II.
Jack put the SUV back into drive and continued towards Ianto's flat. It wasn't far, so the ride was short, and yet Jack couldn't stand the quiet. He talked the entire time, barely aware of what he was saying, but words kept coming out of his mouth. Which was when it hit him: he was nervous.
He, Jack Harkness, who had slept with hundreds of men, women, and aliens over his long life, was nervous about sleeping with Ianto Jones. As he put the car into park and an uncomfortable silence descended, he tried to figure out why he was suddenly having so many doubts.
It wasn't because Ianto had tried to kill him. No, he'd been serious when he told Ianto it wasn't the first time. He wasn't angry at Ianto about being tossed through the Rift. Surprised, perhaps, that Ianto had been harboring such violent feelings toward him, hidden away beneath his calm exterior. Jack had been trying hard to reach out to the Welshman, to make sure he was all right after what had happened with his girlfriend. It hadn't been easy—he wasn't particularly good at it, and Ianto had remained extremely closed off—but Jack had tried.
It wasn't because he and Ianto worked together, not really. It was part of it, yes, but Jack would be a hypocrite if he claimed to never become involved with coworkers. He'd spent five years locked in a rather intimate time loop with one, and had a child with another, not to mention numerous relationships in between. Jack was perfectly able to separate work and pleasure…but in this case, as Ianto's boss, he felt more responsible than he usually did. He didn't want to take advantage of an employee, a good one at that, and a man that he considered a friend. Ianto was already reeling from emotional trauma; he didn't deserve more, even if he seemed to be seeking it out.
Did Jack still feel guilty about what had happened with Lisa Hallett? Absolutely, but guilt had rarely stopped him in the past. Was he no longer attracted to Ianto after suffering the Welshman's wrath and being sentenced to slavery? No, he was definitely still attracted, if not more. He'd found the Welshman desirable since the moment he'd hired him, and seeing Ianto's strong, assertive side only made Jack more interested in seeing what other passions lurked beneath the man's well-cut suits.
It didn't make sense. He liked Ianto, he was attracted to him, and he didn't have a problem with the other man trying to kill him. They'd cleaned up the mess at the Ferret and sent Tosh and Gwen home from the Hub. Of course he should be falling into bed with Ianto Jones. And yet, he didn't think he could.
"Jack?" Ianto asked, watching him warily. "Are you all right?"
Jack nodded slowly. As he turned toward Ianto, realization dawned in the other man's eyes.
"You've changed your mind, haven't you?" Ianto said quietly. "About coming up?"
Jack nodded again. Ianto sighed—whether in frustration, disappointment, or relief, Jack wasn't sure.
"It's fine. It was a spur-of-the-moment suggestion." Ianto opened the door to leave, but Jack laid a hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry, it's not that I don't want to," Ianto raised a skeptical eyebrow, "but after everything that's happened…and we work together. I don't do working relationships, it's too complicated."
"I already said I don't want a relationship," Ianto pointed out. "I don't know that I want to go through that ever again. We're two people, broken and alone, looking for comfort."
"I don't want to hurt you," Jack said, shaking his head. "And trust me, I'm good at that."
Ianto snorted. "What, you think I'm going to fall apart when we go back to being employee and boss in the morning? Because I'm not that kind of person, you know. I understand the need for physical release."
Jack stared at him. "I'm sorry," he said again. "But I can't."
"I understand," Ianto replied, looking down at his hands. "I did try to kill you tonight."
"It's not even that," Jack said, shaking his head with a short, bitter laugh. "Been there, done that."
"Right." Ianto took a deep breath. "Well, I didn't run, and I'm not going to, not any more. What are the consequences?"
Jack let his head fall back against the seat. "Ianto, you might have let that thing take me, but you also came back and stopped it. You saved a lot of lives tonight—mine, yours, probably Mandy, and anyone else looking for a quick and easy way out. As far as I'm concerned, I need you back at the Hub first thing tomorrow to write it up and help me with that control panel."
Ianto looked shocked, and glanced away, his eyes bright with emotion. "Yes, sir," he sair, his voice cracking. "I'll see you in the morning, then."
"See you in the morning," Jack echoed as Ianto opened the door and started to step out. But he turned back to Jack, looking at Jack's lips as he cleared his throat and raised his eyes to Jack's.
"I'm sorry," Ianto murmured. Jack felt something with him give way, a warm feeling blossoming in his gut as his gazed at the man before him. An almost electric tension crackled between them until they both surged forward and their lips met, messy and hungry. The first time, Jack had been surprised, even shocked. And it had likely been so impulsive on Ianto's part as well that neither one of them had known what they were doing. This time Ianto was clearly intent on making an impact, and Jack felt sparks shoot all the way down to his toes as he opened his mouth to Ianto's tongue. The Welshman brought his hands up to the back of Jack's neck as he deepened the kiss, and Jack moaned with pleasure. Ianto Jones was a damn good kisser.
"Change your mind again?" Ianto whispered, running his tongue along Jack's lower lip and sending shivers down Jack's back. He tried to think of all the reasons he should leave, but none of them seemed as convincing now. He'd wanted Ianto for a long time and now was his chance. Ianto wanted him, that much was clear. Why would Jack give this up for vague misgivings?
"God yes," Jack whispered back, pulling Ianto closer and letting his hands roam. When Ianto groaned under his touch, Jack grinned against his mouth. Ianto opened his eyes and pulled back with a small smile.
"We should continue this upstairs then," he said.
"Absolutely," Jack replied. He followed Ianto upstairs, barely able to keep his hands to himself. As soon as they stepped into the flat, Jack reached for Ianto and pulled him close. He was relieved to find the Welshman as hard as he was, and they stumbled over to the sofa pulling off coats and jackets, shirts and shoes.
It was over far too soon, but Jack felt a deep sense of relief and release. Though it hadn't been everything he'd fantasized about with Ianto, it had been exactly what they needed at that moment. They could always try again, that night or the next…then he remembered their agreement. Just this once.
Reluctantly sitting up straight, he pulled his pants and trousers from around his ankles, Ianto watching him curiously.
"Are you leaving then?" he asked, and Jack nodded.
"Just this once," he reminded the other man. "Work in the morning."
Ianto stood up, also pulling his pants and trousers back on, though he did not buckle his belt. He held out a hand to Jack. "The night's not over," he said quietly. Throwing a look over his shoulder toward what was obviously the bedroom, he raised an eyebrow in invitation. Jack stood and faced him.
"You're sure?" he asked, and Ianto nodded.
"Are you?"
Jack answered him with a fiery kiss, and they stumbled toward the bedroom locked at the lips. He vaguely wondered what would happen next— later that night, in the morning, or at work. Would it be awkward and ruin their friendship, or their working relationship? As Ianto's hands roamed across his lower body and cupped his arse, Jack decided that whatever happened, it was worth it for that one night.
Author's Note:
In my original version of this one, Ianto was much more forward. Which I like, given we see it both when he kisses Jack in the SUV and later in the series when he propositions Jack with the stopwatch. But if Jack changed his mind, I'm not sure how confident Ianto would feel at this moment about pushing it. At least in this context. There are still more to come!