Torchwood: Fanfic: For the greater good

[m_findlow]

Title: For the greater good
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,038 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for badly_knitted's prompt "Any, any, giving up something for Lent" at fic_promptly
Summary: Ianto's faith is about to be tested

Jack stuffed another huge mouthful of pancake into his mouth, letting a tiny bit of the maple syrup ooze down his chin, before Ianto rolled his eyes at him and handed him a napkin.

'This is the best celebration day of the year,' Jack muffled, as he watched Ianto chopping up a handful of strawberries to top his own breakfast.

'You say that about all the traditional holidays.'

'That's because they all have amazing food, and Easter is just around the corner. I love chocolate eggs and bunnies.'

Ianto tipped the fruit over his pancakes without looking up. 'And you're the only person I know who breaks the chocolate rabbits off at the neck rather than the ears. Don't you think that's a little bit wrong?'

'Not if it means I get more chocolate,' he replied, squirting a bit more syrup on the already soaked confection.

'Well, perhaps this year then we should be observing Shrove Tuesday properly.'

'How do you mean?'

'Well, the whole point up of us having pancakes is to symbolise the end of indulgence in rich foods before Lent. Between now and Easter we should be sacrificing good food, meat and other luxuries as penance. Well, I should at least. We were raised Christian, but I suppose religious observances don't hold much meaning for you here,' he said, taking a bite out of his pancakes.

Jack shrugged. 'Maybe not, but religion is still very much a part of the universe wherever you go. They're all a little different in their customs, but the essence of sacrifice, worship, and kindness toward others are just the same. If you want to observe Lent, then I'll observe it with you.'

'You don't have to do that, Jack.'

'Let's say for argument's sake that I want to.'

Ianto's religious beliefs rarely came up, but Jack knew that despite their lifestyle, his upbringing had included church, and he tried to observe the basics. Jack suspected the only bits he focused on were the bits that were going to send him to heaven rather than hell, and that penance was a big part of that. He'd probably broken more than a few of those commandments; he'd lied, cheated, killed, but who hadn't? Well, maybe not the killing part, but it was only done in self defence. He had a good heart and he meant well, so that surely had to count for something in the grand scheme of things. As far as Jack was concerned, he'd sacrificed more than enough to guarantee himself a place before any set of pearly gates.

Ianto chewed thoughtfully. 'Okay. Well, we'll have to think of something we can give up for forty days, then.' He smirked at Jack, waiting for the penny to drop.

'What, you don't mean we'd give up-'

Ianto laughed. 'You're so easily taken in it seemed almost cruel to tease you like that! No, I'm not suggesting we give up sex. Since homosexuality is already rather frowned upon by the church, I don't think sacrificing it is going to count for much.'

'Okay, so what do you suggest?'

'We could give up coffee.'

Jack dropped his fork on the plate with a loud clatter, face going even paler than before at the suggestion of going celebate, and clutching his mug in a protective way, as if Ianto were about to take it off him right then and there.

'Oh, hell no. I'm not living with you without coffee for forty days, Ianto. I've seen what you're like when you haven't had coffee for forty minutes. It's like Jekyll and Hyde.'

'Oh, and you can talk! Mr Grumpy Pants who storms around the hub like a spoilt child. On second thoughts, giving up coffee would be a very bad idea. I don't think the team could survive us.'

'I don't think our relationship would survive it,' Jack added. 'So what do other people give up?'

'All kinds of things these days. They give up TV or video games, alcohol, chocolate. Purists still give up meat.'

'We could do that maybe.' So long as he didn't have to give up Ianto.

Ianto considered it, testing the idea for practicality. 'It would make meals on the go a little difficult. That would mean no pizza, no hamburgers, no Chinese, no curries - except vegetarian - no pies, pasties or hotdogs.'

'Hmm, that could be problematic. I don't suppose those mobile take out vans would sell you steamed fish, and walking past the kiosk that does those amazing smelling bacon butties every morning would be torture.'

'No,' Ianto agreed. 'And the rest of the team would still be eating them anyway.' He was all for sacrifice, since that was rather the whole point, but having it shoved under his nose every day was bound to make anyone a little tetchy. Meals were ad hoc enough when you were busy saving the world, without trying to be accommodating. Surely God could appreciate that.

He stared down at his plate, watching the granules of sugar dissolving and glistening over the luscious red fruit that adorned his own pancakes. The answer was obvious.

'We can give up sugar.'

Of course. It really was an obvious choice. 'Yeah, we could do that. No donuts, no cakes, no pastries.'

'And no chocolate, lollies or biscuits, either.'

He didn't say it out loud, but Jack suspected that also meant no whipped cream or Nutella, which would certainly put a dampener on some of his favourite foreplay activities.

'Deal. It won't be easy, but we can do it.'

'We'll probably be healthier for it,' Ianto agreed.

Jack smiled back at him. He wasn't giving up for some religious reason, he was giving it up because he loved Ianto. Ianto was the only thing he intended on worshipping. He had Gods of his own, but if he ever bothered praying to them, it was only so that he could help keep those he loved safe from harm.

Jack pushed his chair out and headed for the kitchen.

'Wait, where are you going?'

'To get the chocolate sauce, ice cream and sprinkles. If this is our last treat together, then I'm making it worth while!'

Ianto sighed. It was going to be a long forty days.

Comments

[bk_forever]

They can do it! *cheers them on*

Besides, Ianto, how can you put sugar on strawberries? Thry're way better without!