Torchwood: Fanfic: Unusual behaviour

[m_findlow]

Title: Unusual behaviour
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Rhiannon, Johnny, Mica, David
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 2,356 wwords
Content notes: none
Author notes: Remix for badly_knitted's fill "Rhi's birthday bash" for Juliet316's prompt "Any, any, act properly" at fic_promptly
Summary: The biggest birthday surprise wasn't what Ianto brought to the party.

Ianto stood just inside Rhi’s home, taking in the crowd. Aside from family, there looked to be some thirty or so guests at his sister’s birthday bash, friends and neighbours, and every one of them was now staring at himself and Jack. The normal party hubbub had cut off so suddenly you could have heard a pin drop; Ianto wished the ground would open up and swallow him, or that he hadn’t invited Jack and had just come on his own, but it was too late now. They were already here and Rhi wasn’t going to let them sneak straight back out again, no matter how much Ianto wished he could get away with doing just that.

There was only one thing for it really. He cleared his throat, making sure he had everyone's attention, which wasn't a hard ask since there were already staring at him - or at Jack, most likely. He gripped Jack's hand, partly for reassurance, and partly in case they needed to make a really quick getaway.

'Hello. This is my boyfriend, Jack. We've been together for a while now, which may come as a bit of a surprise to most of you, but we're actually very happy together. Anyone who has a who has a problem with that, well... Well, I dare you to spend five minutes alone with him and then tell me he's not the most handsome and annoyingly charming man you've ever met.' So there, he thought. He cast a glance around the room at the slightly shocked and surprised faces. He wasn't sure if they were more surprised by his news, or just the fact that he'd spoken out.

Ianto made a nervous little sound. 'Right, er, I thinks that's all I really wanted to say. '

Jack placed a hand on his arm. 'Actually, I wouldn't mind adding something if that's okay,' he announced, grabbing Ianto hard and kissing him right then and then, hearing the gasps and wolf whistles of several partygoers.

'Right,' Rhiannon said, grabbing Ianto by the elbow just as soon as Jack had finished with him. 'Well, trust you to forget that this was my party and that it's supposed to be all about me for once, but thank you for that. I'm sure everyone is really glad that's been cleared up. Idiot,' she muttered under her breath so that only he could hear it. Simultaneously Jack was whispering in his other ear, telling him how hot that was.

Ianto's courage disappeared in a heartbeat. Coming out in front of people he'd grown up with was one thing. Being kissed publicly was quite something else. Even if it was, as Jack had put it, a little bit hot.

Rescue came from an unexpected source.

'Uncle Ianto!' Mica came barrelling into him, colliding solidly with his legs and grinning up at him, her brother trailing along behind her looking like a wet weekend. 'Do you like my new party dress?' She twirled, showing it off. Clearly she had no qualms about Ianto's choice of partner, moving straight on with more important business.

'Very pretty. You look like a princess,' Ianto assured her.

'The prettiest princess ever,' Jack added.

'I'm really glad you brought your boyfriend, Uncle Ianto,' she said, beaming up at him. He smiled back at her before seeing the disappointed look on David's face.

'David, what’s got you so gloomy?'

'I wanted to go play football with my friends, but Mum said I had to stay here for her stupid party. It’s boring! I was hoping you'd come play, but now that you're gay and all...'

Ianto cringed. He really hadn't thought this through, considering how the kids might react to the news. 'I still like football. It's a bit wet out for footy though, you’d hardly be able to see the ball through the rain, never mind the goal.'

Jack knelt down and placed a hand on David's shoulder. 'Just because we fall in love with someone doesn't mean we change who we are. Your Uncle still loves you and loves doing things with you.'

'I suppose.' David sighed heavily, obviously feeling the weight of his ten years.

'It might be wet outside, but Ianto tells me you have some very cool video games. I love video games. How about we have a game on your X-Box in a bit?'

'Okay, sure, whatever.' David did his best not to appear too enthusiastic, but Ianto could still tell he was pleased at the prospect. Was it possible to love Jack even more for bailing him out?

'We will definitely play X-Box,' Ianto promised him. 'And when the weather is better, we'll have that game of football. Jack is useless at football, so we'll have to teach him how to play. We'll team him up with your Dad. How's that sound?'

'Yeah, alright.'

During the distraction of greeting the kids and introducing Jack, who Mica immediately took a shine to, and Jack to her, the other party guests had started talking to each other again, although Ianto was uncomfortably aware of the way he and Jack were still being scrutinised.

He nudged Jack with his elbow. 'Act properly while we’re here, Jack,' he hissed. 'You might be outed but that's only all the more reason for you to be on your best behaviour.'

'By "properly" you mean…?' Jack raised one eyebrow at him curiously.

Ianto gripped him by the elbow pulled him close, demonstrating that he meant what he said. 'You know what I mean. Don’t hit on my sister or her guests. And especially don’t hit on my brother-in-law.' He’d just spotted Rhi dragging Johnny away from where he was serving drinks in the corner and heading in their direction.

'I’ll be on my best behaviour, I promise,' Jack vowed, the twinkle in his eyes belying his serious tone.

'That’s what I’m worried about,' Ianto muttered.

'You have nothing to fear, Ianto. Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to hit on anyone here since we're together. I've heard you on the other end of the phone to your sister. I know she'd break both my kneecaps if she thought I was being unfaithful to you. And I would never be unfaithful to you.'

Ianto released his grip on Jack's elbow, wishing they were somewhere a little more private so he could reach up and kiss Jack, but he knew his family were right behind him.

He turned to face his sister and her husband. 'Johnny. How are you?' He plastered on a polite smile; Johnny treated Rhi and the kids well enough, but Ianto had always felt his sister could have done better for herself. Johnny was rough and ready, his manners generally worse than Jack’s, and he had even less tact than Owen, which was saying something. Despite that, he'd always been kind to Ianto and treated him like one of the lads. He supposed Rhi could have done better, but she could have done a lot worse, too.

'Ianto. Gone bender, have yer? Can’t say I’m all that surprised.'

Ianto repressed a wince at Johnny’s words and the bone crushing handshake that became a hug. Oh yes, this was going to be such a fun party. Where was a rift alert when he needed one? Well, he only had himself to blame for his current predicament.

'I knew,' Rhiannon said, pointing at her brother in a accusatory fashion. 'The minute you walked through that door I knew. I said, Johnny, that's him. That's the one Tina saw out at that posh French place. Nobody asks to bring a friend to a party. They're dating, they are. Only you could've told me sooner. Months is it, and not a word.'

'Ianto just has excellent taste,' Jack cut in, answering for him and flashing one of his famous thousand-watt smiles at Johnny. 'And he doesn't like to boast.'

'Jack,' Ianto warned.

'What? It’s the truth! I mean just look at me! I’m quite a catch; handsome, charming, witty, an amazing lo…'

Ianto dug his elbow sharply into Jack’s gut before he could continue by extolling his virtues in bed, drawing a pained ‘oof’ from his lover. 'That’s enough from you.' Jack pouted like a five-year-old. 'Remember, tonight isn't about you.'

'Says the man who just made a public declaration of love.' Ianto turned red at mention of his minor brain aneurysm. 'Happy birthday, by the way,' Jack added, politely kissing her cheek. 'And thank you for inviting us. It's a lovely gathering.'

'Thank you, Jack,' Rhiannon said. 'Are you always this, er... charming?'

'Believe it or not, this is Jack on his best behaviour,' Ianto told his sister with a put-upon sigh. 'Can’t take him anywhere'

'Why d’you put up with him then?'

'Sometimes I wonder that myself,' Ianto said wryly. 'He has his good points, though.'

Jack opened his mouth to say something, but Ianto fixed him with a glare that promised dire retribution, so he quickly shut it again.

Johnny coughed awkwardly. 'You two aren't like those blokes that dress up in women's clothes and make-up on a Saturday night, are you?'

'Only on special occasions,' Jack replied, grinning and leaving Johnny in some doubt as to whether Jack was being serious or pulling his leg.

'Well, it’s obvious who wears the pants in your relationship,' Rhi teased, and Jack nodded, pointing at Ianto.

'If I don’t behave, he punishes me with decaf,' he informed Rhi in a stage whisper, an expression of horror on his face.

'I just let Jack think he's in charge. There's a difference. If I didn't keep a leash on him, you wouldn't believe the sorts of things he'd get up to.'

Rhiannon laughed at that. 'You two really have been together a while, haven't you?'

Surprisingly, Johnny slapped a hand on Jack’s shoulder. 'Right, what’re you two drinking? Beer? I got the good stuff, Brains, none of that cheap lager. It's Rhi's big night after all.'

Ianto accepted gratefully, letting Johnny fetch him a drink, whilst Jack insisted on water. Rhiannon raised a curiosity eyebrow at the request.

'Never drink and drive ma'am,' he replied.

'Seems there's a lot we've yet to learn about you,' Jack, she said, taking a second glass of champagne. 'Ianto's told us nothing so you're a complete mystery.'

Jack extended an arm around his lover. 'With due respect I could say the same about Ianto sometimes. I'd be delighted to hear more about him from the people who have known him a lot longer than me.'

'Well, after such an outlandish coming out, we're not going to get much of a chance tonight. Ianto, you've caused quite a stir. Rhonda over there has just been itching to introduce herself.'

Ianto leant across to Jack. 'Rhonda is notoriously single,' he warned.

'Does she like threesomes?' he teased.

'Remember what I said about behaving tonight?'

Jack made a point of theatrically zipping his lips.

Accepting their drinks from Johnny, he and Jack carried their glasses over to the buffet, filled plates, and mingled with Rhi’s guests just long enough to appear polite before retreating to a corner of the living room to play video games with the kids. Ianto had had more than his fill of prying questions from Rhiannon's guests, though Jack seemed happy and willing to answer anything at all, staying close at Ianto's side, and often putting a possessive arm around his waist, just in case any of Rhi's friends, Rhonda included, thought they could steal Ianto away. In his opinion, they'd had they chances. Ianto was all his now.

Playing with the kids was much easier than entertaining the adults, Ianto thought. It didn't take long before Jack and David were throwing lighthearted insults at one another, trying to compete on the same racetrack, physically jostling one another on the sofa to try and put each other off. Ianto couldn't tell which of them was the bigger kid, often having to separate them so that Mica could have a go. She was otherwise hell bent on dressing him up with her spare party costume accessories, which Ianto thought were much better suited to Jack.

The night was over far sooner than Ianto would have liked, considering the rocky start he'd made to the evening. Clearing the air had actually been such a relief. He didn't have to deal with the suspicious stares and the hushed whispers of Rhiannon's guests, spreading rumors about him in the kitchen as they topped up their glasses. He also hadn't had to worry about whether Jack's hands strayed or whether he spent just a little too long gazing at Jack's handsome features. Perhaps his timing wasn't quite right, choosing the most public of occasions to announce the big news, but it was all water under the bridge now. He couldn't take it back - not without a whole lot of retcon - and he didn't want to.

As the last of the guests finally filtered out through the door, the kids worn out and curled up asleep on the sofa, it was just the four of them now. Without being asked, Jack began helping to clear away empty bottles and glasses, plates and leftover food.

'You've got him better trained than you think, Ianto,' Rhi said, admiring the view. 'I wish I could get Johnny to do that.'

Ianto grinned in spite of himself. 'Like I said, he has his moments. If only I could get him to do the same at work.'

'Are you suggesting he's trying to impress me?'

'I wouldn't suggest anything,' he replied, smirking. He knew full well Jack was trying to win his family over, and succeeding by all accounts. Such a bloody charmer.

'Well, I hope you'll invite him over for tea next week,' she said, her look daring him to argue. 'Can't wait to really get to the bottom of who this charming beau of yours is.'

'I can't promise anything,' Ianto replied. 'Work is unpredictable at best. But,' he quickly added, seeing Rhiannon preparing to take a breath and tell him off. 'We'll do our best.'

He hoped there'd be many family dinners.