m_findlow

Title: Finding common ground
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Ianto, OC
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 201 - Control at

anythingdrabble
Summary: Intergalactic relationships are important in Torchwood's line of work.

Ianto forced a smile onto his face to try and settle the nerves of his latest charge. The poor young man seemed embarrassed or apologetic at the situation they found themselves in, plucked by the rift from the little pocket of space their ship had been travelling through. Fortunately the ship was in one piece and had landed safely with all its crew aboard and unharmed.

The trouble was that now their ship had landed, it was eager to leave again, except the type of engines on board the vessel used a unique form of ionising processes that could potentially damage the already fragile ozone layer surrounding Ianto's beloved planet. That meant Jack had said no to them leaving without significant modifications to the engines.

The ship's captain, a rather attractive yet formidable female, had put her foot down at the suggestion of making their ship less powerful, and since then the two of them had been at loggerheads. The rest of the crew remained aboard the ship as it was best suited to accommodating their needs in the short term. Only the captain's faithful assistance Chendru had stayed back to ensure his leader had everything she needed. Now it was getting late and everyone had gone home except for Ianto who stayed on to keep his counterpart company as their bosses battled out negotiations.

'Can I be frank with you, Ianto?' the young alien asked.

'Of course' . He didn't imagine the carefully groomed and exceedingly polite junior officer could say anything that would offend him.

'I don't like your Captain's chances of winning this argument. Captain Leandra likes to be in total control all of the time and she doesn't suffer bowing her head to anyone.'

Ianto nodded in understanding. 'Jack is pretty much the same. People say he's fast and loose, but deep down he's a control freak. It's his way or the highway, so I think it's a much more evenly matched fight than you think.'

Leandra's assistant paused to consider this, then tipped his head and listened for the sound of voices from the shuttered boardroom overhead.' At least I haven't heard any more yelling for at least ten minutes now. That must be a good sign.'

Ianto sighed. 'It probably just means they've stopped arguing and are just up there having sex now.'

'Oh dear. That was what worried me, though I didn't want to say as much. Leandra will flirt with anyone to get her way.'

'Jack will flirt with anything. Period.'

It was Chendru's turn to sigh. 'It must be nice to be in charge and just be allowed to do whatever you want, and having sex with anyone you please.'

'It doesn't have to be like that,' Ianto replied.

'What do you mean?'

'Well, they're not going anywhere, and we're stuck here killing time until one of them decides they actually need something. Why should they have all the fun?'

Chendru smirked. 'All in the name of fostering good relations?'

'Of course.'