Dirty Creature

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Ianto was rolling in the covers, his soft sighs waking Jack who turned to pull him close, kissing his forehead as he crooned and tried to ease the nightmare.

For as long as he had known him, these had been part of the deal. Sleep with Ianto… get woken while he fights some unknown demon he never speaks about. Jack wondered about it and after thinking for a while he decided to do something he never thought he would… he slipped something into Ianto's evening cup of tea, feeling like shit but needing to know.

Less than twenty minutes later into was slumped on the sofa as the truth serum did it's work and Jack whispered "tell me darling, what do you dream?"

"The Creature" Ianto whimpered softly "The Dirty Creature, comes from the black, oozes up from below and it slimes over me, consuming my lifeforce."

"From below… like… a spectre?" Jack frowned.

"Like a big scary Kraken, the tentacles covered with hundreds and hundreds of hooks, biting into my flesh as he eats me, tears as me and no matter how I fight… he always wins." Ianto sighed, a deep shuddering one that made Jack's blood run cold as he reached out to stroke Ianto's hair.

"I love you Ianto, you are a good man and I know there is no monster that is stronger than you. You will beat him, OK? Tonight… tomorrow might… when he comes slithering up next to strike at you, pulling you down to his depths… you take the blade hidden in your pocket and you slam it into his heart. He will scream and writhe, flounder and die. You will what his black blood fill the water around you like ink, you will float up to the surface and be free." Jack said gently "No matter what happens… he will fail because he is too heavy … too full of bad things to catch you… he will sink onto the mire and you will lay on the water feeling the soft breeze on your face and the sunshine will renew you, the light so uplifting that you feel like a reborn man."

Ianto snorted softly, and for a moment Jack thought he had broken the serum but then he said "you always had a silver tongue Cariad… you are so …. Lovely."

"Sleep." Jack commanded and Ianto's breathing deepened as Jack lowered him to the sofa cushions, covering him with a blanket as he did the evening dishes.

After a while hands slid around him from behind and lips kissed his neck "I fell asleep… are you doing my dishes?"

"Silly goose" Jack Said, turning to get another kiss as he patted Ianto's bum "Shower and bed for you, I will be along to do your back."

"Oooooo, promises, promises" Ianto laughed.

That night Ianto started his thrashing but after a few minutes he gasped, his body going rigid as he snarled, his lips peeling back from his teeth as Jack watched with shock, the hatred… the pure venom as he slurred "take that Da… sink you bastard… you can't hurt me now" before sighing softly and star-fishing across Jack, as if floating in the water.

Jack felt bile as he now knew who the monster was that crept into Ianto's dreams to hurt him, scare him, tear at him.

If his VM still worked he would go back and really slide a blade between his ribs.

Dirty Creature.

.

...

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Dirty creature come my way
From the bottom of a big black lake
Shuffles up to my window
Making sure I'm awake
S'probably gonna pick my brain
Got me in a vice like grip
He said one slip
You're dead, huh

Dirty creature of habit
Little horror here to stay
Anyone in his right mind
Would tell it to go away m hey
But the river of dread runs deep
Full of unspeakable things
The creature don't mess around
I don't wanna mess with him

I don't wanna sail, I don't wanna sail
I don't wanna, I don't wanna sail tonight
Dirty creature's got me at a
Disadvantage from the inside

Save me
It's a dirty Creature

Tentacles on the brain
Keep me from falling asleep
I'm rooted to the spot
The beast don't know when to stop
Sneaking up from behind
Binds and gags my wits
Dirty creature got my head
Exactly where he wants it

I don't wanna sail, I don't wanna sail
I don't wanna, I don't wanna sail tonight
Dirty creature's got me at a
Disadvantage from the inside

I don't wanna sail, I don't wanna sail
I don't wanna, I don't wanna sail tonight
Taniwha is waiting for me
Just below the surface so bright

Yeah, oo

Even as we speak
The dirty creature springs a nasty surprise

Dirty creature knows my type
Found it in a magazine
He's seen the look of fear before
Splattered all over the screen
The animal magnet thug
Draws me out of myself
I need a dragon slayer
Who can save me from myself

I don't wanna sail, I don't wanna sail
I don't wanna set sail
For the middle of nowhere tonight
Dirty creature's got me at a
Disadvantage from the inside

Yeah, oo

I don't wanna sail
Upon the waters of invention tonight

Get away
Dirty creature
Ah
Do again
Stay away, OK?

Scared of the dark
Scared of the dark
Always had this fear of the dark
Ever since I can remember
Had to leave the door open and the light on when I sleep
'Cause that's when the creature creeps
He creeps in the dark
He comes down the hall
He turns the corner
And my heart sinks
And I, I know that he is a slime
And he has a stink and a stench
Of the flilth that reins within
And you have to tell him where to go
Or you're going to be in big trouble for a long time
You have to say, "Dirty creature
Just go"
And be firm, don't accept his terms
'Cause he's a bad one, he's a bad one
He's a-makin' a sad one of you and me, dirty creature
Crazy man who's in the side
He's lookin' good, he's dressin' sharp
He's got a mouth that plays like a harp
Who talks to you, caresses you
The words are bait, and everything's amazing
Wanna say to him, "go"
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go

By Split Enz