Home, Sweet Home

Ianto heard the key turn into the keyhole and it unlocked a sad smile on his face. A sigh fell from his lips as he slowly rose from the armchair. His gaze swept over the room- pale yellow, peeling walls, worn-out furniture, a lonely lightbulb swaying on a cord from the ceiling. His room. When he'd come here for the first time he'd moved in because it had been available. He had never thought he'd be stuck.

He heard the loud footsteps getting closer and each one made his heart throb painfully. It hurt almost like that day when everything had ended and even more. Because that day he at least had had someone to hold him close and to tell him that everything will be alright- now the same person was coming toward his living room to kill him.

Not that Ianto didn't have a choice, there was always a choice. His one? Simple, a gun or poison. He had already decided. That was the regular question presented upon traitors and everyone had always picked the gun. It was quicker, it hurt less. Till now. Ianto was going to be the first man to take the second option.

It wasn't like he was a masochist, but then again he was starting to get attached toward this Jack so maybe... He was afraid, he could feel the way his heart beat frantically just from the thought of the way the poison would set his blood on fire and make him wither from the inside, bit by bit. He just needed the time it would give him. He didn't want Jack seeing him. And if that pain was the closest thing from a punishment he would receive from the man he'd hurt long ago... well, wasn't that just a bonus?

A few tears welled up in his eyes and he hastily wiped them. There was no time for getting sentimental, he'd weep later. He'd known what he was getting into the moment he decided to help his former girlfriend and no matter what he didn't regret it. There were moments when she was the only thing to keep him sane, the only one to whom he could bare his heart. She was still the same girl and sometimes the realization that she had cheated this Ianto too stabbed his heart but mostly she was the anchor in his world. The thing that connected his present with his past.

The door opened and he straightened. The last time he would see Jack eye to eye. The other man looked around the room and Ianto had to suppress a shiver from the way he scrunched his nose. It wasn't much, what he had, but it was his. Not for long, he reminded himself.

"Poison, sir," he nodded curtly, he didn't want to hear Jack ask him how he wanted to die.

The immortal scowled at him before shaking his head. Maybe they had something new for him? Would they kill him publicly as an example for the others that planned on using Torchwood? Ianto felt his heartbeat quicken. If it was publicly then he wouldn't be able to...

"Make yourself presentable. I'll make some coffee and then we'll talk about those suicidal thoughts of yours."

And maybe as Ianto took a shower not only water dribbled down his cheeks.

Ianto shivered, wrapping his coat tighter around himself. Head down, arms crossed in front of his chest, he headed home. Today he'd taken too much time to close the cafe and it was already dark. Not that it bothered him. If it wasn't so bloody cold!

He heard a noise from behind him and he turned around, scanning the horizon. When not a shadow moved he shook his head at his own paranoia but still picked up his pace slightly.

His mind drifted to his day, Grace had once again broken a few dishes when she'd been washing them. He had to find her an easier job, he thought. Then there was Emy who couldn't even utter a word to the customers without stuttering. The poor girl, she was so shy. Maybe he could make them switch places, surely one couldn't break a plastic cup. Right? And Owen... God, he was going to ban this man from entering his cafe if he didn't stop flirting with all of his waitresses. He was with Tosh for heaven's sake!

So deep in his thoughts he didn't hear the growl from behind him as a human-like creature stalked him and prepared to jump on him. He didn't notice the man who jumped on the creature and quickly knocked it out. Ianto, however, did sense something a few moments later and it made his back stiffen before he relaxed.

"So are you going to keep stalking me or do you want to come in?" he asked when he stopped in front of his building and turned toward the place where the figure that had been following him for the past 10 minutes was hiding.

The figure, a man in a long coat, messy hair and a flush on his cheeks, from the cold or embarrassment Ianto couldn't tell, slowly, reluctantly walked out of its hiding spot.

"I haven't been stalking you. I was just... in the neighbourhood."

"And you just happened to be standing behind that car or behind that tree at the exact same moment I turned around," Ianto nodded solemnly, smirking inwardly when the flush deepened. He had known that man for so long and yet he'd never seen him so flustered. He smiled gently and beckoned him with a hand, "Come on, Jack, remember I promised you that someday I'll invite you over? Finally, the end of your waiting has come."

Jack grinned from ear to ear and followed his friend. They wouldn't do much more than watch a movie, curled on the sofa with something to eat in their hands, he knew that. Not yet. But it was a start and with surprise Jack realized it was enough. For now.