A Lesson in Whistling

[donutsweeper]

Title: A Lesson in Whistling
Pairing/Warning/Rating: Jack/Ianto, major crack warning and dark themes, rated R
Word Count: 559
Beta/Absolute Angel: mad_jaks
Summary: Ianto faces an unexpected future when he quit Torchwood.
Author's Note: Sequel to Learning to Whistle, prequel to Whistle While You Work. Ianto realizes something about his chains.

Even as he did it Ianto wasn’t sure why.  Everything just became too much: the nakedness, the lack of control, the promise to continue to accept this all for another 25 days... and he snapped.  One second Jack was telling him what was going to be for dessert and the next second Ianto was yelling his safe word at the top of his lungs.

Jack froze, stunned, but instantly stopped talking. 

Ianto sank to his knees.  His chains rattled as his entire body shook; although whether it was as a result of his fear of how Jack would respond, horror at what he had done, or just adrenaline; he wasn’t sure.  Carefully, he put himself in the position Jack had pressed him into that first day.  Hands on his thighs.  Head bowed.  He was covered in goosebumps, he could see them and he hated it.  Times like this made him miss his clothes even more.  Those perfect suits, with their crisp, clean lines, had been his armor against the world.  He could see that now.

He focused on the weight of the manacles, the way they glittered in the light, the solid feeling of the shackles around his ankles, the sensation of the slight tug between the shackle on his right foot and the retracting chain that tethered him to the ring in the center of the room.  Taking a deep breath he let their steady presence ground him, calm him.

Eventually Ianto became aware of Jack standing in front of him, a ring of keys dangling at his side.  “I’m sorry, Jack..”  He knew he was pleading for his forgiveness, but he needed it so badly.  “I am so sorry.  I lost my head.”  Jack didn’t respond and when the silence stretched out too long Ianto looked up, cringing at what he saw.  The disappointment and the sadness etched across Jack’s face was physically painful, his stomach clenched knowing he caused it.  It was his fault Jack looked at him that way.

“Please, Jack.  Tell me how I can make this right.  Tell me what I can do so you’ll forgive me.” 

Jack tilted his head, avoiding Ianto’s gaze.  “You safeworded so I got the keys.”  His voice was barely above a whisper.  “But, you have to lift up so I can reach the locks.”  When Ianto didn’t move Jack bent down and grabbed Ianto’s right wrist, turning it to expose the locking mechanism. The small snick of the catch releasing seemed to echo through the room.  Ianto stared as the manacle was removed and, wrapping his other hand around the bare skin it revealed, he shuddered.

“No!  It feels so wrong.  Put it back!  I can do this.  I need to do this.  Don’t make me go, I don’t want to leave you.  I don’t want to be on my own.  It was a momentary lapse.  I lost my head.  I just need to focus better.  On you.  On the chains.  On my proper place.  Please.  Let me try.” 

Something that might have been relief rushed across Jack’s face.  “What can I do to help?”

"Can you... Would you make the chains heavier?  More noticeable?  It'd be like you were always here, wrapped around me, keeping me safe.  Please?”  The look of adoration, of happiness, in Jack’s eyes nearly undid Ianto.  “Oh thank you, Jack.  Thank you!”

Comments

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

I fear my halo may be a tad dented but never mind! YOU my dear are an pleasure to work with (all my f-list are, naturally) :D

My absolute favourite thing about this is Ianto's (and our) growing realisation that what Jack said is true - he *is* growing to love his chains and what they represent.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I still vote angel. There were what, 8 different versions? 10? Before it was right?

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

I'm not counting, honest :D but there are certainly a lot of mails in that googlemail 'chat' - though of course not all of them were different versions. Especially toward the end there... *raises an eyebrow at you*

*smooches*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

still, it was a lot of back and forth trying to figure it all out!

*offers donuts*

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

It was worth it :D

*accepts a donut*

*nibbles*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

now on to the next project... *cackles maniacally*

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

I have one of my own underway *cackles harder!*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

uh-oh... dare I ask?

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

My lips are sealed - _medley_ is involved though so you just know it is *evil*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*nods nervously*

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Love it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thanks! :)

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Kind of creepy, but delightfully so.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

pretty much what I was going for! :)

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I'd say you were dead-on, then.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

With luck I have this stupid !verse out of my head now and won't have to look at it again unless someone asks for a timestamp meme

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Well, I thought this ended everything pretty well...hopefully your muse agrees.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

it took forever to get it *just* right. mad_jaks was an absolute angel helping me. But I think it's explained why he'd stay and all so I'm glad it read that way to you too

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I think it explained everything really well. I also thought it almost had kind of a horror feel to it, and I really like creepy *says the girl who reads horror stories during graveyard shift*.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

but, creepy in a good way, right? As Ianto is sinking into the mindset where living in chains is right for him

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Definitely.

[unfeathered]

I love it when you write dark stuff. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*blushes mightily*

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I'd like to praise your details in this - the sound and weight and pressure of the chains. (I'm a sensory detail whore!) Good stuff.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

in this case, the sensory details were a vital part, so i'm glad they stuck out for you