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[othercaptjack]

It is raining outside the base, in the deceptive manner of English Spring that means what might look like a light shower has left Jack decidedly wet as he swings into the Hub, alarms blaring behind him. It's late in the evening, but his latest Weevil chase had gone on for longer than he had thought it would.

They're getting cunning. He's perversely pleased.

He throws his coat across the couch as he passes, scrubbing a hand through his wet hair and heading for his office. He has no real reason to expect anyone else to be here this late.

Comments

[othercaptjack]

Jack looks back over his shoulder, moving the towel obligingly out of the way.

"I've survived this long," he says, matter-of-fact but almost sadly.

[likesthecoat]

Ianto doesn't speak for a moment or two, then very quietly, "Your skin's cold."

And not just in a 'duh, I've been holding ice to it' kind of way.

"It seems to me," he adds, "or rather, it has been pointed out to me lately, that mere survival is not always enough."

[othercaptjack]

...Touche.

"Rather me getting a bit beat up occasionally than someone less experienced getting killed," he says firmly.

[likesthecoat]

"I worry when you go out alone," Ianto says simply.

[othercaptjack]

Jack turns around properly to look back at Ianto.

"Hey," he says, almost surprised. "I'm not going anywhere." And then, just a little dryly, "I promise."

[likesthecoat]

"I'm not saying you are," Ianto says, surprised as well. "Just that, maybe, you ought to take me with you.

"Weevil-hunting."

He's fairly certain he's not talking about anything else right now.

[othercaptjack]

Oh, now, taken literally, that could be awkward.

Jack... well, Jack does know why he doesn't tell his staff that he's immortal, and it's his experiences of being experimented on in the early days. But sometimes it's hard, like when you have to explain the risks you take to someone who offers to share them...

But there's that meaning, and then there's the other meaning.

"Do you think you'd be all right?" Jack says instead, watching Ianto's face.

[likesthecoat]

"Yes," Ianto says, meeting Jack's scrutiny steadily. "I always have your back, Jack. And I know you'd have mine."

[othercaptjack]

Damn it. He's right.

"Tell you what," Jack says. "We'll try it. You get hurt, though, and I'm grounding you."

He points a mock-stern finger at Ianto's face.

[likesthecoat]

"Yes, sir," Ianto says, so meekly it should probably cause some suspicion.

[othercaptjack]

Jack steps in, just a little more serious.

"Don't think I don't mean that literally. I don't like my people getting hurt."

Except, you know, when they fight.

[likesthecoat]

"I know you don't," Ianto says, and adds, with an odd sort of nostalgia, "I don't remember much after Breton Becons but I remember how you were."

[othercaptjack]

Jack's gaze slips sideways.

"I was rather hoping you wouldn't. I think I got a little out of control there."

He also feels that trees sort of grow out of the earth.

[likesthecoat]

"Guns blazing," Ianto says quietly. "Yes. But I'm thinking more of afterwards. When you brought me home."

[othercaptjack]

He smiles faintly, just one corner of his mouth turning up.

"You're not the only one that's allowed to worry."

[likesthecoat]

Dry as dry can be, "I have never been under that impression."

[othercaptjack]

"Very good," Jack tells him loftily.

"It's only right to share."

[likesthecoat]

Ianto smiles one of his very understated smiles. "Do we need to get you into dry clothes?" he says as if just remembering that Jack is soaked.

Which . . . may be true.

Distracted? What?

[othercaptjack]

Reminded, Jack looks down, and grins.

"Ah... yeah, good idea," he says. "Maybe out of the wet ones first, though."

Feel free to watch, Ianto.

[likesthecoat]

"Putting dry clothes over wet ones would defeat the purpose of the entire endeavor," Ianto says.

He feels entirely free to watch, too. As evidenced by his not moving.

[othercaptjack]

Jack grins even wider, shaking water droplets from his hair and taking a strategic step back. Oh, look. Room to move and a better view for Ianto.

He strips... efficiently, but not exactly in a hurry, with an air and deliberation of movement that suggests he's done this many a time before and knows what looks good on him, and not just awkward.

It takes talent to take socks off without missing a beat like that.

[likesthecoat]

Ianto folds the towel.

"Should I applaud or just slip some bills into your pants?"

[othercaptjack]

"Just honest appreciation is all the thanks I need," Jack says happily, kicking his trousers upwards and catching them over one arm.

"Unless you want to give me a show in return, but you don't even have the excuse of being wet."

If he needs one, that is.

[likesthecoat]

Ianto applauds politely, amused.

"I could, but then what? You'll be in your dry clothes and I'll be naked and cold."

[othercaptjack]

"Ianto, I'd never let you be cold."

He smiles, apparently aiming for innocent, but landing somewhere around inviting.

"Naked, you might just have to live with."