Torchwood Fic

[bluecastle]

 

Title:  A New Day Dawns
Author:  valancy_joy
Rating: G
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Words: 879
A/N:  Set somewhere in the vicinity of KKBB, after Jack’s return of course… got a bit floofier than I intended, but sod all these two make me happy…
Un-beta-ed

Summary: In which things are not easy when Jack returns …

 

Ianto walked softly up behind the man standing on the dock, silhouetted in the morning sunlight.

“Good morning, Sir.”

“Do you mean that?” whispered the man whose gaze never faltered from the horizon.

When Ianto didn’t reply, the man continued. “Is it a good morning? I used to believe all mornings were good, that they held unimagined possibilities, but now…”

“What do you want from me Jack?” Ianto asked, stepping up and standing next to the man in front of him.

“I have no right to ask anything of you.”

“Don’t pout, Jack. It doesn’t become you.”

“You have no idea what I’ve become, Yan,” the older man sighed bitterly as he shoved his hands into his pockets and started to walk away.

The two men walked silently back to the Hub’s Tourist Entrance. Ianto unlocked the door, and walked behind the counter to hang up his coat, pushing the button and opening the interior door for Jack on his way.

When Ianto walked into Jack’s office a half hour later with two perfect lattes on a tray, Jack gifted him with a genuine smile. Ianto sat in his usual chair in front of Jack’s desk and sipped his coffee, watching Jack intently.

Neither man knew exactly what to say. There was so much Jack wouldn’t say about things which had happened, but which never were. Ianto sensed that Jack was looking to him to take the lead, and Ianto wasn’t sure he could. He was far better at it than he had been five months ago, but this was Captain Jack Harkness, and how in the world was he supposed to lead his leader?

Jack took a sip of his coffee, and the words, “this is new” were out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying.

“A lot of things are new Jack, it’s going to take time…”

“Oh, God, don’t…”

“Look Jack. You can’t just sweep back in and pick right back up where you left off. You left us, with no word, to anyone. And when you did come back…”

Ianto set his coffee cup down and walked around the desk. He leaned back on the spot he often occupied for serious talks. He reached over and took Jack’s coffee cup from him, and sat it down on the desk. He crossed his arms, looked deep into the eyes of his former lover, and tried to find a way to begin again.

“Why didn’t you trust me to shoot that blowfish Jack?”

“What makes you think I didn’t trust you to shoot him?” Jack asked, picking his coffee cup back up, blue eyes glittering.

Jack took advantage of Ianto’s momentary confusion to continue.

“Just because I shot first doesn’t have anything to do with trust. I saw an alien holding you at gunpoint and I shot him.”

“Is it really that simple for you Jack?”

“Weren’t you glad to see me?”

“Answer the question.”

“Nothing about my life is simple, Ianto, I would have thought you would know that better than anyone.”

“Earlier you said I had no idea what you have become. I’m not sure I ever knew. I sure as hell don’t know now. I only know I can’t go back to the way things used to be. I just can’t be your pet project anymore. You have to trust me.”

“We have to trust each other Ianto. Do you trust me?”

“Should I Jack?”

“Can you try, Yan? Can you give me a second chance to prove to you that this is my place in the Universe? Can you?”

“Are you asking as my Captain, or as my lover?”

Jack smiled, “Which one will you say yes to?”

“Jack, I don’t know that I can promise you anything right now. But you once gave me a second chance that I probably didn’t deserve. I don’t see how I can do less for you than to give you a chance at a new beginning.”

“Drink your coffee, Ianto,” Jack replied, handing him his cup.

Ianto took a sip and watched Jack looking at him fondly.

Jack stood, and started out of his office. He turned back to Ianto, and smiled when he noticed a bit of foam on Ianto’s upper lip. He crossed over to the younger man and gently kissed the foam off his mouth.

“I like your new coffee, Ianto.”

As he got to the door of his office, Jack turned back and said softly, “New is good Ianto. I like new beginnings.”

Ianto watched him as he walked over to greet Tosh, laying an arm over her shoulder and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. He heard the alarms go off as the cog door rolled open to admit Gwen and Owen, bickering over the morning newspaper.

“Good Morning, Jack,” Gwen called out as she swatted Owen with the paper.

“Sod all, right Jack?” Owen asked as he pulled his lab coat from his chair and put it on over his wrinkled t-shirt.

“Good Morning, Team,” Jack said, addressing them all, but staring over Owen’s shoulder at Ianto in the doorway of his office.

“It’s the start of a new day,” Ianto said softly as he passed him on the way to wash up the coffee cups.