Title: Keeping it Fictional
By: ninefics
Word Count: 810
Rating: All Ages
Warnings: AU
Spoilers: None
Characters: Ianto, Jack (established relationship)
Disclaimer: This is fanfiction. I don't have anything to do with the BBC or the cast and crew of Torchwood.
Author's Notes: For alanafish, who said "I think there should be a fic in which Ianto is a writer. Either complete AU or 'Ianto-is-retconned-but-Jack-doesn't-make-him-come-back', I'm not fussy."
Summary: ... Ianto is a writer. It's completely AU.

Jack stretched slowly, sliding down in the sofa until his head and shoulders were on the cushion, his legs were draped over the coffee table, and his arse was suspended in the empty space between the two.  A black-and-white cat passed under him, arching his back to make contact.  The cat flicked his tail and thumped Jack on the arm, then hopped up to sit next to him, yellow eyes wide, pupils nearly invisible slits in the bright morning light.

Ianto came in from the kitchen and stood there, staring. "I'm not putting this coffee down until you sit up."

"Put the coffee down and I might be able to sit up." Jack yawned and turned to face the cat. The cat responded with a gentle headbutt and a loud purr that was audible even to Ianto.

"Sit up first. I'm not putting this down and then having you kick it over. Defeats the whole purpose of me fetching you a coffee."

"Actually, it doesn't. It just means you'll have to get me another one."  Jack grinned and winked, but sat up slowly.  The cat hopped to the back of the sofa and rubbed his face against Jack's cheek.

"Owen loves you a little too much," Ianto said as he put the coffee down on a coaster. Using only his eyebrows he managed to convey the message "if you do not use this coaster I will break your fingers."  At least that was the message Jack got from Ianto's expression. He rubbed his fingers in some kind of precognitive, phantom pain.

"He gets it from my side of the family. I love me a little too much." he said as he reached for the coffee and took a sip.  "Perfect as always. Are you ever going to tell me the secret?"

"No," Ianto said and crossed the small room to his desk.  The computer was already on, the fan was humming softly, and the blue and white screen saver was swirling hypnotically. Ianto nudged the mouse and the screen clicked to life.

"Email from Tosh," he called over his shoulder. "She and Mary are in France. They're doing the great museum tour and Mary's getting a sketchbook filled with jewelry design ideas."  He skimmed a little further. "They both send their love."

"To you, maybe." Jack scoffed.  "Mary knows I don't like her."

"You just don't like her because she took your Karaoke partner away.  Shut up and be happy for them."

"I'm happy!" He insisted. "I am happy. If Tosh is happy, I'm happy.  You know, you could always be my new Karaoke partner?"

Ianto didn't even bother turning around. "We've been over this. There is no way in Hell you're going to get me to sing 'I Got You, Babe.'"

"I'll let you be Sonny?"

"Ah, therein lies the problem, Jack. You always insist on being Cher and you always insist on wearing that wig.  It was cute when it was you and Tosh.  If it were you and me it would just look -"

"Incredibly camp?" Jack interrupted.

"Incredibly.  Gwen wants to know if we're going back to Cardiff for Christmas." 

Jack stood, put his mug on the table (on the coaster) and scratched his stomach lazily. "I think we can do it. How long do you want to go for?"

"Ten days? Maybe two weeks. Just long enough to see everyone. You know my sister and her kids will be upset if we don't spend at least a few days with them."

"Two weeks sounds good. I'll put in my vacation request when I get to work. Which," he glanced at the clock over the door, "should be soon.  DC Metro's only unreliable when you're late, and the FBI hates it when I'm late."  He leaned over and slid one arm under Ianto's and across his chest to rest on Ianto's left shoulder. He planted a kiss behind Ianto's left ear.  "Let me see what you've been working on before I go?"

Ianto didn't blush, but Jack could feel the heat rise in his cheeks and did his best not to laugh while Ianto brought up the document.  He skimmed the words, his grin growing broader by the second until he had no choice but to straighten up and laugh out loud.  Ianto covered his face with his hands and pretended to be mortified, but he was laughing too.

Jack leaned in again and read aloud. "Captain James Harper stood on top of Cardiff's Millenium Centre and surveyed the streets and buildings below him." He kissed Ianto on thecheek and gave him a tight hug.  "Looks like another best-seller already."