AN: Big thanks to TearfullPixie for going through and reviewing every chapter! It was much appreciated, hun.
So, the team are on their way to the bar, and they drink. However, I don't, and I know nothing about alcohol really, so forgive me of not elaborating on parts.
"Just hold on for a second. I have to feed Janet then I'll be up," Ianto called over his shoulder as he walked quickly to the vaults. He opened the store cupboard to find that she had already been fed for the night. Curious, he ventured down towards her cell. He found Jack standing in front of it, staring off to some distant place in his memory.
"Jack," he said, only slightly surprised.
"Oh, hi." He turned towards Ianto, uncrossing his arms and shoving his hands into his pants pockets.
"Thanks for giving Janet her dinner."
"Anytime," Jack's eyes twinkled as he flashed a grin. "The others waiting upstairs?"
"Yeah. I said I'd be up after taking care of this, but I guess I don't need to." Ianto cringed at his obvious statement, feeling rather slow. "Er, right. So, you coming?" Jack chuckled. "I mean, that is to say, Gwen said you were going to join us tonight. For drinks. Us, being the team."
"As adorable as that rambling was, relax a little." Ianto felt his face go pink at Jack's words. "And yes, I'm coming."
"The others are probably getting antsy then, so I, er, we should go join them."
"Yes we should," Jack smirked, striding towards the stairs.
"Well, not we. Just we. There is no we. Is there? Don't answer that please, sir." He quickly caught up with the older ma. Jack turned towards him, stopping at the foot of the stairs. He placed his hands on either side of his face, thumbs resting on Ianto's cheek bones.
"Are you alright?" he asked seriously. Ianto made a strangled noise in response before nodding. "You seem…off…today. And if you wanna talk about it, we can. I mean, talking isn't really our strong suit, but we can make it work." He slid his hands down Ianto's shoulders.
"It's nothing really. But thank you for the offer to talk. It's fine though." Jack looked at him sceptically. "Really! Come on, they will think I got lost pretty soon."
The team slid into a large booth that was rather miraculously empty in the crowded bar. Ianto ended up in the corner seat with Tosh on his left and Jack on his right. Though cramped, he considered himself lucky. The last time he'd agreed to drinks had left him sandwiched between Gwen and Owen, a fate no one deserved. He had missed how, but it had been decided that the first round was on Jack. The other three told their boss what they'd like. Just as Ianto was about to speak he was interrupted.
"Help me carry?" the older man asked. He shrugged in response and scooted out from behind the table. "Enjoying yourself?" Jack smirked at him.
"Thrill a minute. A crowded, noisy bar with the same people I see all day long every day. What's not to love?"
"So snarky." Any further comment was cut off by the bartender, a young, handsome man.
"What can I get you?" he asked in a clipped tone. As Jack ordered he placed a hand on the small of Ianto's back.
Fighting a strong impulse to relax into the touch, Ianto hissed, "We're in public!"
"Huh?" Jack grunted in confusion before comprehension dawned on his face. "Oh, sorry," he muttered, dropping his hand.
"This is gonna be a long night," Ianto groaned under his breath, grabbing two of the drinks and walking back to the table.
Ianto munched his handful of pretzels grudgingly. The evening was already lasting nearly two hours longer than he'd expected and unless something changed, he didn't see an escape anytime soon.
"I think," Gwen declared, words slurring slightly, "that it's Ianto's turn to buy a round!"
Rolling his eyes, he responded, "I would, but I stopped an hour ago." He thought that they should have too but didn't say it.
"What's wrong, Teaboy," Owen said tauntingly. "Lightweight?"
"I know my limit."
Owen snorted. "Total cop-out." Ianto was about to snap back a retort when he felt a hand squeeze his knee. He sighed, giving the young doctor a dismissive shrug.
"Hey guys, I hate to break up the party, but I'm gonna go call Toshiko a cab," Jack said standing. "You two may want to consider splitting one too," he gave Gwen and Owen a hard look. They nodded dutifully.
"You have beautiful timing," Ianto said, leaning against Jack slightly. They had just seen Tosh into a cab and were standing on the sidewalk.
"I do my best," he smirked, wrapping an arm around the younger man's waist. "Come on, Jones, let's get you home." He led them to the SUV.
"Tomorrow they are going to wonder why you didn't just take them home like normal," Ianto mused.
"And I'll tell them I didn't want them to get sick on the interior."
"Bloody awful excuse. We put dead and bleeding aliens in the trunk." Jack chuckled before giving half a shrug.
A thought had been niggling Ianto's mind all night and as they pulled up to a stop sign he ventured to ask about it. "So…"
"Yes?"
"You drank last night. But you didn't drink tonight."
"Keen observation. I should give you a raise."
"Prat," he muttered under his breath.
"You were saying?"
"What's the difference?"
"One, I worked hard for my reputation and don't want to ruin it. Two, someone has to make sure you knuckle heads get home."
"Uh-huh," he nodded unconvinced.
"And three," Jack sighed, "while Gwen sleeps off what I am sure will be a massive hangover, someone has to be on call for the rift." He grimaced.
"Ah. I see." They had pulled up in front of Ianto's building and he unbuckled his seatbelt. Jack turned off the engine.
"Walk you up?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice." Ianto's stomach fluttered as they ascended the stairs and he reprimanded himself for it. He could not keep allowing himself to respond to Jack as if he was a teenager again. Yet even as he thought the words, he knew it was futile. The older man had gotten under his skin and was quickly worming his way into Ianto's heart.
When they reached his door, Ianto quickly unlocked it before turning back around to face Jack. "Er, thanks for giving me a lift home," he said lamely, feeling a sense of déjà vu as he remembered a similar scene from days before.
"It was my pleasure," Jack stated charmingly.
Ianto sifted through his mind to find something to say without sounding like an idiot. He was quickly distracted by Jack kissing him passionately, pinning him to the door with a hand on the back of his neck to keep their lips together. For a small moment Ianto was too surprised to react, hands hovering in the air, uncertain where to land. If he'd expected a kiss goodnight, it certainly wasn't one like this. The shock soon dissipated, allowing instinct to take over. One hand threaded through Jacks hair as the other clutched at his back.
"Ahem." A voice startled Ianto, reminding him that they were still in the hallway. Eyes snapping open, he shoved Jack off of him to find his elderly neighbour looking at them.
"Er, good evening, Mrs Bramford," he said politely. His face was burning with embarrassment.
"Good evening, Ianto. I see you finally have a friend. How lovely." The small woman nodded in Jack's direction, looking entirely too amused.
"Yes, ma'am." Ianto's blush deepened as she looked at him expectantly. "This is Jack. He's my…well, we…ah…"
"We work together," Jack chimed in. "Captain Jack Harkness, ma'am." He stuck out his hand, which she shook delicately.
"Well, well. A captain and an American. How…unexpected." Her eyes twinkled. "I must be off to bed, but it was lovely to meet you, young man. Have a good night, boys." Ianto fought a grimace at her suggestive tone as she continued down the hall to her flat.
Once the door was closed behind her Ianto's perfect posture crumpled and he sank against the door frame. Jack snickered softly.
"What?" he groaned.
" 'I see you finally have a friend'," Jack quoted. "Now am I to believe that I am the only person who's ever been to your apartment?" Ianto didn't answer, choosing instead to look away down the hall. "Wow." All amusement had left his voice. "You really have no friends outside the team? I am so sorry, Ianto."
"It's not your fault, but thanks," he responded awkwardly. Shrugging he added, "I've always been a bit of a loner anyways."
"I gathered." Jack took a step closer to the younger man. "But now you don't have to be." He pressed a quick, firm kiss to his lips. "Good night, Jones-Ianto-Jones," he breathed.
"Goodnight, sir," he muttered back as Jack strode away leaving him slightly confused, completely embarrassed, and alone.
AN: So Mrs Millie Bramford went through a few drafts of why she was out that late. But, if you're wondering, she was just getting home from an evening showing of a play. I was really bummed that I couldn't make more about her fit into the chapter! So I'm thinking I may write a little drabble about Jack and Ianto seen through her eyes. Lemme know what you think!
Reviews make my world go round.
