Torchwood: Fanfic: After work drinks

[m_findlow]

Title: After work drinks
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 638 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, taking up drinking" at fic_promptly
Summary: Tosh and Ianto have set up a regular drinking date.

Tosh thanked Ianto as he set the glass of white wine down on the table. The bubbles in it trailed up the glass, defying gravity in a way that was equal parts fascinating and beautiful. She eyed the second drink with curiosity. 'Scotch?'

'We're out for drinks, aren't we?' Ianto replied, sliding into the booth opposite her.

She shrugged. 'I just thought you'd be responsible and stick to a beer.'

'I can be responsible,' he promised her. 'Cheers,' he said, raising the crystal tumbler. It clinked against her flute with a lovely note.

'This is a great little place,' she said, admiring the plush mahogany timbers, leather and velvet furnishings. 'It reminds me of those gentleman's clubs, all classy and up-market. I half expect someone to come along and move me on.'

Ianto chuckled at that. 'Trust me, this place caters for all sorts.'

'You've been here before? With Jack?'

'Once or twice. I don't advertise it much, though. When you find somewhere special, it's nice to be able to keep it that way. If everyone knew about it, it wouldn't be quiet and cosy like this.'

'I feel honoured then,' she said, smiling and sipping her wine. 'You know, most people take up drinking to escape their lives.'

He gave her a curious look. 'Isn't that what we're doing?'

'I thought it was more just two friends unwinding after work.'

'Sort of the same thing, isn't it?'

'Well, whatever it is, it's nice. I like that we can do this regularly.'

'Me too,' he agreed.

'I never really imagined you drink much,' she confessed. 'You and Jack are always so restrained. I think I've seen Jack drink about twice in the entire time I've known him.' On both occasions it had been mourning a death of a close friend. Going out and drinking for the fun of it didn't seem to be in Jack's genetic make up.

'Believe it or not, I used to be quite the drinker,' Ianto said. 'Not sure I can hold it the way I used to back then, but I'll be fine.'

Tosh paused, twirling the glass on the table. 'Was that before or after... you know?'

He gave a strange little nod. 'Both, in a way. When you're young and living in London, it's basically a way to pass time. Lisa and I used to get absolutely mulletted. I don't know how we made it home most nights. But we loved it. We went out, had fun, got drunk, had messy drunken sex and a hangover to match. We worked all week, but we lived for Friday and Saturday nights.'

Tosh blushed at the honesty in the admission.

'And afterwards, I just kind of lost my way,' he continued. 'Drinking was a good way to lose the hours between going home and getting up the next day.'

'I never knew,' she replied. 'You never looked hung over at work.'

He grinned. 'Like I said, I was good at holding it. I had other things to distract me as well. If anything, drinking helped me find my way back into Torchwood.' He smiled stupidly. 'Turned out my local bar woman was in cahoots with an alien slave trader. Pretending to be a down and out desperado at the pub every night was a way to find out what she was up to. Admittedly, I was a bit down and out at the time.' He took a long, slow sip. 'Anyway, that's all in the past, now. I'm not here to drown myself.'

'Or for the messy drunken sex, I hope,' Tosh joked.

He laughed at that. 'Jack should be so lucky. I'm not planning on getting that drunk.'

'He should be lucky,' Tosh agreed. She raised her glass again. 'Here's to us drinking because we want to, not because we need to.'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Yes, they can ave a drink but now when to stop; that's the responsible way.