A/N: resolution, hopefully a satisfying one

Spoilers: Adrift

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Jack was disturbed by Flat Holm, he always was. He simply couldn't accept it, but there it was and he had to deal with it like many other awful and unfair things in the universe. He had lived long enough to know how to find them, and he did seek them out because the alternative was much worse. Imagining those people on some examination table all cut open made him carry on.

He had seen quite enough dissected people and aliens in his time as a Torchwood field agent when he had no power to stop it; he had no desire to participate in that again. It seemed like the universe was full of those kind of hurtful things, but then he remembered the chalkboards on the doors and the clumsy letters on them. He smiled to himself; Ianto knew how to make the world beautiful even in a place like this.

Jack turned and followed the path to the boat. Ianto was already aboard and finally he didn't look empty and distant, he was sulking. Jack could understand that, he could work with that. On the way here Ianto was so distant that Jack started to doubt his ability to fix this problem, whatever it was. Now his confidence was back because he was determined once again. Ianto had something that he wanted for himself, at least for awhile, until Ianto got tired of him. They all got tired, but that was a good thing, it meant they would resume their normal lives. But in the meantime things could be fun.

He started the engine and Ianto turned his back to Jack again. Jack was annoyed by that, it cut off all communication, putting that on top of the wind and the roar of the engine made talking impossible. They'd talk ashore. Jack laughed to himself out loud, he had made an effort all day long to avoid talking, and now he was impatient to make it happen. Ianto turned towards him frowning; Jack could see his face clearly against the approaching city lights and the full moon that was rising in the sky. Jack killed the engine and they stopped.

"What the hell" Ianto got upset "we can't just drift, we're almost there."

"Yeah, and there you'll sulk some more, I'll take you home and what then? More work, less time, I don't like to see my efforts ruined. What's with you today?" he decided to be bluntly honest, it didn't suit him to hesitate.

"What's with me?" Ianto raised his voice and Jack smiled with satisfaction, it was a nice voice, and when in full throttle quite loud and masculine, he did love masculine. "I'm not the one that's been a prick all day."

"Prick?" Jack mussed. "Is that a nice way to say 'completely handsome'?"

"Nothing is ever serious with you" Ianto looked up exasperated.

"Why be serious, life is hard enough, you've seen them, we have to keep it light or we'll go mad" Jack pointed towards Flat Holm.

"Really?" Ianto didn't back down. "Will you really persist in using them to wear me down? That's really low."

"I'm not doing that" Jack frowned "It was on my to-do list and it was the only thing I could think of to get you out of your apartment, because you wouldn't talk to me there."

"Damn right I wouldn't" Ianto muttered "after today I could just put you on ice, and you wouldn't disagree."

"But I would disagree, I came, didn't I?" Jack was all serious.

"Why did you come?" Ianto was suddenly calm watching him carefully. "If not for work?"

"I saw the footage when you collected Beth" Jack decided honesty was the safest choice. "I thought you might be upset."

"And you would comfort me, no questions asked" Ianto scorned.

"Ok, what did I do?" Jack shouted out. "I do not remember doing anything wrong today."

Ianto just stared at him.

"Of course you don't" Ianto sat down on the deck and sighed. "Maybe I just expect too much of you."

Jack sat down beside him entangling his hands and leaning on his knees.

"Ok, maybe you could tell me what you expect and I will decide if it is too much."

Ianto looked at him sideways and then sighed.

"It's silly really" he murmured and paused, Jack waited. "I was annoyed when I woke up this morning, and you being distant and cold all day didn't help."

"But the danger..." Jack tried to argue weakly, but Ianto cut him off.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the world in danger and all, but I just don't care" he said firmly. "It was just a day at Torchwood, every day is like that. If you can't find a moment to just stop and acknowledge me I see no point in pursuing anything."

"It doesn't sound too demanding" Jack was relived, he expected anything from kisses and hugs in the Hub to 'live with me'.

"We'll see if it's demanding or not" Ianto said flatly.

"I brought you this" Jack took out the grey t-shirt from his pocket. "I borrowed it accidentally."

"What I would do with that, it's ruined" Ianto looked it with confusion and didn't reach for it.

"Well, I thought..." Jack frowned confused. "You didn't throw it away?"

"It was too close to your office, and I was avoiding you, so we didn't have to have this talk."

Jack laughed out loud and tossed the t-shirt over the rail.

"Sorry for today" Jack relaxed and leaned back. "I was a bit preoccupied by the 'end of the world' thing, felt threatened by your remarks and questioning my decisions, I'm not sure yet of my place, and my dick hurt" he confessed.

"You felt challenged by me?" Ianto didn't get side tracked. "I would imagine Gwen would bother you, or Owen, not me."

"Well, I do need you to run things, and don't doubt your ability to challenge my authority." Jack was serious.

"In the future I'll take your insecurity into account. Your dick hurt?" His tone finally got lithe.

"Well we did get stuck together last night" Jack said honestly. "And the separation did hurt."

"I'm glad you felt it too" Ianto said dryly. "So your ability to heal doesn't include your dick? Why did we throw away condoms?"

"It only gets reset when I die, in mean time only the big injuries are healed. I didn't die today." He explained.

"So you could be a carrier, if you don't die in meantime," Ianto argued.

"Always to the point, ok, I'll make sure that if I get involved somewhere, I'll die before I get to you." Jack said.

"You better" Ianto said firmly.

"Although I won't seek out opportunities" Jack offered quickly.

"There is no need for that Jack" Ianto said shaking his head. "You are who you are. I've accepted you."

Jack leaned in towards him suddenly full of desire.

"Not tonight" Ianto cut him off coldly "I accepted you, but that doesn't change who I am."

"And who you are?" Jack said with delight backing away wondering if he would ever get enough of this man.

"Not casual" he stressed it out. "I do care for you, and I won't play it cool and act like you weren't a prick all day," he was determined.

"Still a prick? Only because I had to leave early today?" Jack still hadn't seen anything wrong with his behaviour, Ianto didn't see him sneaking out of bed and running barefooted.

"There is a thing called a note, you did it yesterday, or a quick wake up to say 'I have to go', even, 'good morning sorry I have to run, did you sleep well'." He offered. "Besides you had to make quite an effort to unglue yourself without waking me."

"Ok" Jack sighed giving up "I freaked out, I'm no good at mornings."

"Freaked out? Why" Ianto asked innocently but Jack could see he would insist on this.

He shook his head and withdrew, looking across the water towards the city that was slowly sliding before them.

"Because you were too good last night" he said absently, feeling the cold "and I'm not used to be treated like that, with care."

He felt Ianto sliding closer and Ianto slipped his arm around Jack's.

"See, that wasn't too hard" he said quietly. "Your problem is that you don't like to show that responsive and raw side of you, and my problem is that I'm hungry to feel just that. If it's something that you can't give, I'll understand, but I can't be unmoved and rough, that's not me. If you're just looking for warm body, I can't be that, I will always ask for more of you."

After that Jack couldn't speak, all he could do is turn to Ianto and kiss him. Luckily Ianto accepted that as an answer and kissed him back. Jack couldn't get enough of him, but soon Ianto eased it down and backed away.

"Not tonight I said" he said with a mocking smile and Jack growled.

"You are tough" Jack said fiercely. "Tougher than anyone I know. What will we do instead, because I'm not feeling like going to the Hub alone?"

"We can talk" Ianto said simply, "you remember, exchanging words."