Chapter Text
TORCHWOOD THREE MAIN ROOM- AFTERNOON.
IANTO rushes over to the floor and drags JACK into his lap.
IANTO: Hey hey hey hey hey. Cmon. He runs his fingers through JACK'S hair. Argh, every time. Please...
JACK gasps and startles.
IANTO: It's okay. It's okay. (Mumbled) Oh thank g-d. He clicks his stopwatch off. Toffee?
JACK: There's a–
IANTO: Gwen is sorting it, have a toffee.
JACK accepts it.
JACK: Are you absolutely sure I don't need to go deal with the alien right now? It did kill me like two minutes ago.
IANTO: Oh just shut up and accept the fact that I am going to drop everything to come sit with you every time you get murdered.
JACK: But I'm always fine!
IANTO: I REGULARLY see my boyfriend DIE do you think it doesn't tear my heart into SHREDS every damn time? Besides, you obviously prefer waking up to my adorable face.
JACK makes a face of begrudging agreement. IANTO leans down to kiss him.
IANTO: See this is why I give you sweets, now you taste like caramel.
JACK: And yet I employ you to maintain my perpetual coffee breath.
IANTO: It's preferable to the experience of snogging Owen. Bit stale, kissing dead people.
JACK: Am I supposed to ask why the heck you kissed Owen?
IANTO: For science, duh. You flirt with everything that's got a face, I can help a mate with a quick inquiry once in a while.
JACK: Sometimes I have an out of body experience where halfway through our conversation I imagine myself having to describe it to an HR representative.
IANTO laughs. He rests his chin on JACK's head, hugs him a bit tighter, and rocks back and forth.
JACK (quietly): I always come back. I promised, remember?
IANTO lets out a sob and buries his face in JACK'S hair.
JACK intertwines his fingers with IANTO's.
JACK: You're doing an excellent job comforting me.
IANTO: It just scares me! Every time! Every single time!
JACK: I know.
IANTO (quietly, strained): And you feel it.
JACK: If I say I'm used to it does that help?
IANTO: Nope.
JACK: Do you want to go check on Gwen?
IANTO nods. He leans JACK up carefully, stands, and then offers him a hand for support. He switches hands and they both start walking towards the cells.