galadriel1010: (Default)
galadriel1010 ([personal profile] galadriel1010) wrote2011-02-16 12:30 am

Oneshot: This You Asked

Title: This You Asked
Characters: Jack/Ianto
Genre: Angst
Rating: T
Era: Post Cyberwoman to Journey's End
Series: Stand-alone
Summary: Written for the first [livejournal.com profile] jack_ianto_las prompt: The Right Time To Lie
Notable occasions when Ianto told the truth, no matter how uncomfortable.
Contains: Canon character death
Dedication:
Beta:
Disclaimer: Torchwood and its environs, occurrences and persons belong to the BBC. The original characters have disowned me.


When Ianto's world ended in blood and anger and betrayal, and he returned to Torchwood to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, Jack said, “No more lies.”

It wasn't a complicated rule, but it was a rule none-the-less, and Ianto could obey rules, so there were no more lies.

When Jack was bowed with grief and guilt, abandoned by his friends for the crime of saving the world and crushed with the loss of the woman he loved, alone in the Hub but for the echoes of years and Ianto, Ianto said, “You had no choice, and you made the right one.”

When Jack's hands were tender tending Ianto's bruised and broken ribs and humans had turned out to be more inhuman than the everyday aliens, Ianto said, “I never begged for death.”

When their friend betrayed them and their tainted memories were tainted further, and Ianto stood in Jack's office with stopwatch in hand, Ianto said, “I can't think of any uses for with a stopwatch. But making you smile was a good one.”

When Jack revived in Ianto's arms, with the stench of petrol fumes and death clinging to his clothes, his hair, his mind, and accepted for the first time the support and shelter that Ianto offered, Ianto said, “I'm here for you; I won't let you fall.”

When Jack lay dead, again, laid out in the morgue under Gwen's faithful vigil, and Ianto hoped for this to be Jack's final release, even though he knew he wouldn't survive if Jack were to leave him, Ianto said, “I think I loved you. I would follow wherever you led.”

It never happened, but when Ianto knelt before the Master under Jack's distraught gaze, bloodied and broken but unbowed, and he looked up at Jack directly, Ianto would have said, “It was for you, but not your fault. I love you.”

When Jack returned to them with Ianto's death heavy on his heart, changed by the things he'd seen, and asked Ianto how he was, Ianto said, “All the better for having you back, Sir.”

When their night ended at Ianto's door and they hovered on the balance between forwards and back, and Jack hesitated before he asked, “Do you believe me?” and “Do you trust me?”, Ianto said, “Yes” and “Yes” and “You should stay.”

When Beth finally lay in the morgue, and Ianto had closed the file on her death certificate – the only lies he was allowed to tell – and Jack reached for his reassurance, Ianto said, “She doesn't understand it yet. Beth did. Beth would have made a good Torchwood agent – she saw the world like we do.”

When five became six, then back down to five, then back up to six, then back down to five and everything was almost back to normal but for the fact that Owen was the undead and zombie shooting games were out of fashion, Ianto said, “I don't want you to let me go, if you want me to stay.”

When Jack finished watching Gwen tending to Rhys and the shot that hadn't come still rang in Ianto's ears, and Jack's arms closed around him at last, Ianto said, “I need you. I need to know we're okay. I need to know you care.”

When the Island's ghosts shadowed Jack's steps and their pain darkened his eyes, when he found himself judged and found wanting by someone who didn't know and Ianto's bed and Ianto's arms were his only refuge, they clung together in Ianto's brightly lit flat. Ianto said, “I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted her to see how much you care. You've done so much to save them, and I am proud of you.”

When Jack pulled him from the ruins of the mill and his hands brushed down his ruined suit with distressing tenderness and they finally had a snatched moment alone, Ianto said, “You're mine. He doesn't get to win this.”

When the dawn came on a tear-washed world, shattered lives in a shattered city, and five had become four had become three might become two, and Jack was vulnerable and broken in Ianto's bed, Ianto said, “I'm yours, and I love you. I will look after you. I always look after you.”

And then the Daleks come again to bookend Ianto's life with Jack, they've found them and Jack is ready to leave and save the world, and Ianto can do nothing to help but let him go and wish him well, Ianto says, “We'll be fine.”
Today is a good day to lie.
ext_550863: (Default)

[identity profile] usakiwigirl.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
I like watching how Ianto keeps saying the truth, except when he really knows he has to lie. Jack probably knows it too, but chooses to ignore it, so he can leave.

Well done, bb - we get to try again!

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks hun :D
I really believe that Jack didn't know what he was leaving them to.

I'm really looking forwards to this round. the schmangst should be something special

[identity profile] too-beauty.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
This was just outstanding!

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I knew as soon as I saw the prompt that this is what I wanted to write
Gxxx

[identity profile] ms-bekahrose.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Oooh, I liked this one too! It was so hard choosing just one "most" and even harder choosing a "least". Well done!

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 01:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you :D
There were so many super entries. I had a top three, but it was really hard choosing one that was less good than the others.
ext_472928: (ianto's bad)

[identity profile] hauntingblood.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
*is in lurve*
This is amazing! Sad but with the perfect amount of 'Awww' factor.
And I'm absolutely in love with your POV of the stopwatch. Definately my favourite reason for the scene.
xx

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Truth can be so much more interesting than lies.
Gxxx

[identity profile] mcparrot.livejournal.com 2011-02-16 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I loved this one! Especially how you took the canon things and changed them somehow. Especially this bit.

When Jack returned to them with Ianto's death heavy on his heart, changed by the things he'd seen, and asked Ianto how he was, Ianto said, “All the better for having you back, Sir.”

Well done.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you :D I enjoyed doing this prompt, although I probably deserved the downvote lol
Gxxx
bk_forever: (If In Doubt)

[personal profile] bk_forever 2011-02-17 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I love this! That last line gave me chills! So many truths, but that final lie is so selfless, allowing Jack to do what he must without guilt or regret.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!
I think that's Ianto through and through, sin't it? He seems to be completely selfless, especially around Jack
Gxxx
ext_3966: ("End of Days" kiss)

[identity profile] lone-star-woman.livejournal.com 2011-02-17 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
I really like this one. I love how the whole fic builds up to that final lie, which is told out of love.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you :) I don't think I'll ever get tired of telling their story.
Gxxx

[identity profile] lawsontl.livejournal.com 2011-02-28 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
It's a beautiful fic. Love the rhythm of each moment, spelled out in a few sentences, the truth in each. And then the final lie... *sigh*

Also, well, ok, Trekkie. Last line? *snickering* Ianto is a bit Klingon, I suppose, when he goes ninja, though I always saw him as a bit more Vulcan, IMHO. Anyhow...

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2011-03-18 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you :D

I am a bad science fiction nerd, and I've only ever seen one episode of Star Trek *blushes*. A story where he's a Vulcan could be cool, though...