After two weeks, Fish had to admit that he was starting to feel sorry for Captain Hart. At first, the former Time Agent had made an attempt to fit in, extending several unsuccessful olive branches to Ianto and Gwen. He'd stopped flirting with Jack and had even tried referring to Ianto by name. He had left Gwen a small box of chocolates that the former PC had chucked into the bin not seconds after she'd discovered them. Each attempt had been met with scorn, and now the fifty first century man had stopped trying.
Every morning when Fish came in, Hart was already at their work table, sifting through the tech backlog. The two men worked together, efficiently and professionally. Fish was learning a lot from Hart and his own work with the alien tech was improving in leaps and bounds. At the end of the day, Hart either went out to sample Cardiff's nightlife or returned down the north stairs to his spartan room. The former Time Agent had started trying to remain as invisible as possible and was the team pariah. Fish knew what that was like which is why he found himself standing outside John Hart's door this evening. He raised his hand, knocked and waited. After a minute, the door opened to reveal the former Time Agent. His hair was uncombed and he was shirtless. His trousers were unfastened and Fish could smell the distinctive scent of marijuana smoke wafting towards him. With a smile he said, "Evening, John."
"Joe," Hart said, giving him a curious look. "I thought you wanted that analysis tomorrow."
For some reason that Fish couldn't comprehend, Hart acted as if he worked for rather than with him. "For the last time, John, you don't work for me. This is a social call actually."
Hart looked surprised but opened up his door and let Fish in. Fish had slept in the staterooms before but Hart had a made a few small changes to the room. The linens and mattress were of a higher quality and there was a large mirror on the side wall. He'd also added a small refrigerator and hotplate. For some reason none of them could understand, Hart had an aversion to processed food. Fish found it to be almost an oxymoron given the amount of illicit substances that were probably in the former Time Agent's bloodstream right now. He sat down at the small table and gestured at the pipe. "May I?"
"Help yourself," Hart said with a smile.
Fish smiled as he picked the metal pipe up, checking that there was still something left in it. It was a small amount, barely worth bothering with but Fish hadn't smoked since he was in university and knew it would hit him hard. He lit the pipe and inhaled deeply, holding his breath for a few seconds before he exhaled and coughed.
"Woah, easy there!" Hart said, thumping Fish on the back and handing him a bottle of water.
"Haven't done this stuff in years," Fish said with a laugh, feeling the high hit him immediately. Hart had purchased quality. He smiled enjoying the relaxed and slightly giddy feeling that swept through him. Maybe he should take up the recreation again. Henry would probably disapprove.
"More where that came from," Hart said as he lifted up a box from the small bookcase. "There are a few other poisons. What's your pleasure, Joe?"
"Nah, I'm good mate. Came to see if you wanted to go out tonight for some drinks? I could be your wingman."
"My what?" Hart asked, thoroughly confused.
"Wingman. It's the pilot of a plane that flies to the side of another in formation usually in a dangerous situation for support. It has come to colloquially mean a friend, usually male, who will go out to bars and clubs and help you find a partner for sex," Fish said. He'd gotten used to explaining twentieth and twenty first century slang to the fifty first century time traveller. The flat explanations of colourful expressions were one of the best things Fish liked about his growing friendship with the man. He enjoyed watching Hart's expression change from utter confusion to complete comprehension.
Hart nodded. "Ah."
"It'll be fun, I haven't been out to the bar scene in years. There are some clubs up by the city centre, gay and straight," Fish said with a smile. "Let's see if we can get you lucky."
Hart's gaze turned lecherous. "We don't have to go out for that, Joe."
Without another word, Hart sank to his knees in front of Fish and started tugging at the other man's belt. The drugs still fogging his brain and the swiftness of the other man caught Fish so off guard that Hart managed to undo his jeans and had his hand inside them before Fish knew what was happening. Before he could stop him, Hart's mouth was on him and Fish's body was reacting of its own accord. It took him a few seconds to come to his senses but he grabbed Hart's head and lifted it off of him, his now hard cock coming free from Hart's mouth with a lewd pop.
"John, stop!" Fish cried.
Hart looked up at Fish with a confused look.
"I didn't come down here for sex. I meant what I said, I'm taken," Fish said. Christ, it's going to be fun explaining this to Henry…
Hart smirked. He stuck out his tongue and gently teased the tip of Fish's cock. "I told you to broaden your horizons… step outside your comfort zone…"
Fish gasped and started to look fearful, his voice shook a little. "Stop, John."
Hart slid the elastic band of Fish's briefs back up over his erection. "You know, I'm not that sort of scoundrel, Joe. I do want my lovers to want me."
"That's not what I was thinking at all, mate," he said. He hadn't thought for a second that Hart would force him into anything. He suddenly realised that Hart may not understand the meaning of the phrase he was using. "I'm taken. It means I'm in a monogamous relationship."
Hart's eyes went wide. He stood up and backed away from Fish as if the man had some communicable disease. "Shit! I'm sorry, Joe! I'm rubbish with this century!"
"It's fine, John," Fish said, seeing the genuine remorse in Hart's face. He stood up and refastened his trousers and belt.
"Tell your partner I'm fucking sorry," Hart said, hanging his head.
"I said it's fine," Fish repeated. "I'm not looking forward to explaining this to Henry but he'll understand. Just a miscommunication. Translation problems."
Hart still looked so upset. He was hanging his head, shaking it.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Fish asked, concerned.
"Where I'm from, it's seriously fucking inappropriate to step between committed partners," Hart said.
"No offense, mate, but you've been throwing yourself at Jack and Ianto since you got here," Fish said with a bit of a laugh.
Hart shook his head. "That's all talk, Joe. Just flirting. I offered, they said no, end of story. I do have some scruples even though you lot don't think I do."
Fish had quickly learned that John Hart was a great deal of talk. The man was a compulsive liar, given to bragging and acting the proverbial peacock. Captain Hart may not know it but Fish, a fair poker player, had learned the man's tell early on. He pursed his lips slightly right before he lied. Fish laid a hand on Hart's arm. "Really, it's fine, John. You didn't understand what I'd said. You didn't know. Listen, the night is young, and there's all of Cardiff before us."
Hart gave him a weak smile. "I think I'd like that. Let me get changed."
"I'll be upstairs," Fish said. He left the room to give the man privacy that he was sure Hart didn't require. He went back up to the main floor of the Hub to wait for Hart. He thought the Hub would be deserted but Ianto was standing at one of the workstations in a pair of pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt. Fish always thought it strange to see the Welshman in anything other than a suit. Even when Ianto was dressed down, for some odd reason, Fish still felt like he was wearing one. Must be the way he's carrying himself…
"Fish? You're still here?" Ianto said craning his neck.
"Yeah, mate, I knocked off a while ago, was just changing," Fish said. He looked a bit concerned at the screen. "Something wrong? There a spike somewhere?"
"No, just printing out some reports for Mandy that I didn't get a chance to print out earlier," Ianto said. "She's got that thing with UNIT week after next."
Ianto took in the black jeans and black button down shirt that Fish was wearing with interest. Fish's long blonde hair was slicked back with gel. Fish was dressed for a night out and looked quite handsome. Ianto smirked. Henry wouldn't know what had hit him.
"Date night with Henry?" he asked, quirking his eyebrow and smiling at his friend.
"Erm, no," Fish said.
Just then, Hart bounded up the north stairs. "All set, Joe? Evening, Eye Candy."
Ianto's friendly smile turned to a look of alarm as he took in Hart's appearance. The former Time Agent was wearing tight fitting black leather trousers and a navy blue silk button down shirt. The shirt was half unbuttoned and the sleeves were rolled up past Hart's elbows. The trousers looked as if they were practically a second skin. The man looked positively predatory.
"Yeah, John, my car's this way," Fish said.
"Fish? Wait up a minute," Ianto said, startled.
After Hart disappeared towards the Hub garage, Ianto walked over to Fish, concern etched on his face. "Fish, what are you doing? Why are you getting yourself mixed up with John Hart?"
"It's not what you think, mate. We're just going out for a few friendly drinks," Fish said, a little more than annoyed Ianto thought he was cheating on Henry.
Ianto warned, " Are you mad or just daft? A few drinks and you could end up in a bad situation! Hart's dangerous. He could slip you something! He could-"
"When I was a kid, this mutt followed me home," he shouted, interrupting Ianto's tirade. "I begged my parents to let me keep him. He was half starved and they didn't want a dog like that in the house because he could turn on us at any minute so we took him to the shelter. They said it was up to us but all that poor dog wanted was for someone to give him a chance. That dog nearly ripped a night burglar's arm off protecting me and my little sister."
Ianto went to open his mouth to argue but Fish interrupted him. The only other time Ianto had seen Fish this angry was when he had first showed up at the Tourist Office after he'd accidentally stumbled upon Miranda's immortality.
"Jack avoids him because he's too fucking afraid to piss you off and then there's you with your butler and your stiff upper lip. Gwen won't even look at him let alone say a fucking word to him. I get that you three have this prejudice when it comes to John and I know that prejudice has merit but he's done nothing since he got here but try to bury the hatchet and aside from Jack offering him a job, the only thing you three have done is throw mud in his eye," Fish said, hotly. "You lot may have your reasons for hating him, but I don't. So I'm going to go have a few drinks with the man."
Without giving Ianto a chance to reply, Fish turned on his heel and stormed out away.