Torchwood: Fanfic: Active Listener

[m_findlow]

Title: Active listener

Fandom: Torchwood

Character: Jack, Ianto

Author: m_findlow

Rating: PG

Length: 378 words

Content notes: None

Author notes: Written for huxleyenne’s prompt any, any, talking to a goldfish who is a good listener at fic_promptly 

Summary: Ianto has finally found someone who understands him.

‘So then of course, just when I think I'm finally going to get going on this report, he has to burst in with this weevil, doesn't he? Doesn't put it in the cells and deal with it himself, does he? Oh, no, leaves that for me to do, and wants coffee afterwards, but not too long afterwards because he says he's got important places to be. And it's not like I've got anything important to do, is it? Just a mounting pile of unfinished things because there's always someone wanting to interrupt me with something they want or need.’

Ianto sighed. ‘Sorry, I don't mean to be such a whinge. It's just that sometimes you really need someone who'll just take the time to listen, right?’ He paused and became quiet and pensive, twiddling his pen between his fingers. ‘Perhaps I should get a therapist or something. Someone I can schedule in on a regular basis just to sit and listen while I unload. Of course I'd have to retcon them each time, so we probably wouldn't get very far doing any kind of deep analysis. And therapists are expensive. You, on the other hand, don't cost anything, and you're happily just sitting there and listening. I mean, I think you're happy listening. And you aren't really sitting. More like hovering. I suppose If you were sick of listening to me you'd just swim off and go hide in your little shipwreck, wouldn't you?’

‘Ianto, who're you talking to?’ Jack asked, appearing from nowhere.

‘Just Terry.’

Jack arched an eyebrow at him. ‘Terry?’

Ianto indicated the bowl on his desk. ‘He's Mica’s goldfish. I'm fish-sitting whilst they're caravanning down at Porthcawl for the school holidays.’

‘And why were you talking to it?’

‘He's used to a house full of people who never shut up.’

‘Nice way to talk about your family.’

‘I didn't want him to feel lonely.’

‘Right…’ Jack looked like he'd already lost interest. ‘Well, I'm heading out. Might be back late so don't wait up, but if you could have those reports on my desk before you go that would be great. And feed that weevil, would you? Nearly lost an arm earlier.’

Jack rushed out the door and Ianto sighed. ‘See what I mean?’

Comments

[badly_knitted]

At least Ianto has a friendly ear for a week or two.