Challenge 594 - A mountain to climb

[m_findlow]

Title: A mountain to climb
Author: m_findlow
Characters: Ianto, Norton Folgate
Rating: PG
Challenge: 594 - Stair/Stare at tw100
Notes: Going on the run around the hub is tiring work. A double drabble.

'Do keep running, Ianto!' Norton called out. 'He's gaining on you!'

'If you haven't got anything useful to say,' Ianto puffed, 'do me a favour and shut up.'

'Ooh, someone's getting tetchy!'

Ianto sprinted up another flight and stopped, leaning on his knees to get his breath back. His legs were burning, as were his lungs.

'I say! But I've never noticed just how many stairs this place has,' Norton mused.

'Like you're actually having to climb them!' Ianto spat back. Stupid projections of Torchwood agents from the nineteen fifties could just pop in and pop out as they liked. He was the only one hurting.

'Jolly good thing we normally have the lifts working, isn't it?'

'Two thousand, eight hundred and seventy six,' Ianto replied.

'What? People you've charmed?'

'Stairs.'

'Good heavens! I thought your life was sad before but you've actually counted them all?'

'I know everything about this place.'

'Just not how to stop a homicidal Jack from killing you whilst you're locked down in here.'

Ianto huffed. 'I'll think of something!'

'That's the spirit. Now, in the meantime, you might want to start running again.'

'Perfect!' Ianto grabbed the railing hard. Only another seventy four steps!