[for Ianto]

[more_flexible]

[dated to the 24th also]

The sun was fully up before he came to the realization that it was the fourth day. Yeah, he knew that, but what it meant was that he needed to find Ianto and let him know he was back before the man went looking for a body that wasn't out there.

He kissed Greg once more and hurried up the stairs, two at a time, hoping Ianto hadn't moved into the hut and had instead taken advantage of the offer of his bed...

Comments

[coffee_sir]

Ianto had taken advantage of the offer, but it had not helped him sleep all that well. Worry kept him up late into the night, hoping that Jack would return in the evening, or a few hours after that, or at midnight. But he hadn't, and eventually sleep took over, despite the nagging feeling in his stomach.

The covers were spread a little fitfully, and Ianto was in a position half on his side, a pillow wedged at his chest keeping him from sleeping full on his stomach. He was asleep though, mostly.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack caught his breath at the door and stood there, just watching Ianto sleep. Just watching him made Jack drowsy enough to yawn. He hadn't really been thinking about sleep downstairs, but now the bed was more than inviting.

Padding across the floor quietly, he sat on the edge carefully before laying down. When he woke up, he'd see Jack. There wasn't any reason to wake Ianto on purpose.

Besides, he could take a punch laying down. It just meant he wouldn't fall.

[coffee_sir]

Unfortunately, Ianto was not sleeping that deeply. He felt the dip in the mattress, the presence beside him, and he jerked slightly, eyes snapping open.

Once his gaze focused on Jack though, Ianto relaxed infinitely more. "I hate your perfect sense of timing," he muttered, half into the pillow and half to the other man. Which reminded him to take the other pillow from under his chest so that Jack could use it.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He smiled and took the pillow, tossing it down before laying out beside Ianto with his arms folded behind his head. "Nice to see you, too. Go back to sleep?"

[coffee_sir]

"Mmmph," he replied, rubbing at some sleep in his eye. "Tell me how you are first?" Ianto asked, blinking drowsily at him.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I'm good," he said, turning to look at Ianto, the bruise on the left side of his jaw already crimson and dark violet overlaying the previous colors. "I figured everything out that I needed to."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto squinted and frowned, propping himself up on one elbow and reaching out with the other arm to lightly touch Jack's chin, hoping to turn his head a little more. "Funny. I don't associate being purple with being good."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He turned willingly to let him get a better look. "I figured it might happen. Might not be the only one. How pissed at me are you?"

[coffee_sir]

He let out a long, heavy sigh. "Not that much," Ianto replied, wincing slightly even as he thought about touching the bruising. Which he didn't.

Taking his hand back, Ianto let his head fall back onto the pillow again. "Not much at all, really."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Good. I had hoped there would be at least two people who would understand," he sighed.

[coffee_sir]

Ianto looked at him quietly for a long moment, thinking. "You must be tired," he decided, and sat up a bit to straighten out the sheets, throwing them over the both of them.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Sort of. Thanks," he said, covering up. "Mostly I'm just...hmm, new? I don't know. We'll see if I can change like I think I can."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto settled back down on the bed, and tilted his head towards Jack. "How is you plan to change?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack looked over at him. "I'm trying monogamy. And I'm going to stop trying to control everything. I can't save the world."

Yet.

[coffee_sir]

He smiled faintly. "I hope you manage that," Ianto said, then glanced down at himself. "Well, I'll leave you then, to get some sleep."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Don't go."

Drawing an arm behind his head, he stretched out long.

"I mean...you don't have to go. Sleep. I mean it, there's no reason to leave if you don't want to. I didn't even mean to wake you up."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto hesitated, considering, then slid back under the sheets again. "Alright," he said, settling on his side again. "Thank you."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and laid still with his eyes closed, trying to fall asleep.

"Ianto?" he asked softly.

[coffee_sir]

His eyes were half-closed as he answered. "Jack?"

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry. For everything."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto shut his eyes. "I know," he said. "It's alright."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He rolled onto his side to face Ianto, but there wasn't really anything else to say. There was no way he deserved anyone like this here. He'd thought a lot about what in the hell he must be doing in the future to inspire such loyalty.

For the life of him, he couldn't figure it out.

Rather than talk, he draped his arm across his waist and curled a little, pressing his forehead to Ianto's chest. Maybe with a couple hours of sleep he'd be ready to face everyone else.

[coffee_sir]

Responding to warmth of Jack beside him, Ianto lifted his arm over his shoulder and gently ran his hand up and down Jack's back, slow and soothing. It only lasted until he fell asleep again, but it felt comforting just to do so, to know Jack was back, and he hoped it would help Jack sleep.