Apologies for the ridiculously long update time but I've been busy :) This chapter is mainly conversation but I think (hope) that it's okay.
Ianto Jones ran and ran until, finally, he drew into a park. Reaching a bench he sat down numbly, not noticing until it was too late that there was someone else on the bench. He scowled to himself as he realised that he probably appeared very suspicious, sitting down randomly next to a young teenage girl. And he couldn't get up now…
"Hello," he said nonchalantly.
She glared at him. "What?"
"Never mind," he said quickly. A silence fell between them as Ianto wondered whether or not she was going to move.
Glancing over at the 16 or so girl Ianto noticed hesitantly that she was crying. As he tried to decide if he should attempt to comfort her his phone buzzed. Sighing, he flipped it up angrily.
"What?" he hissed.
"What the hell are you playing at?" Jack shouted.
"What do you mean?"
"Where are you?"
"Stuck in traffic, surely Owen told you?"
"Ri-i-ight." Jack drawled. "So, tell me really. Why are you sitting in a park?"
A wave of anger hit Ianto. Shaking his head in disbelief he stated bitterly: "You bugged me."
Something in his tone told Jack he had gone too far. "I...uh, I was worried..."
"You. Bugged. Me." Ianto started searching his pockets, trying to find the device. Suddenly it hit him. He stripped the plastic back off his phone and looked inside. There. A flashing light.
"Yan?" Jack sounded worried. "I was worried, I'm sorry, just...come into work, and we can chat when Owen gets back..."
Ianto removed the phone from his ear slowly. Suddenly he drew back his arm and the phone went flying into the pond.
The girl watched him curiously. When he remained immobile, staring at the water she tentatively reached out and patted him on the arm. He turned his head sharply and she drew back, scared. He smiled though, and she relaxed.
"You're crying."
"So are you."
"Who was that?"
"My boss." His voice was flat, she noticed.
"They bugged you? Why?"
He ignored her.
"Are you running away from them?" the girl asked him.
"I can't…I can't…"he shuddered and suddenly started to cry, the tears flowing easily. "He bugged me! How could he do that, he bugged me…"
"You said." She said lightly. "Are you okay?"
"Are you?" he demanded. "I'm supposed to be the adult here, come on, are you okay?" Trying to take control again, Ianto? When you've let go?
"Not really. That's why I'm crying."
"Run away?"
She nodded dumbly and started to cry again. "I…I don't know what I'm going to do…" she sobbed uncontrollably. Tentatively he put an arm round her and hugged her gently.
"What's the matter…?"
"Joni."
"What's the matter Joni?"
"I…" she sniffed. "I can't tell you. I shouldn't even be talking to you. I should go."
"Please, I promise I won't do anything. I won't turn you in." he reassured her gently.
"I love my best friend." She said quickly, going red and hiding her face.
"Girl?" he questioned.
"Girl. Please, don't hate me, I don't know what to do…" she cried.
"Here." He handed her a tissue.
You don't hate me?"
"Should I?"
"Everyone else does."
He hugged her again, feeling sorrow for this poor, confused girl. "Who?"
"Well, I haven't told anyone. But everyone always calls each other gay and stuff and I can't tell her, she'd hate me and then I couldn't even be her friend anymore…"
"Trust me. I know how you feel but they'll understand." He swallowed. "Tell a few people at first, who you trust. Don't run away from who you are…" his voice trailed off as he remembered that was exactly what he was doing.
She nodded, unable to speak and hugged him back before jogging off slowly. Ianto watched her go wistfully, smiling.
The voice behind him brought him back to reality.
"Excellent advice. Ianto, please, come back to the Hub with me."
He didn't say anything.
"Please Ianto; I need to know what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong." Ianto insisted, still watching the girl. Jack snorted behind him.
"Sure. Where's Owen, Ianto? He went to your flat, where is he? Do you know?"
Jack's words hit Ianto hard. He turned around, panicking suddenly. "He…went to my flat…?"
"Problem…?" Jack asked cautiously.
Ianto stared at him. "I have to go." Without waiting for an answer he turned and started to run towards the main road. He could hear Jack running after him but he sprinted and soon lost him.
Owen watched the TV screen. There was a film on, some rubbish but he wasn't really bothered.
What was bothering him was this fixation he seemed to have on Ianto.
His phone rang suddenly, jolting him. He answered it, grunting like he normally did. It was jack, gabbling on about Ianto, obviously panicking.
"He just started to run, Owen, I told him you went to his flat and he just ran and I don't know what to do, Owen, what if he kills himself or something? I couldn't stand it and something's up but he won't talk to me Owen, I need him to talk but I keep missing it and I'm worried Owen, really worried, I shouldn't be this worried, not this worried, and I know why it's because of us, y'know but still, not this worried…" Jack rambled on; getting Owen gradually even more worried himself.
"Calm down, Jack. Please. Something's up, yeah, but he's not that stupid, he'll come to his senses, leave him be. Please." Owen tried to console Jack, not letting on how he felt.
"Did you see anything at his flat?" Jack asked desperately.
Owen cut the connection. He'd just looked outside and there stood Ianto.
"Speak of the devil." Owen muttered.
Ianto ran inside once the door was opened and, as he opened his mouth to ask him if he was okay, shout at him, maybe even cry with relief, he wasn't sure which, Owen felt himself being kissed by Ianto.
"I-what the-what the fuck-"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I had to get you to listen to me." Ianto said through his tears. "I had to shut you up. You're in danger, Owen. Believe me."
Slight cliffhanger there, sorry. This story is going to be Ianto/Jack/Owen...but I'm also going to do some Janto fluff because everyone loves it and also some Owen/Ianto. If these pairings put you off, sorry but it's what I want to write.