Chapter 19 – The Holy Order of the Suit
Tuesday brought with it a minor Rift spike and a strange looking metal cube that was clearly attached to something else at some point. Jack grabbed it excitedly and refused to tell anyone what it was. He was practically giddy and Ianto knew he wasn't the only one happy to see Jack happy. Jack asked Ianto to bring him a few specific tools from the Archive and then closed himself up in his office.
Wednesday, Ianto wasn't sure if Jack had moved. He took him coffee and food which disappeared, but Jack's focus was on the now partially dismantled cube. Ianto noticed some of the team wasn't as happy as they had been the day before.
"Did he say anything," Gwen asked once Ianto returned to the table where the rest of the team sans Jack was eating lunch.
"Not a word. He's completely absorbed in his work," Ianto said. He wasn't particularly concerned. He'd seen Jack's little obsessions before. He thought everyone had, but either he'd given them too much credit for observation or for memory recall.
"Has he told you what that thing is," Tosh asked.
"Nope. When I asked him yesterday he said 'Wait and see,' then smiled like an overactive toddler on a sugar high. I thought he was going to give me a mad scientist laugh for a moment." Ianto didn't add that he was ridiculously turned on by that smile or voice his frustration at being turned on while Jack was too enthralled with his new toy to play with Ianto.
"It's not like Jack not to talk to us," Gwen said. Ianto wondered what she was trying to imply.
"He didn't tell us about the two-man transporter," Tosh pointed out quietly. Ianto gave her a small smile of understanding when she looked up.
"Actually, he told me. I didn't think it would work after all those years buried," Ianto said. "I didn't know he was going to use it." He was relieved when Toss smiled back.
"Then you should be the one to make him tell us what that thing is," Owen said. Ianto stared at him.
"If he wanted us to know, he would have said. If it was dangerous he wouldn't expose us to it. Sometimes he has to keep secrets from us," Ianto said not looking away from Owen.
"How do you know he isn't being controlled by that thing," Owen asked.
"Could that happen," Gwen asked.
"He's not being influenced by alien forces," Tosh said.
"How can you be so sure," Owen asked.
"We would notice. Ianto would notice," she said turning in her chair to more directly face Ianto. "Is he behaving unusually?" Gwen made a tutting sound and Owen leaned forward in his chair.
"He seems fine to me," Ianto said wishing Tosh hadn't put him on the spot. He didn't mind Tosh knowing about him and Jack, but he wasn't keen on Gwen and Owen knowing.
"Are you sure," Gwen asked.
"Of course he's sure," Owen said. "We all know he doesn't take his eyes off Jack. Ianto knows if Jack's going to sneeze before he does. We still need to know what that thing is. I don't like it when the Captain starts his hush-hush bullshit."
"I could go talk to him," Gwen said adjusting her shirt.
"I wouldn't be so quick to volunteer," Tosh said. "If he wanted to tell us he would. He won't appreciate you prying."
"Tosh is right, Gwen," Ianto said not believing she'd listen to him for a moment. "If you do decide to confront him let me know first. I need to remind him I'll be unavailable tomorrow morning and I'd rather do it before you put him in a bad mood."
"Then you should find out what that thing is while you're there," Owen said.
"I think I'll have a better chance," Gwen said sounding a little annoyed.
"After talking to Jack while we were tracking that geezer the other day I'm confident the tea boy has the best chance of wheedling the info out of him," Owen said smirking.
Ianto mentally groaned wondering what Jack might have said to the medic. Well, that would have to be the first topic. He needed to know that a hell of a lot more than why Jack was fascinated with the latest bit of Rift trash.
"I agree," Tosh said. Ianto's head dropped to the side to look at her. "I'm sorry, Ianto, but if we are going to ask Jack about the box, you are the one who should ask."
Ianto looked around the table. Tosh was looking at him sympathetically. Owen was looking smug. Gwen was looking confused. This time Ianto groaned out loud.
"Fine. I'll ask after lunch," Ianto stressed. He took a bite of his sandwich to punctuate the sentiment.
Ianto knocked on Jack's door ten minutes later. Jack looked up quickly, motioned him in, and not so discreetly set the device aside.
"Yes, Ianto," Jack asked smiling mischievously.
Oh God, thought Ianto. Please don't let that thing be an extraterrestrial marital aide. Ianto closed Jack's door and sat down in his guest chair. He chewed on his upper lip.
"Couple of items, sir," Ianto said locking eyes with Jack. Suddenly the idea of an alien sex toy seemed more inviting. He mentally shook the thought away. "You have a conference call with the Ministry of Defense and some rather upset Royal Navy Admirals in 35 minutes."
Jack grimaced then gave Ianto a tiny pout. He pressed his hands together as if he were sending up a prayer to Ianto.
"Could I order, coerce, or bribe you to talk to them for me? Please? I'll even throw in some all too true compliments, you beautiful, sexy, suit full of sin you," Jack said with a salacious wink. Ianto chuckled and nodded.
"I suppose we could come to an arrangement, sir." In truth, Ianto was going to suggest he handle the call. It was easier for him to be solicitous and diplomatic on the conference call than to be apologetic on three individual calls while trying to explain that Jack really didn't mean to be rude, unhelpful, and/or threatening.
Jack smiled and Ianto noticed his eyes dart to the cube before settling on Ianto again.
"I understand you had a little talk with Owen," Ianto said watching Jack closely for any signs.
"As did you," Jack said leaning back in his chair and smiling. "You didn't mention it."
"If I mentioned every time Gwen or Owen wanted a little chat we wouldn't have time to not talk about other things and I think you like what we do outside of talking too much to change that." Ianto licked his lips just enough for Jack to see a peek of tongue. Jack sat forward in his chair and leaned into his desk.
"And yet here we are talking when I can think of three, no four, other things you could be doing with your mouth." Jack licked his lips in a much less subtle way. Ianto sat forward.
"But that would be inappropriate right now, wouldn't it, sir?" Ianto smiled at Jack's answering growl. "Of course, later this afternoon I might be persuaded to not talk to you in a few creative ways," Ianto said seductively. "Depending, that is, on what you said to Owen," he said in a much flatter tone.
"He apprised me you might have some misplaced affection for me and pointed out that I would be a bastard to take advantage of that," Jack said seriously. "I asked him what he would say if I told him I had some misplaced affection for you, too, and he said that would be really 'fucked up'."
"Then it's a good thing Owen was wrong," Ianto said.
"He is," Jack asked eyebrows ascending. Ianto nodded.
"I don't think my affection is misplaced," he said smiling as Jack beamed. "But you didn't tell him about us?"
"No," Jack said shaking his head once, "but he'll figure it out soon and when he does I'm sure we will both get lectured. He will probably tell you it's a mistake and encourage you to end it before it's too late. He'll tell me I'm being selfish and should let you down easy before I break your heart."
"I already got that lecture," Ianto said. "Now that he's talked to you I'll probably get it again."
"How did you know Owen said anything to me," Jack asked.
"That leads me to the next item," Ianto said professionally. "The team is concerned about the time you are spending with that cube. Owen felt I should be the one to ask you about it. Normally, they suggest I talk to you because if things go badly you'll take it out on me instead of them, but this time he said he'd spoken to you and thought you'd be more likely to tell me the truth."
"You know I don't mean to snap at you," Jack said self-consciously.
"Yes you do and it's fine. You're my captain. I don't want our extracurricular activities to affect how you treat me," Ianto assured even though there were times he really did want Jack to treat him differently.
"Did I mention besides being beautiful and sexy you are brilliant, amazing, and loyal?"
"Is that a real compliment or a distraction," Ianto asked.
"Can't it be both?" When Ianto only replied with a quirked eyebrow, Jack sighed. "It isn't anything dangerous. I want to get it working before I tell anybody. I've almost got it. Once it's working, I'll show you and then I'll show the others. Think of it as a surprise!"
"Good enough," Ianto said standing. "I trust you. I'd better get my notes ready for that call. Before I forget, I'll be unavailable tomorrow morning."
"Oh yeah," Jack raked his teeth against his lower lip, "new suit. I'm looking forward to a private runway show. I might even have my surprise ready for you."
"I don't know if my poor heart could stand the strain of a new suit and a Harkness surprise! I'll be back after the call so you can start paying off that bribe while we don't talk," Ianto said as he left.
Unfortunately, the Rift didn't care about their plans. A shapeshifter came through before Ianto was off the phone. Less than an hour after returning, calls were coming in about a creature sighting that turned out to be an elaborate hoax by the producers of a television show about dinosaurs coming through space/time portals. Ianto took a brief nap then was out with Jack and Owen all night chasing a Weevil that Owen suspected had the equivalent of rabies. He made it home for a few hours of sleep and then it was time to pick up Tom.
In spite of the lack of sleep, Ianto was wired. He tried not to get his hopes up too much. It was always possible Sid would have to make a few more adjustments to it before Ianto could wear it home. Ianto wore his red shirt with his dark grey suit. He stopped wearing bright shirts after Canary Wharf. Slowly he'd started occasionally wearing a colored shirt, but they were usually dark colors. His red shirt was bright red. He couldn't blend into the background in it. He struggled with his tie choice finally settling on a medium grey one with tiny red dots. He put a darker grey one with red and light grey stripes in his pocket to be on the safe side.
"There's nothing in the world like a new suit," Tom said as they walked up the stairs to Sid's shop. Between Ianto and Tom they had said that a half dozen times. They both laughed when they walked in and Sid immediately echoed the sentiment.
In an almost religious procession, Ianto was led to the fitting area. He removed his jacket which was taken by Tom and put on a hanger. He removed his trousers and exchanged them with Sid for the new ones. They fit perfectly. Sid checked the waistband and hem. He stepped back and nodded appreciatively at his work.
Sid reverentially took the waistcoat and helped Ianto into it. Ianto buttoned the top four buttons and left the fifth undone. Sid checked the fit and adjusted the fastener on the back. Tom circled around and smiled. Ianto crossed his arms straight out in front of him then lifted them up. He was satisfied with the range of movement.
Finally, Sid slid the suit jacket off a hanger and onto Ianto. He patted down the shoulders then moved next to Tom to look. Ianto turned around and looked at himself in the mirror.
Ianto didn't think of himself as a good looking man. On his best day he thought he was average. Lisa always said he was the best looking man she'd ever seen, but she was blinded by love. Jack said he was beautiful, but he didn't really believe him. It did make him feel good to think Jack chose him over the people he thought were much more attractive, but he thought Jack probably gave him points for proximity and being low maintenance. Looking in that mirror, Ianto scarcely believed it was his reflection. He thought he looked handsome.
He didn't have words. He opened the jacket and was pleased with the silky red lining that matched the pocket square and accentuated the thin red pinstripe. Ianto turned to the side then back to Tom and Sid. He checked the stretch on the jacket and playfully boxed with Tom. He squatted and was pleased the trousers moved with him.
"Sid," he finally said breaking the silence, "this is the most amazing suit I've ever seen. Thank you." He turned back to the mirror. "It looks really good, doesn't it?"
"Jaunty Jones," Tom said slapping him on the back, "I'm downright jealous."
"Let me get Amy," Sid said. "I want her to take a few pictures. If potential customers see a handsome man in a sharp suit how could they not want one for themselves?" Neither man could disagree as Sid left to look for his granddaughter.
"It looks good, Jaunty, but I'm not sure about those cufflinks." Ianto shot his cuffs and looked at them. The cufflinks were plain gold colored ovals. They looked plainer with the suit.
"I guess that means I'm going to have to do some more shopping," Ianto said.
"Not necessarily," Tom said. He handed a hinged black box to Ianto. He hesitantly accepted it and opened the box.
"Wow," Ianto said looking at the cufflinks. They were white gold circles with intricate scrollwork around a thin ebony accent circle around a mother-of-pearl inlay with a single pearl in the middle. "These are gorgeous."
"I was about your age when I got them as a gift. I only wore them on special occasions. I know Dave's been the deep one lately, but if I could give you some advice, don't wait for special occasions. And don't get consumed with the job. Make excuses to dance! I'm serious, Ianto," Tom said as Ianto began laughing. "Don't end up an old man filled with regrets." Tom's hand touch the scar on his face absent mindedly and the man flinched when he realized it.
"Don't worry. I won't," Ianto said soberly. He was touched by Tom's gift and by his use of Ianto's name. He felt a tinge of melancholy knowing he already had regrets and few Torchwood operatives lived long enough to be bitter old men.
"Right, well, that's enough of that sentimental bother," Tom said grabbing one of Ianto's cuffs. "Let's see how these look with that showy blouse of yours!"
They were still admiring the suit and the cufflinks when Sid returned with Amy. Her displeasure was evident.
"Can you take a picture of me Tom," Ianto asked.
"I'm not here to document your life! I'm just here to take a photo of the suit," she sniped.
"Amy," Sid exclaimed, "stop being rude to my friends and customers! Take a picture of Jaunty and Tom and then you'll take a picture of the three of us and then, if Mr. Jones has the time, you'll take some pictures of him in the suit." Sid shook his head. It was clear he'd come to the end of his rope with his granddaughter. She huffed, but took the photos.
"You look like one of those male models," Tom laughed. Ianto mimed looking at his watch then turned and twisted at the waist back towards Amy. Even she had to smile.
"Make sure you get my best side," he joked.
"Then you'll need to bend over," she said.
"Amy," Sid said while Tom laughed.
"What? That cut makes his bum look nice."
"Oi," Ianto said struggling to keep a straight face, "my eyes are up here, madam!"
Before they left, Ianto gave Amy his email address so she could send him copies of the photos. He assured Sid he would be back soon for another suit. He dropped Tom off at Dylan's and ran in quickly to show off his new suit. He didn't stay long. Ianto was looking forward to showing off for Jack and maybe testing out those reinforced knees.