Chapter Text
“You actually wore a tux,” Ianto said with a fair degree of surprise as he opened his door to find Jack standing there with about a dozen red roses. Ianto raised an eyebrow at the cinematic scene. “I don't suppose those came with a vase,” he asked.
“You don't own a vase,” Jack teased.
“Do YOU own a vase,” Ianto retorted.
“Buy me some flowers and I'll get a vase to put them in,” Jack parried.
Ianto couldn't help but smile as she took the flowers and went into his kitchen to find something to put them in. “You never did tell me where we're going,” he said while taking down a seldom (never) used pitcher and filling it with water. “I'm getting the impression it's somewhere nice.”
“Were you expecting me to take you somewhere that isn't nice,” Jack asked, leaning forward onto the kitchen island while Ianto measured and trimmed stems.
“I never know with you.”
“Name one place I took you to that wasn't nice.”
Ianto placed the flowers in the pitcher and then turned around to face Jack. “The-”
“Not work related,” Jack amended.
“I was going to say that Italian place down by the water,” Ianto said. “The whole area smells like fish guts and there were bugs scuttling around on the floor when we got inside.”
“That wasn't my fault,” Jack protested. “The last time you went there it was one of the most exclusive restaurants in Cardiff.”
“When was that, the nineties?”
“The eighties, look the point is,” Jack said as Ianto rolled his eyes. “This place is the genuine article. I scoped it out in advance.”
“Right,” Ianto said as he started for the door.
He was stopped when Jack took hold of his elbow and pulled him into a kiss. “Have a little faith in me,” Jack said in a teasing tone.
“I always have faith in you,” Ianto replied with a lot more seriousness because sometimes he thought Jack needed to be reminded of how good he was at inspiring belief in others, of how easy it was to love him. Ianto had no idea how Jack could ever forget, but he seemed to quite often. “I just think your taste in fine dining is utter rubbish,” he said, taking the tone back to light-hearted and jovial.
Jack grinned. It was a carefree, happy grin, but there was something serious behinds his eyes. “You Ianto Jones will be eating your words before this night is over,” Jack said as he held the door open for him.
“Among other things I hope,” Ianto retorted.
“You have a dirty mind,” Jack said in this most approving voice.
“I was talking about the food,” Ianto said with a look that made it clear he wasn't.
“C'mon. It's been a while since I did anything fun for this holiday. Let's paint the town red.”
“Nobody says that anymore,” Ianto said as he locked up the flat.
“I do,” Jack said as he took hold of his arm and pulled him along the hall. “I like it.”
Ianto shook his head and smiled. Jack Harkness did what Jack Harkness wanted, and Ianto wasn't foolish enough to argue the point. Besides, he liked it too.