[#060] INFAMOUS (TORCHWOOD)

[m_findlow]

Theme Prompt: #060 - Careless
Title: Infamous
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating/Warnings: PG.
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1,000 words
Summary: Owen is forced to unravel a mess of his own making.



Jack slapped a half inch thick wad of papers on Owens desk, startling him awake from where he'd been half dozing through a series of extremely boring CCTV tapes.

'What?' Owen grumbled, looking up disinterestedly at their captain. He looked decidedly miffed about something.

'Thought I'd do a little digging after your confession the other day,' Jack announced. 'That pile there would be a printout of every entry on every blog in Cardiff, stating that there's an organisation called Torchwood running around the city dealing with the unexplained. They go on further to say that anyone who wants to find them should look no further than the local takeaway shops around the bay, where they are often noted as ordering for pick up and delivery.' Jack slapped the pile angrily. 'Your little act of carelessness could put this whole place in jeopardy.'

Owen rolled his eyes at Jack's histrionics. 'So a couple of no life teenagers know we eat junk food. What's the big deal? It's not like they know what we really do.'

Jack's scowl didn't ease as he folded his arms across his chest. 'They don't have to. All they have to do is walk into Jubilee Pizza, ask the address for their number one customer Torchwood and then walk on in through the front door. Anyone could manage that,' he added, sparing a glance for Gwen who flushed pink at being dragged into the argument. Her head bowed at her desk as she tried hard not to eavesdrop.

'And you,' Jack said, turning his ire at their general support officer who had timed his run to unfortunate perfection, 'you handle half our takeaway. Didn't it occur to anyone that using the name Torchwood to place an order was a bad idea?'

Ianto gave his best contrite look. 'It's what Owen told me to use. I assumed you knew. And just for the record, you did tell us to let Gwen inside. Not to mention you drive a big SUV all around town with the word emblazoned all over it.'

Jack's hands balled up into fists, caught out on the technicality. 'Not the point, Ianto. The point is that we're supposed to be under the radar.' Owen watched the annoyed expression on Jack's face falter for a second as three of them gave him dubious looks. Not only did their vehicle advertise who they were, but their leader got about in the world's most distinctively dated army surplus get-up. There was very little that was subtle about anything they did.

'You done?' Owen asked.

'No,' came Jack's terse reply. 'You're going to every last pizza parlor, curry house and noodle shop in this city and wipe the name Torchwood from existence. Do I make myself clear?'

Owen scowled back. 'Crystal.'

'And take Gwen with you,' Jack said, already stalking back to his office. 'You can serve as a good example of what not to do.'

Owen sulked the entire way up the lift. The list of places Ianto had compiled was burning a hole in his back pocket. Having to drag Gwen along only made it worse.

'Why not just give them your name, instead?' she asked breaking the awkward silence.

'And have someone connect the dots that I work for Torchwood then come knocking on my door, complaining that I retconned their girlfriend and now she can't remember them? Fat chance. I don't need any more hassle in my life.' That shut Gwen up, but only for a moment.

'Jack's got a point, you know,' she said, following Owen out of the tourist office and along the quayside.

The comment annoyed Owen. 'What? You've been here five minutes and now you know everything?'

'I'm just saying.'

'Yeah, because I need to hear it from a junior copper who wouldn't know which end of a stun gun to point. Relax. I've got this.' He jogged up the stairs at a brutal pace, heading for Jubilee Pizza. Not only was it the closest, it was also the one place he knew he'd dropped their name more often than anywhere. Perhaps if he cleared things up here, Jack would never find out they skipped a few of the less frequented places around town. What Jack didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Owen slid open the door of the narrow shop front, confronted by a pimply teenager looking bored as he leant over the counter. 'What can I get you?'

'Just wanna update our customer records. Corporate rebrand. You'd have us on file as Torchwood.' Owen slid across a business card.

'Cybertech Security?' he said, reading the card.

'That's right. We handle all the major contracts across Cardiff. Bank of England, Principality, Welsh Government... Best in the business.' Owen leaned over the counter. 'Appreciate if you updated it now. You know, since I'm here in person and all.'

The lad disappeared behind a beaded curtain to use their computer.

Gwen leaned in close. 'When did you have time to print those?'

Owen snorted. 'These? Had them for ages. Teaboy's got a whole stash of fake cards and ID badges.'

Gwen looked annoyed. 'So, you don't just retcon people who discover the truth. You lie and you pretend to be someone else?'

Owen grinned, tugging out his wallet rifling through a wad of cards. 'How'd you like this one, PC Cooper? Meet Detective Sergeant Owen Harper. Think that means I outrank you.'

'Impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence!' she hissed.

'So? Like the police ever do anything.'

The teenager returned, handing back the card. 'All done. Just one question, though?'

Owen gave a tired sigh as he turned to leave. 'Yeah?'

'If the aliens come and like, want to invade and eat our brains and stuff, you'll still go and sort it out though, right?'

Owen was lost for words. 'Sure. No problem.'

Gwen grinned as they left. 'Don't like to tell you so, but...'

'Yeah, yeah. I'm a wanker who should've thought about it before giving them our real name.'