Title: The Contract
By: Flo Wynn
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. I am not making profit from this work.
Spoilers: Spoilers up to 2x12 Fragments.
Warnings: BDSM, D/s, slave fic, abuse
Summary: There is a darker side to Ianto's contract wich once discovered reigns madness on Jack/Ianto. This is a very dark story. Be warned.

***

It was Gwen who found it of course. Owen would never dream of venturing into the sanctity of Ianto's filing cabinets; not just because he, like Jack, was allergic to any paperwork beyond the necessary, but also because he feared what Ianto would do to him if he disturbed The System. Toshiko knew better, not to go searching for things in places you didn't belong because you may very well find out something you didn't want to, if Ianto knew about her past he'd say it was due to how she became a member of Torchwood, but despite what he tells everyone he doesn't actually know everything. And Jack... well Jack already knew so he wouldn't go searching would he.

 

"What's this, Ianto?" Gwen asked. Three words that would change Ianto's life because Torchwood was his life now. And now everything was about to come crashing down around him, with those simple words and Gwen Williams waving a manila folder around with black printed writing on the cover reading 'Ianto Jones, Contract & Personnel File'.

Ianto's heart turned to stone. "Where did you find that?" He asks, his voice raspy with fear, anger, and shock.

"In Jack's 'secret' section in the drawers." She admitted unashamedly.

"Why... what.... What were you doing in Jack's secret section in the drawers."

"I was just... I wanted to see if he had any other secrets like Jonah hidden away." Gwen confessed, her cheeks heating up a little but her eyes were still defiant and curious. Ianto gritted his teeth.

"Jack was right! You obviously didn't learn anything from Jonah!"

Gwen raised her chin. "We shouldn't have secrets like Jonah in Torchwood, at least, not from each other. If I'd have known I wouldn't have... so I decided to go looking and THIS is what I found. So an explanation would be nice." She demanded, wishing he could see that she just had his best interest at heart. What she'd found was... it was awful. She hadn't believed her eyes, which was why she'd come to Ianto hoping he'd laugh in her face and tell her it was a April Fools Day joke or something. But looking at him now; face ruddy from embarrassment and anger, sweat glistening on his forehead and his hair suddenly messy from running his hands through it although now they were clenched by his side as if he was trying not to punch something (or someone).

His mouth moved as he turned away and Gwen only just caught what he was saying, "he said he'd burnt it."

The words etched themselves into her soul like a knife wound.

"Ianto! Please talk to me." She begged, suddenly scared for him rather than disgusted that he'd signed his name to the paper document like signing away his soul to the devil.

He took a gulp of expensive whiskey before turning to face her. "OK." He agreed.

 xox

They sat in silence on the sofa, having no fear of being caught. Jack had gone to Scotland to Torchwood Two and Owen had been convinced into escorting Toshiko to a conference in London on technological advancements.

"My first day." Ianto began, breaking the silence with a bittersweet smile. "I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I had to do this, get into Torchwood Three, for Lisa, there was no back up plan. So after finally convincing Captain Jack Harkness to give me a job - a combination of coffee skills, pterodactyl catching, desperation, and sexual chemistry - I turned up in a suit and waited in the Tourist Information Centre, letting in a very confused Owen and Tosh and Suzie. I didn't see Jack for nearly five hours, he called up to ask me to order in some food and told me to come to his office when it arrived, that I needed to sign some paperwork. Half an hour later I walked into his office with help from Tosh who directed me in the right way. He was sat at his desk, stony faced and stiff. I almost lost my nerve right then and left. But he stood up and presented me with this file. It had my entire life story in it, including that retcon had no affect on me and Lisa's supposed death. He turned to page twenty-nine and I saw a contract. I was so desperate to get in and get this over with that I nearly signed it straight away. Jack put his hands over mine and told me to read it, every last word, before signing it." Ianto paused, this was the difficult part. "Health benefits, cover story, pay... all included, naturally. Also my job description. General Assistant, cleaning, refreshments, feeding the pterodactyl, manning the Tourist Information office and presenting a cover, researching and keeping an eye on people, keeping the archives and filing in order, making coffee, taking my orders directly from Jack." He took a deep breath, his fingers tracing the words on the page in front of him. "Servicing all of the bosses needs according to his direction, emphasis on discretion and exclusivity as far as other team members go, but I was allowed to, if I should find time beyond my work duties, to pursue a sexual and/or romantic relationship with someone not affiliated with Torchwood, UNIT, or our or foreign governments."

"And that means what I think it means." Gwen pushed, wanting to clarify her horrendous discovery.

Ianto's eyes were darker than she'd ever seen them when he turned to her. "I asked him that too. He sat down across from me, so as not to let his precious fifty-first century pheromones interfere with my thinking, and looked me in the eyes. Sex. He said. Whenever, however he wanted. It was his strictest stipulation of my employment. I didn't think about it, I just signed my name and pushed the document towards him, standing up straight and waiting." Finally a slight smile cracked his stricken face. "He dismissed me."

"So, it was never... he never... it was never put into practice then?" She asked, relief edging through her voice.

"Oh no. It was. But that's a bit too personal to go into just now." Ianto said, his professional mask slipping on.

Gwen looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand... I thought you wanted to be with each other."

"We do. I do. But everything has a beginning." And with that he left, filed the file away under Jack's name and closed the draw, locking it safely behind him. All the while he felt a stinging in his heart...

Jack had lied when he said that he'd burnt the file.

***

It was the end of another long day at the office. Gwen was falling asleep at her desk 'researching' the latest reports of weevil attacks, Owen was sitting in the autopsy bay pretending to be working when in actual fact he was going over and over his test results from the test Martha had run on him shortly after his death. And Toshiko was re-writing her report on the events during Gwen's wedding, still not satisfied with the disgust portrayed in her writing about the incident with Bananaboat. Jack sneaked up on Ianto when he was filing. "I want you." He breathed into Ianto's ear, biting down on the lobe as his hand found its way to the front of Ianto's trousers.

"The others." Ianto protested weakly as Jack palmed his growing errection.

"You never minded before." Jack whispered wickedly, grinding his crotch into his lover's bottom, groaning quietly.

But it was too late for Ianto, the spell was broken and Ianto was suddenly reminded of the contract Jack had lied about burning. "Or was it just that you didn't take the time to care weather or not I felt uncomfortable being fucked with the others just a few rooms away." Ianto said bitterly.

"What?" Jack muttered, barely paying attention as he started to undo Ianto's buttons. To Ianto it seemed to confirm his suspicions that Jack still regarded the contract firmly in place.

"God! Is this all I am." To you.

"Ianto!" Jack groaned, finally caressing bare skin and biting down on his lover's neck exactly the way he knew drove Ianto crazy with desire - normally.

"He remembers my name!" Ianto said softly, full of dry angry humour verging on the sarcastic.

With a frustrated sign Ianto felt Jack detached himself from Ianto's neck. "OK, what is your problem."

"You." Ianto bit back angrily, tired of hiding his emotions from the one person he should be able to be totally honest with.

"Excuse me? What did I do!" Jack's voice was loud now, his tone incredulous.

With a very undignified snort Gwen woke up in the main work space. Jack lowered his voice. "What is it this time?"

"This time?" Ianto's eye brow shoots up.

"You don't say anything but I can feel your moods a mile away. Lately you always seem to be pissed off or board, which I can tell you isn't brilliant for the old self esteem."

"But you just fuck me anyway, you don't think to ask or offer help?" Ianto asks, and sees irritation pass over Jack's features. Christ – things really hadn't changed, Ianto had just been deluding himself. It hurt more than having to repeat the clauses of the contract to Gwen, having to remember how far he'd been willing to go for Lisa – and to have it all crash around him knowing not only was Lisa dead but he'd betrayed Jack.

"Will you stop using the word 'fuck' like that's all we do?" Jack had the nerve to complain, leaving Ianto confused and angry.

"How can it be anything else when the contract still exists." Ianto said bluntly, buttoning up his shirt and staring Jack defiantly in the eyes watching as realisation dawned. Jack took a step back.

"That's what this is about." He said.

"You told me you'd burnt it; not to worry because 'it's in the past'. But I found it the other day, oddly unsinged for a document you supposedly turned to ash." Ianto left out the part about Gwen knowing. It wasn't important at the moment although Ianto supposed he couldn't keep the truth from Jack forever – much like the existence of the document, Gwen's involvement would eventually surface to haunt him. "Why'd you keep it, and lie about it."

"Insurance." Jack said coldly.

"What?" Ianto asked, unable to believe his ears.

"I kept the document for insurance of your co-operation and loyalty, I didn't tell you about it because I didn't think the threat of its existence was necessary to keep you in line. However recently you've been far more looser with your tongue, and evidently more willing to betray me when it comes to slipping Gwen a bit of information I'd already forbidden her access too."

Ianto was struggling to think clearly, hurt and pain fogging up his mind. "This isn't happening." Ianto said in a dead voice.

Jack's eyes flashed. "You signed it. Now its time for you to stop complaining and fulfil your obligations." Jack said, ripping away Ianto's shirt no longer gentle or loving. He shoved Ianto back against the drawers causing his back to spasm in pain, his gasp caught as Jack's mouth descended upon his, biting passionately at his bottom lip and shoving his tongue inside – a show of dominance.

Ianto struggled, finally able to turn his head and get enough leverage to push Jack away. "What if I say no?" Ianto asked, knowing that Jack had never forced himself on Ianto before, even in the days after Lisa when Ianto had been less than willing to service his Captain and Jack had been almost too angry to care about Ianto's wants or pleasure.

"Whenever, wherever I want. No is not an option. You signed away your ability to refuse me nearly two years ago." Jack reminded him cruelly.

"Not completely." Ianto said, hoping this brought the old Jack back instead of this cruel lying hard man who now stood in front of him. If it didn't work then it would be the end of Ianto Jones – one way or another. "The contract states quite clearly that if I ever want an out, I can always choose death over sex with you. So why don't you just kill me, sir?"

***

"What if I say no?" Ianto asked, knowing that Jack had never forced himself on Ianto before, even in the days after Lisa when Ianto had been less than willing to service his Captain and Jack had been almost too angry to care about Ianto's wants or pleasure.

"Whenever, wherever I want. No is not an option. You signed away your ability to refuse me nearly two years ago." Jack reminded him cruelly.

"Not completely." Ianto said, hoping this brought the old Jack back instead of this cruel lying hard man who now stood in front of him. If it didn't work then it would be the end of Ianto Jones – one way or another. "The contract states quite clearly that if I ever want an out, I can always choose death over sex with you. So why don't you just kill me, sir?"

 

"Stand down, Jones." Jack warned coldly, watching as Ianto threw his gun to the floor, followed by his badge, and his torn shirt (Gods knows it wouldn't do to damage his precious shirt).

They stood there in a stand-off, Ianto had his arms spread out like a surrender but his pose was tense, ready to run, his eyes pleading for something (for his Jack to be returned to him). Jack's hands clenched be his side. He wasn't going to kill Ianto - that wasn't an option, but neither was letting him get away with his recent insubordination.

"What's going on?" Gwen's sleep riddled voice came. Neither men moved and the tension in the room didn't lessen one drop. "Ianto?" She asked, concern flowing through her voice. Shit - Ianto thought just as Jack realised Gwen knew about the contract.

"Leave, Gwen." Jack said, a warning running through hi voice. "Go home to your husband."

"Not until I know that Ianto-"

"He knows what he signed up for so keep your nose out of it. This isn't any of your business. Unless I chose to kill him and then it'll be your business to hire a new secretary. Got it?"

Gwen blanched. Her large concerned eyes darting forth between the two. It wasn't the first time Jack had threatened Ianto's life but back then she hadn't believed him - now... Ianto looked more humiliated than scared so Gwen decided to leave, but only to go up to the work stations and find Tosh, signalling for her to follow as she went to the autopsy room and found Owen. "You need to help Ianto." She said. "I think Jack's going to hurt him."

Owen and Tosh's eyes met, sharing a look Gwen couldn't decipher. "What makes you think Jack would ever hurt Ianto? In a non-consensual way that is." Owen added cheekily earning a wan smile from Tosh who's cheeks coloured slightly.

"Turn on the CCTV footage for the filing cabinets." Gwen insisted and with a sigh Owen did so. The unhappy couple were still stood there, talking now. Ianto looked desperate, on the edge of tears, but Jack was unmoved.

"Tea boy's crying. So what's new?" Owen said with a brusqueness Gwen hadn't thought he possessed, or at least he hadn't possessed lately, not after Jack left and the team had grown closer. But what she didn't realise was that the time Ianto had been here without Jack was a period during which he had proved himself to Tosh and Owen. Tosh was silent, guilt and worry etched on her faced.

"How can you... Tosh?" Gwen appealed. But the pair shared a guilty look. More secrets, thought Gwen dejectedly. They all turned to the screen to watched as a defeated Ianto fell with a loud but strangely graceful thud to his knees in front of Jack, his hands shaking as he brought them up to Jack's crotch and begun undoing Jack's trousers, pulling them down and with one last almost pleading look at Jack's stony face he-

The feed was cut off by Tosh. "It's none of our business." She defended herself primly before standing next to Owen. Presenting a united front; against Gwen. And that's when she realised. Ianto's shameful 'secret' wasn't as secret as he thought it was.

"You know!" She gasped out.

Again, guilty secretive looks were exchanged before they both nodded. "I signed the witness statement." Tosh admitted. "And I had to check him over for any STI's and to make sure his mental health was such that he knew what he was getting into." Owen added.

"How could you... it's practically prostitution! And you can see how unhappy he was, is." Gwen told them, a sense of foreboding and grief filling her heart because if Ianto couldn't help himself, and Tosh and Owen wouldn't help him, then Gwen couldn't help him.

"They signed a contract, Gwen. It's their business." Owen said, and turned around at return to his scans.

"I'm sorry." Tosh said, and she begun to walk back to her work station.

"Is there nothing we can do?" Gwen asked, desolate.

"We can be there for him in the aftermath." Tosh said, looking again at Owen who nodded. Gwen gulped and with one last look at the now blank screen, she took off to get away from the warped, twisted inner workings of Torchwood Three's Head Quarters.

 

/***/

An hour and thirty eight minutes later Jack lay panting on the bed, basking in post orgasmic bliss and smelling strongly of cum, sex, and sweat. Ianto lay beside him, eyes blank body still tense and now a little bit sore. He hadn't allowed himself to enjoy the activities but Jack hadn't hurt him beyond the normal. "Are you done yet, sir?" Ianto asked stiffly.

Jack's eyes found Ianto's face, and irritations flashed through them. "Didn't know my touch was so abhorrent to you, Ianto." He said, stretching out languorously.

Ianto gritted his teeth. "Didn't know or didn't care."

Jack sat up. Angry again. "This attitude problem has to go. Now. We enjoyed ourselves before, nearly two years of pleasure and satisfaction; but you feel like making life hard for yourself. There is only three directions this can go in. One: I can kill you. Not a big fan of this option, personally. Blood to clean up, a new person to hire now we've become accustom to... having our needs met instantaneously," Ianto closed his eyes to block out the words, pain travelling through his body like electric stocks. "And the fact that having you around is so... convenient. OPEN YOUR EYES!" Jack's voice had trailed off lustfully before he hissed the command, an unnaturally sweet smile playing around his mouth when he saw his command automatically obeyed. "Option two is that I free you of the contract, you seek other employment; perhaps join Martha at U.N.I.T or head off to Torchwood Two, I understand he gets awfully lonely up there all on his own." Ianto jaw clenched. "But again, I'm not a fan of the idea. If you aren't here then you aren't of any use to me, now are you? And you have been so... useful, to me of late. Wouldn't you agree?" Jack asked, stroking Ianto's hair in a gesture that reminded Ianto of a owner stroking a pet. Ianto nodded when Jack's grip tightened in his hair. "Good. So that leaves us with door number three. Retraining. Or rather, training since I never trained you to begin with. My mistake." He said, almost casually. "But for tonight, we sleep." Jack finished, snapping a pair of silver police issue handcuffs to the bed so Ianto couldn't move. Then he rolled over and with a flick of his wrist the room was plunged into darkness.

 

Neither man knew what the other was thinking that night. Ianto, trying just to breath through the emotional pain the was echoing through him, also waging an inner battle with the feelings of disgust that he had let himself get into this situation and the Submissive mindset of being glad that Jack still wanted him even though he was causing the other man so much grief and stress. Jack, lying there relaxed as if he was sleeping, was torn up thinking if only thing had been different...

 

But this was the way things were.

***

Ianto stupidly fell asleep, exhausted from the weeks activities. When he woke no longer was he in Jack's uncomfortable bunk, he was in an even more uncomfortable place, stripped to his boxers, kneeling on the cold rough ground in the small interrogation room that Ianto had affectionately teased Jack about it not being scary when they'd watched Gwen, Jack and Beth; all that seemed a long time ago now. Ianto looked around but it was dark, too dark to see although his internal body clock indicated it must be mid morning by now, if not afternoon. There was a light and above he could see Jack through the glass window, standing there watching, his face stony. And then Ianto remembered what Jack had said to him last night; "So that leaves us with door number three. Retraining. Or rather, training since I never trained you to begin with. My mistake." A mistake Jack was obviously eager to rectify. Ianto pulled at his arms and yes, they were still handcuffed around his back. Sighing to himself he settled in for the long haul, remembering how Jack liked him to keep his eyes down. Mostly just when other people were around, like when Gwen had interrupted them in the Hothouse a few weeks ago (a lifetime ago) Jack had been unashamedly half naked and aroused, Ianto however had scurried to dress himself 'appropriately' and when Jack had started talking to Gwen his eyes had been drawn downwards modestly, as if on auto pilot. Jack had laughed the first time he'd done it, causing a far more innocent and desperate Ianto to blush becomingly. Jack had then taken Ianto's face in his hands and told him how much the gesture amused and pleased him; because it meant he was getting used to his position in life. God, to think now that THOSE were the 'good days'.

So Ianto keep his eyes glued to the floor despite the fact he longed to look at Jack and beg with his eyes. It was perhaps another half an hour before anything happened, although Ianto couldn't be exactly sure without the stopwatch which had been a necessary tool in Ianto's early days as Jack's... as Jack's. Although after Lisa one stipulation of Ianto's return to the Hub was that he be a more active participant in their 'relationship' such as it was and had been, which had led to propositions of stopwatches by the graveside of dead-co-workers. Sometimes the shame Ianto felt almost overcame the need to survive, the need that was built into everyone's DNA.

"I told the team not to come in today." Jack's cold voice drifted in through Ianto's ear piece. He tried not to react but couldn't help stiffening slightly. "Which means no interruptions. By this time tomorrow I expect you to be trained enough that you can interact with the others without... embarrassing me." Mortification spread through him. Not just at the idea of being so public, he knew that Tosh and Owen had some idea of his involvement with Jack, as did Gwen now, but it was more because of the hint of shame he felt at the idea of Jack being embarrassed by him. Ianto hadn't even noticed it until this morning but over the last twenty-one months he'd been becoming indoctrinated to think and act like a Submissive. He felt sick. "So, enjoy phase one." Jack said and Ianto couldn't help but jump as a television switched on somewhere in the room. Turning he found it, and to his eternal dismay and confusion it was the CCTV footage that Jack had obviously saved from the first time they'd been together. It was - really hot. Watching himself, nervous and naïve and skittish as Jack calmed him the way a man would calm his virgin lover. Jack stripped him down slowly, kissing every part of his body, finding his 'sweat spots', telling him it was okay that Jack was doing all the work this time, and next time Ianto could explore Jack; return the favour. Ianto had given Jack a small smile, not sure that he even wanted to at that particular time. Yes he'd been attracted to Jack when they'd first met, and obviously not against using that for his own purposes, but he had never felt that way about a man before and after being raised in a fairly Catholic household he wasn't convinced that laying with a man was ok in Gods eyes. That night Jack taught him that it didn't matter what God thought because it felt like heaven, and as long as Jack kept the friction on his dick up as he pounded into Ianto's prostate then God could be for the puritan heterosexuals and homophobics - he'd happily go to Hell. After all - he had already sold his soul to the Devil.

Soon Ianto was panting, hard from the video which cut off suddenly before Ianto's favourite part (the part where Jack forced Ianto over the edge to orgasm and followed loudly, a beautiful expression on his face) and repeated, starting from the beginning. Ianto was soon desperate to touch his cock but unable to do so.

"Jack!" he called out, desperation and need adding an edge to his voice which cracked from disuse and the cold air he'd been panting in for the last few hours. "Jack, please!" He groaned, arching his body slightly, his imagination and his memory amplifying the affects of the images conjured up from the tv. "Please," he whimpered. "Please, sir."

He couldn't see the way Jack's lips curved into a smile, even though his eyes were still cold, but Ianto knew he'd approve of the almost mindless way Ianto was chanting 'sir' over and over and over again. He wished it was a deliberate ploy in order to get Jack's attention but the truth was he wasn't capable of thinking so cunningly, his mind overridden with want and need.

The air slowly started to warm up and less than half an hour later Jack entered the room, pleased to see Ianto still on his knees, almost shaking, and still chanting his little mantra of 'please, sir, please' under his breath.

"What do you want?" Jack asked, circling the younger man.

"You. Please, anything. Just you. Please sir." Ianto begged almost incoherently, his eyes closed and his hands making fists behind his back.

"I don't know. I don't think you deserve what I've got yet." Jack said. They both knew that Ianto's apparent willingness to degrade himself by begging wasn't a sign of his Breaking, but the sexual arousal that he was helpless to fight. If Jack gratified him now then they'd be back to square zero and Jack didn't truly have the patience to take a step back when they were so close to taking a step forward.

Jack switched the television off, noting the sigh of relief that Ianto couldn't hide. The air was much warmer now, almost humid with the intoxicating smell of Jack's pheromones mixing with Ianto's arousal induced sweat. Jack removed his blue coat, placing it over the back of the spare chair, and he rolled up his sleeves. Noting with satisfaction that Ianto had opened his eyes but they were trained to the floor like a good little submissive.

He walked around Ianto, giving the Welshman a few minutes to calm himself down before he begun phase two. When finally Ianto's breathing had evened out Jack instructed him to stand up, which he did so on shaky legs. Pleased to see he was still hard and leaking Jack set about removing something from a bag that Ianto hadn't even registered being brought inside the room. What he saw from the corner of his down cast eyes made all his breath leave his body in one gasp. Noticing the reaction Jack calmed him.

"Ssh. It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you; you haven't done anything wrong. Just stay still." He brought the knife towards Ianto's underwear and instead of being relieved Ianto had to repress a groan of protest as Jack sliced through the expensive blue silk fabric, releasing Ianto's cock from its cloth imprisonment, which was a shame in Ianto's eyes as it had been the only friction he'd had.

Then he went back to the bag and this time Ianto stopped breathing when he saw what came out of it. Jack smiled cruelly.

"You can't come until I say so. That's Rule Number One, even you know that. This is just, another form of insurance. Physical instead of psychological. It insures your obedience. And since I can't trust you..." Ianto whimpered as Jack neared him, holding the leather cock ring and ball spreader. With them on he couldn't come. Not until Jack removed them.

"Now," Jack breathed out, standing behind Ianto. "The fun begins." He started at Ianto's neck, kissing softly and biting down when Ianto swayed into the gentle embrace, a reminder that he wasn't supposed to move. His fingers trailed a cool path down Ianto's warm body, tracing the veins on Ianto's arms with his tongue lapping at the small of Ianto's smooth pale back, finally dipping into his hole, dating like the way Ianto really wanted him to. He soon abandoned the action, realising that it was giving Ianto what he wanted even with the ring on securely. Jack moved around his lover's body, his eyes soaking in every detail as he started to remove his own clothing. Nothing excessive, just the red braces he wore today (Ianto's favourite - he knew), and his shirt leaving on his body moulding white t-shirt. Now he started on Ianto's front, sucking the other side of Ianto's passion bruised neck, fingers pinching Ianto's flat nipples before travelling down his lovers abs and pulling Ianto closer to his dick rubbed against the scratchy fabric of Jack's trousers causing him to shiver. Fingers pressing into Ianto's bottom as Jack fell to his knees, lavishing attention on Ianto's upper thighs and the backs of his knees, only stopping when Ianto almost buckled.

"Fuck-God-Please-Now-Oh-Bugger-Jack-Please!-SIR!" Ianto said, almost falling over in need.

"You promise to behave." Jack said coldly, stepping away and watching as panic spread across Ianto's features at the loss of physical contact.

"Uhgmf!" Ianto moaned.

"You promise to honour your Contract, to start behaving in a manner fitting your position? Especially around the other team members. Ianto look at me!" Ianto's eyes, hazed with lust and desperate need, met Jack's immediately. He nodded. "Yes, sir. I promise."

Jack nodded. "I'll give you one month before my final decision is made. One month to prove to me, finally, that you can honour your agreement. Despite the fact you only made it to save Lisa's life."

"That's not the only reason." It was a bare whisper but it reached Jack's ears causing him to stop still like a statue.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

"Sir. That wasn't the only reason I made the Contract." Ianto admitted, shame sickening him in the base of his stomach but he knew he had to tell Jack this. Something in him was just desperate to admit it. "I wanted it." He said eventually, not missing the first genuine smile to cross Jack's face in days. That's because of me - Ianto realised and was glad.

Jack leaned down to kiss sweetly before drawing back and slapping him harshly across his face. Ianto's head swung around with the force of it but he didn't make a sound. Jack leaned in to his lover, mouth to ear and whispered "you're such a whore."

Coolly, Ianto met Jack's eyes and said, voice at normal talking level, "I am what you made me."

"Good." Jack said, actually pleased with this development. Inwardly Ianto knew he was pleased too. Fucking submissive mindset.

"Now, we're in an agreement?" Jack said.

Meeting Jack's eyes Ianto said, "Yes Sir. I'll be your whore and you'll be my boss." But the words had no bite, no bitterness behind them. It felt like acceptance.

Jack kissed him, tongue delving deeply into Ianto's mouth, caressing the inside of his cheek and meeting Ianto's own tongue as Ianto joined in the kiss, letting Jack break it off to take away the cock ring and its accessories, turning him around and removing the handcuffs only to grasp Ianto's wrists in his own hands, urging his lover forward to the table. Ianto allowed himself to be pressed onto the tables surface, his arms freed now automatically going to support himself as Jack popped open a tube of lube and coated his fingers. Stroking Ianto's entrance slowly Jack started stretching Ianto until he was begging again, pushing back against Jack's hand asking for more, 'please sir, oh god, please sir, more'.

And with a hard and vengeful thrust Ianto got his wish, hips banging painfully against the tables edge before he began to meet Jack's rhythm. Pounding, gasping for breath, until they both exploded.

Afterwards Jack led Ianto down to his privet washroom, cleaned them both up in the shower and dried Ianto with a towel. Before he put Ianto to bed he presented his young lover with a black box. "For being so good today, like I knew you were capable of." Jack told him, nipping Ianto's lip before taking a step back to watch Ianto open it.

Inside was a collar, black, a perfect fit so it wouldn't chafe. A silver plaque was attached with 'Belongs to Captain Jack Harkness' engraved on it. Ianto gulped, unsure of how he should feel. Flattered because it was such an expensive beautiful gift? Or scared because it was a public statement of Jack owning him. In his head he snorted; after all it wasn't although everyone didn't know already. He looked up at Jack. "Can you put it on for me?" he asked, and was rewarded with Jack's sunshine smile.

***

Gwen smiled when she saw him at his usual early morning post in the Tourist Information Centre, but when she realised what the scrap of material around his neck was, she soon stopped smiling a donned an expression of pure horror and disgust that Ianto thought a little extreme for the occasion. "Oh, Ianto, that's a nice... nice... is that a... a c... a-" Ianto took pity on her, she seemed to be choking on the word.

"A collar." He filled in. Jack had attached it last night and then they had fallen asleep together, unchained although to Ianto the collar was a better chain; it screamed 'I am owned' rather than the handcuffs which merely signified a brief spell in captivity. No, the collar was far more permanent and Ianto still couldn't shrug the feeling that he liked the permanence and intimacy of the collar no matter how much his rational brain protested that it was demeaning and degrading. Like being a whore. When Ianto had dressed his morning in black suit and a white shirt. When he'd reached for his silver tie Jack had commanded him to stop – and Ianto's hand and stilled. Jack had taken away the tie, and undone Ianto's three top buttons completely exposing the collar and a small amount of skin below it. "Sexy." Jack had whispered, his eyes dilated with desire. At the time Ianto had almost unwillingly turned his head away, exposing his raw throat but avoiding eye contact trying to distract himself from how guilty he felt, ignoring Jack's obvious request. "You're right," Jack said, and Ianto could hear an active effort to make his voice sound normal and not the cold hard tones he'd been prone to slipping into of late. "It's time for work." Which effectively brought Ianto back to the present.

"Ianto, I-"

"Have a good morning Gwen." He cut her off brusquely and opened the door, pretending to ignore her and read the morning paper until she left. Taking the hint Gwen went to leave, but not before catching an eyeful of the bite mark and love bites Jack had left the other night.

 

Jack smiled pleasantly at her, his normal self which freaked Gwen out even more, and told her there would be a team briefing at ten but until then she was free to get caught up on her paperwork. Hint, hint. Gwen smiled nervously and went to her work station, noting after about twenty minutes that neither Owen or Tosh were around. Waying up her options (going to look for them herself, instant messaging either Ianto or Jack) she finally chose the latter.

 

COOPER/G Jack, where have Owen and Toshiko disappeared to?

HARKNESS/J They are around somewhere. I'm a little busy right now. Try the Ladies or the Autopsy Room

COOPER/G What are you doing? I thought you said there was nothing going on?

HARKNESS/J Do some work.

 

Dismissed, apparently. But if he was busy then he wouldn't notice Gwen opening up an IM window to Tosh and Owen then! She could give the appearance of obeying the Lord and Master while disobeying him.

 

COOPER/G Hello? Anyone there?

HARPER/O Yeah. What do you want Cooper?

SATO/T He means 'good morning and how are you today, Gwen'.

HARPER/O I think we all know how she is don't we.

COOPER/G What do you mean by that?

SATO/T He doesn't mean anything. (Owen; quit it!)

COOPER/G Owen?

HARPER/O Why deny it? We all know that you are going to bug us all day about what we think about Ianto's collar and the bruises on his neck and the way he's dressed and the reinstatement of the fucking Contract-with-a-capitol-C

COOPER/G Well you must have some opinion about it! Even I have an opinion about it and you've known him longer

HARPER/O That's because you have an opinion about fucking everything.

SATO/T Actually we haven't known him much longer than you Gwen, he was only here a month or so before you joined up.

COOPER/G Do you think Jack went out looking for someone like Ianto

SATO/T ???

HARPER/O She means did Jack go out looking for a fuck slave.

SATO/T Who should I be more worried about? Her for thinking it or you for being about to understand what she was saying?

HARPER/O Funny, Tosh. Anyway, the answer is no, right Tosh?

SATO/T Definitely no

COOPER/G But how can you be sure? I mean, they never talk about it.

HARPER/O Confidentiality clause probably

SATO/T Shut up Owen. I don't remember a confidentiality clause. It's probably just a desire for privacy. Hint.

HARPER/O Besides Ianto sought out Jack. Pretty much begged for a job as I understand it. And when Jack refused, teaboy came back. Three times in total.

COOPER/G I sought Jack out too. Just a few months later... Oh God! If Ianto hadn't come do you think he'd have offered me the same... position.

HARPER/O *Snort* no fucking way

SATO/T Owen, be nice. But he'd right, no. It was definitely a Ianto/Jack deal.

JONES/I I agree with Owen and Tosh.

 

FUCK! Gwen almost fell of her chair as she hurried to close down the window. She looked around to see Jack standing at the edge of his glass walled office staring down at her in disapproval. Does he know? She thought and was slightly comforted when he tapped his wrist. It was five to ten and she needed to get to the conference room.

 

When she got there she found Jack in his usual patriarchal seat at the head of the table, with Tosh and Owen sat to his left, leaving a space for her on the right side of the table. There was no fifth place and after Ianto brought in the drinks with his normal professional façade on, he left. "Why isn't Ianto joining us?" Gwen questioned, finding her coffee a tad sweater than she normally liked it and far too much milk. Was it a special brand of punishment reserved for her, had Owen made her coffee (she shuddered to think of that brief time when Owen had been allowed near the coffee machine), or was Ianto off his game because of his current... situation?

"He's on probation. 1 month starting today." Jack answered calmly, taking a sip of his own coffee in apparent pleasure.

"What?" Owen said, and Gwen felt a small amount of satisfaction at the doctor's interference; maybe there was hope after all? But it was just for a moment. "Come on Jack! He only got two weeks for the Lisa incident. Don't you think you are being a bit unfair?"

"It's been almost two years since he signed the contract. I can't have him acting this way anymore, there is no excuse for it." Gwen drew back her chair with the intention of leaving or making a dramatic statement. However it didn't even phase Jack who then told her sharply "sit down, Gwen!" before going on to talk about the day's monsters. Other than Jack Harkness, that  was.

 

Gwen finally found a chance to leave the briefing room. Toshiko's assignment was to work on some sort of program while Owen did some field work; strictly observations no interventions. Jack had told Gwen to update the casefile and work on finding out if the victims had any family in the area and get to contacting them. This left her with the opportunity to corner Ianto while he brewed some more coffee.

"Ianto this is wrong can't you see that?" she said in a low desperate voice.

Ianto didn't appear to acknowledge her except for the flicker of his eyelids. "Please leave, Gwen."

"No. I can't. My job is to keep this place ground, keep it human but how can I if the people who make the place are acting less and less human everyday. Slavery was abolished a long time ago, Ianto, and any lawyer would support your claim to nullify the Contract."

A twisted smile touched his lips. "AS flattering as it is to know that you consider me to be part of your job, I think you should know that you are being terribly naïve. A lawyer would never hear my complaint if I attempted it, Gwen. Torchwood wouldn't allow it. And what makes you think what me and Jack are doing isn't human? Trust me, everything we feel is extremely human. And after all isn't it our hearts that drive us?"

"Ianto! This is wrong." She said, coming closer and touching his neck ignoring the way he shied away from her touch. She fingered the collar. "This is the symbol of owned property, not a human being-" Then Jack appeared like a wraith from no where, Ianto's eyes hit the floor and Gwen, taking a step away from Ianto, folded her arms in a gesture that was defensive as much as it was angry.

"Ianto." Jack began coldly, not taking his eyes off of Gwen's face. "Go down to the showers, take off all your clothes except the collar and stand under the water. Keep it running cold, as cold as it will go until I get there. You may sit down but you may not move from underneath the water. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." Ianto said quietly and Gwen flinched. Ianto moved towards the door, stopping when he heard his name called again.

"Oh, and Ianto, the shared showers, not my privet suit." Ianto's head hung even lower as he traipsed off to his cold fait.

Only when he was out of both sight and ear shot did Jack start addressing Gwen. "Stop interfering, Gwen, it only makes it harder on him."

"I'm only looking out for Ianto-"

"If that was true then we wouldn't be having this conversation. Do you see me having this conversation with Toshiko or Owen? No, and that's because they know better."

"Jack! Don't you see this from my perspective? You've just ordered Ianto - as if he were some sort of slave - to go to the showers and torture himself under freezing cold water until you decide otherwise!"

"I do see this from your perspective, Gwen, which is why you haven't been fired and retconned yet. Now you need to learn to either see things from my perspective or shut up." She opened her mouth again but Jack overrode her saying loudly "Dismissed!" And with a glare she was gone.

 

Jack didn't go to Ianto straight away, instead he went back to his office awaiting Owen's arrival. Jack switched on his CCTV feed link pleased to see that Ianto had chosen the only shower cubicle in the shared shower room that had a camera in it, and therefore Jack was able to watch his lover obey his commands and also keep an eye out for signs that Ianto was going into shock or was about to pass out because despite what Gwen Williams seemed to think Jack wasn't a complete heartless bastard, he did genuinely care about Ianto; even if it wasn't in the traditional 'let's-get-married-and-adopt-a-couple-of-kids' way.

 

Owen arrived eight minutes later. Those eight minutes were painfully long for both sub and Dom, Ianto having to endure physical pain and Jack mental anguish. When Owen arrived he was covered in sewage and headed straight for the showers. Gwen tried to stop him but he ploughed ahead, only to return a few seconds later looking a little more freaked out than before.

"JACK! What's your pet doing?"

"Exactly what I asked him too, Owen." Jack said smoothly before Gwen could answer for him. "Hey, take my shower." He held out a key and pointed Owen in the direction of Jack's personal facilities. With a blank nod Owen was off. "Nobody disturb us. Understood?" he said, looking directly as Gwen. Tosh nodded with a reassuring smile and as Jack walked into the showers he heard Tosh ask Gwen out for a drink and hoped fervently that his wayward employee took the offer.

 

Cold. So... cold. Always hated the cold. Just need to think of Jack. How pleased he'll be! God, fuck no... this is so wrong so cold. I hope I survive this.

 

"AH!" Ianto screamed as the water, icy cold only seconds ago, suddenly scorched his skin and was then turned off, leaving him a shaking aching mess on the shower floor, barely registering Jack's presence. To rectify this Jack gave Ianto a swift kiss, pulling away as soon as Ianto's cold blue tinged lips began to respond and returning to stand domineeringly over the submissive Welshman.

"Its been less than twenty-four hours since you promised me you'd behave and already you let me down with your attitude towards Gwen. What I saw earlier was totally inappropriate. I know she's unusually persistent and if it was just that once then I'd be inclined to let it slip only she seems to be the exception to the rules far too often. Sharing confidences with her during my absence? Discussions of my 'bedside manners'? Telling her about the whereabouts of Jonah? Coming clean about the Contract?" Jack's voice lowers, smouldering wit anger, lust, and possessiveness. He leans in. "And now I find her practically caressing you, touching what's mine like you don't have my label around your neck. Like I don't have you begging me to fuck you six out of seven nights a week." They both knew the only reason Ianto didn't beg the seventh night was because Jack would be inside him before he'd even kissed him, so fast that Ianto didn't have a chance to think let alone beg.

Deep down shame swells in Ianto, but its mixed with anger at both Jack and Gwen because some days he felt like he was in the way of the possibility of a relationship, a happy normal relationship, between Jack and Gwen and after all, all Ianto really wanted was for Jack to be really happy.

"No. You had to be punished. Next time, I'll take the hockey stick to your arse and make you feel it for days." Jack told him, watching Ianto's face flush with the thoughts running inside his head. Good, having conjured up such a provocative, stimulating, painful, and humiliating image Jack felt his job was done for tonight. "Come here," Jack said softly and waited for Ianto to warily crawl towards him, anticipating his needs. Ianto unzipped his Dom and took out Jack's hard cock, wrapping his mouth around it and feeling very proud at the groan he managed to elicit from the lips that just a few minutes ago had been chastising him. Ianto started to move slowly up and down Jack's length trying to take it all, allowing his still entirely too effective gag reflex to add stimulation when Jack started thrusting deeper into his throat, his hands stroking the nape of his neck and the side of his cheek which inevitably allowed him to hold Ianto's head still as he fucked his face almost violently, finally losing control and keeping Ianto sucking until he'd taken all Jack could give. With a satisfied sigh of relief Jack stepped back and zipped himself up, leaving his submissive employee kneeling in the shower cubicle. "Good boy. Now, clean up this place and then you can sleep on the floor. I feel like having the bed to myself tonight, I mean, it is my bed after all, you don't think it's too much to ask that I actually get to sleep comfortably in my own bed once in a while do you?" Ianto shook his head, sure that was the right answer even though his mind was so clouded right now he could be expected to form a vocal response. Luckily though Jack seemed satisfied with that and with one last stroke Jack was leaving, tossing "oh, and no jerking off" over his shoulder before disappearing from sight.

Half an hour later Ianto found himself curled up on the floor at the end of Jack's bed dressed only in an old pair of jogging trousers and one of Owen's cast aside Doctor's jackets. Shivering he finally fell to sleep.

***

In the morning Ianto woke up feeling strangely refreshed after last nights shower incident. Normally the morning brought dread, a sick feeling of waking up to realise his life wasn't a dream. But today he stretched, pleased to find that some time in the night Jack had woken and covered him in a heavy grey blanket and while the cold floor was still painfully hard he was actually quite warm. Ianto looked up, at a loss of what to do now he was awake.

Jack appeared from the bathroom, his face drawn and guilt stricken. Ianto frowned at this and moved ever so slightly which caused Jack's eyes to find Ianto's and he smiled which sent warm fuzzy feelings to the pit of Ianto's stomach.

"More training today. It's going to be about following orders in front of others. No matter what they think. You need to do this to get past your... issues with Gwen. Understand?" Ianto nodded but his worry must have shown on his face because the next thing he knew, Jack was bending over him, tilting his face up so Ianto had no choice but to meet Jack's eyes. "Relax. It won't be anything too problematic or embarrassing. Just easy tasks. It might be a little trying at times but I have confidence in you. Now come on, get dressed and remember to have your collar showing."

Eight minutes seven seconds later Ianto was serving Jack his first coffee of the day dressed in a pair of black suit trousers and a red shirt open at the neck to frame his black collar. Throughout the day Jack gave him orders, regular orders like make him a coffee or get him this report or order this type of pizza. Gwen arrives with her concerned eyes, followed by Toshiko, her arms over-laden with reports she'd been working on last night, and Owen, dressed casually in a jumper and jeans. They found there way to their work stations and over the course of the day Ianto witnessed three conversations between Owen and Jack, seven between Tosh and Jack including four IMs and one phone call, and Gwen made eleven trips into Jack's office. And as the day progressed, with Ianto ignoring Gwen as best he could, Jack became colder and colder towards Ianto, and Ianto couldn't understand why. Soon the coffee wasn't hot enough, the pizza wasn't what he ordered, and the file was missing something. Every time Jack complained Ianto felt like a failure and slowly as the working day came to an end Ianto begun to feel more and more neglected and worthless, unable to understand Jack's attitude and complaints. So he decided to do something about it.

The doors were just about to close on Owen when Ianto darted out of them, ignoring Owen's yell. Ianto squashed the feelings of guilt, realising it felt like the first time in weeks that he'd left the Hub when in reality just three days before he'd been doing a recon mission with Toshiko near the docks. He hopped a train which was headed in a direction that he thought the others wouldn't guess because it held no connections for him. He'd been camping in the Welsh countryside with Lisa (and the team but that had slightly more negative connotations), holidays in Devon, Cornwall, and Inverness with his family when he was growing up, he'd worked in London, and taken time off in the interval between Jack leaving and coming back to go to Ireland to visit an old school friend. But not once had he been to Wiltshire, Salisbury. So he got on the train, no luggage or belongings other than his wallet, and found a vacant carriage in which to slump down, trying to regulate his breathing as Cardiff passed him by, as his life passed him by. But his peace was soon disturbed by the loud arrival of Captain Jack Harkness, bursting into the carriage through the glass doors as if Ianto was trying to escape when in actual fact all he could do was stare, transfixed as Jack angrily strode towards him. Finally coming to his senses Ianto stood up and backed away down the aisle. Jack reached a hand out to grab him, making him face Jack. But to Ianto's surprise no recriminations fell from his lips.

"Oh god, Yan, you ran away!" Jack said, his eyes portraying how much grief that had caused him. Ianto felt a twinge of guilt but if running away had made Jack look at him like that then perhaps it had all been worth it after all. "Why?" Jack practically breathed out.

"Look looked at me like a stranger. Like I was just some misbehaving pet you had to train before returning it to its owner." Jack looked stunned at his. "Your eyes were cold." Ianto whispered, sinking down to the floor and leaning back against the carriage wall.

"I didn't... I wasn't... It wasn't that I..." Jack took a deep breath, eyes closing just for a second, but coming over to sit besides Ianto, making them equal. Ianto drew himself in but Jack refused to let it show that he was bothered by it. "I wasn't trying to make you run, or imply I didn't care. But I was so angry at Gwen, for finding that Contract and reminding us both that it was there. I was also... scared. That I would lose you. And not just for the work related reasons, also because no matter how hard I'm being on you, you know I still care, don't you?"

Ianto shrugged like a petulant child. "You never enforced the Contract before. Not like now. After Lisa you... after Lisa was shot we discussed the Contract."

Jack nodded. "When I realise you were a threat to your own life... that you didn't feel like living anymore, I told you that from now on you followed my orders and we stuck to the Contract. But it was a choice, Yan, you could have said no. Or you could have used your safe word, why didn't you use your safe word if you felt like this?" His tone was tortured. Ianto turned to Jack.

"I didn't want to disappoint you."

"No, Ianto. You wouldn't disappoint me by not using your safe word. Never. Maybe this is too much for you, maybe we should back off, forget about this." He spread his arms out to encompass them both. Ianto looked panicked.

"But what would I do?" Ianto asked.

"Be a regular employee, like Owen, Tosh, and Gwen. Actually, not so much like Gwen. Go home to your apartment. Buy frozen meals when you didn't feel like cooking. Get drunk and shag strangers. Come to work the next morning with a grin on your face and a box half empty of hang over drops. In short; do whatever you want to."

Ianto looked pensive and for a long time they just sat there, the train gliding its way through Cardiff, occasionally stopping without either of them noticing. Eventually Ianto broke the silence. "What if what I wanted was you, this."

Jack looked at him. "And you are sure?"

Ianto nodded eagerly. "I like it when you are pleased with me, and being able to follow your orders.... It's like I forget everything else, all my problems and the problems of the world that we have to deal with at work or else we ignore. Can't we just go back? Like how it was after Lisa, what the others didn't see?"

Jack considered what he was hearing and slowly nodded. "Yes, that could work. But you realise we aren't hiding from them anymore?"

Again Ianto nodded. "I'm sick of hiding things from people anyway."

"OK."

" OK. Sir."

Jack smiled, and they sat back again, content. Slowly Ianto came to rest his head in Jack's lap, comforted by the way Jack stroked the nape of his neck. "Ianto?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Where are we going?" he asked, gesturing to the moving train.

Ianto smiled. "Salisbury." He admitted.

Jack snorted and they settled in for the journey.

 

They returned to the Hub the next day having spent a mutually satisfying night just sleeping in a hotel room in Salisbury. Ianto had slept naked except for a pair of black cotton boxers, in bed next to a completely naked Jack. Not cuddling but comforted by the even breathing of his lover. At the Hub Owen glared at Jack and insisted on checking Ianto over. An hour later after blood tests and a 'quiz' to help assertain his emotional welfare Ianto suddenly stood up. "I'm fine Owen, next time you are concerned, don't be afraid to just ask." With a smile and a hand on Owen's shoulder, Ianto went off to find Jack.

Jack was, of course, in his office watch from above as Gwen exited the building to meet Rhys up for lunch.

"You'll have to be punished for running away." Jack said upon sensing Ianto's arrival. Ianto suppressed laughter at this and managed to keep his expression dour and his eyes lowered.

"What do you think is an appropriate punishment?" Jack asked. Ianto's breath quickened at all the thoughts which surged into his head. He opened his mouth to speak...

***

After everything they have been together recently the last three days have shown Jack that Ianto and him are stronger than ever which is why he feels confident approaching his lover, he knows they will get through this easily, and unlike most things recently; Jack testing Ianto to see how far he could push then man until he used the Safe word like a sensible little submissive, this is not a test.

 

It's a Wednesday when Jack calls Ianto into his office. Not a busy day. But this will give them two days of waiting in between. Because Jack understand the seductive power of anticipation. Gwen looks up when Jack calls out Ianto's name. Tosh looks at Gwen and shakes her head. The silence between Gwen+Tosh and Ianto has been almost deafening except Ianto was just relieved that they weren't pumping him for information, that Gwen wasn't trying to convince him that he was in an abusive relationship; or touching him personally. Which always made Jack jealous.

 

Ianto stopped serving the coffees, ignoring Owen's indignant shout of irritation (something about being elbows deep in alien guts that were rapidly decomposing), and found his way to Jack's office within a matter of seconds. "Yes, sir?" He asked, calming his voice and trying to hide his slight breathlessness at climbing the stairs so quickly.

 

Jack smirked and Ianto felt his face growing red with embarrassment; he'd obviously failed. Lowering his eyes was almost instinct for Ianto now and so he did it without thinking, concentrating on the shine of Jack's black boots. Silence was allowed to linger, to build tension.

 

"Have you thought about it?" Jack asked.

 

The Punishment. Ianto licked his lips not sure if his mouth was dry from apprehension and fear... or desire, want. That was the way he lived some days, on the edge, and Jack would always be there to tip him over and catch him should he fall into the fear and pain. He nodded once, both agreeing to the question and accepting that this was going to happen.

 

Jack handed him a piece of paper and a pen. Ianto raised his eye brow - writing lines? Not exactly what he'd had in mind. Jack laughed when he saw the younger man's expression. "I want you to think back to your youth - the clubs you went to and write down how they made you feel. Then you can go back to the coffee machine, and fix us all a brew before Owen hurts himself screaming at you." Jack informed him and could see Ianto's surprise.

 

Ianto wasn't sure of this. No direct orders, no clear cut instructions. Just him, thinking about his poorly spent youth and how it had made him feel. But if that's what Jack wanted...

 

Quickly he scribbled down a few names of clubs from both Cardiff and London, using painstakingly chosen words to express his feelings. On the list was 'uncomfortable in my own skin', 'anonymous', 'drunk', and 'blissed out' among other things. Handing the paper to Jack, meeting his eyes as their fingers brushed against each other, Ianto felt like he was giving a part of himself to Jack that he hadn't even known he possessed. Ever since he met Jack it was like with every look, every touch, every word and whisper and scream and fuck; every time something, a tiny piece of his soul became a part of Jack and this crazy made relationship they had. Forget the contract - because that feeling had nothing to do with it.

 

And then he was back in the main Hub, pouring coffee with his eyes flickering to Jack's office where he sat, Ianto's list in front of him. What could he want with that list? Unless this was just his latest method of torture, the not knowing of it driving Ianto slowly insane. It would be a good plan and it was certainly working.

 

Owen finally got his coffee and he glared when Ianto gave it to him. Gwen and Tosh, again clumped together although now they had moved on to the sofa, taking a 'break' so they claimed with wide eyed innocence that tasted false. But it wasn't in any part of Ianto's job description to make sure the others did their job. Although he did wonder why Owen was giving the girls such a wide birth, or was it they were ignoring him?

 

Brain tired from thinking all day (over-thinking was more like it!) Ianto went to collapse into a chair ungraciously. Eyes closed he attempted to block out everything but the hum of the Hub as it worked its magic, keeping them warm, keeping them breathing fresh air. He tried to relax - he honestly tried - but as with all relaxation techniques he'd tried since the unfortunate fall of Torchwood London (massage, spa, exercise, sensory deprivation...) it didn't work.

 

When he opened his eyes, Jack's face was centre meters from his.

 

"Not that I don't love waking up to see your face right next to mine, sir, but is there anything I can help you with?" Ianto enquired politely.

 

Jack smiled. "You weren't asleep!" He accused lightly. "But there is something I want you to do. Or rather, something we need to discuss." Jack straightened up and put on his best 'I'm-the-boss-so-do-as-i-say' voice. "My office, bring fresh coffee and lube, ten minutes." He said before walking off towards the girls who had been watching them intently. Ianto breathed in, realising that from the moment he'd opened his eyes to see Jack watching him he had been holding his breath, waiting for something. Waiting for orders? He wondered.

 

But it didn't really matter what he'd been waiting for because now he had to get to work. Work to be done! Coffee to brew (again), lube to locate (which would be easy), and an office to be in. Easy.

 

9 minutes 43 seconds later Ianto entered Jack's office, surprised and secretly both amused and pleased that Jack held the stopwatch in his hands. He clicked when Ianto placed the coffee in front of him and instructed Ianto to remove his own clothing while Jack enjoyed his drink. With a nervous glance towards the now empty Hub Ianto took a breath and began with his tie, slowly pulling it off and letting the silk drift through his fingers before allowing it to fall to the floor. Jack's pulse quickened ever so slightly and Ianto knew he was doing the right thing. A button every odd second, until finally he shrugged it off. Slower even with the trousers until he stood in his boxers. Jack stopped him, and placed his now empty coffee cup on his chair not on the surprisingly sparse desk which Ianto's attention was now drawn to.

 

"Put your elbows on the desk either side of the display and lean forwards, allow your head to touch the wood if you must." Jack said and Ianto nodded, shocked to see the list he'd written earlier, with one club and its paired emotion circled. Ianto gulped, he hated to remember his days at that place but he'd had a mate behind the bar who'd been able to get them a discount. The Jester; a club filled with every sort of people in the city. The feelings associated were insignificant, invisible, unwanted. Around the paper were photos, some that Ianto had forgotten even existed. A few had been taken by Jack, one during a particularly humiliating but enjoying game of bondage shortly after he came back, another of Ianto sleeping in Jack's cot, the covers thrown back so his naked form was exposed. One had them both kissing, it had been taken from the CCTV cameras one snowy morning when the team had been disbursed. But a few were of a younger Ianto, the kind of Ianto who would have been easily persuaded to visit the said club. Ianto was staring at these pictures, feeling the memory wash over him as Jack pulled down his underwear and inserted two lube coated fingers into his hole. SHIT! It's burnt but not enough to make Ianto move. His eyes stayed glued to the display on the desk; just like Jack had asked, as Jack took care to open him up, creating a buzz in his brain was he tried his hardest to concentrate even though Jack was starting to hit his prostate sending waves of pleasure rippling through him.

 

Strange, this didn't feel like a punishment to him.

 

As if Jack could read minds he leaned over Ianto to bite at his neck, licking and nipping his way up to Ianto's ear lobe and eventually whispering "this is just the prequel." All the while pumping three fingers in him. Ianto's breath was erratic and his vision was beginning to blur, want clouding his thinking but even so all he could think was The Jester, The Jester, The Jester....

 

Jack started fucking himself into Ianto, whispering that Ianto was his now, no one else, and no memory, could ever demean Ianto. Not when he had this. And as Ianto started to fall apart Jack was there to catch him, gripping hard as he followed soon after.

 

Naked and sweaty Ianto found his way to the floor, only then noticing Jack was still mostly dressed. Watching, waiting, as Jack moved to present him a box. "Two days. And you wear this. We'll be at that club. And I'll make sure you never associate the feeling of invisibility and being unwanted with this club ever again. You may not thank me for it for a long time. But we are doing this. Now, the team are due back in half an hour. I think we should order in some pizza, yes? The usual." Jack said, making Ianto feel like he'd just been hit by a whirlwind.

 

Nodding, Ianto gathered his clothes, dressed quickly and efficiently, and took the box with him.

 

Later that night when Ianto could no longer bare not knowing, he opened the box. To reveal a tight (as in tight enough to be 'comfortable') pair of beautiful black leather trousers that Ianto just knew would fit better than any metaphoric glove ever could. And then he realised Jack's plan.

 

SHIT.

***

Thursday passed uneventfully. An alien invasion easily averted with a few empty threats from Jack, no sex for Ianto, and the girls managed to separate long enough to actually get some work done. By five pm all the Torchwood Three employees were out for the day, including Jack who had disappeared off somewhere and told Ianto his time was his own. But this odd behaviour made Ianto feel very nervous, an emotion which only increased during the next thirty-odd hours.

 

At one am on Friday 'morning' (some – Owen – argue it's not morning until the sun is up!) Ianto and the others were paged and rushed to work in order to save the day from a robotic cat with a human brain from the year 6078. Even Jack was out of his league as he puzzled what the cat-bot wanted and how to defeat it. In the end (at nine fifteen that night) it turned out it was a prototype probe sent to gather information about the past by a fourth grade class in the Simba constellation. They sent it on its way with 'time capsule' type stuff and after reports were written up everyone was allowed to go home. Everyone except;

 

"Not you, Ianto!" Jacked yelled as Ianto went to grab his coat. He froze in place, causing the girls to cast him weird worried looks and then glare in Owen's direction before leaving. The truth was Ianto had forgotten over the past few hours about his punishment. During a case he felt like he ceased to become a sexual object, like The Contract didn't exist and he was just working on auto pilot. Yes, Jack, no Jack, three spoons full Jack. Research this, call this person, make coffee, clean this, hide this, lie about that... But now he had a very obvious reminder his mind had gone into overdrive and his heart was racing. With his mouth so dry he sneaked a tongue out to moisten his lips and he gulped. Honestly he was glad to see the others go. Whatever happened next was bound to end in mutually satisfying sex; Jack was not a bad person to be 'owned' by. Ianto just had to survive the next couple of hours and then his punishment would be over and he could get back to pleasing Jack who pleased Ianto. Sounded like a good plan to him.

 

"Have you remembered my gift?" Jack asked in a seductively velvet voice from the stair well. Ianto nodded automatically and did not raise his eyes to Jack – once again donning the 'submissive' stance.

 

Jack smiled. Ianto was doing well. "You have twenty minutes and then I'm leaving without you and you can find your own way there." Jack warned him. Ianto nodded again and went off in the direction of the showers.

 

Nineteen minutes later he was sitting next to Jack in the SUV, shifting uncomfortable in his leather pants which were far too tight. Having just showered he had then spent the next ten minutes trying to fit into the trousers. They weren't shiny black trousers but the type that seemed duller but still fit perfectly. Along with the trousers he wore black boots, a studded belt, his freshly washed hair was gelled so it was spiky. His white shirt was open to the third button on his chest. All in all, the almost transparent shirt and the tight-tight leather trousers made Ianto feel like a shameful slut and a feeling of dread was building in his stomach. He had hated going to The Jester in his youth, dragged along unwillingly by friends. The people had been too sexual and too bold for Ianto's tastes and his natural shyness had him bulking at joining in every step of the way. And now here he was, a grown man, allowing his lover (his owner) to drag him back.

 

The car stopped and the inevitable was upon them. Ianto closed his eyes for a moment, wishing his life away as long as he didn't have to go inside. During this brief moment Jack took advantage of it to re-attach the collar that Ianto had taken off in the shower. With his shirt the collar looked even more pronounced an obvious, everyone in the room would know that Ianto belonged to someone. That he was wanted, seen, and definitely in no way insignificant.

 

Ianto touched the collar, shaking his head. "It's too much, Jack!" He protested, hoping Jack would understand he wasn't disobeying just freaking out.

 

Jack smiled warming, safely dressed in his normal cloths including his blue greatcoat. But even Captain Jack Harkness, looking as he did and dressed as he was, wouldn't attract more attention than his young lover. "No, this is too much." Jack corrected him as he leant in and kissed Ianto, moving down to his neck just below the collar; biting, licking, and sucking until Ianto was moaning, panting, and leaning into the careful caresses of his chest.

 

By the time Jack leaned back Ianto's eyes were glazed with passion, his lips ruby red from their kiss, and a patch just below his collar teased red, an obvious love bite. Ianto's eyes accidentally glanced in the mirror and what he saw sent all the blood to his groin and his cheeks. Ashamed and aroused.

 

They got out of the car and entered the club, the bouncer's eyes roving salaciously over Ianto's exposed body before admitting them. Back-alley remarks followed Ianto as he moved into the club, forcing him to seek refuge in Jack's arms as he pressed himself up against his lover's side. Jack allowed this and encouraged the behaviour by kissing Ianto's forehead and placing a hand on his leather clad bottom. Ianto breathed in sharply and the music stepped up a beat.

 

"Lets dance!" Jack said into his ear before he bit down on the lobe and lead Ianto deep into the middle of the dance floor. People all around them stepped aside to the them pass, never daring to touch Ianto but lusting after him as his master pulled him along. When they started dancing it wasn't respectable or loving, but a passionate and public embrace that, had it been with a stranger, would have been called slutty. Most people around them slowed or stopped to stare at them.

 

Jack pulled Ianto up against him so they were chest to chest, and weaved a foot between Ianto's legs so his arousal was pressed against Ianto's thigh and vice versa. Then they started to move, swaying and pressing into each other and occasionally taking a step. Soon Jack was ravishing Ianto's mouth and Ianto was moaning loudly, the watchful stares and bitchy comments of the other clubbers fading into the background.

 

"Lets' take this outside," Jack said loudly between tracks. Ianto blushed bright red but followed Jack as they made their way to the alley behind the club. People whistling, cheering, and making lurid remarks as they past, things like 'how much does he charge, sweetheart', and 'my tern next'. They were humiliating and disgusting comments that made Ianto feel cheep and dirty. But then once they were outside Jack's arms encircled him and the embrace softened. Deep kisses that took away his breath, slow wondering caresses that made his skin tingle and his back arch. It was Jack, not Ianto, who went down on the other man. Licking and kissing and sucking just the way Jack knew Ianto liked until Ianto was coming down Jack's throat, Jack's hands massaging at Ianto's hips until the orgasm subsided.

 

"That didn't feel like a punishment," Ianto told Jack as Jack stood up and pulled him into a hug.

 

"It was. You hated it. You hate the fact they think that you are out here, servicing me for money. You hate it that they got to see so much of you, even though they will only ever see you this once. You hated the comments they made and how they made you feel. Like a cheep whore, a slut with no morals just out to get his next fix." Jack whispered the words, both turning Ianto on and making him feel shame again, even while Jack's hands were stroking his back. "It was a punishment, but it was also a lesson."

 

"What was I supposed to have learned?" Ianto asked.

 

"Every punishment is a lesson, it has to be because if you don't learn any thing from it them you will repeat the behaviour. In there, did you feel invisible? Insignificant? Unwanted?"

 

"No." Ianto admitted. Even when he'd been feeling cheep and degraded he's still felt Jack's possessive lust and love wrapping him up and protecting him. He had still been turned on and had even enjoyed himself a little, flaunting the fact that Jack wanted him in front of all those beautiful strangers.

 

"No. Because in there everybody was watching you, wanting you, wishing they were you, or that they were me; able to have you anytime I want. Tonight they'll go home thinking about you, jerking off or fucking with you in their minds. And I'll be fucking you, making love. Because I love you, and as long as I love you, no one can touch you." Jack finished possessively.

 

Ianto leaned in and kissed Jack so passionately that they quickly stumbled to the car in order to get back to the Hub to be alone.

 

Yes, Ianto had learnt something from his punishment. And now he was looking forward to things getting better for both of them.

***

It's early morning on a warm June morning, too early for anyone sane to even think about waking up let alone getting out of bed and going to work, so Jack and Ianto have the Hub to themselves for at least another few hours and they are loathed to unravel themselves from their position bound up in Jack's bed, Ianto lying on Jack's chest as the older man caresses Ianto's soft brown hair.

 

The past few weeks had gone well. Ianto had lasted an entire month without raising his voice, looking anyone in the eye (except when spoken to directly) or disobeying any of Jack's personal rules. And in return Jack had treated Ianto blissfully... and not just sex or romance, it was a respect that shone in Jack's eyes, partially because he himself had never managed to master Ianto's degree of control over himself or trust that much in another person, to let them be in control of your happiness. The other reason Jack respected Ianto so much more now was because Jack had realised how much control that Ianto had not given up; he hadn't had to because it was a control he had over Jack. Without even realising it Jack had entered into this... union and had changed himself, changed into a man who wanted what was best for Ianto, and Ianto was the one to show him what was best for Jack.

 

It had taken him over a hundred years to learn this lesson, and to Jack it was the most important lesson of all.

 

"What are you thinking?" Ianto asked from his place on Jack's chest.

 

Jack breathed in deeply, loving the weight of his lover and the feeling of skin against skin. "What to have for breakfast. How do you feel about calling the team up and letting them have the day off – providing no one invades Earth today – and getting someone to drop of a how load of those pastries from that bakery on West Street? We still have the strawberries in the fridge and I have you to make us both mouth wateringly delicious and satisfying... coffee." Jack suggested with a wicked grin.

 

Ianto shifted in Jack's arms so he could see into his lover's eyes. "Sex for breakfast and breakfast for brunch? Sounds like you but why." Ianto asked solemnly.

 

"Maybe I feel like sinning today?" Jack said lightly.

 

Ianto cocked an eyebrow. "Gluttony, sloth, and lust." He bent down and took Ianto's mouth with his won in an open mouthed passionate kiss that was very much a prelude. Ianto kept his eyes open during the kiss, not wanting to miss the point when Jack's eyes glazed over with lust and fluttered closed. Ianto moved up so he was lying flush on Jack, deepening the kiss until they both broke apart gasping for air. Ianto's hands started to move up and down Jack's chest, his mouth finding a flat nipple and biting it to life, licking down to his navel and nipping at the skin between his navel and his hips. Jack bucked up after a few minutes of this, desperate to feel Ianto's mouth somewhere infinitely more satisfying. Ianto's young blue eyes found Jack and Jack bit out 'do it, now!' in a passionate haze. Ianto's eyes clouded over with lust as he took Jack into his mouth, down to the root in one go.

 

"Ianto!" Jack yelled out loudly as he began to lose control; his hands kneading Ianto's shoulders trying not to grip his beautiful hair for fear his own passion would tare it out. "Ianto..." he breathed when he had finished bucking and coming in his young lover's mouth. Ianto kissed Jack with a closed mouth and lay back down, stroking Jack's sweat covered skin as the Captain came down from his climax.

 

"Don't you want anything?" Jack asked teasingly when he had his breath back.

 

"Sir I er... I have a question." Ianto began haltingly.

 

Jack frowned, if Ianto had begun with 'sir' then this was not only a very serious matter but also one Ianto believed would anger his master and may result in punishment. Assuming a more serious and strict tone of voice Jack urged the young man to continue, separating their bodies before allowing Ianto a chance to speak.

 

Ianto bit his lip and cast his eyes down. "Why... why did you keep the Contract... and why did you lie about it?"

 

Jack was silent, a pregnant pause lapsed into a pause pregnant with quintuplets and Ianto became very-very still, his body language telling Jack that he was preparing himself mentally and physically for a harsh punishment. The fact that Ianto had asked the question even though he honestly believed no good could come of it indicated to Jack just how badly Ianto needed an answer. So he decided it was time to give him one. Jack sighed loudly and was pleased to see Ianto was so well 'trained' at this point that he didn't even jump or tense at the ominous sound.

 

"I'll answer your question, and then you can call the others to let them have the day off. The reason I told you I tore it up because I knew I was falling in love with you... you were so amazing, more than I had expected the day I asked you to sign your life away to me, so much more. And I wanted, I needed, to have you with me on your own terms, to be free of the Contract, free to just be with me. But I couldn't tare it up, just in case I needed it too keep you with me because as much as I longed to trust you I hated the thought of you leaving me. You, Ianto Jones, are the best thing that has happened since Rose brought me back to life." Jack confessed.

 

It sounded so cheesy and romantic that Ianto had to smile, his joy and happiness shining through and lighting up his whole face. "I love you Jack Harkness." Ianto said.

 

"I know." Jack agreed, placing a kiss on Ianto's forehead. "It makes me glad to be alive."

 

Ianto was quiet for a few minutes, he just lay there listening to the calming beat of Jack's heart and soaking in the good feeling of being looked after, it was his favourite part of their contract, that when Ianto behaved as was proper he reaped all the benefits... sex, love, protection, and care. But something was on his mind.

 

"Go on, Ianto. I'm not going to punish you whatever it is, I think we both deserve pampering today whether it is in the form of food, sex, and rest or an answer that will put your busy mind at ease." Jack said, knowing Ianto was thinking instead of relaxing.

 

In his 'busy mind' Ianto weighed the pros and cons of asking this next question, but in the end the answer was obvious; today was perhaps the only time he could get anyway with making such a risky move.

 

"Will you tear up the Contract?" he asked, making sure not to let his nerves get to him so he spoke slow enough to be understood the first time and not have to repeat himself.

 

"Only if we replace it with another one." Jack agreed. Ianto tensed, worried at his words. "One in which we both agree to honour commitments and to keep the relationship in better condition that it has been in recent months. One in which you don't have to kill yourself as an alternative to sleeping with me." He finished wryly and Ianto flinched; that had not been a pleasant clause. In his mind he knew it had started out as a way to completely control someone who had been a potential treat to Torchwood, to the world. An ex-Torchwood One employee who had managed to survive the Battle of Canary Warf seemingly intact both mentally and physically was a force to be reckoned with.

 

It had all turned out for the best anyway.

 

 

****

 

 

Four weeks later Ianto stood next to Jack, with the Doctor handing them a document to sign that declared them equals who enter without duress into a committed but strict relationship. There were clauses and addendums but Ianto was happy. It was like being given everything he had ever needed but never realised.

 

Gwen stood behind them with Toshiko and Owen, having finally confessed that on a drunken night out her and Toshiko had become convinced that it was all Owen's fault and that Ianto had not been of sound mind when he entered into the Contract. Gwen had cried after reading the new and improved 'Union Papers' (something that had replaced conventional marriages by 3052 enabling all types of relationships to be formalised) and hugged them both. She said she couldn't promise not to give Jack a good yelling at if she ever saw him mistreat Ianto like he had in the past but she was glad they were in love. Toshiko gave them both gifts, chocolate and ties and pastries, and Owen was friendly for the entire signing so that in itself was like a gift

 

For Ianto and Jack this was both an end to the old days where mistrust and suspicions guided Jack's hand and Ianto's motives, and a new welcome beginning in which love would lead them into a future, Jack leading Ianto and love leading Jack.

 

 

 

***^***

 

AN// (and they both lived happily after with many spankings, blow-jobs, PDAs and offerings of love – THE END).

***

• Main Torchwood slash page
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• Jack/Ianto stories
• Ianto/Owen stories
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• Amazon.com - Torchwood: Children of Earth
• Amazon.co.uk - Torchwood - Children of Earth [DVD] [2009]
• Amazon.ca link - Torchwood - The Complete First Season (7DVD)