Manifest Destiny
despite this actually being a kickass ep, I found myself blocked when writing it. Maybe my mind just wants to start pulling all the threads together.
Chapter Eleven: Combat
Ianto didn't know what exactly the weevils were, or where they came from, but knew that on some level they were sentient. At the edges of awareness he had always felt hem, tugging, but not intruding; he used his shield like a porcupine's quills and warned them from getting too close; from anyone getting close.
But this had been different. It hadn't been an attack or a query; it had been a plea.
He had been drawn down to the cells by the echoing cry as it had bounced off his mental shields, not strong enough to break through, but audible enough to get his attention. Pain and sorrow flowed off the weevil, and Ianto hadn't known how long he had been standing in front of the cell before he had roused himself long enough to contact Jack and alert him to the new development. That was the trouble with any empathic or telepathic gift, the danger of getting caught up and swept away on someone else's emotions.
His hearts broke a little at the mournful sound the weevil made.
That seemed like a lifetime ago, before Gwen had decided it would be alright to sneak a little retcon (as if he wouldn't notice), before Owen had decided to find Nirvana at the end of a weevil's claws, and before Jack had decided to take the weight of the recent events on himself and head to the roof to brood.
Usually he would brood in Ianto's bed, but they weren't doing that anymore.
Their relationship had hit an impasse, because neither one was willing to admit to a mistake, or take that first step to reconciliation; a reconciliation that they both wanted. There were times when he would look up and find Jack watching him, a look of regret in his eyes, and yet he never made a move.
On some level Ianto was grateful of the split, as it gave him the space to untangle his own feelings on the matter. From all that he had learned about relationships, at the core was trust, and Ianto didn't know yet if he trusted Jack. Oh he certainly trusted the Captain with the planet, with his life, and his body; but did he trust him with knowledge of what he was? There were times when Ianto had liked to think so, when he was mentally begging Jack to just outright ask him, instead of dancing around the words and the questions. When he wanted Jack to just take the choice from him, until all that was left was honesty.
Ianto was getting steadily sick of the lies.
Even his own.
But this was far more important than their relationship issues.
Ianto had waited until the others had gone and then made his way down into the lower levels, to the cells, and to the newly recaptured weevils. The weevil, Janet, stared at him through the clear wall of the holding cell and he could make out flecks on blood still around her mouth. He wasn't sure if it was hers (his?) or someone else's. He narrowed his eyes, focussing his mind like a needle, because overhanging each pulse of mental connection that flowed around the weevils was something else, something wrong, and it bothered him; it was like there was something riding underneath each wave, hiding, waiting.
Ianto knew that the weevil heard and understood him when it blinked.
Weevils don't blink.
"Do you know what it is, what's coming?" he asked, pressing his hand flat on the clear divider. The weevil tilted its head and continued to watch him, eyes peering back at him. It let out a soft and mournful wail. Ianto leaned in closer, the cool seeping through his suit, and pushed his entire mind at the weevil, hoping to reach it, hoping to be understood on some level.
"If you can't tell me, can you show me?"
The weevil backed up and let out a growl that sounded eerily like agreement.
It then threw it's body against the wall, once, twice, three times, and although the action had made Ianto back up in shock and horror, his mind was also able to piece together that each impact was shaping a rhythmic pattern.
Thrumthrum-thrum-thrum-thrum
He found himself backing away and towards the door as the other weevils began to take up the beat, and soon all the cells were taking up the same rhythm. The beats grew louder until it was like he was in the center of a giant drum, and the sounds began to invade him, and his mind rebelled. He knew this; he had heard this before, but where? Where?! He tried to run but stumbled on the steps, and fell, and unwittingly found his hands closing over his ears.
"STOP!" he screamed, unable to take anymore, and the weevil's sudden stop made his head hurt more than the sound had.
Silence, save for his rasping breath.
He wasn't sure how long it was until he was able to pull himself up, reaching the Hub proper. He ran one hand over his face, wiping away the moisture, and he heard movement behind him. He felt a touch on his back and then, despite everything, he turned and folded himself into Jack's arms.
"Ianto, what is it?" Jack asked softly, resting his cheek against the younger man's, rubbing his back.
"I don't know," he whispered. He fisted his hands in Jack's coat.
"Jack," he gasped as the beat returned stronger than ever, and he moaned. "Jack."
Jack pulled back and looked alarmed.
"What is it?"
"It doesn't matter."
Jack pulled back and looked at Ianto, eyes searching. "What?" he whispered.
"In the end," Ianto continued, "it doesn't matter. I don't care if you lie, if you don't trust me, if this is all there is. I just..."
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Jack's, feeling them tremble beneath his, feeling Jack give in and pull him closer.
"I need you." Ianto told him.
Jack didn't question, but pulled Ianto towards his quarters, and Ianto grounded himself in Jack's touch.
He let Jack's pulse drown out the drums.
as I said, this one gave me trouble, but I love all the little hints that are in the actual series already, like when Mark says that "something's in the dark." And as the weevils are slightly empathic, I think that they'd be able to pick up the Archangel network easily.
Everything's coming together, maybe a bit too fast considering which eps we're on, but its all building up because if I were the Master, as soon as Jack was gone I'd make my move.
And I know the next will be angsty becaue, despite the real Harkness being an alright guy, Ianto is MY boy and always will be.
Next: Captain Jack Harkness
