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The Roald Dahl Plass was deserted at this time of the night. Rain was drizzling down, drenching the Captain’s clothes to his skin.
John stood at the railing above the fake tourist information slash entry to the hub, looking out into the darkness that conceiled the harbour. The clinking of sail rigging was the only sound to be heard.
“So you’re really going to leave?”
He didn’t need to turn around to imagine Jack standing behind him, hands stashed deep into the pockets of his coat. He had always loved that coat.
“I got what I came for.” As Jack stepped up next to him, John shot him a sideways glance. “And you don’t want me here.”
“True.”
At that, John grinned. “That’s what I love about you, Jack. You’re always honest with me when you lie to everybody else.”
“Meaning?” Jack leaned with his back against the railing, arms crossed over his chest.
For a long moment, John looked at him, not letting anything slip past his façade. “You never told your team about me.”
“The trouble you caused just now proves my point, don’t you think?”
“I think the teaboy giving you the look proves your point.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You really should get out of here, John. Go annoy somebody else.”
A satisfied grin appeared on John’s lips. “You didn’t tell your team because you were afraid they might start asking questions about your past. More specifically, you didn’t want to scare off the eyecandy.”
“Don’t talk about him like that,” Jack growled. “Any of them.”
Although the gleeful gleam still lightening his eyes, John’s mood sobered. “I remember a time when it was all about you. No team, no stupid team names. Just the great Jack Harkness – once a con man, always a con man.” He made a gesture as though he was reading it off a bill board. “And look how far you’ve come.”
“You’re one to talk,” Jack scoffed. “With the Time Agency closed, you’re nothing but a drifter in a stupid costume.”
John could have been mad, he could have punched him. Instead he just nodded in approval, given that he had made a point.
“At least I’m honest about who I am and what I did. And still do. Whereas that fancy team of yours doesn’t even know your real name.”
“You don’t know either.”
“And I don’t care. I know enough about you so a name won’t make a difference.”
“What is this about, John?”
The other man shrugged, the armor on his body clinking. “Just saying. You’ve changed. And not exactly for the better, mind you.”
Jack regarded him for a long moment, before an amused smile lit his features. “You’re jealous.”
“Excuse me?” John looked at him incredulously.
“You’re jealous of what I got. Always have been.”
“Please. We were Time Agents, Jack. The best job in universe. And look at you now, with your hub and your…,” the last word, he spat like a curse, “dayjob.”
“And still you can’t shake off the thought that I might be happy with what I do. You’re just bumbling about, homeless and without a purpose.”
With an angry growl, John closed the gap between them. “I have plently of purpose.”
Scoffing, Jack pushed him away. “No, you don’t. That scam of yours was just a way to see me again.”
“You’re so full of yourself, Jack. That much hasn’t changed.”
“And still, you’re jealous.”
John waved a hand, turning away from his former partner in love and crime. “If that’s what you believe, suit yourself.”
“I have a place to be. People who need me, who care about me. Even people who love me.”
The words hung heavy in the air before John answered. “Is that what you think? That the teaboy loves you?”
“Even if he doesn’t…” Jack shrugged. “You don’t even know what love is.”
Genuine hurt played over John’s features. “You don’t know that,” he said, defensively.
“Yes, I do. Because I know you, too, John. You never said the words, did you?”
“What does that got to do with anything?”
“I’m just curious. You said that I was always honest with you. Just be honest with me for a change. You’re going to leave and I’m going to lie to them anyway, so what’s your loss?”
Horrible enough that again, Jack had made a point. He had even made two.
“The words don’t mean anything.” John tried to shrug it off but he couldn’t help but notice that Jack had gotten to him.
“Yes, they do. They are the only words you can never take back, no matter if you can go back in time. They are going to be out there wherever you go.”
John rolled his eyes. “You were always such a drama queen. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re gay.” After a pause, he added. “That’s why you never told me you loved me.”
“What makes you think I did?”
John snorted indelicately. “Please. I felt how happy you were to see me when you kissed me at the bar.”
Jack grinned, one eyebrow curiously quirked. “Of course. You have never been kissed with love, John.”
“Haven’t I?” John’s face showed both, annoyance and curiousity. He hadn’t come to Earth to listen to Jack speechifying, especially not about things like love.
“No.”
“So you’re telling me that you know everything about love?”
“More than you do, for sure.”
“Is that right? Show me.”
During the exchance, the two former Time Agents had approached each other - once more in a Western-style stand-off sans the Enrice Morricone theme tune – until they stood toe to toe.
Jack’s hand darted up to John’s chin, tilting his head up. The other man’s eyes still sparkled with the angry challenge, his breath already quickening.
The kiss started out slowly, painfully slow.
Jack tilted his head to one side, letting his lips slide over the other man’s mouth. Teasingly, he nipped at John’s bottom lip, probing with his tongue until he let him in. Now, the kiss deepened as their tongues met in a languid dance.
On their own accord, John’s arms slipped around the other man’s waist, pulling him closer. He knew he would never hear the end of this but right now, he didn’t really care. It felt too good to care.
Jack’s fingers threaded into his hair, brushing over the nape of his neck. A shiver ran down his spine and he couldn’t stop the moan that escaped his mouth.
So Jack had been right. He had never been kissed like that. He’d been kissed countless of times but never like this. Never so slowly, never so gently. And never would he tell him that.
Slowly, their lips parted again and Jack stepped back from him, letting the other Time Agent in a slight daze. It took him a second to get his bearing before his eyes snapped open.
“So that was you not loving me?” John couldn’t help but smirk a nasty little smirk.
Jack shot him annoyed look. “Get out of here, John. And don’t come back. Ever.”
John straightened his uniform. He pushed some of the buttons on his Time Vortex Manipulator that started beeping hectically. “Never say never, Jack.”
A bright, red light started to flicker around him, making it almost impossible to look at him. Slowly, he started to fade into the crimson cloud as his molecules started to shift apart.
“Never say never.”