m_findlow

Title: Travelling light
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,144 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge r18.01 - Suitcase at fffc
Summary: Ianto is ready to go, but Jack's seems to be missing something.

'Woah, woah, woah,' Ianto said, stopping Jack at the door with his hand. 'Aren't you missing something?'

Jack frowned and patted down his pockets. Wallet, phone, keys, all there. 'Nope, don't think so,' he said.

'Jack!' Ianto cried, exasperated. 'Your suitcase!'

Jack frowned again. 'What suitcase?'

'Uh, the one you're planning on taking to Paris?'

Jack laughed at him and it vexed him. He always hated it when Jack did that, making him feel like he was missing something completely obvious. 'What do I need a suitcase for?'

Ianto sighed. Dear God, it was like dealing with a four year old. 'Okay, let me put this into simple terms you can understand,' he said. 'We're going on a holiday. One that has taken weeks to plan and which is months overdue.'

He knew Jack thought these things just magically happened on their own, but in the end it was easier to not involve Jack in booking tickets for flights and trains, trawling through hotel websites and booking things for them to see and do whilst they were away. Jack argued that setting them a schedule for everything was contrary to the concept of being on holiday, but it eased Ianto's mind to know that they had a plan, and that they wouldn't be wandering the streets, looking for a hotel with vacancies, or forced to sleep on the street. He also had a long list of things he wanted to see and do, and didn't want Jack derailing his efforts. With everything pre-organised he actually had a hope of relaxing.

'I know we're going on a holiday, Ianto. I'm not an idiot.' That was debatable, Ianto thought.

'But you haven't packed! That's what you're telling me, isn't it? This isn't some terrible joke you're playing with me to try and get me wound up before telling me to relax, is it? You really, honestly don't have your suitcase ready, do you?'

Jack shrugged. 'Don't need to.'

Ianto sputtered. 'Of course you have to pack! Jesus Christ, Jack, our flight leaves in an hour!' He sucked in a deep breath. Okay, he could do this. Everything in Jack's wardrobe coordinated. That made it easier and hopefully quick. A few shirts, some pants, underwear, socks. Shoes, he might need extra shoes. Toiletries they could probably share. He could pick up a razor and toothbrush in the airport lounge. Argh! Braces. Don't forget those. And a jumper or two. It might be too cold for just a coat. Did Jack need a scarf and gloves? It was only autumn. He'd packed his own, just in case.

'Where do you keep it?' Ianto asked.

'Keep what?'

'Your suitcase! No, never mind. You grab the suitcase, I'll start folding up the clothes. The taxi is only fifteen minutes to the airport. We'll make it. Just.'

Jack gripped him firmly by the shoulders. 'Ianto, stop. There is no suitcase.'

'What do you mean there's no suitcase?'

'I don't own one. Never have.'

What? 'Ever?'

'Never.'

'But that's... that's insane. How have you survived all these years without a suitcase? Surely someone who's travelled as much as you have can't just go around the universe with nothing.' It boggled the mind to think anything else.

Jack just brushed off the comment and shook his head. 'Don't need one. Everything I need is right here with me.'

'But what about when your clothes get dirty? You can't go around wearing three day old underwear.'

'If I need clothes, I buy them. Or I wash them. I know you think I can't do laundry, Ianto, but I survived a lot of years before I met you. You meet some fascinating people in laundromats.'

'Toiletries, then.'

'Find me a hotel anywhere that doesn't provide you with soap.'

'A toothbrush! If nothing else you need to pack a toothbrush.'

'Ianto, look at these pearly whites. Do they look neglected for the lack of a toothbrush?'

'But...'

'Ianto, it's just stuff. Little pieces of home to cart around with you. As long as you've got the clothes on your back and credits in your back pocket, you can go anywhere. It's a lot easier to make do with what you've got. You wanna be out there enjoying it, not lugging around some stupid suitcase everywhere you go.'

'They're called hotel rooms? They let you leave your stuff there?' Ianto said, talking down to him.

Jack ignored it. 'So, what you're saying is that for the better part of the day, you don't need any of it because it's gonna stay locked up in some room that we're only paying for to sleep in.'

He hated it when Jack put words in his mouth. Even more so when he made them sound like stupid words. 'That's not what I meant.'

'In fact, I dare you to go without it, just to prove it.'

Ianto folded his arms. 'No way.'

'Well, look, we can stand here all day arguing the point and miss our flight, or just for once you can throw caution to the wind and just take life as it comes.'

Ianto just looked at him. It sounded completely mad, going there unprepared and unprovisioned. Then he remembered that Jack had lived for a very long time and travelled a very long way. He'd made it all that way with nothing more than his coat and his wits. It was only Paris after all. It wasn't the end of the universe, or even the ends of the Earth. It wasn't as if they wouldn't have shops, and a number of very fine tailors. Perhaps it was an extravagance, buying things as they were needed, and mayhaps divesting themselves of things they didn't require anymore. Clearly though, it had worked for Jack for over a hundred and fifty years. There had to be something to it. All the bookings and itinerary were already on his phone, he had his wallet and credit cards, and his passport was carefully tucked into the inner pocket of his jacket. He checked his watch. They really needed to get going.

He sighed heavily, praying he didn't regret this. 'Alright, we do things your way.'

Jack grinned. 'That's the spirit. You and me, free as birds, off on an adventure, putting our fate in the hands of the gods.' He grabbed Ianto's hand and tugged him out through the door, leaving his suitcase abandoned by the end of the sofa, so carefully packed with everything he thought he'd need.

'Just so long as you know how to ask "where can I buy clean underwear?" in French,' he replied.

Jack smirked to himself. He knew how to say "we won't be needing underwear" but he didn't think Ianto would see the funny side, demanding they go straight back inside to pack. He'd wait until they landed to start teaching Ianto useful French phrases.