Author's Notes: Well, save for a few hints, today's story is sort of a stand-alone. After all, before I forced a plot into these things, they were supposed to be innocent drabbles.

I suppose you've noticed that I missed day three, but it was Watching a Movie and I've already written that and I couldn't conceive anything remotely different or better than it. Also, if you had got that today, it would be a rubbish one, so we head straight for the date.

An important thing about reviews: If you ask me something in the review, then please make sure to log into your account or give me some sort of coordinates, because I can't answer them otherwise. As for the guest's question on Jack and his fast-healing abilities, please see the (now edited) notes on chapter two for more information so I won't have to take over this chapter's notes with it.

Enjoy!

Day Four: On a Date

Jack was carefully watching Ianto as he approached, a mildly clueless look on his face as his eyes sought the Captain near the address he'd been sent earlier that day.

Jack suspected that Ianto liked that form of arranging a date because it was all very James Bond: Jack only sent him the coordinates, the hour, the dress code and a 'yes' or 'no' on 'Do I have to bring weapons?' Sometimes Jack found himself getting troubled over the fact that Ianto seemed more excited when there were weapons required.

Tonight, however, was a no-guns night, the dress code was casual and the place was one of the best places when it came to clubs that Jack had managed to find. Just as he considered Ianto's possible reactions at being brought to a club, his attention shifted back to Ianto himself who had finally spotted him.

The man had apparently decided to give the word 'casual' a brand new meaning. He was wearing a pair of tight, dark blue jeans and a loose sleeveless black t-shirt. His jeans disappeared into his black combat boots and his hair was carefully arranged in that way of his that usually recquired a bottle or two of hair gel and that managed to look carelessly, just got out of bed sort of ruffled while not being chaotic. As he neared Jack, the Captain noticed, rather alarmed, that there was something closely resembling a lipstick mark he'd tried to erase from his cheek.

"You're late," Jack pointed out as he took his hand to lead him in. "You're never late."

Ianto shrugged elegantly and Jack couldn't help but see the difference in him from a few months ago. Ianto had always been self-assured in his qualities, no matter if they were physical or intellectual, but he'd never shown it explicitly. In the last several weeks, though, there was some sort of cool confidence that no one wanted or dared to question and Ianto had become even more alien to him than before.

It frustrated him sometimes – more often than not, actually – that he could never seem to get hold of Ianto long enough to know what was going on. Everyone else is like an open book and if they weren't, Jack did what he had always done, including his days in the Time Agency – checked their records and got what he wanted. With Ianto, it was on step forward and three sodding steps back when it came to research – he didn't show up anywhere and where there was some information of him it was so obviously made-up that it sent him into further despair.

"A club?" There was some of the same despair in Ianto's voice just now as he took in his surroundings with that quiet reserve that usually sent out signals along the lines of 'that's rubbish, but I'm too polite to say it and you better be able to take the hint'. Jack felt ridiculously disappointed by it and for a few moments, anger overtook as he realised that he hadn't put that much effort in anyone in decades and Ianto, damn him, wouldn't even try to appreciate it. "Seriously, Jack, what possessed you that you thought I'd want to–"

"I thought you need to loosen up." He became aware of the double entendre the moment it came out of his mouth and Ianto turned around, a smirk tugging one corner of his lips.

"Loosening up is what you usually need, Captain."

There it was again. Ianto from just two months ago would never even think of a thing like that and here he was now, beating Jack at a game he didn't know they'd been playing.

"You know what I mean. If you ever get out of the Archives it's for alien-hunting. You're twenty-four. Act like it."

"That an order?"

"Sort of, yeah."

He felt Ianto squeeze his hand as he led them to the dance floor, an unfamiliar fire burning in his eyes as he spun Jack around and pressed them chest to chest. "Are you ready to join me?"

Jack felt his own face lighting up. "Always."