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Title: The Ties That Bind - Part 12
Beta: Blackcat1000
Characters/Pairings:
Jack/Ianto, Donna, John Hart, Owen and James Harper, Mickey/Martha, Toshiko/Tommy, Claudia, Phillip, Saxon, Rhiannon, OCs
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 75K+
Warnings/Contains: Explicit sex (does that need a warning?), witchcraft, horror, supernatural themes, character death.

Summary: Ianto is a powerful magical warrior, one which Jack Harkness has never been able to resist. Once enemies, then almost lovers, he broke his heart. Years later, Jack must return to his hometown and seek help before it is too late. Jack and Ianto must now put aside their past and work together to defeat an evil threatening to overwhelm and take control of Jack because of his unique bloodline. Secrets and foretold prophecies will plague them and in this paranormal battle, they will need more than magic to survive.
A/N:  Back on the road with Ianto and Jack.


 

Chapter Twelve

 

Just a day ago, if anyone had told Jack that his best day in nearly a year would be spent on a road trip with Ianto Jones, he would have told them to unload their money on a shrink. Especially after the way the night had gone. And yet, despite everything that had happened and his worry about what was to come, it was true.

 

Not even Owen’s endless text messages, demanding to know more about his ‘mystery man’ had been able to irritate him. He’d simply ignored the texts, which had made him smile, since he knew it would drive the acerbic, but good-hearted idiot out of his skull.

 

And oddly enough, he wasn’t even obsessing over the fang episode, which kind of surprised him. Jack didn’t know what it meant, the fact that he’d suddenly sprouted a set of fangs when he’d been on the verge of driving inside Ianto—and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t likely to be good, but he decided he could worry about it later.

 

Which had left him free to focus on Ianto.

 

They’d taken turns driving practically all over Wales checking out the places Ianto thought John might be but he was definitely not anywhere in the country. It was nearing dusk now, and though they’d already searched countless bars that day as they’d headed into England, they hadn’t had any luck finding the demon. About an hour ago, they’d crossed into Lake Country and were now heading to the next bar on Ianto’s list. Considering the situation, Jack figured he should have been edgier than ever, but instead, he found himself feeling almost…mellow. Yeah, the sexual need was always there, growing more urgent each hour that went by—but he’d also experienced a strange kind of pleasure in just spending time with him. In eating fish and chips and talking about movies and places they’d been. In trying to figure out how his mind worked, and what was important in his life. What he hated, and what he loved.

 

As if by some silent agreement, they seemed to be avoiding those topics that were bound to make them argue. He hadn’t asked him about Brandon, and Ianto hadn’t brought up what had happened between them the night before. That is until he turned toward him and said, “Are you going to tell me about that bite on your arm?”

 

Jack glanced at the marks the Master had left in his skin, the wounds finally beginning to lose that raw, angry colour. “What about it?”

 

Carefully, Ianto said, “It’s hardly my field of specialty, but after last night, I’m thinking the Master’s bite might have come with some…side effects.”

 

He cut him a sharp look, but Ianto had his face turned away from him, staring out the windshield.

 

After a moment, he asked, “Exactly what changes are you experiencing?”

 

“Sharper senses. Faster reflexes. Shit like that. And I’m not complaining. In a way, I like it. It’s making me a better fighter. But…”

 

“But?”

 

He rubbed his fingers along his jaw, which definitely needed a shave. “It’s just that I’ve been having some fairly gruesome dreams lately.” Ones that involved lots of violence…and blood, like something from a horror story. But he kept those disturbing details to himself, and simply said, “They’d started before the bite—but they’ve gotten a lot worse since it happened. That part I could do without.”

 

“Hmm.” Ianto took a deep breath, then slowly let it out, as if he was preparing himself for something difficult. “Do you, um, want to tell me about them? About the nightmares?”

 

“Not particularly,” he muttered.

 

“Okay.”

 

Jack could feel the power of his gaze as it settled against the side of his face. “But do you think that’s healthy?” His voice was getting rougher.

 

“You got something you want to say, Ianto?”

 

“Only that I think you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself,” Ianto told him. “The dreams are probably nothing more than a natural reaction to stress. And as for the changes…well, I don’t think you should worry that you’re turning into a monster.”

 

He grunted in response, more than a little irritated that Ianto could read him so easily. And hell, if it turned out he was turning into something monstrous, he knew what to do. The minute he thought he was a threat to Ianto’s safety, he’d put himself down. End of story. He would eat a bullet if it was needed. Hardly the most palatable solution, but it was the best he had. And it meant he could have a little more time with Ianto.

 

Jack was trying to work out how he could talk him into sticking around a little longer, once they’d found this demon friend of his, when he asked a question he’d been dreading. But one he knew he’d ask eventually.

 

“When you saw Rhiannon,” he murmured, “what did she look like?”

 

Jack locked his jaw, wanting to tell him anything but the truth. An honest answer was only going to cause him more pain. So he didn’t give him one. “She just looked like Rhiannon. A little older than I remembered her, but still beautiful.”

 

Taking another deep breath, Ianto lifted his chin. “I know you don’t want to tell me the truth, Jack. But I need to know.”

 

He arched his brows. “And just how do you know that wasn’t the truth?” he drawled. “You read minds now?”

 

“No, but I’m good at reading your expressions.” Ianto gave a wry, breathless laugh as he leaned his head back against the seat. “When we were younger, I used to study you for hours on end when you were working at the bar, or just hanging out with Brandon. You never knew I was there, but I was watching you. Learning you. So I know when you’re lying.”

 

Jack exhaled in an audible rush, caught off guard by how easily those intimate words slipped under his skin. How powerfully they affected him. “It’s not something you want to hear,” he grated, his voice suddenly raw with frustration. “Damn it, Ianto. I don’t want to hurt you.”

 

“I’ve been hurt before, and I’ve survived.” There was no heat or anger in the words. They were a simple statement of fact. But they still made him feel like shit. “And it’ll hurt more if I don’t know what to expect. The odds are high that we’ll be seeing her, and I…I don’t want to be caught unprepared.”

 

He cursed something foul under his breath, knowing he was going to give him what he wanted. That he didn’t have any choice.

 

Before he could think better of it, Jack reached out and caught hold of Ianto’s hand, squeezing it. “When I saw her, I knew it was Rhiannon, but…she’s changed. A lot. She’s much thinner now, almost…gaunt. She looks kind of like she’s just…wasting away.”

 

Ianto trembled, his hand cold, but he didn’t try to pull away. Instead, he tightened his grip, holding on to him while he stared through the windshield at the endless stretch of road. “Did she look like she’d been…hurt?”

 

“Not from what I could see.” Jack stroked his thumb against his palm, too aware of him to miss the way he shivered in reaction, even though he tried to hide it. “But she won’t be easy for you to look at,” he added, frowning as Ianto pulled his hand away and crossed his arms over his chest.

 

Ianto didn’t say anything more, looking as if he were miles away, completely lost in his thoughts. Jack waited until he finally began to relax again, some of the tension easing from his frame as he lowered his arms and leaned back against the seat, before saying, “So, about this demon.”

 

Ianto bit back a smile. He’d been wondering how much longer Jack was going to be able to hold out before he asked him about John. He was actually surprised he’d lasted as long as he had.

 

Rolling his head toward him, he watched the way the ethereal shades of dusk played over the rugged, masculine angles of his face. It didn’t seem fair for one man to be so tempting. “What about him?” Ianto asked casually, flicking his gaze over him. It was impossible not to notice how the soft denim of his jeans hugged his muscular thighs…as well as the impressive bulge behind the fraying fly.

 

“Why’s he hiding out in bars?”

 

The sound of his voice made him give a little jump, and he quickly jerked his gaze back to his face, before he got caught ogling his package. “Aren’t there other places that would be less…conspicuous?” he added.

 

The bubble of laughter in his throat was a welcome relief after the choking tightness he’d felt only moments before. “I could tell you, but I think it’ll be more fun for you to figure it out for yourself.”

 

He grunted, clearly not caring for his answer. “Then tell me why he’s in hiding.”

 

“I already told you when we were at Donna’s that it’s because of his ex. His ex-wife, to be precise.”

 

Jack slid him a quick glance, before turning his attention back to the road. “An unfriendly divorce?”

 

A wry smile touched his mouth. “You could say that. She did something not only illegal, but downright evil, and John turned her in for it. It was the right thing to do, but she escaped the demon prison she’d been put in, and now she wants revenge.”

 

“She serious about it?”

 

Ianto nodded. “Enough that she plans to carve off pieces of his body, one by one.”

 

He gave a low whistle under his breath. “I’d say that’s pretty serious. No wonder he’s on the run.”

 

“Luckily for John, he does the whole running thing like a pro,” he offered with another quiet laugh. For all his faults, John was just one of those people it was impossible not to love, so long as you weren’t in love with him.

 

“You seem to know him pretty well,” Jack said, his voice sounding a bit grittier than before. “You date him?”

 

The knuckles on the hand he gripped the steering wheel with turned white, and Ianto almost believed he was actually jealous. He certainly sounded it. And with that muscle suddenly pulsing in his clenched jaw, he definitely looked it.

 

So what exactly was he meant to do with that?

 

Jack had told him, last night that the reasons he’d had for not sticking around twelve years ago no longer stood. Which meant…what? What the hell was he after now? An affair? A one-night stand? Not that it mattered. Ianto couldn’t give him either of those things, even if he wanted to.

 

And yeah, he definitely wanted. Which just pissed him off, since there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

 

 

on 2012-06-07 01:05 pm (UTC)
Posted by [personal profile] hab318princess
two great chapters, scary back story with Rhiannon and the Master... but love John's - so him

on 2012-05-09 12:05 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] pharlap1.livejournal.com
love the updates

on 2012-05-09 06:13 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] black59.livejournal.com
All the better if Jack likes that day driving with Ianto. If this allows everyone to get to know a little better.
it"s good, Jack may happen to be convincing Ianto.

How Ianto talk, Hart looks sympathic... is this normal?
;-)

on 2012-05-09 10:56 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] bettathnbarbie.livejournal.com
Interesting chapters!

on 2012-05-10 01:29 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] bluelilacs.livejournal.com
Ianto's in for a shock when he sees Rhiannon. It's going to be difficult to see her that way and find out just what she's up to and even more difficult if he has to go up against her to save Jack.

on 2012-05-10 06:26 am (UTC)
lilferret: (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] lilferret
I reaaallly wanna know why Ianto can't sleep with Jack. Like, he'll turn into a flying monkey, or something. :p

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