Sometimes It All Works Out... Don't Get Used To It
The plan was simple. Harold Saxon's, or the Master's as they knew him, birthday was coming so the citizens of the world decided to honour him with a grand party. The main purpose of it was to please the man that had called himself ruler of the Earth and thank him for everything he had done to the human kind. There were a few side reasons too, like the elite finally meeting the so-called Doctor, Saxon's lover and rumored alien too.
Everyone wanted to see that man, find out what had made the person that had once terrified them fall in love with him.
A little group of 5 people just wanted to break into the party, kidnap the one everyone was waiting to see and teleport him in the Hub. A piece of cake, really.
It was Ianto's idea, actually. He held the belief that they had to talk to the Doctor first. The Timelord would never let them kill his lover, he loved him too much. The Doctor could talk sense into their heads. Not that Ianto revealed that to his team, how was he supposed to explain that since in his universe those two had been inseparable here they would continue to adore each other. No, he convinced them it was the easiest way, they were saving the Doctor and not risking anyone in foolish quests to the Valiant. Besides, they had to consult the Timelord- he was sure to have a plan.
Jack agreed, far too quickly, but the Welshman wasn't even taken aback- his plan did involve saving the Doctor, after all. Strange, but he wasn't that jealous, too. The Timelord and his lover had a connection that he couldn't understand, here or in his universe, but that didn't make him less important to Jack.
Just like that they had a few details to sort and a week time. Tosh created a teleporting device and was already working on Gwen's false identity so she could sneak in and act as their inside woman when Owen finished the drug they would use on the Doctor. Creating drugs for a Timelord was tricky but since Ianto had spend so much time with two he could always, secretly, he didn't want unnecessary questions from Jack, help. And it wasn't like they were doing something powerful that could kill the Timelord, they just needed him to black out... for a bit.
"You don't like it, do you?" Jack asked as the Welshman was fixing his tie. The day had finally come, Gwen was inside, keeping an eye on the Doctor and waiting for the right moment. Dully, they could hear their conversation, something about how sweet and nice the Master was. Frankly, Ianto thought the woman was overselling it but he could hardly say anything, he still was unsure of where he stood in their team. "Doesn't matter that you came up with it, you don't like the plan."
"I don't like our goal, Jack. The plan is fine." Ianto shook his head, tugged at the tie again and only then did he look up. "He is not that bad."
"He is a dictator!" Jack bared his teeth.
"He has shown nothing but kindness to our kind. Our race is prospering, no more hunger and crime and sorrow! I'm not saying he cured every disease and saved every man. But he is trying..." Ianto lifted himself on his toes, seeking his lover's lips. When Jack just turned his head on one side, out of reach, the Welshman sighed. "He let you go."
"But in return he took the Doctor!"
"The Doctor likes it there," Ianto almost retorted. But even if he had, nobody would have heard him. Jack was long gone.
To put it simply, they succeeded. They, somehow, ensured that the Doctor will kill his lover, the one person that could make him happy. Not only that, it turned out he had already had a plan. One that he refused to share with them but a plan nonetheless... which meant the Timelord had mulled over it.
Ianto had surely been far too optimistic.
He should have said something, deep inside he knew. Should have made the Doctor listen. He could have succeeded, if only he had revealed the truth. If he had been there when they were discussing it.
But... No. Only one sentence was needed to drive him away.
"You smell strange."
That's what the Doctor had told him and he had fled. Hidden from view in the kitchen, shaking, broken and humiliated. He knew how he smelled. He knew what he was.
And if that man knew too, if he told Jack... His head started hurting when he thought of it. He couldn't let his Jack know, he couldn't lose him.
Later, he found out the others had covered for him. They had come up with the lie he had picked the scent from all the time he spend with Jack. Of course... nobody would have believed the truth.
"He is not going to kill him, is he?" Jack asked as they were preparing for bed a couple of nights after their meeting with the Doctor.
At first they thought it would happen right away but as hours and then days passed they lost hope. None of them showed it but they were all thinking it. They had been tricked.
"No, no, he won't." Ianto had to try hard not to let his smile surface.
He was the only one truly happy about it. Sure, they were still in hiding and they couldn't leave the Hub but the Doctor was happy. The human kind was happy. And, he mused as he climbed into bed with Jack, there certainly were some perks of being locked in the same building as your lover.
Jack dragged him close for a kiss, arms twining around his waist. Yep, awesome perks.
"I hope I'm not interrupting something."