Torchwood: Fanfic: Some don't like it hot

[m_findlow]

Title: Some don't like it hot
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 727 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, too hot to think straight" at fic_promptly
Summary: Ianto isn't coping well with the change in the weather

Ianto flopped onto the desk in front of him. For all the months he'd spent wishing for a little bit of summer sunshine, now he wished he could take it all back. This was simply unbearable.

There wasn't a muscle in his body that didn't feel exhausted, and worse was the uncomfortable stickiness he could feel forming between him and his clothes.

'Why are you still dressed?' Jack asked when he walked in to see Ianto slumped there. Jack himself was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, as well as flip flops. Ianto was too flattened to be bothered commenting on how he looked. Part of him thought it was ridiculous, the other part wanted to know how Jack managed to carry off just about to anything he put on. It was simultaneously bizarre and fitting.

'I'm Welsh,' he said. 'We don't own summer clothes.'

'Sure you do,' Jack said, knowing Ianto's wardrobe by heart. 'You'll pass out in that suit.'

Ianto growled in an unenthusiastic way. 'Some of us had to videoconference three different Torchwood offices this morning.' Since then he'd already divested the jacket, vest and tie, and had the sleeves rolled up. If he went any further he'd be naked. Not that Jack would complain, mind.

'I'll look like an arse,' he replied. He was the boss. He at least had to look like he was in charge around here, even if the rest of the team had traded in their jeans and parkas for shorts and tank tops.

'You'll look more of an arse collapsed on your desk. Even you're smart enough to know that,' Jack replied.

Ianto groaned, leaning on the desk even more. Why was there no air in here? It was like a sauna.

'It's too hot to think straight,' he replied.

'Come on. Stop trying to be my dashing director and go change,' Jack demanded. 'A cold shower will help.'

Ianto let Jack help pick him up off the desk. This summer heatwave had come out of nowhere and it didn't look like it was ending anytime soon, either. The nights had been just as bad as the days, and he'd tossed and turned all night, unable to cool down enough to sleep properly. He'd thought that the hub being underground might be spared some of the sultry humidity, but it was just as bad, if not worse. Why had no one ever thought to install a proper air circulation system in here? Probably because for 360 days of the year, they were trying to conserve whatever small amount of heat there was in the smallest space possible. No one had planned for a day when they might want to be able to use some of that cold draughtiness to their advantage.

'I hate summer,' he moaned.

'No, you don't. You love summer. You complained all through winter about the cold. You don't get to complain now.'

'Yes, I do. It's my prerogative. If I can't complain then what is the point of being the boss?'

'You never moaned about the weather when we went to Tenerife.'

That was different. That was long sandy beaches and lots of blue water. It hadn't occurred to him to feel hot because he was too busy enjoying the relaxing atmosphere.

He'd tried distracting himself with work, but that only seemed to make matters worse. Every time he tried to clutch onto a thought, it drifted off into thoughts of sticky unpleasantness.

'Cardiff is not Tenerife,' he said. 'Not even close.'

'Ianto, stop being so stubborn.' Jack practically pushed him towards the door. 'Shower, now. I'll bring you fresh clothes. Or maybe I won't. Maybe I'll make you parade around with nothing on as punishment.'

Ianto sighed, knowing Jack would honor his threats. Naked was even worse than being ridiculously hot or wearing daggy beach clothes. 'Fine. I'm going.'

'Good. Everyone could use an iced coffee when you get back.'

Ianto groaned again. Why was it that he was still making the coffee now that he was in charge around here? Maybe once he felt a bit cooler, he'd have the brainpower to nut out that particular mystery. That and find out if the rift had anything to do to with this sudden heatwave. One thing he knew for sure. If there was a way of stopping it, he'd find it.

Comments

[bk_forever]

Can't say I blame Ianto. we don't get that much really hot weather over here, but let it get up to a rare heatwave and I can't function at all. Jack should get him an electric fan for his office. Maybe put a bowl of cold water under his desk so he can sit there looking professional with his feet in it out of sight.