Life is All, Part III: Day Aleph-Null: Chapter 4

[amuly]

Title: Life is All Part III: Day ℵ0: Chapter 4
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Lois/Alonso
Word Count: 4,471
Rating: R
Summary: Confessions, archives, and sexy times
Warnings: none
A/N: So Jack decided to do something completely unexpected while I was writing this. FYI, part of this chapter came as as much of a surprise to me as it might to you.

Previous Chapters:
Part I: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7
Part II: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7
Part III: 1, 2, 3

            The sunlight filtered in through the open blinds of the hotel room. Jack squinted, irrationally angry at the blinds for being open. Stupid blinds. They couldn’t have closed themselves at some point during the night, could they have?

            Still, Jack could thank the sunlight for two things. One, the early morning light had woken him before Ianto, giving Jack the opportunity to watch Ianto as he slept. Two, the light fell across Ianto’s prone figure, giving Jack a beautifully illuminated view. Ianto’s mouth was slack in sleep, hanging slightly open as his cheek and part of his lips pressed up against his pillow. His hair was ruffled, but face smooth and free of any worry lines. One hairy thigh was hanging out of the sheets, and Jack watched, amused, as the dark hairs covering it fluttered in the air from the AC.

            Slow grin spreading across his face, Jack recalled his earlier promise to himself. Shifting every so slightly, he leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to Ianto’s hair. When Ianto didn’t stir, Jack shifted his whole body lower, pressing a kiss to Ianto’s right shoulder next. He continued down Ianto’s arm, pressing light kisses in a line down it, until he had kissed every fingertip on his right hand. Still, Ianto hadn’t stirred – hadn’t even twitched a finger.

            Jack turned his attention to Ianto’s chest, peppering tiny, wet kisses across it, practically in a grid. He had told himself he’d kiss every last centimeter of Ianto, and he didn’t plan on missing one spot. When he reached Ianto’s nipple, a shiver went through the sleeping man, and Jack paused. He glanced up in time to see Ianto blinking bleary eyes and glancing down at him, before a sleepy smile spread across his face. “’Morning.”

            “’Morning.” Encouraged by a tug on his waist, Jack climbed up Ianto and pressed a closed-mouth kiss to his lips.

            Beneath him, Ianto hummed happily, shifting until Jack could feel his morning erection pressing into his hip. “Should we be getting up?”

            Jack shook his head. “Nowhere to be. Might as well have a lie-in…” He leaned down to continue kissing a pattern across Ianto’s chest. For a moment Ianto indulged him, then his hand was in Jack’s hair, pushing him away.

            “Loo first. Loo, teeth, then lie-in,” Ianto stretched, tempting Jack into kissing him some more, until he swept the sheets off of himself and sat up. “Then…” Ianto continued, arching an eyebrow at Jack, “We head back over to Torchwood. At the very least, we can use their equipment to find John. And there are a few things I want to look over.”

            Unsuccessfully suppressing a grimace, Jack started off to the bathroom. “Is there anything really that pressing? And I could probably track John with my manipulator…”

            But Ianto was already shaking his head, even as he lifted the toilet seat to relieve himself. “No, Jack. I need to see how operations are running.” Their eyes met in the mirror as Ianto washed his hands. He sighed, visibly deflating before turning around and clutching Jack’s face between both hands. “If I promise no field work during this visit, will you be less upset?”

            After a moment’s contemplation, Jack nodded. “Alright. We can head over. But after…” he waggled his eyebrows.

            Ianto returned his lascivious look. “After,” he agreed, leaning in to plant a chaste kiss on Jack’s lips. “Teeth,” he announced. “So we can have our lie-in.”

**

            Two hours – and two highly satisfied men – later, Jack and Ianto were sprawled out on the king size bed, a feast from room service spread out before them. The telly was on, but muted – Ianto would occasionally glance at the news ticker running at the bottom of the screen, but other than that they paid it little mind. Jack was busy trying to feed Ianto another slice of mango from their brunch, though both men were laughing too hard for proper aim.

            “Come on, Ianto! Open up!”

            Ianto fell to his side, mouth somewhere between opening in laughter and closing shut against the intrusive mango. “No, Ja-mmph!”

            Jack grinned as Ianto was forced to bite down on the mango, scowling even as he chewed the fruit and swallowed. But then an evil look flitted across his face, and his tongue flicked out, licking the spilt juices from his lips and chin. Jack’s eyes widened, a small moan escaping from his mouth as he watched. Ianto seized his moment of distraction, shoving a slice of cantaloupe into Jack’s open mouth.

            Jack gulped down the sizable slice of fruit in a single go, waggling his eyebrows at Ianto. “Ha! No gag reflex!”

            Ianto just rolled his eyes. “Promiscuity is not something to be proud of.”

            “Mm, but you love it.” The fruit fight quickly devolved into snogging, Jack pushing Ianto backwards onto the bed as he shoved his tongue farther into his mouth. Ianto moaned beneath him, relaxing into the kiss and pulling Jack tight to him. Their hips started to undulate – just barely – before Ianto broke the kiss and pushed Jack away.

            “No, Jack, come on. We need to get dressed, get to Torchwood…”

            “I know, I know,” Jack grumbled. With one last quick peck on the lips, Jack pushed himself up off of Ianto. He practically threw himself off the bed, trotting over to the closet for a fresh set of clothes.

            After a small detour to the loo, Ianto was next to him, picking out a fresh three-piece suit. “You know,” Ianto began, and Jack noticed he was carefully not looking at him. His tone was too forcibly casual: it sent up all sorts of alarms blaring in Jack’s mind. “The things I said that day – the day I…died – it’s unfair to you. To make you promise.”

            Fear and anger battled for control inside Jack’s chest, before he forced them both down and schooled his expression into a careful, blank mask. “Unfair?”

            “Yes. It’s just,” Ianto still wasn’t looking Jack in the eyes, as he buttoned up his shirt and rolled up the French cuffs, “A thousand years from now, you shouldn’t have to remember me. That’s ten, fifteen lifetimes. And to ask you to remember an unremarkable boy from Newport, that you spent two, three years with-”

            “Ianto!”

            The harsh tone of Jack’s voice made Ianto jump, surprising even Jack himself. But he was so angry, so hurt, to hear Ianto speak that way about himself, and about Jack. Fury almost blinded Jack, and he had to take several deep breaths before he trusted himself to move.

            Turning a single step to his side, Jack carefully placed his hands on Ianto’s shoulders. He modulated his grip, concentrating hard to make sure he wasn’t hurting Ianto. The white-hot flames of anger inside of him made it difficult to do anything clearly, but Jack needed Ianto to understand, to know how much he cared – and he wasn’t going to accomplish that by cracking his collarbone.

            “Ianto. Don’t…don’t ever say that again. You’re not insignificant. You’re not unremarkable. You are one of the kindest, smartest, most wonderful people I have ever met.” Jack stared into Ianto’s eyes, trying to communicate every confusing emotion he felt for this man before him. But Ianto’s eyes remained clouded, wary, and Jack knew he needed to say more. “I will remember you, Ianto Jones. Not because you asked me to, but because…” his voice trailed off as he stared at Ianto, and Ianto stared back.

            But why? Why would Jack remember Ianto? Why, out of all the lovers, shags, friends, and enemies, why would one Ianto Jones make Jack feel this way, make Jack completely and utterly dependent on him?

            As much as Jack hated to admit it, John had been close. Jack needed someone, even as he journeyed through the centuries alone. But it wasn’t just anyone that could fulfill that role. Alonso couldn’t: sweet as the boy might be. It was all Ianto, it was only Ianto. Ianto was...

            “I love you, Ianto Jones. I want you to always be with me. I want your sarcasm, and your wit, and your gorgeous blue eyes and beautiful Welsh voice, and wonderfully devious and sharp mind…I want everything about you, for as long as I can have you.”

            Ianto’s eyes were bright, but he still tried to deflect. “Sounds practically like a marriage proposal, Captain Harkness. Best be careful how you word things.”

            Another surge of anger went through Jack, but it was tempered quickly by overwhelming feelings of love and protectiveness. Pulling Ianto closer to him, Jack wrapped an arm around his waist. “What if it was?”

            Both men stared at each other, and Jack would be hard-pressed to say which face was more shocked. He had surprised himself with the…the proposal?! A surge of fear went through Jack, before he forced himself to focus back in on Ianto’s eyes. There was fear in them, too, but behind the fear, shining out just barely, like Ianto was afraid to even think it, was a strong measure of love and hope.

            “Thought you didn’t do labels?” Ianto pushed.

            “Screw it.” A small, crooked grin flickered across Jack’s face. Suddenly it was all so clear to Jack. He knew he had to do this: not for himself, but for Ianto. For Ianto, who was baffled by the his-and-hers sinks; for Ianto, who couldn’t believe that Jack could love him, couldn’t believe that Jack would remember him in a thousand years, much less a million, or a billion; for Ianto, who didn’t even know what to call them and their relationship to each other. Things might have been different in the 51^st century, but Jack was in love with Ianto Jones, a man born in the 20^th century and living in the 21^st. If Jack could offer him this small bit of security and happiness through a simple label, then screw it. Let Ianto have the label. Jack loved him.

             “I…” Ianto swallowed thickly, and Jack watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I…I’m going to die, one day, Jack. You’ll have to…keep going.”

            A small noise, not unlike a whimper, threatened to escape Jack’s throat before he swallowed it down. “I know. Which is why any time we have together should be spent together. Right?”

            One shaking, shuddering breath later, a smile flitted across Ianto’s face. “Yeah.”

            “Is that a yes?” Jack teased, arching one eyebrow.

            Ianto matched his arched eyebrow, even as tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. “I suppose it is, Captain Harkness. You’ll make an honest woman out of me, yet.”

            The two men surged toward each other, kissing passionately. Jack pulled Ianto flush to him, wrapping strong arms around him and squeezing tight. If only he could hold on forever, have this one moment last until the end of time.

            Too soon they parted, but the look of unbridled joy in Ianto’s eyes was enough to keep Jack warm inside. The younger man took a moment, trying to compose himself, but a goofy grin kept slipping past his mask. Jack laughed, kissing him again, wanting to taste and feel the happiness pouring out of his…his fiancé. His husband-to-be. Jack practically felt giddy at the thought. So maybe the labels weren’t just for Ianto, after all.

            “Come on,” Jack squeezed Ianto’s arm. “Gotta see what they’ve done to your archives.”

            Ianto’s eyes went wide. The smile dropped from his face. “My archives?”

**

            “Oh, the archives!” Lois picked them – and Alonso, much to Ianto’s obvious displeasure – up from the hotel as soon as Jack called Gwen and let her know their plans for the day. Jack and Ianto slid into the backseat and let Alonso take the front with Lois. Jack used the opportunity to let his hands wander, though Ianto was having none of it. It seemed that Alonso’s presence put a damper on the romance between them. Jack thought it a bit unfair – after all, they had just gotten engaged.

            Lois continued to talk from the front seat. “I ended up in charge of organizing what we salvaged from the old Hub, along with all the new stuff coming in. Gwen set me up with Archie, and he had loads of back-up files that I downloaded to the new servers.”

            Ianto hummed, nodding his head as he listened. Jack stopped trying to grope at him for a moment, and instead reached for his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Ianto shot him a tight smile, which did nothing to hide his nervousness. The archives were Ianto’s home, sanctuary, child, and masterpiece, all rolled up into one. Jack could understand why the thought of someone else rebuilding them was winding him up.

            They arrived at the Hub shortly. Alonso was at Lois’ side almost before the car stopped moving, doting on her. “D’you want me to go have a look at the new item? The scanner?”

            Lois blushed, smiling at Alonso even as she ducked her head. “Yeah, that’d be…that’d be a great help. Thanks. Just ask Mickey about it – he was fiddling with it earlier.”

            “Sure thing.”

            Jack suppressed a laugh, poorly, as Alonso and Lois continued to stare at each other, smiling bashfully. Finally they both seemed to realize where they were, and they broke eye contact. Alonso raced into the Hub, while Lois turned back to Jack and Ianto – after a decent pause staring after Alonso.

            “Right. Um,” Lois’ smile fell slightly, turning more nervous the more times she glanced at Ianto. With the expressionless face Ianto was pulling, Jack couldn’t blame her.

            Soothingly he placed a hand on the small of Ianto’s back, edging him forward “Archives?” he prompted Lois.

            “Archives,” she agreed, pointing a finger at the two men in confirmation. With just a moment’s hesitation, she spun around and led them into the Hub.

            Jack observed the new Hub carefully. The first time around, he hadn’t been paying too much attention: what with Ianto’s resurrection and all. It seemed a bit bigger than the last Hub, but Jack attributed the size increase to the bomb. It was a bit brighter and cleaner than it had been as well: the damp sewer walls had been spackled over, to give it a somewhat more finished feel. The iron grating and concrete that had made up the floors and stairs was replaced by a much cheerier – but still easy to clean – linoleum. All in all, a job well done by Gwen in his absence.

            The three of them passed by Mickey and Alonso, arguing in what appeared to be a tech bay. “Well, that’s just brilliant, in’it?” Mickey practically threw the small device at Alonso.

            “I’m sorry! But it really is just a sort of wrench! I used it on kids’ ships when I was little.”

            “Don’t apologize to me, space boy! Just make sure you’re around next time so I don’t have to waste my morning trying to get a wrench to scan plants.”

            As they passed, Mickey’s eyes flickered up, spotting Jack. “Hey! Captain Cheese! What are you blokes up to, today?”

            Jack grinned, leaning over the railing to the tech bay. “Ianto wanted to see how you lot were handling his archives. They were his pride and joy, you know.”

            “Oh, yeah, sure,” Mickey nodded knowingly, “Taking a look at the ‘archives’, are we?” Mickey even went so far as to use air quotes. He pointed the scanner – now, apparently, an electric wrench – at Ianto. “Gwen told me all about what you two get up to when you’re ‘weevil hunting’ or ‘tending to the plants’ or ‘consulting Ianto’s local knowledge’.”

            Jack turned around to Ianto, expression schooled for innocence. “I don’t know what that woman’s talking about, do you?”

            Ianto pretended to think for a moment, before he shook his head. “Well, you know us Welsh: always coming up with crazy stories.”

            “Oi!” Gwen bounded over to them. Jack glanced behind her: there was an office off to the side of the main Hub area, which he supposed was hers. “You know that’s a filthy lie, Ianto! We Welsh have no imagination.”

            With a friendly smack on the arm, Gwen scooped Ianto up into a bone-crushing hug. “How are you doing, today? Jack not working you too hard, is he?”

            Jack delighted in the way Ianto’s face colored at the onslaught of sexual implications. “No,” he glanced around, obviously searching for something to say. “We found a flat!” At Gwen’s shocked expression, Ianto rushed forward. “I mean…I found a flat. And, well, Jack doesn’t have anywhere to live, so…”

            Ianto received another slap on the arm from Gwen, as Jack fondly watched him struggle to explain. Gwen just shook her head, squeezing his abused arm. “It’s about time you two moved in together, after all.”

            For just a moment Jack glanced at Ianto, readying to open his mouth and tell Gwen the even better news. Ianto’s expression was both furtive and horrified, much to Jack’s amusement. They stood like that for a long moment: Jack about to speak, Ianto silently begging him not to. Finally Jack looked away, shaking his head. Ianto breathed a sigh of relief.

            Lois, unaware of the tension in the air, pointed a thumb over her shoulder. “Do you still want to see the archives? If you have other things to do, it’s alright. They’ll keep.”

            Jack watched as Ianto’s jaw set, and he tugged decisively on his waistcoat. “No: I’d like to see it now. If you don’t mind.” Gwen waved them off, and the three continued down into the lower levels of the Hub.

            These levels were less polished than the new main area, though still a sight better than the old, re-purposed caves and sewers that used to make up the lower levels of the Hub. The rock was hewn clean away, leaving smooth walls, ceilings, and floors behind. The light was crisp and clear, coming from evenly spaced light panels above their heads.

            As they traveled deeper underground, Jack noticed small tunnels breaking off from the main: some finished, some with small barricades in front of them, indicating unfinished areas, he supposed.

            Lois turned to the right, stopping in front of a sturdy door labeled “Archives.”

            Ianto raised an eyebrow. “More organized than it used to be, already.”

            Jack shrugged. “As long as you could find it, it never really mattered.”

            In front of them, the door swung open, revealing a large room. Lights flickered on as they stepped inside, bathing the room in successive strips of brightness, starting from where they were standing at the entranceway and spreading backwards. Next to him, Jack heard Ianto gasp.

            “It’s so…tidy.”

            Jack and Lois both turned to look at Ianto, who was stepping cautiously forward into the room, as if the entire thing might cave in with the wrong footfall or comment. Jack watched as Ianto peered cautiously at the rows upon rows of shelves, file folders, and boxes in front of him.

            After a moment of respectful silence, Lois waved them over to a small desk and computer. “Here’s where you can access everything, as well as run a search.”

            Ianto slipped into the chair and started typing away at the computer, eyes flickering back and forth across the screen as he clicked on different files. Jack turned apologetically to Lois. “Do you mind if he has a minute to…”

            Lois backed away. “Oh! No problem. Just give me a ring, if you need me.” With one last smile Lois backed out of the door, shutting it behind her.

            Glancing over at Ianto, Jack realized quite quickly that they were in this for a while. So he settled himself down against a wall, closing his eyes and snatching a moment’s rest as the sound of mouse and key clicks washed over him.

            Ten minutes in, Jack cracked an eye open to check on Ianto. The young man was still absorbed in his work, fingers and eyes not having stopped in their movements once. Jack decided to liven things up a bit. Knowing Ianto couldn’t see it with his back to him, Jack grinned at Ianto. “You know, I wouldn’t have told Gwen about our recent decision.”

            There was a split second’s pause before Ianto resumed his digital queries. A moment after that, he replied: “Almost scared the life out of me.”

            “That was the point.”

            The sound of keys and mouse stopped again, and this time Ianto spun around in the chair, leveling a firm glare at Jack. Grinning, Jack held his hands out in surrender.

            Jack waited as Ianto observed him steadily, before apparently coming to a decision. He slid out of the chair and walked over to Jack, before dropping himself down into Jack’s lap. Jack grinned up at him. “Everything organized?”

            With a kiss Ianto silenced him, before pulling back and nodding. “Very. Lois did a good job with what she had.”

            “That’s good,” Jack mumbled. It was hard for Jack to be interested in files and alphanumeric order when a gorgeous Welshman was sitting in his lap, evident arousal growing harder by the moment.

            “You should show more interest in filing, sir.”

            Jack hummed, trailing a line of kisses up Ianto’s neck and jaw, fingers fumbling at Ianto’s belt. He couldn’t possibly want to talk about filing now, could he?

            “After all,” Ianto’s fingers imitated Jack’s, going to his trouser to undo the zip and button, “You know what organized files do to me…”

            Oh. Jack licked his lips, glancing up at Ianto. He stared back down hungrily, eyes darkened with lust, cheeks pink with arousal. Jack scrambled with Ianto’s zip. Damn thing…just get open…

            Finally, Jack managed to get Ianto’s zip open, just as the other man did the same to his. Jack swallowed Ianto’s moan in a deep kiss as they fisted their arousals together. Ianto thrust down onto Jack, scooting forward and maneuvering himself to gain better leverage with his thighs. Their hips undulated into each other’s as Jack let Ianto take over the stroking, grasping them both in one strong hand. Jack threw his head back, rubbing a hand over Ianto’s arm.

            An evil thought flitted through Jack’s mind, and he opened his mouth. “In the flat I’m gonna organize the Tupperware for you, all stacked up by type, with their matching lids…” Ianto’s breath hitched, hand stuttering in his smooth strokes. His eyes squeezed shut as a shiver ran through him. Perfect. Jack pressed on. “Our closet will have the shirts hung up by color…ah, fuck, Ianto, do that again…”

            Ianto complied, rubbing his thumb over the slit of Jack’s head on the upstroke. Jack pressed on, trying to think of more organizational things to turn Ianto on. “We’ll have matching plate and dish sets.” Ianto gasped, leaning forward to capture Jack’s lips in a kiss. When they pulled apart, Ianto braced a hand on the wall next to Jack’s head, panting as he continued to fist their arousals roughly. Hot flesh rubbed against hot flesh, spending spikes of pleasure through Jack’s system, making it harder to think. Still, he continued. “Little plastic drawer dividers in…desk…pens and…uh Ianto.”

Jack shuddered, feeling his impending orgasm draw nearer. He should have known better than to mention office supplies – that was liable to send him over the edge as much as Ianto. Another desperate twitch surged through Jack’s body, and he glanced at the face of the man atop him. Ianto was close, too, if the sweat beading his upper lip was any indication. “DVDs…alphabetical.” Above him, Ianto moaned, hips thrusting down all the more furiously. Just a little bit more… “All your Bond’s…chronological… order…” Finally, Ianto shuddered and gasped as he came. Warm come spilled out over his hand and Jack’s cock as his hips twitched and thighs trembled.

            Jack batted Ianto’s hand away and took himself in hand, stroking quickly. Aided by the slickness of Ianto’s come, it wasn’t long before he was on the brink, a warm tingle of pleasure flowing through his system, ready to explode. Ianto leaned forward, sucking at his neck, muttering sweet nothings into his skin. He nipped at his pulse point, and Jack came, thrusting his hips up against Ianto’s limp body.

            They sat, breathing heavily as they recovered from their orgasms. Finally Jack groaned, moving so he could stretch his legs out in front of him. Ianto shifted and slid off. Slowly the sensation returned to Jack’s legs.

            Leaning to the side, Jack kissed Ianto’s jaw lightly. “Good?”

            “Mm.” Ianto’s eyes were still closed, head pressed back against the wall behind them.

            “Have I ever told you that your nostrils flare when you come?”

            Ianto cracked an eye open at that, sliding his eye to the side to glance at Jack. “No. Interesting.”

            “It’s cute.”

            “Mm.”

            Jack laughed as he zipped himself up. Next to him, Ianto stretched before he started pulling himself together. “Best get back up to Lois, compliment her on the system.”

            Fluttering fingers over Ianto’s wrist, Jack hummed. “Me too.” Ignoring the light-hearted slap from Ianto, Jack continued. “Speaking of which, you know, Alonso…” Ianto’s post-coital lassitude disappeared abruptly, replaced by tension. Jack wrapped an arm around Ianto, pulling him close. “No, I’m just saying, if you want…” Jack pressed his lips to Ianto’s ear. “He’s a really responsive bottom.”

            Pushing Jack away, Ianto turned, looking contemplative. A little skip of hope – saturated with lust – went through his chest. Then Ianto was smiling at Jack, shaking his head. “I’d rather not, Jack. No interest in him.”

            “That’s a no?” Jack wasn’t disappointed, persay. Just thought it might be fun, for both him and Ianto.

            “Definitely no. Sorry, sir.”

            Jack leaned forward and kissed Ianto on the lips. With a slap on the leg, Jack hauled himself to his feet. He stretched down a hand and helped Ianto up as well. “But, you are okay with the whole…” He wiggled his fingers at Ianto.

            Ianto nodded, and Jack could tell that he was being honest. “Yes, Jack. It’s fine. He seems nice, and him and Lois are quite sweet together.”

            Jack breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t need anything standing between himself and Ianto – not anymore. They kissed again, before Ianto pulled away, rubbing the back of his head. “If this is what you’re like now, the honeymoon is going to be insufferable.”

            Jack bellowed with laughter, clutching his stomach with one arm and Ianto with another. “We’ll have to take two weeks off: one for the honeymoon, one for the recovery.”

            To Jack’s surprise, Ianto shook his head, smiling wickedly. “No need. You’ll be the one in need of recovery, after all, and your body heals up just fine within a day.”

            Trousers zipped and shirts straightened, Ianto started out the door of the archives, with Jack trailing after him. Jack loved the sound of that.

Want more? Chapter 5 here.