Author's Note:
This is a work of fiction, and not my usual. It is completely tongue-in-cheek, at least until the end. There are references to multiple addictions in these drabbles. Please heed the following tags: sex, drugs, gambling, dom/sub. No offense is meant and I hope none will be taken. I hope you will read it as it was meant to be read: with a laugh, a smile, a slightly uncomfortable frown, perhaps a sad sigh, and maybe an occasional "Awww!"
VIII.
by the amazing Taamar
It wasn't what Jack had expected of Ianto Jones, and honestly, it was fucked up beyond belief, but somehow it was perfect, too. Whatever was between them the rest of the time—the guilt, the blame, the anger, the betrayal—it was all gone in the moments like this when Jack was on his knees, blindfolded and cuffed, with the rhythmic strike of a flogger across his upper back forcing him to retreat deep into himself.
They were in the basement room where Lisa had been kept, which meant Ianto was working out his anger over Jack's callous execution of the Cyberman that had been all Ianto had left of Lisa. Different scenarios meant different things. Cuffs meant Ianto was angry with Jack specifically, while rope meant he was dealing with the aftermath of the cannibals. That usually meant a gag as well, though only the cloth one, and not the ball gag he used when he really wanted Jack to stay quiet. Jack hadn't figured out what the St. Andrews cross meant, but honestly he was happier not knowing; Ianto had a bit of a dark streak, and while it was serving Jack well, it was best not to delve too deep.
It wasn't all bondage and beatings, either. Ianto was as thorough and clever in this as in everything else, and Jack's punishments ranged from being forced to don his great coat (and nothing else) and run up and down the stairs from the archive room to his office after Ianto had caned the bottoms of his feet, all the while flicking a whip at his heels whenever he tried to slow his pace, to curling up silently on the ground as a footrest while Ianto had coffee and read aloud from a collection of erotic poetry, his accent turning each filthy verse into liquid desire that left Jack wanting Ianto with such intensity that he—he, Jack Harkness of a thousand lovers of all genders and species—was left burning with need.
Not that it was sexual, per se. There was an aspect of sex to it, of course; they would get to that later. That changed too, from angry and rough to relentless to almost tender. That was Jack's favorite, as though Ianto had almost forgiven him. Almost. But sex never happened outside of these encounters. Once they were finished, it was back to their façade of frighteningly competent admin officer and his demanding but distant boss. As soon as the collar went on, though—the collar of blue leather so dark it was almost black, with gleaming silver D rings and a buckle with a small padlock—Jack belonged to Ianto, to bear the brunt of his emotions.
Jack didn't do it just for Ianto. Once, while Jack had been strapped to the side table in the conference room (everything on it swept aside to be replaced at Jack's expense before the rest of the team commented on its absence) with Ianto touching candle flame to his reddened back (Canary Wharf, Jack had seen the scars on Ianto's own back), Ianto had asked quietly why Jack did this.
"Because I deserve to suffer," Jack had said. That was the crux of it. Over his long life, Jack had done so many things he was ashamed of, that he needed this—needed the pain, the humiliation, the abrogation of control.
He needed Ianto Jones.
Author's Note #2:
As you hopefully noted at the beginning, this scene was written by my amazing friend and beta, Taamar! She stepped up once again and saved me when I really had nothing for this scenario (just as she did for the 'Random Shoes' drabble in 'Cocktail Hour') All credit is hers and hers alone and I thank her so much for writing this! Please go read her stories and shower her in reviews!
The next drabble is not quite as dark. I'm going for balance if you haven't noticed. Two more - thanks for reading!