I don't own Torchwood so please don't sue me! Thanks for all the awesome comments guys!

They're 12 years old when they experience their first major bout of homophobia. It traumatized both of them even though neither of them fully understood it.

Ianto smiled as Jack came walking down the stairs to meet him. They were about to start winter break and both of them were looking forward to spending some time together, just hanging out. Jack leaned forward and kissed Ianto's cheek.

"How was your last day of class?"

"It was okay. I'm glad we get some time off though."

Jack smiled and entwined his fingers with Ianto's before gently tugging his hand and leading him towards home. As they were walking, the boys began to talk about their plans for winter break: what they wanted to do, what movies they wanted to see and what they wanted for Christmas. As they were walking home, they suddenly heard a voice behind them.

"Hey fags."

Ianto and Jack both turned around, their hands still entwined and saw a group of 3 boys from their class walking towards them. Jack frowned and pulled Ianto closer to him, nudging Ianto behind him slightly, trying to protect him. The boys approached them, malicious smiles on their faces.

"What's up homos? Where you fairies headed?"

Jack squeezed Ianto's hand before beginning to pull him in the direction of their homes. One of the boys stepped in front of them and grabbed Ianto's arm, yanking him away from Jack's grip.

"Hey, I'm talking to you fag!"

Jack stepped forward and punched the boy in the eye.

"Don't you dare touch my Ianto!"

The other boys lunged forward and began to punch and kick at Ianto and Jack. The boys all kicked and screamed for a few minutes before they heard a siren in the distance.

•••

Beth walked to the front door after hearing a knock and opened it slowly. When she saw Jack and Ianto standing at her door with a cop standing behind them, she gasped. Ianto had a bloody nose, a split lip and a developing black eye while Jack had a giant gash on his face, bruises all down his arms and a giant split in his lip.

"Oh my god boys! What happened?"

The cop stepped forward and helped the boys step into the house.

"A couple of kids from their school were calling them homophobic names and tried to beat them up. I came in and broke it up but both of them got beat up pretty bad."

Beth pulled both boys into a hug and kissed both their cheeks.

"Ianto, honey, go call your mom and tell her where you are and what happened."

Ianto nodded and began to limp into the house, Jack limping right along side him. Beth turned to the policeman.

"Thank you so much officer. I appreciate it."

"My pleasure. I'm so sorry this happened to those boys."

"Thank you."

"Take care ma'am."

"You too."

•••

Ianto leaned his head against Jack's shoulder as they sat curled up together on the couch in Jack's living room. Jack smiled and wrapped his arm around Ianto's shoulders, pulling him into a hug. Ianto glanced up at Jack.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you call me 'your' Ianto?"

Jack blushed and pulled Ianto closer.

"Because you are my Ianto. You're my best friend and I want to take care of you."

Ianto smiled and kissed Jack's cheek.

"If I'm your Ianto, then you're my Jack."

Jack smiled and hugged Ianto again. Ianto cuddled closer to Jack.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"We hold hands and we kiss each other's cheeks all the time but, I mean, we never kiss on the lips and it's not like we're really dating but…are we gay?"

Jack bit his lower lip, wondering the same question himself.

"I dunno Ianto. I mean, you're my best friend and I love holding your hand but I don't think about boys that way."

"Me neither."

Jack blushed and kissed Ianto's cheek.

"But I don't really think about girls that way either."

Ianto smiled.

"Me neither."

Jack smiled and shrugged.

"Maybe we aren't gay or straight."

Ianto shrugged. Jack smiled and playfully nudged his best friend.

"Who needs girls anyways? We've got each other, right?'

Ianto smiled.

"Always and forever."

Jack pulled Ianto closer and kissed his cheek before both boys leaned back to watch their movie again.

They're 12 years old when they decide that, as soon as they're old enough, they want to go somewhere far away: somewhere where no one cares if they hold hands or kiss each other's cheeks. Somewhere where they can just be themselves.