although he was still nervous and not totally convinced by his friends confidence in him, Ianto couldn't hold back a broad smile as he nodded slowly.
"It was great. We walked to the park and played footie, it was like old times, back before… Anyway, it was perfect; he kissed me."
The gangly boy tripped over his last step when Tosh suddenly stopped in her tracks, dragging him to a halt as well like an anchor stopping a boat in a shallow stream.
"What? When exactly were you planning on sharing this information with me Ianto? Jack-Bloody- You've had a crush on forever-Harkness kissed you? On the mouth? Was there tongue?"
Ianto rolled his eyes dramatically thinking; girls.
"Oi, if a bloke could get a word in I'd tell ya…"
…Jack sighed and said again, more slowly,
"I said I like you, ok?"
Ianto continued to stare up at him, mouth working but no sound coming out. Finally regaining his composure he cleared his throat softly, a delicate blush painting his cheeks and said with a tentative smile,
"I- I like you too. I mean more than a friend and all that."
Jack's face lit up in a huge smile and he pulled Ianto into a clumsy hug. Ianto stiffened at first from the unexpected contact but allowed himself to relax into the embrace, eyes sliding closed and a smile on his face. They stayed like for several moments before Ianto pulled back slightly. Looking up into Jack's bright blue eyes, Ianto spoke softly, afraid of breaking the moment.
"As much as I'd like to stay here with you Jack, I really need to get home."
Jack smiled and brought his hand up to stroke softly over Ianto's still damp, slightly curly hair. Slowly he leaned down, giving Ianto the opportunity to move away, and placed a gentle, tentative kiss on Ianto's dry lips.
It lasted only a brief moment, but it was perfect.
Both boys let their eyes slide shut and their minds wander as the chaste kiss enveloped them.
Breaking the kiss, it was Jack's turn to clear his throat and blush.
"I'll uh, I'll walk you home?"
If asked later, Ianto would vigorously deny that as he finished recounting the night before for his friend, both he and Tosh sighed dreamily at the exact same moment. Never happened. Nope.
Tosh smiled and pulled her friend into a hug.
"Ianto I'm so happy for you! That's amazing, are you, you know- together now?"
A slight frown crept across his face as he considered the question.
"I don't know actually, we didn't really discuss it."
Tosh shrugged and hugged him again.
"It doesn't matter, that's amazing news! I mean, you've only had a crush on him since primary school."
Ianto flushed red and hissed,
"Shut up Tosh, I have not!"
Tosh raised an eyebrow incredulously and Ianto blushed harder before shrugging half halfheartedly.
"Well, maybe I have but you don't have to say it. Now come on, we have to go; Jack said he'd meet me at the corner and we could walk to school together."
The pair set off toward school and Ianto answered amicably as Tosh continued to grill him about the night before. As they rounded the corner they saw Jack speaking with that new girl, Gwen, who kept stepping into Jack's personal space and trailing the fingers of her unoccupied hand over the sleeve of his coat.
The other was holding a cello case. Ianto's heart sunk; she would be in music with them, his favorite class of the day- ruined. Grimacing a polite smile Ianto prepared to walk by the two of them when Jack noticed him and bounded over, violin case swinging carelessly from where it was slung across his back as he grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"Good morning Ianto".
The older boy practically purred and Ianto momentarily forgot he was upset as he looked into Jack's twinkling blue eyes.
"Morning Jack."
He mumbled back, suddenly feeling very shy he looked helplessly at Tosh. His friend, seeing his dilemma took pity on him and broke the silence.
"Morning Jack, have fun at the park yesterday?"
She asked, winking traitorously at Ianto.
'I'm going to kill her, slowly, painfully.' Ianto thought darkly as he blushed crimson. Jack smiled and winked in return.
"Oh, you know me Tosh, I never kiss and tell."
"Since when?"
Was Owens sarcastic reply as he rounded the corner, rolling his eyes. Jack ignored the smaller boy and instead grabbed Ianto's hand, pulling him down the sidewalk toward the school. Owen blinked and turned to Tosh.
"Did I miss something?"
Tosh rolled her eyes and turned to follow Jack and Ianto, calling over her shoulder.
"If you can't figure it out Owen, I'm not going to tell you."
Owen shrugged and turned to Gwen who appeared to have been left behind.
"Well, come on then, when we get to school I'll show you where the music room is so you don't have to carry that thing round all day."
R&R plz. Any thoughts on the rewrite?