m_findlow

Title: For aesthetic purposes only
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 469 - Ornament at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto is curious about the strange things on Jack's desk.

It didn't matter how may times Ianto sat opposite Jack's desk, he could never find enough time to admire all the oddities that lined its surface. Even though his eidetic memory had locked it all away, it wasn't the same as being able to look at everything at his own leisure, taking in the more minute details of each item.

Most of them seemed to have a function or purpose, but others boggled the mind, some ultramodern and others archaic, yet they all seemed to blend in seamlessly.

Today as he sat there handing over reports one by one for Jack to co-sign, his eyes drifted over the odd piece of coral mounted on a stand. It was at odds with everything else, more of an ornament than an essential work item. It was large and golden coloured, intricate, sturdy yet delicate. He wanted so much to be able to reach out and touch it, adding its texture to the detailed picture in his mind.

'You like it?' Jack asked, catching him staring intently at it.

'What is it?'

'Coral.'

'Oh.'

'That surprises you?'

'So, it's not some kind of alien mind reading device?'

Dear God he hoped it wasn't. If Jack knew even a half of all the dirty salacious thoughts he'd had about their Captain and what he might like to do to him if he were ever given the opportunity, he'd find himself out of a job quick as a flash. How many times had he sat there, diligently taking notes and instructions, or quietly enjoying their first coffee of the morning together, picturing the man across from him in a lot less clothing. Even thinking those guilty thoughts now filled him with dread and made his ears turn red.

'Nope,' Jack confirmed. 'Though I would very much love to know what goes on inside that head of yours,' he replied, adding his own salacious grin, as if perhaps he already knew.

'You'd be throughly bored by it,' Ianto assured him.

'I'm sure I would,' Jack said, sounding less than convinced.

'So, it's not alien, then?'

Jack shrugged. 'Who knows really. I mean, there's a lotta worlds out there, and coral from the ocean on one world is pretty much they same as the next. There's a lot more similarities out there than you think.'

'It's decorative?' Ianto surmised.

'Something like that. Reminds me of home. Did I ever tell I grew up by the beach?'

'No.' Ianto frowned. 'Where was this?'

Jack made a fruitless gesture with his hand. 'Oh, little place. Tiny. You won't have heard of it. But it was nice. All kinds of stuff used to wash up on the beach. Trawling the beach at low tide was the best, seeing what had been swept in.'

'Sounds lovely. Do you ever go back there?'

There was a brief darkness that swept over his expression, fleeting as he reached out and touched the coral.

'Sometimes it's better not to ruin memories of the past.'