m_findlow

Title: Catching
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Owen, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 325 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, madness is contagious" at fic_promptly
Summary: Ianto has a small problem that may or may not be real.

Owen watched with mild curiosity as Ianto swatted at something near his face. He couldn't make out what it was from this distance, but insects in the hub were rare.

He went back to what he was doing, but the movement from the corner of his eye was distracting, as Ianto continued to swat at whatever was buzzing around his head.

'Fly spray!' Owen yelled out. 'Heard of it?'

'It's not a fly!' Ianto yelled back, waving his arms around like a madman.

'Works on moths, too,' Owen said.

'It's not moths either.'

'Then what?' Owen exclaimed. 'Because whatever it is, you're driving me barmy with all that flapping around.'

'It's all Jack's fault,' Ianto replied, walking over, still swatting and ducking something Owen couldn't see.

'When is it ever not?' Owen sighed. 'What's he done now?'

'He was fiddling with this alien device, and then he started complaining that there were all these twinkly lights buzzing around his head that wouldn't go away. Only now they're doing the same to me and I can't get rid of them!'

'Twinkly lights?'

'Yes!'

Owen groaned. 'I always knew madness was contagious. Sit down then and let's have a look at you.'

Ianto complied, though the sitting still part was challenging. He was pretty sure the lights couldn't actually touch him, but when they tried to fly straight at your eye, it was just instinctual to react.

'Did you touch the device?' Owen asked, shining a torch in his eye.

'No. Jack just told me what happened and then five minutes later, the same happened to me.'

Owen stepped back, frowning. 'All in your head, Teaboy.'

'So, help me get it out.'

Owen was about to make a smart comment when something zipped past his head. Instinctively he ducked out of its path. What the hell? Another tiny ball of light whizzed around his head.

'Argh! Now I've got them!'

'What was that about madness being contagious?'