A/N – This one was pretty hard. It is practically John's signature song, so it was a bit difficult to separate it from him and make it fit Torchwood. I didn't want to make it a Jack story and have everyone think of John. So, I made it an Ianto-centric story. Hope it works out like I want it to – especially since I wound up finishing this around midnight last night.
5. Anything Goes
It had been a crazy week. Thankfully, after lunch, Tosh had announced that the rift was due to be quiet for at least forty-eight hours. Jack had promptly told them all to get out and enjoy it while they could. Gwen and Owen had practically left flames on the floor with how fast they had left. Tosh had taken the time to finish what she was doing, but unusually for her, had also left quite quickly. Ianto had hung back to wait for Jack so they could enjoy the day together. Unfortunately, Tosh's rift predictions could not predict unpleasant calls from the Prime Minister.
After a half hour of puttering around the hub waiting and trying to ignore Jack's faces at whatever the minister was saying, Ianto decided to enjoy the afternoon outside. He motioned to Jack that he'd meet him on the Plas whenever the call was finished.
He exited via the tourist office, making sure the sign was set to closed and walked along the Plas. The weather was so beautiful, it drew quite a crowd to the bay area. Ianto settled himself on one of the stone steps that surrounded the basin area, enjoying the rare combination of beautiful weather and time off. After a while he wondered if waiting for Jack outside had been the best idea. The captain was liable to be in quite a mood after his phone call and while Ianto wasn't ashamed to be with Jack, he wasn't ordinally comfortable dealing with Jack's advances in public. Perhaps he should have just stayed in the hub and gotten some work done in the archives.
Ianto was by no means prudish. He had no problems acquiescing to any of Jack's demands in the privacy of the hub or his own flat. He was even getting more comfortable with Jack's onslaughts in front of the rest of the team. He was even relatively okay with Jack late at night on the deserted Plas. But in the middle of the afternoon, with crowds of people around? That was another story.
Trying not to dwell on his own insecurities, Ianto turned his attention to the people strolling around the Plas. He smiled at an older woman posing for a photo in front of the water tower. If she stepped just a little to the left, she wouldn't show up in the photo. He watched as she stepped off the curb to join another elderly woman to look at the photo. They both laughed, then joined hands and walked off towards the bay hand in hand. Ianto wished it could be that way with Jack.
He then turned his attention to a busker in front of the Millennium Centre. Looked like a drag queen with a beautiful sequined dress, impeccable makeup and a stunning coif of purple hair. The crowd gathered around was dancing and singing along to some disco song that Ianto couldn't identify. He marveled at the performers self-confidence.
The Welshman's thoughts were interrupted by a young man asking if he could take a photo of himself and his new wife. As he graciously took the photo and handed the camera back to the young man, Ianto mused that it could have easily been himself and Lisa – the man was dark haired and pale, which contrasted beautifully with the woman's dark brown skin.
Sitting and watching the crowd, Ianto was drawn to the diversity. Each person he looked at had their own story and it really didn't matter what anyone else thought. He thought of the Torchwood team – Owen had fallen in love with Diane – who was a (albeit unwilling) time traveler from the 1950s. Tosh had been in love with a psychic murdering lesbian alien then a frozen World War I soldier. Now Owen was undead, and he and Tosh were closer than ever. He himself had still loved Lisa despite the fact that she had been partially converted. Now he was… whatever he was… with Jack – an immortal former Time Agent from the future. It seemed like it really didn't matter who or what someone was as long as they were happy.
Lost in his own thoughts, Ianto didn't notice Jack approach until a shadow fell over him. He looked up, squinting at the light. The Welshman smiled - he'd know that silhouette anywhere. Jack held out his hand to help Ianto up from the steps he was sitting on. Ianto took the captains hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. When Ianto didn't immediately let go, Jack looked at their still joined hands then at Ianto. The younger man just shrugged and smiled.
The captain and the tea boy headed off along the plas hand in hand.
End.
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