m_findlow

Title: Burning question
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 548 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Torchwood, Jack, why are there no dragons in Wales?" at fic_promptly
Summary: Jack has a burning question

'Ianto, why are there no dragons in Wales?' Jack asked as they were driving home one afternoon.

'I would have thought that was rather obvious, Jack. Dragons are mythological creatures.'

'Yeah, but all myths are based in fact. Surely there must have been dragons at some point. Why else have it on your national flag? Or was this just another one of those great Welsh moments in history where you all got drunk and thought, what's the craziest thing we could put on our flag that will upset the English?'

'I don't even know where to begin trying to answer that.' Admittedly it did sound like the sort of thing his forefathers might have done, and Jack was never interested in proper history.

'I would have thought you'd have some outlandish story for me about how they fell through the rift and that you had to save the world from being taken over by them, and then all ended up having a massive orgy.'

'Ianto, I'm hurt that you would even suggest such a thing.'

'What, an orgy with dragons?' For Jack that would have seemed perfectly pedestrian.

'No, that they'd try to take over the world.'

'How silly of me.'

'You know I once met a dragon, well, maybe it wasn't a dragon, but it bore a strong resemblance. Real nice guy.'

'Just not in Wales,' Ianto felt like clarifying.

'They're hiding somewhere. That's my theory.' Dear God. Jack and his theories. He knew he shouldn't encourage it, but he couldn't help but ask.

'And why are they hiding?'

'They're shy.'

Shy? Now he'd heard everything. 'How can a giant red scaly creature with wings and claws that breathes fire be shy?'

'Just because something is dangerous, doesn't mean it isn't shy. You're red and dangerous, and you're shy.'

'I don't think that's a fair comparison.'

'Well, maybe you're right then,' he said, sounding disappointed. 'Maybe there really are no proper dragons left in Wales, but perhaps their spirit lives on in the people left behind.'

Ianto wanted to scoff at the idea, and this whole ridiculous conversation as a whole, but the idea of having the spirit of dragons running through his veins actually filled him with a boyish excitement. Not that he'd ever tell Jack, though.

Just then his phone rang. Gwen. He listened, feeling a sense of trepidation as the conversation continued.

'Okay, we'll go have a look and meet you there.' He sat there for a moment thinking how the rift was both cruel and terribly ironic.

'What's up?' Jack asked.

'Reports in Tredegar of a large red lizard with wings.'

Jack caught the odd look on Ianto's face that said he was holding something back.

'You're paraphrasing, aren't you?'

'Yes, the actual report was three dozen sightings of a dragon. I didn't think you'd belive me if I said that. I don't think I just believed me for saying that.'

'Ha! See, I told you they were real. This is turning out to be the best day ever! Dragons in Wales!'

Ianto held his own excitement in reserve. He'd believe it when he saw it. He just hoped they really were as shy as Jack claimed. And that they weren't into orgies. He really hated having such a warped imagination sometimes.