Achieving Avalon (part 4)

[hopenight]

Title: Achieving Avalon
Author: HopeNight
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, past Arthur/Merlin, past Ianto/Lisa, past Ianto/others, Gwen/Rhys
Ianto Jones/Merlin Emrys, Captain Jack Harkness/Arthur Pendragon, Toshiko Sato, Doctor Owen Harper, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams, Morgana la Fey/Lady Morgana Farthing, Great Dragon/Cameron Ashmore, Nimueh/Naomi Smith
Warnings: OOC-ness running rampant, rude language, REALLY AU after Cyberwoman, Jack Harkness in general
Rating: PG-13 possibly light R
Current Word Count: 20,001
Artists: chosenfire28
Beta(s): scarlet_reader
Summary: Ianto Jones is a perfectly ordinary man with no past and a not so ordinary job. Merlin Emrys on the other hand? He has a trail of mysticism, magic, death, love, and reincarnation following him like a lost puppy. Somehow it’s up to him to put a little magic back into the Torchwood teams lives especially Jack’s. Why? Well because it’s Jack he falls in love with every lifetime and it’s up to the Captain to get his own memories back.
Notes: This was just a weird little chestnut in my head. So yeah I wrote and I enjoyed it. Thanks to my wonderful beta, scarlet_reader.

"WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT? WHAT'S HERE WORTH COMING BACK FOR?"
..."Tr..ooooo...luv..." –The Princess Bride William Goldman Chapter 7 The Wedding

True love is an interesting concept. Actually it’s something that’s tossed around so casually no one really gives respect to the term anymore. It’s a term that should definitely be given some sort of notice. When people find someone that they will marry they proudly call them their ‘true love’.

What about the others that came before this person? These other people who that one person believed that they will be their ‘true love’…

See? True love has no respect anymore. Who would want to blame their failures on true love? Love happens or something akin at least for every one of us. We love, we experience heartbreak, and we grow from it. Finding someone we love enough to remain true to is a long, arduous process filled with years of heartbreak, liters of alcohol, kilos of chocolate, and gallons of ice cream. Like the journey of Psyche to Cupid, Soul must trust Love and Love must trust Soul in order for there to be a communion between them so brilliant it will light up your life.

When we do find someone we love enough to stay true to it’s the best feeling in the world. You love that person so much that you will never lie about the big things, always discover something new, and go into the scary pit of familiarity with them.

Notice I did not call that true love though.

True love leaves everything in the dust. For true love people will move mountains, shift oceans, run across the world, dance in the stars…they will do anything it takes. Love is love. It’s wonderfully frightening and beautifully chaotic. If everything falls into place then that’s not love. It’s familiarity. Don’t be sad a lot of people get confused with it.

Merlin and Arthur are the epitome of true love. They fought like cats and dogs. Merlin held no respect for Arthur’s status in life. Arthur allowed him to without, you know, killing him. They saved each other from themselves. Merlin was saved because Arthur gave him a focus without that it was highly likely that he would have went dark. Arthur was saved because Merlin treated him like an equal and he had to earn something for the first time in his life. He needed that to become a great king. Merlin waits for Arthur for years and centuries pass and he waits. Arthur keeps coming back. Sure he doesn’t remember but he still finds his way back into Merlin’s arms.

True love, the real genuine article, is like a slow burning ember. There’s an occasional burst of flame, moments of cooling off, but the love smolders beautifully.

Captain Jack Harkness, the latest reincarnation of King Arthur, has never really known that love. His affairs have been like fireworks for the most part. They have been a bright explosion, beautiful color but then when it’s faded there is nothing left to build on. Or they have been like a candle. The fire burns, the wax melts it’s slow and delicious but once the wick is gone there’s nothing left.

It’s a very lonely existence he leads. That is why Ianto Jones confounds him so much.

How does that saying go? He’s a riddle wrapped in a mystery clothed in an enigma or something like that. Jack Harkness has always prided himself on being able to read people rather well. Gwen, he instantly knew that they would be at odds. That she would challenge his authority and fight tooth and nail for something she believed right. Owen beneath all the snippy sarcastic cynicism along with his slight alcohol problem was a genuinely compassionate human. He loved and lost but would back Jack up if he needed it. Then there was sweet, shy Tosh who had a heart of pure gold and was loyal to those she felt deserving.

He had them all figured out except for Ianto.

The archivist was a walking mess of contradiction to Jack. He was silent and could slip into the shadows and then there were the moments were just his mere presence seemed to fill the room up to the brim. His voice reminded him of water, peaceful when Ianto was calm but a raging typhoon when he was angry. Ianto seemed to know everything about anything but was always willing to learn more. He was creative to an extent that astonished Jack but could keep up with Tosh easily.

Then there were his eyes.

Those bright blue orbs told the secrets and stories of this man who slips into contradictions as easily as most people get dressed in the morning. Then there were moments when he caught swirls of gold in those eyes. Then there were moments that he swore that those eyes flashed bright, blinding gold just at the right moment.

He groaned and let his head fall against his desk with a loud bang.

“Come now, sir. What has that desk ever done to you?”

“Sorry, Ianto…I just have this problem. It’s been driving me crazy.”

Ianto put a steaming cup of all things good and beautiful down in front of him. He turned those bright blue eyes onto Jack.

“So what’s the problem, sir? Maybe I could help.”

He could ask Ianto right now what kind of secrets that he has been keeping from him. He could ask Ianto about why no one seems to remember him when he did the checking into his background after the whole Cyberwoman thing. He could ask Ianto why when he thinks of him he can see another time and place just out of his sight but still so real. He could ask for answers or just the truth. A thousand possibilities lay before him. Instead he just smiles and shakes his head.

“It’s nothing, Ianto. So you ready for dinner tonight?”

Ianto smiled slightly with his mouth. His eyes were another story because the smile had reached them. His eyes were burning bright blue.

Jack’s knees turned to jelly and instantly he knew that he was screwed.

When did he even begin to fall in love with Ianto Jones?

“A friend condemns you for your mistakes but a real friend keeps on annoying you until you pick yourself and let them help you.” -Unknown

Ianto sat with his back against a wall in the archives. His eyes shut in concentration or perhaps to slow his fast beating heart. He saw it in Jack’s eyes. It was a brief flash and a burst of hope all at the same time.

He saw a flash of Arthur in Jack’s eyes. He saw the slight stir of something so old, ancient and bright that it warmed Ianto’s heart so much that it burned. He stared at the wall trying not to get his hopes up. Trying not to tell himself that soon Jack will remember and Ianto finally can stop the façade he was hiding behind. When that happened it wouldn’t be a freeing of memories of ancient times, of knights, and of golden eyes; it would be the time that Merlin steps from the shadows and gently led the man he always loved into the world.

That and it has been since the forties the last time Ianto had sex with Arthur. And dammit! He was patient and did not stray in the decades since to any other man. Arthur gave him his blessing to sleep with women but men…were a no go zone. The whole fiasco with Shakespeare made Arthur simultaneously laugh, get jealous, and asked Merlin if
Shakespeare was better in bed then himself. While Will could do that one thing with his tongue that made the sorcerer melt like ice cream on a really hot day, Arthur always won.

“Ianto?” ventured Tosh gently. Ianto snapped out of his staring and got up quickly. His faced was stained with a slow blooming blush.

“Are you okay, Ianto? You look like you’re far away.”

“Sorry Tosh. I was just thinking.”

Tosh nodded clearly still believing something was up but not pushing it.

“So I heard Gwen had an interesting encounter last night.”

“She met some of my old mates. They’re a little bit…clinically insane especially Naomi. She actually got out recently I think.”

Tosh did not know if she should laugh or not because Ianto was so very serious when he said that statement. She wondered what kind of people Ianto kept company with sometimes. She met that nice professor friend of his once though he talked to Ianto about coins or something. Ianto looked like he wanted to kill him. Tosh thought he was being rather cryptic.

“So you’re sure that you’re okay Yan?” she asked softly.

Ianto smiled slightly. He nodded a little bit.

“I’m fine, Tosh. Soon I promise I’ll be better than ever. Come on I’ll buy lunch.”

Tosh quietly stared at Ianto. For a brief moment she could swear that she saw golden mix and dance with the blues in his eyes. But she shook her head because Tosh is sensible. Sensible people tend to ignore magic even if it smacks them in the face.

“Sure Ianto. Lunch sounds really good.”

“Chinese?”

“You read me like a book Mister Jones,” said Tosh standing to get her coat.

“Why thank you Miss Sato.”

“Love is the answer, but while you’re waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty interesting questions.” –Woody Allen

Ianto went home to get changed at around five, quitting time (barring world invasion) for all Torchwood members. So the Archivist went home chose a relatively nice but comfortable outfit because he wasn’t expecting anything super fancy on the first date. He took a shower and changed into his clothes. He wrapped a scarf around his neck. He then grabbed his keys, wallet, and hesitated before grabbing a condom.

He didn’t want to appear overeager. It had been awhile since he had lain with Arthur…a couple of decades at most. And boy was he feeling those decades. Not that he didn’t have sex with anyone in that vast time period…he’s a sorcerer not a bloody saint! He had sex with Lisa and several other women but he has been waiting for this. It’s just that he’s heard the stories of Jack’s sexual encounters and knew what Arthur could do. Put those together and Ianto would be singing all the countries in the world national anthems and possibly several alien ones. If there was even an atoms chance of him actually getting laid tonight than he was going to take it.

Ianto quietly walked to the street and got in his car. As he drove his mind wandered to more distant times.

“Arthur why on earth did you call me in the midd…mfff!” he was cut off by Arthur’s lips pressed against his. Again explosions went off behind his eyes as Arthur kissed him. Merlin slowly raised his hands and gently balled them in his soft golden hair. Arthur pressed himself closer to Merlin and put his hands on Merlin’s hips.

Teeth clacking, soft lips, and exploring tongues were battling and cautiously exploring each mouth. It was fire and passion…everything Merlin dreamed off of when kissing Arthur. No one can could ever say he didn’t put himself fully into something once he was loyal to it.

All too quickly the kiss was over. Merlin pulled his hands from golden locks and slowly met burning blue eyes. Arthur’s hands were still on his waist.

“What did you need me for?”

“Well Merlin I have done some thinking.”

“Amazing the sky hasn’t fallen yet,” quipped the sorcerer with a slight smirk.

Arthur shot him a glare. Merlin gave an indifferent shrug in response.

“May I continue? Or do you want to continue being hilarious more?”

“Yes, yes, so you were thinking.”

“And I realize that since I have feelings for you I better do this right.”

“Do what right?” asked Merlin confused. He cocked his head to the side and blinked.

“This…relationship between us,” answered Arthur somewhat awkwardly, “I wish to enter a
courtship with you Merlin.”

“What?! Arthur…your father, he’ll kill me! I’ve grown rather fond of my head being on my shoulders.”

The prince rolled his eyes, “Obviously we will have to keep it a secret Merlin until my father dies at least.”

“But what about your heir?” asked the manservant timidly.

“That’s what cousins are for…or Morgana.”

Merlin paused considering things for a moment.

“Alright then,” murmured Merlin knowing that this was thing that they both wanted and
could have.

Arthur grinned widely, “Perfect! We can keep this a secret, just like your magic.”

Merlin stared at him in shock. Arthur stared back realizing that the magic thing was supposed to be a secret from him as well.

“Merlin, how have you stayed alive for this long?”

Ianto sighed and climbed out of the car. He debated whether to walk into the Hub or let Jack come to him. Maybe he should go out and get some flowers or something. He nervously wiped his palms on his pants.

“Hey Ianto,” said a deep voice in his ear. Ianto jumped and turned around meeting Jack’s amused eyes.

“Hello, sir.”

“Ianto if we’re going to do this right you need to call me Jack.”

“Sorry, s-Jack.”

Jack grinned and his eyes glittered at full power. Bright blue sapphires shone with guarded emotions.

“So are you ready, Mr. Jones?”

“I hope we’re not going anywhere too fancy.”

Jack took a moment to enjoy Ianto’s ensemble for the evening. It consisted of a slightly baggy white button up shirt with light blue pinstripes with a black tank underneath and a pair of black jeans that hugged Ianto’s legs and hips exquisitely. He had on a leather jacket and a black neckerchief completed the look.

It made Jack really want to jump Ianto’s bones right there in the parking lot.

“So I know this great little Italian place…”

“Sounds perfect to me,” said Ianto with a wide grin.