Ianto Jones (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
torchwoodteaboy) wrote2010-12-15 02:56 am
torchwoodteaboy) wrote2010-12-15 02:56 am
Entry tags:
[fic] i love to be annoyed by you; no one else can annoy me like you
Author's note: Another piece in my fill-in-the-blanks series, this time being the conversation between Jack and Ianto right after this log, in which Sulu gets his first tour of the Hub, and has his first meeting with Jack as well, and well. Things don't go as smoothly as Ianto might have hoped. As always, feedback is my friend, and encourages me to write more of these fill-in-the-blanks, so if you read it, shoot me a comment to tell me what you think? :'D I'm kind of a sucker for feedback. The title is from the song "Love to Annoy" by Julie Doiron.
When Ianto got back from showing Sulu out, Jack was in his office, with the door shut. Ianto thought about just disappearing down to the archives, possibly staying down there for the rest of the day, possibly staying down there until he died and Jack had to put him in the morgue, this time the cause of death being "Death by Torchwood" with a footnote marking that it was through embarrassment, and it was all Jack Harkness's fault, but he knew that that was just being melodramatic. Still, though, the fact remained that Ianto really didn't want to go in and face Jack, face the error that he'd made and the anger that the other clearly had for him, at the moment. So he did what he always did, whenever he didn't want to do something that he knew he was going to have to. He stalled. And made coffee.
Ianto hadn't meant to keep Jack in the dark about this, hadn't meant to disobey him by inviting Sulu to the Hub But he had made a friend--he had made a friend outside of Torchwood, and even though he had been showing the other man around the Hub, he had this notion that as long as Jack didn't know about him, as long as he didn't know about Jack, then it would keep him safe from Torchwood. Not that Ianto equated Jack with everything that happened with Torchwood, all of the bad things. Just that... Ianto wanted something of his own, he supposed. Something that he didn't have to share, with Torchwood and yes, with Jack, if he didn't want to. But he'd forgotten that Torchwood and yes, Jack too, were so intertwined with himself, with his life, that he should have known that it wouldn't be possible. That Jack and Torchwood were too important to him to ever keep anything else in his life from being involved at least in some way.
Ianto sighed, revving up the coffee machine to make not only a cup for himself, but one for Jack. Because he was going to have to go in and talk to him, so he might as well try and bring a buffer in, if not to redeem himself than at least to soften the sharpness in the anger that he knew he was going to inevitably encounter. Because this was Jack, and he had messed up with Jack before--he knew what sorts of reactions he was going to get on walking into that office, and he really wasn't looking forward to any of them.
Going through the motions of making the coffee, Ianto tried to think of what he would say to Jack, what he could say to him, to get him to believe that he hadn't tried to make him angry. That he hadn't really given it very much thought at all, beyond the excitement about being the tour guide, for once, for being able to take the spotlight for once rather than having to step back and let Jack take the better part of it. He winced at how it would sound to tell Jack that he really had thought he'd be out for the whole day and would never even notice that Ianto had someone in the Hub. ...best not try to phrase it like that. It'd probably upset him more than any other way of going about saying that, anyway. No, better just go for the truth, and see where that landed him this time.
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, Ianto pulled out a tray, putting the two mugs on it before turning and heading across the main section of the Hub to Jack's office. He balanced the tray on one hand as he knocked on the door, waiting patiently for a moment before Jack called out that he could enter. Well, so far so good, at least.
Ianto opened the door and stepped into Jack's office, walking to his desk and placing the mug of coffee down beside his hand. "I, ehm, thought you'd be wanting this, then," he said, quietly, stepping back and taking his own mug off of the tray before tucking it underneath his arm.
Jack sat there at his desk, his hands steepled in front of his face for a moment, watching Ianto silently. Not in the way that Ianto was used to being watched silently by Jack, either. That sort of look he could handle, the hungry look of a man who knew exactly what he wanted, and was about to take it too. No, this look was much more subdued, as if weighing his options, there. Weighing Ianto's options. No, Ianto didn't really like this sort of a look at all.
"Sit," Jack said, motioning for the chair opposite his desk, his tone of voice making it very clear that this was not a request. So Ianto sat.
"What's your game, here, Ianto?" Jack asked after a moment, regarding Ianto levelly.
"...game, sir?" Ianto asked, deciding it was safer to try and be extra polite in this moment than risk screwing up and saying something offensive.
"You had a stranger in the Hub without my permission on a day that you knew that I wasn't going to be in. What the hell am I supposed to think, here, Ianto, other than that you're trying to get at something with this?"
Ianto swallowed, shaking his head, cradling his coffee mug between his hands. "I'm... I'm not trying to 'get at' anything, sir. I just. I didn't think--"
Jack cut him off. "Didn't think I'd be in? Are you trying to piss me off, here, Ianto? 'Cuz you're doing a hell of a job of it."
"I didn't think," Ianto continued, more bold than he really felt, "that you would feel as threatened as you obviously do by this." And that got Jack's attention.
"...and what exactly do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I'm not trying to do anything to you, Jack, certainly not with this. I asked a friend over, from the community. He's got an interest in plants, so I showed him the hot-house. He actually wanted to see the archives, so I showed him that too. But he's not an intruder, Jack," he said, looking at Jack equally as levelly. "He wasn't taking notes on how to invade the next time he's here. He... He works for an organization that, well. Frankly, I think you'd even approve of."
Jack's expression didn't change. "Look," Ianto said, "I'm sorry. I apologize for my mistake, and if you want to punish me for it, then you can." He lowered his eyes to the ground. "But I'd prefer it if you trusted my judgment a little more. And frankly...if you'd keep my past mistakes out of your remarks in front of others. Those comments were uncalled for and you know it."
Jack regarded him levelly for another moment, before sighing, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm sorry," he said, and Ianto was surprised to hear the apology. "Shouldn't have brought that part up. But you pissed me off, Ianto. This is my base, I'm in charge of it. If something went wrong, and happened to you...I'd want to know just what the hell I was dealing with, you know? I have to know everything and everyone that sets foot in the base. And if you want me to keep my nose out of it, then you just say so. I may be an asshole sometimes, but I'm trying, okay?"
Ianto nodded, not wanting to ruin the fragile moment that Jack had just created between them, because at least they were talking and trusting each other again. Jack nodded back to him, picking up his mug, taking a sip, and leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "Ugh, what a day. If I don't get these reports done by this evening, the PM's gonna be all over me demanding to know why they haven't been filed through, yet. Thanks for the coffee, Ianto. Unless there's anything else, you're free to go."
Ianto chewed his lip for a moment, contemplating if now was the right time to ask, but he supposed he should just get it over with. "I'd like to ask permission to leave," he said, quickly, before taking a breath, and reining it in. "For a day, that is. I'd like to take a day off. You see... Sulu offered me fencing lessons, and. Well. It sounds like it might be fun to try out at least, yeah?"
Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Fencing lessons, huh?" He smirked. "I wouldn't mind getting any fencing lessons from that Lieutenant. You certainly do have good taste, I'll give you that."
Ianto flushed crimson, but awaited his answer. Jack shook his head, smiling. "Fine, fine. Let me know when, and we'll check it with the Rift predictor." Ianto nodded, and moved to stand, taking his coffee mug and tray with him, not wanting to overstay his welcome. He'd just about gotten to the door, when Jack called out again.
"Oh, Ianto?" he asked. Ianto paused, turning in the doorway to look back at Jack. Jack quirked a smile at him. "Take notes, from this fencing lesson of yours? Maybe you can give me a practical demonstration of them, later." Ianto rolled his eyes, turned on his heel, and headed out of Jack's office, the sound of Jack's chuckling at him drifting out behind him. Well... That definitely could've gone a lot worse, he decided.
When Ianto got back from showing Sulu out, Jack was in his office, with the door shut. Ianto thought about just disappearing down to the archives, possibly staying down there for the rest of the day, possibly staying down there until he died and Jack had to put him in the morgue, this time the cause of death being "Death by Torchwood" with a footnote marking that it was through embarrassment, and it was all Jack Harkness's fault, but he knew that that was just being melodramatic. Still, though, the fact remained that Ianto really didn't want to go in and face Jack, face the error that he'd made and the anger that the other clearly had for him, at the moment. So he did what he always did, whenever he didn't want to do something that he knew he was going to have to. He stalled. And made coffee.
Ianto hadn't meant to keep Jack in the dark about this, hadn't meant to disobey him by inviting Sulu to the Hub But he had made a friend--he had made a friend outside of Torchwood, and even though he had been showing the other man around the Hub, he had this notion that as long as Jack didn't know about him, as long as he didn't know about Jack, then it would keep him safe from Torchwood. Not that Ianto equated Jack with everything that happened with Torchwood, all of the bad things. Just that... Ianto wanted something of his own, he supposed. Something that he didn't have to share, with Torchwood and yes, with Jack, if he didn't want to. But he'd forgotten that Torchwood and yes, Jack too, were so intertwined with himself, with his life, that he should have known that it wouldn't be possible. That Jack and Torchwood were too important to him to ever keep anything else in his life from being involved at least in some way.
Ianto sighed, revving up the coffee machine to make not only a cup for himself, but one for Jack. Because he was going to have to go in and talk to him, so he might as well try and bring a buffer in, if not to redeem himself than at least to soften the sharpness in the anger that he knew he was going to inevitably encounter. Because this was Jack, and he had messed up with Jack before--he knew what sorts of reactions he was going to get on walking into that office, and he really wasn't looking forward to any of them.
Going through the motions of making the coffee, Ianto tried to think of what he would say to Jack, what he could say to him, to get him to believe that he hadn't tried to make him angry. That he hadn't really given it very much thought at all, beyond the excitement about being the tour guide, for once, for being able to take the spotlight for once rather than having to step back and let Jack take the better part of it. He winced at how it would sound to tell Jack that he really had thought he'd be out for the whole day and would never even notice that Ianto had someone in the Hub. ...best not try to phrase it like that. It'd probably upset him more than any other way of going about saying that, anyway. No, better just go for the truth, and see where that landed him this time.
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, Ianto pulled out a tray, putting the two mugs on it before turning and heading across the main section of the Hub to Jack's office. He balanced the tray on one hand as he knocked on the door, waiting patiently for a moment before Jack called out that he could enter. Well, so far so good, at least.
Ianto opened the door and stepped into Jack's office, walking to his desk and placing the mug of coffee down beside his hand. "I, ehm, thought you'd be wanting this, then," he said, quietly, stepping back and taking his own mug off of the tray before tucking it underneath his arm.
Jack sat there at his desk, his hands steepled in front of his face for a moment, watching Ianto silently. Not in the way that Ianto was used to being watched silently by Jack, either. That sort of look he could handle, the hungry look of a man who knew exactly what he wanted, and was about to take it too. No, this look was much more subdued, as if weighing his options, there. Weighing Ianto's options. No, Ianto didn't really like this sort of a look at all.
"Sit," Jack said, motioning for the chair opposite his desk, his tone of voice making it very clear that this was not a request. So Ianto sat.
"What's your game, here, Ianto?" Jack asked after a moment, regarding Ianto levelly.
"...game, sir?" Ianto asked, deciding it was safer to try and be extra polite in this moment than risk screwing up and saying something offensive.
"You had a stranger in the Hub without my permission on a day that you knew that I wasn't going to be in. What the hell am I supposed to think, here, Ianto, other than that you're trying to get at something with this?"
Ianto swallowed, shaking his head, cradling his coffee mug between his hands. "I'm... I'm not trying to 'get at' anything, sir. I just. I didn't think--"
Jack cut him off. "Didn't think I'd be in? Are you trying to piss me off, here, Ianto? 'Cuz you're doing a hell of a job of it."
"I didn't think," Ianto continued, more bold than he really felt, "that you would feel as threatened as you obviously do by this." And that got Jack's attention.
"...and what exactly do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I'm not trying to do anything to you, Jack, certainly not with this. I asked a friend over, from the community. He's got an interest in plants, so I showed him the hot-house. He actually wanted to see the archives, so I showed him that too. But he's not an intruder, Jack," he said, looking at Jack equally as levelly. "He wasn't taking notes on how to invade the next time he's here. He... He works for an organization that, well. Frankly, I think you'd even approve of."
Jack's expression didn't change. "Look," Ianto said, "I'm sorry. I apologize for my mistake, and if you want to punish me for it, then you can." He lowered his eyes to the ground. "But I'd prefer it if you trusted my judgment a little more. And frankly...if you'd keep my past mistakes out of your remarks in front of others. Those comments were uncalled for and you know it."
Jack regarded him levelly for another moment, before sighing, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm sorry," he said, and Ianto was surprised to hear the apology. "Shouldn't have brought that part up. But you pissed me off, Ianto. This is my base, I'm in charge of it. If something went wrong, and happened to you...I'd want to know just what the hell I was dealing with, you know? I have to know everything and everyone that sets foot in the base. And if you want me to keep my nose out of it, then you just say so. I may be an asshole sometimes, but I'm trying, okay?"
Ianto nodded, not wanting to ruin the fragile moment that Jack had just created between them, because at least they were talking and trusting each other again. Jack nodded back to him, picking up his mug, taking a sip, and leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "Ugh, what a day. If I don't get these reports done by this evening, the PM's gonna be all over me demanding to know why they haven't been filed through, yet. Thanks for the coffee, Ianto. Unless there's anything else, you're free to go."
Ianto chewed his lip for a moment, contemplating if now was the right time to ask, but he supposed he should just get it over with. "I'd like to ask permission to leave," he said, quickly, before taking a breath, and reining it in. "For a day, that is. I'd like to take a day off. You see... Sulu offered me fencing lessons, and. Well. It sounds like it might be fun to try out at least, yeah?"
Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Fencing lessons, huh?" He smirked. "I wouldn't mind getting any fencing lessons from that Lieutenant. You certainly do have good taste, I'll give you that."
Ianto flushed crimson, but awaited his answer. Jack shook his head, smiling. "Fine, fine. Let me know when, and we'll check it with the Rift predictor." Ianto nodded, and moved to stand, taking his coffee mug and tray with him, not wanting to overstay his welcome. He'd just about gotten to the door, when Jack called out again.
"Oh, Ianto?" he asked. Ianto paused, turning in the doorway to look back at Jack. Jack quirked a smile at him. "Take notes, from this fencing lesson of yours? Maybe you can give me a practical demonstration of them, later." Ianto rolled his eyes, turned on his heel, and headed out of Jack's office, the sound of Jack's chuckling at him drifting out behind him. Well... That definitely could've gone a lot worse, he decided.