Dates and Kisses

"... and imagine my surprise when he dropped his pants, just like that, in the middle of the street. It turned out in his culture they bump their cocks just like we shake hands. Not that I complained."

Ianto threw him a side way glance, eyes wide and mouth slightly hanging open, before chuckling disbelievingly, "No. You didn't. Did you? But didn't you say he had..."

"Six hands, yeah. And two dicks as I realized 5 minutes in our acquaintance. We made a good use of it, all of it."

The other man softly gasped and then roared with laughter. It was that cocky grin and teasing smile. He could never stay impassive when they were involved.

It had been a wonderful night. They had walked in the park as they waited for their movie to start, discussing nonsense and basically killing time. Jack was still trying to make it better, even a few weeks after the incident with Lisa, and as much as the Welshman was grateful he knew it was pointless. He was better, he wasn't broken. He was shattered into pieces that could never be brought together again, there was a difference, and even if they were, the biggest one was long since lost. Nevermind, in times like these, he tried not to spoil the moment with grim thoughts. And going out was better than staying in his apartment and staring at the wall- what he had been doing the past few weeks because a certain dickhead (Owen) had decided he needed a rest.

So he continued listening to Jack and laughing at his stories, sometimes forcing his heart not to pang in the mentions of the other man's affairs and sometimes, even if once or twice, remembering the tales before the immortal had had the chance to tell them. After all, this Jack and his own didn't share only their appearance.

Unnoticeably, they had reached Ianto's flat. He turned around, smile almost hurting his sides and extended an arm.

"It was nice going out with you, Jack. I really hop..." and the rest of his words were cut when Jack wrapped a hand around his waist and dragged him closer, connecting their lips. The kiss lasted for one beautiful and perfect moment before Ianto pushed the other man away. They stared at each other, a moment extending in their minds and turning into an eternity.

"What are you doing?" all but shrieked the Welshman as he fought the urge to run away and hide in his apartment. He wanted to lick his lips, savour the taste, but instead he bit them. "What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?"

For once Jack looked taken aback. His hands fell limply on his sides, his body looked so small in that big greatcoat. Ianto had never seen him like that, at least not this one. He almost took his words back, almost gathered him in his arms before he had to remind himself, or to command himself, he didn't care anymore, that those feelings weren't directed to this Jack. If he acted on them he'd only hurt himself.

"I thought... When you talked about your previous lover you didn't mention their sex and I thought... that it was deliberate. And we were on a date, weren't we. It's only suitable to end a date with a kiss."

In normal conditions, Jack would have probably added 'and something more' and Ianto knew it. It did nothing to lessen the horror and humiliation he was feeling. "So what? What if I was bi, Jack? Then I would fall in your arms and we would live happily until-you-get-tired-of-me after? The world doesn't revolve around you!"

It was harsh, he realized it. And Jack didn't deserve it. But the self-hatred bubbling inside of him because he had let this go too far, he hadn't kept his mouth shut, the fear that Jack suspected more, so much more, and the painfully familiar taste burning inside his mouth kept him going. Hands curled into fists, nostrils flaring just slightly, he hissed, "I'll see you tomorrow at work, sir."

By the time he was safely locked into his apartment and leaning against the door, he couldn't stop the tears from falling nor the memories from swirling around his brain.

Jack was the perfect gentleman- he opened the doors, listened intently to him but most importantly he didn't push him. Now, it made Ianto feel like a virgin on their first date but he appreciate it. No matter that he had realized not long ago he was more into men than women he hadn't dated anyone since... her.

Their conversation was interrupted when the waiter, a young man with a blinding smile, brought them their order. Ianto returned the smile. It was nice to be served like that, he had always reminded that to his own staff. He caught Jack's knowing glance and the slightly turned corners of his mouth as if ready to curl into a grin. He had planned it, but it wasn't like Ianto would complain- the restaurant they were in was a cosy little thing, the conversation was easy-flowing, mostly concerning their daily lives, or Ianto's to be more precise. Realizing that gave the Welshman the idea of what his next question would be.

"So, what does your company do, exactly?" he asked, digging into his lasagna but keeping a firm eye on his companion.

"Marketing," fired quickly, far too quickly, Jack. Later on he'd inform his welsh lover that it was an answer all of the people related to Torchwood had to use because it put people off and they didn't ask more questions. Right now, though, he was too busy sputtering barely coherent explanation on what exactly he was doing or to put it simply- answering Ianto's question.

After 10 torturous minutes, Jack finally fell silent with a barely disguised sigh. "I've been meaning to ask you something. It might be personal, and I'm sorry if it is, but what brought you to Cardiff. Since we both know I'm quite stalkerish I won't hide that I asked, " 'grilled over slow fire' assisted Ianto's brain, "one or two of your staff" 'five, six, seven'," and they claimed you have come from London."

The Welshman's smile froze and he had difficulty with forcing the stone down his throat. There was a reason why he didn't tell anyone the reason he had moved. Seeing the pity in his friends' and family's eyes had been enough. Listening to their 'It isn't your fault's had made him want to puke. But this was different, it wasn't some stranger on the Tube, nor his new employee. Jack was something else.

So he told him. He talked and talked about the mysterious Torchwood that had offered him a job, about his excitement as he had rushed home earlier, about the numerous times Lisa had cheated on him after that. Everything. And halfway through his story he realized his heart no longer felt heavy, that everything he was saying was just words not a way to torture his soul as he had previously thought.

"Well, it's not like you needed a girl so dumb she didn't realize what a treasure you are," smiled Jack after the end of the story and in one swift movement covered Ianto's hand with his own. And, funny, that was the most intimate thing, except of course going on a date, they had done that evening. "Besides, if you hadn't caught her, we wouldn't have met."

There was pity in Jack's eyes, there always was in people's eyes, but with surprise Ianto realized he didn't care. Knowing the other man it was probably directed to Lisa, anyway. "Yes, probably we wouldn't have. And what a shame that would have been."

Jack burst into laughter and the other man soon followed suit. From then on, the night went from better to wonderful. After the restaurant, where they wordlessly split the bill, and the ice cream they shared on a bench near a snogging teenage couple, that only made them laugh even more, Jack insisted on walking Ianto home. And as they walked hand in hand, the Welsman really couldn't help but be glad Lisa had put him through all of this if only for the man he had beside him.

"Well then, Ianto Jones, our first day is over and I believe you have promised me something." His words were teasing but his eyes grew serious and hard. Sometimes later Ianto would wonder if that was how he dealt with anxiety and then more years into the future he would answer that question positively.

Now he was just happy with leaning down and planting a chaste kiss on Jack's full, soft lips. It was so gentle and perfect, and when Jack opened his mouth to let out the moan pushing against his lips Ianto felt dizzy from the taste that burst into his mouth. Moments later when they separated, Ianto couldn't keep the slightly dreamy look out of his face. By the look of it, neither could Jack.

Blink. Blink. "Do you want to come in?" Ianto drawled slowly, his welsh accent more distinct than any day.

"Maybe another time," whispered against his lips Jack and with a final kiss on his lips moved away. "I had a wonderful time, Ianto. Maybe we would do it again."

Blink. Grin. "Definitely!"