Ficlet_zone Challenge 6 - The Big Kiss

[m_findlow]

Title: The Big Kiss
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Owen, Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,233 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 6 - Northern Exposure Reverse Fandom (The Big Kiss) at ficlet_zone
Summary: Owen is determined to get to the bottom of the truth about "that kiss".

Owen had never really been one for gossip, that was women's business after all, but with everything he'd seen in the past few days, he couldn't wait to get one of the others alone to talk about it. Jack coming back from the dead was something he was still coming to grips with, as was his very sudden departure not an hour or so later. But the real bombshell had been in the reunion with the team itself, namely one general support officer who got more than just a warm welcome back.

Owen considered his two options carefully. Tosh was the obvious choice. Nerdy people tended to hang around one another, and if anyone was going to know what little secrets Ianto had hidden up his sleeve, he was sure Tosh would be the one he'd confide in. She'd never let it slip that Jack and Ianto had been seeing each other on the side, but now that the cat was out of the proverbial bag, he was sure he could guilt it out of her.

Then again, maybe Gwen with her copper instincts had sniffed it out already. He couldn't imagine what deal might have been struck for her to keep her silence over the matter. Usually she couldn't keep anything to herself from what he'd learned. Then again, why make such a fuss about hanging around Jack's dead body if she knew? Not unless that was also part of some clever ruse they had going.

He watched them both, but neither one gave anything away, nor did they appear to approach Ianto to discuss the matter. It was all very strange that they were all keeping things professional, as if nothing had happened. Not that they had time for much more than that. The rift apparently didn't give a toss that their boss had upped and left. It was happy to keep spitting stuff out just like it always had.

And the hub was still a mess. They'd cleaned up the worst of the debris, but there was plenty that couldn't be fixed overnight. The boardroom would have to be completely renovated, all its glass windows shattered from roof to ceiling, and the table shredded by the whirlwind of broken glass and metal, like someone had run it over a cheese grater. Likewise down below, most of their computer equipment was beyond repair, and only some clever intervention by Tosh had kept the rift machine from blowing up on them.

In all the aftermath of Abbadon, no one seemed to give a crap about what had been going on between Jack and Ianto, other than him. In the end, he cornered Tosh, mostly because she was what he considered a soft target, and secondly, because she'd been here longer than Gwen. If this had been going on since day one, Tosh would know. It could also explain why Jack had recruited him in the first place. Owen had never quite believed that what Torchwood had really been lacking was someone to tidy up and make coffee.

He waited until she was headed back from the main server room to sidle up to her in the corridor, giving them five minutes before they reached the main hub for him to get his answers.

'So, Tosh... Did you know Teaboy was gay? Obviously we all knew about Jack, but...'

She paused and looked at him. 'Is this about the big kiss?' she asked.

'Nah, it's because he made a pass at me,' Owen sniped. 'Of course that's what I'm talking about. I mean, seriously, that was not two people who've never kissed before.' Admittedly, he'd never seen two blokes kissing, but it was a lot steamier than he'd expected, or maybe that was just because it was Jack. 'Did you know they were... you know...'

'Some kind of thing?' she finished for him. 'No. I just assumed maybe you knew and I just wasn't paying enough attention.'

Owen snorted. 'No chance. You think I go round trying to figure out who Jack's latest shag is? As if anyone could probably keep up.'

'I'm not sure he's quite as promiscuous as he makes everybody think,' Tosh countered. 'We've all heard his stories, but when would he really find the time? He practically lives here.'

'Correction, Tosh. He does live here.'

'Exactly!' she said, before realising how loud she was speaking, and lowering her voice back down to a whisper. 'It's makes more sense that he'd go for someone who's close, right?'

'And it doesn't freak you out that he's getting his rocks off with Ianto? I mean, come on. Plenty of fish in the sea and all that. You'd have to be pretty desperate if Teaboy was your first choice. I can't imagine he's a tiger in the bedroom.'

'I thinks it's sweet,' Tosh replied. 'And I can't help but wonder if it's not a bit more serious than you're making out. It's only occurring to me now just how miserable Ianto was when we found out Jack was dead. He barely said two words.'

'And that's different to normal, how?'

Tosh rolled her eyes. 'You know what I mean. Look,' she began, lowering her voice even more and taking on a serious expression, 'I've done hourly scans looking for any trace of Jack's wrist strap signal and I can't find it. Not anywhere on the planet. Jack told me it's strong enough to transmit right to the outer edges of our solar system, so if I can't find it...'

'Then he's gone,' Owen concluded. Off into the far reaches of space with that bloody doctor he always went on about .

'I didn't want to say anything just yet. I wasn't sure how Ianto might take the news.'

'Well, he's going to have to, if you're right, which you probably are. We just have to hope Jack's planning on coming back.'

Tosh grabbed him by the shoulder just moments before they were due to step through the sliding door entrance back into the hub. 'And if he doesn't?'

'Then we've got some tough decisions to make.'

Owen heard Tosh let out a heavy sigh as the door opened. Right there, wandering past with a clipboard in hand was Ianto. One way or another they were going to have to break it to him. And Owen was still dying to know the answer to his question.

'Oi, Teaboy,' Owen called out. 'So, how long have you and Jack been shagging?' Tosh whacked him but he ignored it, waiting for Ianto's expression to crumble. He was certain it would. He'd been moping around for days now. He was bound to finally crack under the scrutiny that had been a long time coming. There might even be tears. Better to get them out of the way now and clear the air. Harder times might be about to come their way.

Ianto's expression remained unmoving as Owen studied it. 'Well, come on, then, spill the beans. How long? Celebrating anniversaries and what-not yet? You've had a few days to fess up and now we're asking. No more secrets.'

Ianto lowered the clipboard to his side and stepped forward until he was standing right in front of Owen, still just as calm. 'Long enough that's its none of your sodding business,' he replied, his tone low and threatening, before walking away.

'Does that answer your question, Owen?' Tosh asked.

Comments

[bk_forever]

Good for you, Ianto! No one has the right to stick their nose into someone else's personal life. Owen should be grateful Ianto didn't punch him one. just for the sake of it.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

Had Tosh not been there, he might well, have done. Owen can be so obtuse sometimes! There's a right way and a wrong way to go about these things.

[jo02]

I wish we could have seen this in the episode.