A/N: Bit darker this one, sorry in advance.
Ianto walked into the Hub with a smile on his face, in a new suit – courtesy of his sister, Rhiannon – and a hand in his pocket, keeping a tight hold of the brass stopwatch in his left pocket, the cool gold chain looping through his fingers.
" Morning Ianto." Tosh smiled. " Did Jack get to see you last night."
Ianto smiled. " Oh, Yes. He sure did." He blinked, seeing flashbacks of stopwatches and flesh.
Toshiko grinned, understanding his blush. " Well, you were always in the archives yesterday, so I didn't have the chance to give you this." She sheepishly held out a dark blue wrapped box, with a cute little bow on top.
" Wow Tosh." He held it carefully, smiling. " What is it? A new SUV, with a special dirt-force field?"
" 'Fraid not." Tosh laughed. " Just open it."
Ianto nodded, unwrapping it carefully at the tape-sealed bits, and pulling out the box carefully. He admired Toshs' patience. By now, Jack would have torn the damned thing open himself.
Inside the plain white box was a pile of white silk. Encased in that silk was a pottery mug. He smiled when he saw what was on the outside.
It was deep red, with a collage surrounding it of things that he liked. Coffee beans, ties that seemed to match what he owned, and in amongst it all what a black and white picture of Jack and himself. Jack had his arms round Iantos shoulder, resting the side of his face against Iantos' hair, and both were smiling like nothing in life could be better.
" There's a look in both of your eyes." Tosh smiled. " Like you've found part of yourselves that was missing. It's beautiful."
Ianto smiled. " It's beautiful."
" I had it made a while ago, when I hacked into your profile for your birthday."
" I knew I couldn't hide it from you." Ianto smiled and pulled Toshiko into a hug.
Tosh blushed, astonished at Iantos' action, he only usually allowed any form of skin contact with Jack.
" Well- I- It's nothing." She stammered. Ianto just grinned.
" You're not nothing."
" Whoa. Double negatives. Impressive." Tosh smiled back.
" Well, I'll get you a Hot ToshChocolate special." Ianto picked up her cup from yesterday – he'd been distracted yesterday and so didn't pick it up. " And I'd better make his Holiness a coffee as well, he'll get grouchy otherwise." He winked and turned, aware that Tosh was watching his ass the whole way – Rhiannon knew his tastes and a little shameless flirting never went wrong. He couldn't deny Tosh was gorgeous, and he hoped that she'd get through to Owen sooner or later.
Ianto returned a few minutes later with a tall, shiny-black mug filled to the rim with melted galaxy hot chocolate, fresh dairy whipped cream swirling perfectly from the centre and Bournville gratings on top, surrounded by mini Marshmallows.
Tosh grinned her thanks and took a sip, creating a cute little foam line across her lips. Ianto felt his own lips crease into a smile. He was glad to create a bit of happiness in her life.
" IANTO!" Jacks words weren't a question, more of a summoning.
" Coming, SIRE!" Ianto called back, rolling his eyes good-humouredly at Tosh before turning and taking the steps swiftly but confidently to Jacks office.
" You bellowed, sir?" Ianto stood at the doorway, his and Jacks' coffees' in hand.
" Yeah, do we want your niece and nephew at the wedding?"
" Oh, you scared me. Is that it?"
" Yea. I mean, we should send out the invites as soon as possible, we're already halfway through August. We should send out invites or phone calls as soon as possible." Different coloured papers surrounded Jack, and every inch of his desk was piled high, more than usual for even Jack.
" Um…about that Jack. Rhiannon doesn't- I mean, we've not really spoken-"
" She doesn't know." Jack stated, looking slightly upset. " Why not? We've been seeing each other for sort of 6 months. Are you ashamed of us?"
" No Jack. Of course not."
" Then why?"
Ianto put down the coffees and sat down opposite, sighing as he folded his arms across himself, not really comfortable with discussing his past, he noticed how
There was a slight scuff on his shoe, must have hit it the other day when he and Jack fell through his flat door. He let his mind skip back to it, remembering every touch, every caress, every moan.
" IANTO."
" Huh?" He'd zoned out, and Jack had been talking.
" Why didn't you tell your sister about us?"
" When I was about 15, my Tad brought home a bloke. My Mam and Rhiannon were out. Tad was drunk out of his face, and passed out pretty quickly. I just went downstairs for some coffee…"
|~|~|~Cheesy Flashback~|~|~|
15-Year-old Ianto quietly descended the stairs. He knew his Tad was unconscious, but wasn't sure weather that was a good thing or not. When he was awake, he was prone to attack anyone over anything, but asleep, it only took an accidently loud breath and he'd have you against the wall for disturbing him.
He snuck past his Tad, hoping the other man had gone home. No luck.
" W-Who are you?" Ianto didn't usually speak, but he was overly curious, and couldn't help it.
" I'm Marc. You must be Ianto." Marcs' hair was short and dark brown, almost black. He must have been mid to late 20s'. His jawline was sharp and dangerous, like his faintly Welsh voice.
" Yea." Ianto slipped past the figure sat by the table, drinking what must have been his 5th bottle of lager.
" Hey, where you of to in such a hurry?" Ianto had decided he wasn't desperate enough for pure, and settled for instant coffee, just to get away.
" My room. I have homework to do." Ianto tried to get past but Marc stood up, putting Iantos' coffee on the side and pushing them both together against the edge of the counter. The back of it pressed into Iantos' back, and he could feel it already bruising.
" Homework can wait." Marcs' voice had suddenly become husky, and Ianto was frankly terrified. Marc slammed a hand against Iantos' chest, stopping him from moving, and one around his neck, stopping him from pulling back.
Ianto stopped breathing as Marc kissed him roughly and sharply. Ianto hated how Marc tasted of cigarettes and alcohol, and possibly some form of other drugs. He didn't move, hoping to put Marc of.
No luck. Marc pulled back and smiled evily. " No response. You got a girlfriend?"
Ianto shook his head, lips swollen and untrusting.
" A Boyfriend?"
Another shake.
" You gonna do what I say?"
Ianto decided he couldn't say anything to make a right answer.
" Get upstairs." Marc pushed him roughly, and Ianto tried not to cry as he did what was asked.
|~|~|~Back To Now ~|~|~|
" He came back 5 times in the next few months, a little more drunk and drugged each time..."
Jack stared in shock.
" You never said."
" I never admitted it." There were faint tears tracing down Iantos' face.
" Did he ever do anything else?"
|~|~|~Cheesy Flashback~|~|~|
Ianto pushed Marc away weakly. This was his 3rd visit.
" Fighting? You're getting more resistant." Marc laughed.
" Please…Stop." Ianto tried.
" No thanks." Marc turned Ianto by his bare shoulders so his chest was against the wall. " You shouldn't fight back. Didn't school teach you anything?" He pushed Iantos' hand behind his back up his shoulder blades.
Ianto screamed out in pain, struggling to be free.
" Ssh, it's okay. Marc kept pushing until there was a crack, and Iantos' arm broke. " Don't disobey me Ianto."
|~|~|~And back~|~|~|
" He Broke Your Arm?"
Ianto nodded.
" Didn't your parents or Rhiannon find out?"
" I couldn't tell them. Marc would have known. I went out once he'd left and waited till they got home, then came in ten minutes later, saying I fell or something. They believed me, and let Marc Babysit me." The last line was said bitterly. " A whole evening Night whilst they went to a B&B. I'd have gone too but I wasn't allowed then."
Jack just looked shocked, before walking over and hugging Ianto tightly. " No wonder you were scared of any signs of intimacy. Why scared of me though?"
" It's silly. I was scared you'd be like him. That it all would be like that. That I'd turn out like that. I'm sorry Jack."
Jack just smiled and kissed his hair. " Don't worry. Come on, let's get some of this Wedding planned. Do you wanna be in the dress, or shall I?" He laughed.
A/N: Abrupt Ending, I know, but it seemed the only way. This story was waaaay to fluffy, I needed some Angst. It's gonna be okay though, this is mostly a happy story, but there had to be something. Please let me know what you think, I've never really written like that before. There was more, I thought of it last night, just before drifting off, not good, but I thought this was all you needed. REVIEW PLEASE!