m_findlow

Title: Missing in action
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Ianto, Jack
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 27 - Absence at anythingdrabble
Summary: Ianto had hoped no one would notice

As Jack and Ianto wandered into the large dining room, there were a couple of odd looks thrown in their direction. Ianto had naturally assumed it was on account of the fact that Jack was wearing a dinner suit rather than his traditional blue and grey garb, complete with his ever faithful coat. As much as he loved Jack's coat, he had to admit he looked pretty good in a tuxedo and black tie as well. I'm fact, he'd look forward to slowly removing said attire much later.

The conference had been as expected, mostly tiresome in its content, with each agency holding back on all the really interesting stuff they were doing. As much as they liked to outdo one another, no one wanted to throw a cat amongst the pigeons either. Some things were a little too controversial to admit to working on.

Still, the gala dinner at the end of the day promised to be the highlight. As they took their seats at the table, one of the generals from UNIT and his underling frowned at them.

'Glad you could join us,' he said, keeping his tone flat.

'Wouldn't miss it for the world,' Jack replied, already tearing a bread roll in half and stuffing it in his mouth as he simultaneously replied through it.

'I see that the food and wine enthuses you more than the content of this afternoon's session.' He frowned even harder at them. 'Your absence was duly noted. Especially since Torchwood's opinion was requested by one of the attendees when discussing the reorganization of UNIT's research and development division.'

Ianto awkwardly set his wine glass down. Oops. He knew exactly where they'd been. In their hotel room, doing things a lot more interesting than discussing corporate restructuring.

It had been Jack's idea to skive off. Last night they'd stayed until the very end of dinner, which ran well past midnight, having to schmooze with their counterparts in other organisations, making small talk and brokering better long term relationships. Then it had been up again at five for a slow breakfast down at the buffet whilst they finalised preparations for their own presentation. The morning session started at eight sharp and they weren't on until ten, but nor did Ianto want to rush through eating and working if they could help it. They broke for morning tea, came back, did their presentation, and then before they knew it, it was lunch.

'Let's bail after lunch,' Jack said. 'I've hardly seen you since we got here.'

And so they had, taking things back to their room. Ianto had intended slipping back for the second half of the afternoon session, but they both felt asleep and only woke just in time to get dressed and ready for dinner. Bollocks. He should have known someone would notice.

'Our apologies, General,' Jack said, busily buttering the other half of his roll. 'Some urgent Torchwood business came up that required us. Couldn't let the world end before dinner.'