A/N: Jack's point of view on reading and romancing

No spoilers

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Jack thought that dinner was going quite well. Ianto grunted but that was his way, and in Jack's opinion, part of his charm. He would go back to that multi-part-alien-thing later, maybe when all Ianto's inhibitions were suspended in some highly aroused state of mind. Jack was always good at retrieving information during sex, much better than in torturing methods. Those methods made him sick after that year that passed unnoticed.

It was a nice surprise that Ianto had no desire to cross examine him about his past, life and years. He wasn't quite sure he could give him an exact number, he lost track along the way. Ianto wasn't a least bit concerned about his drunken years, or all unknown life. Unlike Gwen he was able to accept this Jack, the person he became over the years and Jack liked that.

Ianto just made his past a good interlude to talking about sleep fairies, and name topic, when his wrist strap went off again. Jack was really hungry so he didn't argue when Ianto got up and went to collect the Weevil. It was fortunate really that he read Jack so easily; there was no need to pretend. He liked that too. Ianto was efficient as always, and wasn't gone long, but Jack discovered he missed him while he waited. He kept looking at the mirror that showed the doors behind him. He was gentleman enough to give Ianto a seat with a view of the door.

Jack was just about to continue their conversation where they stopped when Ianto sat down but he threw a small red rosebud on the table before Jack. Jack took it between his fingers. It was so delicate and refined, and its red colour competed against Ianto's shirt underlining pale skin of Ianto's face. `Red as a rose` Jack thought while he wondered how he could like it so much, a small flower picked up from the road. Jack breathed it in and its sweet aroma filled his mind with pleasant pictures of an exposed and calm Ianto with closed eyes, naked skin and warm aromas. Jack was overwhelmed by the thought about how much that trust represents, to submit yourself to someone. Ianto reacted to his voice, but to Jack's despair nice pictures were smeared by violent ones; there were glimpses of things the Master would do to such a devoted body.

That's why Jack didn't pursue that topic when they were interrupted. Instead he poked a bit more at that deceiving method. But Ianto soon told him off, setting a border around it. Later on, during pre-climax state, he decided and moved to the topic of leadership in his absence. He wanted to make sense of it and the rest of them weren't very helpful. Tosh would retreat into shyness, Gwen would suddenly become bashful, and Owen just snorted. From Jack's point of view Ianto was a much better leader than any of them, he had a cool head to make decisions, compassion, and determination; and hadn't had the fears and passions that made the other three incapacitated from time to time. They would just blank out refusing to accept reality, unlike Ianto who knew how to sustain what he doesn't like, and deal with it. That's why he suggested it to Ianto, but was met with disbelief.

"Me? They would never pick me" Ianto said sternly then adding the conditions in which he would be considered. He described the state they were in during the missing year to the letter and Jack smiled sadly. He was the one to pull when everything else stopped. Jack didn't want to let him think so little about himself, so he even pulled out Lisa in the middle of their dinner. Ianto didn't even flinch; he kept talking like it was a normal thing to do so, to discuss her with Jack.

"That's different" he said "I loved Lisa" using her name with ease and talking in past tense about love "for someone I love I go into battle mod." Jack held his breath for a moment shocked by that unconscious confession. Ianto felt for him, at least in that missing time, he felt love for him. That made Jack feel safe and warm and suddenly he didn't feel the dark that was always lurking, searching for him on the edge of his consciousness.

"My knight in shining armour" Jack murmured thinking about Ianto as he walked in towards him, when he threatened him that he'd knock him out and drag him from the ship. Jack hardly recognized him, it could only compare to Ianto on that day when Lisa was activated. Battle mod was a good way to describe that focus and determination. The day Ianto punched him, disobeyed him, and yelled at him. Jack wasn't sorry for any of that now. It was a stepping stone of their relationship.

"There is nothing ironic in my statement" Jack said frankly and Ianto pushed that topic from the menu too. He switched towards the leadership issue and he managed to convey it quite well.

"I wouldn't dream to doubt your taste, you picked me" Jack said deciding to lead the way to a new topic. Subtle guidance just wasn't his style. "Speaking of picking, if you were to come up with a cool name for our friend with many tentacles, what it would be, and don't make it menacing."

"Owen called it 'moving carpet'" Ianto offered and it was time for Jack to look at the ceiling desperate.

"I said a cool name, I should say a real name, Flying balls, Sticky balls and Moving carpets aren't really usable outside of the Hub."

"Flying balls?" Ianto frowned and Jack just shook his head signalling him to let it be so he did. "What was their name in the end?" Ianto asked flatly.

"Gollum" Jack said before thinking and then glared at Ianto "You tricked me."

"I'm good at that" Ianto smiled innocently. "Gollum like the fantasy character, that can't be good, why him?"

"I think because he was creepy and despite all efforts he was unable to fight his nature and self-destruct." Ianto formed small o with his mouth and frowned.

"I would presume they didn't have best of destines then" he said seriously but then turned to much younger expression "Gollum, really, you watched it?"

"No its just one of those things, it went into common knowledge, an unconscious one, like fairytales these days." Jack explained.

"We're not in a fairy tale world" Ianto frowned.

"Really? So that's just a coincidence that every couple has a wedding as a reproduction of fairytale land, that every relationship that starts is burdened with necessity to be `the one` or it's just a waste of time. That newspapers follow couples trying to determine which one are real and which false one that would be left to trash bins. And it's just an accident that your politicians and war affairs are shadowed by latest break up or hook up. People have sex, maybe children, and then they die, over, end of story. The story doesn't end when some ring is on, and some rice is thrown in the air, it ends when someone dies."

Ianto looked sad for a moment but then he put on his smile "What that's your excuse for avoiding frivolous courting? I'm not the one, you just said out front, that can't take your very far, not in the age of the fairy tales. It must be frustrating" he mocked him a bit and Jack laughed after surprised silence.

"It is, really" he shook his head. "I have very recognizable face; don't want to be chased around with a frying pan."

"That would be a sight" Ianto laughed lightly.

"I don't know what came over me" Jack said "maybe all that business about sleep fairies made me think about fairy land, haven't been there in ages."

"Must be nice" Ianto murmured absently "sleep fairies?"

"My personal name for them" Jack explained.

"Not good, nothing that involves people, or their habits, it will invoke unpleasant associations, people just work that way." Ianto mused.

"I've noticed, so no name for them, they are too menacing and strange" Jack sighed letting it go, he just couldn't do everything.

"Night watchers" Ianto said suddenly "it will invoke Nightingale, nothing beautiful as that, and its blue colour will invoke deep night. It sounds like some guard, so its menacing nature could be justified."

Jack grinned.

"You're amazing, you know that." Jack rubbed his neck looking up. "Night watchers, then its electric nature would be perceived like something to remind you to go to bed on time."

"Why are you so bothered with them? First were those sticky balls, now this, why do you care so much if they can't even communicate with us."

"Maybe just because of that; there are so many species out there that aren't humanoid in some way, or at least capable of learning language. And when they are encountered they don't pass so well. Maybe humans would be less crazy if they had an understanding that not everything is understandable, that some things are just different." He smiled sadly.

"Like you" said Ianto softly and Jack was amazed once again of his ability to hit the point, Jack wasn't even aware that was the point in there somewhere. "You know, that sounds just like something Lem* would write, he was possessed by intelligence that wasn't human, and there wasn't any way to communicate and understand. Have you read his works?"

"Well that is a real first date question" Jack laughed "you managed to perform it. Probably not, maybe it's somewhere in there with the rest of things but I rarely use that part of my brain."

Ianto frowned.

"Explain." Jack smiled of course that would interest Ianto.

"In my time people still read books, but there is a shorter way to absorb novels, you just lie back and sleep and everything is just dumped in your head, you can reach it if necessary, but if not you never even know it's there. I wasn't back there so long that I think doors are shut and there is no technology yet to ease up that process."

"So you don't read" Jack shook his head, just like Ianto to concentrate on the down side instead of technology.

"I read reports" he offered hopefully and Ianto sighed leaning back.

"Well they can pass as science fiction any day" Ianto argued.

"Science fiction" Jack snorted "that's just a name for things that haven't happen yet or in this Universe."

"Other Universes?" Ianto asked with disbelief and then started to laugh, he couldn't stop.

"What?" Jack was confused.

"It's just that I thought I live in enough of a Sci-fi life, aliens and all, and that I can't be amazed so easily, but other Universes, I won't even think of that. I'll just scratch it off my mind."

"I do that all the time" Jack smiled "Will you eat that?" Jack pointed with his fork on abandoned piece of broccoli on his plate."

"No, it's ruined for me for awhile. You really shouldn't give me such tasks before dinner." Ianto picked some potato from Jack's plate.

"Hey Scryiogen was your idea" Jack argued, Ianto glared at him so he added "a brilliant one, you were truly amazing... and beautiful, and smart, and have a great voice..."

"Stop it" Ianto smiled "you don't want to spoil me, next thing you know I'll ask for roses and horseback rides."

"Naked horseback ride?" Jack asked hopefully.

"No, we will not get innocent animals involved in this" Ianto answered firmly.

"What a dirty mind you have Mr. Jones, I like it" Jack grinned as the waiter came back for the plates before Ianto could reply.

*Stanislaw Lem