buttononthetop: (Vizzini's Rule - Title)
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Title: Vizzini's Rule, Chapter 11

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: It's short.  Could possibly be convinced to post the next chapter tonight... 

Spoilers: Cyberwoman (1x4)

Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to Russell T. Davies and the Mighty Beeb. Just goofin' around!

Summary: The origin fic continues - in which Dr. Tanizaki arrives in Cardiff...

Notes: Comments and con/crit much appreciated. Thanks to everyone who has been reading!! :o)

Previous Chapters



Vizzini's Rule: Chapter Eleven

Ianto could never really remember the next few weeks. They passed in a haze of anticipation and dread: anticipation for the arrival of Dr. Tanizaki and dread that someone would discover Lisa before he got there. Ianto stopped eating altogether unless the team was present and even then he took the smallest bites possible to escape notice. He slept in snatches, mostly on the sofa in the break area or on his chair in Lisa’s room. His new flat was ready and waiting for the day he would bring Lisa home, but he couldn’t bring himself to stay there without her.

He was extra careful to keep up appearances around the team. He laughed at Owen’s bad jokes, gossiped with the girls, brought coffee to Jack before he could ask. On the outside he was the usual, calm, efficient Ianto, but on the inside he was an absolute wreck. He spent as much time as he could in the Tourist Office or down in the archives. When he was alone, he could quiet his mind, keep it from thinking about what would happen to Lisa if something went wrong, what would happen to him.

Jack was the only one who noticed Ianto’s discomfort. Clever, observant Jack who seemed more in tune to Ianto than anyone else on the team. He stopped him in the hall to the cells one day as Ianto was going down to feed the Weevils.

“How are you, Ianto?” he asked, concern clearly written across his features.

“Fine, sir. And you?”

Jack frowned. “Knock it off, I’m being serious here. You don’t look good.”

Ianto straightened his tie a bit. “I apologize for the suit, sir. It’s laundry day.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it. Are you okay?”

Trying to look suitably embarrassed, Ianto confessed, “I’ve had a bit of a stomach bug lately. Just makes things a bit uncomfortable.”

Jack grimaced in sympathy. “Well, that’s good.” Ianto snorted and Jack hurriedly added, “Not that you’re sick! Just that that’s all that’s bothering you. You can always take a few days off if you need it, you know.”

Ianto nodded. “If you’ll excuse me, sir?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Jack moved out of Ianto’s way and he continued to the cells. He fed the Weevils quickly, trying not to breathe in the stench of the Weevil Chow, as Owen called the disgusting mix of overripe vegetables and slightly spoiled meat they seemed to prefer. Although he considered that if he looked as green as he felt, it would add an air of truth to his lie about the flu.

The rift had been quiet for days and Ianto was starting to worry that when Dr. Tanizaki arrived, the team wouldn’t ever leave the Hub. He began to bite his nails, a bad habit leftover from stressful days at school. He wondered if he dared give Tanizaki the codes to the Hub. If he could lure Jack out for an evening drink or dinner or something then the doctor could use the codes to get to Lisa. But the thought of allowing an outsider free access to Torchwood made Ianto feel even more sick than usual. He would just have to cross his fingers and pray.

He suffered through two days of agony after Dr. Tanizaki arrived in Cardiff. Ianto had gotten him a room at the St. David’s Hotel and begged him to be patient. He assured the doctor that he would call the minute the team left the Hub for any period of time. Finally, on the third day of the doctor’s promised four, Ianto got his chance.

He came down from the Tourist Office a little after six to find the team engaged in a bizarre basketball game. Ianto tried to make himself as invisible as possible, fearful that they would ask him to join in. But the game was quickly won by Owen and apparently the forfeit was drinks at the pub. Jack tossed him the ball as they left, but other than that no one even looked his way.

The second they were gone, Ianto phoned Tanizaki. He then made his usual call to the pizza place, just in case Jack checked up on him or the team came back unexpectedly. He even joked with the guy on the phone about Jack getting after him for not eating his vegetables. He buzzed the doctor in from the Hub when he arrived at the Tourist Office and went to greet him at the door.

This was the moment Ianto had been working towards from the moment Torchwood Tower burned. This was the man who could put it all right again.

This was it.


TBC in Chapter Twelve
 

Date: 2008-07-06 07:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] christine-twfan.livejournal.com
Oh man...even knowing what happens makes it bad. You're writing this so well. Love it. :)

Date: 2008-07-06 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! My biggest fear has been that it'll be boring since it's so canon - so thanks bunches for the encouragement! :)

Date: 2008-07-06 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angst-queen-98.livejournal.com
I've been following this for days now and am seriously enjoying it! I squee happily when I see a new update to it!!

As for it being boring because it's canon? Not true. Put that thought out of your head, please. It follows canon. But it also expounds on canon. Gives us a different POV and that's always welcomed.

This is very well done and I'm looking forward to more!

I do believe you mentioned tonight, and persuasion? How about nekkid Jack with Ianto on top? LOL

Best regards,
Paige

Date: 2008-07-06 07:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Wow - thanks so very much! I will put the word "boring" right out of my vocab and keep plugging away at this. :)

Hmmmm, that's some powerful persuading you got there!! Will take into consideration. ;)

Date: 2009-10-07 04:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jantoforever21.livejournal.com
It's not boring one bit. The whole story is long (not particularly my type of fanfiction read), but it is NOT boring. I love to read canon, as long as it's a good fiction topic and the author is good at writing (and writng characters). In this case, that is completely true, you are wonderful at writing Ianto!

Date: 2008-07-06 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bookwrm89.livejournal.com
Knowing what's coming next just makes me cringe for Ianto. He's so hopeful and it's going to go so wrong.
Can't wait for more!

Date: 2008-07-06 07:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Yeah - this chapter is really just to twist the knife a little bit more before it all falls apart. More tonight most likely!

Date: 2008-07-06 08:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cynic2022.livejournal.com
I can't believe that I'm asking for more broken!crushed!devestated!Ianto, but please please please please more?

Also re. canon, I really enjoy how you're putting things into perspective. I almost feel like this is reading the book rather than watching the movie. You are saying all the things that have gone unsaid, and I'm really enjoying the way that you're saying them!

Date: 2008-07-06 08:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Thank you!! :) Your book vs. movie comment has made my week!!

More broken!crushed!devestated!Ianto will be coming up tonight, I promise!! :D

Date: 2008-07-06 08:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missthingsplace.livejournal.com
Never think it's boring, it's wonderful :)

Date: 2008-07-06 08:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
yay! Thanks so much!! :)

Date: 2008-07-06 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] criccieth.livejournal.com
please post, please post, please post.....

Date: 2008-07-06 08:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
*grin* I will, promise! Check back later today... :D

Date: 2008-07-07 02:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alba17.livejournal.com
Yes, it's canon, but it's not boring because we all love the show and want to know what went on the characters' heads and what happened that we didn't see on the show. (biting nails in anticipation)

Date: 2008-07-07 03:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Thank hun!! :D

Date: 2008-07-07 03:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thrace-adams.livejournal.com
Oh poor Ianto, so much nerves - I don't blame him. I could totally feel how nervous he was in this. Well done!

Date: 2008-07-07 03:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buttononthetop.livejournal.com
Thank you thank you thank you! I almost dedicated Chapter 12 to you again since you've been SUCH a big help on this fic! (but then I forgot *facepalm*) I'll remember next time!!! Maybe I should let you pick your favorite bit and dedicate that one to ya! :D

Thanks bunches!

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