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fandomweekly2026-01-02 07:18 pm
badly_knitted) wrote in fandomweekly2026-01-02 07:18 pm
Entry tags:
[#285] New Year, New Start (Torchwood)
Title: New Year, New Start
Fandom: Torchwood
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: The New Year has just begun, but Torchwood Three are still trying to sort themselves out after the events of the previous year.
Word Count: 1000
Written For: Prompt 285 – Fresh Start.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters. They belong to the BBC.
“New year, same old problems,” Ianto said with a resigned sigh as he let his gaze wander around the rundown old warehouse that was Torchwood Three’s temporary base of operations. They’d done what they could to make it fit for their purposes when they’d taken it over a few months ago, but it was a poor substitute for what they’d had before. Jack didn’t even have an office!
There were a handful of computer desks from Ikea, a few second-hand metal filing cabinets, a rented photocopier, and a single wireless printer. One corner of the cavernous, high-ceilinged space, just outside a small kitchen, had been designated as the break room, complete with a couple of armchairs and a sofa bed, and a room at the back had been turned into half a dozen secure cells, currently housing two Weevils and a Hoix. The ‘Archives’ were some racks of metal shelving against one wall, and the whole place was draughty and depressing, despite a mismatched array of electric heaters scattered throughout the work area.
“That’s a bit defeatist, isn’t it?” Jack wandered over to his lover. “It should be New year, fresh start!”
“Maybe it should, but it isn’t.” Ianto gestured to their current home away from home. “It’s January, and we’re still here. The rebuild and refit of the Hub is taking longer than anyone expected because of structural issues. Keeping the temperature in here above freezing is almost impossible, I don’t even want to THINK how high our electricity bill is going to be, and Gwen should already be on maternity leave. We need more people. The two of us and Andy aren’t anywhere near enough, even with Gwen manning the computers whenever the rest of us are in the field. We’re barely keeping our heads above water.”
“You never used to be so negative,” Jack complained.
“I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic. The new Hub won’t be ready for another four to six months, we’re in the depths of winter, and the coldest months are still to come. Give me one good reason to feel positive about our prospects.”
“You’re alive.”
Ianto blinked at his lover. “Besides that.”
“I’m still here, we’re together, Gwen is having a baby… There are a lot of things to feel positive about.”
“Well, I’m cold, so excuse me for not feeling all that positive.”
“The Rift predictor says it should stay quiet today.”
“So?”
“It’s still early, on the first day of January, so we should hit the sales.”
“What on earth for?” Ianto stared at Jack as if he’d grown a second head, which, come to think of it, he had done on one occasion. Watching him flirt with himself had been a bizarre experience, but that had been way back when Lisa was still hidden away in the Hub’s basement, before Ianto and Jack had been… whatever they were now. Lovers, partners, a pair, like socks that didn’t exactly match but still managed to work. The kind of socks that were hard-wearing and durable, able to survive no matter what was thrown at them, or how many times they’d been thrown into the washing machine.
Ianto dragged his brain back from its meanderings when he realised Jack was speaking to him. “What was that?”
“I said, we should hit the sales.”
“Yes, I got that part, just not why.”
“To buy a few things to help us stay warm, for a start.”
“Like what? Thermal underwear? Because I already thought of that, and it’s not helping.” Ianto shivered. Actually, what he had on under his suit probably WAS helping, just not enough. He hated being cold.
“Oooh, thermal undies! Do I get to peel you out of them later?”
Ianto couldn’t quite keep from smiling. Same old Jack, finding the most ridiculous things a turn-on. “Perhaps. If you’re very good today.”
“Oh, you won’t even BELIEVE how good I’m going to be today, and every other day! New year, new me!”
“Really? As far as I can see, the new you is exactly the same as the old you.”
“But BETTER!” Jack insisted. “The new you needs some work though, the negativity has got to go. Come on, grab your coat!”
“Where are we going?”
“I already told you: the January sales!”
“Oh. Right. I’m not sure more electric heaters are going to help.”
“We’ll get draught excluders, sealant, sheets of plastic to cover the windows, some rugs for the floors, maybe some curtains. Screens to put around the work area and the break area to keep the heat in. We’ll figure something out!”
“I’m not sure any of that will be reduced in the sales,” Ianto said. “Well, maybe the rugs and curtains, if we’re lucky.”
“Then we’ll get clothes. Gloves, and scarves, and woolly hats! Thick sweaters, fleece lined jackets, cosy socks and slippers, blankets and duvets!” Jack was overflowing with enthusiasm. “We’re Torchwood! We’ve survived the worst the universe can throw at us and come out on top! We’re not going to let a bit of cold weather slow us down! We’re tough, we’re resilient, we’re immortal!”
“We’re still cold. At least, I am.”
“More thermal underwear! I want some too, the best we can get! Ooh, we’ll hit the sporting goods store. I bet they sell all the good stuff!”
“I hope you’re not going to be sticking Her Majesty with the bill for all this.”
“Lizzie would understand, it’s a matter of necessity, but no, this will come out of my savings. I do have some, you know.” Jack paused. “We’d better take the SUV rather than your car. There’s more room in the boot. Maybe we could get a really big tent and set that up over the workstations! Bet that would keep the heat in!”
“You’re mental, you are!” Against his better judgement, Ianto was starting to get caught up in Jack’s enthusiasm. Ah well, that was something he’d have to adjust to anyway. “Right, let’s get going, shall we? I’m driving.”
The End
There were a handful of computer desks from Ikea, a few second-hand metal filing cabinets, a rented photocopier, and a single wireless printer. One corner of the cavernous, high-ceilinged space, just outside a small kitchen, had been designated as the break room, complete with a couple of armchairs and a sofa bed, and a room at the back had been turned into half a dozen secure cells, currently housing two Weevils and a Hoix. The ‘Archives’ were some racks of metal shelving against one wall, and the whole place was draughty and depressing, despite a mismatched array of electric heaters scattered throughout the work area.
“That’s a bit defeatist, isn’t it?” Jack wandered over to his lover. “It should be New year, fresh start!”
“Maybe it should, but it isn’t.” Ianto gestured to their current home away from home. “It’s January, and we’re still here. The rebuild and refit of the Hub is taking longer than anyone expected because of structural issues. Keeping the temperature in here above freezing is almost impossible, I don’t even want to THINK how high our electricity bill is going to be, and Gwen should already be on maternity leave. We need more people. The two of us and Andy aren’t anywhere near enough, even with Gwen manning the computers whenever the rest of us are in the field. We’re barely keeping our heads above water.”
“You never used to be so negative,” Jack complained.
“I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic. The new Hub won’t be ready for another four to six months, we’re in the depths of winter, and the coldest months are still to come. Give me one good reason to feel positive about our prospects.”
“You’re alive.”
Ianto blinked at his lover. “Besides that.”
“I’m still here, we’re together, Gwen is having a baby… There are a lot of things to feel positive about.”
“Well, I’m cold, so excuse me for not feeling all that positive.”
“The Rift predictor says it should stay quiet today.”
“So?”
“It’s still early, on the first day of January, so we should hit the sales.”
“What on earth for?” Ianto stared at Jack as if he’d grown a second head, which, come to think of it, he had done on one occasion. Watching him flirt with himself had been a bizarre experience, but that had been way back when Lisa was still hidden away in the Hub’s basement, before Ianto and Jack had been… whatever they were now. Lovers, partners, a pair, like socks that didn’t exactly match but still managed to work. The kind of socks that were hard-wearing and durable, able to survive no matter what was thrown at them, or how many times they’d been thrown into the washing machine.
Ianto dragged his brain back from its meanderings when he realised Jack was speaking to him. “What was that?”
“I said, we should hit the sales.”
“Yes, I got that part, just not why.”
“To buy a few things to help us stay warm, for a start.”
“Like what? Thermal underwear? Because I already thought of that, and it’s not helping.” Ianto shivered. Actually, what he had on under his suit probably WAS helping, just not enough. He hated being cold.
“Oooh, thermal undies! Do I get to peel you out of them later?”
Ianto couldn’t quite keep from smiling. Same old Jack, finding the most ridiculous things a turn-on. “Perhaps. If you’re very good today.”
“Oh, you won’t even BELIEVE how good I’m going to be today, and every other day! New year, new me!”
“Really? As far as I can see, the new you is exactly the same as the old you.”
“But BETTER!” Jack insisted. “The new you needs some work though, the negativity has got to go. Come on, grab your coat!”
“Where are we going?”
“I already told you: the January sales!”
“Oh. Right. I’m not sure more electric heaters are going to help.”
“We’ll get draught excluders, sealant, sheets of plastic to cover the windows, some rugs for the floors, maybe some curtains. Screens to put around the work area and the break area to keep the heat in. We’ll figure something out!”
“I’m not sure any of that will be reduced in the sales,” Ianto said. “Well, maybe the rugs and curtains, if we’re lucky.”
“Then we’ll get clothes. Gloves, and scarves, and woolly hats! Thick sweaters, fleece lined jackets, cosy socks and slippers, blankets and duvets!” Jack was overflowing with enthusiasm. “We’re Torchwood! We’ve survived the worst the universe can throw at us and come out on top! We’re not going to let a bit of cold weather slow us down! We’re tough, we’re resilient, we’re immortal!”
“We’re still cold. At least, I am.”
“More thermal underwear! I want some too, the best we can get! Ooh, we’ll hit the sporting goods store. I bet they sell all the good stuff!”
“I hope you’re not going to be sticking Her Majesty with the bill for all this.”
“Lizzie would understand, it’s a matter of necessity, but no, this will come out of my savings. I do have some, you know.” Jack paused. “We’d better take the SUV rather than your car. There’s more room in the boot. Maybe we could get a really big tent and set that up over the workstations! Bet that would keep the heat in!”
“You’re mental, you are!” Against his better judgement, Ianto was starting to get caught up in Jack’s enthusiasm. Ah well, that was something he’d have to adjust to anyway. “Right, let’s get going, shall we? I’m driving.”
The End