Title: Anything Goes
By: _usakeh_
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica/Torchwood
Characters: Dark!Jack, Mystery Male BSG Character
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This story stars the alternate version of Jack Harkness I introduced in As the Daylight Falls. See if you can guess with whom he interacts!

Jack Harkness slid out of the crowded room and into the corridor. Once he did so he knew he hadn’t left a moment too soon. He felt at once terribly restless and strangely sad, and he knew from experience that mixing that state with a room full of people did not yield good results. Drinking didn’t do shit for it either. There was nothing he could do but walk it off, and hope that the feeling faded fast. Before he did anything too stupid, preferably. At least he was in control enough to know that he wasn’t in a safe state of mind. The real trouble started when he was so far gone he couldn’t even get himself out in time.

“Tell me something,” Jack began, addressing the empty corridor before him. “Tell me something, folks. What is it you do? What is it you’re seeking, down here? Tell me. Because let me tell you this: you’re not going to find it. No fucking way.” Jack took a deep breath. It didn’t matter what he said; speaking aloud, in and of itself, tended to make him feel better. “I’ve seen it all. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve seen enough to know that I haven’t seen it all, to know that nobody ever can or ever will. But I’ve also seen enough to…I’ve seen things you can’t even imagine. You can’t even imagine.”

“Excuse me?” A voice from the other end of the corridor. Jack felt himself tense. Stay calm. Stay calm, he told himself. This guy is not a threat. He’s not out to get you. Just answer him normally. As normally as you can. “What did you say?”

“What’s it matter to you, buddy?” Jack walked over and inspected the other man. Handsome and tightly muscled. Not in uniform, but clearly belonged in one. There was something stuffy about his manner that irked Jack. He was the sort of man who passed judgment immediately and never looked back. “I was just talking to myself out here.” Jack paused. “Or what is it? Would you rather I talk to you? Because I’ll have you know that I’d be happy to do that, or anything else you’d like, anytime.”

“Are you saying that you think I was propositioning you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, babe.” Jack took off his coat and posed in front of the stranger. “You like that? Want more?”

“No,” the man snapped. “Can’t I as much as walk down the corridor without being accosted by you types?”

“Wait a minute now. Let’s be fair here. You’re the one who came. We didn’t go look for you; you came looking for us. You want something here. And yet even when you’re frakking him – or her – you won’t admit that to yourself. Won’t admit that you want.” Jack stepped closer. He felt much better now that he had something upon which to focus. So much better. “So how about it? You want me?”

“No, I don’t. I said as much already. Now get out of my way.”

“Are you sure, babe?” And then there it was: that moment of hesitation. In that moment, just as he always did, Jack seized his chance. He leaned forward, wrapped his arms around the man, and kissed him on the lips. Made it last. Then he pulled back. “No,” Jack said, shaking his head. “You’re not sure. But you won’t take the chance. Your loss.” He winked. “If you ever reconsider, let me know. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around these parts again.”

“Why’s that?” The man wasn’t quite so cocky and superior anymore. But the tone would come back soon enough. It always did. “How can you be sure?”

“Because you folks don’t know what it is you’re looking for because you can’t even admit to yourself that you’re looking. So you never find it, and you keep coming back. That’s just how it works, babe. And we here are all grateful for it.”

“You have no right–”

“Let’s save that conversation for next time,” Jack interrupted. “Good night, gorgeous,” he added. Then he turned on his heel and continued down the corridor.