Title: Radio Silence
Author: rivers
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: I really enjoyed writing this. Ianto just keeps getting more and more interesting to write.
Summary: Ianto gets a bit frustrated with the world, but Jack assures him that there is still more to be seen.

***

"I'm so sick of love songs!" Ianto said as he pressed the radio button. The SUV went silent but for the huff of air he exhaled once he rolled his eyes and sat harshly back in his seat. He eyed the man sitting next to him, making sure he was looking away every time Jack glanced his way.

Jack screwed up his mouth and saw the younger man through the corner of his eye. He chuckled quietly.

"What!" Ianto said. "What have I done now?"

"Nothing," Jack replied. His smirk grew into more of a smile and his laughing became more pronounced. Ianto rolled his eyes again.

"It's something; otherwise you wouldn't be laughing."

"I can laugh at nothing. I can laugh at you, also." Jack turned his eyes back to the road. "So, what's wrong with love songs?"

Ianto made a sound of disgust. "Where do I begin? Love," Ianto said. "Just love. I mean, you know? You know."

Jack made a small noncommittal sound. No, he wasn't sure if he knew; these days it was so hard to know what was going on in this boy's head. The sound, however, was meant to encourage Ianto to continue.

"How long have I worked here? God, I don't even know. And all this stuff.. It's like I've seen it all before. The rift — it's fantastic, there's no denying. But everything that comes through is.. is shit! It's all shit. 'Welcome to Cardiff, the universe's rubbish pile!'" Ianto took a moment to take a breath and continued. "It's beautiful, sure, but there's nothing that's come through to make me believe that the universe is any better off than us. A pterodactyl? Where's the longing and the passion? Where are the things that are supposed to make me proud to be human! What's the point of it all!"

Jack raised an eyebrow, asking silently if Ianto was done.

"It's just.. I expected there to be so much more." Ianto's eyes were on his lap now, focused on his hands wringing together.

"The universe is a big place. There's more to see."

"No," Ianto said.

Jack smiled and took Ianto's hand, squeezing hard. Ianto pressed the radio button. A different song was on, though still about love. He didn't sing along. Jack did, but only because he had seen more beautiful things than pterodactyls.

***