m_findlow

Title: Unpredictable
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 524 - This is why we can't have nice things at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto's best intentions at fostering aliens don't work out quite so well.

Ianto felt the bottom fall out of his stomach as the loud crashing sound emanated from upstairs. Oh God, what the hell was that?

He turned and poked his head out of the kitchen and into the living room where Jack was looking equally disturbed. 'Where's the Snarfle?' Ianto demanded, referring to the small alien creature they'd brought home with them. As aliens went, it was one of the cuddlier types, and Ianto couldn't bear to leave it locked up at the hub overnight all alone. It was just too adorable when he'd set it on the sofa, curling up in a ball and making itself immediately at home.

Jack spun in a quick circle, checking the room. 'I only turned my back on it for a second, I swear,' he said, looking halfway between guilty and panicked.

'I told you to keep an eye on it!' Ianto yelled, as he dashed up the stairs, with Jack hot on his heels.

'It was sleeping. I didn't think it'd wake up and suddenly take off!' Jack yelled back.

'One job, Jack! You had one job!'

Ianto rounded the top of the stairs, twirling almost one eight degrees and gripping the top of the banister to make sure he didn't trip over himself in his haste. In his head he already knew where the crashing sound had come from, running straight for the bedroom. He bolted to a halt in the doorway, the tiny alien, like a green pekingese dog, darting between his legs. It only made it as far as Jack who was quick to bend down and collect it as it rushed into his arms by accident. He took it back downstairs whist Ianto surveyed the damage.

'I put it in the laundry,' Jack announced as he returned to the bedroom, finding Ianto kneeling on the floor beside the bed. He was carefully collecting shards of broken silver glass from the carpet.

'I really liked this lamp,' Ianto muttered. 'And it was expensive too. We bought it on holidays in Paris, remember?'

'It probably saw its reflection in the surface and freaked out,' Jack replied.

'You were meant to be watching it,' Ianto snapped. He sighed, staring down at the shards in his hand. 'Sorry. I thought it was asleep, too.'

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder. 'This is why we can't have nice things, because, despite all your best intentions in wanting to bring aliens home with us for a bit of TLC, even the most placid creature can do the unexpected.'

'My bleeding heart is to blame, huh?' Ianto said, sounding utterly defeated.

Jack gave his shoulder a squeeze. 'There are far worse things to be. Anyway, it's just a lamp. We can always buy another one. Right now I'd say there's a frightened Snarfle that needs more attention.'

Ianto nodded in agreement feeling sorry for the poor frightened thing now stuck in their laundry. Tomorrow he'd worry about how to make their home more alien proof.