BTBD Challenge 8 - Green with envy

[m_findlow]

Title: Green with envy
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 549 words
Content notes: Written for Challenge 8 - Envy at beattheblackdog
Summary: The green eyed monster can creep up on you when you least expect it

He couldn’t explain why he felt the way that he did. All that he knew was that he didn’t like the feeling one bit. It was that horrible feeling of envy.

He could appreciate that she was the newest member of the team, and that afforded her some additional attention, but this was almost more than he could bear. Suddenly he’d gone from being at the top of the pile, to somewhere nearer the bottom. Being ranked equally with Owen was not something he’d ever aspired to, or even thought possible.

He secretly hated how the man lavished attentions on her. Once upon a time, that would’ve been him, but not anymore.

Not only that, but because the place was new to her, there were the constant interruptions in their day, which were often unexpected and sometimes undesired. There was only so much leeway they were going to give her, but for him, she could do no wrong. He spent hours with her, showing her where everything was, making sure she was trained up, and that she felt like she was part of the team. He’d discovered her and brought her into the fold and so they’d developed some sort of special bond that none of the others shared with her.

He sat there and quietly seethed as he watched the pair of them together, sharing some private joke that only they knew. He saw the twinkle in the man’s eye as he smiled at her and laughed. His mind went into overdrive when he saw him raise a hand and place it on her shoulder, touching her ever so gently, but in a way that said much more. His jealousy burned inside him as he got caught spying on them and received nothing more than a brief smile that said he knew he’d been watched, and that it didn’t bother him in the slightest.

How could he? He knew it was still very early days, but he could have sworn that there was something there between them, or at least he thought there had been. Perhaps he should have thrown caution to the wind and just taken the chance when it first presented itself, instead of trying to do the noble thing. He wasn’t one hundred present sure he’d missed his chance, but their newest addition was making it difficult for him. Trying to find a private moment alone with him now was almost impossible. He’d taken their new recruit under his wing and he was intent on spending every spare moment ensuring she was happy and cared for.

He liked to think that he’d kept his emotions under wraps, as he was very good at keeping secrets, but somehow he got the impression that the rest of the team could sense his ire at having been relegated, and that they didn’t necessarily agree with him that he was being overly self-pitying.

He sighed and tried to focus his mind on the task in front of him, desperate for the distraction from his current problems. Surely this couldn’t last forever and that he would eventually find his way back into the man’s good graces. He’d been jealous of lovers interests before, but having to compete against a pteranadon for someone’s affections was a new one even for him.

Comments

[bk_forever]

Heee! So clever! I thought at first Ianto was jealous of Gwen, but it's poor Jack miffed by Ianto's relationship with Myf!

[jo02]

Hee hee - nice bait and switch :)