FIC: Torchwood - "No Trespassing"

[fajrdrako_fic]

Title: No Trespassing
Author: fajrdrako
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Captain John Hart, references to Ianto/Jack and Jack/John.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Notes: Spoilers for Torchwood 2x01, "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" and 2x13, "Exit Wounds". Cross-posted to my LJ, to roguetimeagents and to torchwood_fic.


No Trespassing

Ianto noticed Captain John Hart on the CCTV at 8:07 a.m. Hart wasn't doing much of anything; sitting on a bench, gazing at the scenery. When he first sat down, he had a cup of coffee. When he had finished it, he tossed it in the bin. That was at 9:02.

Ianto gave him till 9:07, then put on his best slate-grey coat and got onto the invisible lift. "Going out?" inquired Gwen, busy at her computer.

"Just for a mo'," said Ianto. He didn't bring her attention to the CCTV. No point. Gwen would just complicate things.

He strode across the Plass to where Captain John sat. He loomed. Captain John, smoking a cigarette - filthy habit - looked unimpressed. Scruffy as ever in that ridiculous uniform, anachronistic to the end. Too bad the knives and guns weren't visible, so Ianto could have him picked up on a dangerous weapons charge. "Good morning, Eye Candy," he said.

"Leave," said Ianto, in his best no-nonsense or-else voice.

"No."

"I'm warning you, Hart -"

"I'm on a public bench in a public place doing no harm to anyone. What is this, the Cardiff Gestapo? You and Jack may rule the roost underground, but you can't stop me from sitting here like any tourist."

"I'm Torchwood. I could make you move. I could make you disappear."

Captain John gave him a mocking smile. "Bully."

Ianto sighed. "What do you want?"

"How is he?"

"Jack's fine. If you're waiting for a glimpse, forget it. He's out and about."

"He'll come back."

"You'll be gone."

"I just want to know how he is. Two thousand years underground. That does something to a man."

"Jack's no ordinary man. If you must know, he's mourning the loss of our friends. But he's all right."

"Top notch?"

"Peachy keen." We was tempted to add the words "in bed", like with fortune cookies, but controlled himself. Captain John was difficult enough at the best of times. No point encouraging him.

"So there's no problem if I wait."

"I don't want you here."

Hart sighed. "Another man might invite me in, act friendly, offer me coffee."

"You've had your coffee. You got it from that grotty shop across the way. You paid too much for it and it wasn't very good, but the girl who poured it was cute."

Hart said admiringly, "Not just sexy but psychic, too. Your skills are endless."

"I do my best. Now leave."

"Jealous?"

"Why should I be jealous?"

"I know Jack. I know Jack through and through, and I've known him longer than you have, and I know things about him you've never dreamed and he's never said and never will say. I know his past, and that's something he won't share with you. You want to know everything. Am I right?"

"Let's see," said Ianto. He put a foot on the bench and leaned on his knee. "As I see it, you're his past, you're history. He told you to get lost. I'm the one in his bed now, the one he cares about. What do I have to be jealous about?"

"Tell me you don't want to know more about him."

Hart was right, but Ianto saw no point in admitting it out loud. He decided to play for the high stakes. "All right then, Time Agent, prove yourself useful. Tell me about the Doctor."

There was an almost-imperceptible pause, and Ianto knew he had won the point when Captain John said, "Who?"

"Forget it," said Ianto. "You've nothing we want."

Without looking back, Ianto walked briskly across the Plass towards the Tourist Office, knowing Captain John was watching him all the while.