Slashthedrabble Challenge 452 - Down and out

[m_findlow]

Title: Down and out
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 452 - Stalking/Stalk at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto is down on his luck, but someone is watching over him.

Ianto struggled to get comfortable, pulling the blanket tighter, but feeling the synthetic leather underneath him remain cold, knees bent awkwardly to fit his tall length inside. The blanket still smelled of grass from the dozens of picnics that had been had on it, a painful reminder of better times.

Just when he thought life couldn't get any worse, here he was sleeping on the backseat of his car. In the middle of winter.

The lease on his flat had run out a month ago, but he'd only discovered that fact last week. He'd been so busy trying to sort out Dr Tanazaki and helping Lisa that he hadn't even been home.

Now that it was all over, and he was finally left to deal with the aftermath, he'd uncovered the bad news. The eviction notice was pinned to the door -forty-eight hours to clear his stuff. Opening the door he found the three envelopes that had already been delivered, advising him to renegotiate, a final demand, then terminating the lease. As least it hadn't taken him long to move his stuff back into storage. One bed and a handful of boxes; everything else still locked away. Arranging a new place to stay was one thing too many to cope with. He'd do it eventually, but now feeling sorry for himself was all he had energy for.

He squirmed against the seat and closed his eyes, praying someone didn't find his body frozen to death. Then he was startled by a sharp rapping on the window above his head. He sat up and moved to open the door, finding Jack standing there, peering down at him.

'If this is your new fixed address, you should probably update your HR file,' Jack said, folding his arms.

Why did Jack always have to be so flippant about everything? It was infuriating.

'Are you stalking me, sir?' Ianto asked, keeping his voice level.

'Not stalking. I had a tracker put in on your car.'

Ianto stared at him, gobsmacked. 'You had a... tracker... on my car...'

'Standard issue,' Jack replied. 'Never know when it might come in handy.'

'And now?' Ianto asked, raising an eyebrow at him. What he really wanted was an explanation as to why Jack was following him.

'You really have to ask? You're sleeping in your car.'

Ianto knew he should feel embarrassed, but instead he felt indignant. After all, what business was it of Jack's what he did once he left work? He should be thankful Ianto left to go home at all. Wasn't that what had gotten them in this mess to begin with?

'I like my car.'

Jack jostled his hand in his pocket, pulling out something metal and shiny.

'Address is on the keys. Stay there as long as you like. No strings attached.'

Ianto slowly took the keys, feeling uncertain.

'See you tomorrow,' Jack said, tipping him a salute.

Maybe he was stalking Ianto, but suddenly Ianto was grateful for it, whatever Jack's agenda.