Suits and suspenders - janto teacher au

Coffee

Ianto was in town. It was a half day at the school and he was taking this opportunity to run his errands. He made his way through all the different shops, not really knowing or caring where he was going. He was mentally and physically exhausted and he had been for months now. He felt like he was on auto pilot, just going through the motions of living. He made his way into a small coffee shop and ordered: he needed something to stop him being so tired.

Ianto briskly exited the coffee shop five minutes later, his coffee in one hand and his shopping in the other. He spun round a corner, not really looking ahead. Maybe that's how it happened. He briefly saw another man's shoes and tried to avoid bumping into the man, but it was too late. They collided. Ianto's coffee sloshed over the sides of the cup and onto his sleeve. "Oh I'm so sorry" the man apologised. Ianto looked up slowly. He knew that voice. It couldn't be. Oh but it was. "Jack...." the Welshman breathed. Jack's eyes widened "no.... ianto... you're .... dead" he mumbled steadying himself with a hand in a wall. Ianto shook his head "they thought I was but I got out of the vehicle.... I couldn't get hold of you" he explained in a low voice. A slow grin spread across jack's face and a familiar sparkle appeared in his eyes that ianto assumed hadn't been there in quite a while. The captain surged forward and wrapped his arms around ianto, enveloping him in a crushing hug. Immediately the Welshman melted against him. Two years... two years and it felt like nothing had changed. Jack could still make him melt and he still felt so safe with him. Jack smiled against Ianto's hair, breathing in the scent he had missed so much. He voiced his thoughts out loud "missed you so much" he mumbled. Ianto looked into his eyes "not as much as I've missed you". Jack laughed but his face soon fell "I've got so much to tell you... not much of its good news I'm afraid". Ianto's shrugged "doesn't matter whether it's good news or bad news... why don't we get a coffee seeing as mine is... well" he gestured to the floor where over half of his drink was slowly evaporating.

Fifteen minutes later they were sat on a park bench, sipping on their coffees. "So..." ianto began "why are you in Cardiff?". Jack took a sip of his drink before answering "working ... i work for John now... he has a diamond trading company... don't worry it's all legal... he thinks you're dead... I guess that's why he let me come to Cardiff" he explained. Ianto nodded slowly. Then he froze. "What do you mean .... let you?" He questioned with a frown "Jack you're, your own person... he can't tell you what to do". Jack just shrugged. There was silence before the american spoke again "we're getting married" he mumbled. Ianto's eyebrows shot up "really?!" He exclaimed. Jack shrugged "I don't exactly have a choice". Ianto reached out and took jack's hand "you always have a choice" he murmured softly. Jack's heart leapt, he still loved ianto and it still hurt. "So what about you? Girlfriend?.... boyfriend?" Jack questioned. It was the welshman's turn to shrug "dated... a few people but .... it didn't work out" he explained. "I'm sorry" the american murmured. "It's fine ... they weren't you" ianto admitted, looking down at where their fingers were now intertwined.

Ianto felt almost dismayed when they finished their coffees. Did that mean jack would leave? However, to his delight, jack suggested something much better. "Let's go for a walk" the american announced, standing and pulling ianto along with him. They tossed their empty cups into a nearby bin, not breaking hands as they walked as if they were afraid to let go of each other.

They walked away from the town and down by the bay. Ianto shivered in the wind, why hadn't he bought his coat. "You cold?" Jack questioned. Ianto shook his head: the last thing he wanted was for jack to leave and drop him off home. Ianto's heart sank when jack removed his hand from Ianto's. Jack couldn't leave yet... could he? The Welshman was, however, pleasantly surprised when jack's coat was placed over his shoulders. He wrapped it around himself, breathing in jack's scent and absorbing his warmth as they looked out across the bay.

Moments passed and ianto turned his head to look at jack. The American looked back at him with a broad smile. "Oh Wait... stay still ... you've got an eyelash" ianto told him reaching out, to brush it off. "Protect me don't let me go blind!" Jack joked as ianto swiped the eyelash off. He held a finger out to jack "make a wish" he giggled. Jack closed his eyes and blew on the eyelash, sending it away into the air. They stared into each other's eyes, suddenly serious as jack moved Ianto's hair out of his eyes. Ianto made the first move, tugging jack impossibly closer and crashing their lips together. Both of them felt tears in their eyes as their lips fitted against each other like it was meant to be. The kiss was short and they pulled away slowly. A tear rolled down Ianto's cheek and jack swiped it away. They leant against each other, turning back to look out across the bay. "I'm getting married in a month" jack muttered disbelievingly. "Looking forward to it?" Ianto questioned. "Not really" came jack's reply. Ianto glanced at his watch. It was getting late and he still had to do some more shopping before the shops closed. He slid jack's coat off and handed it to him. "I guess I won't see you again?" He questioned sadly. Jack shook his head as he took the coat. Jack pulled the welshman in for one last kiss before he finally let him go. "Ianto.... take this" he suddenly exclaimed, pulling out what looked like some sort of folded card. He handed the card to Ianto and finally let the him turn away, throwing him a sad smile even though ianto couldn't see him. As ianto walked away he unfolded the card and smiled. The day just got a whole lot better.