Disclaimer: I don't own it (Torchwood, Doraemon, etc.) Also, I have absolutely nothing against emo people/fans... especially considering I used to look like one myself ^^ (ok, more towards the rock part)
Because you've been good and reviewed and added this story to your alerts (and especially because I've had this chapter written down for some time now), you get a part before New Year's, with the promise for more to come soon. So stay tuned.
Warnings: perhaps a bit of OOCness and definitely weirdness regarding some reactions, but, rest assured, lovely readers, all will be explained in time ;)
May you enjoy your reading...
Approximately one hour after the two friends departed from both of Ianto's shops, familiar squeaks and shuffles were heard on the stairs that connected the two floors with the ground one. The noises couldn't be heard in either the tailor shop or the café and yet, just as every other morning, the hallway door opened quietly and in came the flawlessly clad tailor himself, holding a large multicoloured mug. And just as every other morning, on the stairs sat a young Japanese woman dressed in pyjamas and wearing fluffy bunny slippers, mind less than half awake and face hidden in a large Doraemon pillow she held in her arms. Once the scent reached her invisible nose, a hand shot up to received the blessed drink and a mumbled thank-you was heard from the pillow's general direction.
"You're welcome. You know, mornings would be much nicer to you if you would just go to bed earlier." The young tailor sounded almost fatherly.
"I can't help it if half of my customers live on the other side of the planet. Websites don't just create themselves, you know." She pouted adorably once she raised her face, strands of black hair falling out of the messy short plait she always wore to bed.
"Alright, alright!" Ianto gave up and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Do you have anything to eat for breakfast?" he inquired and smiled when he received a second pout as answer. "Feel free to rummage through my fridge. And when I say rummage, I mean it! I've got healthy food in there that I don't want to see next time I enter my kitchen." He waved a long finger at her.
"Remind me to pay the bill next time we go shopping." She smiled sleepily and took a gulp of the dark liquid.
"You know that's not necessary. I always end up buying too much anyway. Besides, you're never late with the rent, so consider that a bonus." He returned her smile and winked. "I've got some customers programmed so I have to return in the front. Will you be ok?"
"Sure. Thanks for looking after me, Ianto." She called out after him, clutching the pillow tighter to her chest.
Ever since returning from Japan on her own, despite her family's protests, she had worked hard in order to keep herself in school and away from trouble, which, somehow, had always seemed to find her, especially since she had been the designated "campus hacker" during college.
But then, her knight in shinning armour had appeared, one late rainy evening, during a council meeting at Trinity College in London. That night she had met Ianto Jones, a student rumoured to be on the verge of becoming one of the best clothing designers in the whole country, if not the entire Europe, after signing up for several national and international competitions and having great success.
Despite the flamboyancy of his courses, professors and colleagues, Ianto Jones seemed to be the typical Englishman: stiff upper lip, family honour and everything. But, that night, willingly or not, student Ianto Jones had saved her seat in the college and, most likely, her life, even thought she had been just a stranger with a completely different degree.
Once the whole debacle had been solved, she'd come to learn quite a lot about the young man, to actually notice him. Somehow, again despite all that his job usually included, he was a specialist at becoming invisible and passing unnoticed. He was like a ninja… only better, she had concluded the first time she'd joined him for a meal.
Despite all appearances, Ianto Jones was nowhere near the typical Englishman. On the contrary, he was an incredibly talented, albeit stoic and silent Welshman, with a lovely accent, an incredible skill at coffee-making and a perfect girlfriend… or so they had all believed.
Toshiko Sato had become friends with Ianto Jones during their last year at the esteemed University. And in the same year, he was bound to marry his girlfriend of almost twenty-four months: the lovely Lisa Hallet. Unfortunately, the wedding hadn't exactly occurred, as the future researcher fled the ceremony without as much as a word, leaving behind their distressed friends and a wrecked Ianto. That night, approximately six months into their friendship, Toshiko had returned his gesture, repaying him for saving her life on that fated rainy evening. The next day, they graduated and, in spite of all expectations, Ianto Jones dropped everything and returned to Cardiff, Wales, with his best friend and her huge Doraemon pillow in tow, where he took over his father's tailor shop, also adding a small coffee business in order to keep his sister busy and off his back. In the same building, right above his own quarters, he leased the whole second storey to the computer genius, on the condition that she would never use the place for anything illegal.
So, there she was, sitting on the house stairs at ten o'clock in the morning, enjoying a freshly brewed coffee and trying to wake herself up. And she wouldn't change that for anything in the world.
"So, Rhiannon told me you had some interesting customers yesterday." She brought up the subject during their usual shopping trip, the following day. The young man turned towards her with a raised eyebrow.
"And you mention this barely now?"
"Come on, I was busy yesterday… and besides, every time we try to have a more… private conversation in that house, your sister finds us and joins in… even if we're hiding… like that time you got me in the broom closet in order to test your new coffee flavours. I decided on the new hazelnut, by the way." She added with a wide smile and a wink.
"Good point. And grab that bag in you want more of it." He paused the cart and waited for his friend to take a bag of hazelnuts from the shelf they were currently passing.
"So? Spill." She commanded and added another bag, this time of pistachio.
"There is nothing to spill."
"Don't give me that crap, Ianto. I'm your best friend and there's nothing you can keep away from me… well, almost nothing, but definitely not this! And I know you were in a good mood yesterday. You even winked at me!"
"So?"
"So you never ever wink. It goes against your whole "emo" attitude."
"I'm not emo!"
"That's not what I meant."
"I should have longer, darker hair and a kink for make-up in order to be emo."
"Come on, Ianto. Don't make me beg for details and make a scene. You know I'm capable of it." She warned and almost cheered her victory when she heard his sigh.
"Fine! But it's not a big deal. He is one of my customers' best friend and he was dragged in yesterday in order to get a best man suit."
"He?" Tosh squealed in surprise.
"Yes, he. He flirted with me… a lot, which was kind of surprising… and he's coming back for a fitting tomorrow." He admitted, a faint blush spreading over his cheeks.
"And do you like him?"
"He's a customer. I have to like him."
"You know what I mean." Tosh waved a finger at him.
"I don't know."
"God Ianto. Your answers are so frustrating sometimes. Come on, this is me you're talking to. I haven't had some action in a while either, but I can still tell if I like someone or not." He just sighed again.
"I'm not gay… or I don't think I am… after Lisa… I just wanted to drown myself in work and forget about everything… and I guess it worked, since I forgot how to even respond to flirting, let alone flirt back." He let out a self-deprecating laugh and immediately found himself enveloped in a hug, right there, in the middle of the store.
"Don't worry. You're not alone."
"Thanks, Tosh." He smiled and hugged her back, squeezing her hard.
"Ianto?" a voice made him turn around, arms still full of Japanese female and everything, and meet a very surprised pair of deep blue eyes.
"Mr. Harkness!" he almost exclaimed and finally let go of Tosh, who was now carefully eyeing the American. "Um, Tosh, meet Jack Harkness, the customer I believe Rhia told you about. Mr. Harkness, this is Toshiko Sato, my best friend." After a short moment of complete tension, both strangers broke out in wide smiles.
"Hi, so glad to meet you." The computer genius practically hopped up to the tall man and shook his hand vigorously.
"Likewise." He answered, dimples at full power. "So, best friend? Guess he must've done something awfully good to receive that hug." He turned towards the young tailor and winked.
"Nope. Just Ianto being… well, Ianto. So, I hear you're going to be a best man."
"Yeah. My best mate is getting married."
"Congratulations." Her smile widened sincerely.
"To a shrew." Jack went on and watched amusedly as the woman's face almost fell.
"Ouch. Sorry to hear about that."
"Doesn't matter. I just hope he'll wake up before it's too late." He shrugged his shoulders and turned once again towards the tailor. "So, what brings you here at this hour?" he asked and glanced at their cart. "Seeds?"
"Yes, Ianto's trying some new recipes and since I'm his number one friend and customer, I must bring out my own input to the whole business." She beamed.
"Really? And, pray tell, what must a man do in order to receive an invitation to this special event?" his eyes widened like a child's in the middle of a candy store.
"Let's ask the master himself." Tosh giggled and the two turned towards him.
"Well…" he started stammering and blushing under their intense gazes. "Nothing, actually. Besides, it will take a while before I get the mixes properly, so there's no rush." He answered and added some chocolate and cinnamon to the items in the cart. Jack's shoulders' slumped and even Tosh pouted. Ianto rolled his eyes at their reactions and continued, as if speaking to a couple of petulant children upset for not getting their way. "Why don't we celebrate your last fitting with my new recipes?" the two began grinning again and Tosh bounded back to him and into his arms… only to be followed by Jack. Blood pooled right back into the young man's cheeks once more, as he found himself surrounded by a two very different pairs of arms. "Alright, I accepted already. Don't make a scene, please." He quietly spoke, but got his wish fulfilled.
"Can't wait. So, what time should I come tomorrow?" Jack asked, but remained only one step away from him.
"Whenever it's good for you."
"Alright. See you tomorrow then. And Miss Sato, it's been a pleasure." He grinned down at the Japanese woman and actually kissed her hand before winking at him and leaving.
"I think you like him." Tosh announced cheerfully the moment they were alone again.
"He's American and he's here only because of his friend. That means that after the wedding, he'll probably never step on Welsh ground again."
"Come on, Ianto. It's been ages since Lisa. You should move on." She whined.
"Yes, but not with someone who's just going to leave. No, if I'm to do this, I'll do it with someone serious." He decided and wheeled the cart further down the aisle.
"How do you know he's not serious?"
"Drop it, Tosh. Please." He almost begged and remained silent for the rest of the evening. Toshiko just held onto his left arm and dropped her head on his shoulder, attempting to offer him as much consolation as possible, silently asking him not to hide back the shell that had become part of his life after his "almost-wedding".
As expected, Ianto didn't see Jack for 24 more hours, during which he'd had plenty of time to think about this sudden development of his generally inexistent love-life and evade both Tosh and Rhiannon, who, upon hearing about the scene in the supermarket, had begun an entire campaign of hunting him down for details.
"Annie! Get the suits for Dr. Harper out!" He raised his voice and didn't even wait for the groom-to-be to appear from around the corner, walking to the door and holding it open. A second later, a party of three, this time, appeared: Owen Harper, Jack Harkness and a beautiful woman, who Ianto concluded had to be the future bride. "Good morning." He greeted them.
"Morning mate!" the medic nodded his way.
"Good morning." The woman followed suit.
"Hello beautiful." The full Harkness grin hit him like a speeding truck, perfect white teeth, dimples and all.
"As usual, you know where the dressing rooms are…" he shut the door and herded the group in the correct direction.
"I want to thank you for taking this order on such a short notice and to assure you that there will be no hard feelings if the suits end up crooked or worse. After all, you haven't had too much time on your hands." The woman zeroed on him the moment Jack and Owen disappeared in the private cabins. Ianto suddenly stiffened and snapped his head towards her, desperately trying not to glare at the patronising woman. A step further away, Annie was staring lost at the bride-to-be, shocked by the fact that someone had dared to speak in that manner to her boss.
"Don't worry, Miss. The suits will come out perfect." He replied, biting the last word. The woman only smiled at him with wide, innocent eyes. Apparently Jack hadn't been haste at all in judging his best friend's future wife.
"Personally, I wouldn't have had a problem with just going through with this, but Owen wanted a real wedding… so we struggle to make everything perfect." She spoke again and sent him an unreadable look. Thankfully, Jack had chosen that moment to stumble into the room and almost leaped onto the stool, apparently very eager to get the tailor's entire attention.
"How does it feel? Too tight around the shoulders?" he turned to the ecstatic American.
"Not the shoulders." Jack drawled out and wiggled his eyebrows the moment Ianto looked up and glared at him. "Sorry." He dropped his shoulders and settled to quietly watch the Welshman bustled about with a handful of pins around him.
"Tada!" Owen came out as well and presented his suit-clad self to his fiancée.
"Looks good… but I think the shirt collar is crooked." The woman spoke and Jack suddenly let out a yelp as a pin poked at his left ankle. He looked down and noticed that the tailor's usually stoic mask was gone, a dark frown marring his features. "And why did you choose such a simple cravat? If the young man here couldn't make a more complicated one, I'm sure we would have been able to find one for sale."
"Ouch!" Jack grumbled again, this time getting a sharp hit in the calf.
"I know we wanted everything perfect, but maybe you should have just bough one from the shopping centre and have it altered if necessary." She dropped the bomb and Ianto unconsciously prepared himself to attack Jack's thigh, when the American's hand stopped him.
"I'll say it beforehand: ow!" he smiled widely as Ianto turned red, realising exactly what he'd been doing.
"Well, I think it came out amazing. It's exactly how I wanted it and Mr. Jones here did an outstanding job." The medic praised the young tailor with a small smile and tired sigh.
"Sorry." Ianto grumbled and pushed the pin in the soft fabric carefully, no longer abusing his customer's skin.
"No problem. I like you better when you act naturally, no mask on, anyway." He spoke softly, leaning towards the younger man, maintaining their eye-contact, already having forgotten about the couple several metres away. Even though it became obvious that the American was bound to kiss him, Ianto didn't move… or, at least, didn't plan to move until a quiet "mreow" reached their ears. "Ianto, are you part cat?" the question seemed incredibly dumb and was obviously meant to be a joke, but the tailor panicked instead of smiling.
"Damn." He turned away from the stool and began moving around all the curtains. "Annie, he's here again." He announced, signalling the blonde girl to help him. The noise was heard again, this time loud enough to be noticed by the couple as well.
"Was that a cat?" the bride-to-be turned sharply, while Owen just smiled.
"I'm afraid so. He always gets in here somehow. I've been trying to keep him out, but he always finds a way." Ianto sounded exasperated as he went on checking every corner. Suddenly, Jack stepped down from the stool, walked to the cabin currently holding his clothes and emerged a moment later, with an armful of 10 pound black feline.
"Here we go." He smiled as the tomcat bumped his chin with his nose, obviously loving the attention.
"It's black." The woman spluttered and almost ran out of the dressing room.
"Don't worry, I'll get her." Owen followed in her steps, but not before halting in front of Jack in order to pet the soaring feline.
"And who might this be?" the American smirked the moment they were left alone, Annie having gone after the couple outside in order to offer them some complementary coffee.
"Bluffy."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. He is the offspring of my childhood cat, whom my entire family believed to be a tomcat until, one fated night of April, "he" turned out to be in labour, not just fat. This devil was the first one and we called him that because we though the cat was bluffing. In my family most cats are gluttons for attention. Bluff here generally finds it funny to go to Tosh's floor and stand outside in the farthest corner of some windowsill in order to watch birds, thus giving me, Tosh or Rhia occasional heart attacks." He walked to Jack and held out his arms, the black devil gracefully leaping onto his master, despite all his weight and tremendous amount of fur.
"He's gorgeous." Jack commented as he kept petting the cat. "Just like him master." Two pairs of blue eyes locked onto each other, until the spoiled feline made its presence noted once more.
"I'd better get him upstairs again. Be back in a moment."
"Wait a second. Who's Rhia?" Jack asked and held his breath while waiting for the answer.
"My sister. I think you met her last time you came here." Ianto replied with a small, almost disbelieving smile.
"Tall, dark hair, dark eyes… giggly?"
"That would be her."
"Cute button nose? Just like her older brother?" Ianto scowled.
"Younger brother."
"You're kidding!" Jack exclaimed and ogled at the tailor. "Wait a minute. How old are you anyway?"
"You're so subtle. And besides, shouldn't you at least buy me a drink or something before asking such personal questions?" he shot back.
"I'm paying you for my suit."
"Dr. Harper is paying me for both suits." Ianto stiffened again, this time mask falling back in its usual place. Even Bluffy, if his masters arms, turned into a stiff brush of black fur and narrowed his green eyes dangerously.
"It was a joke." Jack quietly spoke, eyeing both males carefully. Somehow, during the past minute, he had managed to insult the tailor. The problem was that he had no idea what exactly he had said wrong and why his jokes were no longer considered as such. And, for a man whose path in life had been quite filled with bumps, he prided himself with the fact that he knew when he crossed the lines and was capable of apologising for such "lapses in judgement". But, this time, he was lost.
"Excuse me." Ianto mumbled and disappeared through the curtains with the black devil. A short while later he returned and silently finished the marks on Jack's future suit, after having assured the future bride that she wasn't going to see black fur in his shop again. He ended his tasks quickly, in a heavy silence, focusing on every pin and line. For once, the American also kept him mouth tightly shut, not daring to open it even for a deep breath.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Owen Harper and his fiancée calmly left the shop with several words of goodbye on their lips. Jack Harkness followed them as quiet as a tomb, only daring to glance back at the young man once he was outside the shop, through the large windows
For those of you who demanded to know why there wasn't any Tosh, I believe you can breathe easy now ;)
If you enjoyed this bit and wish for more, please feel free to abuse the review link below. Thank you for your time!