Suits and suspenders - janto teacher au

Jack

Ianto glanced up, "hi... yeah sorry I- sorry... I'm fine" he floundered at the man stood in his doorway. Ianto stood and wandered the room, not too sure what he was doing. Mr Harkness watched him curiously "are you... sure you're okay?" He questioned. Ianto glanced over to him "Hm? Yeah why?"
"It's just... you're pacing... a man who is okay does not pace" Mr Harkness laughed "sit down" he ordered and ianto obeyed. "So...." Mr Harkness began "what's your name?". Ianto glanced up and into the man's eyes "jones" he said automatically, then realising the man meant his first name "ianto jones" he clarified. Jack chuckled again "well then... nice to meet you jones, ianto jones... I'm jack harkness". Ianto hadn't even noticed that jack had pulled up a chair until he was sitting just across from him. At some point jack had closed the door and made his way across the room. "Were the kids being....." he searched for the right word "a challenge..." he finished softly. Ianto shrugged and huffed a laugh "when are they not" he muttered and, to his horror, felt tears pricking at his eyes. No! He was not going to cry in front of this new teacher no way, never in a million years, especially not on jack's first day and- ... a tear slipped down his cheek, trailing its way down. He swiped it away quickly but... jack still saw, "don't cry... it's okay" jack murmured softly. Ianto took a breath "sorry I- they're a hard bunch to control sometimes ... and I hate shouting at them but every now and again ... yanno...". Jack nodded knowingly "I know" he agreed in a half whisper. Ianto suddenly froze: he was aware of a comforting hand on his knee. He glanced down at jack's hand... his breath hitched. He shrugged it off, scoffing at himself... this was stupid. Jack withdrew his hand and ianto tried to pretend he didn't miss the touch, "hey I was just gonna get a coffee in the staff room ... wanna come?" Jack asked changing the subject completely. Ianto smiled gratefully "yeah... but let me make it for you. I'm the only one who can produce something drinkable from that machine".

Ianto handed jack his coffee as they sank down into the beaten sofa in the staff room. "So ... you're american? How long have you been in wales" ianto questioned. "I moved to England a while back and I had this boyfriend... it didn't work out we had a pretty nasty breakup so I moved down to wales and ... now I'm starting here" jack explained taking a sip of his coffee, he moaned slightly at the taste "god ianto... this is heavenly how did you get that from that machine...". Ianto shrugged trying to not let his mind wander with the noises... he was straight he shouldn't be think about that. "Sorry to hear about your Uh ... your boyfriend" he muttered, jack frowned mistaking Ianto's tone of voice "do you have a problem with that?" He questioned rather harshly. Ianto shook his head "no no sorry I was just thinking... got side tracked sooo.... you're gay?" He stumbled over his words and bit his lip anxiously at the last question... seriously ... who asks that. Jack shrugged "I'd say more pansexual" he clarified, Ianto nodded glad that he wasn't taken the wrong way ... again. Ianto clutched his coffee mug and glanced at his watch "shit..." he muttered "look I have to teach another lesson in five minutes but... I'll catch you later?" He half stated half enquired as jack smirked, looking amused. Ianto rushed off to his lesson, still holding his mug of coffee ... oh come on, he's late but he's not going to leave his coffee behind to go cold, he's not a psychopath.

It was late when ianto sighed and stretched, glancing out the window. "Woah" he muttered at the setting sun, glancing at the clock. It was nearly seven pm, he should really get home. By this time, most teachers had already gone home but he had been marking books. As he made his way into the carpark, he noted the few cars still there. Most of the cars he recognised but there was one he didn't, a big black SUV. He raised his eyebrows "what teacher has that kind of money" he muttered to himself as he opened his car door. He turned the key with a yawn and .... the engine spluttered and died. He groaned and rested his head on the steering wheel, today really wasn't his day. He sat there for what felt like an hour but really could only have been five minutes when he heard a tap on his window. He jumped and turned his head harshly to the window, relaxing when he realised it was just jack. He wound the window down so jack could talk to him, "everything okay?" The American asked. Ianto nodded "just... broke down" me mumbled frustratingly. "Want a ride back?" Jack offered. Ianto considered before shaking his head "no I need to get my car back ... I should just call someone and-" he stopped when jack cut him off "- ianto! Please let me take you home. forget about your car tonight... you can sort it out tomorrow, it'll be okay here. if you wait for a breakdown company, you won't get home until late". Jack argued, eventually ianto must've caved because he found himself in the passengers seat of jack's SUV... so that's who the car belonged to. "So..." jack began "why were you at school so late" jack questioned. Ianto shrugged "I was marking books ... why were you still there?" He asked slightly tiredly. Jack smiled "I lost track of time just had a look through some of the coursework and books from when they had the previous music teacher and then played the piano for a bit" he explained "you okay?" He asked glancing over to where ianto had rested his head on the cool glass of the window. Ianto nodded slowly "just tired.... take a left here". Soon enough they pulled up outside of Ianto's block of flats. "Thanks for the lift" ianto babbled slightly as he made to get out the car. Jack smiled "no problem ... oh and ianto...". Ianto turned back to him questioningly "Get some sleep tonight ... yeah?" Jack suggested. Ianto nodded with a tired smile before leaving the vehicle and making his way up to his flat. He finally fell through his door and sighed... jack was kind... maybe they'd be friends?