Torchwood: Fanfic: Some things never change

[m_findlow]

Title: Some things never change
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Rhiannon
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,794 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, changing and staying the same" at fic_promptly
Summary: Ianto shouldn't really be surprised by his sister's reaction.

Ianto sighed as he spotted the caller ID, pressing it to his ear. 'What do you want?'

'Oh, that's nice,' Rhiannon said, 'after I made you dinner last night and everything.'

'Exactly. You saw me last night. You couldn't possibly want anything good, calling me now.'

'Such a bloody smart arse,' she said..

'So?' he said, waiting for her to get on with it.

She gripped the phone tightly. 'Alright, I'm just going to say it. Ianto, are you having me on?'

Ianto paused mid step. 'Sorry?'

'Last. Night,' she said, enunciating each word deliberately.

'Not sure what we're talking about yet,' he said, simultaneously unlocking his car door and shoving the heavy pile of dry cleaning off his arm and onto the back seat, phone nestled in the crook of his neck. He hated how his sister always talked in riddles, except when she was having a go at him, which which case there was no confusion whatsoever.

'I know you didn't really want us meeting your boyfriend, but was that him, or did you just hire some actor for the night so we'd all stop asking?'

Ianto let out a vexed breath. 'You're mental, you know that? You seriously think Jack was an actor? That I could be bothered putting on such dog and pony show just for your benefit?'

'Seemed a bit too good to be true, is all,' she said. 'I mean, I know Tina said she thought he looked like a film star but... No public servant looks like that.'

Ianto wanted to laugh at that remark. Jack's ego was never going to get over that. 'Are you calling Tina a liar?' he asked.

'Well, it wouldn't be the first time she done got her facts wrong,' Rhiannon argued.

That was true, Ianto thought. Tina had been Rhiannon's best friend for forever, and he'd gotten in strife from her any number of times, making crazy assumptions about what he'd been doing, and who he'd been hanging out with. Sometimes he wished she'd just mind her own bloody business, but then, since when did anyone on the estate ever mind their own business?

'Rhi, I swear, as much as it pains me to admit it, even I'm not so desperate as to try and fake bringing a boyfriend home.'

'But...' she vacillated for a moment, looking for the right words. 'He can't be,' she declared.

'Can't be?' he said, throwing open the driver's door and climbing into the SUV.

'You're just so bloody different! I mean, he's all charming smiles and good looks...'

'Thanks,' he said cutting her off from continuing her backhanded insult.

'He never stops talking either. Can't get a word edgeways out of you.'

'Can't imagine why that is when I've got such a big mouthed sister who never stops for breath,' he replied. He couldn't deny that Jack liked the sound of his own voice. Was it so bad that he'd peppered Ianto's family with questions, Ianto himself having revealed very little of their lives directly to Jack. He was nothing if not intensely curious, and a bit of a busy body himself, if Ianto was honest. He'd fit right in on the estate, gossiping with the rest of them, Ianto thought amusedly. Jack and Tina could trade rumours over cups of tea and packets of chocolate coated biscuits.

'I'm still not sure I believe you,' she said. 'You never did give me the full story about you two.'

Ianto rolled his eyes, adjusting himself in the driver's seat, taking note of something strange hanging out of the edge of the glove box, which he was sure wasn't there yesterday. 'What's to tell?'

'Two people like that don't just hook up.' He could feel her narrowing her eyes at him over the phone.

'We met at work, went out a couple of times, ended up dating, and rest is history. I don't know what key points I missed out on.'

'Bloke like that,' Rhiannon said. 'What would he see in you?'

That was a very good question. One he'd never quite figured out. Jack could have anyone, but for some reason, he wanted Ianto.

'You're about as unlikely a match for a man like that as I could imagine,' Rhiannon continued. 'Do you have anything in common?'

Well, we both like pizza, Ianto thought. We get a kick out of catching aliens, which in truth probably isn't all that commendable. They both had an appreciation for good coffee and nice clothes, though Ianto suspected Jack appreciated more what was hidden beneath the fabric. They certainly both enjoyed taking off said clothes and everything that followed thereafter. Nothing else came to mind right now, but surely there was something.

'We like the same stuff,' he said, realising how pathetic that sounded. The more he thought about it though, the more he realised they really were opposites in almost every respect, but somehow it worked. Jack with all his brash personality, whilst Ianto was happy to stand quietly there in the background. Jack who said what was on his mind and damn the consequences if it upset anyone. Ianto, forever the peacemaker, usually choosing to say nothing at all, nor to take sides. Jack was haphazard and reckless in his approach, chaos personified. Ianto had a methodical plan for everything, and God help you if you threatened to upend those plans. Jack needed to be the center of attention - the hero of the hour. Ianto was happy simply if he made it through the day without getting noticed or killed. Lisa had been a bubbly presence in his life as well. He'd always thought he was punching above his weight when he'd been dating her as well. What did anyone want with boring, plain little him?

'He's changed you,' Rhiannon suddenly said.

'What?'

'Don't think I didn't see the way he took your hand at the dinner table. And you didn't flinch once. The Ianto I know hates that sort of thing. Thought maybe it was because he wasn't who you said he was, and that it was all an act.'

'You really do dream up the most ridiculously insane things in your head,' he replied. 'I did what you asked. You've met him now. Can we just leave it at that?' He didn't really want his sister making a mental inventory of every little sign of affection. Most days it was hard enough to admit it to himself that he was head over heels in love with Jack, and even more unbelievable that Jack loved him back.

'What, so we're not allowed to see him ever again now, is it?' she asked. 'I thought he was perfectly charming. The kids loved him. Can't stop taking about Uncle Ianto's boyfriend, and when he's coming over again, actually.'

'He was on his best behaviour,' Ianto insisted. On pain of death, he wanted to add. Having his family dislike Jack was even worse than them falling in love with him themselves. He just wasn't sure he could cope with Jack being a regular feature at the Davies household.

'Always thought maybe you'd end up marrying some school teacher or accountant,' Rhiannon mused, half to herself. 'S'pose a public servant is about the same. Still didn't expect you'd end up with a bloke.'

'Just full of nice things to say today, aren't you?'

He didn't really think he'd changed all that much, but then again, perhaps he had. Jack was the most un-public servant that had ever existed. If only she knew what they really did for a living, he thought. Perhaps they weren't really so different after all. His outlook on life had changed, because of the ever present danger of what he did, but in essence he didn't feel any different. He still felt like that same shy person he'd always been, living off the scraps of affection anyone might show him.

Having Jack in his life had made a difference. He was still nervous as hell that one day Jack might get bored of him, or wonder what he'd ever seen in him in the first place, but then again, hadn't he been the one to make the first move? Jack could have said no if hadn't wanted it, or at any point since. He didn't have to come to dinner and meet Ianto's family, but he'd actually seemed excited by the prospect. He had certainly shown a good deal of interest, and been attentive without making it all about him. Perhaps that was because that was the instruction Ianto had given him, but perhaps it was also because he truly did care.

If anything, that moment when he'd reached sideways and gripped Ianto's hand in his own, right there on the table top, it had quelled some of the nervousness he'd been feeling. As much as he hadn't wanted to go there and put his life on display, it was nice to show that he had come a long way. It was as far removed from the angry teenager he'd once been, this highly organised, quiet as a church mouse person he'd become. Even more so that someone loved him the way he was now. Perhaps that had been all he'd really needed, just someone who cared enough to show him that he didn't have to change who he was.

'Ianto, are you even listening to me?' Rhiannon said, interrupting his train of thought.

'What?'

'I said it's nice to see you happy. Nice to just have you back in bloody Cardiff, let's face it.'

'Oh, so you do have something nice to say.'

'Shut up. Just you tell that Jack of yours how lovely it was to finally meet him. Since now I know it wasn't just some escort you hired for the night.'

'Why don't you tell him yourself? You seemed to get on famously last night. Don't know why I bothered turning up, to be honest.'

'Oh, don't sulk. You'd only have complained if I called and said he wasn't good enough.'

'No, instead you just called to tell me I was a liar and that I'd brought a complete stranger round for tea.'

'Well, you have to admit he's bloody handsome.' She smirked. 'Done well, haven't you?'

'And now the mocking. Nice to see some things never change.'

'Ianto, I am always going to tease you. I don't care if you have the world's most gorgeous boyfriend hanging off your arm, you're still, and will always be, my hopeless little brother.'

'And you're still going to be the most obnoxious big sister that ever lived. Now, is there anything else you wanted? Only world's most gorgeous boyfriend is going to be wondering why it's taking me so long to pick up the dry cleaning.'