My poor little babies just need some love, okay? Obviously, I don't own any rights to Torchwood. Enjoy!
Ianto was really starting to wish he had just stayed at home. It was a cold January evening and Ianto was outside in the rain, backtracking his steps towards the Torchwood Three Hub. It had been a busy day, and everyone had been run off their feet by multiple time and space disruptions. Nothing too serious but enough to mean everyone was too tired to notice that Ianto closed up the Hub without picking up his coat. Which was why he was now freezing, soaking, and walking back towards the Hub in the dark and pouring rain. Eventually, the Hub came into view and Ianto quickened his pace. As soon as he opened the door, he felt his body relax as the warmth of indoors surrounded him. Shaking himself off, he jogged up the stairs and grabbed his coat from where it was lying on the sofa. But, just as he turned around to face the door again, he heard a quiet sob from behind him. Turning back around, he scanned the room. But he couldn't see anyone. Not that anyone should be here this late anyway; they had all gone home for the night many hours ago. Sighing to himself, Ianto shook his head and started to walk back towards the door. But he stopped once he heard the same small, quiet sob again.
"Hello?" Ianto called out cautiously. He tensed when he heard a shuffling come from upstairs.
"Ianto?" a voice that Ianto knew well asked with confusion.
"Jack?" Ianto replied, equally confused. More shuffling sounds came from upstairs until eventually, Jack emerged from his office. Ianto blinked at him in surprise, at first unsure if it was really Jack he was looking at. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy and his cheeks were stained with tears.
"Are you okay?" Ianto knew his question was a little redundant, but he wasn't sure what else to say.
"I'm always okay," Jack smiled, even though both of them knew that clearly wasn't the case.
"I just, forgot my coat," Ianto gave as explanation, half-heartedly lifting his coat up for Jack to see, "mind if I come up?"
"Go ahead," Jack shrugged. Ianto was caught fairly off guard by his offer, but he found his legs were already moving towards him before his brain even had time to think. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he saw Jack leaning against the wall, staring at nothing in particular.
"Sir?" Ianto asked softly, reaching out a hand towards him. Slowly, Jack reached out and touched Ianto's fingers with his own. He was soft and gentle; almost uncertain in his actions. When Ianto didn't pull away from him, Jack pushed forward a little further and interlinked their fingers. Ianto's hands still held a little of the cold from outside and the warmth from Jack's hand on his began to seep into him.
"You know, you don't have to call me that," Jack said quietly, not quite looking Ianto in the eye.
"Call you what?" Ianto asked, clearly confused.
"Sir... you can just call me Jack," Jack looked up, finally able to meet Ianto's gaze.
"Of course, sir," Ianto smiled and Jack let out a quiet, huffed laugh.
"You probably want to get going, it's late," Jack suddenly said, pulling away. For a moment, the thought of his cold and lonely apartment flashed through Ianto's mind.
"I can stay here, with you, if you'd like?" Ianto said, much to his own surprise. His cheeks instantly grew hot and he looked down at his feet.
"I think that would be nice, actually," Jack smiled- an actual, genuine smile this time. Ianto's surprise only continued, much to Jack's apparent enjoyment.
"Are you sure?" Ianto asked tentatively, unsure that Jack was really being serious.
"Hey, you're the one that offered to stay. And in any case, the company might be nice for a change," Jack shrugged, walking over to a cabinet near-by and pulling out two glasses and an unopened bottle of whiskey. He opened the bottle, poured both drinks, and offered one to Ianto before sitting down at his desk. A silence hung over the room for a while, both men unsure of what to say without overstepping any unspoken boundaries that either of them had put in place. Cautiously, Ianto reached out his hand and gently brushed his fingers down the side of Jack's jaw. Almost instinctively, Jack found himself leaning in to his touch, a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
"Have I ever told you that I think you're beautiful?" Ianto said quietly, surprising even himself with his sudden openness.
"Well you have now!" Jack laughed good-naturedly, his heart warming at the sight of a blush spreading further across Ianto's cheeks, "You're certainly being bold tonight,"
Unable to find any useful words for this moment, Ianto leaned in towards Jack for his final bold move of the night- and quite possibly the final bold move of his life, if the speed his heart was racing was any indicator. Pulling Jack's face towards his, he connected their lips. It was like nothing Ianto had ever experienced before. He felt as though he had just been surrounded by a warm bubble of happiness and affection. Suddenly, he felt Jack's lips smile against his own and a whole new wave of emotion washed over him. This wasn't a dream, this was really happening. Eventually Jack pulled away and the feeling lingered on Ianto's lips. His cheeks were flushed and his heart was racing but he didn't really care because he looked down and saw Jack smiling at him. And, for now in this very moment, that was all he needed. He had been meaning to ask Jack what had been wrong when he first came back. He had meaning to ask Jack a lot of things really; about him, about them. But, as Jack placed his hands either side of Ianto's face and pulled him back, all those thoughts left Ianto's mind. Anything else could wait, for now all he wanted, all he needed, was Jack.