11
"What do you mean, you don't eat" Jack asked.
"No, don't change the subject!" Ianto stepped closer to him, "You don't drop a bombshell like that and then rescind to an earlier comment!"
"Ianto!" Jack warned but Ianto was already advancing.
"You can't just do that! It might only be words for you but … I … you bastard!" Ianto turned away and Jack realised he was crying.
"Ianto, I did mean it, they are not just words to me" Jack tried to catch his arm but Ianto resisted, slamming back against the wall.
"How can you! You yourself pointed out that you don't even fucking know me! How can you possibly love me!" Ianto was shouting, his face distorted with rage. "You don't even trust me!"
"Is that what she said? While she was manipulating you? Controlling you?" Jack twigged.
Ianto deflated and leaned back against the fur as he sniffed, feeling utterly stupid with himself and the whole thing in general.
"I wish …." Ianto sighed, then looked away.
"What!" Jack asked softly, "What do you wish?"
"That there was enough retcon in the world to wipe everything away" Ianto growled as he pushed off the wall and left the room.
Jack followed him into a sparse kitchenette that had a kettle sitting in the middle of the table with three different lights on it to cancel the shadows.
Ianto opened a cupboard and retrieved two mugs plus a basket that looked to contain coffee makings.
Jack pulled out a white chair and sat, waiting now.
No need to rush this.
Once coffee was made and Ianto had moved everything until the shadows were not an issue, he sat and looked at Jack over the cup.
"Mad, aren't I" he muttered as he blew on the liquid within.
"No. I felt it. In the gun range, I felt … something touching me, brushing against my coat and I know it wasn't Owen." Jack assured him, "Even before Tosh caught them on CCTV, I believed you."
Ianto seemed to deflate and smiled weakly.
"Ianto, I want to help. You have to let me in."
Jack reached for his hand and was saddened to see it pulled back, then realised he was casting a shadow. He placed the arm on the table and waited. He was rewarded when a hesitant hand was slid into his palm.
"When the cannibals happened, I thought … I thought, at least this is the end." Ianto looked up, "In that cellar, so far from here. They couldn't find me and I thought, if I must die, at least it's not by them."
Jack squeezed the hand in his and took a deep breath.
"You were brave, you saved Tosh and risked it all to give me time to do my superhero charge" Jack said softly.
"Yes, you and heavy machinery. Good to know" Ianto smiled softly, looking down but Jack caught it.
"Cheeky!" Jack grinned, "I'll have you know, these hands can be put to a myriad of things!"
"A Myriad?" Ianto said with wide eyes as he punctuated the words with his lovely vowels.
"Yeah, a plethora, no less!" Jack teased.
He was rewarded with that being repeated as well, Ianto's twinkling gaze telling him that he knew what it was doing to him and he was forgiven.
"Let's start again" Jack leaned back, "Hi. Captain Jack Harkness. Interstellar Lothario, ex-conman, ex-companion of the Doctor, wonderfully giving lover, former Time Agent, not of this world first class twat!"
Ianto giggled.
"Hello. Jones, Ianto Jones. Welsh rabbit scared of his own shadow … literally, former momentary companion without the Doctor's knowledge, former virgin, thanks for that by the way, former Archives Assistant of T1, currently the T3 joke and the fool who seems to be falling for your tricks even when they are so blatant."
"Well, Hello" Jack purred exaggeratedly and Ianto laughed softly.
"You are a one, aren't you!" Ianto giggled.
"What does that mean?" Jack asked, "I've been called that before."
"Unique. Likable, a loveable rogue, a card." Ianto shrugged.
"Lovable?"
"Don't make me say it" Ianto's smiled slid away, "They might be listening and I …. I don't want to lose you ... I …"
"I'm not going anywhere" Jack told him firmly, "Not even of you ask nicely."
"Good" Ianto looked away, flustered by the sincerity in Jack's face, "Good then, well. Yes. Good."
Jack held on and tried to send calm thoughts as he felt the shielding waiver. It'll be OK.
Ianto's head whipped around and he stared at Jack. Hard.
"Oh yeah." Ianto whispered, "And I can hear you."