Ianto was in jeans.
Jack was trying to look professional as he helped unpack the large boxes needed for the retrieval but each time he looked over, the bloody minx was bending over. Showing his goods. Ahhh, and Jack knew just how good it was.
Ianto was oblivious to the ogling as he reached into the back of the SUV again, one leg still on the ground. Bloody thing was stuck.
Ianto brought his other leg up so that he was kneeling in the back with his arse hanging out and he began to yank on the box.
Bloody barstarty thing.
Jack knew his mouth was hanging open but he didn't care, that arse was pumping in and out of the boot like a piston.
Jack stalked closer and the box gave, causing Ianto to shoot back and into Jack's arms.
"Easy Tiger" Jack purred as he slid his hands around his lover's waist.
"Not now Jack" Ianto muttered as he slapped at Jack's hands and absently pulled the box again.
It made a loud, dull thud as it hit the ground. Jack yelped as he jumped back, just moving his foot in time.
"Hey, that might have broken something" Jack whined and Ianto paused his reversal and looked down at the box.
"No, I'm sure it's fine. Packed it meself." Ianto dead-toned and Jack snorted.
"Oi, T-Boy. Are we far off?"
Tosh's voice carried on the wind as she answered Owen's question with a string of Japanese.
From the way Ianto snorted and grinned to himself, it was clear that Owen was lucky that he didn't speak Japanese.
"Where did Gwen get to?" Jack swung to search the immediate area and found no sign of her.
"Pissing behind a rock somewhere" Ianto sighed, pulling the box over to join its siblings.
"Well, nice night for it" Jack sighed as he raised his face to the heavens and opened his mouth.
Ianto found himself transfixed as Jack's tongue came out to catch the snowflakes that were gently falling.
"Jack!" Gwen was yelling as she sludged back through the snow and slipped repeatedly.
Ianto hid his mirth behind a soft cough but Jack gave him a chastising glance before striding forward and offering his hand.
He pulled Gwen to him and she kept sliding in the wet, right into his arms and he gave a small squeak as she connected with his hard-on.
"Oh my" She giggled as she straightened up and the cough from Ianto was a bit more forced.
Jack quickly stepped back, lost his footing and began to fall. Ianto calmly reached out and grabbed his coat by its lapels, correcting Jack.
"Thanks Tiger" Jack said with a nervous grin as he straightened his clothes.
"Harassment!" Ianto whispered and Jack grinned.
"Do we have to do this tonight?" Gwen was sighing, "God. It's so bloody cold."
"Yes" Jack barked shortly, turning to leer at Ianto and finding an empty spot.
"Ianto was clear on the coordinates and the window …" Ianto was standing in the middle of the field and he was waving. How the hell ….
Jack started for him and then slowed as he saw another figure standing behind Ianto, hiding.
"Ianto?" Jack asked softly as he came to a stop near his lover, "What do you have there?"
This was when Jack noticed two things with shocking clarity.
Firstly, Ianto was wearing a suit. His clothes had changed and he was covered in blood and filth.
Secondly, the person behind him was hanging on for grim life as he hid his face in Ianto's back.
"I couldn't change it" Ianto said softly, "I couldn't change what had to be. For you, it was a fixed point. It all led to you becoming the man I know. I'm sorry, it was a stipulation of G-Pa's before he left me take you."
Jack felt the world lose oxygen as he looked at the person behind Ianto again. The hand clutching at Ianto's jacket, the fingers were small. A child? Behind Jack in the distance, Ianto watched himself step into a Tardis and disappear.
Paradox complete.
"I had to time it carefully" Ianto continued as they felt a shiver in the bond as the paradox ticked over, "Time is tricky. You know that, I had to work while things were still in flux. Slip between paradoxes to create a hidden one that didn't alter the ribbons. You understand, right?"
"Ianto, who is it your hiding from me?" Jack whispered as he looked at his lover, a face older and more tired.
"I had to act within the boundaries of the shadow proclamation. It had taken some time. Time, something I have. Yeah?" Ianto smiled softly. "You waited a lifetime for me, I knew I could survive without you for a wee while, once I had her in the box I had to go."
"The box?" Jack frowned.
"Yeah. The coral on your desk. My Ayelish." Ianto nodded. "She was ready for one mayday call. It had to be right. Tonight's timing was perfect, the planets aligned for a straight flight and … well. I wanted to show you that I love you. I wanted to show you …"
Jack stepped forward and touched Ianto's face. "How long have we been apart?"
"It has taken me three years to find him, save him and come back to you" Ianto sighed softly. "But negative three minutes for you. That's the beauty of time."
"Why?" Jack asked, "Why leave me?"
"So you would understand how it feels to have two hearts" Ianto smiled as he reached behind hm. "See? I have him. Your other heart."
Jack looked down at the boy who stared defiantly back.
Gray.