fandomweekly | [#089] Finding Torchwood (Torchwood)

Theme Prompt: #089 – Success
Title: Finding Torchwood
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating/Warnings: PG / None
Bonus: Yes, I think so.
Word Count: 1000
Summary: When Eddie bets his new friend that he can do what none of the locals has ever done, it’s an idle boast, but then he succeeds…

“Bloody Torchwood!” That was Barry, my new mate. We were having a few beers to unwind, hoping a celebrity or two might pop into the bar we were in since it was only a stone’s throw from where the Sci-Fi convention was being held.

That was the reason I’d come to Cardiff in the first place, and I’d wound up in the queue right behind Barry. We’d got to talking, found we liked a lot of the same things, and spent the last two days together. Now the convention was over I was thinking I might stick around for a while. College was out for the summer and I didn’t have anything better to do. Maybe I could get a summer job.

“What’s Torchwood?”

Being a local, Barry knew a ton of stuff I had no clue about.

“Dunno really. Secret organisation, special ops or somethin’. That’s what my uncle says anyway. He’s a copper. That bloke in the coat? He’s Torchwood’s head honcho. There’s a bunch of others work with him. They’re based in Cardiff, but nobody knows exactly where. They’re a menace. Anything weird goin’ on, you can bet they’re involved. No one likes ‘em.” Barry leaned forward. “Some folks think they deal with UFO sightings, aliens and stuff.”

“Get out!”

“Hey, I never said I believe it.”

“Y’know, I bet I could find out where their base is.”

“You? You’re from London, mate!”

“So what?”

“So you don’t know hardly anythin’ about Cardiff. You’ve only been here since Friday. If nobody local can find it, what chance d’you have?”

“Won’t know ‘til I try, will I? ‘Sides, it’ll give me somethin’ to do tomorrow while you’re workin’”

“Don’t remind me! It’s alright for you, college boy; some of us gotta work for a livin’.”

“Suck it up. C’mon, next round’s on me.”

“Too right it is!”

I wasn’t so hungover the next morning that I didn’t remember the events of the night before, so I left the hotel to wander the city, keeping a lookout for the guy in the long coat, or the big, black SUV Barry said Torchwood drove around in. By mid-afternoon I was starving so I bought fish and chips and wandered down to the bay, stood at the railings looking out over the water while I ate. I was really starting to like Cardiff. The air was fresher than in London and the people seemed friendly. I’d just finished eating and was wondering where to go next when I saw him, the man in the coat, walking past. Got you now! Dumping my rubbish in the bin, I watched as he went inside the little tourist information place tucked away down by the water.

Soon as he was out of sight, I followed, pushing the door open. The place was empty, but I’d seen him come in! Behind the counter was a bead curtain, so I went back there to take a look, but the tiny office was empty too. I was about to leave when I spotted the button under the counter. Silent alarm? I hesitated, but… what the hell? I pressed it, and a section of wall swung open! There was a passageway beyond, and a lift. Maybe I should’ve turned back, but I’d come this far. Just wait ‘til I told Barry I’d succeeded where everyone else had failed, discovered Torchwood’s secret base! I’d sneak in real quiet, keep out of sight, take a quick peek, and then get out; they’d never even know I was there.

Well, that was the plan, but when the lift reached bottom and the door opened, this massive cogwheel rolled to one side, lights started flashing, sirens blared, and five people turned to stare at me.

“Hey there!” That was the guy in the coat; he sounded American.

“Jack, did you leave the tourist office door unlocked again?” a guy in a three-piece suit asked mildly.

“Relax, Ianto. My Hub, my rules. I saw him watching me, wanted to see what he’d do.”

“You do understand the words ‘secret base’, don’t you? It’s a bit difficult to maintain secrecy if you keep letting people find us.”

“Says the man who stalked me to get a job.”

“That was different; I already knew about Torchwood.”

“Um, maybe I should just leave.” I started backing towards the lift.

“But you only just got here!” The American strode forward, smiling, offering his hand. “Captain Jack Harkness. Welcome to Torchwood.”

“Er, thanks.” I shook hands. “Eddie Hallam. What’re you gonna do to me?”

“Now there’s a question.” I’d never seen a smile so wide and white.

“Jack, stop it. Sorry, he’s a dreadful flirt.” That was the guy in the suit. Ianto.

“You wound me. I thought I was a very good flirt.”

Don’t think I’d ever seen a grown man pout until then.

Ianto rolled his eyes. “You’ll flirt with anyone.”

“Jealous?”

“Should I be?”

“’Ere, you two, stop makin;’ eyes at each other!” That was the third man in the room, a Londoner, like me. Small world.

“I’m not jealous, but I think Owen might be,” Ianto deadpanned.

“Fuck off.”

The playful banter seemed so normal I almost relaxed, but then there was a screech from above, and I looked up…

“Bloody hell!” Something that looked like a flying dinosaur glided by overhead.

“Don’t worry about Myfanwy, she won’t hurt you. Now, why don’t I show you around?” said Jack.

I wake up in the small hotel room I’ve rented for the week, my head aching, and my mouth dry as the Sahara. There’s a vague memory nagging at the back of my mind; I try to hold onto it, but it slips away like smoke. Groaning, I drag myself out of bed, check my watch, and find it’s almost noon, Tuesday! Gods, I must’ve got really hammered! Last thing I remember is going out drinking with Barry, but that was Sunday night. I’ve lost a whole day! I swear I’m never drinking that much ever again.

The End