m_findlow

Title: Ordinary guy
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack, Rhisnnon
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 512 - Ordinary at slashthedrabble
Summary: Rhiannon is convinced there's nothing ordinary about Jack.

'Can I have a bedtime story?' Mica asked, tugging on Ianto's belt and looking up at him in askance.

'If she gets a story, I want a game on Xbox,' David replied, not wanting to be left out.

Ianto gave his sister a weary look before acquiescing to both requests. He picked Mica up and started carrying her upstairs, the sound of his voice fading as he asked her what kind of story she wanted.

Rhiannon was caught off guard as an arm reached across her to pick up the tea towel, already tugging a wet plate from the drainer and begging to dry it. Having Ianto's new beau offer to help with the dishes took her completely by surprise.

'I thought you'd be trailing after Ianto,' she remarked. Not hanging around like the housemaid.

Jack shrugged. 'It's valuable uncle time. Those kids will be grown up all too quickly. Take it from me, he'll come to treasure those moments, or regret not having more of them.'

Rhiannon gave him a queer look. 'D'you mind me being honest?'

'Please.'

'You're nothing like what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but you're all handsome and flashy smiles and super nice, and Ianto's so... well, ordinary. I never expected him to bring home a nice girl, let alone...' she gestured her hand up and down at him, unable or unwilling to put words to what she thought Jack was.

Jack laughed as he set the plate down on the kitchen bench. 'Believe me, there's nothing ordinary about Ianto. Besides, I don't know how much Ianto has told you about me.'

Rhiannon scoffed, cutting him off. 'Basically nothing.'

'Well, despite what you might think, there's really nothing special about me. I'm a pretty ordinary guy myself.'

Rhiannon gave him another appraising look. 'An ordinary guy who looks like a film star. Is that what caught my brother's eye? I never took him for being vain.'

Jack chuckled. 'Thank you for the compliment, but Ianto is way too clever to be swayed by a pretty face. It's one of the things I love about him, how he just sees past all of that and wants to really get to know you as a person. Ianto probably knows more about me than any person I've ever been with because he takes the time to ask and because he cares. Everybody assumes that because you look a certain way that they know you. If you saw me out in the street you'd probably think I was just some good looking airhead. You wouldn't give me the time of day.'

Rhiannon gave a cheeky smile. 'Oh, believe me, you'd get airtime. Already I've got the neighbours gossiping about you. They'll want to take down all your particulars.'

'Well, I'm very flattered, but once they spent a bit of time with me, I think they'd be pretty disappointed. Besides, I'm taken and they're going to have to fight Ianto if they want me that bad.'