jooles34 | Over and Under (Reply)

Title: Over and Under
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack/Ianto
Words: 809
Rating: PG - pre smut if you like.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Torchwood.
Spoilers: None
AN: This is my Christmas gift fic for

moonlitcactus who wanted a fic where Ianto teaches Jack a new practical skill. I have had a fantastic time getting to know you this year and look forward to more fun times together. Hope you like this.

“But you know I hate wearing these things.”

“Come on Jack, for me. This is a special occasion.”

“I don’t like them. They’re too tight. I feel like I’m being strangled.”

“Jack, you cannot wear a tux without a bow tie. It just can’t be done. And this thing tonight is important and you need to wear a tux. Now just shut up and tie your tie.” Ianto moved and stood next to Jack at the mirror so he could neaten his own bow tie as they talked.

“Why didn’t you just get us both the ones that are already tied? Why did you have to get us these ones?”

Ianto met his eyes in the mirror and gave him a withering look. “Please Jack, a fake bow tie? Really?”

He gave his tie a quick final pull, and holding the edges ensured it was even and straight. He glanced at Jack’s reflection in front of him again. Jack was tugging savagely at the tie, pulling it out of the tangle it was in. He let the ends hang loosely and dropped his hands to his sides. Jack met Ianto’s eye briefly in the mirror before he looked away.

“Jack?” asked Ianto softly. “You can tie a bow tie can’t you?”

Jack looked oddly defeated, his normal bravado escaping him. “No. Never needed to know how. Not much call for bow ties in the early days of Torchwood or the military.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Ianto’s tone was gently chiding but with edged with good humour.

Ianto moved to stand behind Jack, turning the other man so that he was facing the mirror again. He curled his arms around Jack’s shoulders and reached for the two ends of the tie.

“Let me help you.” Ianto put his chin on Jack’s shoulder and his eyes sought out the other man’s in the reflection in front of him.

“You want this end slightly longer than the other, then just wrap it over and tuck it up and under like this, see?” Jack swallowed and nodded. Ianto’s voice was soft in his ear, his body firm and sturdy behind him, while his fingers were deft and gentle around his neck.

Ianto gave him a small smile, their eyes meeting in the mirror again. The intimacy of the moment defied the distance between them and the glass.

“This is the tricky bit. You need to fold this like this, then bring this one back down, over, and fold it through behind. Then just straighten it so.”

Ianto’s long fingers played with the tie and smoothed over the collar of Jack’s shirt.

“And all done. So handsome.”

Ianto moved even closer, putting his body flush against Jack’s. Jack pulled in a breath as Ianto tugged on the ends of the tie, undoing it in one quick motion, and a tremor run through Jack’s body.

“Now you do it.” Ianto breathed against his ear, “and I’ll help.”

Jack swallowed and lifted his hands to catch the ends of the tie. Ianto’s hands wrapped warmly around his and applied the gentlest of pressures as Jack pulled the ends to the right lengths. Jack couldn’t pull away from the eye contact Ianto was keeping with him in the mirror.

Ianto’s hand followed his as he crossed the ends over, then rested on the back of his hand as his fingers tucked the end through.

“That’s perfect Jack. Now fold that end.” Ianto’s breath was hot on his neck and Jack’s eyes fluttered closed for a second. He opened them again quickly, focusing once again on Ianto’s steady gaze. Ianto’s hands were still on his, guiding gently as he folded the second end of the tie around and under the first.

As Jack worked to even out the ends Ianto pushed closer still against his back, but his hands left his and instead moved to his shoulders. Tie neatened, Jack let his hands fall to his sides.

“See? Perfect.” Jack shivered as Ianto breathed the words into his skin and his lips ghosted over his neck. Then he felt them again, soft still, but more definite, trailing kisses above his collar.

Jack turned in Ianto’s grip; hooking one arm around his waist and cupping Ianto’s face with the other, he brought their faces close together and kissed him, soft, deep, full of warmth and heat and a passion that practically vibrated through his body.

Ianto’s arms were around him, one hand splayed on his back as he returned the kiss with everything that was being given to him. Jack broke the kiss, barely pulling back, foreheads, noses and lips still touching as they fought to catch their breath.

“Just how important is this thing tonight?” Jack whispered.

“Thing? What thing?” Ianto closed the gap between their lips again as his fingers moved to undo Jack’s tie.