Ianto Jones; Torchwood; PG13
Jul. 28th, 2008 08:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morgynleriTitle: Ianto Jones, Passing of Years
Rating: PG13
AU: Lieutenant to Chaos
Word Count: 775
His mother wondered for a long time where her happy baby had gone in this solemn little boy with a painfully neat room. Where his smiles had vanished to, the piping voice that had started to babble so cheerfully.
Never stopped to think about it when she screamed back at the husband who berated her, focused on winning the arguement instead of on the little face peering out from the crack between bedroom door and frame. Didn't think about the times she'd snap at him to be quiet, or be still. About the times when one or the other of them had screamed at the plantive wail or questioning child's voice that interrupted their fights.
At school, the other children wondered why the small boy with mismatched clothes never tried to participate in their games, never wanted to play in the yard. Teased him for his books and his studying, and always wondered, in the back of their minds, why he merely watched them and never fought back.
Teachers worried for the quiet boy who always sat at the front of the class, even as they secretly enjoyed having a student who worked so hard, and always gave them his best. Always early to school, always volunteering to help after school. Neat and precise and so very careful to make sure he had each assignment in on time and to the standards they set.
When he was eighteen, he moved out of the house he'd gorwn up in, all of his belongings neatly packed into a handful of boxes, and one worn duffle. He told his mother she could keep or sell the rest as she saw fit, before leaving with the one friend he'd found at school.
Fewer people wondered at his quiet efficiency when he worked in a used bookstore in between classes at university, and he was glad for it. A tiny flat above the store became home, and his friend became his roommate, though she worried about him even now. She told herself he just needed time to adjust to being away from home, that he'd relax sooner or later.
She moved out a year later, with a soft-voiced apology, but she couldn't stay. She said sh hoped he'd be able to find someone he could open up to, eventually. But it clearly wasn't her, and she needed her own space before she went around the bend. He just gave her a small, polite smile, and murmured that he would be fine, and he hoped she'd be well. They never did keep in touch after.
He was twenty-two when he was approached by someone from an organization called Torchwood, and offered a position in their IT department. He didn't know what he was getting into, but hedidn't even blink when the thick packet of paperwork was set in front of him. It doesn't matter what sort of secracy they have, what their security, it's all the same. It's a job, and it pays well, and it's secure. It's all he wants.
They're surprised, he thinks, when he doesn't freak out at his first encounter with an alien. He's certain they're surprised when he deflects the not-so-subtle advances of a man he later finds out is the Assistant Director. At least, the first time. Even he can't hold out forever, but he finds a way to justify it to himself. Collecting information. He's good at that. Observation, and remembering.
That's what earns him his promotion. What everyone else thinks earned it is what bought him a one-way transfer to Glasgow. Not that he objects. Here, he has more than he dreamed he'd have. A chance to control the world around him, to make sure no one ever could hurt him again.
It isn't really, but he refuses to see that until it's almost too late. His fate isn't entirely up to him, though, even now, and some people are more observant than others. He finds himself on a long holiday, told not to come home until he's found himself. And not to worry about money, he'll be taken care of. He does have to say, his employer knows very well how to take care of his own.
Perhaps what he does now doesn't quite have the prestige of being in charge of the archives, but he is good at this. Good at seeing what needs done, and making sure the resources are in place to get it done. Making sure it gets done. And even without the prestige of his previous position, this job is far more important. Here, he can make a difference in the lives of every person on Earth.
Rating: PG13
AU: Lieutenant to Chaos
Word Count: 775
His mother wondered for a long time where her happy baby had gone in this solemn little boy with a painfully neat room. Where his smiles had vanished to, the piping voice that had started to babble so cheerfully.
Never stopped to think about it when she screamed back at the husband who berated her, focused on winning the arguement instead of on the little face peering out from the crack between bedroom door and frame. Didn't think about the times she'd snap at him to be quiet, or be still. About the times when one or the other of them had screamed at the plantive wail or questioning child's voice that interrupted their fights.
At school, the other children wondered why the small boy with mismatched clothes never tried to participate in their games, never wanted to play in the yard. Teased him for his books and his studying, and always wondered, in the back of their minds, why he merely watched them and never fought back.
Teachers worried for the quiet boy who always sat at the front of the class, even as they secretly enjoyed having a student who worked so hard, and always gave them his best. Always early to school, always volunteering to help after school. Neat and precise and so very careful to make sure he had each assignment in on time and to the standards they set.
When he was eighteen, he moved out of the house he'd gorwn up in, all of his belongings neatly packed into a handful of boxes, and one worn duffle. He told his mother she could keep or sell the rest as she saw fit, before leaving with the one friend he'd found at school.
Fewer people wondered at his quiet efficiency when he worked in a used bookstore in between classes at university, and he was glad for it. A tiny flat above the store became home, and his friend became his roommate, though she worried about him even now. She told herself he just needed time to adjust to being away from home, that he'd relax sooner or later.
She moved out a year later, with a soft-voiced apology, but she couldn't stay. She said sh hoped he'd be able to find someone he could open up to, eventually. But it clearly wasn't her, and she needed her own space before she went around the bend. He just gave her a small, polite smile, and murmured that he would be fine, and he hoped she'd be well. They never did keep in touch after.
He was twenty-two when he was approached by someone from an organization called Torchwood, and offered a position in their IT department. He didn't know what he was getting into, but hedidn't even blink when the thick packet of paperwork was set in front of him. It doesn't matter what sort of secracy they have, what their security, it's all the same. It's a job, and it pays well, and it's secure. It's all he wants.
They're surprised, he thinks, when he doesn't freak out at his first encounter with an alien. He's certain they're surprised when he deflects the not-so-subtle advances of a man he later finds out is the Assistant Director. At least, the first time. Even he can't hold out forever, but he finds a way to justify it to himself. Collecting information. He's good at that. Observation, and remembering.
That's what earns him his promotion. What everyone else thinks earned it is what bought him a one-way transfer to Glasgow. Not that he objects. Here, he has more than he dreamed he'd have. A chance to control the world around him, to make sure no one ever could hurt him again.
It isn't really, but he refuses to see that until it's almost too late. His fate isn't entirely up to him, though, even now, and some people are more observant than others. He finds himself on a long holiday, told not to come home until he's found himself. And not to worry about money, he'll be taken care of. He does have to say, his employer knows very well how to take care of his own.
Perhaps what he does now doesn't quite have the prestige of being in charge of the archives, but he is good at this. Good at seeing what needs done, and making sure the resources are in place to get it done. Making sure it gets done. And even without the prestige of his previous position, this job is far more important. Here, he can make a difference in the lives of every person on Earth.