TITLE: Beauty of a Broken Angel

SUMMARY: AU VERSE! What if Jack and Ianto met differently in 2000 rather than after Canary Wharf. How would that affect their story? More description to come with later chapters. Spoilers!

PART ONE OF SERIES: The Five Elements (AU Verse)

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood, because if I did Ianto would be immortal!

*Title of this story are lyrics from Warrior by Beth Crowley (There is an awesome Janto fanvid on YouTube to that song. Look it up!)*

*In honour of Ianto Jones' 37th Birthday because he never died in our minds as everyone knows. (Note: In this verse he would actually be 41 today)*

Prologue: Locked and Bound

Unknown Date

He awoke sluggishly to the usual dampness and darkness of confinement. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in this cell. Time had no meaning in solitary. The door only opened for food to be shoved inside or when someone decided he was the easiest way to release their anger.

He could sense every emotion for every visitor. The disgust aimed at him, a monster, the fear they felt for themselves. Fears of what he could do, the dangers he brought. Other times he could feel their anger almost shouting from them as they grabbed and kicked, the intensity of it overwhelming him as it burnt through his mind, sometimes more painful that the physical attack.

He could remember feeling another sense in the past, at a time he had more visitors and sometimes left the cell. At those times, the feelings were of their interest and curiosity, feelings that were always followed by indescribable pain.

He found no point of fighting back, he was there for a reason. He was too dangerous to be allowed out with humans. He was monster and monsters belonged here. He remembered nothing outside this cell and the white walled rooms he used to see, but even those he hadn't seen in a while. The times the door opened had decreased overtime and he no longer felt curiosity in those that came, and the interest in others had faded to boredom.

He paused in his thoughts.

Something was different today.

A new sense overpowered the echoes of others he could always perceive above him. It was stronger but felt further away.

He pushed back further into the corner he was sitting in, feeling the safety of the two walls against his bare back and sides as the tingling sensation continued, intriguing him. He'd felt nothing like it before. The more he focused the stronger it became, other emotions surrounding the source, giving him insight of supressed sadness and extreme loneliness.

He felt a connection drawing him towards it.

The metal of a chain, from the wall to a manacle around his ankle, chinked as he shifted minutely. There were no other security measures in place. No one expected him to leave and he didn't expect it himself. He couldn't remember the last time he'd left his corner, the fear of punishment so deeply ingrained.

The sensation continued to lure him, almost hypnotising and suddenly the chain didn't bother him. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, letting the forbidden power build up inside him. When he reopened his eyes the metal of the chain was dripping onto the stone floor as it melted, breaking away from the wall.

He stood up, legs weak from misuse. He shuffled awkwardly with the weight of the manacle but the link in his mind urged him forward, almost navigating his way out his cell (he never sensed anyone guarding him anymore) and through the building.

Notes: Hope you enjoyed the prologue. More to come soon. Don't fret. Just really wanted to get a chapter up today for Ianto's birthday!

Please Review. Who do you think the character above is?