BTBD Challenge 37 - Retaining control

[m_findlow]

Title: Retaining control
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 462 words
Content notes: Written for Challenge 37 - Control at beattheblackdog
Summary: Obsessive compulsive is not the same thing

Jack watched as Ianto neatly folded up the tea towel and put the mugs back away in the cupboard, lining them all up just so. He smiled and shook his head, walking over to wrap his arms around his waist when he wasn't looking.

'You're a control freak, you know that?'

'Wanting things neat and tidy is not being a control freak,' Ianto retorted.

'Oh, yes it is,' Jack argued, pulling him around for a kiss.

Ianto let himself be kissed, before pulling back,  having had a long, tough day and really just wanting to crawl into bed.

'How do you say control freak in Welsh?'

Ianto pulled out of Jack's grip.

'You want to talk about control freaks? How about we talk about you then?'

Jack raised his eyebrows higher than Ianto had ever seen them. 'Me? You think I'm a control freak?'

'You are.'

'What?'

'Don't deny it, Jack. You're the biggest control freak I know.'

Jack felt affronted. When had they begun arguing? 'How can you say that?'

'Oh, please. You're the one who keeps all the secrets. You get to tell everyone what they can and can't know, you call the shots out in the field, you insist on always driving the SUV, you sulk when things don't go your way,  you always have to be the centre of attention in any situation, and you always carry a gun. Tell me that's not wanting to exert your control on the world.'

'I'm the leader. It's my job.'

Ianto put his hands on his hips. That was Jack's fallback position for just about anything. 'Is it also your job to lull everyone into a false sense of security that they know who you are?'

Jack backed away, feeling like he'd been slapped in the face. 'You feel privileged because you've scoured all of Torchwood's files and know more about me than everyone else?'

Ianto narrowed his eyes at Jack. 'Privileged would be the wrong word. That implies that you wanted me to know.'

'You think I'm holding out on you?'

'Aren't you? Would you even tell me if you were? Would you have told me anything about yourself if I hadn't already found it out for myself? I thought we were meant to be together, but people who are together don't keep secrets.'

Jack shook his head again, heading back to his office. He didn't want to have this argument.

'See, there you go again,' Ianto said, talking to his back. 'You don't want to hear it, so you walk away. Always controlling the situation by deciding we're not even going to discuss it.'

Jack continued to walk away.

'Who's the control freak now, Jack?' he yelled back.

Jack didn't dare turn back. He hated knowing Ianto was right.

Comments

[jo02]

Oh, this was really good!

[bk_forever]

Ouch! When he's tired and has had a bad day, Ianto doesn't hold back on the uncomfortable truths!