The Shag

Jack followed Ianto into the office and down to the room below. He had just stepped off the ladder when he found a hand wrapped around his (Ianto's) waist as Ianto pulled him into a searing kiss that reverberated through every fiber of his being like never before.

"Wow," he said when he stepped back for air. For some reason, it had felt different, and it took Jack a moment to realize why. First of all, he was in Ianto's body, so in a warped kind of way he was actually kissing himself, which was strange but also meant that he was probably experiencing…

"51st century pheromones," Ianto whispered, nipping at Jack's (Ianto's) neck. "You people have no idea."

Jack gasped at the sensations flowing through him. It was incredible, so different from when Ianto usually kissed him. While a part of Jack congratulated himself on having such an intense effect on Ianto's body, another part struggled to understand and control the powerful physical feelings aroused within him, so strong and overwhelming yet passionate and wonderful in a glorious way.

This must be what Ianto felt when they were together. Jack idly wondered how the man had resisted for so long, how he got anything done around the Hub, how he survived some of Jack's more adventurous suggestions…

Ianto was watching him with a knowing smile. With a low growl, Jack gave in, reached down, and began to undo the trousers he usually wore. Ianto kissed him hard and maneuvered them toward the bed.

"You had no idea what you really meant when you said that, did you?" Ianto asked in between kisses. Jack removed the trousers, pants, everything, and literally pushed Ianto onto the bed and straddled him. He leaned down for another long, hard kiss, hands roaming, a groan escaping his lips as Ianto began to unbutton his shirt.

"Not like this," Jack practically panted. Which was true. He'd had sex with men, women, and aliens from across the galaxy, but in his time such pheromones were natural, and so he was used to it; experiencing it from Ianto's point of view, from the body of a 21st century human bowled over by them was completely different. It was so exhilarating it was almost terrifying, and he suddenly had a moment of doubt.

"Wait," he said, pulling back. He felt strangely insecure, as the realization of something he had never considered before began to dawn. "Is this why you slept with me? Why you still sleep with me? Because it feels like this, physically—like you can't resist, can't stop?"

Ianto let his head (Jack's head) fall back to the bed and closed his eyes. "No, Jack, that's not why I slept with you. I won't deny I feel it strongly whenever you're near, but it's not like I can't control myself. I'm not some drug addict, coming back for a fix because of the rush."

"It's quite a rush," Jack murmured.

"Yes, it is," said Ianto, and he opened his (Jack's) eyes with a soft smile. "But it's not about the sex, or the rush. It's about you, okay? Now can we please go back to where we were? Surely you remember what it felt like to not get what you wanted in this oversexed body of yours?"

Jack grinned and nodded. "Oh, I do. And you always wonder how I can be so hard all the time. I told you I literally can't help it."

Ianto reached up and pulled him down for a quick kiss. "I get it now. But Jack…it's not just because I'm here, convenient and willing, is it?"

Jack shook his head as he smiled. "No, it was never about convenience. I am so thankful and amazed that you are still here and willing, because no matter what you feel in my body right now, I always feel more than that, here." And he tapped both of their chests.

Jack almost laughed at the slightly stunned look on Ianto's face…until he realized it was his own face and it suddenly occurred to him what he was about to do with his own body. Ianto gazed back into his eyes, and somehow must have come to the same realization, because he grimaced ruefully and nodded.

"Right. Not the best time for confessions—or lights. I do not want to know what I look like shagging myself." Jack reached for Ianto's (Jack's) arm and the wrist strap that was always there. With a quick punch of a few buttons, all the lights went out, and neither of them had to experience the odd visual of making love to their own likeness.

"Ready," Jack murmured. Before he could say anything else Ianto had flipped him over, and he forgot all about everything but the man before him.

Ianto ran a hand down Jack's side, smiling to himself. Torchwood had given him many strange, wonderful, and heartbreaking experiences, but he had never thought he would experience anything like that. Sex with Jack…from Jack's body. He understood now Jack's physical drive, his constant need for closeness, for touch, for sex and release. It was in the man's blood, flowing out through the pheromones Ianto always had such a strong response to but never really understood.

Now he did.

And he suspected Jack understood a bit more about Ianto's perspective, about being so susceptible to those pheromones yet knowing it was more than that, that it was still a choice and that Ianto had chosen to be with Jack, not just Jack's cock. He wanted to believe Jack when he had said the same thing, and he hoped in turn that Jack believed him.

"We should go back upstairs, see what they've figured out," said Ianto. "It's been over an hour, showers don't take that long." He paused. "Even ours."

Jack was sprawled across him, languid and relaxed and smiling. "I'm sure they have a pretty good idea of what's taking us so long," he said with a wink. He slowly sat up and stretched. "But you're right, we should actually clean up and see if they've figured out a way to switch us back."

He headed toward the shower, and Ianto followed. "I don't know, I'm starting to get used to this body." Jack turned toward him in surprise, and Ianto was treated to a full frontal view of his own body; he frowned. "Then again, I don't want to have sex with the lights off for the rest of my life just to avoid seeing myself naked."

"And as beautiful as I may be," Jack said, stepping up to Ianto and kissing him once more, "I like looking at your body much better than mine in the shower."

"Thanks, Jack," Ianto said as he started the shower. They had a quick snuggle as they waited for the water to warm up, then a longer shower as Ianto experienced that undeniable urge he now knew Jack felt so much of the time; he also knew that Jack was probably trying to fight it off, but Ianto remembered how strong those pheromones were and how hard it was to resist. He had Jack pressed against the wall of the shower within moments, groaning with pleasure and putting up little resistance.

When they were finally finished cleaning up (it had only been two hours now), they padded back into the main room. Ianto went to Jack's closet and began to pull on some of Jack's clothes, but stopped when he got to the braces. Jack was watching him strangely.

"This doesn't feel right," said Ianto, and Jack nodded.

"Doesn't look right, because I know it's you in there, not me." He narrowed his eyes. "You need a suit, and believe it or not, I do have one."

He pulled out a very out-of-style suit, dark grey with wide pinstripes, narrow lapels, and an even narrower striped tie that almost made Ianto shudder. Jack shrugged apologetically.

"You can take me suit shopping when this is over. I haven't worn it in years."

"Decades, more likely," murmured Ianto.

"No need to," said Jack. "I like my clothes. I can mix and match." He began pulling on trousers and a tee shirt; they were slightly loose on Ianto's frame, but probably more comfortable. Ianto put on the suit and though it was old, it still felt more like him, and not Jack.

"At least it will help everyone tell us apart," he said. He tried on the skinny tie and snorted. Ripping it from his neck, he tossed it on the bed and left the top button on the light grey dress shirt undone. Jack put on a blue shirt and his braces, and after they pulled on shoes and ran a hand through wet hair, they headed back upstairs. Jack stopped Ianto before leaving the office.

"We'll figure this out," he said softly, a reassuring arm on Ianto's (Jack's) shoulder. Ianto nodded.

"I know. Stranger things have happened."

"Not many," laughed Jack. "But it could be worse. At least it's been fun so far."

"It's definitely been enlightening," agreed Ianto with a small smile, thinking of what Jack had said earlier.

"Maybe if we can get it working normally we can try again," Jack murmured in his ear. "You know, play a few tricks on the team…"

Ianto gave him a pointed look. "That is so not why you want it to work, Jack." He narrowed his eyes. "Have you really swapped during sex?"

Jack shook his (Ianto's) head. "Nope. Heard it's amazing, though."

Ianto leaned in for a quick but deep kiss. "I don't know if I could get used to kissing my own face, but I'm willing to try if it's that good."

"I knew it, you like being me in bed!" Jack laughed heartily.

Ianto strode away with a wink of his own. "Don't try to tell me you didn't like being me, I heard you. Plus, you could wear my UNIT cap."

Jack pulled him out the door. "Let's go. I definitely want this thing for our private collection."

Ianto laughed with him as he followed Jack back into the Hub. Oddly enough, he wasn't that embarrassed. Stranger things had happened at Torchwood, but this could prove to be one of the better ones.

Author's Note

And suddenly my quip in the previous author's note about writing Jack-in-Ianto and Ianto-in-Jack becomes another level of reality. ;)

This was fun. Tricksy, but fun. Keeping a character in character in another character. Right. Hope it worked (mostly) and you enjoyed it. Fill in the naughty bits yourself. You know you want to. ;)