m_findlow

Title: Too hot to handle
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 572 - Sauna at slashthedrabble
Summary: Jack's idea of a relaxing afternoon at the resort is anything but for Ianto.

Jack leaned back against the walls and just about melted into them, he was so limber. The towel that had been wrapped around his waist came loose without falling away altogether. Not that it worried Jack. This was the kind of place, he'd explained, where nudity wasn't frowned upon. In fact, that was one if its many appeals. Ianto however decided that in public areas around the resort, they could maintain at least some modesty. Jack's nakedness was his to enjoy and his alone.

Ianto leaned forward over his own towel-covered thighs. He'd never been in a sauna before but the heat was more stifling than any sweltering hot summer day he'd experienced. Worse was the fact that the air was thick with moisture. It created a haze that made everything blurry as steam rose up off the hot stones in the centre of the room. There must have been some kind of mineral spring that kept a pool of steaming water underneath them.

'Isn't this lovely?' Jack asked. 'I can't remember that last time we had a chance to relax like this.'

That much was true, but Ianto's idea of relaxing was laying in a hammock under a palm tree with a good book, or even napping. It was not being stuck in a room that made him sweat out of every pore.

Right now, sweating was the least of his worries. The longer he sat here, the harder it felt to breath. The air was so laden with steam it felt cloying. Try as he might to relax, the lack of air sent him into a panicking spiral.

'Can't... breathe...'

Jack opened his eyes and a look of concern crossed his face. 'Ianto? Are you okay?'

'Need... out.' Ianto staggered, tripping over the stones, sending up a fresh wave of steam as he stumbled toward the door. Jack was right behind him, helping to unlatch it as he tumbled out, falling to his knees.

Jack hovered over him, tugging away the towel wrapped so tightly around Ianto's waist. Once it was free, he heaved in as much air as he could, relishing the crisp feel as it slowly began to clear his head. Jack's hand was between his shoulder blades as he heaved in each breath, rubbing and making reassuring sounds.

'Couldn't breathe,' he finally puffed, ignoring the fact that the pair of them were hunched there on the ground naked.

'Of course you could breathe,' Jack replied. 'You freaked out.'

A panic attack. Was that all it had been? It was silly to think a room full of steam would kill him. It was just a sauna. People used them all the time on Earth. 'Sorry,' he apologised.

Jack rubbed his back again. 'No need. If it's not your thing, that's okay.'

'I think a hot shower is about as much steam as I can handle. And besides, if I wanted to get all hot and sweaty, I can think of better ways to go about it.'