Half the Fun

Title: Half the Fun
By: mickeylover303
Pairing: gen
Rating: PG-13
Words: 760
Summary: Owen questions something he still hasn't figured out and Ianto isn't being very cooperative.

Owen had only discovered the possibility of being Ianto’s brother recently; something he and Ianto still decided to keep between them. He wasn’t sure how the knowledge would affect the team dynamic, but it was the effect it was having on him that was truly taking him by surprise.

Though, he was grateful that only the two of them had to look in the warehouse and none of the others saw what happened inside.

“This could have been a hell of a lot worse, you know,” he said with more than just a hint of worry in his voice; something he wouldn’t readily admit to the man sitting in front of him. He licked his lips in concentration, squinting as he cleaned the small wound above Ianto’s eyebrow.

“Yes,” Ianto said wryly. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it at the time. I should have just stood there and let it maul me.”

“I should have let you pass out from all the blood loss, too,” Owen muttered as he used his hand to gently turn Ianto’s head to the side.

“Is it really that bad?” Ianto asked, letting his feet dangle as he sat in the bed of the SUV, hands firmly gripping the edges.

“No. You didn’t need any sutures and the initial hemorrhage looked worse than it was,” Owen admitted; putting up a finger before Ianto had a chance to speak. “But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been.”

“Shut up and hold still so I can make sure you’re not bleeding anymore, all right.”

Ianto sighed but otherwise didn’t move. He closed his eyes as he let Owen finish cleaning the cut above his eyebrow, the other man moving closer and standing in between his legs.

“Thing got your eye instead, huh?” Owen narrowed his eyes, noticing Ianto wince as he began applying a bandage.

Owen pursed his lips as he began to back away; not giving much regard to Ianto’s slightly annoyed expression. “Well, serves you right for putting yourself out like that.”

“It was just a baby, and Jack already said it was harmless.” He paused, looking behind him to the Pakhar that was now safely contained in the backseat. “I suppose - I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I…appreciate your concern, Owen, but-”

Ianto ran a hand through his hair, turning back to the other man. “I’m not going to say it, but you know what I mean.”

And Owen did, but he chose not to say anything, either. He fixed his gaze on Ianto, looking past the other man as he pretend to check the bandage once more. The action was done needlessly and Owen knew Ianto could tell.

Maybe he was taking this older brother thing too seriously. As a doctor, he already felt responsible for the welfare of his team. And for some reason he felt as if he should feel more responsible for Ianto than usual because of the fact that they were brothers. But he still wasn’t sure if he actually did.

He didn’t think he treated Ianto that much differently since finding out. Maybe there were a few more prolonged glances here or there; mentally noting small things about the younger man. The way Ianto chewed on his bottom lip sometimes if he was excited; how he placed his hands on hips when he was feeling nervous or particularly anxious; turning his head to the side when he wanted to avoid talking about something.

“So, I’m free to go, now?” Ianto asked after the lingering silence between them, not waiting for a response as he lifted himself from the vehicle. He reached for his jacket that was still lying down on the bed.

“I’m fine, you know, really,” Ianto interrupted. He looked at Owen thoughtfully as he straightened his shoulders; fixing the lapels on his jacket. “Although, I think the Pahkar may have risked more injury when you tried to get it off me,” he said, a small smirk appearing on his face that Owen found himself returning.