The wrong decision part one, III

[anastasisrick]

Title: the Wrong Decision

Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who (because I’m borrowing characters)

Rate: PG (or pg 13 for this chapter)

Genre: AU totally, no aliens, romance, drama

Pairings: Jack/omc, Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa, others as well

Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who, BBC does and we all saw what they did to them.
Summary: They both took the wrong decision. Will they ever be able to find real love?

For previous chapters click at the tag of the title.

Part one, III

Jack’s words and denial weren’t enough to convince John that he didn’t like Ianto. He’d known his friend for almost two decades, since they were kids, and had learned to read him and his expressions well. Even if Jack believed what he had said, John didn’t. The look he had witnessed was more than a friendly one, no matter what Jack was saying to himself.

There was only one thing left for John to do and that was to talk Ianto into going with him and follow his aspirations and dreams. Being seduced by Jack Harkness would only break Ianto’s heart. John couldn’t let that happen. He found Rose talking with Gwen and interrupted their discussion.

“Have you seen Ianto?” Gwen stared at him with something akin to admiration and… was it lust? John shook his head and looked at his sister who raised her eyebrow as an answer. “The lounge?” He asked again and she nodded.

“Thanks.”

As soon as her brother left the room they were sitting, Rose leaned over to Gwen and slapped her lightly on the shoulder.

“Don’t even look at him. No woman will be happy by his side.”

“Does he like men?”

“No. He likes himself.”

*

“Ianto, you never answered. Are you coming with me?” John asked as soon as he had him cornered in one of the rare small guest rooms of the house. Most of the rooms were huge. Ianto looked around, noticing the tapestries not really wanting to give an answer.

“Don’t know, John. I really don’t know.”

“If this has anything to do with Jack…”

“NO!” Ianto denied it a bit too soon for John’s peace of mind.

“He’s not worth it…”

”You don’t understand…”

“No, listen to me. Jack is a nice, brilliant man, but he never knew what he wanted from life. Not like you do.”

“John, if you should say this to anyone, that’s Werth, not me.”

“And do you mind that?”

The sad, blue eyes that stared back at him was all the answer he needed but Ianto replied as well.

“Of course not!”

“Take a decision, Ianto, one for your best interest.”

*

Two weeks passed after their weekend at Jack’s and Ianto still wasn’t sure about what to do. He had stayed in the shadows like he always did watching, adding the pros and cons of staying and going away.

He was sitting on some rocks by the sea side hidden by them when he heard foot steps coming his way. He was ready to stand up and make his presence known when he heard Werth’s voice talking and laughing.

“Stop it, Jack. Not here…”

It was painful to hear the joy in his brother’s voice. It was delightful to hear him so happy… but it broke his heart when Jack spoke next, accentuating each word with something that Ianto thought was a kiss.

“So, have you thought about it? Will you stay with me? Marry me? Be mine?”

Ianto held his breath to listen to the answer even though deep down he knew what would be. The sound of clothes that were scratching with each other, arms wrapping tightly around bodies and kisses were enough to make him ache in ways he’d never had thought possible? What had he done to himself?

He didn’t know how much time he stayed there, listening to them, and after they left he still stood there, not caring about the cold, the rain that had started to fall down forcing Jack and Werth to return to home. He just stood there numb for a while and then calculating, thinking, wondering, making plans.

There was no other answer. He had only one escape. Wales was not his home; not any longer. John had warned him and Ianto had chosen to ignore him. Big mistake!

He returned home to find Werth, his Dad and Jack talking. As soon as they turned to look at him he didn’t let them say anything about their plans. Werth attempted it though. He walked to him and hugged him but before he had the chance to share his happy news Ianto beat him to it.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Yes so do we.”

“Let me go first, Werth.” Ianto said smiling hoping his smile didn’t seem fake. “I’m leaving. Next week I’ll go to find John. He called me last night to say he was not in New York after all, but in Paris. I’ll go to find him and continue my studies there.”

Werth couldn’t believe it. Robert looked at his younger son sadly and Jack couldn’t understand why he was feeling as if he was about to lose something important; something he didn’t know he had until that moment.

“But Ianto, what I wanted to say is that Jack and I are going to get married. You can’t leave now?”

Ianto’s attempt to look surprised and happy was successful.

“You’re fast. Both of you!” He said hugging his brother. “Hope you’ll be happy together, but I can’t stay. I’ll try to come when the time comes though…” He continued his gaze travelling from Werth to Jack, and knowing very well that the day Werth and Jack become a married couple he’d have a very important examination.

“Son, are you sure about this?” His Dad asked and Ianto nodded. “Okay, there’s nothing I can say to keep you here, is there?”

“No. There isn’t.” Ianto said shaking his head negatively.

Jack was the next in line to hug and wish him all the best.

“I hope you’ll find your paradise.” He said kissing the younger man on the forehead.

“Thank you, Jack. And I hope you and my brother will be happy together.”

Jack left soon after that to leave the family members talk about their plans. The drive back to his own place was fast and as soon as he parked he changed his mind. He re started the engine and kept driving for hours.

Why had he proposed so quickly? He hadn’t known Werth for long, only a month and still he had asked him to marry him! Were his feelings running that deep? Did he love Werth that much that he couldn’t live without him? Was it to prove John wrong? He remembered his discussion with John which at the time had dismissed as insignificant.

And last but definitely not least; why had Ianto’s decision to leave hurt that much?

Jack knew he cared for Werth more than he cared for anyone else in the past several years. The real question that would remain unanswered was about his feelings for the younger Jones.

*

Cefin had not believed Ianto would ever decide to leave Wales no matter what the young pianist was saying in times of frustration and loneliness. As a result when his younger master told him the news he was surprised and curious, and down right miserable. He and Ianto had gone fishing and after Ianto’s request no one had informed the older man about the newly made plans. Ianto wanted to be the one telling Cef about his decision.

Worried, warm brown eyes stared Ianto who was staring at the dark sea.

“Why are you leaving, son?”

“You always knew it was a possibility, Cef, ever since John came to visit us or even from before. What kind of a future will I have here? Hm? Ianto asked still not looking at Cefin.

“But everyone who loves you and everything you love is here, Yan.” Cefin said and noticed that Ianto’s blue eyes had darkened as he turned to finally look at him. “I don’t like seeing you sad, kid, tell me what happened. How is it possible to even consider leaving now that Werth decided to marry? Don’t you want to be here that day?”

“If I don’t leave now I’ll miss the whole year, Cef. I’ll try to come home on the wedding day.” Cefin noticed a determination in those eyes he hadn’t seen before. He was not going to learn anything more from Ianto. He had to accept his decision no matter how much it saddened him.

*

Jack found Ianto sitting by the sea. There was an air of melancholy around the younger man since the first time he had met him but it seemed to increase by the day.

“A new beginning, Mr Jones.” Jack said sitting next to Ianto who scooped to give him space. “You shouldn’t be so sad.”

“A new beginning is also a change and that’s scary. Always.”

“Is that why you’ve kept yourself scarce and hard to find all these days?”

Ianto didn’t know what to answer to that question. Jack was the reason he was leaving. He had admitted it to himself the same night he had shared his so called news with his family. And now the same man, the man his brother loved was asking questions. Life was cruel.

“Was I?” Ianto asked indifferently.

“Yes you were. But that’s alright. You have the right I suppose.”

“Why are you here, Jack? Really!”

“You will come to wedding, won’t you? Werth wants you here but doesn’t want to put a pressure on you. But you will come, right?” Jack asked.

“I said it to him and Cef that I will come. Or that I’ll try to come at least. It’s the best I can give you now.”

Werth interrupted their conversation when he called Jack from the house entrance. Jack patted Ianto’s knee friendly and got up. Ianto clenched his lips and looked back at the sea waving Jack goodbye.

Jack ran to Werth feeling worse than before. Ianto Jones was affecting him more than he had initially thought.

*

The last night before his departure, Werth was sitting on his brother’s bed next to Ianto, back settled on two plush pillows.

“I never understood what you want.” He said suddenly after half an hour of silence during which both men contemplated their future. Ianto stared to him a questioning look in the familiar eyes. “You were always so distant and lonely, not to me but all our friends.”

Ianto smiled. “Owen would disagree with you. So would John.”

“Owen’s an exception. He got to know you when he started studying to become a doctor and saw you in your worst. He feels like the older brother who sees his baby brother aching. That’s what you’ll be for him! Always! And John? John sees the future in you! John sees you as the man, the pianist you can and will be one day. The difference between the three of us, me, John and Owen is that you showed us who you are, the others were unimportant to you so they never saw you, the real you.” Werth stopped talking and then added. “Do I make sense?”

“You do. Tell me though, what do you want from life? Why the sudden decision to get married?”

“I want a partner to rely on, I want a family and I love Jack.”

“He didn’t seem the man to make so sudden proposals. Are you certain he means it?” Ianto tried again.

“I didn’t expect it either. But I’m glad he asked me. I imagine my life in a few years, we talked about adopting a child and spoil him rotten.”

“A boy then?”

“Whatever… but yes I want a baby boy. Don’t you want kids Ianto?”

“Not now, Werth, and probably not in the next two decades or so. I’m not ready for that.” Ianto replied feeling the sadness soaking him in waves. Now was not the time to cry. He stole a glance to his brother. Werth’s thoughts were on his future with Jack and he didn’t notice Ianto’s pain.

End of Part one

Comments

[reddevilpoes]

Will you be posting part to any time soon? I quite like this story and would love to read more..

[anastasisrick]

I have the first chapter of the second part written, but I want to have the part finished before posting... because it gets more dramatic and I'd like to update soon.
But I will update as soon as I get my reel torchwood story ready.

Thank you. I'm glad you like this.

[janiemc]

looking forward to the progress of this tale of missteps and mistakes

[anastasisrick]

I'll try to update really soon. I'm glad you enjoy this. Thank you!