Anythingdrabble Challenge 194 - Force of nature

[m_findlow]

Title: Force of nature
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto, Gwen
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 194 - Force at anythingdrabble
Summary: Gwen is not a woman to be messed with.

Jack and Ianto stood back from the scene and watched it play out with equal amounts of relief, amusement and even a smattering of fear. This was one altercation they were both glad they weren't involved in.

Sometimes alien negotiations were simple - a case of wrong place, wrong time, didn't mean to offend, disrupt or terrify anyone. Other times, negotiations weren't really necessary. A gun was capable of doing all the talking, particularly when they were faced with guns or their equivalent pointed right back in their direction. Those who tended to shoot first weren't generally in the mood for negotiating, and from Jack's point of view it saved on a hell of a lot of paperwork.

On this occasion however, their latest arrival was from a place that Jack could only describe as being the sort of planet where Germaine Greer would have felt right at home. It didn't even acknowledge Jack and Ianto's existence, let alone want to have a conversation with them. Males were not only vastly inferior in its opinion, but completely unnecessary in sustaining their species. Most males were eaten at birth, so Jack had quietly explained to Ianto who paled at the suggestion and moved his gun hand protectively in front of his groin. Jack could sympathise.

Fortunately Gwen had been considered an acceptable liaison for the species of this world. She identified as female and that was all that really mattered. At first Jack had been worried, thinking this uppity snob of an alien would have been best dealt with by some of Torchwood's former leaders. Emily Holroyd and Tilda Brennan sprung to mind as suitably formidable, but Gwen was more than holding her own, and if he might be so bold as to suggest it, getting her own way. He was quietly impressed.

'She's a force to be dealt with, that woman,' Jack observed.

'She certainly wears the pants,' Ianto agreed. 'Poor Rhys. He must get hen-pecked at home. That or he's just given up the fight completely. There are days when I find arguing with Gwen exhausting.'

Jack chuckled. 'She probably has a cage where she can lock him up in leather underwear on the weekend.'

'So do we,' Ianto replied. 'Only when was the last time we got a weekend off?'

Jack laughed at that. 'Must be why we all get along so well.'

The alien must have said something offensive, because next thing they knew Gwen had it in a headlock even as it was trying to gouge her eyes out. Apparently negotiations had gone south and they'd resorted to good old-fashioned duking it out.

'Do you think we should step in?'

'That depends on whether you like all your body parts where they are,' Jack replied, not tearing his eyes away for even a second.

'That's a good point,' Ianto conceded. 'I am rather fond of all my bits.'

'So am I,' Jack agreed. 'Just make sure you get the CCTV footage for us to watch again later.'