Set Season 2 shortly after meeting John for the first time. AU and I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this oneshot but we'll see.
Having Captain John Hart around the hub was not ideal, and trusting him was not something any member of Torchwood was prepared to do after everything they'd been through the last time he'd swanned in. And here he was again, apparently by accident but stranded by the rift asking Torchwood for help.
Tosh was busy tracking rift activity, trying to identify a pattern that could be harnessed to send John on his merry way, the destination of no one's real concern as long as it was away. Owen had flat out refused to be anywhere near the man who had shot him only a few weeks previously, instead lurking in the lab in the hope he'll get the opportunity to shoot John when he inevitably betrayed them. Ianto was looking through previous archive entries about the type of rift storm that had fried John's wriststrap, and the former Time Agent was apparently "helping" which pretty much meant getting in the way.
"Doesn't it drive you crazy the way he's looking at Bambi over there?"
John nodded to where Jack was leaning up against the desk, Gwen giggling at whatever he'd just said as he grinned down at her. She was clearly hanging off his every word, fixing her big brown eyes on Jack in that way she always did. He leant down to whisper something to her and she snorted with laughter, resting her hand on his chest in hysterics. Ianto was used to this kind of thing, of course. Jack flirted with anyone and anything, and Gwen was no exception. Ianto could pretend all he liked that Jack's flirting didn't bother him, and for the most part it didn't, until it came to Gwen. He had long suspected that there was something between her and Jack, and that them acting on it at some point would just be inevitable. Seeing the two of them together just solidified in his head that he was a distraction, a warm body (and probably one of many) to keep Jack occupied until he could have who he actually wanted. But of course he wasnt going to confess that to Captain John Hart.
"Why would it?" he asked, keeping his head in his work,
"Well, you're sleeping with him, aren't you?" John pointed out, twiddling a laser pointer he'd found on the desk in his fingers, pressing the buttons to shine laser beams off the water tower.
"Not like we're exclusive" he shrugged as he pulled the device from John's hands, rolling his eyes at John's petulant toddler pout,
"Obviously you're not exclusive, Jack doesn't do exclusive"
"Maybe I don't either"
"Ooh is that an invitation?"
"Absolutely not" Ianto scoffed incredulously, shuffling the papers in front of him into a semi neat pile,
"Don't be so quick to dismiss it, eye candy" John stepped towards him to whisper in his ear, "jealousy can be a powerful thing…. just follow my lead and keep an eye on Jacky boy over there"
He pulled back only slightly, letting his hand glide gently down Ianto's chest, his eyes darkening as he looked seductively up at the Welshman. Ianto's breath caught under the intense gaze, unable to look away as John winked, turned on his heel and slunk away, hips swinging.
Ianto cleared his throat and subtly looked towards Jack. Just as John had predicted, he had clearly noticed their little exchange and was eyeing them warily, confusion clear on his face as well as something darker. Ianto was surprised to note that it was jealousy, and even more surprised at the sense of satisfaction it gave him. Well, Jack did this all the time, he should have a taste of how it feels. if he even cares, Ianto thought bitterly.
X-X-X
John played this game with Ianto for the rest of the morning, laughing excessively at anything Ianto said, a little wink or touch here and there. Ianto knew he was just making a point of moving in on Jack's… whatever he was to piss the immortal off, but he was surprised to find he was actually enjoying the attention. He'd never thought of himself as someone who needed all of that, but watching Jack give it away freely to everybody made him reconsider that. He wanted simply to feel wanted, to feel like he was enough not just on the odd date but always. He wanted to feel that his lover was thinking only of him, not secretly settling for what he could get because what he actually wanted was off limits. And if he couldn't count on that with Jack, if the man was getting what he needed elsewhere, then why couldn't Ianto enjoy that same freedom. And John was an irritating bastard, bordering on downright sadistic after previous experience, but he was also a very attentive flirt and had an air of Jack's charisma that Ianto couldn't help being a little drawn to.
As Ianto headed down to the archives, John sashaying behind him shamelessly checking out his arse, Jack watched them go with a frown. He'd noticed John giving Ianto a little extra attention, hardly blaming him for noticing the sexy Welshman, and knew Ianto could handle himself. But he hadn't expected Ianto to not only be putting up with John's clear attempts to get into his pants, but actually seem to enjoy it. Jack had a pretty relaxed view on flirting, knowing that it was generally meaningless and had no bearing on how he actually felt about a person, but the painfully 21st Century Ianto Jones wasn't like that. Or at least he hadn't thought so.
"Oh, he's furious" John rubbed his hands together in glee as Ianto rolled his eyes at him, putting his stack of paperwork onto the desk and reaching for the log he kept of everything in the section, scanning quickly for anything remotely useful.
"No, he's not, he's just wondering why I'm letting you get away with it all" Ianto insisted, "I'm not exactly your biggest fan usually"
"Usually? Ooh do I actually have a shot then Eye Candy?" John winked, stepping closer to Ianto.
Ianto blushed despite himself, "Get over yourself, you're enjoying this way too much"
John stepped closer still, meeting Ianto's eyes "Yes, I am. And so are you I might add"
Ianto swallowed as John stopped inches in front of him, not breaking the gaze, "You don't have to pretend now, Jack can't see from here"
"No, he can't" John whispered seductively, "And I haven't been pretending"
Ianto was caught up in the moment completely. John was similar to Jack in so many ways, not least the pheromones which were swimming around Ianto's head as the man leaned closer to his lips. Before he knew it, he had pressed his lips to John's, the other man grinning against his lips before deepening the kiss. Ianto's hands crept up around John's neck of their own accord, while John immediately went lower to cup Ianto's arse, something that the man would've commented was far too forward if he had the ability to think straight. John was a fucking excellent kisser, there was no doubt. The small part of his brain that still had logical thought was screaming that this was wrong, but that was lost in just how good this felt, to be so wanted. He knew that just in that moment his partner was thinking only of him, something he could never guarantee about Jack when they were together.
"What the fuck is going on here?!" the utter fury in Jack's voice broke them apart, both breathless and dishevelled. They turned to the door simultaneously to where Jack stood, his murderous gaze fixed on the spot where they'd been locked in the heated embrace. John recovered from the shock of it all first, leaning back against the desk with a smirk. Ianto stared wide eyed between the two men, speechless with disbelief at what had just happened.
"Always room for one more" John winked casually, hands on his hips, indifferent to Jack's glare,
"John, get out of here" Jack said coldly, "I need to talk to Ianto"
"Oh, don't be too hard on Eye Candy, I mean I am pretty irresistible, and you were…."
"Out. Now" Jacks tone was deadly, and even John knew better than to respond and simply walked out of the room, with a quick apologetic glance at Ianto, who swallowed apprehensively.
Jack watched John leave before turning his gaze to Ianto, his expression unreadable,
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't know it just sort of… happened" Ianto stammered, his lips still red and kiss-swollen, a fact that made Jack's blood boil. Nobody else should be making Ianto look like that,
"It just happened" Jack repeated, "Does this 'just happen' a lot then?"
Ianto was confused at the tone "Well John Hart doesn't show up all that often, Thank God"
"Don't be clever, you know what I mean"
"No, I really don't" Ianto said defensively, "what exactly are you insinuating?"
"Well how many more throats am I gonna find your tongue down?!" Jack snapped, throwing his hands up in anger. The jealousy was radiating off Jack in furious waves, and Ianto would have noticed the edge of hurt there if he hadn't been so insulted,
"We aren't exclusive, you've made that clear, so do we have one rule for you and another for me, is that it?" Ianto glared at the other man,
Jack's eyes widened, "What do you mean we're not exclusive? We're dating"
"Yeah, but you're still shagging other people, and if not then you're certainly thinking about shagging other people, in particular…." he stopped short of actually naming her, running his hand nervously through his hair.
"Ianto, I haven't been with anybody else since the first time we were together, even before I left"
"What?" Ianto was shocked, "Are you serious?"
Jack nodded, deflating as he realised that Ianto was genuinely surprised at the admission. But it was completely the truth,
"I haven't even kissed anyone else since…. well John, actually" Jack laughed grimly, "and that was by no means a romantic thing, I punched him in the face afterwards"
"Oh" Ianto whispered, "I just assumed…and I mean you and Gwen…"
"Gwen?" Jack raised an eyebrow, "What about Gwen?"
"You want her" Ianto mumbled, not meeting his eyes, "Its obvious you do and I'm just…filling the time until you…"
"Ianto" Jack stepped closer, reaching out to take his hand gently, "I said I came back for you, and I meant it. I don't want Gwen, at least not in any way that means anything. She intrigued me when we first met, I'll admit that. And as a team we need her. But I don't want her" he held up their joined hands, "I want this. I want you, Ianto Jones, in all the ways I can have you. And you have me, I'm yours as much as I have ever been anyone's"
Ianto was speechless, "Exclusively?" he breathed out eventually,
He pulled Ianto towards him to rest his hands on his hips, "Exclusively. I am with you, totally and completely. And I am not sharing you, least of all with John fucking Hart"
Ianto laughed softly, "I don't want anybody else, Jack. I just wanted to be enough"
"You are more than enough for me, you're everything" Jack smiled, touching his cheek "I know I flirt, but its you I come home to, for as long as you'll have me. We've been taking things slow since I got back, I wanted to do it properly this time. I wanted to prove I could do the whole dating thing, the…relationship thing"
"I want that too" Ianto nodded, before looking down guiltily, "About John...I really don't know what happened, he got in my head and..."
"Hey, hey, don't worry about that now" Jack placed a finger over his lips, "seeing you with him made me realise... I was so jealous of him all over you like that, and then walking down here to see you...God I wanted him dead" Jack laughed and there was something almost dangerous in the sound, "I want everyone to know that I'm the only guy that gets to kiss you like that"
"Thats fine by me" Ianto smiled, "I hope you take that option as often as possible"
Jack grinned and leaned in to press his lips to Ianto's, and he immediately felt the difference. This was just right, Jack wanted him and only him and he could finally feel it. Jacks hands gripped possessively at his hips, holding him in place with no intention of letting go. Jack pulled away only to rest their foreheads together,
"Mine" he whispered against the Welshman's lips, and Ianto could only nod in acknowledgement.
"Tosh has it all figured out to get John on his way again, what do you say we go and get him outta here?"
"Yes please" Ianto agreed, reluctantly stepping out of Jack's arms to head upstairs.
X-X-X
As Jack and Ianto walked hand in hand back to the main hub, all heads turned towards them. Tosh grinned at the clear display of them as a couple, Gwen raising an eyebrow but choosing not to comment. John blanched at the approach and pulled Tosh and Gwen in front of him, ignoring their squeaks of protest at being used as a human shield. Jack rolled his eyes,
"Relax, I'm not that petty to actually hurt you for making out with my boyfriend" his eyes darkened as he continued sternly, "but if you ever even attempt to touch him again, I will kick your ass into the next galaxy"
John nodded as seriously as he could ever take anything, "So, you two ok now?"
Ianto nodded, as Jack smiled down at him, "yeah we're good"
"Shame, would've enjoyed a round with Eye Candy, if his kissing is anything to go by the rest must be incredible" John leered at the Welshman,
"Oh it is" Jack agreed, "But you don't get to find out"
He wrapped an arm protectively around Ianto's waist, who was now blushing profusely at not only the comments but the looks he was getting from the girls, who were glancing at him with far too much interest for his liking.
"Spoilsport" John pouted, "Well no use me sticking around here any longer then is there. My beautiful Toshiko, are you set with those readings?"
Tosh snorted with disgust as she handed over the tablet containing the pattern. With a few beeps of his wrist strap and a salute, John disappeared. And while everyone was more than happy to see the back of him, Ianto was grateful for his arrival. It had been the catalyst they needed for him to know where he stood with Jack. And as Jack sent everybody home and spent the evening showing Ianto just how completely he belonged to him, he thought that jealousy maybe did have its merits after all.
