52
Ianto's arm had healed quickly, a great side effect of being a Timelord and now Jack wanted to help him.
They stood in the sparing room facing each other as Ianto frowned at him.
"Jack, are you sure about this?" Ianto asked
"You need to get your confidence back and I need a sparring partner" Jack huffed, "Owen is a light weight and the girls … well, you know I can't attack them."
"We've never done this, not really. A bit of slap-n-tickle does not make for sparing" Ianto sighed.
"Look. You need to get back in the mind-set you needed to protect Gray, to function as an agent" Jack tried for a bit of soft bullying, "You need to get that dummy out of your mouth."
"Excuse me?" Ianto's eyebrow rose and Jack knew he had him hooked.
"Well, I'm just saying baby, well …ah. Maybe you're right. I don't want to hurt you" Jack smiled as he turned to step from the mat. "You are soft and pliable."
The sensation of free flight was not new to Jack, although it had been a while since he had felt such a prolonged tackle.
"You son of a Regnort!" Ianto snarled as he punched Jack in the face, then bounced off.
"Fuck! Ianto!" Jack spat out blood and lunge for him, only to get an armful of air.
"Timelord Jack" Ianto crowed, "I can move faster that you old man!"
"Old man? Old … hey! You are probably older than me you sanctimonious sack of … Argh!"
Ianto had slapped his head. Not his face, the side of his head. Hard.
"Fucker!" Jack growled as he tried to focus on the moving target.
"What's wrong? Getting beaten by a little limp wristed butler?" Ianto chided him as he pushed right back.
Jack can dish it, but he can't take it and he erupted with rage as he swung and Ianto easily evaded him, sweeping his feet out from under him.
"Careful sir" Ianto huffed, "That caboose of yours might get bruised, like your ego."
"Awfully confident" Jack leered, enjoying the sight of Ianto preening again.
"Well?" Ianto canted his head, "Come on. Don't keep me waiting."
Jack tried a spear tackle and wound up on the floor with a Timelord standing over him.
Again.
Bastard.
Ianto's amusement thrummed through their bond and Jack felt himself responding, turned on by the grin that filled Ianto's face.
Beautiful.
Unfortunately, also distracting.
Yep.
Onto floor, bruising said bum.
Again!
Ianto held out a hand and hoisted Jack to his feet, planting a kiss on his lips before he could get his feet under him and then darting away before Jack could respond.
Ok. Play it that way then.
Jack let his musk fill the air a bit more and this time let Ianto lunge.
He didn't expect the right hook.
Or the snarl of rage.
On the way Ianto straddled him as he beat him about the head and shoulders while snarling animalistically.
Or the tears.
They ran down Ianto's face as he howled in Jack's arms and Jack rocked him as he tried to soothe him.
Finally, Ianto let it go.
Ianto canted his head with pursed lips and Jack kissed him.
Not hard, not needy. Soft loving and full of desire.
Ianto sighed and relaxed into the hug.
"It's OK baby," Jack whispered to the broken man in his arms, "I'm right here and it's going to get better."
"I'm making you wait" Ianto moaned, "I'm sorry Jack."
"Hey, don't be" Jack crooned, "I love you. I understand that you feel out of sorts. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."
"Oh my love" Ianto sighed, clinging to Jack, "My safe harbour."
"Always" Jack whispered as he held him tightly.
"Always."
