Fic: I’ll Make It Up To You - Meme fill for iantojjackh

[bk_forever]

Title: I’ll Make It Up To You

Author: badly_knitted

Characters/Pairing: Jack/Ianto

Rating: G

Word Count: 609

Summary: Jack keeps his promise to make up to Ianto for running off with the Doctor.

Spoilers/Warnings: Nada.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood or any of the characters. Which is sad.

A/N: For iantojjackh who wanted ‘Second Chance, timestamp: 1 month later. Wanna see if Jack kept his promise.’ Not sure if this is what you were hoping for, but it’s the best my brain could do.

It had been a month since Jack’s return from his trip with the Doctor, a month since he’d vowed he’d do anything to make up to Ianto for abandoning him the way he had.

Ianto had to admit, if only to himself, that he’d been dubious about Jack’s sincerity, but he’d given him a second chance anyway. After all, Jack might have eternity but Ianto himself did not, and he knew he’d regret it for the rest of his life if he didn’t at least give Jack a chance to prove himself.

For the first few days, Jack had seemed not to know where to start, so Ianto had started dropping hints. The look of relief on Jack’s face had made Ianto’s heart ache. He remembered what little Jack had told him about his year away, how he’d been held prisoner and tortured, and made a silent vow of his own to do what he could to help Jack heal from his ordeal.

He wasn’t letting Jack off the hook though.

A bit of gentle hinting – and for once Jack really seemed to be paying attention to what Ianto was saying – resulted in their first date. Dinner and a movie, nothing overly fancy, just a good meal in a small restaurant followed by a superhero movie and a stroll by the bay, then back to Ianto’s for a coffee. At the end of the evening, Jack went back to the Hub and Ianto went to bed alone. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t just going to jump back into bed with Jack right away and Jack seemed to respect that.

More dates had followed. A trip to a local funfair, where Jack had won a giant teddy bear which neither of them had known what to do with. A picnic in the park, complete with tossing a Frisbee around. A day at the beach, where they’d been caught by a sudden storm and soaked to the skin. That had been sort of fun. They’d been so wet anyway, they’d run into the sea, splashing each other and laughing until they realised they were half frozen and had headed for home with the car’s heating on full.

Jack had cut way back on flirting, barely glancing at anyone else on their dates. He still used his flirting as a tool to distract people and gain information when they were working, but outside of work he had eyes only for Ianto.

In fact, in all respects Jack was being considerate and thoughtful, from telling Ianto to go home early when he looked tired after a hard day, to buying Ianto his favourite muffins for breakfast as a treat and offering to collect the dry cleaning. It was quite a pleasant change not having to do all of the running around himself. Jack even helped with grocery shopping, seeming to find the mundane task a source of delight.

Ianto smiled to himself as he stood in his kitchen pouring two cups of coffee. Giving Jack a second chance had seemed risky a month ago, he’d even wondered if he might wind up regretting it, but for a whole month Jack had worked hard to make things up to him; there was no more doubting his sincerity. They were no longer just shagging after work, they were in a proper relationship, even if Jack was still hesitant about calling it that. He’d told Ianto he wanted to do things right this time, and he’d kept his word.

Maybe tonight, Ianto thought to himself, he’d ask Jack if he wanted to stay. He was pretty sure he knew what Jack’s answer would be!

The End

Comments

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

This was a really lovely story.

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

I'm trying to get back into writing longer pieces. I won't stop drabbling, but I need to stretch my writing muscles a bit before they seize up completely, lol!

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

This was really nice. Yay to longer stories, too. Drabbles are okay, but sometimes it seems most of what's posted are drabbles, and I really like long, long stories. AU's are a special favorite and there have been some really great ones. Looking forward to longer ones from you. Thank you.

[bk_forever]

Thank you. Sad to say, even my long fics aren't very long, I suck at writing involved plots. Sometimes I can manage a few thousand words, but most at the moment will probably be less than 2000. My muse is gradually waking from a long sleep, but is still a bit sluggish and real life keeps throwing a spanner in the works. At least the drabbles have kept me writing regularly, which is a good thing. When I stop completely I find it very hard to get going again.

Still, who knows what might happen? I have a few ideas for short pieces and a couple of sequels to existing stories in the works. I might even expand on some of my drabbles. I just need time to get some writing done, but that's in short supply at the moment. I hardly even have time to read short fics, never mind write them. I really hate the way life keeps getting in the way of fandom, lol!

Glad you liked this little snippet though.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

At least you CAN write. I can only read. I could not come up with a plot, let alone all the dialogue and descriptions and everything else that makes a good story for serious money. But short or long, I will read it. Reading, it's what's for dinner. It's a good thing. It's FUNdamental. And every other cliche you can come up with. I love to read, and I love my Kindle. :)

[bk_forever]

To live is to read - I'd waste away without it!

I never planned on writing, but somehow it happened anyway =S

Sometimes it doesn't even feel like I'm the one doing the writing. The characters take over and all I can do is try to keep up. I enjoy it, but the whole writing process baffles me. I wish I was better at plots and original characters, but I know my limits and what I'm best at so I mostly stick to that - fluff and silliness.

This fic's the first of three that were requested by various people for a meme thingy I took part in here:

http://badly-knitted.livejournal.com/106701.html

Requests are still welcome if you're interested.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Saved your master list for later. Should have said, also, I love Action Figure Theatre and the Nosy Verse. I just never connected that it was all you. Hey, I've been very ill for quite a long time, and since I'm better, I've really realized how poorly my brain was working all that time. I have not lost my ability to come up with excuses, however. :)

[bk_forever]

Well, I'm glad you're feeling better and that your brain is thinking better again! I know how that is. I have huge gaps in my memory because of past illnesses and medications.

Hopefully, when I get the time, I'll be able to do more action figure theatre - I have some ideas, but I don't have all the props I need yet and setting up the scenes is quite time consuming. If you enjoy action figure action though, are you familiar with the amazing dieastra ? She's the one who got me started and she does it all brilliantly. Even did a dramatisation of one of my drabbles =)

I CAN promise there will be some more Nosy-Verse fics soon, a couple of little one-shots at least.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pointing me to diestra. Did a quick scan and saved it to do a thorough look later. Great pictures.

You're the only other person I've come across who has mentioned memory gaps due to illness and meds. I have blocks of time (like weeks here and there) that just ceased to exist for me, and I completely forgot a severe reaction I had to Tramadol until I was at my doctor's and a friend went with me and mentioned it. I still don't have an actual memory of it, but I know it happened because my friend remembered it. Weird. Tramadol was fun. I had hallucinations. That I DO remember. One example: conversation with three women, who when I blinked, suddenly were no longer there. I remember thinking to myself (cliche follows), "Well, that can't be good." Why, yes. We do live in the Twilight Zone. Isn't it fun?

[bk_forever]

Kind of depends on your definition of fun, doesn't it?

I completely missed my niece's first few years. I've seen photos, but I don't remember her from that time at all. I remember buying a soft toy for her before she was born, then nothing until she was about 6.

I'm thankful nothing I've been prescribed has caused hallucinations. Still, I hope it was an interesting conversation before the women disappeared.

Doctors have managed to get me addicted to tranquilizers not once but twice, which has also left me with agoraphobia and panic attacks. All for nothing of course, since I was wrongly diagnosed in the first place. *shrugs* Sometimes you end up just having to make the best of what you're stuck with.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

I was apparently misdiagnosed as well. Have kind of lost my faith in modern medicine. One day at a time, right? Works for lots of life issues. Hope all goes well for you.

[bk_forever]

One day at a time is the best way. I'm stuck the way I am now, probably permanently, because no one seems to care much about trying to figure out what's wrong with me and find a treatment that works. I hope you have better luck. I've lost faith in doctors too, but I still take a whole bunch of pills because at least they help control some of my problems.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

Don't mean to turn this into a massive correspondence, but just wanted to say that in December I developed massive, completely debilitating pain, and was not functional enough to take the numerous pills they had me on, including anti-depressants I'd been on for years. After being off everything for some time, I realized that, except for that pain, I was much better in general. Not even any non-pain related depression. Have not gone back on things, either, and am doing better than I have in years. Thanks for nothing, doctors I've seen over those years.

[bk_forever]

That can sometimes be the case. My pills all help certain symptoms and I'm a lot worse without them, unfortunately so not taking them isn't an option. I'm glad that you've improved since stopping taking your pills. Hope your finding ways to manage the pain, being in constant pain is no fun at all.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

That pain is finally gone, thank goodness, and I just have the normal pain from arthritis. Interestingly enough (well, to me) is that the other pain I've had for years is also gone. The one I've been treated for with all the meds that never helped. Prednisone for the horrible pain fixed all the other pain as well, which is how they realized I had been misdiagnosed. Prednisone would not effect the pain I had if my diagnosis had been correct. Serendipity? Is that the word? Discovering one thing in the course of doing something else. I would never have known I don't have fibromyalgia, if I hadn't gotten pleurisy. Now, nobody knows what actually IS wrong with me. Oh, The reason I wasn't going for massive correspondence is more time spent replying to my numerous and wordy replies means less time for writing that fic. Please imagine the big smile on my face, as I am meaning this to be sort of humorous. I believe I have some Asperger's and am well-known amongst my friends for being more Sheldon than Leonard...or Penny.

Re:

[bk_forever]

LOL!

Well, I'm glad the worst pain is gone, though arthritis can be pretty damned uncomfortable, as I well know. I seem to have it in most of the joints I've got. You really know how many joints the human body has when they hurt don't you. I even have arthritic toes! It's not too severe most of the time though and I take Omega 3 oil capsules which are supposed to help, though I mainly take them because they make my frequent migraines less severe.

Well that makes two of us. No on knows what's wrong with me either.

Got to try to get some writing done tomorrow - much too tired to concentrate tonight anyway. Besides, it's getting on towards midnight so I'll be heading to bed soon. Just finishing up with my emails and finishing a few chores before bed, unless I nod off over the computer first, lol!

[jedi-harkness.livejournal.com]

Aww, so sweet! <3

[bk_forever]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

So happy to see that Ianto gave Jack a second chance and that the Captain is doing everything as Ianto deserves!
Lovely!

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

Yes, Jack knows Ianto deserves to be treated right. He wants to, he just needs the occasional gentle hint to show him the direction to go.

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

That was so wonderful. Good for Ianto, for giving Jack a second chance but not giving him an opening, if you know what I mean.

[bk_forever]

LOL! My brain went to a naughty place when I read your comment, Torchwood has been a very bad influence on me. =P

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

LOL! Oops? *snickers*

[bk_forever]

If Jack stays the night I'm sure Ianto will consider giving him an opening ;)

Or vice versa...

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

I'm sure either Jack or Ianto would take advantage of any opening given them. *laughs*

[bk_forever]

They're very enthusiastic highly motivated, it's true. Always ready to fill any available openings...

This is getting quite filthy!

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Filthy? I don't know what you mean... *winks*

[bk_forever]

*grins*

Jack is positively drooling at the innuendo! Of course, Jack sees innuendo everywhere, so he's not a reliable judge of anything.

[iantojjackh.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for writings this. It's exact.y what I pictured. Go Ianto for not making things easy on Jack.

[bk_forever]

YAY! So pleased you like it!

Yeah, Ianto wants to be treated the way he deserves, but at the same time he doesn't want to be too hard on Jack because of what he's been through, hence the gentle hints to help Jack get things right.

Thanks for the prompt and your comments. =)

[kul-breez.livejournal.com]

I really love this. When Jack came back he was so sincere in asking Ianto on a date. Oftentimes writers have him slipping back, but I think this is more realistic. Ianto would have expected more from Jack and Jack would have worked to show Ianto he was sincere. I really like this!

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I'm glad it works so well for you.

I think the writers on the series didn't really know what to do with the relationship and RTD wasn't really invested in it either, it seemed like he was only really interested in all things Gwen and anyway, he seems to think all relationships are very one-sided with one party craving attention and the other giving very little, so poor Jack and Ianto suffered from indifferent and unfocussed writing when they could have been so much more. When you have an ensemble cast, it's a huge mistake to focus on just one character all the time. At least we can redress the balance and write what should have been. My Jack and Ianto have a very happy and successful relationship, starting from the moment Jack asked Ianto out on a date.

[kul-breez.livejournal.com]

I like your take. I will always think it was such a shame that they had a couple with such obvious on-screen chemistry and wasted it.

I never notices the RTD one-sided stuff, but you are so right. Says a lot about his real life... I wonder what his parents were like in their relationship.

[bk_forever]

It does make you wonder. I think typically, most relationships (at least those that work long-term) are based on equality and mutual respect as much as physical attraction, but RTD doesn't seem to write that. Rhys waits at home for Gwen who shows up when she feels like it or wants something from him. Tosh pines over Owen, who ignores her at best... I saw equality developing between Jack and Ianto in season two, at least flashes of it, but suddenly in CoE when RTD was doing the writing, Ianto is suddenly this whiny, insecure creature begging for scraps from a Jack who is cold and dismissive. What happened to the relationship that was developing between them? It was so out of character I found it painful to watch.

I think I'll forever regret all the wasted opportunities in Torchwood - in the hands of a better writer and producer, someone who wasn't obsessed with just one character almost to the exclusion of the rest of the team, it could have been an amazing show. If only they'd built on season two instead of throwing out everything that defined Torchwood, I bet we'd be enjoying season 6 or 7 now. Instead, the fans (those that remain) are having to write all the things we would have liked to see, and to be honest, I think the fans are doing a better job.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

"I think the fans are doing a better job"

I completely agree with this. I have read some amazingly well-written fan fiction. Those are the ones I keep to reread again and again. I am eternally grateful to you authors for providing me with such good stuff. Thank you all.

[bk_forever]

*takes a bow on behalf of fanfic writers past, present and future* We thank you. It makes us happy to know that people are enjoying the stories we feel compelled to wtite. =)

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

Aww I love this.
It is so sweet but also feels very real, the way ianto didn't give in straight away but made Jack work for it. And Jack was so sincere he wanted to do better, but he needed ianto to show him how :-)

[bk_forever]

Thank you, glad you like it!

After a year of being tortured, Jack needs a bit of guidance in how to court Ianto, and Ianto is perfectly willing to give him hints. I think it's doing Jack a lot of good too, because he's getting the chance to have fun with Ianto and put all his cares and worries aside for a bit.

(Sorry I haven't got around to your fic yet - I've had the week from Hell! I promise I'll get to it tonight or tomorrow though, barring unforeseen circumstances. Misty had surgery Tuesday, then at his checkup today it turned out there was some pus around the extraction site so he's been under anaesthetic again today so George could flush it out. I left him at the vet and was told to phone at noon as he should be ready to come home, but at noon they hadn't even started the job. At 1.30, I was told he hadn't woken up yet and to phone again in two hours, but they called me at 2.45. GAH! I hate today. Wednesday and Thursday I had a bad migraine, so I couldn't concentrate then... *sigh*)

[jo02]

This was really nice - I still like to see 'what happened next' stories for when KKBB finished :)

[bk_forever]

So do I =)

Thank you, I'm glad you liked mine. I like to think something like this really did happen, we just didn't get to see it.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

A lovely, longer piece! I like that Ianto won't let Jack off the hook and I personally think that this is what Jack needed anyway - something to take his mind of the torture he endured, something 'mundane' and normal. He doesn't usually seem to allow himself any time of healing, so I think this was perfect for both of them.

And I love the last sentence ;)

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

Yes, I agree. After everything that happened to Jack during the Year that Never was, he needs the chance to do 'normal' things, to relax and have fun, and he can let himself do that because in his mind he's doing it for Ianto, even though he's reaping the benefits himself. It's good for both of them and it's strengthening their relationship.

Glad you enjoyed it!

[mango-apple.livejournal.com]

Truly lovely

[bk_forever]

Thank you. I like to think this is what really happened.

[jsks.livejournal.com]

Hugs the warm and lovely fic.

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Hopefully there will be another short fic next week.

[black59.livejournal.com]

it is that Jack manages to keep his word despite the rift.
Almost a normal couple in his early relationship.

it is likely that Jack can not refuse ...

[bk_forever]

As close to normal as they can be with their jobs.

I'm sure Jack won't refuse!

Thank you!