Title: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
redismycolour Challenge: Day One
Date Written: 1/1/09
Rating: PG/K+
Word Count: 783
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Spoilers: None really, but in my head I see it set during/after 02
Warnings: None
Author Notes: Oh, I am so excited about this! *bounce* 31 lovely days of prompts. Inspired by both the picture and the website the picture came from, about holiday shopping in Britain. Massively unbetaed.



Cardiff Winter Wonderland


"I hate shopping."

Ianto resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. When he'd asked Jack to join him for some post-holiday shopping that morning, he should have known to just drop the subject when the Captain let out a long-suffering sigh. He'd thought Jack was just teasing, making Ianto bribe him with more coffee, then his favorite take-away for lunch, and then promising to take him to dinner after. It wasn't like Jack hadn't pulled the move before, pushing Ianto's buttons until the Welshman was about to strangle his Captain before agreeing to whatever it was Ianto wanted, smirking away the whole time.

"I mean," Jack continued, turning his body sideways as more shoppers brushed past, "you have the Internet. Wonderful 20th Century invention. Amazon even does free shipping."

"I don't know about you, Jack," Ianto shot back over his shoulder, "but I do like to actually see the sky on occasion. Y'know, the sun, blue, clouds, stars, the moon on most nights?"

"But did you have to do this on New Year's Day?" Jack asked.

"Most of the post-Christmas sales have been picked over," Ianto pointed out, "but the shops still have their sales. And yes, I did. If I had put it off any longer, I never would have gotten around to it."

A woman, arms full of presents, bumped into him and gave him a dirty look. Ianto instinctively apologized and stepped out of her way before she began cursing at him.

"Merry Christmas to you too!" Jack called out as she brushed past, waving at her. "Goodwill to men and all that!"

"I am not Retconning half of Cardiff over your antics again," Ianto hissed, grabbing at Jack's hand and pulling him through the crowd.

"See? It's all a bunch of crap," Jack said, letting himself get led around. "Most wonderful time of the year my ass. All it does is stress people out and make them lash out."

"Exhibit A," Ianto muttered under his breath.

"Heard that," Jack groused.

Ianto stopped abruptly and turned to face Jack. "Okay, look, Scrooge. Next time you don't want to do something, for God's sake, just tell me!"

Jack threw his hands up in the air. "Okay, here it goes: Ianto, I hate this time of the year. The shops are crowded, the people are horrid to one another, and everything's too crowded and noisy."

"God, Jack, I love you, but you're so thick sometimes," Ianto swore.

People were staring now, watching the two men act out their little soap opera. Someone from the crowd let out a loud scoff and hurled a slur, and Jack's head swiveled around to try and find who'd said it.

Ianto could sense the danger in the air, and he couldn't remember if Jack had left his Webley at the Hub. He grabbed Jack's hand and hauled him out of the mall.

The sun was just setting as they stalked through the streets of Cardiff, painting the sky overhead gorgeous shades of orange and red, blue and black starting to creep in along the eastern edge of the sky. They didn't speak to each other yet, letting the cold, crisp winter air soothe their fiery tempers. He wasn't even thinking, just moving.

It was a bit of a surprise when he realized he'd led them both to City Hall, the temporary ice rink on the lawn filled with people: couples holding hands as they slid over the ice, mothers and fathers helping little ones find their feet on the blades, children racing each other and laughing when their mates tumbled. Smiles and laughter.

He'd remembered when they opened it eight years ago, when he was in his last year of secondary. His whole family had come, his sister and new brother-in-law, with his mother sitting on the side with his frail, ailing father. He'd brought his nephews here every year when he was on winter break from uni, and Lisa for two holidays off of work. He'd never gotten all that good even with the practice, all wobbly uneasiness and nervous laughter.

And then it hit him. Why Jack hated the holidays. Everyone collectively getting together, making happy memories.

All of Jack's happy memories were bittersweet, honey chased with a little nip of poison.

Ianto looked over at him. "Know how to ice skate?" he asked conversationally.

"Not really," Jack admitted. "I know the mechanics, but gravity likes me a little too much."

"I'm not that good either," Ianto replied, grinning. "Come on, we can catch each other when we fall."

Jack's face split into one of his slow, lovely smiles. "Yes."

Just because the memories were bittersweet didn't mean they should stop making them.