Where I want to be

Title: Where I want to be
Author: zazajb
Rating: PG-13, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tosh, mention of Owen & Gwen
Spoilers – none, set mid S2
Summary: Jack is alone in the hub, waiting for Ianto to come home.  Words: 2100

Fic masterlist: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters - just like to dabble with them from time to time

X-posted Jantolution , jackxianto & TW_classic [apologies to those getting this multiple times]

A/N Iantosdreamer & I were missing the redisourcolour challenges so we challenged each other: This week’s theme – Homecoming, her words for me: union, box, enterprise ‘That was the greatest!’

 

Where I want to be

Ianto tugged the box towards him and peered at the label, Welsh Tourist Board emblazoned across the top. He frowned...he wasn’t expecting any supplies... A gentle smile chased the frown away as warm arms slid around his waist from behind and his senses were flooded with the intoxicating aroma of his Captain as Jack’s chin nestled into the crook of his shoulder...

“What is it?”

“I haven’t opened it yet!”

“Get on with it..!”

Ianto chuckled...Jack was such a kid sometimes - and an impatient one at that! He ran a knife down the parcel tape seam, pulling the flaps open as they both gazed at the contents. They were nothing unusual, just a little unexpected...

Ianto pulled out the sheet of paper on the top and held it up CONGRATULATIONS – You have been nominated for Welsh Tourist Board Advisor of the Year

 “Jack? Is this anything to do with you..?” as he felt the older man tense...

“Er...yeah...” his arms tightened around the Welshman’s waist as he whispered in his ear “...are you cross..?”

Ianto turned in the embrace, the anxious look on his Captain’s face melting away his initial irritation – the Tourist Office was supposed to be an inconspicuous cover for a secret base full of alien tech where they dealt with aliens and all manner of other things that came through the rift... “No, I’m not cross...” he wound his arms around Jack’s neck and captured his lips...sweetly, tenderly...pressing their bodies closer as the kiss deepened, Jack’s tongue sliding into Ianto’s mouth to slow dance with his own...

Ianto moaned softly as Jack’s hands slid down to cup his rear and grind their hips together, desire mounting rapidly as they crawled progressively further into each other’s mouths... Breaking away, panting, Jack pushed his Welshman gently towards the beaded curtain and into the tiny space behind it where he gathered him back into his arms and crushed their lips together as he plundered the young man’s mouth hungrily...

Hands raked through hair and over clothing, tugging at shirts, t-shirts, buckles and buttons, eager to touch the warm flesh below...

They froze as the door opened and several sets of feet entered the shop. The feet stopped in front of the counter and the bell sounded. Jack pouted as Ianto wriggled out of his arms, hurriedly smoothed down his hair and straightened his clothes, planting a swift kiss on his Captain’s lips before heading out through the bead curtain to greet his customers with a friendly smile...

Sighing heavily behind the curtain, Jack righted his own clothing and then watched his young lover as he dealt with the family from Blackpool, beaming as he watched those gloriously pink and kiss swollen lips explaining the best places to visit with little Kara who was four and Nathan who was seven... Ianto deserved that nomination... pride swelled in Jack’s chest...my Ianto...

By the time the Welsh dragon beanie toys had come out Ianto was so engrossed that he didn’t notice Jack stood beside him until his Captain laid a warm hand on his arm to get his attention...

“I’ll get back to my office, then...” his blue grey eyes twinkling lovingly into Ianto’s own blue pools...

Ianto nodded, a smile curving the corners of his mouth, “...sir...”

A light squeeze of his arm and Jack was gone...out of the door and up to the Plass to go back down on the invisible lift...

It was some thirty minutes until Ianto appeared in the hub, carrying his box from the Tourist Board that they still hadn’t explored fully. Dropping the box onto his desk, Ianto then disappeared into the kitchen to make the coffee, emerging with a laden tray of mugs and plate piled high with several different types of giant cookies...

Gwen and Tosh smiled happily as they accepted their mugs and took a couple of cookies...Owen was elbow-deep in some strange alien innards so Ianto landed his mug and sugar hits and retreated before he could be ordered to assist...   

Finally, Ianto nudged open the door to Jack’s office, the tray balanced on top of the box, and placed it carefully on the desk before he was tugged onto his Captain’s lap for a steamy kiss that left his lips tingling and his knees weak when they finally came up for air...

He stayed curled up in Jack’s lap as they drank their coffee and munched their cookies, before sliding off and reopening the box from the Tourist Board. He pulled out various books, cards and posters and a letter which he unfolded and they read together, lifting their gaze so their eyes met and both arched eyebrows...

The team listened with surprise when Jack announced that Ianto would be going to Cardiff University to give a presentation to the Student Union on the Young Enterprise Scheme – this would be as part of his assessment as a finalist in the WTB Advisor of the Year...

“Way to go tea boy!” Owen was impressed... Gwen and Tosh voiced their support and Ianto smiled shyly at all the attention while Jack beamed proudly...

For the next three days, Ianto scribbled and read and cross referenced and scribbled some more...practiced in front of the mirror and generally worked himself into a state until Friday came and he set off, insisting that he went alone “I’ll be fine Jack...” as his Captain kissed him softly...

Ianto drove away and Jack immediately started pacing the hub, gradually driving the others mad until Tosh called Jack into his office to show him the live feed she’d tapped into in the lecture hall, sound as well as picture...

Jack sank into his chair, grinning gratefully at his pretty tech wizard. Tosh smiled and patted him on the shoulder, leaving him to scan the crowd to find the Welshman...

The roller door closed as Tosh, the last of the team still there, left for home... Jack barely noticed, his attention fixed on the screen...

The welcome speech was short, the six finalists were introduced, Ianto being third to present. The first two were adequate, if a little dreary and the applause was polite rather than enthusiastic... Ianto took to the podium and plugged in his memory stick...one click of the wireless mouse and the lecture hall was filled with rock music...

“Now that is an example of Young Enterprise...” Ianto’s delectable Welsh tones filled the room, “...this is the first ep from a local band called Blue Gillespie...” The hall was silent apart from the young Welshman’s voice...a voice full of passion and enthusiasm for his subject...he carried his audience until the final slide and they rose as one to give him a standing ovation...

Jack’s eyes sparkled with pride as he watched the blush spread across Ianto’s cheeks and the young man moved back to his seat at the side of the stage. Two of the judges, attractive brunettes, leant towards each other “...that has to be the greatest presentation I’ve ever seen...and he’s hot!”

“He’s got my vote...you think he’s single..?”

Jack growled at his screen, muttering through clenched teeth, “...hands off...he’s mine...” He leant forward and glared at the two women as they stared openly at the Welshman...

Jack completely missed the next two presenters as he concentrated on Ianto and the two female judges... Ianto, for his part, paid them no attention at all, his eyes fixed on the current candidate at the podium...

Finally it was over and the winners were announced, the audience rising to its feet as one when Ianto Jones, Cardiff was called forward to accept the first place award...

Jack found he had tears in his eyes as Ianto, his Ianto, accepted the award and dedicated it to everyone he worked with for their unwavering support and encouragement, telling the young people that it was ok to make mistakes, to get it wrong, as long as they picked themselves up again and learnt from the experience...concluding, “...I’ve learnt that if I want to do something and I put my mind to it, I can achieve anything...a very wise and wonderful man taught me that...he believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself...so...belief and hard work...get them right and the world can be yours...good luck..!” He stepped down from the podium and was immediately surrounded by the other finalists all offering their congratulations...

Jack watched, wishing he was there to share in and congratulate the man he loved...he’d have to wait until later...he wondered how much later...Ianto had said there was a reception after... He glanced back to the screen...Ianto was still surrounded with people, including the two judges... He was talking animatedly to the group who hung on his words, his face young and carefree...

Jack felt a sudden stab of jealousy...he was so old now...what did he have to offer Ianto...a young man in his twenties...seeing him so relaxed and happy, surrounded by people his own age and younger...

He thought back to those early days of their relationship, when they were still dancing around the idea that this was something more than a part-time sex arrangement...that they wanted to be with each other for reasons other than physical ones... He loved Ianto very much...he didn’t say it often, but Ianto knew...he knows...course he knows...doesn’t he?

Insecurities washed over him and he caught his breath...what if Ianto met someone tonight...someone who was more his age, shared his interests...his background...his whole outlook on life...he’d have to let him go...I can’t let him go...I need him...he’s part of me now...

He leapt back to the screen as he heard Ianto’s laugh above the general chatter of the crowd...he looked absolutely radiant...beautiful...his head thrown back, huge smile and his eyes dancing with diamonds...my Ianto ...

He watched as a scruffy blonde haired young man handed the Welshman a scrap of paper, leaning closer to whisper into his ear... Jack noted the grip of his hand on Ianto’s arm and the satisfied expression on the Welshman’s face...sudden fear...I’m losing him...

In the space of ten minutes Ianto had no less than a dozen cards or scraps of paper...numbers..? slipped into his hand or his pocket... Jack sat...silent tears rolling down his cheeks, unable to look away as his world fell apart...he won’t want to stay with me now...

Ianto left the crowded reception room and went back into the now deserted lecture hall, followed closely by one of the female judges... Jack’s eyes widened as she reached out to touch Ianto’s cheek as he turned in response to her calling his name... Ianto jumped like he’d been stung and backed away, hurriedly retrieving his jacket from the back of the chair he’d been sat on earlier and slipping his arms into it...

The brunette grabbed his shoulders and pressed her face towards him... Jack wanted to look away...but found himself locked in a cycle of self-torture...

Ianto turned his head away and firmly removed her hands from his jacket sleeves. “Gemma, I’m sorry...I’m leaving now...I’m going home to the man I love...the man I know will be waiting for me...the man I told you all about earlier...the man who believed in me...” He walked away without looking back...

Jack’s heart leapt in his chest and his eyes spilled fresh tears...tears of happiness this time...he loves me...he’s coming home to me...

He got up and paced the floor, knowing it would take the young man a good twenty minutes to get back... After fifteen tortuously long and drawn out minutes had passed he made his way to the underground car park, arriving just as Ianto’s car pulled in. Jack stopped dead in his tracks and held his breath as the Welshman climbed out.

“Ianto...” he was surprised to hear his voice was shaking

“Jack...” Ianto’s face broke into a huge smile...and then they were running into each other’s arms like something out of a romantic movie, bumping hard when they met, hands reaching to tangle in each other’s hair as they crushed their mouths together and sank into a hot and messy kiss, their teeth clashing...desire  raging through them...

Panting hard, they broke apart to force oxygen back into their lungs, resting their foreheads together...

“Did you see it..? Tosh said she’d sort out the CCTV link...”

“Yeah...You won...knew you would...” Jack kissed him softly...”...you made lots of new friends..?” hesitant...needy...too needy

Ianto cupped his Captain’s face tenderly as he looked into his eyes, “...all those numbers? I’m setting up a Young Enterprise coffee shop at the University...” he smiled at the obvious relief that swept across Jack’s face, pressing his lips gently against the older man’s, “...this...here...is where I want to be...with you...only you...”

He gasped as Jack wrapped him into his arms and kissed him with a passion that made his head spin and his knees weak... “Jack...take me to bed...” he murmured huskily into his Captain’s ear when they broke apart, grinning as his hand was grabbed and he was tugged enthusiastically towards the main hub... oh, yeah, definitely where I want to be...

End