Ficlet: NOT A Pet

[bk_forever]

Title: NOT A Pet

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Gwen, Ianto.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 475

Summary: Ianto makes a few things clear to Gwen.

Spoilers: Nada.

Written For: classics_lover’s comment_fic prompt ‘Any, any/any, Character A calls B "pet". Character B's response is "DON'T call me pet!".’

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

As Ianto set a steaming mug of coffee down on Gwen’s desk, she looked up, all wide eyes and gap-toothed grin. “Ianto! Just the person I needed. Could you get these files for me from the archives please, pet?” she reached out to pat his arm.

Ianto gritted his teeth. He liked Gwen well enough, but her over-familiarity grated on his nerves. He wasn’t a touchy-feely person, did not regale all and sundry with his feelings or other things that should be kept strictly personal, and he most definitely wasn’t anybody’s pet.

“Kindly DON’T call me ‘pet’, Gwen!” It came out a bit more snappish than he’d intended, but he was having that kind of a day. “I’m not some fluffy kitten or puppy you can fuss over and coddle; I’m a grown man, not to mention a Torchwood field agent, and I’d appreciate being treated as such.”

Gwen’s eyes went even wider with astonishment. Ianto was usually so calm and unruffled, his manners impeccable; what on earth had got into him?

“Sorry, pet. I mean, Ianto. I didn’t mean to offend you; I call everybody pet, it’s just a term of affection.”

“And it’s misplaced. We’re colleagues, not best friends, and not relatives. Just because I’m younger than you doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a degree of respect. I’ve been doing this job a lot longer than you have and I’m tired of being treated like nothing more than an errand boy by the rest of the team.”

“Oh, but surely Jack and Tosh don’t…”

Ianto broke in before Gwen could finish her sentence. “Tosh has better manners than the rest of us, and Jack… has his moments, but neither of them are the issue here.”

“You’re right.” Gwen awkwardly shuffled her feet beneath her desk; she felt like a schoolgirl chastised by a teacher, despite the fact that she was the older of the two. “I’ll try to remember in future.”

“Thank you; that’s all I ask.” Ianto smiled politely. “Now, which files is it you’re wanting?”

“Oh, um, the ones on that spiky thing from last week?”

“I’ll fetch them for you as soon as I’m done with the coffee round, alright?”

“Thanks, p… Ianto.”

“You’re welcome.”

As he walked away with his laden tray, Gwen’s eyes followed the young Welshman. She’d never known him to be so forceful; it was kind of hot… How had she never noticed before just how attractive he was? Shaking herself, she tore her eyes away from Ianto’s arse and forced her mind back to her work, refusing to even think along those lines. She had Rhys back home and besides, it would be more than her life was worth to so much as consider encroaching on Jack’s territory.

Still, she thought she finally understood what Jack saw in Ianto; it was always the quiet ones.

The End

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

You always have to keep an eye on the quiet ones.

[bk_forever]

Indeed! I'd lay odds that Ianto isn't so quiet in private ;)

Thank you!

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Is that an introvert?

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Well, most introverts are quiet, but not all quiet people are introverted. We just prefer to make our noise in private. :D

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

All my life I've encountered certain people calling me too quiet, shy etc...

I only found out as an adult that it's not a bad thing. I don't know how to respond to comments like that sometimes.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

It's no crime to be quiet or cuatious. I remember being given a bit of advice once, "Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

I'd rather be quiet at first and take my measure before plunging in and getting in over my head.

[bk_forever]

Listen and observe before committing yourself. More people should try that!

[bk_forever]

Do the quiet thing ;)

I grew up quiet and shy - I'm louder now, but I still like to keep to myself.

[bk_forever]

We pick our moments to be loud. That way, when we say something, people listen.

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, but not always.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

That's what I hope for.:)

[bk_forever]

Not necessarily. Some people simply find it more enlightening to let others do most of the talking while they listen ;)

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I sometimes don't respond because I can't think of a witty comeback so I just listen.:)

[bk_forever]

A very valid reason. Of course if you're like me, you think of the perfect witty comeback when it's way too late to use it =P

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

I loved it! Who better than Ianto to show Gwen who he really is!
Go Ianto go!!!!

[bk_forever]

He just wasn't going to stand for it any more!

Thank you!

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Now why couldn't Ianto tell Gwen off onscreen? *tries to looks at RTD*

This reminds me of a scene in Ugly Betty where Henry stands up for himself when Amanda and Marc make fun of his surname.

The gap-toothed is now trendy. I remember it was something that had to be fixed with braces.

[bk_forever]

I think the gap makes Gwen look gornmless. Or maybe it's that fixed expression she gets.

RTD hides from criticism or gets insulting.

Ianto should have had a moment like this on screen, but he was just too polite. And of course, RTD would never have allowed it *rolls eyes*

Thank you.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It's when she widens her eyes that annoys me. Models and some actors have gap teeth these days. Makes me wish I hadn't wasted my time and money on braces.

If it wasn't life or death Ianto would let things slide. When he visits his sister, her kids automatically take money from him but they don't seem close.

[bk_forever]

Yeah, but kids come to expect that they'll get money. once they've got it, they go back to what they were doing.

Widening one's eyes does not constitute acting, just makes her look silly.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Not all kids are like that. They could of said thank you or acknowledge Ianto. Maybe I'm fussy.

How are you suppose to respond to "eye acting"?.*rhetorical question*

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Well she's been told lol

Great drabble. Wait how could she NOT notice Ianto was uber gorgeous? Lol

[bk_forever]

She was too busy lusting after Jack while living with Rhys and shagging Owen. She's only got one pair of eyes. LOL!

Thank you.

[raynewton.livejournal.com]

It would be fun if Gwen did make a move on Ianto, to see how Jack would handle it. I think she'd really be surprised Another story that shows just how self-centered and thoughtless she really is

[bk_forever]

Indeed! I think Jack would have a lot to say to he if you tried to get his Ianto. But then, Ianto wouldn't b the easy mark Gwen's used to either. She may think she's God's gift to men, but Ianto knows better and isn't interested in her anyway.

Thank you.