Torchwood: Fanfic: Blindsided

[m_findlow]

Title: Blindsided
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: John Hart, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 945 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Torchwood, Jack/John Hart, it wasn't the happy reunion John was hoping for" at fic_promptly
Summary: John comes prepared for a lot of things, but he didn't see this one coming

He was still cursing the woman that had just totally screwed him over when he teleported himself onto the roof car park. Then his vortex manipulator had started bleeping. He checked the alarm and grinned. Oh, maybe this wasn't going to turn out so badly after all.

He waited a few minutes. If his wrist strap had gone off, then so would the other. There was no way he'd be able to resist meeting up straight away. He was distracted when he heard the kerfuffle at the edge of the car park. He stepped closer seeing a mugging and a carjacking taking place. Well, that wasn't cool, he thought. Murdering, now that was cool.

'Come any closer and I'll open up his neck,' the man warned.

'Fine.'

'What?'

'Which artery do you normally sever?' He was genuinely interested. There was a lot you could learn from travelling around the universe. Maybe this wasn't such a backwater planet after all.

As it turned out, it really was a backwater planet. Even the murdering here wasn't that great.

He turned around, scanning the car park. Where was he? He should be here by now.

John let out a frustrated sigh. He always makes me work for it. He punched out a quick video message and left. Murdering was thirsty work, and backwater or not, nowhere in the universe did they skimp on good booze. He found the name of the bar marvelously apropos. Tonight would be one for the record books.

He threw back the shot when the footsteps sounded at the door. What on earth was he wearing? It was so... delicious. Closing the gap, he knew that they both wanted the same thing. Oh, yes, he'd missed those lips, and that tongue. Then he remembered the last time they'd seen each other, when he'd been cuffed and left at that rehabilitation centre. He balled up his fist and swung hard.

Now, this was way more fun! It had been days since he'd gotten into a proper fist fight, and there was no one he'd rather tumble with. Perhaps they might tumble somewhere else a bit later. Instead he drew his gun, seeing his partner doing the exact same thing. Still had the old reflexes, he grinned.

'You're putting on weight.'

'You're losing your hair.'

Well, they couldn't all have that boyish supermodel look, now could they? Someone had to be the brains.

'I need a drink.'

'I thought you'd never ask.'

The drinking was a formality. What he really wanted was to get down to the heart of the matter.

'It's good to see you. It was never the same without you.'

'You need to go. I don't want you on my territory.'

'What?' All these years apart, and not so much as a "come back to mine and we'll fuck for a week"?

'Time was you couldn't get enough of me on your territory.'

He groaned inwardly. Why did someone always have to interrupt, just when things were getting good? Shoot them and let's get on with it. But oh, no. Don't shoot them, John. They're my cutesy little team, and we save the world from aliens. Who was this and what had he done with the real, what did he call himself again? Captain Jack Harkness? God, it was so pretentious.

He'd really though that things were taking a turn for the better. What had been a glorious shafting, and even John had to give her some credit for class, had become an opportunity to get things back to the way they been. Him and Jack, tracking down the cannisters, making themselves a small fortune. Well, small for Jack, anyway. This was definitely an 80/20 deal. Then they could be off, taking in the pleasures of the Vegas Galaxy. It'd be fun being back together again, creating their own brand of trouble, and reaping the proceeds.

But no. Jack had changed. He'd become some sort of self-righteous, little goodie goodie two shoes. Worse than that, he had his merry little band of misfits who worshipped him: the pushy one, the snarky one, the oh so sexy, smart one, and the pretty boy. Trust Jack to make sure he had a bit of eye candy. There was just no accounting for taste.

Even more ludicrous was that they all seemed to think he was some big hero. He wasn't. He was just a con man, John knew. That was all he was good at, all he'd ever been, and Jack just had to come around and see that. He'd be bored if he stayed here. Godesses knew John was. If he had to stay here any longer, he'd need to murder someone else, just for the sake of proving he was still alive. But he didn't want to leave Jack here, either. Jack needed him, didn't he understand that? This was their moment.

'If you need a new team member...'

'No.'

'Really? I could-'

'No.'

'But-'

'No. Go now, and you can harness the residual rift energy.' He wasn't serious. He was just playing hard to get like he always did. It was one of their favourite games. And one John always won.

'Listen-'

'Goodbye.'

Oh. So we're done playing, are we? Well, maybe you are, but I've still got the ace hidden up my sleeve.

John leaned forward and gave him one last kiss. For now, anyway. You never can stay away from me, Jack, no matter how much you try.

'Oh. By the way, I meant to tell you. I found Gray.'

Yes, Jack. Not quite the reunion you imagined, is it? We'll be seeing each other again, sooner than you think.