A/N Bah, late again. Sorryyy.
On the plus side, I get my Torchwood book in the post tomorrow! I know that really doesn't excuse me for posting late, but lets just say I was literally TOO excited to write. -is nerd-
Enjoy the angst. Oh, the angst.
Ianto was late.
Ianto hated being late.
Not long after his conversation with Jack the team had been called out into the middle of nowhere. There had been reports of some 'disturbing sightings' from the locals which turned out to be nothing more than a prank. Any other day Ianto would've just come back, had a coffee and forgotten all about it. But today he was having dinner with John. He couldn't be late.
As soon as they got back to the hub he raced down to the archives to finish what he'd started that morning, he didn't like to leave work unfinished. Then Jack had demanded coffee which took longer than necessary because Jack needed help with his reports. By the time Ianto made it back down to the archives he was already ten minutes late. Gwen and Martha were long gone by then and Ianto didn't intend to stick around much longer. He quickly finished off what he was doing and turned to leave, only to find one Jack Harkness blocking the doorway.
"In a hurry are we?" Jack asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Yes actually, so if you wouldn't mind..." Ianto went to slide past him but Jack just moved in front of him.
"Well can it wait? I need your help"
Ianto sighed "No, it can't. I'll help you in the morning Jack" Ianto attempted to get past again but Jack stood his ground.
"And what's so important that can't wait another ten minutes?" Jack asked, a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Ianto took a step back and put his hands on his hips "If you must know, I'm having dinner with John"
Jack smirked "Dinner huh? He never took me to dinner"
"Yes, well I'm already late so do you think you could get out my way?"
"Is that really the way to speak to your boss, Ianto?"
Ianto looked away and gritted his teeth "Why are you doing this, Jack?"
"I'm not doing anything" Jack said stubbornly.
Ianto actually wanted to hit him. He'd been so happy that morning and within an hour Jack had crushed it. Was this how it was always going to be? He swallowed hard against the tears threatening to spill. He wouldn't let Jack ruin this night. Somehow though he was sure Jack already had.
"Why can't you just let me be happy?" Ianto whispered, his eyes fixed on his feet and refusing to look at Jack.
Jack felt a sudden wave of guilt wash over him and suddenly all he wanted in the entire world was this man in front of him. He cautiously reached out to touch Ianto's arm.
"I'm sorry Ianto..."
Ianto looked up at him, his face pale and his eyes wet.
"Just stop...please" Ianto begged.
Jack didn't know what to say. Instead of words he grabbed the younger man's arm and pulled him close, one hand in his hair and the other round his waist. Ianto kept his arms at his side, unsure how to react.
"I'm sorry" Jack whispered in his ear "I really am"
Ianto found all the rage he'd felt just seconds ago melt away and he sighed into Jack's shoulder, raising his hands to grip the older man's braces.
"This isn't going to work, is it?" Ianto said quietly, turning his head to brush his lips over Jack's neck.
Jack smiled "It will. We can make it work Ianto, you just need to leave him..."
Ianto's head snapped up and he jumped back, breaking all contact with Jack.
"Fuck Jack, I wasn't talking about us. I meant this whole arrangement; I can't be working here while I'm with John. Clearly you're not able to handle that"
"Don't you dare Ianto" Jack hissed "he is not worth giving up your life for"
"Yeah well neither are you" Ianto bit back.
"Probably not but you're a member of my team and believe it or not I care about you"
Ianto sighed and ran a hand over his face "I really want to give it a go with him, Jack"
Jack frowned "Ianto..."
"No, Jack. Listen to me" Ianto ordered "I don't want to leave Torchwood, but I do want to have my own life outside with whoever I choose without you making it harder for me. I'm not leaving John anytime soon so either you accept us being together or I leave this place. Simple as that"
Both men stared at each other for a moment, both refusing to back down, before Jack sighed in defeat and stepped back out the doorway.
"You have a good evening, Ianto" he said quietly "I'll see you tomorrow"
Ianto watched him cautiously for a minute, unsure whether Jack was being serious or not. Jack bowed his head to stare at his feet and Ianto slowly stepped forward out the door, stopping in front of the captain. He placed one hand on Jack's waist and waited for Jack to look him in the eye. When he did Ianto leant in and placed a quick kiss on Jack's lips.
"Thank you, Jack" he said with a smile.
Jack gave him a small smile in return "You'll be late"
Ianto nodded and turned to walk away, leaving the older man behind to contemplate whether he really had made the right decision or not...
"You're late" said John, slipping an arm around Ianto's waist and pulling him in for a kiss.
"I know, I'm sorry" Ianto replied, wrapping his own arms around John's neck "loads of work to finish"
"Well as long as I've got you all to myself now, I've got a surprise for you after dinner..."
Ianto grinned and pressed his body hard into the older man's "I look forward to it..."
John chuckled and placed another kiss on Ianto's lips "not that sort of surprise, though I hope there'll still be lots of that tonight anyway..."
Ianto's grin grew wider "as always...now can we go?"
After one last kiss John pulled away to look Ianto in the eyes.
"Just one more thing"
Ianto's grin faltered slightly "what is it?"
"Why were you really late?"
Ianto frowned and stepped back, eyeing John suspiciously "I already told you..."
"Ianto, I've known you long enough to know that you're never late, despite how much work you may have to do"
Ianto looked away guiltily as John took a step forward, watching the Welshman carefully as he spoke.
"It was Jack, wasn't it?"
Ianto sighed; this really wasn't something he'd wanted to talk about tonight.
"He's just lonely John, that's all...he's not taking this whole thing too well, you know...you and me"
"He wants you back" John stated, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Well he's not going to get me back" Ianto replied firmly "I chose you, remember? Now can we please just forget about this and enjoy the evening together?"
John nodded, but Ianto noticed the distant look in his eyes as if he didn't quite believe Ianto's words of reassurance.
As they began walking again both men were silent, Ianto throwing quick glances in John's direction every now and again. John didn't seem to notice him, still lost in a world of his own. Ianto attempted to slip his hand into the older man's but John just stepped away from him and looked at his feet. Ianto continued walking on as if nothing had happened but was stopped suddenly by John's hand on his wrist. Ianto turned and gave him a small smile, relieved that John was finally reacting to him.
John took a deep breath, keeping hold of Ianto's wrist "I don't want to lose you..."
Ianto sighed and shook his head "and you won't"
"Promise me"
Ianto smiled again and pulled John into an embrace "I promise"
John buried his face in Ianto's hair, inhaling the scent he loved so much. This was a promise he was going to make sure Ianto didn't break.
No matter what the consequences were...
