Fffc Bingo Card - Big plans

[m_findlow]

Title: Big plans 
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Rhiannon, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none 
Author notes: Written for Bingo Card Prompt 34 - Birthday at fffc
Summary: Jack has taken charge of party planning which leaves Ianto and Rhiannon nervous. 

Ianto had anticipated resistance. He just hadn't expected it to assail him the moment he stopped by his sister's house to drop off their old mix master, which still happened to be a four hundred pound upgrade on the one his sister didn't own, and refused to let him buy her brand new. 

Rhiannon had barely flipped the kettle on before she started on him. ‘Your Jack was joking when he called me, wasn't he?’ 

Ianto almost wished he had been. Had he not been pawing through Ianto's desk calendar, inserting fake appointments for them to spend time together during his busy work day, Jack probably would have forgotten all about Johnny's birthday. ‘I didn't make the suggestion if that's what you're implying.’ 

‘He wants to arrange a birthday party. For Johnny. Since when?’ 

‘Since yesterday,’ came the glib reply as he bobbed the teabag in the cup. 

His sister fixed him with one of her overbearing "mum" looks. ‘Are you sure, Ianto? I mean this is Jack we're talking about.’

‘I'm not saying I don't share some of your reservations, but he really wants to do this. I think he feels it'll make him a proper part of the family.’ 

‘He already is family.’ 

‘I know that and you know that.’ He couldn't be more family, married into it as he was. ‘I just think maybe there's a little bit of Jack that wants to be just a normal one of the boys.’ 

‘I'm not sure Jack would know where to start. It's not like you were ever really one of the boys either, Ianto.’ 

‘I'll pretend you didn't mean that in the "Ianto, now that you're officially gay and married, that makes you a bit of a flower, looking back on things" way. I wasted plenty of my teenage years hanging out with the wrong kind of boys.’ Perhaps if he'd stuck to the old boys down at the rugby club like his Dad had wanted, he wouldn't have gotten himself into such a state to begin with. Then again, he might now be mid thirties with four kids and a beer belly the size of a rugby ball. 

‘I would never cast aspersions on you like that,’ Rhiannon said. 

‘Of course not.’ All of her best mocking was done behind his back. God alone knew the kinds of things she told Tina about him and Jack. 

‘Suppose we'll get dragged into all of this as well,’ she said, sounding tired already. ‘Not that I wouldn't have had to do something anyway. You know he'll only grumble if we think we can just do a pot roast and a fancy jar of peanuts for a gift.’ 

Ianto chewed his lip. ‘Actually, I think Jack is hoping that we'll keep our noses out of it.’ Ianto already had the distinct impression that their input was not only not needed, but not wanted. Jack could be so stubborn like that. 

‘You're saying he's just going to go off and arrange this whole thing himself?’ 

‘I'm afraid we're just along for the ride. But I promise, if I get wind of him trying to do anything mad, I'll stop him.’ 

‘You'd better. I don't want to have to disown the pair of you. The whole neighbourhood will be talking about it for years. Only just barely got them to shut up about you, and even then it was only because we convinced them you were part of that mob that stopped all that alien invasion stuff. They all think you're a bloody hero now. Having a flashy gay boyfriend went right out the window after that.’ 

Ianto rolled his eyes. Trust the local gossip circle to devour anything to do with Torchwood and their own exceedingly tenuous connection via the Davies and Jones households. ‘I'll use my best interrogation skills to tease out any impending disaster.’ 

By the time he got home and fixed dinner, Jack was surprisingly open and chatty about his grand plans. 

‘I've already ordered the cake. They were gonna need some serious lead time for something that big, but it's all under control.’

‘I really don't think Johnny wants you popping out of a giant birthday cake naked.’ Come to think of it, Ianto didn't want that either, not even for his own birthday let alone anyone else's. 

‘Hmm... I hadn't thought of that. I mean, I could call them back…’ Ianto could tell from Jack's tone that he was joking, which was a relief. He didn't want to be responsible for having sown that idea. 

‘Rhiannon and I are both happy to help. You don't have to do all of this yourself.’ 

Jack gave him a level stare. ‘Uh huh. I know you both well enough to know that's code for wanting to keep me on a leash. You think it'll be all glitter and pink flamingos and a mariachi band.’ 

‘I'd be lying if I said that had never crossed my mind. Except for the mariachi band. That I didn't expect.’

‘It'll be fine Ianto. There'll be bowling. There'll be beers. There'll be burgers…’ 

Ianto rolled his eyes. ‘All things you are an expert on.’ 

‘Trust me.’ 

‘And who are you inviting to this grand alliterative party?’ 

‘I'll put out the invitation on Johnny's Facebook page.’

Ianto cringed at the thought. He could just imagine the kinds of people Johnny would have as friends on Facebook. Anyone and everyone he shouldn't be, and no one else he should be. Ianto wasn't even sure if he was friends with Johnny. He never used his Facebook account, except to disseminate fake news for work. ‘I'm not sure you're going to hit the right strike zone that way. You might need to be a little more discerning.’ 

Jack gripped his shoulders. ‘I'm kidding. Have a little faith in me, Ianto Jones. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's how to throw the best birthday party ever. Johnny will never forget it.’ 

‘That's what worries me.’