FIC: Torchwood: "The Best of Times"

[fajrdrako]

Title: The Best of Times
Author: fajrdrako
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Captain Jack Harkness, Jack/Ianto, the Torchwood Team
Rating: G
Word Count: 1,085 words.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Notes: My personal New Year's Eve tribute to Torchwood. Vague spoilers for some action in Torchwood series 1. Cross-posted to my Dreamwidth account, my lj, and to torch_wood. I don't know if the Cardiff New Years Eve "free fireworks display on the stroke of midnight" is visible from the St. David's Hotel; in my story, it is.


The Best of Times

Ianto Jones danced with Jack Harkness in the party room in St. David's Hotel and Spa, Cardiff. He'd never been there before, not even when on the job, let alone for a dinner party with friends. The place was posh: he couldn't afford to get through the doors even if it had occurred to him to want to. But Jack - ah, Jack had his ways; perhaps he was secretly rich, perhaps he could pull strings, perhaps he knew just how to apply the right pressure in the right way with the right person. That was Jack for you.

That, and the glorious smile. And the warmth of his arms. And his sense of rhythm, and his exquisite scent.

Ianto's head was swimming, not just from champagne. He wasn't used to loving Jack, but he couldn't help it: he was full to the brim with love and desire. That terrible mix of joy and strangeness. He wasn't sure how it had happened. He wasn't sure he cared how it had happened. Sometimes it seemed inevitable and inescapable, the work of fate. Other times, it seemed the wildest impossibility that had somehow actually happened.

Jack pulled him tight and kissed his ear. Ianto didn't mind. It wasn't as if they were in public, not really in public. They were among the people celebrating New Year's Eve here, and the only people present who might notice them together already knew about him and Jack. People like Tosh, Gwen, Rhys, and Owen. They might have seen the kiss. They were observant. But then, anyone noticing that he and Jack were dancing so smoothly in each others' arms probably wouldn't be surprised to see the kiss.

Ianto realized he was blushing. He loved it that Jack kissed him, here, now, amidst the flowing music. And he hated it too. That was Torchwood, always pulling him and pushing him in different directions, challenging him. One thing he'd learned since joining Torchwood: he liked a challenge.

Just as well, because Jack kept him provided with them.

Nobody seemed to be paying attention to them anyway. Or if they did, it was because of how beautifully Jack moved on the dance floor. Jack was a class act when he wanted to be. Ianto supposed he'd had a lot of time to practise dancing. He pictured him with Edwardian ladies, 1920s flappers, independent post-war feminists, flower children of the 60s... Jack had known them all, and their dances, too.

This time Jack and Ianto danced to Glenn Miller music, "In the Mood", which Ianto knew to be a favourite of Jack's - it reminded him of a time he had loved, he said. That was all right with Ianto. The orchestra had been playing music which he loved, too, current-day things that stirred his blood, interspersed with things he remembered and loved from his teen years. He supposed Jack had arranged at least some of the selections. Torchwood magic. No, Harkness magic. Never underestimate the power of a Time Agent.

"C'mon," said Jack suddenly, pulling Ianto off the dance floor, leading him back towards their table. Ianto smiled as he followed, Jack still holding his hand as he strode with purpose. What now? Life with Jack wasn't dull - this could be a whim, or an interplanetary emergency.

It didn't matter. He'd follow Jack anywhere. God, he was besotted.

"It's almost midnight," said Jack. Perhaps he had given some invisible signal - a dog whistle? - because suddenly the whole Torchwood team had come back to the table. Beside the white candles and the soft blue flowers in glittering crystal, delicate flutes of champagne stood at their places.

"Having fun?" asked Jack, eyes twinkling. He had kept his hand on Ianto's shoulder a moment longer than necessary, fingers lingering as he slid them off and tapped his fingers on the table. Tosh, in a lovely blue gown, looked beautiful and shy. Gwen was radiant and almost sultry in a little black dress that glittered when she moved. Rhys was dressed to the nines - a rented outfit, Ianto guessed. Very conservative. And Owen - well, who'd have thought he'd clean up so well? He looked almost like a gentleman, thanks to the illusion of high-quality clothes, tailored to fit perfectly.

"I want to make a speech," he said. Ianto sat, and slipped a little deeper into his chair. It was almost midnight already: this had better be brief. He was getting tired and was starting to fantasize about going back home to his bed, taking Jack with him. Starting the new year right, that would be. He took a deep breath, and tried to stay alert to what was happening. Toshiko waited politely. Owen groaned, then, seeing the shadow in Jack's eyes, sat up and paid more attention Gwen held Rhys's hand comfortably, and he put an arm around her.

"On New Year's Eve in 1999," said Jack, "We had a New Year's Eve party at Torchwood. It was held in the Hub. Everyone was having a great time, or so it seemed. I went away for a bit, and when I came back my boss had killed everyone. He shot them. He couldn't bear the thought of the future ahead of us. He knew too much - and too little.

"Less than a year ago, your time, my trusted lieutenant at Torchwood lost her mind. We've been invaded by a Cyberwoman, captured by cannibals, imprisoned in lockdown and stalked by an alien murderess. We have survived all of this. Torchwood has survived, thanks to you.

"It is you who have made Torchwood what it now is - an operation that has saved the world and will do so again. A team. Friends. Colleagues. Heroes, every one of you. Thank you.

"You are Torchwood, and I love you all."

He raised his champagne. "To Torchwood. To us. To a bright new year."

"Hear, hear," said Rhys, saluting with his glass.

"We love you, too, Jack," said Toshiko, tears in her eyes.

Owen said, "Save the world? Hunt the aliens? Well, somebody's bloody well got to do it. Might as well be us."

"Might as well," said Jack, his eyes warm. He put down his glass, and held out his arms. Gwen stepped into them for a big hug, followed closely by Rhys and Toshiko. Owen shrugged and joined the hug, with a "what the hell" grimace at Ianto.

Almost shyly, Ianto put his arms around his friends. Everyone else in the place was singing about Auld Lang Syne, but it wasn't the past Ianto was thinking about. It was the year to come, a year of new challenges; a new year at Jack's side. A year in which anything might happen.

"I couldn't save the world without you," said Jack.

The five of them turned to watch the fireworks outside, arms around each other.

- end -