A/N: Ianto is waiting and skipping a call.

No spoilers

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Ianto waited for Jack sitting in an armchair. He turned the light switch of his tall reading lamp on and off. It's not like he wasn't expecting for Jack to be late, he just wasn't expecting he'd be so anxious. He would have to come up with something or he'd end up muttering the whole evening. He didn't like that perspective so he thought about it, what could make him less nervous. Well, he never muttered when he was angry, but how to get to upset with Jack? He understood Jack too well to get really upset. Maybe he could fake it, he was good at that, but he needed a story, a fair reason to behave badly.

At that moment phone rang and he was surprised, thinking Jack remembered to call and say he'd be late, or cancel it in case of the Rift alarm. But it was his sister. Rhiannon really had a great sense of timing. He didn't pick up. He just watched the phone as it rang. He could see her on the other side chiding him, she would start with `just how long do you need to pick up`. Then there would be `why are you home alone, you should go out more`. And tomorrow when he returned her call there will be `where have you've been` and if he is honest there will be` with who`, and if he get wilds and tell her it will be `does he treat you right, don't get pushed around, you're too soft with people`. That made Ianto think of how she would treat Jack's tardiness. He smiled at the picture; Jack would get a piece of her mind right on the door step. She was always quick with her tongue, that's how she ended up with Johnny; he was ready to argue with her.

Ianto would never treat a girl like that... but a man. He looked at the clock, curving up a wicked smile. He could try that, it's not like he'd never been told off by a woman. What would a girl all dressed up waiting like this do. She would probably pace around and check her makeup. He picked up a book and opened it up on the page where he stopped. They were just about to go dive against the turbines.* The entry phone rang before he got to the end of the page. Ianto smiled and opened the door without talking. He counted seconds for climbing the stairs, knowing Jack he would skip the elevator and take the stairs two at a time.

Ianto opened the door suddenly and was rewarded by Jack's astonished face. Of course he had his coat on, if he was a gentleman who knew he was late, he would buy flowers from the shop just beside the cleaners; flowers were practically on the road. But Jack wasn't a gentleman in that sense, maybe for him dinner wasn't a formal occasion, maybe he had something ordinary in mind. That's why Ianto asked about the clothes, he wasn't ready to smear his suit with ketchup and grease.

"Red is truly your colour" Jack said as he reassured him about the clothes, that was almost gallant, so Ianto made the flowers remark.

Ianto smiled as Jack paced behind him all out of balance. It worked so Ianto poked him some more, but Jack only got defensive.

"What you're enough of the prize?" Ianto teased him and that just got him to agree. Ianto rolled his eyes thinking how he would get strangled for that line. In that moment Jack finally got that Ianto wasn't going to let it go that easily. He got ahead of him and opened him the car door. Ianto paused for a moment just to take in the sight. He didn't expect he'd like it so much. It was just that he made that kind of small gesture for Jack the whole day, it was so ordinary, that it was unnoticed; it was nice to see roles reversed. Ianto sat down and looked up to him, he was a prize by himself, but it was better to keep him on the edge so he didn't forget to behave himself.

"See that wasn't that hard" he said to him and Jack grinned shaking his head.

"Cocky bastard" he said under breath and Ianto smiled satisfied, it was real compliment considering Jack thought himself to be one.

Then Jack gave his little speech about what he wouldn't do for him and Ianto was amused by his honesty, he wasn't expecting any of that anyway, birthdays, anniversaries and flowers. Still it was a gallant gesture to give him a heads up, maybe Jack was more of a gentleman that he gave himself credit for. So Ianto let him know that he was just putting up a show pouting a bit. Jack got the joke and finally pulled out; he parked the SUV like he does everywhere, on the edge of the curb right in front of Ianto's entrance. In and out, he didn't expect Ianto to need more time. Maybe that's why he had gotten there late.

"That must be nice" Jack said about Ianto's alleged dating skills which weren't bad, he knew how to do things right. If he were to pick up Jack, he would get there early and wait a bit for him to be ready, to make him feel wanted. It was about the little tricks. Of course you could overdo it and scare someone away. In Jack's case it wouldn't be too hard to get ahead of yourself. When he thought about it some gestures could be used as punishment for Jack, it wouldn't be bad to have something like that at hand in case he wants to make Jack behave himself. What would be dreaded by Jack? Ianto pictured a bouquet of flowers all lavish, big and pink and smiled. He could just see himself as he carried it by Owen, the jokes would never stop.

He described the bouquet to Jack and his reaction was priceless, he really got scared.

"You wouldn't dare" Jack's voice was menacing but Ianto knew he could do just that, maybe even just to see what happens.

"I will never be late again" Jack said and he obviously took him seriously because he even added an apology in there.

Ianto was pleased by that, it's always nice to have something to be taken seriously.

"You're tough tonight" Jack said thoughtfully and Ianto decided it was enough of the banter for now. So he explained his woman-role to him.

"I won't pretend I'm fine with something if I'm not" he added just to be on the safe side, men still had difficulties getting their feelings out. That made him comment on Jack's tendency to act all tough, for Ianto his act wasn't all that convincing.

"The twentieth century did butch me up" Jack confessed and Ianto could see a younger Jack, all flirt and excitement, and all bad things that could happen to him, it was a shame really that he got put down, but Ianto doubted that a younger Jack would have had the patience for Ianto, sure he would stop by, flirt and get some, but then he'd be on his way. Ianto reached out and did what he hadn't done yesterday. He just stroked Jack's lower arm and left his hand there. It wasn't uncomfortable, it was quite enjoyable.

Ianto was surprised when Jack parked by a posh French restaurant in the centre.

"How in hell did you get reservations the same day? You know that you need to book a table here?"

Jack jumped out got around the car and opened Ianto's door.

"Have some faith in me Ianto Jones" he smiled leaning on the door frame.

Ianto sighed and got out.

"So what do you want me to believe" Ianto said dryly as they approached the restaurant "that you made reservations months ago intending to ask me out, that you've time travelled to make reservations assuming I'll accept, or just that someone stood you up and I jumped in?"

Jack shook his head smiling.

"Now you're giving me too much credit, I got this" Jack tapped his wrist strap "and although it can't time travel anymore, it can mess with computers. Luckily restaurants finally caught up with technology."

"What" Ianto stopped as Jack opened up the doors "you took someone else's reservation?"

"Always cautious" Jack shook his head "no in a place like this there is always a spot in case someone important decides to show up, and we're important, aren't we?"

Ianto smiled.

"I guess" he said not giving in completely and went inside.

Because of all the tension around their date I feel need to put some disclaimers around it. I don't expect you to agree with my version of events but I hope you'll enjoy a little toss and turns. Don't get your hopes to high in big romantic gestures :)

*Ianto is reading Summer Queen from Joan D. Vinge