m_findlow

Title: The lies we tell
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 897 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for fffc May Special Daily Challenge - May 22nd - The lying game (Ruth Ware)
Summary: The one thing standing between them is the truth.

'Working back late again?' Jack asked, seeing his newest employee still pottering around the hub. He'd been surreptitiously watching the new recruit for a full five minutes now from the comfort of his office, completely unaware he was being watched. If he wasn't mistaken Ianto seemed to be doing things at a much slower pace now than he did during the day, making a concerted effort to drag out the process of picking up rubbish, setting it inside a black bin liner. Jack wondered what Ianto was trying to achieve by drawing it out? Was he perhaps just waiting for Jack to come and speak to him. He hoped that was the case. Though they'd been alone at the hub for hours, Tosh being the last to leave a long while ago, he hadn't made any moves towards Jack's office. It seemed if a first move was going to be made, it was up to Jack.

'Always more to be done, sir,' Ianto replied, hardly looking up from the task. He meant it for truth, but right now he didn't want to start anything new, though there was plenty he could. What he really wanted was for Jack to leave, just as he had done every other night this week. Where Jack went Ianto didn't really care, though he'd already learnt that Jack often liked to go and stand on some of the highest rooftops in the city, just standing there for hours doing nothing. Perhaps there was a reason for it, but it didn't concern him.

He wanted Jack to leave so that he could creep downstairs to check on Lisa. She'd been down there all day on her own and he was beginning to fret, worrying if the new dosages of medication were working, trying to ease the amount of pain she'd been in. If they weren't working, he'd have to steal more supplies from Owen's cupboards before tomorrow morning and find a way to replace them before he noticed. For now though, he just needed Jack to leave, and if that meant trawling around looking busy then that's what he'd do.

'You don't have to stay here all night, Ianto,' Jack said, though rather hoping he'd say he wanted to. He'd been slowly working his way up to more and more suggestive teasing over the past few weeks, and if he wasn't mistaken, Ianto enjoyed their banter. He hoped that with a little more prodding he might be able to convince Ianto that they could do more than just parry words. He enjoyed playing the hard to get game, but there was only so much toying around before he simply wanted what he'd come for. Though Ianto was definitely worth the wait, even Jack's patience had its limits.

'I know. I just want to finish up here. Please don't stay on my account.'

'I wasn't,' Jack lied. He shoved his hands in his pockets. 'Actually, I was thinking of going and grabbing a bite to eat. I could always use some company. Eating alone just never feels right.'

Ianto paused in his movements. Was Jack asking him out? Perhaps he was over thinking it. Jack was a terrible flirt, but he was mad if he thought it was anything more than an invitation to eat. 'I'm not hungry,' he replied. The reality was he was starving, having missed lunch with the rest of them. His job was to make sure they were fed, but it mentioned nothing about making sure he fed himself. That hollow angry feeling in his stomach however was a permanent feature these days, and he'd become accustomed to just ignoring it. Food never tasted right anymore, anyway. He just needed coffee and sleep. And right now, he also needed Jack to leave.

Jack laughed at his lightning quick response. 'It's not a date Ianto. It's just dumplings. As much as I love those suits, you're gonna waste away inside them at this rate.'

He said it as a joke, but deep down he was a little concerned. It was probably just the grieving process, survivor's guilt, depression, or whatever you wanted to call it. He hadn't lost his girlfriend all that long ago. That was probably taking some getting used to. Still, it didn't mean he could distract himself forever with paperwork and cleaning. He'd have to face up to those ghosts eventually. Jack knew that feeling all too well. Perhaps a meal out would help him unload some of that. He wasn't much of a talker, but Jack was sure he could get him talking given half a chance and the right environment. If nothing else, at least he'd have made sure Ianto ate something.

'I'm fine,' Ianto said. Another lie. 'I'm almost done here. I was planning on heading straight home for some sleep.' He patted down his pockets for show. 'Er, think I left my keys down in the archives. You go. I'll just grab them and shut everything down for the night.'

Jack looked at him and Ianto prayed he didn't see through the obvious deception. 'Okay,' he said instead. 'Another time, maybe.'

'Another time,' Ianto promised, watching as Jack shucked on his faithful coat and trotted towards the door. 'See you tomorrow,' he called out.

'Yep,' Ianto said, letting out a breath. All he needed was to keep out of Jack's sight until tomorrow morning.