Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or the characters.
Rating: T (I had originally rated this M but as our boys are only just meeting nothing will happen yet. When it does I will mark all M)
Author's notes: This is completely AU. Set in Jack and then Ianto's P.O.V (I've written up to where they meet so it may change from there on in, as I'm not sure how it will work doing the P.O.V's in different parts!) All mistakes are my own. Also this is my first story so please be nice.
A/N 1: It's been a very long time huh! Thank you to any of you who wish to continue reading. Sorry it's been so long RL got in the way and then I lost all interest in continuing the story even thou I have a plan for at least another 10 (if not more chapters!) So I'm going attempt to pick up where I left off!
A/N 2: I've changed the layout again! So both P.O.V's are in the same chapter.
Right so enjoy and let me know what you think x
Thanks for the reviews, alerts etc so far x
So come on courage teach me to be shy.
Ianto's hand shook slightly as he put his key in the lock and turned it pushing the door open. He held it in place as he pulled his key back out and turned smiling nervously as Jack held onto the door allowing Ianto to move into the entrance hall where he began to climb the stairs. Jack pushed the door closed behind him and followed Ianto up the stairs. He smiled at the gorgeous view in front of him, only pulling his eyes away as they reached the top.
Ianto opened the door to his apartment and stepped inside holding the door open for Jack, who quickly entered before the Welshman changed his mind. Ianto indicated the kitchen area with his hand. Jack walked straight in and set his bag of food on the worktop, turning and leaning against the workbench as if he belonged. Ianto stopped stock still in his tracks and took in the sight of the confident American standing there waiting for him in his apartment, which Ianto suddenly realised was a complete mess.
"Sorry about the erm…mess." Ianto started as the continued walking over to where Jack had stopped placing his food down next to Jacks and turning to the sink to wash his hands. Before Ianto could say anymore Jack spoke "Looks tidier than my place." Jack had scanned the open plan area quickly and although most of the area was clear there were a few stacks of boxes and a few items scattered around but was relatively tidy. "I hope that was a joke?" Ianto asked cringing at the thought of a pile of dirty plates and take away boxes scattered around Jacks home. "You'll have to wait and see hey?" Replied Jack with a flash of wide eyed amusement in Ianto's direction.
Ianto felt his stomach flip but continued ignoring the possible invite to Jack's home. He put the towel down that he'd dried his hands with and moved over to his bag extracting the top container and opening it up. "Right lets see." Jack turned so he was now facing the worktop, standing impossibly close to Ianto. "That would be mine." Jack said indicating his head toward the food and leaning across Ianto to retrieve the next container from the bag.
Before Ianto could stop himself he inhaled deeply commenting. "Hum…smells wonderful." Realising that he had meant Jack and not the food. He instantly felt the blush creep up his neck and further as Jack turned to face him while opening the second container with a quizzical look on his face. "Why don't you try some?" Jack asked "There's more than enough." Ianto turned to meet his eyes. "I mean I always order far too much and you look like you do too so…" Jack looked away afraid he'd over stepped the mark.
Just as he was coming to the conclusion that he's better pack up his food and head home Ianto spoke. "Why don't we share then?" Jacks head snapped back up to listen as Ianto continued a little nervously. "You could stay here and eat….have a drink….you don't have to but…" Jack couldn't form words, his mouth was beginning to open as Ianto moved away heading to the fridge grabbing a beer. Had he really just asked Jack to stay at his place and have dinner? What the hell was he thinking?
He felt the movement behind him a second before an amazing warmth covered his shoulder. Ianto turned his head to look at Jack who had a loving smile on his face "Ianto I'd love to." Jack finally answered in a quiet caring voice squeezing Ianto's shoulder before realising it. Ianto wasn't quite sure how to answer so settled for a not quite there nod of the head showing his acknowledgement. Their eyes settled on each others for a second something passing between them but neither knowing what it was. Ianto could feel the blush returning and turned back to the fridge taking a deep breath he asked "Beer?" with a unsteady voice. "Thanks" was the hoarse reply from behind him.
They both plate up their own meals in a comfortable silence side by side each testing a little of each others dishes. The countertop could have been described as a all you can each buffet with the selection on offer. They headed into the lounge area with their own plates and drinks and sat on the sofa placing their drinks on the coffee table in front of them. Jack noticed how Ianto placed a coaster down in front of them both and smiling.
Ianto picked up the television remote and turned it on Top gear came on the screen and he turned to Jack asking "This okay with you?" Jack nodded through his mouthful of food and Ianto sat back tucking into his own meal.
-TW-
Once they'd finished their food Ianto took the plates through to the kitchen area. Jack watched him every step of the way being thankful of the open plan style of living Ianto had chosen. Ianto turned to ask if Jack wanted another drink and Jack at least had the decency to look guilty in the fact that he was openly eyeing the younger man up. Ianto did however find it odd that it didn't bother him in the slightest, if anything it made him feel something he hadn't in a very long time not even with her. Yes Ianto had now taken to calling her that now too. He collected the beers and turned back towards the lounge and Jack handing him his drink, eyes locking suddenly as their hands brushed against each others. Ianto continued forward and sat down next to Jack a little closer than he intended to and shuffled away slightly pretending to be 'getting comfortable.'
"Big place you have here." Jack offered by means of making some sort of conversation with the young Welshman. Ianto nods looking round the place "Need the space." Ianto simply replied before taking a quick swig out of his bottle and placing it on the table. Ianto could feel Jack watching him, he turned slightly inwardly laughing at the same quizzical look on his face as earlier. "For work," Ianto elaborated. "Don't worry I'm not moving the wife and two kids in." Ianto watched how Jacks eyes suddenly darted to his left hand resting in his lap, his face relaxed slightly once he'd noticed the lack of a wedding band, until Ianto added the "Yet." Leaving Jack with a frown on his face not quite understanding if Ianto was joking or not but hoping against all hope that he was.
"Sorry" Ianto says far more serious than he intended "I guess we don't know each other well enough for you to get my humour hey?" Jack all but let out a sigh of relief and asked just to clarify "It was a joke? No wife? No kids?" Ianto picked up his drink again and nodded taking a big gulp of his beer before repeating "No wife, no kids." With a wistful half smile on his face. Jacks next comment was probably a little out of place next to Ianto's sad smile but he couldn't hold it in "Thank god." It did however make Ianto laugh and returned a sparkle to his eyes. "Why?" He asked the older man placing his drink back down. "Would that be a problem?" He settled back into the sofa and felt Jack watching him trying to look for signs as to why he'd ask that. He didn't have a answer but as Ianto faced him he simply smiled and said "No, no it wouldn't." realising that although he didn't know him at all he wanted him to be in his life as a friend if nothing more. They shared a soft smile before Ianto suddenly proclaimed "I don't believe you."
Ianto all but jumped up onto his feet and headed to a box near the television stand. "Wanna watch a DVD or something or do you need to be getting home?" Ianto didn't look at Jack once just spoke into the box after a moments pause he turned to Jack this time laughing out loud at the look on Jacks face. "Well?" Ianto asked forcing Jack to respond. "Yeah sure. What do you have?" Leaning forward. Previous conversation all but forgotten, for now.
-TW-
They'd both sat in a comfortable silence through the movie and as the credits rolled Ianto sat up and stretched, attracting a pair of wondering blue eyes over his form as his t-shirt pulled tightly across his back. He turned his sleepy eyes to Jack and asked "Coffee?" Jack checked the clock and realising the time he said "I'd love one but it's late." Jack noticed the sudden sag of Ianto's shoulders and how he directed his eyes to the ground rather than on Jack. So Jack quickly pushed himself into a sitting position and said. "However if your okay for another half an hour so am I?" Ianto looked back to Jack "Sure, how do you take it?" Jack held in the threatening laugh but the raised eyebrows couldn't be helped. Ianto suddenly realise what he'd said and felt the blush spread up from his neck. He stood and made his way to the kitchen.
His beloved coffee machine was the first thing he'd unpacked along with the cups and he and Tosh had enjoyed the first of many coffee's in Ianto's Kitchen.
He turned on the power flicked a few buttons and turned back to Jack who had followed him as far as the island that split the kitchen from the lounge and was leaning forward resting his elbows on the counter top and his head o his hands. "I'll take a splash of milk no sugar thank you." Ianto nodded and turned to grab the cups making a show out of reaching for the cups rather than walking the extra few steps. Feeling those eyes on him again he headed in the opposite direction for the milk actually bending over instead of a delicate lean he would normally do to retrieve the carton.
He stepped back to the coffee maker shaking his head slightly and closed his eyes barely believing that he had invited this man into his home, eaten with him, watched a movie and was now 'bending over' for attention from the older man. What had gotten into him?
Jacks mouth was slightly hanging open. He'd watched Ianto reach form the cups when he didn't need to and then, then he'd bent over to get the milk. That wasn't a necessary move to make, although Jack was far from complaining. So was this all for his benefit? A show for Jack? How this younger man had confused and surprised him this evening was something that had never ever happened with Jack. To be honest Jack never thought anyone would render him speechless like Ianto had. Jack was now hooked as if he wasn't before but seriously this man…
Ianto turned and placed Jacks drink in front of him holding his own in his hands as he leaned forward slightly resting his elbows on the countertop too. Jack stood up slightly picking up his cup and inhaling the strong scent, his eyes closing involuntarily and moaning loudly. Ianto watched every move jack made, eyes widening as Jacks closed and the heavenly sound came out his mouth.
Jacks eyes snapped open to see Ianto smiling at him softly with wide eyes. He gave a nervous smile and took a sip of the dark brown liquid. He swallowed and groaned "How did you do that? It's…it's" Jack needed a word to replace the 'orgasmic' that so desperately wanted to leave his mouth as he didn't want to make the younger man uncomfortable. "It's incredible. It must be to make me speechless." He laughed. Without thinking he took another big mouthful and sighed.
The whole time Ianto had simply stood watching the American drink and listening to the sounds of pleasure escaping him. People always said how good his coffee was but he'd never received this reaction before. He was watching Jack with a mixture of awe and bemusement when Jack placed his half empty cup down on the work top and smiled at Ianto. "I take it you're not going to tell me how I can recreate this?" Jack laughed as he pointed to his cup. Ianto's smile pulled at his lips a little more as he shook his head. "Nope." He looked down at his cup and then to Jack who was still watching him and extended with a, "Maybe one day?" It came out as more of a question than he intended it to but he received a small nod and brighter smile as they both reached for their cups and finished off their coffee's.
"Well'" Jack began stepping back. "I guess I should make a move it's getting late and all." Ianto looked down briefly before meeting Jacks eyes and nodding. He rounded the island to stand opposite Jack.
"Thank you for tonight Ianto. I've had a great time." Ianto could feel the blush starting again. He nodded as he began "Yeah so have I." Jack starts to walk to the door and Ianto follows feeling a little nervous. Jack turns and seeing Ianto he wants do nothing more than grab him and show him what a good time he'd really had but knew that would be over stepping the mark. Instead he reached forward and wrapped Ianto in a one armed embrace. For a second Ianto doesn't move unsure of what he should do but he doesn't want Jack to pull away and so leans into Jack wrapping his arm around him in return.
Jack pulled away after a while, all be it reluctantly. He smiles one hand resting on Ianto's forearm as he says. "We should do this again sometime. You have my number." On that he smiles and opens the door walking out of it with a backward glance and smile at the younger man who was just remembering how to use his legs to go close it behind Jack. He locks the door and crosses the room to the window on the road side and watches as Jack walks across the road with a spring in his step, he smiles to himself and hopes it wont be long until he sees the American again.