Slashthedrabble Challenge 482 - From out of the ashes

[m_findlow]

Title: From out of the ashes
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto/Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 482 - Rebirth/Renewal at slashthedrabble
Summary: Jack has brought Ianto to see the most incredible thing in the universe.

'It's hot,' Ianto said, feeling the radiating heat from the sun which was ever so close to the planet, much closer than he was used to.

'It has to be. This is the only place you might see the most wondrous things in all of the known universe.'

'That's a big statement,' Ianto replied.

'No exaggerations,' Jack promised. 'I saw one once before. I've never seen anything to rival it.'

'Wow. Must be something, then.'

Jack smiled and began looking amongst the bright yellow and orange foliage. He knew what he was looking for, and that time was of the essence. After half an hour of searching, a glow caught his eye. Without thinking he reached in and grabbed for it.

Ianto watched as he carefully scooped something in his hand and uncurled his fingers. The blaze of light caught Ianto by surprise, it was like a jewel, sparkling in every colour imaginable.

'It's a firebird,' Jack said, as the tiny creature hovered just above his palm, smaller than a hummingbird. 'It's literally made of fire.' It was so hot, that bright white fire that lit up its wings, but it didn't matter. His hand would heal. For now all that mattered was the spectacle.

The light was so intense, Ianto squeezed his eyes shut until it dissipated.

'It's gone!' Ianto cried. 'It was so bright I had to close my eyes.' Jack had gone to so much trouble to show him something incredible and he'd missed it.  

'You can still see it, though, can't you?' Jack asked. 'It's there right behind your eyelids, isn't it?'

It was, he had to admit, so bright and beautiful he could picture it exactly in his mind, hearing that incredible song, yet it wasn't quite the same as seeing it in real life.

'It was so brief,' he said.

'They live for just a minute,' Jack said. 'One minute of exquisite beauty and joy and then it's gone.'

It seemed to unfair, Ianto thought. Why did they get to live forever when something that incredible had such a brief moment of existence? He stared down at Jack's hand where the tiny bird had been just moments ago. All that was left was a tiny sprinkling of silvery ash, like glitter, glinting in the sunlight.

'Don't be sad, Ianto,' Jack said, seeing the look on his lover's face. 'Death isn't forever.' He swept the silvery glitter from his palm, letting it flutter to the ground like falling stars.

'Something that beautiful should get to live forever,' he said.

'It does. In the mind's eye of everyone who every chances to see one.' He smiled as a warm zephyr whipped around them, ruffling his hair. 'Feel that, Ianto? That's a solar wind. After a while, all those ashes will be swept together, and from the ashes, a new firebird will eventually be born.'

'How long?'

'Days. Weeks. Who knows.'

'Can we stay? I'd love to see it again.'

Jack smiled. 'I suppose we've got time.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Sounds so beautiful, but like Ianto, I'm sad its life was so brief.