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The Queen's Magicians: Cold Mirrors (Coda)
Title: Cold Mirrors (Coda)
Author: Emma
Characters: Canonical Torchwood Three members… sort of.
Rating: Some chapters definitely not safe for work.
Disclaimer: Oh, please. If I owned them, would I let some of those idiots write the scripts? And if I were making any money off them, would I be where they could find me?
Summary: Toshiko is drawn into a web of lust and murder...
Author's Note: This is Adam
Author's Note: "Because no one has more thirst for earth, for blood, and for ferocious sexuality than the creatures who inhabit cold mirrors" Alejandra Pizarnik
Tosh fluffed the cushions on one of the sofas. “All right, you two. Sit over here.”
Gwen and Rhys looked at each other and grinned. They had walked into Jack and Ianto's flat to the sounds of the Wedding March and applause from Tosh, Owen, Andy, and Rhiannon. Dinner had been spectacular, even by Ianto standards, and now the heavenly scent of coffee was coming from the kitchen. Everyone settled down, chatting easily, comfortable in each other's company.
A few minutes later Jack and Ianto came out of the kitchen carrying a coffee service in a silver tray and a small two-tier gateau with a bride and groom on the top. Setting them on the large ottoman that served as a coffee table, they poured and passed the coffee. Ianto presented Gwen with the cake knife. Laughing, she cut thick slices and passed them around.
“This is nice,” Rhys sighed. “It's been so crazy with all the wedding preparations and trying to find a place, people traipsing in and out of the flat...” His voice trailed off. “It's just nice.”
“Aine is with my godmother for the night. I should feel guilty for handing her over, I guess, but Goddess, I needed an adult night.”
Rhiannon laughed. “Oh, yes. Those are essential for your sanity. Especially when there's more than one kiddie around.” She waved her hand at Gwen's horrified expression. “I'm not clairvoyant, Gwen. But you two want more children, don't you?”
“Well, yes,” Gwen said, “just not until we can settle down. Aine is a handful all by herself.”
“So how's the house hunting going?” asked Owen, who was sitting on the floor next to Tosh's armchair. It had not escaped anyone’s notice that they had arrived together and were never very far from each other. “How many places have you looked at?”
“I've lost count,” Rhys grumbled. “Every blessed one had something wrong with it, according to Gwen.”
“I am not buying a house,” Gwen said in the weary tones of a woman who has said the same thing over and over, “until I find the right one. It has to have a nice yard for Aine and,” she giggled, pointing at Rhiannon, “whoever comes next. And space for that whoever. And maybe some space for us when we need to step away from the craziness of our lives.”
Jack and Ianto looked at each other. Ianto nodded. Jack reached for a fat envelope resting on one of the side tables.
“About that… we wondered if this one would suit.”
Gwen took the envelope. Reaching inside, she pulled out a set of keys in an old-fashioned key ring.
“Jack? Ianto?”
Jack settled down in his favorite armchair and Ianto perched on the arm, ready for the second round of coffee. “It’s been standing empty for a while, Gwen. I want to make a new life here, with Ianto, but I don’t want it to go to strangers, either.”
Rhys was reading through a sheaf of legal papers. “But you’re just giving it to us!”
“Tax deduction,” quipped Ianto.
Everyone laughed. Gwen jumped up and threw her arms around Ianto, then Jack. She tried to say something but nothing came out. She shook her head and sat back down, burying her face in Rhys’s shoulder.
“Today is a very special day,” intoned Owen, “for today Gwen Cooper-Williams was made speechless.”
This time the laughter was raucous. Finally, Andy got himself under control.
“Jack worked with someone to do one room, but the rest is down to bare white walls. I’ve been going crazy thinking of a present, so when Jack told me about the house, I talked to Rhiannon and we decided we could pool our talents and cover that part for you. Designer and decorating services, that sort of thing.”
Gwen, head still firmly ensconced in Rhys’s shoulder, made a little moaning sound and waved a hand in their direction. Rhys had to take a gulp of coffee before managing to speak. “Cheers, everyone.”
“Not done yet.” Owen said, offering him a long, flat envelope. “Tosh and I decided to partner up too. She did it all, so if you don’t like it, blame it on her.”
“I know you’d already decided to go to Venice,” Tosh said, “so I worked with your travel agent to upgrade it a little, that’s all.”
Gwen lifted her head, looking at Tosh through narrowed eyes. “Miss Bespoke-Shoes-that-Cost-Two-Month’s-Salary just upgraded us a little? Let me see that.” She pulled out the documents and flipped through them. “Tosh… this is…. Oooh, Rhys, look. A resort hotel in its own private island… our own gondola… a weekend cruise to Greece! Ooooh…”
“Success,” Owen said to Tosh, setting everybody off again.
They sat around for a while, drinking coffee and eating cake, until Ianto, sighing, stood up and took the plate out of Gwen’s hand. “Go.”
“Ianto…”
“You,” he said severely, “are dying to go test those keys. It’s going to keep you up until you pull Rhys out of bed at three in the morning to drive to Pontcanna. It is unfair to put the groom in danger of murdering the bride. Go!”
Rhiannon set down her own plate. “Would you like some company? We could talk about the color schemes, fabrics…” She giggled as she found herself being towed to the door. “I guess you do.”
Rhys and Andy followed the two women, laughing helplessly. Owen looked at Tosh.
“Well, since the party’s breaking up, Tosh, can I drop you off at home?”
Ianto sighed again. “And you are trying too hard to be all casual and nonchalant. When you decide which flat you’re keeping, let me know so I can get the address changes into the records in time for the next payroll audit.” He hugged Tosh, who was blushing to the roots of her hair. “Silly. Don’t you know how happy we are for both of you?”
“It’s just that it’s so new, so strong,” she whispered. “We want to keep it to ourselves for a little while.”
Jack put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “We won’t say anything, but I don’t think you realize how much it shows. You both look truly happy.” He turned to Owen and pulled him into a hug. “And if you hurt her I’ll hunt you down.”
“Oi! What would you do if she hurt me?”
“The same thing, of course.” He shepherded his stunned subordinates to the door. “Go home, you two, and don’t rush in tomorrow morning.”
He returned to the living room to find Ianto sitting on the rug in front of the fire. He knelt behind him, dropping a kiss on the exposed nape.
“Tired?”
“Not really. Just... thinking.”
“Penny?”
“It’s silly. I’m thinking about Rhiannon.”
“You’re worried about Andy?”
Ianto shifted until he was comfortable and patted his legs invitingly. “Andy’s a good bloke. It’s just that, after Canary Wharf, I thought she would be shut of Torchwood. And here she is again, right in the middle of it.”
Jack stretched out on the rug, laying his head on Ianto’s lap. “I can see why it would bother you.”
Ianto combed his fingers through Jack’s hair. “Do you know what I love the most about you?” He laughed at Jack’s lewd smirk. “Besides that. You always see what the problem is.”
“Nothing more annoying that someone saying I really can’t see what the problem is in a condescending tone. It always reminds me of talking to the Whitehall boffins.” He grabbed Ianto’s hand and kissed the palm. “Come down here with me.”
Ianto grabbed one of the throw pillows. “Move over a little.”
After a few false starts and a bit of wriggling they managed to find a comfortable position. Jack lay on his back, head on the pillow, with Ianto cuddled up to his side, head on Jack’s shoulder, right arm around Jack’s chest and right leg over Jack’s thighs.
“We always end up in the same position no matter what we do,” Ianto laughed. “Are we getting into a routine here?”
“There are routines and there are routines,” Jack said, pressing a kiss on Ianto’s temple. “I like this one. Peaceful.”
They drowsed a little, content in each other. Jack’s hands stroked and petted over Ianto’s skin almost of their own volition. He couldn’t remember ever being so happy. He had no illusions about having a safe and peaceful life, but he would deal with everything that got thrown at Torchwood as long as he could have moments like this.
Ianto made a little snuffling noise and burrowed his face into Jack's neck. The sound acted faster than a hedge witch's aphrodisiac. Jack groaned softly and shifted to make himself more comfortable. He was an adult, dammit, he could control his urges. Ianto snuffled again and moved so his cock was pressing against Jack's hip. Jack started to shift away again then realized Ianto was a hard as he was.
“You little monster. You're awake.”
“Correction. I'm awake and I'm horny.” Ianto rolled over. “Do something about it.”
Jack laughed low in his throat. “Your wish is my command.”
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Oh dear...they're so happy now, and I know what comes next...
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