note: Prompted by Candybree. Chocolate cake, possibly alien. Had no effing idea how to write a fic about alien cake so I figured I'd to stick normal cake!
Hope you all like this! Review!!!
Chocolate cake
Jack startled awake, eyes wide open in fright as a terrified scream died on his lips. His first instinct was to grab his gun and get ready to fight again. But when he did, he noticed that he was no longer in the cold and dark alley he remembered to be.
He looked around and saw the wonderful familiarity of the Hub - his Hub. He sighed contently, for once he was not keen on being the action hero. Slowly he began to remember what had happened previously…
"Ianto! MOVE!" Jack yelled. "Get out of here!"
"Jack! I'm not going to leave you behind!"
"You have to, Ianto! There's four Weevils and we are powerless, we've got no guns and no sprays. You need to get out of here. I'll cause distraction."
"Jack, they'll kill you."
"I'll come back …" Jack replied. Seeing the worry on Ianto's face, he continued. "I promise. I'll come back."
"Jack, I can't."
"Ianto!"
"I won't!!"
Jack saw the weevils getting closer. He knew that it was now or never. He needed to get Ianto to safety or they will both be goners. But only one of them would come back.
Jack shivered at the thought of something happening to Ianto. Forcefully he grabbed Ianto's wrists and pulled him close.
"Please, I won't ask anything else of you. Go now and don't look back. Don't come back for me. I'll see you back at the Hub."
"Jack …"
"I know it's hard for you. But don't make me order you. Please, I'm not one to beg but this time I am. Please Ianto Jones, safe yourself. For me."
Not waiting for an answer, Jack dragged Ianto out of the alley and into the safety of Cardiff's highly lit streets. But not before planting a fierce kiss on Ianto's lips. "Go!"
Ianto was left dumbstruck as he saw Jack running away from him and towards the threat.
Grinning, Jack measured up his opponents, three fully grown adult Weevils who hadn't eaten for a few days. Grimacing, he cursed. "Now fellas, let's be nice. What are the chances you guys will just … run along?"
He saw the first Weevil lunge for him. "Next to nothing then."
The next second, all three of them pounded on their prey and the strong Captain Jack Harkness fell into darkness once more.
Jack touched his neck as if to see if the wounds were still there. Now he remembered. Every bit of claw and teeth that had mauled his body merely two hours ago. He bled out, that he knew for sure because he remembered his body becoming weaker as his opponents became stronger. As if the blood and flesh they were ripping from him gave them strength. Like vampires.
He looked down on his shirt and saw his own shirt drenched in his dried blood. "Blood, always blood." he whispered. "Why is it always bloody and always so messy."
Jack shivered once more.
Confident his body had recovered enough, he dared to move. He shifted his head and raised his chest. Somehow he had found himself on the couch with a pillow to support his head and a blanket to keep him warm. He couldn't remember how he got on the couch or even inside the Hub for that matter.
He looked to his side and saw a steaming hot coffee cup waiting for him.
And then he knew. Ianto.
He got off the couch, with effort, and groaned as his limbs felt stiff. 'Slow deaths are the worst' he muttered under his breath. He grabbed his cup and he limped his way to the main area of the hub, sighing as he saw the computers shut off and the lights down low. He must've been out for quite some time, surely more than two hours. It was light when he got attacked.
He heard a quiet rustling of bags and cutlery being moved around. He walked – or rather hobbled - his way to the kitchenette and saw that Ianto was busy cleaning.
He cleared his throat to get his attention and immediately Ianto was by his side.
"Jack, you're up," he said as he supported Jack's weight. "You're not well yet. Take it easy."
Ianto took the cup off Jack and guided the older man to sit at the table.
"Sit down Cariad," he soothingly said. "You bled out. That always takes a while longer to heal."
"You brought me back to the Hub." Jack stated.
"I did." Ianto replied. "I'm sorry. I know I should've left but I just couldn't. I called for back-up but it was already to late. You already died. I'm sorry."
"I'm just glad you're safe Ianto. I had your safety in mind only. I can come back. You can't. And I tend to keep you here for a very long time."
"Doesn't mean you have to suffer time and again." Ianto replied grimly.
"For my friends … I'd gladly die a thousand deaths. Never forget that."
"I know, my brave Captain!" Ianto sarcastically countered. In a more serious tone he added: "It still doesn't make it right. You always suffer. You do so much for this city and you're the one suffering in silence. It's not right you have to die in a cold and damp alley on your own. It's just not right."
Jack shrugged. He knew Ianto had difficulties dealing his Jack's dying and if truth be told, so did Jack. But the concept of dying and coming back was still foreign to Jack, even after all those years. So he grinned, smiled and flirted, just so we wouldn't have to think about the downside of being an immortal defender of the earth. "So … you organized a rescue party for me." he said. "Dragged me out of that alley, made me comfortable on the couch with pillow and blanket and kept a hot cup of coffee by my side for when I woke up."
"I know how having something hot right after waking up makes it easier. Less painful."
Jack blinked in surprise and chuckled. "What would I do without you?"
Ianto chuckled. "Probably die of caffeine-withdrawal. Jack … You'd be amazing anyhow. With or without me."
"Maybe. But I certainly would never feel so cared for as I do right now."
Ianto smiled politely. "Part of my job sir."
"Really?" Jack asked, rather disappointed.
"Yeah, and you know... I want to."
"Go home Ianto, it's past midnight. Salvage the little life you have left."
"Jack …"
"I'm serious Ianto. Don't let your life get away from you. I tell Gwen not to let her life drift. Same goes for the rest of you. Even yourself, Mr. stubbornness himself… especially you."
"But Jack … I am home. With you."
Jack smiled, the grin spreading from one cheek to the other. "Glad you feel that way Mr. Jones." he said as he softly kissed Ianto. "Because I've grown quite fond of your presence."
"You don't look so good." Ianto grimly said as he searched for Jack's gaze.
"Well … I know it's hard to believe but even I have my bad hair days."
"Not what I mean Jack!" Ianto firmly replied. "You look tired."
"I just got dragged back from death. That does take a lot out of a person."
"My poor baby." Ianto whispered softly whilst running his fingers through Jack's hair.
"Your baby?"
"Got a problem with that sir?"
"Not at all. Not at all. Just find it cute that you call me that."
Ianto snorted. "Come on, I'm taking you home with me."
"Mr. Jones, are you seducing me?"
"Me? Never!" Ianto sarcastically countered. "Come on," he added. "I'll run you a bath. A hot one. And afterwards we can have some cake."
"Cake?" Jack hopefully asked.
"Chocolate cake. Whilst watching Top gear. I know you love watching Hammond and Clarkson make fun of the other guy for being slow."
"Why are you doing this?"
Ianto sighed deeply. "Because you don't have to be so goddamn strong all the time! Can't you see? I'm giving you space and time. And a place … a place for you to stumble and fall. You should get to do that once in a while, Jack."
Jack stared at Ianto as if he got struck by lightning. Those words struck a cord inside Jack. He saw the look in Ianto's eyes and there was nothing but pure and utter love in those bright blue eyes. Jack swallowed audibly and ran his fingers through his hair, fisting them on the back of his head. He wondered what on earth he had done to deserve Ianto's trust, loyalty and love. Nothing he did ever seemed good enough to repay for his past sins. And yet here he was, probably one of Cardiff's sweetest and yet saddest guys and he was there to care for him.
A smile grew on his face. 'One day Ianto Jones,' he thought to himself. 'One of these days Ianto Jones, I'll gather enough courage and I'll tell you exactly how I feel about you.'
Ianto sat down in front of him and caressed the side of Jack's face. "I'm not trying to push you Jack. I'm just telling you … that I'm here. If you ever need me for anything. And it's okay to feel bad. You're only human. Albeit an amazing human, but still … only human. So I'm asking you from one friend to another … are you okay?"
Jack hurriedly brought Ianto's hand to the side of his face and placed a fierce kiss on Ianto's palm. "I am now you're here," he responded. "You always are and I don't deserve you. But I am glad you're here."
Their fingers naturally entwined and carelessly they both played with the others hands. For one perfect moment they were just content in sharing the silence and the comfort of their companionship.
Suddenly Jack grinned. "Come on, let's get home. I heard you had some chocolate cake!"
Ianto returned the grin but pouted. "Top gear's over though."
"No worries," Jack replied. "You can be my Jeremy Clarkson for tonight."
"Clarkson???" Ianto exclaimed.
"Okay. You can my Hamster." Jack replied, granting Ianto his typical Harkness-grin.
"That's better." Ianto said.
Ianto got up and gathered their stuff as Jack watched his every move.
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Yeah, you said you wanted to go …" Ianto started. "Home …" he quietly added as realization finally dawned on him.
"Yes, home. Ianto Jones, I don't care where I am in the universe as long as I have you to come home to. You are my home and my family. Never forget that."
Ianto replied by kissing Jack fiercely. As they parted, Jack distinctively heard Ianto whisper 'as are you' in his ear, causing his grin to widen even more.
With a naughty twinkle in his eye, Ianto added louder and more confident: "You big old sap!"
