Choices - Chapter 15 Part 1
Sep. 10th, 2011 04:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madbottomsTitle: Choices
Chapter 15 – Hell Breaks Loose – Part 1
Pairing(s)/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Owen, Tosh, John, OCs
Rating: NC17 (overall)
Warnings: supernatural themes, violence, m/m pairing
15 – Hell Breaks Loose – Part 1
*
IANTO
o-o-o
I grab Jack’s arm just as he slides into Saxon’s car. His hand darts out and grabs his other wrist as he jerks the car forward, pulling Jack along, then stops.
I’m acutely aware that if Saxon and I play this tug-of-war with Jack, it will tear him apart—literally. But I’m just as aware that if I let him go, Jack is his, and I won’t get him back. I let my power flow, weighing the risks. If I hit Saxon with it while he’s holding Jack it could hill him. And even if it doesn’t, any retaliation would. My only hope is that he gets that Hell loses either way. Because right now, Jack is untagged. If he dies here, at our hands, there’s not much question his soul goes the other direction—which would mean dismemberment and the Fiery Pit for both of us.
I glance down at the ball of power then look up at him, the threat clear on my face. “Saxon, be reasonable. We’re on the same side and he’s my assignment. Just let me take care of this.”
His eyes glow red and the smell of brimstone permeates the warm spring air. “You had your chance. King Lucifer is very disappointed. Told me himself when He offered me Saxon’s job.”
“Yeah, well get in line,” I say weighing my options. Phasing out of here with Jack is impossible. His mortal body wouldn’t survive the shift. So there’s only one choice.
Everything inside me screams as I force my fingers open and let go of his arm.
Saxon’s face pulls into a grin that would cause any mortal to wet themselves. “Wise choice,” he says, releasing Jack’s wrist and reaching across to pull his door closed.
At that second, I summon my infernal power—more than I ever thought I could handle—and level a blast at Saxon. A red streak of lighting-hot Hellfire shoots from my fist, lighting up the car and hitting her square in the face. It knocks him back into the door. Clenching my teeth against the pain of that much energy coursing through me, I lean in and grab Jack out of the seat. As he falls out and against me, he shakes his head and looks at me, stunned but okay.
I take off running up, practically carrying Jack, but Saxon phases in front of us, face dark and smouldering—literally. “Nice trick,” he says through gritted teeth, “but you forgot something.” He raises his right fist red and hot and points it at me. “I can do that too.”
I glance down at Jack, sagging against my side, my arm holding him tight. “Don’t be stupid, Saxon. You’ll kill him, which will only earn you a one-way ticket to the Fiery Pit. No kudos, no credit, no promotion. There will be no hiding what happened. King Lucifer will know before you ever report back.”
His grin falters slightly as he lowers her fist. But then I catch his glance over my shoulder and draw my power back, throwing a field over Jack’s shoulder just as Lucy’s blast hits me in the back. And, fuck, that hurts.
I stagger but manage to stay upright. Shaking off the pain, I look down at Jack’s face. His eyelids flutter and his breathing is shallow. Black dread creeps through my chest.
How could I have let this happen?
From my arms around Jack, holding him up, I push a little heat. Just enough to keep his skin flush and cause him to sweat. Without taking my eyes of Saxon, the bigger threat, I say nonchalantly, “Good job. You two really are that stupid. I’ve always suspected that’s why you could never make First Level, Saxon. Just not smart enough. Take a look at what your girlfriend did.” I hold Jack up more in my arms so he can see his eyes and the sweat starting to roll of his forehead, as well as the steam I’m providing as a prop. “You’ve killed him. He’s toast.” And the thing is, I really hope I’m bluffing, but I’m not really sure, because the scent of clove and currant is unmistakeable—his soul on the surface, waiting for an angel to come collect it.
Saxon’s expression turns to rage, but it’s not directed at me. He’s looking over my shoulder at Lucy. “Damn it, Lucy. That wasn’t the plan!”
“Sorry.” I can hear the smirk in her sultry voice. “It was just too easy. I didn’t think I hit him that hard.”
“You stupid bitch. Now we’re all slated for the Pit. What were you thinking?” In his rage, his true form shimmers dangerously close to the surface, peeking through his human shell.
The humour is gone from Lucy’s voice, replaced with alarm. “It was an accident. We won’t go to the Pit.”
Saxon sends up a growl and is gone in a puff of brimstone. A second later his car, still idling by the kerb, peals out. I turn around and Lucy is gone too.
In all my existence, I can’t remember ever being so scared. I look at Jack and turn off the heat. He looks at me, his head starting to clear a little now that Saxon is gone. No angel has shown up to take him yet, so maybe he’s okay. I pull him tight against me, not sure if it’s me or him shaking so hard. I nuzzle my face into his neck and I breathe him in.
“I couldn’t let him have you,” I mumble without thinking.
He looks at me, eyes at half-mast. “Couldn’t do what? What’s going on?” His voice is weak and thick, his words a slur.
How to answer? The truth? Well, I almost let Saxon, an incubus, seduce you and suck out your soul.
No.
I force a smile and work to keep my voice even. “You were getting in way over your head with that person. Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to talk to strangers?”
His brow creases as though he’s fighting to remember something, but he doesn’t respond.
Saxon’s noisy exit has attracted the attention of some neighbours. Thankfully, it’s broad daylight, or Lucy’s red blast would have lit up the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, I see the blind being lifted in the house across from Jack’s, so I hurry to get him inside. I move him past my car into his house and up the stairs to his room. I lay him on his bed and check him over quickly. Still warm, but his breathing and heart rate are better. A huge wave of relief washes over me.
He’s okay.
I start to move to the window to check for Saxon, but his hand shoots up and grabs mine.
“Hey,” I say. “You need to rest.”
“Stay.” His voice is weak but determined.
He pulls harder on my hand, and I sit on the edge of the bed, raking a hand through the sandy-blonde hair stuck to his sweaty forehead. “I really think I should go, Jack. Things won’t go well if your parents get home and find me up here. I’ll be right outside. I promise.”
His voice is stronger and his eyes plead with me. “Stay.”
I breathe deep, resisting the urge to kiss him. I’m completely unable to say no to him. “As you wish.”
I sit on the bed for a long time and watch his breathing become deeper and more regular as he drifts to sleep. What the Hell am I doing? I was able to leave the Abyss because I entered on my own—I hadn’t been summoned—but it’s only a matter of time. And when that happens, it’s all over. Do I have days? Hours? Whatever it is, it’s not enough. And whatever the outcome, whether I tag him or not, I won’t be able to stay with him. My chest throbs at the prospect of leaving Jack again,
I lean down and kiss his forehead softly then let go of his hand. Or at least try to. But his eyes snap open and he holds tighter.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He’s half asleep but the undertone of panic is undeniable.
There’s no fighting. If he needs me to stay, there’s no way I can make myself leave. I smile at him. “Nowhere, if you don’t want me to.”
At first he smiles back but then his expression changes. There’s confusion in his sapphire eyes and stamped all over his gorgeous face as he remembers that he hates me.
“I can’t trust you. You’re like this Jekyll-and-Hyde person,” he says, still holding tight to my hand.
I just shake my head as my brimstone heart breaks. The game is over and I’ve clearly lost—in every possible way. Because I love him. But I can’t have him.
I stand up, needing to get away from him before I do something to hurt him worse. “You can’t trust me.”
*
JACK
o-o-o
I heave myself up to sit on the edge of the bed, feeling shaky. I watch Ianto walk out of my door and know I should let him go. But my last shreds of better judgement and common sense give way to this primal need I have to be with him.
“Wait! Don’t go.”
He turns in the door. “Jack, you’re making a huge mistake. You really need me to leave.”
I’m still shaking as tiny scraps of memory tease me. I remember going out to yell at Ianto…but it wasn’t him. After that, it’s all a blur. My eyes drop to the comforter and pick at the pilled surface. “Who was that person?”
He leans on the doorframe, facing me. “His name is Saxon. He’s dangerous.”
“Why was he here? What did he want?”
Ianto just stares at me and shakes his head.
“He seemed …I don’t know. He had this familiar scent and he said he knew you,” I finally say when it is clear he’s not going to answer.
“Yes, I suppose that’s a product of where we’re from. We do tend to be similar in one form or another.”
I lift my gaze and lock it with his. “And where is that exactly. You always change the subject when I ask.”
He looks at me in the eye for a long time as he contemplates his answer.
Finally, I roil my eyes. “If you have to think about it this long I know whatever you say is bullshit. Just forget it.”
He turns back and steps slowly in to the door with that same lost look on his face I’ve seen before. His mouth opens to say something but then closes again. He shakes his head. I stare at him, sure the answers are there, just under the surface, and I could see them if look hard enough. He opens his mouth again, then his gaze drops to the floor and his shoulders slump as he says, “I really need to go.”
My heart pounds. I know I should let it drop, but there’s something I need to know. “What about that girl? The one in your bed? Is she like your girlfriend from home?”
He lifts his gaze and watches me cautiously as he answers. “No. Actually, she’s Saxon’s girlfriend, Lucy.”
I can’t control the jealous edge to my voice. “Hmm. So nice of him to share.”
“It’s not like that, Jack,” he blurts. “They’re here for—” He stops abruptly, his eyes boring into mine. “She’s nothing.”
He drops his head and shakes it again, and I’m afraid he’s going to leave.
I bite back the next remark that pops into my head, which has something to do with Mystery Girl’s bra size being bigger than her IQ. “So, if it’s not like that, what is it like? She was in your apartment—in your bed. Does she have a key?”
He just stares at me forever, eyes storming, then he walks fully into my room and drops into the chair at my desk, staring at the carpet. “No, she doesn’t have a key. No lock will keep her out.”
“What does that mean? Is she, like, stalking you or something?”
“In a manner of speaking.” He lifts his eyes to mine and, if I didn’t know better, I’d say I saw trepidation there. “There are things about me that you don’t know.”
I scoot toward him on the edge of the bed. I’m sure. So, tell me.”
He stares at me for another eternity, then leans his elbows on his knees and laces his fingers into his gorgeous black hair, staring at the floor again. “I’m not what you think I am.”
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no subject
on 2011-09-11 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-11 11:26 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-10 12:43 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-11 02:05 am (UTC)We're are coming close to somthing real soon. But yes, Ianto definitely needs to say something.
Should post the next part soon.
no subject
on 2011-09-10 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-11 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-10 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-09-11 02:08 am (UTC)