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

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Plausible deniability.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

what a wonderful phrase that is.

and sentiment

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. It's one of my favorites.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I shall have to start using it as well

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Good plan.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

So how does plausible deniability differ from innocent till proven guilty?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Because there's nothing to concretely prove you guilty.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*nods* makes sense.... makes a lot of sense...

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It's one of those things I learned being the youngest child.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that and there are plenty of other people to blame when something goes wrong/breaks?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

That's the first thing you learn.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

family pets are useful for that as well

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Unless they're cats, at which point they're also good a diverting the blame.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

if they're cats they usually deserve the blame...

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

So true.