Slashthedrabble Challenge 608 - Needing a ride

[m_findlow]

Title: Needing a ride
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 608 - Reliance at slashthedrabble
Summary: The boys have a car that won't start and it's time for Jack to consider having a backup.


Ianto twisted the key again and heard the engine whirr uselessly, confirming his suspicions. 'The battery is dead,' he announced.

Jack looked at him oddly. 'What?'

Ianto slowed his words in an attempt at mockery. 'The. Battery. Is. Dead. As in, car no go anywhere.'

'But… it can't be. It's the SUV!'

Ianto suppressed a grin. 'Which, as augmented by alien technology as it is, still runs on good old fashioned petrol and electricity.'

Jack folded his arms over in annoyance. 'Well, that sucks. How are we going to get to the shops now?'

Ianto rolled his eyes. 'We'll take my car of course. I know it hasn't seen a lot of use, but it's in the garage. Besides, we should never have taken the SUV home in the first place.'

'Why not?'

'Because it's not ours.'

Jack shrugged. 'Sure it is. Well, mine, anyhow.'

'It's not even yours,' Ianto told him. 'It belongs to Torchwood, which is where it should be right now, and not parked in our driveway on the weekend.' Jack seemed put out by Ianto telling him the SUV wasn't actually his so Ianto carried on. 'What if the team need it?'

'What if we need it?' Jack countered.

Ianto quirked an eyebrow at him. 'To go to the shops?'

There was a melodramatic sigh. 'You know what I mean.'

Ianto sighed back. 'This is why you need a car of your own, Jack. We can't be placing reliance on the SUV to get around when we're off the clock.'

'But you just said we could use your car. And besides, I do have a car.'

'If you're referring to that metallic blue mid-life crisis sports coupe then no, that's not what I meant. A proper car, Jack,' he emphasised. 'Not one that doesn't even have a roof, or any storage space. How often have you ever actually driven it? No wait, don't tell me, it's always too rainy or windy or cold or, hang on, where shall we put this weevil we've just caught?'

Jack winced. 'Okay, so it's not the most practical car in the world, but it looks great.' His expression turned. 'And what was that you were saying about a mid-life crisis?'

'Well, with you it's so hard to tell when that might be but I think your choice of car says it all really.'

Jack harrumphed.

'Don't pout. I'm merely pointing out that we've become so dependent on the SUV that now you're in a pickle simply because the battery needs replacing. We can go car shopping today if you like. I'm sure we can find you something that is reliable and won't tarnish your reputation as Cardiff's most dashing bad-ass defender of planet Earth.'

Jack smirked. 'See, now I know you're mocking me. You're going to suggest some ridiculous canary yellow hatchback. Or worse, an electric car.'

Ianto pulled him close and ruffled his hair, knowing how much it would annoy Jack. 'Only the best for my petrol-head leadfoot.'