Title: Sweet Pain
By: lilithangel
Pairings: Ianto/Owen
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: m/m sex and extreme pain play.
A/N: this story contains graphic references to pain play as a way of dealing with emotional stress. The author does not in any way condone this as a method of coping.
Summary: Jack’s gone. Owen takes over leadership and finds a way of coping. Ianto follows him and finds out something about both of them.

***

“How can he be gone?” Tosh asked Gwen frantically.

“Who took him?” Owen demanded as Ianto looked around the Hub frantically.

“He was here, he was laughing,” Gwen said, “there was this strange wind and he was gone.”

“He must have gone up in the lift,” Ianto said running over to the computers.

“Why?” Tosh followed him, “what could have happened?”

“There!” Owen pointed over Ianto’s shoulder as they pulled up the CCTV footage.

“Why is he running?” Gwen added.

“Where is more to the point,” Owen said flatly staring at a strange blue box.

“Is that?” Tosh said in amazement as they watched Jack throw himself at the box and disappear with it.

“A TARDIS,” Ianto replied.

“A what?” Gwen looked at them.

“Some sort of spaceship, time travel device. Used to be priority one on Torchwood’s watch list,” Owen replied stepping away from the others.

“Is that why Jack was chasing it?” Gwen asked.

“He was running away from us,” Owen replied.

“You don’t know that,” Ianto said, “The Doctor was our number one target, Jack would know that.”

“Maybe he saw the Doctor as his way out,” Owen said, “what do we really know about Jack anyway?”

“We’re his team, he’s our leader,” Gwen said hopelessly.

“We betrayed him. All of us chose our loved ones over him,” Owen said bluntly, “I killed him. Why the hell would he want to stay?”

“He didn’t die and he forgave us,” Gwen said.

“Well obviously it wasn’t enough.” The rest of the team could only watch as Owen’s fragile control crumbled. “Who can blame him really? What have we done for him except cause him grief? I wouldn’t forgive us.”

“Owen,” Ianto called out as the other man turned and left the room without looking back.

“One of us should go after him,” Tosh said.

“Let him go Tosh,” Ianto said, “he just needs time.”

“He’s right isn’t he?” Gwen said, “Why would Jack want to stay?”

“He came back to life for us,” Ianto said, “that has to mean something.”

The three of them stood staring at the screen where the blue box had disappeared.

“He came back before, he’ll come back again,” Gwen said unwilling to accept anything else.

Owen returned the next day limping and moving like he had been in a fight despite there being no marks on his face.

They had all turned up as normal not sure what they were going to do. Ianto had made coffee and they were drinking it and not looking at Jack’s office when Owen arrived.

“What do we do now?” Gwen asked as Owen sat down carefully.

“What we’re being paid to do,” Owen said, “monitor the Rift, keep track of the Weevils and make damn sure nobody knows about Jack disappearing.”

“Why?” Gwen said.

“Because it’s our responsibility. Twenty first century and all that rot.”

“Can we do it?” Ianto said.

“We have to,” Owen said bluntly.

To everyone’s surprise, including his own, Owen slipped into the role of leader with minimal fuss. They never discussed it; the others just followed his suggestions shouted or otherwise.

It wasn’t easy and they were all run ragged at times trying to keep everything balanced. Every so often Owen would start to crack and vanish for a night before guns were drawn.

He always returned the next morning limping but calmer. The others assumed he was going out and getting drunk and laid and didn’t talk about it.

Until Ianto started to worry that there was more to it than that. He remembered the look in Owen’s eyes after fighting the Weevil and wondered if Owen was doing something similar.

They couldn’t afford to be another team member down so it was his responsibility to make sure Owen was alright. That was what he told himself when he followed Owen out of the Hub after the other man had thrown a phone through a computer screen.

Fortunately Ianto was pretty sure Owen had never seen his car since the SUV would have been rather noticeable even if following Owen would have been a lot easier as they made their way to the outskirts of Cardiff.

As the housing became sparser and more affluent Ianto became more confused about what Owen was doing. This was not what Ianto had envisioned and he began to wonder if perhaps Owen did just have a girlfriend or something. It didn’t explain the awkward way Owen would be moving the next day however.

Ianto slowed down as Owen’s car pulled into a driveway. When he reached the entrance the electronic gates were closing. Parking his car he considered what to do next. Maybe he was imagining things; maybe Owen did just have a girlfriend. If he went barging in and disturbed an intimate moment he was going to look like a fool.

Before he could decide the gates slid open again. No car came out and there was no movement but it did look like someone was inviting him in. He really hoped it wasn’t a pissed off Owen, or worse a laughing one.

Driving up the short driveway he pulled up in front of a nice Georgian style house. He parked next to Owen’s car and waited. After a minute or so the front door opened and a woman walked out. She was dressed casually in jeans and a jersey with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She didn’t look like the kind of woman Owen went for but then Ianto wasn’t sure what sort of woman Owen went for anymore.

She walked over to him as he got out of the car. “Ianto Jones,” she said warmly.

“Hello,” he said in puzzlement certain he had never met her.

“Owen has spoken of you. I’m Louise, please follow me.”

Blushing at how his following Owen must look Ianto walked into the house expecting to see Owen glaring at him in the lobby.

“Would you like a coffee or a cup of tea?” Louise asked leading him into a sitting room.

“No, thank you,” he said waiting for her to sit before following suit, “I’m sure this seems rather irregular of me to have followed Owen…”

“Not at all,” she said, “in fact I’m a little surprised it has taken you this long. I know Owen half expected Tosh to have turned up before now but from what he’s told me it makes sense to be you.”

“Where is Owen?”

“He’s getting ready,” she replied.

“Does he know I’m here?” Ianto asked nervously.

“Not yet. I felt it prudent to talk to you first and see how much you know about his visits here.”

“Nothing really,” he admitted, “just that he will leave work in an emotional state and return the next day in a much better frame of mind but moving gingerly as if he was hurt in some way.”

“And you were worried that he was hurting himself?”

“He’s done similar before.”

“Yes, the Fight Club,” she nodded.

“Are you his girlfriend?” Ianto asked with another blush.

“No,” she laughed, “you could say I’m his therapist.”

“Therapist?” Ianto looked around in surprise. Somehow he hadn’t seen her as a therapist or imagined that Owen would see one.

“A reasonably specialised therapist,” she said with a laugh. “I allowed you in because you followed Owen here and because I feel he needs something I cannot give him.”

“What do you mean?”

She sighed, “Owen isn’t aware of your presence and would be very upset if he knew I was talking to you but I care for him and he needs your help.”

“Why would he need my help? We’re not exactly friends.”

“Why did you follow him here?”

“He’s part of the team and I worry. I think he’s falling to pieces trying to do everything and not dealing with his own feelings.”

“Funny that’s what he said about you.”

“He did?”

“You look surprised.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be he’s always been observant in his own way. What’s wrong with him?”

“There’s nothing wrong with him. He has found a way to deal with his anger and the underlying reasons for it with my help, but I can’t help him with the next step and it is leading to him taking things too far.”

“He is getting hurt isn’t he?”

“How worried about him are you? If I was a licensed therapist I could get struck off for telling you anything. As it is the worst that could happen is that your reaction was so bad that Owen leaves his job and never returns.”

“What do you mean?” Ianto was really worried now.

“I don’t know what you do but I am aware that it often involves extreme risks and you can only really talk to one another about what you see,” she explained, “Owen came to me soon after he settled in Cardiff through a referral from a friend in London. He only visited occasionally until about six months ago when he started to book time every fortnight and then every week. Now what I do for him isn’t completely helping and I’m worried that he is pushing things too far.”

“You make it sound like he’s involved in something dangerous,” Ianto said starting to get angry.

“It could be if he didn’t have the outlet he has here,” she replied, “however I suspect that whatever happens this evening I cannot help him anymore. That is where you come in if you are willing.”

“I don’t understand,” Ianto said.

“Come with me.” Louise stood up, “I would ask that you try not to say anything no matter what you see.”

She led him through the house and up the central stairs to a passageway with several closed doors. Opening the closest she ushered Ianto through.

He stopped in shock at the sight that greeted him. The room was empty of all furniture except a large cross like device. Owen was kneeling naked in front of it. His hands were crossed behind his head and he was blindfolded.

A finger on his lips stifled the protest he was going to make and she moved silently into the room. Owen started at her touch but obediently allowed himself to be bound to the cross. Ianto didn’t know where to look as Louise fitted earplugs in and turned on the MP3 player that seemed to be wired into the cross.

“Pain is the only thing that ground him now,” she said once he was secured. “It’s just taking longer and longer for him to reach that place where he can finally let it all go. I’m afraid he’s going to be seriously hurt soon.”

“You beat him, that’s your therapy? You’re a prostitute not a therapist.”

“He came to me after seeing something that shocked him to the core,” she replied ignoring his outrage with practiced ease. Ianto realised she was talking about Canary Wharf. Somehow Owen had seen the aftermath.

Ianto knew Owen wasn’t working for Torchwood One then so Jack must have brought the team up from Cardiff to help with the clean up. He had been too busy recovering and hiding Lisa to pay much attention to what happened after the Cybermen vanished but someone had taken care of everything and he wasn’t surprised that it was Jack and Torchwood Three.

It explained Owen’s reaction to Lisa that he could understand now that the guilt and grief had lost their grip on him, thanks in no small part to Jack and the man in front of him.

“Why are you showing me this?” he asked her, “Owen would die of shame if he knew I was here and possibly shoot me.”

“What happens here is not about sex, I never have sex with my clients. It’s about catharsis.”

“Through pain.” Ianto remembered those moments after Lisa was discovered. The pain when he was thrown across the room, coming round in Jack’s arms. The cold hard press of Jack’s gun in his forehead, how much he wanted to hurt and die with Lisa and how much he hated Jack for denying him that.

“You do understand,” she said with some relief, “I thought you would when we met but I have been wrong before.”

“How long will he wait?” Ianto gestured to where Owen hung listening to god knows what with apparent infinite patience.

“As long as I want him to,” she replied simply. She moved over and stroked Owen’s back lightly. He shivered but didn’t move.

Ianto was drawn closer despite feeling uncomfortable about the situation. He could see thin silvery scars across Owen’s taut back, evidence of many visits to Louise as they were overlaid in several places. The only untouched area was the still angry looking scar from where Ianto had shot him. The most recent welts were still slightly raised and carried on down Owen’s buttocks and thighs.

“Touch them,” Louise interrupted his contemplation.

He was startled but unable to resist. Under his fingertips he could feel even more scars testament to how long Owen had been seeking absolution under the attentions of a lash. Owen jerked at the unfamiliar touch but made no protest as Ianto’s hand swept over his back.

Louise had moved around to face Owen and she nodded with approval. “He responds to my whip but not to my touch,” she said, “your touch however…”

Ianto didn’t want to see what response Owen had, not sure whether he wanted to be pleased or not by it. “You want me to do… this to him?”

“If he asked you to yes.”

“I don’t know that I could.”

“Stay and watch, and if you can understand what he needs and why I will ask you again. If you can’t you can leave without him ever knowing you were here.”

The compulsion to stay was so strong that Ianto didn’t want to look too deeply into it. Instead he stood and watched as Louise prepared herself.

She didn’t wear any of the clothing he associated with a Dominatrix, staying in the same clothing she had been wearing. She removed her jersey to reveal a simply cotton tee shirt. She walked over to where a large number of whips, paddles and canes hung, selected several and handed all but one to him to hold.

The whip she had kept had a number of leather straps braided together to form the handle and Ianto could only think of a cat-o-nine-tails from bad historical movies. The way she wielded it was not acting however.

She set up a steady stream of blows that were obviously designed to prepare Owen for the other items she had selected.

Although mesmerised by the pattern of the strikes on Owen’s skin his hands continued to explore the cane and paddle she had given him. The paddle was covered with rubber without any other adornment. It looked like exactly what it was, an instrument of pain and punishment not pleasure.

Ianto’s scant knowledge of Sadomasochism had conjured up bad porn movies full of studded leather and naughty boys with women in stilettos and cat suits.

Whatever the pleasure Owen was getting out of the increasingly heavy strikes Ianto was pretty sure it wasn’t sexual. But he got the feeling the Louise expected it to be if he was the one wielding the whip. He just didn’t know if he was capable. He might have shot Owen and at that moment really wanted Owen to die, but could he systematically hurt the other man in the way needed?

Worse, was he being sexual aroused by the idea?

Owen’s body was stretched tight and straining to meet the blows. His pale skin glowed with sweat and was slowly being criss-crossed with fine red marks. It was like an art form he realised, the way she used the whip and he found he was excited at the idea of seeing what she could do with the paddle and the cane.

He knew he should hate himself for the excitement but Owen didn’t have to know so he let himself enjoy it.

Louise wasn’t even breathing hard when she stopped and handed him the whip. He took it and handed over the paddle falling into his role as provider without even realising it.

The paddle made a loud crack when it hit flesh and left a wide red mark. She used it on soft fleshy areas only, concentrating on the buttocks and thighs. Ianto had a brief flashback to tenderised meat which put a small damper on his interest, but the grunt pulled from Owen’s mouth wasn’t one of distress.

To Ianto it sounded like relief and he was drawn around to look at Owen’s face for confirmation. There was pain there but he looked more relaxed than Ianto has seen in a long time.

His eye was pulled down Owen’s body seeing the beauty of the taut body, every muscle stretched tight sweat defining them in a way he had never seen before. The hair at Owen’s groin was closely trimmed and Ianto wasn’t surprised knowing how much stock Owen put in his appearance. The still flaccid cock drew his attention last. It looked to be slightly above average but nothing spectacular. The kind that Ianto would have snuck looks at in the locker room in school and wondered about.

The steady slap of paddle on flesh was almost hypnotic as he watched Owen’s body twitch and jerk. Unconsciously he was stroking the cane in time with the movements as his hand gripped the handle tightly and flexed it slightly.

Louise drew him back around to swap the paddle for the cane and he was almost reluctant to give it over until she put his hand onto Owen’s back and he was mesmerised by the heat that radiated off it.

She laid the cane gently across Owen’s back so he would know what to expect next and looked at Ianto with consideration.

“Watch me,” she said to him, “see how light the stroke is to start with.”

The first stroke was light leaving only a thin line across Owen’s back, but he arched away showing how much pain it could inflict. The next one was delivered in perfect parallel to the first. She built up the intensity as she laid out a criss-cross of strikes to Owen’s buttocks and legs leaving thin angry welts behind.

Louise stopped and offered the cane to Ianto. Almost in a dream he took it from her and stepped up to Owen. Owen was panting heavily but that was still the only sound that had escaped the man’s mouth during the session and Ianto suddenly wanted to hear him scream.

With one final glance at Louise to be sure he raised the cane and brought it down in a diagonal stripe just above Owen’s sensitive balls. He watched in fascination as a welt rose up and couldn’t resist tracing it with one finger.

This time Owen did gasp but didn’t try to avoid the touch even when Ianto’s touch strayed down to the soft sacs.

“Has he ever been whipped on these?” Ianto asked curiously.

“Not by me,” Louise said, “that would be something extra to be negotiated as the risks are much greater.”

Ianto stepped back and delivered several more strikes up the curve in Owen’s buttocks, trying to copy Louise’s careful aim. Small sounds of distress tell him that his strokes were heavier than Louise’s but still Owen didn’t scream.

“He’s close,” Louise said watching Owen’s movements closely.

“How can you tell?”

“His hands.”

Looking up he saw that Owen’s hands were relaxed in the restraints for the first time.

“He’s letting go,” Louise explained, “you have to watch to be certain that you don’t go beyond what he is capable of taking.” She took the cane from him. “Move around to his front and watch.”

He followed her directions even though he didn’t want to lose sight of the red marked flesh. There was no sign of pain on Owen’s face now. There was a strange peace that Ianto recognised from the mornings after.

“Could you give him that peace?” Louise asked as she brought the cane down sharply and Ianto watched pain twist Owen’s face and then smooth it to almost beauty.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, “I think I might be able to but I don’t know about the sexual thing.”

“You’re not attracted to him?”

“I didn’t think I was but…” Ianto’s face was as open as Owen’s as he tried to sort through his feelings.

Louise reached around and removed Owen’s blindfold before Ianto could say anything more.

She administered two further strokes as Owen adjusted to the sudden introduction of light. He adjusted before Ianto could school his features into their normal neutrality.

The shame at his discovery was eased by the understanding and hunger Owen could see in Ianto’s eyes and then he shattered as Louise struck for the last time.

Afterwards it was Ianto who released Owen from his restraints and carefully applied the balm to his injuries in complete silence.

Owen hadn’t looked at him since the moment of connection and Ianto didn’t know what to say.

Louise brought Owen’s clothes in and Ianto turned away to let him dress feeling more of a voyeur than when Owen was naked.

“I can’t help you anymore Owen,” Louise said before either of them could say anything, “but I believe Ianto can.”

“I don’t bloody pay you…” Owen began angrily.

“You trust me to know what you need,” she interrupted him, “you need Ianto and I think he needs you. Did you feel the difference when he wielded the cane?”

Owen shivered slightly and couldn’t look at Ianto.

“Whatever you decide,” She continued, “you are no longer my client. You are going to make me seriously hurt you which would defeat my purpose.”

They didn’t say anything as Louise ushered them out of the house. Owen got carefully into his car and drove off with Ianto following behind.

When they pulled up in front of Owen’s apartment building Owen didn’t get out of his car and Ianto hurried over to check on him. Owen looked a little surprised and his concern and then rallied to climb stiffly out and head for the door without checking to see if Ianto followed.

When they were in his apartment he turned to face Ianto defiantly. “So this would be when you tell me how disgusting I am or offer some sort of fucked up sympathy.”

“I don’t think I can,” Ianto said walking into the living space, “you seem to be forgetting that I used that cane on you.”

“Why?” Owen demanded.

“To see if I could.”

“Well that’s fucked up. As fucked up as me needing it.” Owen still couldn’t look Ianto in the eye.

“I want to say something stupid like why didn’t you come to one of us,” Ianto said, “and then I question my own sanity. I wouldn’t come to one of us. Does it hurt a lot?”

“It hurts like fuck and it helps better than any bottle of booze I’ve ever drowned in,” Owen said honestly.

“How long?”

Owen sighed and walked over to the liquor cabinet. “If you really want the whole story you better sit down and I need to have a drink.”

They sat at either end of the sofa and Owen poured them both drinks.

“Since I was at medical school,” Owen said answering the earlier question. “Started as a dare, turned out I liked it too much to stop.”

“Louise said it wasn’t sexual?”

“Not by the time I got to her. Was a time I combined them but…” Owen stopped and poured another drink for them both. “I knew Louise had brought a bloke into the room as soon as you touched me. She’s used others before, never bothered me so long as the pain was sweet.” He laughed, “Fuck she used me as a training dummy for her staff. Gave me a discount for it.”

“I enjoyed it, marking you,” Ianto confessed finishing the drink. “So what do we do now?”

“Fucked it I know. Do I have to worry about Retcon in my coffee?”

“Do I have to worry about the same thing in my whisky?” Ianto waved his drink.

“Would you rather? We could pretend it never happened, carry on the way we always do.”

“Louise said she couldn’t help you anymore.”

“I’m sure if I throw enough money at her she’ll change her mind.”

Ianto sighed and let his head fall back onto the back of the sofa. “I keep asking myself what would Jack do and then I wonder if we would be this shattered if he was here.”

“We broke before he left Ianto, I can’t see how he would make any difference.”

“Would you have let him find out about what you do?”

“I’m pretty sure he knew and didn’t care so long as it didn’t affect my work. He could be a callous bastard when he wanted to be.”

“Yeah he could. Handsome though.”

“And didn’t he know it?”

“It always comes back to Jack,” Ianto said with another sigh.

“Fuck I hated that,” Owen said, “I hated that as soon as he walked into a room I might as well be invisible, especially where the rest of you were concerned.”

“You weren’t invisible,” Ianto said turning his head to look at Owen, “obnoxious yes, invisible no.”

Owen laughed and then sobered. “So what do we do now then?”

“I finish my drink and then kiss you.”

“Okay.” Owen’s eyes widened. “Why are you doing that?”

“Because right now I want to do that more than I want to run my hands over the welts on your back that are making it so difficult for you to sit still.”

“Right now that’s not what’s making it difficult for me to sit,” Owen said adjusting his trousers.

Ianto finished his drink and slid over to Owen. They stared at each other uneasily until Owen huffed impatiently and pulled Ianto’s face closer.

As kisses went it was pretty bad but it got better quickly. Ianto’s hands slid around Owen’s waist and then stopped when he hissed with pain.

“I’m sorry.” Ianto pulled back from the kiss.

“Don’t be stupid.” Owen kissed him again.

“I don’t want to hurt you. Okay maybe I do but not while I’m kissing you,” Ianto said. “What do you need from me?”

“Right now more of what you were doing and less of the talking. Later, well we’ll see what you’re made of.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Just shut up and kiss me.”

Ianto accepted that Owen didn’t want to discuss it right then and did as he was told. This time he carefully slid his hands under Owen’s shirt and soaked up the warmth from the still raised welts there.

Kissing Owen was nothing like kissing Jack. Jack took control gently and firmly. Owen was more aggressive but Ianto could taste the need and a willingness to let him take control if he wanted.

Maybe that was what Louise had seen. Owen held the control in their scenes despite her wielding the whip. Owen who let himself break, who decided when to visit. If Ianto took over then he would have to decide when and how to bring Owen down. He wouldn’t mind if it involved kissing however.

Owen’s mind was spinning with the implications of what was happening. He knew he was attracted to Ianto but had always assumed the other man had no interest in anyone except the Captain. He also knew Ianto had a dark streak; he just had to decide if he trusted that Ianto could handle him. Of course the other man had shot him without blinking.

Ianto’s hand felt cool on his burning skin the almost pain grounding him the way he needed it to. He knew when his rage got out of control he was a dangerous person and he didn’t want to be that person anymore. Killing Jack had shocked him into control for a while but Louise had been right she couldn’t help him any longer.

Pain wasn’t enough, contact wasn’t enough he needed both. He was pretty sure if Jack hadn’t left he would have been forced to ask the Captain for help. He knew Jack’s darkness was a match for his own but he doubted there would have been kisses.

Kisses that led to tongues dancing, clothes being removed and skin explored with hands and lips.

Hands that led to Owen straddling Ianto and rubbing their erections together not caring about the sting of welts on the back of his thighs as sweat trickled across them under Ianto’s hands encouraging his movements.

It was hot and messy and everything they both needed. Afterwards in the shower Ianto carefully washed Owen’s back and Owen returned the compliment, but not quite as gently not that Ianto complained.

It wasn’t until they were lying on Owen’s bed that they spoke again.

“You need to stay the boss,” Ianto said into a pillow, “will that work?”

“You pull me down without the girls knowing and it’ll be fine. We can work out some signals maybe. It will be nice to not get to the point I normally get before visiting Louise.”

“Did Gwen never notice anything?”

“She didn’t see my back very often and it was easier when we were together…” Owen’s voice trailed off, “not because it was good or healthy just because…”

Ianto pressed his leg against Owen’s understanding what he’d meant. Jack had been that for him. Human contact was craved even when it was destructive or going nowhere.

“I’ll have to go shopping unless you’ve got things here?” Ianto couldn’t hide the blush or his interest in Owen’s answer.

“I’ve got a few things,” Owen replied with his own blush, “but you might want to find what suits you.”

* * * * *

It wasn’t easy to balance things at work to begin with and both sported black eyes they weren’t prepared to discuss with the girls.

Finally they worked it out and made it work. Gwen and Tosh noticed that Ianto was more tactile with everyone but since his touch seemed to calm Owen down they just accepted it. With the occasional joke between themselves about Ianto being a wild animal trainer before he started with Torchwood or possibly a hypnotist.

“Bloody fucking hell.” Owen threw his phone across the Hub, “stupid politicians and their stupid agendas.”

“Mr Saxon again?” Gwen asked.

“Now he’s questioning our budget as well as our last few reports. I think the bastard knows Jack is missing and he’s just playing us.” Owen flicked his pen at his computer screen. “How’s that report coming Tosh? The prat wants it yesterday.”

“I’ll need a couple more hours,” Tosh said from her station.

“Well get a fucking move on before I do something to the leader of the Opposition that will have him walking funny for days,” Owen growled.

“Go easy Owen, don’t let him get to you,” Gwen said.

“Do you want to talk to him next time?” Owen snarled, “Maybe if you flash some tit he’ll be more polite to you.”

“Coffee Owen?” Ianto asked mildly placing a cup in front of him.

Owen huffed but didn’t say anything as Tosh and Gwen happily slipped away.

After the girls have left for the day Owen follows Ianto down to the room they put aside for their sessions. It is on the other side of the Hub from where Ianto kept Lisa and as far away from the Weevils as they can get. Inside chains hung down from the ceiling over a mattress and a locked cabinet were the only items to be seen.

Owen stripped naked as soon as they entered and Ianto removed his jacket and tie rolling up his sleeves carefully as Owen knelt at his feet.

They were still for a moment, Owen’s head resting against his thigh and his hand stroking the scruffy hair gently.

Then Owen handed Ianto the key from around his neck and crawled over to the chains.

Ianto took his time unlocking the cabinet and selecting a cane from inside. They both preferred the cane or Ianto’s hand for punishment after working through many other tools. Now it was a matter of which cane to choose, how thick and how much flex.

Sessions varied from quick reminders when Owen pushed the team too far and ones where Ianto would call in sick for him the next day when they failed to save someone.

The reminder sessions were the ones that led to sex. Sex that had deepened their relationship to something they weren’t ready to name yet.

They both knew Jack would be back one day and that would change things again, but for now there was the room, a cane and a shared need they couldn’t give up.

Ianto kissed each of Owen’s wrists as he restrained them in the chains, pulling them tight so that Owen’s body was arched the way he liked it.

Owen cried out with every strike not needing to hide his need from Ianto. Ianto caressed each welt as it raised up not needing to hide his need from Owen either.

When Owen’s hands relaxed in the chains Ianto would stop, return the cane to the cabinet and then release Owen carefully onto the bed. It wasn’t the best place to have sex but they both wanted it. The first time was hard and fast with Owen on his hands and knees so Ianto could enjoy the carefully applied stripes.

Later they would return to Owen’s apartment where Ianto would tend the welts and Owen would thank him with a leisurely blow job.

It might be love or it might not be, but for now it was perfect.

END

***