Title: Decisions, Decisions
Count the Ways prompt: Too Scared To Sleep
Date Written: 6/30/08
Rating: PG-13/T
Word Count: 751
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, TARDIS, Doctor (mentioned)
Spoilers: Torchwood Season 1 & 2, Doctor Who Season 03
Warnings: M-preg, angst
Author's Notes: So, uh, yeah. Starting to mutate.
"How much do you hate me?"
Jack turned around, peering through the bathroom door to see Ianto lying on their bed, staring up at the ceiling. The immortal sighed and turned back to the bathroom sink, carefully sharpening the flat razor blade. "I don't hate you," he said finally. "I'm shocked, confused, and yes, a little pissed you didn't tell me. But I don't hate you."
Ianto climbed off the bed, padding into the bathroom. He leaned over and carefully took the blade from Jack, smiling down at him. "D'you mind?"
Jack shook his head, smiling back. There was something undecidedly decadent about letting Ianto give him a shave. The younger Time Lord was incredibly talented with the flat blade, somehow managing to give Jack an even closer shave than the immortal could manage without ever giving him a nick.
He'd asked Ianto about it once, why he enjoyed doing it. The young Time Lord had just smiled, wiped the blade clean and kissed him lightly.
Ianto pulled a chair into the bathroom for Jack to sit on as he reached for the can of shaving cream. The Captain closed his eyes as he felt the cool cream against his face, willing his body to relax against its natural inclination as Ianto tipped his head back. The immortal peeked up at his lover through his lashes, watching the concentration in Ianto's face as the Time Lord carefully pulled the blade across his skin. They were both silent, the bathroom filled with only a soft scrapping noise interspersed with the wet slap of used cream being flicked into the sink.
When he was done, Ianto wiped Jack's face with a warm washcloth, leaning in to place a soft kiss on his mouth. "We need to talk about this."
Jack nodded, taking a deep breath.
"I... didn't mean for him to find out before you," Ianto started, moving back to sit on the counter. "But the TARDIS routed the blood work results through to him as well." He sighed. "She can be such a bitch at times."
The lights in the bathroom flickered and Ianto smacked the wall behind him. "You have caused enough trouble today, lady." Jack laughed a little, shaking his head. Ianto laughed as well, looking down at his dangling feet. "We should discuss our options."
Jack saw his reflection in the mirror, so he knew that the confusion painting his face was an accurate depiction of how he was feeling. "Our options?"
"I didn't exactly give you a say," Ianto said, bracing his hands on either side of his body. "But we're both adults. We should discuss if we want to do this."
The immortal sat back and met his lover's gaze. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what you want," Ianto replied, grinning at the exasperated look that crossed Jack's face. "This is half your fault, your input should matter."
"You're the one who'd be having the thing," Jack countered, crossing his arms.
"And I can always have another." The young Time Lord put a hand over his stomach. "It... it would be hard, but I could give it up."
Jack watched Ianto's fingers gently rub his stomach through his shirt. "I'm not going to take something this big away from you. It's obvious that you want it."
"But what about you, Jack?"
The immortal raised an eyebrow. "If I say yes, the entire species increases by a third. How can I say no to that?"
"By going Ianto, I don't want a baby. Easy."
"And if I said that, your great-grandfather would string my innards about the TARDIS," Jack said sarcastically.
"He doesn't have to know," Ianto replied. "I'll tell him I miscarried. It happens."
"Ianto, what do you want to do?"
The young Time Lord looked back down at his feet and chewed nervously on his lower lip, looking adorably young. "I want this. I want to give you a child. But I respect and -- love you -- enough that if you don't want this, I won't do it." He met Jack's eyes. "This is something that both partners should want. With everything they have."
"Ianto, I -- I don't know what I want. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Jack." The Time Lord slid easily off the counter. "We have a bit of time to figure it out." He held a hand out. "How about we head off to bed?"
Jack smiled and took his hand.
Both of them tossed and turned all night.