Suits and suspenders - janto teacher au

The time they shared apart

The time jack and ianto spent apart, in a way, was shared. This, dear reader, is how:

1 month
Ianto lay staring at his ceiling in the early hours of the morning. He had work. It was Monday. He wanted jack.

Jack lay, at the same time, staring at Johns sleeping form. It was too early. He should have work. He wanted Ianto.

2 months
For ianto, mornings weren't getting any easier. His routine was still the same: Get up, get dressed, make one cup of coffee for himself, make another coffee for jack, remember jack isn't there anymore, pour jack's coffee down the drain, leave for work and hope for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow never came.

Jack's routine wasn't any better: wake up, pretend the person laying next to him is ianto, her out of bed, get dressed into the same outfit he wore everyday, sip on a burnt cup of coffee and cry for a solid hour before finally starting on the housework. There wasn't much else to do.

6 months
It was getting easier for both of them! Thank you for asking! They're fine! How are you today? That's great!

That's a lie of course. Every time someone looked away their faces fell. The sparkles in their eyes withered and faded. After all the sparkles and the smiles? They were never really there. It was all just a show. A show and a fake exclamation mark at the end of every sentence.

11 months
They were talking about and analysing scenes from a movie today. More specifically pirates of the Caribbean. "But sir... what about captain jack?" A student called out. Ianto attempted to form a sentence as the simple name bought back memories. He blinked furiously as images of his captain jack flashed before his eyes. His adorable smile. His sparkling eyes as he dragged ianto towards an ice cream truck on a hot day.

"Alright... all sorted... Alex was it? Sorry what's the surname?" Jack questioned over the phone. He was working for John now. At least it was something to do. "Jones" the welshman on the end of the phone told him. He knew it wasn't his Welshman. His Welshman was dead. This guys name was Alex... but there was something about the way the welsh vowels caressed the name that transported jack. He wasn't in the office anymore, he was on a beach, staring into the sparkling blue eyes of ianto jones as they paddled in the freezing cold water. It wasn't sunny in wales often so they wanted to make the most of it and- "hello? Mr harkness?" His clients voice cut through his thoughts. "Sorry yes" jack muttered clearing his throat as he got back to work.

1 year
Ianto woke to an empty bed. Wait where was.... what was that guys name again? He groaned and rolled over. He needed to stop doing this. He couldn't even remember the name of the man he'd spent the night with. In all fairness he'd only slept with him because he looked like jack.

Jack closed his eyes tight and tried to pretend that the person who was cuddling him close was Ianto. But the man was too bony and young to be his soft, sweet ianto. John was just too much like... well too much like jack for anything to work. Jack needed ianto.

1 year and 3 months
The gorgeous blonde across from him giggled. "Your so funny ianto" she simpered. Ianto wanted to be sick, he hated people fawning over him like this. He hadn't even meant to be funny.

John clasped jack's hand in his own, "I love you jack... think about it we'll be a married couple in under a year". Jack forced a smile "we're getting married next year" he corrected. John nodded "but it'll be at the start of February... remember and today's the start of March". Jack diverted his eyes "can't wait!" He exclaimed with heavily faked joy. He wanted to be sick, he was dreading this wedding already. It was supposed to be the best day of his life.

1 year and 6 months
"Ianto... come on!" Tosh exclaimed as she dragged him into the concert. He laughed along with her and allowed himself to be dragged around. He could pretend to have a good time... for tosh. However his heart stopped when a song began to play. Jack's favourite song. The last of Ianto's fake joy fizzled and burned away like a dying star.

Jack switched through the channels on the radio as he worked late. He settled on a radio station, smiling with the happiness of forgotten memories as he swayed to the music. Ianto always had loved this song.

1 year and 9 months
Ianto sipped at his drink. What was wrong with him? He watched as Owen flirted his way to victory and all he could think about was jack. How jack would love this environment. How jack would put his arm around Ianto's waist protectively, letting everyone know that ianto was spoken for.

Jack batted john's over protective hands away, "I can look after myself" he muttered. He sipped at champagne and looked around the auction, "why are we here?" He questioned... but John was already gone. "Right" jack muttered under his breath as he began to wander aimlessly.

2 years
Ianto stated out into the night sky. As usual his thoughts drifted to a certain american. What was jack doing? Did jack ever think about him? Was jack happy? What job did jack do now? Ianto guessed he would never know.

Meanwhile jack brooded from a rooftop, the only place he could find privacy. As usual he thought about Ianto. He apologised to the Welshman. He told him that if he could he would take his place and be the one to die. Jack knew he'd do anything if it meant that Ianto was safe and happy. Even if that meant sacrificing himself. Jack would happily sacrifice himself and his happiness for ianto. But it was too late now. Ianto was gone.