Torchwood: The Flaw

[fajrdrako_fic]

Title: The Flaw
Author: fajrdrako
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Gwen/Rhys (with a hint of Gwen/Jack)
Challenge: From theatrical_muse: "Freudian slip"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Note: Cross-posted to torchwoodgwen and theatrical_muse.


The Flaw

Sometimes Gwen drove Rhys crazy, but the sex was good. The sex was always good. Even after they had a row, and sometimes especially after they'd had a row. Gwen was all fire and sparks, a powerhouse of a woman in bed. She mixed laughter with passion and both with kindness, and even though she sometimes drove him crazy or worse, but he felt infinitely lucky to have her in his life. Of all the men in the world, including bloody Jack Harkness, she'd chosen him to marry. Rhys had no idea what he'd done to deserve it, some insane sort of Karma. If ever he'd had a fairy godmother... the sexual kind... She'd done better by him than most. A night like this, and he didn't care about the missed dinners, the forgotten dates, the fact that they hadn't been bowling in months. Or seen a movie. Or visited family or friends. Her life was Torchwood now. Torchwood, and Rhys.

Tonight, Gwen had come home late. He was already asleep, mostly asleep, and had summoned up just enough awareness to murmur, "Hello, there."

Then she attacked him.

He'd wakened up then, pretty quick, and in more ways than one. Christ. Gwen. Gwen. Gwen!

Afterwards, sweaty and exhausted, Gwen cuddled close to him. He could tell she'd had a hard day. There were bruises on her arms and ribs from whatever experience Torchwood had put her through; probably not wrangling Weevils, or there'd be scratches and cuts as well. She'd been tired after that kind of day, but wound up, excited, taking out her excess energy on him. It was the least, and the best, they could do for each other. She gave him strength. He gave her peace.

He kissed her forehead, warmly, even though she was already dozing. "Mmm," she murmured, aware of him, but drifting off. "Jack."

He closed his eyes. There is was: the flaw in her perfection. She didn't mean it. Mostly she didn't mean it. He didn't think she'd ever had sex with Jack - sexy, invulnerable, immortal, mysterious Jack, the hero from the future with magic in his smile and in his fingertips. Rhys wasn't sure Gwen had always been faithful to him, but she said she'd never been with Jack, and he believed her. They told each other the truth now.

And one of her truths was that, fully sated and half-dreaming, it was Jack's name which came to her lips.

Jack, who led her through hell and back on a daily basis, defending Earth from aliens.

Rhys didn't resent it. After all, she always came home to him.

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Character: Gwen Cooper
Fandom: Doctor Who/Torchwood
Words: 438

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