Christmas Songs, Part Two (Series Two)
The shrill tone of his mobile phone interrupted one of Ianto's better dreams in recent weeks. As he groped for the offensive device, he struggled to remember, but could only recall vague images of him and Jack among the stars, traveling through vast galaxies of marshmallows and gumdrops in a spacecraft shaped like a large sleigh and driven by eight flying Weevils.
Too much curry, then.
"Jones," he rasped into the speaker, untangling himself from the sheets and trying to sit up. He failed, swore under his breath, and fell back to his pillow, letting his eyes slip shut.
"Did I interrupt your beauty sleep?" asked Jack, sounding cheerful and awake. Ianto glanced at his bedside clock.
"No, I'm always awake at two in the morning, Jack," he grumbled. He flung a hand over his eyes and groaned to punctuate the point.
"It's Torchwood," said Jack. "It's not unusual for you to be awake at two in the morning."
"That's usually because of you, not Torchwood," Ianto replied.
Jack laughed. "But it's always worth it, isn't it?"
Ianto let his silence speak for him.
"Ianto?" asked Jack. "Are you still there?"
"Is it an emergency?" asked Ianto.
"Well, no…"
"Then call me back in about four hours." Ianto almost started to hang up, but heard Jack shout his name.
"Jack. I'm tired. If there's no emergency and you just called for phone sex, you could have come over, crawled into bed, and had a real shag in the morning."
"I'll have to remember that for next time," Jack said, sounding interested.
"Please do. Then I can get a full night's sleep and wake up just in time for breakfast sex. I'm going back to bed now, Jack."
"You know, if you were here, this would be much easier," said Jack. "I wouldn't have to call and wake you up."
"You'd just poke me, I suppose?"
"I do like to poke you," Jack replied, voice laden with obvious innuendo.
"And I like to poke you too," Ianto replied. "But not now, not at two in the morning, and not over the phone."
"Then come over."
Ianto held the phone away from his ear and stared at it before returning to the speaker. "Seriously, Jack? You called me in the middle of the night because you want me to trudge over there for a blowjob?"
"Hey, I didn't say anything about a blowjob," Jack protested. "Although it would be nice."
"Of course it would, my blowjobs are always nice," Ianto said, biting back a dirty grin.
"They're brilliant," agreed Jack. "But that's not why I called. Can I come over there if you're going to be stubborn about it?"
"Of course you can, Jack," Ianto sighed. "You know you're always welcome."
Jack was silent for a moment. "I also know you need your space sometimes," he pointed out. "Especially when things get a bit crazy around here."
"True enough," Ianto admitted, surprised that Jack not only noticed but also acknowledged Ianto's more introverted nature. "It has been a bit hectic lately."
"Which is why you deserve a Rift-free night in your own flat," said Jack. "It's just that there's something I wanted to share with you."
"Uh-oh." Ianto tried not to think of what that meant coming from Jack, especially in the middle of the night.
"No, it's not like last time. Are your neighbors home?"
"Of course they're home, Jack. It's two in the morning!" Ianto shook his head. Sometimes Jack was so innocent and oblivious it was both exasperating and endearing.
"Damn. I don't want them to see anything."
Ianto snorted. "It's not like they haven't heard us before, Jack."
"Believe it or not, Ianto Jones, I'm not actually talking about sex."
"I'm shocked," Ianto deadpanned. He was awake now, so he might as well have fun with it.
"I am too," laughed Jack. "But you should come over here unless you want to Retcon your neighbors."
"Which I certainly don't," Ianto sighed. "Why can't we do this in the morning?"
"Because it snowed and right now the Plass is dark, empty, and quiet."
Ianto considered as he threw off the blanket and untangled himself from the sheets. "So I should dress warm then?"
"Boots and all."
"Jack, are you sure it's not an emergency?" he asked, standing, stretching, and holding back a yawn and a shiver. "My bed is far more appealing than cold and snow."
"It's not an emergency," said Jack. "But it is alien."
Ianto wandered through the dark toward his bathroom, blinking as the bright lights made him squint. "Tech retrieval?" he asked. He dropped his pyjama pants and began to empty his bladder. Jack must have heard.
"Ianto, are you actually pissing while we're on the phone?"
"Jack, I'm still half asleep. I'm just glad I hit the toilet and not the sink." Ianto wanted to take it back the moment he said it, knowing it was uncharacteristic for him, but Jack was laughing hysterically, and as it was the middle of the night and Ianto was dressing to go out in the snow, he didn't much care.
"Wash your hands," Jack teased. "And meet me by the tourist office in twenty minutes."
"Yes, sir," Ianto groused.
"Ianto?" Jack called before he hung up.
"What, Jack?"
"It'll be worth it," he promised. "And I'll make it up to you for waking you."
"With sex," Ianto said.
"It's what I'm good at," said Jack, the wink implied in his tone. Ianto tucked the phone under his ear as he washed his hands.
"I want hot chocolate and breakfast in bed," he said.
"With sex," said Jack.
"Of course," replied Ianto. "It's what we're good at, after all."
"Deal!" said Jack. "You'll love it. I promise."
"I'll see you in a few, then."
"Thanks, Ianto."
Ianto hung up the phone and brushed his teeth. He hated to admit it, but he was genuinely curious now. Jack had promised him breakfast in bed. When had that ever happened? Dressing quickly, Ianto pulled on boots, then his warmest coat, along with a hat, gloves, and scarf. He stepped outside into a winter wonderland and couldn't help but sigh at the sight. It was beautiful.
Maybe this would be worth it after all.
The Plass was indeed dark and quiet, the new fallen snow completely unmarked by human passage. The sky was starting to clear and a few stars were breaking through the thin clouds. Ianto had to resist the temptation to lie down and make a snow angel and just stare at the sky, maybe even drift off to sleep again in a cold bed of white. Instead, he made his way toward the tourist office to find Jack.
Jack was rolling a snowball around the nearby boardwalk area, catching as much snow as he could to make it bigger. Ianto watched for a moment, admiring the view as Jack bent over to push it along, then cleared his throat when it became obvious Jack was completely engrossed in his project.
"Ianto!" he exclaimed. "Perfect timing. I'm just about finished with the head."
Ianto raised his eyebrow at the implicit insinuation, but Jack rolled his eyes. "For once I meant that literally. Here we go."
He picked up the snowball and placed it on top of two others he had already rolled.
"You called me out here to build a snowman in the middle of the night?"
"Nope," said Jack, standing back and reaching into his pockets. "I'm just about done. I called you out here to meet the final product." He pulled several items from his pocket, and soon the snowman had two black stones for eyes, a large button for a nose, a piece of string for a mouth, and one of Jack's old scarves. A pipe, two sticks for arms, and two small lumps of snow for feet completed the look.
"Needs a hat," said Ianto, and Jack nodded in agreement.
"I know, and I have the perfect one."
He stepped into the tourist office and returned with a top hat Ianto had never seen before. A questioning look got him a sheepish shrug as Jack placed it on top of the snowman.
"I picked it up a few days ago, hoping it would snow soon," said Jack. "But it's a bit more than just a hat. Come here." He motioned Ianto to stand next to him, pulled him close, and gave him a quick kiss. And while Ianto was not usually so accepting of such random displays of affection, he was still curious and a bit tired, and returned it eagerly, thinking of how Jack had promised to make it up to him.
"All right, Scrooge," Jack whispered. "You may not hold Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in high esteem, but surely a walking, talking snowman deserves a bit of respect."
Ianto glanced between Jack and the snowman standing in front of the tourist office door. "You must be joking."
"Not his time," Jack murmured. He raised his arm and pressed several buttons on his wrist strap. Ianto was torn between watching Jack and watching the snowman, but when the snowman really did begin to come to life, he found he could not take his eyes away.
The snowman moved its arms first, then its head. It tried to take a tentative step forward, but the lumps of snow for feet didn't move well. The mouth made of string opened and closed a few times, though no sound came out. The string curved into a frown; Jack tweaked his wrist strap, and the snowman spoke.
"Happy Birthday!" it said, mouth curving into an endearing smile. Ianto gaped at the snowman as it came toward them, toddling awkwardly on its lumpy feet.
"Hello, Jack," it said, holding out its stick-for-a-hand. "It's good to see you again."
Jack wrapped his fingers around the thin branch and smiled. "You too. It's been, what? At least twenty or thirty years?"
"I am not aware of the passage of time," the snowman said. "To me, it was only yesterday that we last spoke."
"Of course," murmured Jack. He turned and gestured to Ianto. "This is Ianto Jones. He works for Torchwood."
The snowman held out his stick hand, and Ianto shook it, still somewhat speechless. Jack watched before laughing at his reaction.
"Ianto Jones, meet Frost. He came here in 1950," Jack said. "He is actually a bit of alien technology that animates objects with artificial intelligence. It was found in New York before making its way over here."
Ianto turned and stared at Jack. "You're not serious."
"He is correct, Mr. Jones," said the snowman. "I am actually a Klaustar Animator 2.1 from the year 2876," he said. "My mechanism fell through the Rift into a hat. The hat was eventually placed on a snowman that became fully animated. The form seems to be an appropriate one for this time and place."
"He means it sort of stuck," said Jack with a wink.
"I still don't understand," said Ianto.
"This is Frosty the Snowman, Ianto," said Jack. "The original. He inspired the song. The American branch of UNIT found the Animator running around a downtown square after a group of kids pulled the hat out of a rubbish bin and placed it on their snowman. I was sent over to appropriate the technology."
"For Torchwood," murmured Ianto.
"For Torchwood." Jack grinned and pulled Ianto close once again. "So what do you think?"
Ianto shook his head in wonder. "I'm thinking you might just have Father Christmas hidden away in the Hub somewhere."
"Nope," said Jack. "He didn't like being tied up."
"That's disgusting," said Ianto. Frost did not respond, but glanced down and tried walking some more. He stopped and sighed.
"Jack, I need real boots."
"I couldn't find any," started Jack.
"I have some," said Ianto. For some reason, he wanted to see the snowman laugh and play; it was part of the story, after all. Jack nodded and motioned toward the door, so Ianto hurried toward the tourist office. In the back room he dug out the wellies he kept on hand for those rare occasions he remembered they were there to be used.
"Here you go, sir," he said, holding them out. "Although I'm not sure how this works."
"I'll have to turn you off for a minute," said Jack, sounding apologetic.
"Go ahead, Jack," said Frost. "I'll be fine."
Ianto's watched as Jack toyed with his wrist strap and the snowman stilled. He took the boots from Ianto and worked them into the bottom snowball, digging out a place for them before stepping back.
"Let's try this again," he murmured. He touched his wrist strap, and the snowman came back to life right before Ianto's eyes.
"Happy New Year!" he exclaimed this time, and Ianto couldn't help it: he laughed out loud at the sheer wonder of it all.
"Welcome back," said Jack. "We found some better boots." Frost glanced down and smiled, then began to move them, much more fluidly than earlier.
"This is amazing," Ianto murmured to Jack, and to his surprise, Jack took his hand and squeezed it.
"I'm glad you like it," Jack whispered.
Frost was watching them, and though his eyes were nothing more than two black dots in sea of snow, Ianto had the distinct impression that they were sparkling with amusement.
"More than just a co-worker, Jack?"
"Yep," said Jack, pulling Ianto close. "So do your thing, I woke him up to come down here and meet you."
"Jack," said Ianto. "He's not here to perform for us-"
"Actually, that is a large part of my programming," said Frost. "Particularly with this form. Come, we can frolic and play the Eskimo way." He held out a stick hand, and Ianto laughed again.
"Wrong song," he said. "And as much as I would love to, I know someone who would like it even better. Someone I'd like you to meet, if it's not too much trouble."
Frost nodded, but Jack frowned. "Ianto, this isn't for the public, you know. It took UNIT a long time to clean up in New York."
Ianto couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Of course I know that, Jack. And as much as I would love to show my niece and nephew, I had someone else in mind." He turned to Frost. "Would you mind talking to her? If it's not too much trouble."
"Jack?" asked Frost, obviously seeking permission.
"I think I'm figuring it out. Sounds good to me." He stepped toward Ianto and kissed him firmly. "You're a good man," he murmured.
"So are you," Ianto murmured back. "Thank you for sharing this."
"Some Christmas stories really are magical," said Jack. "I didn't want you to forget that."
"Because of what I said to Gwen about Rudolph?"
"Because what we do is difficult, and I know it's hard not to get cynical. Hard to keep fighting, keep believing."
Ianto glanced at the snowman, walking and talking just as song proclaimed, and smiled. "I still believe, Jack."
"Good," said Jack. "Then let's spread the joy. You frolic and play while I call her and grab some Retcon just in case someone sees our friend."
Ianto cocked an eyebrow. "I thought we were saving the frolic and play for afterward."
Jack wagged his eyebrows. "Oh, you can count on it. Hot chocolate and breakfast in bed." He crossed his fingers over his heart. "I keep my promises."
"Let me make the call, she won't argue as much if I call her in the middle of the night. And the sooner we do this, the sooner we'll be alone so you can keep that promise."
Jack offered one of his trademark salutes and hurried into the office. Ianto watched him fondly before pulling out his phone and turning back to Frost.
"You haven't met Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, by any chance, have you?"
Two hours later Jack and Ianto stumbled back into the Hub, chilled to the bone but warm inside. Ianto was thrilled with the effect Frost had had on Gwen. At first, Rhys had been furious when Ianto had called to have Gwen meet them at the tourist office. When he had invited her husband along, assuring them both that they were not going on a Weevil hunt, Rhys had grumbled about snow and sleep and bloody Torchwood, Gwen clearly agreeing yet still trying to calm him in the background.
When the couple had stepped into the sheltered area on the boardwalk and seen Frost talking animatedly with Jack and Ianto about his last winter in Cardiff, they had both stopped dead in their tracks. The look of sheer wonder on Gwen's face had been one Ianto would remember for a long time. Strangely enough, Jack had quietly moved away to the edge of the boardwalk, giving the lead to Ianto while he kept watch. Gwen and Rhys forgot he was even there, they were so entranced by Frost.
Gwen had been speechless for a moment, but found her voice soon enough, quickly overwhelming both Ianto and Frost with excited questions before she had laughed and danced and even had a quick snowball fight with the snowman. At which point Jack finally stepped in to tell them it was time to clean up before any early morning workers or runners happened upon them. Jack had some Retcon from the Hub, but Ianto would have hated to use it in such a magical situation.
So they had all said their goodbyes, and Jack had de-animated Frost, leaving the picture perfect snowman intact on the boardwalk for others to enjoy. Ianto had grabbed his boots and Jack his scarf, and they had walked Gwen and Rhys back to their car. Gwen had whispered her thanks to Ianto, hugging him fiercely and kissing him on the cheek before Jack had shooed her home and told her to come in at lunch.
Ianto returned to the Hub with Jack, listening contentedly as Jack told him about the first time he had met Frost. He thought about the remarkable few hours he had just experienced; he had not only met a talking snowman, but Jack had been the one to share it with him. Jack had given him a rare gift: a glimpse at his past, a peek at the future, and something to believe in. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone had done for him, let alone Jack, and it made Ianto feel all kinds of things he wasn't sure he should be feeling about their unusual relationship.
Tossing his coat on the sofa and setting the top hat down on Ianto's desk, Jack turned and helped Ianto out of his coat before pulling him into a brief but warm and leisurely kiss.
"Did you like it?" he asked softly, arms around Ianto's waist.
"It was incredible," Ianto replied, punctuating it with another kiss.
"So are you," Jack murmured, nuzzling at his neck. Ianto pulled away to look Jack in the eyes.
"I mean it, Jack. I can't think of anything as amazing as what you did tonight. Thank you for sharing."
Jack was practically glowing with the praise, yet there was also such a genuine fondness in his eyes that Ianto found it hard to hold his gaze. He swallowed and gazed back at Jack until the other man smiled and nodded in silent understanding. Of what, neither of them would probably say.
"You're welcome," Jack said. "You deserved it. You deserve something incredible and amazing. You know that, right?"
Ianto glanced away. "So do you."
"I have you," Jack whispered, and Ianto inhaled sharply at the unsaid meaning behind Jack's words.
"Yes, you do," he whispered back, and they kissed until it started to get a bit messy, and Jack pulled away this time, slightly breathless.
"I do believe I promised you hot chocolate and breakfast in bed," he said. Ianto cocked an eyebrow.
"That wasn't all you promised," he pointed out.
"Whatever else could there be?" asked Jack over his shoulder as he headed toward the small kitchen. Ianto followed curiously and leaned against the wall, watching as Jack began to prepare their hot chocolate.
"Something you're quite good at," Ianto said, enjoying the playful banter after the intense exchange they'd shared moments earlier.
"That's right!" Jack mock exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "Something we're both good at."
Ianto stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Jack, letting his chin rest against Jack's shoulder. "So how about hot chocolate, sex, and breakfast out after a few hours of sleep?"
Jack turned around and pulled him close. "I promised you breakfast in bed."
"We don't have anything here at the Hub," Ianto replied. "So we can go to that cafe, the one with the amazing pastries."
Jack grinned and moved toward a cabinet. "You mean these pastries?" He pulled out a box of muffins and scones and Welsh cakes. Ianto gaped at him.
"When did you get those?"
"Right after lunch," Jack laughed, setting the box down. "When it looked like it was definitely going to snow tonight."
"But what…you mean…how did you know?" Ianto was even more astounded now, and almost wondered if he should be worried about Jack being possessed. That Jack had shown such foresight in planning something so considerate both amazed and touched Ianto more than he could say.
"I know you, Ianto Jones," Jack replied, still playful but with a hint of seriousness. "I know they're your favorite. And I knew you'd hate having to get up in the middle of the night, so I had them ready as a sort of bargaining chip. So, was it worth getting up at two in the morning or would you rather be back in your bed, all alone, with no hot chocolate, no sex, and no breakfast in bed?" He began to mix two mugs of hot chocolate, grinning as he stirred.
Ianto was overwhelmed and speechless. Silently he stepped to Jack's side and stilled his hands, setting the spoon down and pulling Jack toward him instead. He kissed Jack, soft and gentle even though his body was demanding something entirely different, then took Jack's hands in his own and led him towards the office.
"What about the hot chocolate?" asked Jack. Ianto just shook his head, still overwhelmed by Jack's incredible insight and thoughtfulness. He dimmed the lights in the Hub, and then took Jack into his office, where a single lamp on the desk lit the area. Moving toward the computer, Ianto quickly brought up some music, starting a soft and slow holiday song. Jack's eyes followed him, lips turned up in a gentle smile that was so rare it sometimes made Ianto's heart ache, that Jack didn't share it more often. He held out his hand, and Jack stepped forward, once again letting Ianto take the lead, even though Ianto had never led a dance with him before. Yet so much about that night was new, it felt comfortable. Natural. Almost normal.
They swayed in time to the strains of Nat King Cole, slow steps turning them in circles around the darkened office. It was almost five in the morning and Ianto was exhausted, but his mind was racing, and all he could think of was showing the man in his arms how much he appreciated the gift he had been given that night, how touched he was by Jack's unexpected and attentive gesture.
And how much he truly cared.
A languid kiss, another dance, and as the song finished, Ianto took Jack's hand and led him toward the room below, all thoughts of snowmen and chestnuts gone from his mind, his thoughts on one thing only.
"Time for me to make it worth it?" Jack murmured.
"You already have," Ianto murmured back, earning that secret smile once more. He tucked it away with the other memories of that night, in that part of his heart that was for Jack, the part that really did believe in the magic of Christmas.
Author's Note:
There, have I restored your faith after what Ianto did to Rudolph? I must say, when I started this, I had no idea the opening banter would veer into such sentimental fluff. But that does tend to happen with these two, doesn't it? Fluff or angst. I hope you enjoyed one of their more romantic moments. I had planned on writing two more short stories for the holiday season, but given that the New Year has come and gone, I really doubt I'll get to them. I have at least half a dozen other stories started, so it may be time to get back to those. Thank you for reading, and Happy New Year!