Gwil's Guide to Growing Up Torchwood: Chapter 1

[amuly]

Title: Gwil’s Guide to Growing Up Torchwood: Chapter 1
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, +Team, +Gwil
Word Count: 2,240
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack and Ianto announce their decision to the team.
Warnings: none
A/N: After the first 2 chapters or so, it’s going to get a lot more episodic. Hopefully. If this weird-ass writer’s block I’ve got going decides to leave me alone.

Read the fic that started it all: Unconditional

 

            Jack watched from his camp bed as Ianto got dressed. It was like a ritual with the young man – Jack knew better than to disturb it. First came the pants: silky red things Jack had bought him for his birthday a few months ago. Then the trousers, kept unbuttoned and unzipped until the vest and shirt were securely tucked in. Then belt and tie: today the tie was a soothing light blue. Jack smiled at the choice – light colors indicated Ianto was feeling happy, reds meant he was feeling sexy. Plain blacks or charcoal grays were generally not a good sign. After it was tied perfectly, Ianto would put on a waistcoat if he was wearing one that day – which he was, today. Finally came Jack’s favorite part (after Ianto stopped being naked): Ianto would sit down on the bed as he put on his socks and shoes.

            This was the only point in his routine that Ianto would allow Jack to get handsy. Jack grinned as he sat up on the bed, reaching out and stroking the pale skin of his neck. Both shoes on, Ianto turned to Jack with a small, nervous smile. “Ready for today?”

            Ianto’s eyes flickered down to the sheets, a small furrow creasing his brow. With a single finger under his chin, Jack lifted Ianto’s gaze until he was looking him in the eye. “You do realize you’re going to make the best dad ever, right?”

            Ianto shrugged. “More worried about Torchwood as a suitable home than I am myself being a suitable dad.” A small smile quirked his face, and he leaned over Jack. “Though I’m terrified of that, too.”

            Jack grinned broadly, tugging Ianto down into a kiss. Ianto pulled away, wrinkling his nose. “Morning breath, sir.”

            “Oh,” Jack flopped back against the pillows as Ianto stood to put on his coat. “You can’t go refusing me kisses and calling me sir in the same breath.”

            Ianto quirked an eyebrow over his shoulder from where he stood by the ladder. “Guess you’ll just have to brush your teeth then. Sir.” With a smirk he was gone, up the ladder and out of the bedroom.

            Jack sighed and stretched, scratching at his stomach. By the time the delicious aroma of coffee wafted down to his bed, Jack figured better get up, or risk the wrath of Ianto because he let his coffee go cold.

            In five minutes he managed to brush his teeth and get dressed, bounding up from his hole and into his office. Sure enough, there was a fresh mug of coffee waiting for him on his desk, nestled comfortably atop a pile of papers, with a pen conspicuously on top of them as well. Jack sighed good-naturedly, then took a quick swallow of his coffee. “Don’t suppose these papers are here for decoration?” he shouted out the front doorway of his office.

            “Sign them, Jack.”

            Jack jumped and spun around. Ianto stood there, smiling wickedly at Jack’s reaction. “Where’s Gwil?”

            Ianto’s expression instantly turned serious, and he nodded over Jack’s shoulder. “Finishing up his breakfast on the couch.” Jack grinned, grabbing his coffee and heading out into the main area of the Hub. He ignored the exasperated sigh that followed him.

            “Gwil? Gwil?”

            Sure enough, little Gwil was sitting cross-legged on the couch, plate of food balancing on his knees. Two glasses sat on the table in front of him: one full of orange juice, the other of milk. Jack smiled and reached out for the orange juice, taking a sip of it before Ianto was there, pulling the drink out of his hand and giving him a stern look. “Gwil needs his vitamins. Drink your coffee.”

            Jack looked longingly down at the omelet Gwil was munching on as he observed the two men quietly. “But, don’t Captains-”

            “Get breakfast, too,” Ianto finished for him, retrieving a plate filled with Jack’s very own omelet from seemingly nowhere. Jack grinned, scooping Ianto up for a kiss as he snatched his plate of food. A muffled giggle interrupted them, and the men broke apart, staring down at the little boy whose face was scrunched up in amusement.

            Jack threw himself down onto the couch, almost upsetting Gwil’s carefully balanced plate of food in the process. He ruffled his dark brown hair as Gwil giggled some more. “How you doing, kiddo?”

            Gwil instantly became subdued when Jack spoke to him, shrugging one shoulder and staring down at his food. “’m fine, Uncle Jack, sir.”

            Jack huffed and glared at Ianto. “He picks up those good habits from you,” he accused.

            Ianto just quirked an eyebrow and remarked dryly: “Well he has to learn manners from someone; not like he’ll pick them up from anyone else around here.” For a moment a worried expression passed over Ianto’s face, and he hurried off to the coffee machine. Jack watched as Ianto carefully prepared them both another cup, as well as Tosh’s coffee, who would be arriving soon.

            When he returned and passed Jack his cup, Jack took the opportunity to grab Ianto’s wrist, stroking his thumb over the smooth skin there. “Hey.”

            Ianto looked around the Hub, at Gwil – anywhere that wasn’t Jack. Finally his eyes settled on a point just below Jack’s chin, and he mumbled: “Maybe we should put Gwil in more proper hands. A family that knows what they’re doing, who can raise him right.”

            Jack glanced over at Gwil, who was occupying himself with blowing bubbles in his milk. He stood up, pulling Ianto close and reaching up to cup a hand to his cheek. Ianto’s eyelids fluttered at the touch, and they just stood there for a moment as Jack grazed his thumb gently over Ianto’s cheek. “Do you love him?”

            Ianto’s breath hitched, and he looked over at Gwil, blue eyes wide. Jack knew Ianto well enough to read a very real fear in those eyes. Beneath that, however, Jack thought he could see a glimmer of something else. The eyes returned to his, and Ianto nodded ever so slightly. “I...I think I might. But, it’s only been a week, Jack, and Torchwood...”

            The cog door alarm sounded, and Ianto immediately jumped back from Jack, melting into the background of the Hub. True to form, it was Toshiko, looking a little bit tired, but ready for a day of work. Ianto’s coffee was waiting for her on her desk, steaming hot, and she made a beeline for it, humming gratefully as she sipped.

            Jack sighed, looking over at Gwil, who was watching Toshiko with interest. They would have to tell him, and the rest of the team, about their plans soon. Preferably before Ianto reconsidered again.

            The cog alarm sounded a second time. In walked Gwen, fiddling with her phone. When she caught sight of Gwil her eyes lit up, and she hurried over. “Morning, sweetheart. How are you?”

            Gwil stared up at her, and Gwen visibly melted under those big blue eyes. Jack watched, fond grin on his face. If raised properly – which Jack fully intended to see to – that boy was going to be a real heartbreaker. “Fine, ma’am.”

            Gwen scrunched up her nose and ruffled Gwil’s hair. “Just call me Auntie Gwen, sweetie.”

            Ianto appeared with Gwen’s coffee, quirking a smile at her request. “I hope that means you and Uncle Jack are siblings or in-laws, rather than married.”

            Gwen laughed, taking her coffee from Ianto and smacking him on the arm. “Oi! Behave.”

            Ianto smiled as he turned to the coffee table and collected up the remnants of Gwil’s breakfast. He tapped the orange juice meaningfully. “You need to drink your juice. It has vitamins.”

            Scrunching up his face, Gwil took a small sip before setting the glass balefully back down onto the table. “It’s too sweet.”

            Ianto frowned. “If I bring you some fruit like yesterday, will you eat it?”

            Gwil considered the compromise before nodding decisively. Jack grabbed at Ianto’s elbow as he headed past. “Spoiling him already?”

            Ianto blushed and shrugged. “It’s fruit, Jack.”

            He started away, but Jack kept a firm grip on his elbow. “Ianto, we have to tell the team about this.”

            Whatever reply Ianto was going to say was cut off by the cog door alarm sounding as Owen stormed in, struggling out of his jacket. Jack came to a decision. “Everyone! Conference room.” Jack cut Owen off as he opened his mouth to complain. “Ianto’ll be there with coffee in five.”

            As Ianto set off to brew a fresh batch for everyone, Jack squatted down next to Gwil. “Why don’t you come with me? I’m going to show you a really neat toy.”

            Jack stifled a grin as Gwil glanced over at Ianto standing in front of the coffee machine before turning back to Jack. He nodded solemnly, hopping off the couch and reaching out to clutch at Jack’s trouser legs. Jack did him one better, scooping Gwil up into his arms and swinging him as he walked over to his office. Gwil giggled in his arms quietly, big eyes peering out in front of them to see where they were going.

            Once in the office, Jack sat Gwil down on a clear spot on his desk. He squirmed a little, but stilled and waited patiently as Jack rummage through his desk. The boy was too well behaved for his own good. Jack was determined to change that, and soon. Laughing triumphantly, he pulled what he was looking for out of the desk: a Gameboy and headphones.

            “Here.” Jack pressed the toy into Gwil’s hands. He turned it over in his tiny hands curiously, poking and prodding at it, while Jack put the earbuds in his ears. “You play it with your thumbs, like this,” Jack positioned Gwil’s hands properly on the Gameboy. It was lucky that Gwil was missing an index finger instead of a thumb. “And you turn it on...” Jack flipped the Gameboy on.

            Gwil’s eyes widened as he watched the pictures appear on the screen. One hand flew up to his ear, yanking the earbud out and staring at it. He moved the earbud back and forth closer to his ear and then away from it. Jack grinned down at him. “See, you press this button here,” he poked the “start” button, “to start the game. Then just fiddle with these buttons to move around, and these buttons to jump and do other stuff.”

            Gwil was entirely focused on the game, pressing buttons as his tongue slipped further and further from his mouth in concentration. Jack beamed. He’d spoil this kid – his kid – rotten yet. No matter how responsibly Ianto would try to raise him. Peering out from the office, he saw Toshiko and Gwen heading to the conference room together, discussing a file in Gwen’s hands. “Alright buddy, let’s go.”

            He scooped up Gwil again, placing him on his shoulders. He felt Gwil squirming around a bit, then settle into position with the Gameboy resting easily on Jack’s head. As he stepped to the conference room doors, he squatted down, instructing Gwil at the same time to “Duck.” He felt Gwil duck down low, wrapping his arms around Jack’s head as he pressed his body level with it. The two of them successfully navigated their way into the conference room without any bumps or bruises.

            Jack swung Gwil down and plopped him into a seat, making sure the volume on his Gameboy was turned up high enough to drown out anything they said. With one last hair ruffle, he left the boy to his video game and took his place at the front of the table.

            “What’s all this about, Jack?” Gwen asked.

            Jack glanced toward the door, looking for Ianto. “It’s about Gwil.” He waited, drawing his words out slowly. “Ianto and I have something we would like to discuss with you.”

With impeccable timing as always, Ianto appeared, carrying a tray of coffee. Jack waited as Ianto passed it out, ignoring questioning looks from the rest of the team. Once Ianto was seated next to him, and Gwil was absorbed in his game, Jack turned his focus back to the rest of the team. “Ianto and I are going to adopt Gwil.”

The announcement was met with mixed results. Ianto blushed and stared down into his coffee, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Owen scoffed and immediately launched into a list of reasons why the idea was ridiculous. “...weevils getting loose and tearing the sod limb from limb. ...babysitting some little brat while I’m trying to sedate a Hoix, for crying out loud. ...enough bloody children on the team as it is with you, Captain...”

            Gwen was ecstatic, clasping her hands together as she looked over at Gwil. “That’s wonderful! We’ll buy him clothes, teach him how to fight aliens with us...”

            Tosh was smiling and effusing over Gwil’s future, though more sedately than Gwen. “...get him set up in school. ...teach him his letters, maths...”

            Jack looked at Ianto, who was staying silent through the whole commotion. Their eyes met, and Ianto looked quickly down and away. He looked nervously around at the rapidly speaking team members. At Ianto’s hesitancy, Jack decided to take things back in hand.

            “Guys, guys! Alright, now,” he paused for dramatic effect, nodding over at Gwil who was still enthralled by his video game. “Now, we just have to figure out what to tell Gwil.”



Want more? Chapter 2 here.