Anythingdrabble Challenge 74 - Right of reply

[m_findlow]

Title: Right of reply
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Ianto, Jack
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 74 - Advocate at anythingdrabble
Summary: Jack needs a hand defending his choices.

Jack knocked sheepishly on the edge of the door to Ianto's office down in the archives. He couldn't remember the last time it had been closed or even if it ever had a door attached to it. Perhaps it had always just been an open doorway and nothing more. He really needed to start taking more notice of these things.

'Hello,' Ianto replied brightly, looking up from the file laid open on his desk. He caught the slightly anxious look on Jack's face and frowned. 'What's wrong?'

'I think I need you to put in a good word for me with your sister.'

Ianto set his pen down. 'And why would you think that?'

'Because she sent me a nasty email about how I ruined dinner last Friday night.'

'We didn't even turn up,' Ianto replied. 'How can you have ruined it?'

'I think that was the point she was trying to make.'

Ianto snorted. 'I wouldn't worry about it. She sends me emails like that all the time. Do you have any idea how many times I've missed dinners?'

Jack looked disappointed. 'So, what you're saying is you're not gonna put in a good word?'

'What do you need me for? You're perfectly capable of emailing her back and explaining the circumstances.'

Jack seemed furtive as he stepped closer to the desk and rested a hip against it. 'To be honest, Ianto, your sister scares me a little bit.'

The laughter that exploded from  Ianto was both sudden and loud. 'You?' he began, struggling to contain his amusement. 'You who faces weevils and blowfish and the end of the world is scared of my sister?' There was another peel of raucous laughter.

'Hey, I seem to recall a time when you weren't too keen on telling her things,' Jack sniped back. Important things like the fact they were dating.

'I had my reasons,' he replied. 'Fear of Rhiannon's temper isn't among them.'

'So, you're not going to help me,' Jack said, folding his arms in a petulant manner.

'Jack, no one is a bigger advocate of your many fine qualities than me. Rhi is perfectly aware that there are times when the job has to come first.'

'I didn't get that impression from her email. I think she thought I was intentionally dragging you into harm's way. You don't even want to know what she said she'd do to me if you came to harm.'

'Well, you'll just have to tell her how you stopped me from getting crushed alive by that giant wooly mammoth.'

Jack looked skeptical. He could tell Ianto was still highly amused that his sister had Jack cowed like a dog. He really did want to prove himself worthy in her eyes. 'You really think she'll believe me if I say that?' he asked. It sounded outlandish even to him and more than a little bit like a made up excuse.

'Even if she doesn't believe you, it won't make you any less my hero.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Rhi still doesn't quite understand about working for Torchwood, but Jack does need to stand up to her - she'll respect that more that if he keeps getting Ianto to intercede on his behalf.

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

He'll find his feet with his future sister-in-law eventually. Sometimes though it pays to let Ianto negotiate.