24
The ring box wih the chip in it mocked them.
Ianto is conflicted now. Did Jack know all along and was waiting for him to say it out loud? To give him his moment? Or was he playing the long game, trying to get Ianto to tell him anything. Or did he truly not know? Ianto was unable to accept this one, Jack with his finger on the fucking pulse of the entire city, if not the world.
No.
Ianto has to accept that Jack knew full well about the Kingsmen and did not fucking care. Knew that he meant more to Ianto than a mark. Those moments in the dark down in that bunker no one else ever went? Did he know he was under Ianto's skin? He had to, right? Did he care too? Did he not place that gun to Ianto's head?
"Ianto?" as if called, Jack appeared in the doorway and Ianto motioned him in, closing the door behind him and then walking around him to sit on the edge of his old battered desk he loves so much here in his archives. Ianto's hands slid into his pockets and cants his head, maybe fully aware of what it does to Jack, or maybe because he always sat like that it was a default? Jack didn't know for sure, deciding it was likely to be a natural sex appeal there.
"Ianto" Jack sighed, then grimaced as he knows full well Ianto hates repetition too "I want to start by saying I did not know the importance of this thing. I know you were looking for it … I was worried it was for some nefarious reason."
"Like… gonna take over the world? You don't think I could do that other ways… the damaged chip from a dead agent is not the most logical way I am afraid" Ianto was calm.
"I DID NOT KNOW!" Jack repeated fiercely, and then cleared his throat, his hands out in front of him like he was trying to calm a shying horse "Look. I knew you were working for someone, or something. I knew of the Kingsmen but never… NEVER in my wildest dreams did I suspect one of them of being inside my team. I do not know if I am violated or flattered that you saw fit to watch my arse this closely."
"Do we have to turn everything into some innuendo?" Ianto sighed.
"WE might not but apparently I do" Jack replied, then leaned back against the wall. "I always default to humour when I am upset or confused, I try to hide my nervousness with the illusion of looking in control."
"I know. Something I always found endearing about you was that posturing" Ianto admitted "And yes… that arse is appealing too."
"Ianto … how did we get here?"
"The SUV sir."
Jack gave Ianto a look he knew well and had not seen since the 'Lisa' episode. Cheeky.
"Can we have a do-over at all?" Ianto said as he stood and faced Jack, same height. "Hello, I am Ianto Jones. Hello there. I am an ex-Kingsman and current fuckup looking for somewhere to snuggle, feel safe and maybe eat pizza. How are you today?"
"Hello Ianto, I am Jack Harkness. I am a former Agency Boy and also a real British Air Force Captain hiding here in Cardiff trying to save the world I almost destroyed. I feel really bad about that. I am good otherwise."
"Good. Good. I feel the same about my almost destruction of the world thing. Like… cringe. So. What do you say we…you know… get a pizza?"
"Sounds good. I would hope you are going to have a side salad too, you do not eat enough… Ianto? What. What did I say?"
Ianto shook his head, unable to speak as that might came crashing back, stepping into Jack's arms as he laid his head on his shoulder and gave a deep shuddering sigh. Jack closed his arms around him and held him, revelling in that lovely smell that…yeah. Fucking idiot. Kingsman. That's what he always loved… Ianto smells like the store. Of course he does. Portably knows that old rascal Pendragon too.
Jack was pondering this ... well OK… pondering if a kiss might be worth stealing right about now… when a noise had them reluctantly drawing apart to see Gwen in the doorway with her arms folded "So that's it? A quickie and let's forget the whole thing? My ankle … look at it!"
They looked at the orthopaedic support boot she was wearing, the large cumbersome thing must have been hard going to drag over the flooring down on this level, searching them out.
"Gwen. We do have these exciting little ear pieces called Earwigs… don't worry .. they are not REAL earwigs mind. You can actually contact other team members via coms and not traipse about looking for them wasting energy, time and quite frankly … medical gear. That looks right trashed from the grating!" Ianto pointed at the boot with open annoyance "Owen will have a cow. Look at you. A broken foot and still the wrong bloody shoes!"
Jack started to laugh as she huffed at Ianto, then reluctantly started to snigger as well.
They all knew why she was there, jealous much?
"Go back upstairs and sit the fuck down!" Ianto said slowly "Get Toshi to call Rhys, go home and let him fuss on you for a few days. Godsake woman. You are like a petulant three year old determined not to stay in her bedroom during a time-out!"
Jack was roaring now, pointing at her as she started to relax and join in the laughter for real. Ianto was right. She had a wonderful bloke, didn't she? Gwen left them to it as the mood was broken and without even knowing it … she won anyway. Jack reluctantly followed her out to leave Ianto to his pondering.
DAMN
