Learning to Whistle

[donutsweeper]

Title: Learning to Whistle
Pairing/Warning/Rating: Jack/Ianto, major crack warning and dark themes , rated R
Word Count: 437
Beta/Evil Prompter: mad_jaks
Summary:  Ianto faces an unexpected future when he quit Torchwood.
Author's Note: Prequel to Whistle While You Work.  This is the story of how Ianto got his chains.

Jack stood calmly and waited until Ianto's tirade began to wind down.

"I did warn you that leaving me wouldn't be easy."

"But this!"  Spittle flew as Ianto yelled.  "Chains, Jack!  I'm in chains!"

"Yes, you are."  Jack pressed on Ianto's shoulders, forcing him to his knees.  "But, you are still you.  Can you honestly say that if I'd retconned you that would be the case?"

Ianto sat back and let his hands fall to his thighs, the heavy chain between his wrists not being long enough for his hands to rest at his sides.  "Maybe I don't want to be me anymore."

"Pain doesn't go away just because we've erased the memory of it, Ianto.  It's still there, lurking, in our subconscious, in our dreams.  I'm missing two years, much less time than you’d have me take from you, and I can barely live with that loss sometimes."  The hand on Ianto's shoulder began stroking it gently.  "Don't ask me to do that.  Not to you.  Please."

"Jack..."

"One month, that's all I ask.  Do this, for me, for one month.  Then if you still want the retcon I'll give it to you."  He dragged a finger slowly along Ianto's neck and smiled as Ianto shuddered at the touch.  "You can be happy here, Ianto, with me.  I know you can."

"What about the chains?"

"You have no idea how good you look in them, do you?"  Jack shook his head slightly.  "For now, they stay on.  If you're good, I'll lengthen them later." 

“Not remove them?”  Ianto’s tone bordered on incredulous.

“I bet, before long, you’ll find yourself loving these chains.” Ianto huffed and Jack regarded him quietly for a moment before continuing, “They represent my commitment to you- that I will always take care of you, protect you, love you.  I swear to you that nothing bad will ever happen to you again on my watch, Ianto.  Nothing.”

Looking carefully at Jack Ianto could see the sadness and loneliness in the other man’s eyes.  “This is only for a month?”

“One month.  If you want to go after that then... then I’ll let you go.  You have my word on that.”

Ianto could hear the sincerity in Jack’s voice; the man was telling the truth.  He shifted, relaxing under Jack’s steady gaze and felt the weight of the chains as they rested against him.  There was something oddly comforting about wearing them.  Almost soothing.  "Can I at least get my clothes back?"

"No."  Jack laughed at Ianto’s continued reaction to having his throat stroked.  "But, I'm beginning to think you'd appreciate having a collar."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

I love that the other bad influences on your f-list convinced you to continue this. More Ianto in chains, no effort on my part, I call it a win. *eg*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh, you are a sneaky one, aren't you?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

You know it! And, um, I just realized I didn't actually say I liked it. It was implied! But I do! Mmm, throat stroking. And restraints, of course. Restraints are good. *g*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

And do you know I was suspiciously quiet as well... Almost as if we'd planned it or something ;-)

(Note to us: Sometimes reverse psychology *does* work)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Shh, now, don't give away ALL our secrets! *snicker*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

"No." Jack laughed at Ianto’s continued reaction to having his throat stroked. "But, I'm beginning to think you'd appreciate having a collar."

I just love that closer *so* much *G*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*vbg* thanks for the help!

*runs to add beta credit* Oopsie. Sorry

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Totally not a problem, honest :D

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Mmm more naked Ianto in chains. Thank you. And Thanks to your evil prompters too.

Makes me want to sing that Fleetwood Mac song though...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

glad you like.

Which song?

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

The Chain. Especially the end of it - 'Chains will keep us together' vid here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaELgMUB3wg&feature=related). Um showing my age again *g*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. I will never look at that song the same again.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*vbg* so true!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

You mean you don't already listen to music with fic-related ears? *g*

I do all the time, even if what I associate it with isn't exactly what was intended by the writers/recorders of the song. You can see lots of examples of this just by browsing the titles of my fic - song titles abound!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Okay, pretend I'm a rilly dum person, because I know this is lighthearted, and it comes across as very sweet and mischievous, and intellectually I'm guessing you're playing around with some conventions of bondage fiction, but I think my fear of being trapped is hindering me here - are the chains to keep Ianto safe, so he won't get into any situations where he would be in danger? I'm sorry! I think I've just jumped into an unfamiliar pool. :)

[ETA - please don't interpret my question as in any way reflecting on the quality of your writing or the story! I think I'm just out of my element, and I didn't want to not comment at all, because I'm interested.]

"Pain doesn't go away just because we've erased the memory of it, Ianto. It's still there, lurking, in our subconscious, in our dreams. I'm missing two years, much less time than you’d have me take from you, and I can barely live with that loss sometimes." The hand on Ianto's shoulder began stroking it gently. "Don't ask me to do that. Not to you. Please."

That's really sad and sweet.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

No, you're not dumb. This started off as just crack when mad_jaks and I we joking about the problem about writing 'life after torchwood' was that people tended to only leave if killed. Or retconned. Then I mentioned something about, unless Jack liked you and wanted to keep you around as a love slave.

The original drabble was just supposed to be a silly crack version of the future for Ianto. But people kept asking for me to write more and I started to think/wonder *how* Ianto and Jack started getting that dynamic together. My understanding of the D/s culture is that when in subspace, all that matters is your Dom, s/he'll protect you, be there for you, know what you need and what not. There is supposedly something reassuring about bondage or chastity belts and things like that and the sub's happier given up choice to the Dom and letting them choose.

I figure Ianto's had a lot go wrong in his life, and had a lot of heartache and pain because of it. TW1, Lisa, S2's ending, whatever caused him to hand his resignation in, and would- subconsciously at least- relish letting Jack (whom he already saw as a protector of sorts) take control and keep him from further harm. The chains would be a visual, tactile symbol of that.

*babbles massively* sorry

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

As you keep on telling me, babbling is good. I think you babble very intelligently.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. This is great.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[lizz-112.livejournal.com]

I, officially, love you.
For this line is genius:

"Almost soothing. "Can I at least get my clothes back?""

Now we need the "One month later" story. With teh sex and teh awesomeness :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I don't write sex scenes, so, sorry, that will not be happening.

With luck thus AU is now officially out of my head

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Moohahaha.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I think mad_jaks's beta suggestions helped clean it up some, make it work even better. But yeah, just keep laughing...

[unfeathered]

Oh wow. Hot. Very hot. This is gorgeous. And yes, I know it's cracky, but it's a believable dynamic - especially the way Jack really can't be as sane as he seems after everything that's happened to him - and it's beautifully written.

Oh, and hot. Did I mention hot? *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

praise like that from you? Just made my day!