Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 34

Things had been a little odd with the team, since they'd found out what horrific lengths Jack and Ianto had gone to in order to cover the deaths of the two most recent Rift Storm victims. Even Turlough had been somewhat appalled, and the pair responsible had spent a fair amount of time in the office to give the others some space because of it. The fact that they all now knew that Ianto had done such work alone in the past for the sake of avoiding public panic and general operational security had made it even more awkward, especially for Gwen who'd had no idea even back during her span with the original team. But they'd all slowly realised over a couple of days that the measures had been necessary, and that similar extremes might be needed again until they found a way to stop whatever was generating the Storms. Eventually the team had just been grateful that they hadn't been called upon to help with any part of it, aside from running reports and making a phone call or two.

So, when the system chimed a regular Rift surge alert shortly before 9:00 am today, it was basically business as usual.

"No life forms," Turlough reported from his workstation. "Very low mass, no active energy output, so probably just a piece of inoperative tech or other debris."

"Looks to have dropped in the greenbelt along the carpark of the brewery near Dumballs Road," Gwen added, turning to look at Jack where he stood by the Rift Manipulator. "No active power readings, but a very odd Rift signature."

"Kind of close to the Storms that've shown up too," the Captain stated evenly. "Ianto and I'll go take a look, make sure it's not related. Give us a ping over Comms in case it does anything odd before we find whatever came through."

"Want me along in case it's mechanical?" Turlough asked equitably.

"I think we'll be okay," Harkness declined, activating his Bluetooth. "Ianto, we've got an alert to take care of. I'll meet you at the SUV."

He moved over into the office for a moment, reappeared with his partner's coat and the keys to the big Torchwood vehicle. Then he was on his way out the cog-wheel door, leaving the rest of the team to monitor the Rift and resume any projects they were working on.

"Lois," Gwen called over her earcomm. "Ianto's going straight out with Jack from fixing the CCTV camera up there. If you have time, could you come put some more coffee on? Pot's empty and I get the feeling it's going to be a long day."

[Yeah, he headed for the carpark about a minute ago] Habiba replied cheerfully. [Had to completely replace that camera set up, so the old one needs to go into the scrap bin. I'll lock the front door and be down shortly.]

"You're a life saver," Cooper chuckled, watching the pattern the system was forming in relation to the unusual Rift signature of the item that had just come through. "Jack, the signal from whatever you're after is really strange. It almost looks like there should be two items… like two signals layered over one another. But the system only registers a single item dropping out during the spike."

[We'll double check for multiple pieces just in case] the American responded. [Let us know if anything changes.]

"Will do," the one-time constable acknowledged.

A short span later, the SUV was parked beside the SA Brain & Co. Brewery, and the vehicle's occupants were over the small grassy swell between the building complex and the lanes of Penarth Road.

"Signal's centred about three metres to our left," Ianto reported, pocketing his PDA. "We're looking for something fairly small and metallic."

"Okay," Jack nodded, starting in the correct direction. "Well, I don't think a Victorian lantern from a handsome cab quite fits the brewery décor, so I'd say that's our bit of debris. Way bigger than I was expecting, considering the mass reading."

"Strange colour," his partner commented, crouching to collect the item. "Almost like black iron, but I can see the sparkle of copper in it. I didn't realise they used alloys like that in the 1800's. Wow… and this thing weighs absolutely nothing for its size and assumed time period."

"No way," Harkness laughed as he hefted the piece and peered at the bottom. "Look at the crafter's mark. 'D. Fflint' and the city, 'Caerdydd', dated 1892. Back when I first got roped into working for Torchwood, there was this crazy old man down in the factory district. I was sent to investigate suspicious explosions, found out he had a small forge set up and was trying to create 'better metal'. He'd grind down ingots of native iron into shavings with a rasp, add different powdered or ground things he thought would give it more strength, melted it all together and made items to 'test'. The explosions were those tests. If what he made couldn't stand up to containing a blasting cap from the mines, he'd start from scratch.

"We labelled him non-alien but potentially dangerous because of his methods. But he did come up with something he swore couldn't be destroyed short of 'the fires of a thousand Hells' melting it. Iron, coal, native stone and copper. Said it didn't rust or wear, tried to sell it to the Army, but they thought he was a crackpot. Ended up using it for projects around his own place and for a few friends, till he died five years later. That's his mark on the lantern. This is some of his 'better metal'. How cool is that?"

"Freaky history always gets high marks for 'cool'," Ianto half-smiled. "And it definitely gets points for sheer lack of weight to size ratio. It's like Victorian era aluminium, the glass weighs more than the metal."

The young Welshman pulled out his PDA again to do a sweep… then repeated it and ended up focused on the old lantern his boss was holding.

"It's just that," Ianto frowned, turning the device in his hand so that Jack could see the display. "And it does have two different Rift signatures. One is strong and recent, matching the spike that tripped the alert. But the other is much, much older, weaker, and very muddled. Almost as though he used something from the Rift to make it."

"Definitely need to check it out then," the Captain stated with raised brows. "It really is a nice colour too… make some unique jewellery."

"Considering how light it is and if it's as strong as he claimed," his Archivist nodded as they headed back toward the SUV. "It'd be a nice alternative for wedding bands. Not as gaudy as most golds, but warmer than silver or platinum."

"Would you wear a wedding band made of it?" Jack prodded, his tone playful but his eyes dark and serious.

"If I was still in the market for a wife, absolutely," Ianto answered truthfully, taking possession of the strange lantern as they reached the vehicle. "But I'm with you and not in any way inclined to go that route. You've done the marriage thing before, so it's probably a relief for you not to have to worry about it with me. That said… if I were going to wear that metal, I'd probably go for a simple chain choker or watch."

They got settled into the big black SUV and headed back for base; things unusually quiet between them.

"If I gave you a ring, would you wear it?" Harkness suddenly asked, drawing a startled look from the young Welshman in the passenger seat.

"Yes," Ianto replied quietly after a moment. "Would you?"

"Yeah," the American stated soberly. "I actually would if it was from you. Not something I ever thought I'd be interested in doing again. And the idea of all the hair-pulling Gwen went through planning her wedding isn't very appealing, but…"

"Marriage is just an expensive ceremony and a piece of paper that I could easily forge into every legal database in the world, Jack," Ianto insisted. "You don't have to do something like that to make me feel secure, we're past that now. I spent two years in Hell to get back to you, you let me put a knife through your heart, merged our bank accounts, and were willing to Retcon Gwen to make me happy. I think that's close enough to being married, don't you? Besides, Wales doesn't recognise same-sex marriage yet."

The Captain looked over to meet his beloved Changeling's gaze, realised he was deadly serious and ultimately right. He smiled and nodded, turning his attention back to the road.

"Can't argue with that," the older immortal agreed. "Or with the fact that you're a thousand times better than any of my ex-wives in pretty much every way."

"Don't tease me, Jack," his lover breathed, obviously uncomfortable with the comment. "I was being serious."

"So was I," Harkness countered firmly, reaching over to rub the back of his companion's neck. "Yes, I loved them, or I wouldn't've married them. But I never resisted when they decided to leave me, or felt devastated enough to try to follow them into death when I lost them forever. No, you aren't my 'wife'. You, Ianto Jones, are my partner in eternity, which is a lot harder and tonnes more important. You've been more devoted and taken better care of me than anyone I've known through the years, even when I've treated you like crap. That makes you the best spouse I've ever shared my life with… honestly."

The twenty-six-year-old met the American's gaze, blushed and gave a slight nod when he saw the unveiled emotion in his eyes. They hadn't exchanged formal vows in front of family and friends, had no certificate to frame. But they were very much married to one another regardless, and really had been since before what happened with the 456 in London. They could both see that now, and weren't afraid to admit it. Their hearts knew the truth, and that was better than any fancy ceremony could ever be. And if they were both now planning to forge the necessary documents the instant they became legally recognised… well, great minds really do think alike.

"I love you too," Ianto murmured, managing a warm if rather shaky smile. "Now, stop trying to make me cry, and mind the road."

Jack chuckled and ruffled his Welshman's hair, shifting his attention forward once more. Yet he couldn't help thinking what a unique wedding band the metal from the old lantern would make, a tangible promise of commitment even without vows and paperwork… and that it would look perfect on his partner's left hand.

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AN: An interesting find and a long overdue talk for the boys.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM