Another double update weekend since I'm, happily, zipping right along on this :)
"Good morning! How was your, um… day off?"
"It was… interesting," Ianto said, carefully measuring the coffee and grinning slightly. "I rather get the impression it will be for as long as I know this man."
"Is that a good interesting, or a bad interesting?" Tosh asked, setting her purse on her desk. "Or is it a highly personal interesting that you might not prefer sharing?"
Ianto considered for a moment, leaning against the counter in the breakroom. "Bit of each, really. Thursday was perfect – he picked me up at mine, with flowers, and took me to a very much place down on the Bayfront. We went back to his… you can guess… and it was brilliant. Late in the morning, however…."
Ianto paused to turn and pour the coffee, leaving Tosh literally on the edge of her seat waiting to hear what had transpired after the clearly good and highly personal interestings. Ianto sat across from her at the table, sliding her mug over to her.
"His ex dropped by unannounced."
"You're kidding! Midmorning on a Friday, totally out of the blue?"
Ianto sighed and nodded. "Apparently, they are in the same field, both with the same specialization, so they can't quite get away with not having some degree of contact."
"That's got to be awkward. For you as well as for him."
"Especially as his ex is a bit clueless when it comes to personal limits."
"Wow."
"Yeah. He seemed genuinely pissed off with his ex, though. You know, I had some reservations at first – the rushing off, the secret squirrel stuff – and, objectively, this really ought be a major reason for me to back off. Maybe I'm being taken in here, but the more I get to know him, aside from all the stuff he's got going on in his life, the more I get the feeling that most of the time he's not very happy deep down. I think his work takes a serious toll on him, and I can imagine it's almost impossible for him to establish a lasting relationship. I can't quite tell what it was, exactly, but Thursday night… I mean, he was gracious and romantic and great in bed, but there was something about him that just seemed a bit tired or sad. Dunno, probably reading too much into it. Anyway, I asked him if he'd be interested in coming along to Rhys's band thing. He said he'll be there if he can be."
A part of Tosh hated to see Ianto dismissing his instincts that his lover was hiding something difficult, especially after having seen how things had ended with Ianto and Lisa. Hearing that the mystery guy was planning to be at the show made Tosh reconsider begging off at the last moment. She wanted to meet this man and see what she made of him for herself. And then there was the fact that it was almost sure to steam Gwen's clams if Jack Harkness was as good-looking as Ianto claimed.
Ianto waited to take out his mobile until he'd crossed the road Friday afternoon after work. Checking the screen and seeing it was Jack ringing, he hurried to swipe to answer the call.
"Haven't caught you driving, have I?" Jack asked as soon as Ianto picked up.
"Nope, I'd have rung you back. Decided to walk since it's not meant to rain until later," Ianto assured. "How's your day going?"
"Alright. Kinda boring. Looks like I'm clear for tonight, though, so that's good. Want me to swing by with a takeaway before we head to the pub?"
"Sounds great. What do you fancy?" Ianto asked, picking on the pace to get home and changed for the evening.
"You." Ianto could just see Jack's big grin as he said it.
"Thank you. Only, I meant the takeaway."
"Yeah, yeah. You like beef and broccoli and/or chicken and cashew? I figure I'd get a couple entrees to split, selection of spring rolls, wantons, prawns on toast?"
"Brilliant. And I've just realized that I'm really starving," Ianto laughed.
"How long will you be getting home? Should I wait, say, half an hour before ordering and heading out?"
"Nope, I'll be home in less than eight minutes. If you order when you ring off with me, I'll be home and changed and have a couple glasses of wine waiting when you arrive. Riesling usually seems the thing for a Chinese, if that sounds good to you."
"Absolutely. I'll see you in, say, half an hour, Mr. Jones?"
"I'll be waiting. Oh, and don't forget to bring your umbrella. You'll likely want it after 10 tonight."
"Nah. I love the rain around here. It's good for you. Especially having grown up where there wasn't any. Safe walking, see you soon!"
Ianto had to grin. Rain good for you? Jack was quite the unique one, that much was for certain!
"I get the feeling we're going to be the most overdressed people at this do," Ianto said as he and Jack approached the pub.
"I've been to more than a few where the shy guy in the Speedo was the most overdressed. I'm sure we'll be fine. Besides, you look incredible in absolutely anything," Jack grinned.
"Or absolutely nothing," Ianto said, preempting the addendum he knew Jack was about to tack on.
Jack laughed and wrapped an arm around Ianto's shoulders as he held the door open. There was already a fair crowd inside, mostly around the bar, but it looked like the back of the pub where the band was setting up was still mostly empty. Ianto wasn't terribly surprised to see Tosh staying back nearest the door, but he hadn't expected to see her with a cash box and ink stamp.
"Has Gwen really got you working the door?" he asked quietly, leading Jack over.
Tosh smiled and sighed. "If she did it herself, she wouldn't be able to work the room. She was very relieved when I arrived and begged me to take over for her. She bought me a glass of wine, though! Best in house… apparently."
Ianto just shook his head. "Tosh, I'd like you to meet my friend, Jack. Jack, this is my workmate, Toshiko Sato."
Tosh offered a smile and handshake, which Jack accepted with a nearly formal bow. "Pleased to meet you, Jack. Ianto certainly wasn't exaggerating when he said you were handsome!"
Jack winked and said, "Neither was he exaggerating when he said you were absolutely charming, Ms. Sato."
"Tosh, Jack is also involved in IT stuff, so I'm sure the two of you can understand one another's technobabble."
"A little technobabble is good for the soul," Jack grinned, kissing Ianto's cheek. "What's the cover tonight?" he asked, reaching for his wallet.
"Nothing," Tosh shook her head. "Not for those of us who've been pressed into coming, as far as I'm concerned."
"In that case, drinks are on me. If you want another glass of wine, just let me know."
"Not likely," Tosh grimaced. "Maybe a diet vodka tonic, though."
"You hardly need the 'diet' but I'd be happy to. Want anything yet, Yan?"
Ianto caught Tosh's grin at the pet name but steadfastly ignored it. "Just water would be fine for now. Might have a lager after a bit."
"Ok, two waters, one diet V&T – lemon or lime?"
"Lemon, please. Thank you, Jack."
"My pleasure," Jack said, stepping over to the bar.
"Very good-looking and very polite," Tosh said quietly to Ianto.
"Yep," Ianto said, glancing at Jack over his shoulder. "So where is Gwen?"
"Over at the corner table, gabbing with her two besties."
"And completely ignoring us, eh?"
"Heartbreaking," Tosh nodded. "One of Rhys's mates was getting a bit chatty with me, until I strongly discouraged that."
"Not your type, then?"
"He calls himself 'Banana', Ianto. Anybody whose type that is needs professional help."
"Don't know. I quite fancy bananas. Of course, with Jack it's more like cucumber…."
That sent Tosh into a politely subdued fit of giggles, which was, naturally, when Owen Harper strode into the pub.
"Well, gang's all here, eh? Don't think I've ever seen you in a dress, Tosh," Owen said.
"I reckon not, Owen. I usually only wear them when I go out for the evening."
"Yeah. Don't reckon I've ever seen Ianto in jeans, either. Two of a kind, you lot."
Tosh and Ianto exchanged looks just as Gwen came rushing over to greet Owen. She was just, remarkably, asking if Owen wouldn't mind fetching her a pint (as she was so run off her feet) when Jack returned from the bar and set drinks down on Tosh's table.
"Diet V&T with lemon for the lady," he said, passing Tosh her drink, "and still water for the gents," he said, handing one to Ianto.
Gwen and Owen both stared at Jack for a moment before Ianto took a half step back to make introductions.
Jack was about to offer to fetch another couple drinks for the newcomers when Rhys walked over and wrapped his arm around Gwen, letting her know they should be ready in another 10 minutes. As Ianto turned to introduce yet another person to Jack, he noted that Jack and Rhys both looked a bit surprised, as if they knew one another already, but neither of them acted like it was any other than a first meeting.
As Jack headed back over to the bar to get three more drinks, Owen gave Ianto a curious look. "Just wondering, but how much is this setting you back, Tea-boy?"
Ianto frowned, hating that nickname. "What do you mean? Jack's getting the drinks in, not me."
"Nah, I mean by the hour. Boyfriend experience, isn't it?"
"Owen Harper! That is a horrendous thing to say about someone who's offered you a lager without even knowing you," Tosh snapped quietly.
Owen rolled his eyes and jabbed his elbow in Ianto's ribs. "Aw, Tea-boy knows I'm just havin' a laugh. Very nice bloke, I'm sure. Very American teeth."
"Only a biological anthropologist would fixate on the teeth," Gwen teased.
"Dental hygiene is very important, thank you. What else will future historians have to figure out our lifestyles from?"
"Digital records," Jack chimed in, returning to the group. "Good digital histories will outlast organic matter by many millennia. Future historians will be very grateful to people like your Ms. Sato, and careful archivists like Ianto."
"Well, here's to the future," Rhys said, raising his ale. "But for the present, I'd better go get in tune."
As soon as Rhys walked away, Gwen turned and tugged on Ianto's sleeve with wide eyes. "You never said he was this gorgeous, Ianto!"
Ianto shrugged. "Didn't figure it mattered. I mean, you've got Rhys and all…." Ianto decided he was so going to apologise, quite vigorously, to Jack later that night.