Musical Janto:

Song – Those Nights.

Artist – Skillet.

Number - Two

Warning – Teen! AU and Implied homophobia.

Summery – Ianto comes out about his relationship with Jack to his father and is told that he can never see Jack again. But Ianto had already made plans with Jack and his friends, after a conversation with his sister; Ianto knows what he'll do.

Other pairings – Mild Gwen/Rhys and implied Tosh/Owen.

Ianto slammed the door in a fit of anger. He threw himself on to his bed, laying on his front and burying his face in the crook of his arm to hide his cries. Because he was American, was not a reason. Because he was a guy, wasn't a reason either. The only reason why he and Jack couldn't be together was if they didn't love each other, and they did. They loved each other very much. It was impossible to be with someone for a year and not love them. They didn't need to say it, like other people did. They could felt it, sense it in every touch, every kiss, hug. His dad just didn't understand. He never did. When Ianto was six his dad pushed him too hard on the swing and he fell off, breaking his leg. If his mam was here, things would be different. His mam would accept him, he was sure of it.

Him and Jack had planned to go out tonight. They were meant to go camping on a beach with Toshiko and Owen and Gwen. Rhys to if Gwen asked him. Sometimes Gwen just liked being alone with her friends and that was alright. Rhys didn't go to Torchwood secondary school anyway. He went to some secondary school that Ianto couldn't remember the name of and he had a friend called Banana, Ianto didn't really know much about Rhys, Gwen spoke about him a lot but didn't tell them anything personal and Rhys didn't really talk about himself when he was around either. Ianto's phone started ringing with that ring tone that Ianto knew belonged to only one person. Jack Harkness. Ianto wiped his eyes and fumbled around in his blazer pocket (he was still in his uniform, having of had this argument almost right after coming in from school. It was a Friday and Jack was lucky enough to have a Saturday off work. Living alone Jack had to earn his own money, even though he was very good at making it look like he still lived with his mum.) and answered it.
"Hi, Jack, -"Ianto didn't get to finish, Jack's American accent interrupted him rudely.

"Gwen asked Rhys but apparently, he managed to get himself grounded for the weekend. Gwen said that she won't be sharing a tent alone because the last time we made her do that, she couldn't sleep because she was scared. Tosh offered to share a tent with her and Owen refused to have a tent to himself and he refused to let share a tent with Gwen and Tosh wasn't so keen on the idea either –given their history I understand that. I said Owen could share with us but I would have to check with you first, so, what do you say?" Jack asked.
Ianto tried to hold in the sob that was threatening to escape. He tried so hard. As soon as he felt it creeping up his throat he tried to swallow it down and he failed. Jack heard it.
"Ianto, are you alright?"
"No" he replied simply. His welsh accent was thicker than usual in his cries and he couldn't hold it back anymore. He allowed himself to cry. It wasn't as if Jack had heard him sound worse. "I told my dad about us and he – he didn't take it well. He told me that I... I'm not allowed to see you again."
Ianto wasn't angry anymore. He was sad. Afraid of what his dad would do if he continued to see Jack but he was even more afraid that he'd never be able to see Jack again.
"Oh."

There was a knock at the door.
"Listen Jack, I have to go... I'll call you later. I'm sorry." His voice was hushed.
He knew his dad wouldn't knock but it was better to be safe than sorry and he couldn't be sure that his sister – if he was right in thinking it was her – would be on his side. His sister, Rhiannon, didn't knock again; she just opened the door and came in. Ianto shoved the phone under his pillow and rolled onto his back, looking up at the ceiling. He could feel the phone vibrating under his pillows. They muffled the sound but the vibrations could still be felt. He knew who it was. It was Jack. He knew it. But he wouldn't answer, not at the moment. He knew his sister wanted to say something. Rhiannon closed the door and lent against it, looking at her shoes.
"I knew there was something going on between you and Jack" she said softly.
"Well, you were right. Owen figured it out before you did though" Ianto replied.
Rhiannon came over and sat on the little space that was left beside him on the single bed.
"Come on Ianto, give me some credit, I would have figured it out a lot faster if you actually spoke about him. About yourself. Or school. Told me the kinds of things you did together" she began, and then thought about what she said and corrected herself. "Actually, I don't want to know."

Ianto couldn't help but smile at that comment. Most of what him and Jack did was an inappropriate conversation but the smile faded when he realized his phone was vibrating again. Jack, most likely.
"I can give you details if you want" he suggested, lightening up again.
His sister always managed to calm him down a bit. He chuckled a little as she grimaced at his suggestion. Teasing her was fun and easy. He almost missed her screwed up face in the low lighting. The only light came from his bedside lamp. His curtains were closed and it was getting dark. He didn't turn on his main light often, unless he was looking for something. Which he rarely did because he always knew where everything was.
"Most of the time when it was just me and him, we'd go to his place. He doesn't have a lot of money, you know. He lives alone. His mam left him a few months ago, a few days after he turned sixteen. She just packed up her things in the middle of the night and left. No note, no goodbye. She just left. That was the time I stayed over all weekend. He didn't want to be alone. He gets housing benefits; he also collects trolleys for ASDA. She sent him some money last month. No return address though, he'll never figure out where it came from. He thinks she went back to America. I suppose it's possible. He used as little of the electric and gas as possible. He eats microwave meals usually, drinks instant coffee when he doesn't call me up to come over and make some. Like early in the morning or late at night. He hardly sleeps anymore. Whether he tells me or not, I know. He's got no one now."

"He's got you" his sister said quietly.
"Me? Yes and dads trying to take me away from him. He lost his dad and brother on the same day too, a few years ago. He's dad was murdered. No one knows what happened to Gray. I'd go and stay over. Make real coffee, cook real food. We'd lie on his bed, watching TV in the dark and talking all night. I started spending nights over there because dad was always getting on at me for coming home late and... To put of arguing about it, I'd just stay at his and we'd either walk to school together next morning or he'd walk me home mid afternoon. Most of the time we'd talk about nothing at all, it was better than talking about all the problems we had going on. His abandonment, dad, exams. We just, forgot about them and stayed up late, talking and watching nonsense on TV. Those nights, they helped keep me alive. The one thing Dad can never take away from me is the memories. As soon as I'm 16 I'm moving out. I'm going to live with Jack. I'm fed up with all this."
"Were you planning on going to his tonight?"

"No" he smiled at the memory though. "Me, Jack, Gwen, Tosh and Owen were going camping on a beach."
"No Rhys?" She asked.
"Got himself grounded... Something to do with Banana, I expect. Those two are always getting each other in trouble" he said the words carelessly. Not even stopping to think about how strange that sounds to someone who has no idea who Banana is.
"Banana?"
"Long story. We've been camping before. Sometimes just me and Jack but the others usually come along too. We all have our own tents. Jack's mam left their tent behind. It's small. Only a two person tent, Jack never actually went camping but his parents did. They were saving up for a family tent but... Gwen's parents use to take her camping all the time. They have both a family tent and a two person tent, which she uses. Tosh got one from her grandparents. Usually I'd take food and drink and, Owen would bring a stereo that runs on batteries, Jack would start a fire sometimes on cold nights. It was so much fun. We'd listen to music until early hours of the morning. Drinking whatever we could get away with sneaking out the house. It was good to forget. Real good. Get away and be on our own. Jacks house, the beach, it was like our own little safe haven. We'd roast marshmallows and complain about Owens complaining."

Silence took over the room after that. Rhiannon could hear the phone vibrating; only she didn't mention it because she knew Ianto didn't want her to hear it. So, she pretended she couldn't hear it. Then a thought occurred to her. Outside her bedroom window, was a tree. One of its branches was thick enough to walk along, if you had the balance. He could get into the tree, climb down and be out. Sneak off. Go to Jacks anyway.
"Only, Gwen doesn't want to be in a tent on her own. Tosh offered to share with her. Owens not happy about it of course. Although I wouldn't be happy if Jack was spending a night in a tent with someone else, either. I'm just glad Owen and Tosh finally admitted how they felt. Took them long enough, they've been dancing around each other for two years."
Silence fell again. Rhiannon got up to leave and before opening the door, she turned around to look at Ianto again.
"Dad fixed my window. Shame I can't see anything though, there's a big tree in the way... Don't let Dad hold you back Ianto, the nights still young" then she left.

It took Ianto a while to figure out what she was talking about. When he knew what she meant, he wasted no time at all. He emptied his school bag and packed some pyjamas, clothes for the morning, swimsuit (it was a beach after all. Although he knew Jack would try and convince him to go in without a swimsuit on... Or without anything on at all.) Deodorant, sunglass (it might lighten up tomorrow morning, plus, if he drank enough, he'd need anyway), Jack had the double sleeping bag. He zipped the bag up and finally picked up his phone. He had five missed calls. One from Toshiko, one from Gwen and three from Jack. He let out a breath and called Jack back.
"Ianto? God, I've been calling you. Gwen called, Tosh called... I was worried!"
"Jack, I'm fine. It's alright-"
Jack interrupted him again.
"Alright? No, it's not. Ianto," Jack exhaled loudly before continuing. "Listen, if you want to break up I understand. It's not to –"
"Jack" Ianto almost shouted with frustration. "I'm not breaking up with you. Listen, I'm just about to leave. I can't bring food or drink because I'm sneaking out of my sister bedroom window. I can be at yours in 5 minutes. Have you figured out what beach we're going to this time?"
"Caswell" Jack said.

Ianto tried to hold in a laugh.
"Caswell? It's rocky. Sure there's sand, but a lot of rock too"
"its close and I realized we haven't been there yet" Jack backed up.
"Alright, we'll give it a go. I'm not sure we're allowed to just camp there"
"Are we really allowed to camp anywhere? We don't really ask" Jack reminded him.
"True. I'll see you soon okay"
"Okay"
"Hey, I love you."
"I know. Now, hurry up."