A/N - Thanks to everyone who read, favourited, alerted and reviewed. Especially those who reviewed - reviews are love :)

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Chapter 4

Practicing and Party Invites

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The next day Ianto just managed to get into Universe Politics on time. He'd woken up that morning and had gone straight to the firing range, practicing until his alarm on his watch had gone off.

Having run the entire way, he sat at his desk, trying to catch his breath, and was shocked to see Lisa sitting a row in front of him.

He couldn't help but stare at her, waiting for the crippling feeling of pain he usually felt when he saw her to come, and was shocked to find it was simply a dull ache. Shaking his head and putting it away to think about later, he turned his attention to the lecturer.

"Good morning," the woman said, in a chirpy voice. "My name is Toshiko Sato. I'll be the one trying to inform you of the situations currently going on in the universe that may still be relevant when you've finished your time at the Academy."

"Some of you, I'm sure, may be aware that four days ago there appeared to be an attack on the planet Talis by, allegedly, Cybermen, who destroyed the entire planet's colonies," Tosh said, stopping when a hand raised in the air. Ianto glared at the back of the head of Gray, who was sitting slouched in his chair, one arm thrown around Lisa's shoulders.

"Yes, Mr. Gray?" Tosh asked politely.

"Wasn't it also speculated that the Cybermen came in after the planet had been destroyed? That it was in fact the Master who had decimated the world first?" he asked, sounding smug.

Tosh gave him a small smile, before taking her glasses off and fixing a cool gaze on the man sitting in front of her. Ianto couldn't help but be impressed, that look would send many men running, and he had never thought the kind Professor had it in her. Which he should have, her being a Time Agent.

"That is mere rumours, Mr. Gray, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't bring those into my class," she said, before smoothly going back into her lecture about Cybermen. Pulling out his notepad, Ianto set about taking notes, thinking that today might be a better day then yesterday.

By the end of class, Ianto remembered the way he had been feeling before Weapon's Training; that he felt like he was doing something he should be doing. Perhaps his calling in life was to be a Time Agent. Packing up his notes, Ianto watched Gray and Lisa walking out, a feeling of disgust in the pit of his stomach.

His thoughts were interrupted as Owen walked into the room. He had completely forgotten that his friend would have started yesterday and wondered how he had found him.

"Owen?" he asked.

"Finally!" Owen said. "I've been looking all over for you. I need to borrow …"

He trailed off as his eyes fell on Professor Sato.

"Well, hello there, gorgeous," he said, charming grin crossing his face. Ianto had to bite his lip to stop the laugh that wanted to come out at the completely bored look on Tosh's face.

"You did well today, Ianto," she said, completely ignoring Owen and walking out the door. Ianto waited a few minutes, Owen staring at the door Tosh had left through, before finally giving in, and punching the young man in the arm.

"Ow," Owen said, rubbing his arm as he turned and glared at him. "You have anger issues, man."

"What do you want, Owen?" he asked, walking out of the room, Owen following behind him. Shaking his head, Owen snapped out of the trance he was in, giving Ianto one of his cheeky smiles.

"Need to borrow your room," Owen replied. Ianto stopped and turned to him.

"Why?" he asked, confused.

"Well, I can't take the girls back to my dorm room; they'll know where to find me. This way makes it harder," Owen replied, as if what he was saying made perfect sense.

"Yeah, but then they'll know where I live and they'll hound me. And how do you already have a date?" he asked. Owen shrugged, pulling an apple out of his pocket and taking a bite.

"I'm just irresistible," Owen replied, causing Ianto to give in to the urge to roll his eyes.

"So what do you say?" Owen asked, as they rounded a corner.

"No," he said.

"But," Owen said, stopping as their way was cut off by Captain Hart.

"Ah, Eye Candy, just the man I was looking for," he said, eyes flicking over Owen before resting, intensely, on Ianto again. "I've decided I may have been a little … harsh, in the first class. So, due to my kindness, I'm going to give you another chance, on Friday."

Ianto nodded, ignoring the look Owen was throwing at him and the Captain.

"Thank you, sir," he said, surprising himself at how polite he sounded. Captain Hart took a step towards him, a smug smile on his face.

"And my offer still stands. For the tutoring," he said, shoulder brushing against Ianto's as he walked past him.

"Man," Owen said, eyes narrowing as he followed the Captain's path. "He wants in your pants."

Ianto sighed and started walking again.

"I'm serious," Owen said, catching up. "You better watch yourself, Jones."

"I can take care of myself, Owen," he replied. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Owen shrug, sending a smile at some girls' walking past.

"So about letting me have your room …"

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Walking out of the firing range that night, Ianto walked straight into Lisa.

"Whoa," he said, catching the girl as she fell. "You okay?"

Lisa nodded, straightening up and moving away from him. Ianto wondered why that didn't hurt more. Shaking his head at the strange thought, he gave the woman of his dreams a smile. Lisa's smile looked strained.

"Hello, Ianto," she said quietly, looking uncomfortable. Ianto found himself taking a step back, to try and make her feel more comfortable. "Practicing?"

Ianto nodded, running a hand through his hair, wondering when it had become so hard to talk to her.

"Yeah, Gray told me about the first day," she said. "Are you sure this is where you want to be, Yan?"

He felt irritated at her question, not only for it's condescending tone, but also because for the first time in a long time, he felt that he had found what he was meant to be doing. Frowning, he shifted his bag, surprised that he wanted the conversation to be over.

"I should probably go," he said, moving to walk past her, looking down in surprise at her hand when it grabbed his arm.

"We're having a party tonight," she said. "Everyone's coming in cocktail dress. You should come."

Feeling confused, Ianto nodded, taking the piece of paper she held out to him, with the address on it.

"Yeah, I'll try," he said, watching her go with a frown on his face.

Why wasn't he more excited about Lisa inviting him to her party?

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A/N - Let me know what you thought :). Any answers for Ianto about why he doesn't feel as excited?