The Immortality of the Deathless

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: Don't own it, so please don't ask.

Author's note: I'm on vacation this week, so I thought I might give you all a chapter a little earlier than usual. The next should be out at its regular time this weekend.

And about the kiss…to be honest, I hadn't actually planned that. But you know the boys wanted to go their own way, and it just happened. Glad you all enjoyed it!

Chapter Twenty-One

Ianto knew.

He knew everything about the city that had once stood on this very spot. He could see the former life of Gateway surrounding him, almost welcoming him in. It was the magic; this he also knew. The magic in the very stone he sat upon, waiting. It felt right, to sit there amid the ghosts of the past, watching them as they went about their business as if they were still living.

The magic was within him. Ianto could feel it, in his fingers, in his mind…and in his heart. Almost from the moment he'd let it in, back as he and John Hart had entered Gateway, he'd known this was right, that this was what he was meant to do.

That the Deep Ways had been waiting…waiting for someone like him.

He chuckled, remembering the look on Hart's face. It had been child's play to access the magic, and all Ianto had needed to do was to picture where he'd wanted to send him. He'd thought of somewhere cold, but that was the only thing that had come to mind. It had worked, and the man had vanished. Only a slight twinge of guilt niggled at him; Ianto suspected he wasn't totally in his right mind, or else he might have felt more remorse for what he'd done. Well, at least Hart was still alive.

His attention went back to what the magic was showing him. Everything seemed so…normal. It was so wonderful, seeing this great city in its heyday; the tall spires reaching up toward the sky, glittering in the sunlight. The knowledge that had been used to build such amazing structures was beyond current science, and nothing was constructed like them anymore. He mourned the loss, and they would never regain it unless they regained the magic that had been lost, as well.

Ianto had no idea how long he sat there, when another presence announced itself to him.

Jack.

He'd been fooled, of course, into thinking that Jack was a ghost. But after acknowledging Jack's being there Ianto realized that the captain wasn't one of the dead of Gateway. That he'd somehow come for Ianto, even from death itself.

And then he could see it: the Demons, and Jack…and Jack's death among the corpses of his soldiers, the last man standing.

His heart clenched, hard. The Deep Magic was speaking to him, telling him Jack's secret even as Ianto didn't want to truly believe it.

Jack was the Deathless. The one cursed with immortality, to live until the very Multiverse ended.

Gods, no…he didn't want to know this. In his life Ianto had searched for knowledge, but this was too much. He wanted to mourn for this man he'd grown to care for, but the magic wouldn't let him go, and it didn't matter how hard Jack tried to talk him away from it. The magic was a part of him, now. There was no escaping it.

It was almost like a truth drug; whatever Jack asked, Ianto answered. He could tell that the captain was upset in Ianto's knowing his secret, about the Deathless, but he couldn't have kept that to himself no matter how hard he tried. Just as hard as it was to let it go, to put the magic aside and return to his normal – powerless – self.

But it was the kiss that made it easier.

Ianto hadn't expected it. Hadn't even considered that it might happen. But once Jack's lips were on his there was no going back. He could feel the Immortality magic on Jack's tongue, entwining with the very power that had done this to him, the power within Ianto himself. A part of Ianto wanted to weep with it, that Jack was stuck this way.

What would have been a distraction for some, actually grounded Ianto back into the real world. The Deep Magic flowed between them like a swift stream, and that sensation also aided in Ianto's being able to pull away from the ancient power rooted within the eroded stones of Gateway. By the time they broke apart, the magic had subsided to just that strange itch at the back of his skull once more.

"Welcome back," Jack greeted, smiling.

"Good to be back," Ianto answered, returning the smile. It was good to see the captain fully, without the obscuring golden glow that had surrounded him when the archivist had been under the demands of the Deep Ways.

"How do you feel?"

Ianto shook his head. "I'm not sure….can I get back to you about that?"

Jack nodded, although he didn't move from his kneeling position in front of the younger man. Ianto was keenly aware of the immortal's arms around him; Ianto's own rested on Jack's shoulders, and he pulled them back, blushing.

Ianto wasn't sure how to handle what he'd learned. A part of him was accepting of Jack's magical state; yet the bigger part didn't honestly know what to think. He could understand why Jack hadn't mentioned it, when this mission had been dumped in the mercenary's lap. It must have been so hard, knowing that the very story that your life had become was the basis for this search?

Jack sighed, also pulling away to sit back on his heels. He regarded Ianto closely, as if trying to read his thoughts. "Are you okay?" he murmured.

Ianto didn't get a chance to reply.

"Oi, you two!" came Owen's shout. Ianto turned his head; the battle surgeon was striding toward them, sheathing his sword. "Sure, have us walk the perimeter of the place just so the pair of you could snog each other? I've said it before and I'll say it again: you're a twat, Harkness."

The archivist looked around, spotting Suzie coming in from the opposite direction as Owen. Toshiko walked toward them from a different direction entirely, sliding an arrow into the quiver at her waist as she slung her bow across her shoulder.

"There's no one around, Jack," Suzie added, shaking her head amusedly.

"There wouldn't be," Jack answered. "Seems they couldn't get what they wanted from Ianto, so they dumped him here."

Jack was covering for him. Was giving him a cover story so he wouldn't have to explain the magic. It was in that moment that Ianto figured out that they were more alike than he would have guessed; Jack hiding his Deathlessness – not that Ianto could blame him, how do you even begin to talk about something like that? – and Ianto keeping his own abilities secret. But whereas Jack had good reason, the only thing Ianto could say to defend himself was that he was so used to keeping them hidden that it was almost second nature to him.

Ianto found himself actually considering telling the truth. Letting everything out in the open. Just being completely honest with these people. But, in the end, he couldn't.

He really wanted to talk to Jack first.

Before he even had the chance to say anything, Owen interrupted. "Yeah well…what would anyone what you for? Someone find out about your coffee skills and want to corner the market?"

"Yeah," Ianto answered acerbically, "because we know that's the only thing I'm truly good at."

"But what did they want you for, Ianto?" Toshiko asked, cutting across the enmity that had come up between the surgeon and the archivist.

Ianto swallowed. He was very aware that Jack hadn't said anything about the attack in Haven to his people, but without that piece of information what he was about to say wouldn't make much sense. He said it anyway. "They wanted me to take them to the Artifacts we're searching for."

The three glanced at each other; Jack kept his gaze on Ianto, and he was beginning to feel the urge to fidget under those blue eyes. "How'd they know about the mission?" Suzie demanded. "I thought this was supposed to be some sort of secret or something."

"It was," he admitted. "But…something happened in Haven. I was attacked, by someone who got into my mind."

"What the hell?" Owen exclaimed. "And we were gonna find out about this when?"

"Was it Adam Smith?" Suzie interjected.

Jack raised an eyebrow at that. "And how do you know Adam Smith?"

She shrugged. "Knew someone who used him once. His power is pretty impressive."

Something flickered in her dark eyes, and Ianto frowned. He got the feeling that there was more to the story, but he really didn't have the right to ask.

"Then it's true?" Toshiko asked, wondering. "That Smith is a magic-user?"

Ianto nodded. "He certainly used it on me. It got him exactly what he wanted." And more, he didn't add.

"I ask again: when were we gonna be told about this?" Owen demanded.

Jack shrugged, slowly getting to his feet. "I was really hoping I could handle anything that came up, myself."

"That worked out well, didn't it?"

"It wasn't just Jack's decision," Ianto defended. "Personally, I don't like to admit that I was mind-raped by someone. Would you, Owen?"

The battle surgeon grumbled, but didn't answer.

"But you're all right?" Toshiko asked worriedly.

The archivist smiled slightly. "I'm fine, Tosh. Honestly." And he was. As bothered as he'd been by Adam's attack on him, knowing that it somehow broke through whatever had been blocking his access to the Deep Ways made it somewhat better.

This trip was teaching him so many things about himself it would take months to work through it all.

*****

Jack got them moving quickly, for which Ianto was very grateful.

The others kept peppering him with questions; questions that the young man didn't really want to answer. He let himself fall back into his own thoughts, and eventually they all backed off and left him alone.

Except for Jack.

Even though he didn't actually say anything, Ianto could feel the captain's eyes on him as they rode. Ianto had so much to consider when it came to the mercenary; he'd learned so much it was hard to put it all into some sort of perspective. That Jack was what the myths would call the Deathless was just one of the issues he was having.

He wasn't sure how he really felt about it. Ianto was sincerely glad that Jack hadn't been permanently killed; he'd have missed the captain terribly, and had been so very angry at John Hart for shooting him. Ianto was, in matter of fact, surprised he hadn't used the magic to hurt his kidnapper more than just sending him off somewhere, but he'd meant it when he'd apologized to Jack for doing it.

But how does one actually react to a man who was immortal?

Ianto rubbed his eyes tiredly. He let his horse go its own way, and the animal was content to stay with the group as they rode through the ruins. He could still feel the magic around him, but it no longer controlled him; it lay quiescent in the back of his mind, waiting for him to call to it. If he blinked just the right way, he could make out the golden glow that radiated from Jack's body, and it warmed Ianto as if he were basking in the summer sun.

He'd long wondered if it was the magic that had attracted him to Jack, or if this was something within himself that had suddenly decided that it liked men more than he'd done previously. Now, having "seen" Jack's true self, Ianto could honestly say that it wasn't the magic. That this was something beyond that, although the Deep Ways did call to him like a siren song. But it wasn't what drew him to the man. The magic was simply incidental, and added to the allure.

But Ianto still didn't know how to act in regards to Jack's immortality.

Accepting it was probably the easiest answer, but wouldn't be the easiest to accomplish. Ianto considered himself fairly open-minded, but this wasn't something that came up every day. He glanced toward the mercenary, catching Jack's eyes on him once more. He nodded, acknowledging Jack's gaze. The captain nodded once, then his attention went back to the trail once more.

It was nearly sundown by the time they'd cleared the ruins. They rode a bit farther, until Suzie called them to a halt at a decent campsite. It didn't take long to set up and get a fire started, every one of them having tasks that were becoming very well rehearsed by then. Ianto made them all coffee, as he was wont to do, and then helped with getting the evening meal ready. His hands worked on their own, his mind still consumed with its own thoughts.

He forewent the sword lesson; Ianto just wasn't in the mood, and Suzie didn't argue about it. Instead, he sat back on his bedroll, watching the others as they readied themselves for sleep. Only Jack didn't seem that interested in going to bed; once everyone was settled, the mercenary left the camp, his eyes meeting Ianto's over the fire.

As if drawn along by those eyes, Ianto got up and followed Jack, making his way through the tall grass toward the darker shadow that was the mercenary's body as he moved farther from the friendly firelight of the camp.

Eventually, Jack stopped. He stood against the stars, his cloak billowing out around him as he stood there.

Waiting for Ianto.

The archivist joined him, standing at Jack's shoulder but with a little distance between them. A part of Ianto wanted to lean closer, to give the other man some form of comfort, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. And so, he simply waited for Jack to speak.

It seemed an eternity, but Jack finally said, "I'm sorry you had to find out that way."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"But I do." Jack sighed. "I would hate to think I've somehow lost your good opinion of me, Ianto."

"No chance of that…sir."

The captain snorted. "I thought we were beyond that."

"Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Thanks for trying, it's appreciated."

"You're welcome." Ianto paused. "Jack, it really is fine. I'm…not quite sure how to react about it yet, but I think I've pretty well accepted it."

"The others who've found out about me have pretty much been the opposite. I doubt anyone's truly accepted my…Deathlessness."

"Is that why you haven't told your team?"

"Pretty much, yeah. I also don't like people looking at me like I'm some sort of freak."

"I don't think you're a freak, Jack."

"What do you think I am then, Ianto?"

The archivist sighed. "I think you're a man who's trying to deal with his circumstances as best he can. At least, that's what I see."

"What else do you see?"

"You have a habit of asking me that question."

"You're a very discerning person. I value what you have to say."

Warmth spread through Ianto's chest at the compliment. "The magic let me see it all…the Demons, your death…and what happened next. I'm not sure I understand it all yet, but it matches what the scroll said occurred." He turned to look at Jack; his profile limned against the stars, his eyes too shadowed to make out their expression. "You were brought back out of love, Jack. And that can never be a bad thing."

"There are so many things I don't remember – hells, I've forgotten more than most people will ever know in their lifetimes – but I do remember that day." Jack's voice was so quiet; Ianto had to strain to hear him. "It all seemed so hopeless…that no matter what we did, it was going to end badly. Master John only had the one option, and we all knew we were going to die. I backed him, of course. I had no choice. The Nameless couldn't be allowed to go any further. Every one of us knew that stopping them would mean we'd all be giving our lives. I'd never been more terrified in my life, but I went to the front lines anyway."

Ianto shivered. He'd been shown, but to hear the naked pain and fear in Jack's voice made it completely real. Instinctively he reached across the space between them and took Jack's hand, his fingers tingling at the contact.

Jack acknowledged the offered comfort, squeezing back softly. "Gods, it's been so long since I've talked about this," he admitted. "The only reason I am now, is because you actually saw it…and to be honest I'm still not sure how you did…"

"The Deep Ways," Ianto answered. "They've been waiting a long time for someone to come along and be able to hear what they had to say."

"You make it sound like it's alive."

"They are, in a way. It's really hard to explain, and it's something I'm still working out for myself, but the Deep Ways are far more than just ancient magic. They've been around since the building of the Multiverse, and will be around after everything has turned to dust. And something that old has to be aware, in some way." He could still feel the magic, at the back of his mind; this time it didn't fade, as it had in Haven. "I really want to do more research when we get back to the Castle. There isn't a lot on the Deep Ways that I've found as yet but I definitely need to know what I'm dealing with."

"Might be a good idea. Wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

"I'll try to be careful," Ianto answered drily.

"I should hope you do." Jack's voice was deadly serious, cutting across Ianto's attempt at playfulness like a hot knife through butter. "You're important, Ianto."

That comment did something to the archivist's heart that he was surprised at. It was a painful sensation, yet pleasant at the same time. "Yep, being the only magic-user in Cardiff makes that pretty much inevitable." He hadn't meant for the words to come out harshly, but they did.

Jack's eyes met his. "That isn't what I meant." He stepped back, releasing their hands. "Look, let's get back to camp. We both need to get some rest."

He turned back toward the glowing campfire some distance away.

"Jack."

The mercenary looked back. "Ianto?"

The younger man wanted to say something else, mention the kiss that had happened between them back in the ruins. Wanted to know if it had meant something besides being a way to ground Ianto back in the real world.

Wanted to know if it would ever happen again.

But the words wouldn't come. He really didn't know what to say, that would bring the subject up.

Jack simply stood there, waiting for him to speak.

"Never mind," he finally said, stepping to Jack's side. "You're right, we should be getting back."