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madbottoms) wrote2013-01-08 09:40 pm
Chosen One - Chapter 11
Summary: Our favourite tortured boys are back in this third and final instalment in which they try to outrun Hell.
Notes: See chapter 1 for disclaimer warnings and related info.
*~*
IANTO
He pulls himself from my grasp, and, as much as it hurts, I force myself to let him go. “I’ll get us something to eat,” I say, standing from the couch. I head to the kitchen and make sandwiches, more for the distraction than out of any actual need for food, and then we eat at the table. We don’t talk, but the whole time Jack keeps shooting glances my way—which I notice because I can’t take my eyes off him.
When we get the dishes washed and put away, he wipes down the counters as I ease into the couch and click on the TV. Surfing the channels, it becomes clear why I’ve never bothered with a TV before, and I turn it off, tossing the remote to the coffee table with a clatter.
I look at him as he settles into the couch next to me. “Make me want to turn that back on,” I say.
His face pulls into a puzzled squint. “What?”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Your Sway. You need to practice.” I feel a smile tick at my mouth. “Guinea pig at your service.”
He nods, then stares at me intently. But what I feel isn’t a compulsion to pick up the remote. What I feel is an overpowering need to stroke his face—to kiss him. I pull a shaky breath, and he notices.
The look on his face is all the confirmation I need that I wasn’t crazy. He wanted that as much as I did. I buzz all over with my need to grab him tight and take him right here. But what he said earlier is true. This isn’t the right time.
His eyes drop to his hands. “Sorry.”
“I’m not,” I answer and offer up a reassuring smile.
“I really suck at this.” He doesn’t look up as he says it.
“You know your Sway is strongest when it comes from your heart. For now, while you’re learning, if you tie what you need to have happen to something you care about, it will be easier.”
“Or someone?” His eyes lift to mine and a shudder sweeps through me.
I nod. “Or someone.”
“I think you’re right. When it worked on that little boy on the beach earlier, I was thinking of my sisters.”
“It comes from here,” I say, lifting my hand and laying my fingertips over his heart. “If you remember that, you’ll be fine.”
He reaches up and grasps my hand, holding my eyes with his. “Do you think I can do what John wants me to?”
I’ve thought about that. As crazy as John’s plan is, with a little more practice, I think Jack could probably pull off his end of it. But there’s no way John will be able to destroy Lucifer. He’ll fail utterly and get Jack killed in the process. “I think you can do anything you set your heart to.”
He swallows hard and nods before dropping my hand. He pulls a deep breath and stands. “I just need some time…”
But time is the one thing I’m fairly certain we don’t have. I gain my feet and look down into his eyes, praying sincerely to God to help me see my role—how I can help him.
Something in his expression changes—loosens. But just as he opens his mouth to say something, the front door swings open and John strides through, Hope’s arm in his tight grasp and a scowl on his face.
Hope looks freshly showered, her hair still damp and dangling around her shoulders. She offers a strained smile when she sees us.
“Ianto is going to stay at Hope’s,” John announces.
“Oh … um…” Jack trails off and splits a tentative glance between Hope and me.
I fight the smile I feel pulling at my mouth, but I’m not entirely successful as I catch Jack’s eye. “Thanks for the offer, Hope, but that won’t be necessary.”
“Explain,” John presses, shooting me a glare.
I shrug and my smile widens. “Love conquers all?”
Jack bursts out a nervous laugh, and John’s eyes shift between us, assessing. “This is what you want, Jack?”
His gaze grows concerned as it falls on me. “Maybe you should—” he starts, but I stop him with my best “don’t even think about it” stare.
John rolls his eyes and settles into the seat on the couch that I just vacated. “You two need to make up your minds whether you love each other or hate each other.” He doesn’t even try to hide the venom in his words as he glares at me.
Hope settles into the couch next to John. It’s clear from the look on her face that she’s totally uncomfortable being in the middle of this. “Um … thanks for the run, Ianto. It was great to have someone to push me.”
I nod and pull a chair over from the kitchen table as Jack drops into the armchair under the window.
John settles back into the cushions. “Since the Ianto thing,” he says with a punctuating glare in my direction, “seems to be settled, Hope needs to give you the rundown.”
Jack quirks a quizzical frown at him. “What rundown?”
“Just about the people around here, so you’ll know if anything is … off,” Hope answers.
She proceeds to give Jack the lowdown on everyone who lives within a half mile. Finally she starts winding down. “Oh! And old man Butler, third house on the right,” she says, pointing down the beach, “is a stealth groper. He’ll pretend to help you pick up your beach bag, or your towel or something, and cop a feel in the process.” Her face pinches. “He’s an equal opportunity offender, so I’ll point him out to you. Stay far away.”
By the time Hope is convinced that Jack won’t be taken by surprise by Mr. Butler or any of the other neighbours, we decide to call for pizza.
“Jerry, the pizza guy,” Hope says low in Jack’s ear as he approaches the door, “got his last two girlfriends pregnant. But I’m sure you’ve no worries on that score.”
“So … yeah.” Jack says, his face screwing up with disgust.
*~*
We slide into seats around the table and demolish two large pizzas. “Now’s the perfect time to practice,” John says to Jack as we’re finishing up.
Jack goes a little pale. “My Sway?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hope’s eyes widen.
John nods. “Start small.”
He shrugs. “Like what?”
“Use your imagination,” he says, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers behind his head.
Jack’s eyes fall on me and narrow slightly with effort … and I discover I’m suddenly craving another piece of pizza, even though I just polished off most of one on my own.
He smiles when I pluck a slice from the box and bite off a hunk. I smile back once I’ve swallowed, even though I’m fairly certain I’m going to explode.
Hope and I suddenly feel the overwhelming urge to wash the dishes, so we do. And when we’ve finished, I find myself in the Jeep on the way to the ice cream shop.
When I return with a tub of triple chocolate, which I don’t even like, it’s dark. We scoop ice cream onto cones and head out to the beach, where we sit in silence and eat, watching the moonlight shimmer over the rolling waves.
Finally, Jack stands. “I think I’m gonna crash. All this making Ianto get ice cream has worn me out,” he adds with a playful jab of his toes into my side.
I pull myself out of the sand and head inside with him, leaving Hope and John on the beach talking strategy.
He heads to the bathroom, and I cross the room to the kitchen, where I pour myself the last half-cup of coffee from the pot.
When he emerges five minutes later, his torso is shiny and pink as he stands there in just his boxers. He pauses at his bedroom door and then slowly turns to look at me where I’m still leaning against the counter near the sink. “Night.”
I push away from the counter, wanting to go to him. I don’t know if the compulsion is his Sway or just my need, but either way, I fight it. “Good night.”
He takes a step toward me and my insides flip, but then he hesitates. “Thanks for understanding.”
I nod once, afraid to open my mouth. I do understand. I understand everything—what’s at stake, why he can’t be with me—probably better than he does. But that doesn’t make it any easier. I glue my feet to the floor to keep from going to him, but then Jack moves slowly toward me and curls into my arms, sending my heart racing. He leans into me, his face close to mine, and I hold my breath as I close the remaining space and kiss him.
There aren’t words to describe the sensations rushing through me with his kiss. His lips move on mine, tentatively at first, but when he presses deeper into me, all my insides explode in a burst of bliss. He draws me closer and it’s everything I can do not to love him properly. Finally, he pulls away. I close my eyes and we stand with our foreheads pressed together. Neither of us move for a long minute, but finally, I hear him start to breathe again.
“When I get everything figured out…” he starts.
I want the end of that thought to be, “then we can be together,” but I know the reason he trailed off is because even he doesn’t know what the end of the thought is.
I loop my arms gently around his waist and pull him tight to my chest and he leans his head on my shoulder. I press my face into his hair, living in this moment and hoping it won’t end. But then the front door opens and John steps through.
Jack pulls away and his whole face changes. He squeezes my hand. “See you in the morning.”
“Good night,” I say again as he disappears behind his door.
John stares me down, but I’m way too tired for this. I spin and head to my room, away from his inquiring gaze. Because even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t know how to answer the question in his eyes.
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But glad they give you warm fuzzies. :)
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Debbie 0x0
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It's gonna get worse, too. But they all have to start working together but emotions will still play a big part in it for all of them.
Cheers for reading and commenting and enjoying the read as always.