Othello's Games, Chapter 7

[tigerstriped86.livejournal.com]

Title: Othello's Games (Chapter 7)
Author: tigerstriped86
Fandom/Pairing: Torchwood, Jack/Ianto/John
Rating: M (for heroic sacrifice, some cliche dialogue, and interspersed used of the word "Eye Candy")

Prompt 109: Anguish
Summary: The final chapter (in this story) of the continuing saga in which I've made Ianto immortal (because I just couldn't bear him dying).  It seems as though John Hart was never that loyal to Jack's destruction as Othello was.  Maybe he's more loyal to his own heart than he's let on.   The series began with Someone and continued with Broken Boundaries.  Leave a little note if you'd like the link.

Disc.: Aunt Beeb, RTD (you mad genius!) and the rest of the gang own their various characters/creations.  I'm just a hung up fan and I'm still waiting for my musical episode, Barrowman!  The song is "Point of No Return" from Phantom.  The first story dealt with music from Gershwin and the second had no music at all.  This one is owned by Lord Webber and various affiliates (of which I am not one).

 

Bump. Bump. Bump. John blinked to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. One thing he could say about Eye Candy was that he could throw a punch. It felt as though he'd been hit with a stack of sand bags. He wanted to make a quip, but considering that he was being moved like a sack of potatoes over Jack's shoulder he let it go.

You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge,
in pursuit of that wish, which till now has been silent,
silent . . .

Jack was going to be pissed when he found out John was bleeding. He noted the fact that the color of his blood melded into the jacket and was nearly invisible. But Ianto would be sure to inform him of it. Lights blurred around him as John's vision moved in and out. He tried to concentrate over the anguish. He had a plan to fulfill. And it was all well and good to be this close to Jack again, but not in such events.

John began to wriggle before he fell unconscious again. It was almost like a replay of the earlier escape attempt, sans alarms and Hart almost being dropped on his head.

I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge
in your mind you've already succumbed to me

“That really could have hurt you know.”

“You're lucky we didn't leave you in that dungeon.” Jack snarled back.

“Eye Candy didn't want to leave me behind?”

“Purely strategical. You've been to the Hub. You know more than the rest of you is worth.” Ianto held his nose a bit away as though John smelled of something.

dropped all defences completely succumbed to me -
now you are here with me:
no second thoughts, you've decided,
decided . . .

“I deserve that.”

“You deserve a lot more.” Jack was lashing back at him and John couldn't blame him. Ianto was a few shades farther pale than John had ever seen him.

“Fine. You want me to make amends. Then I'm going to give you that. But you have to trust me.” John dug into his frayed coat and tossed something Jack's way.

Past the point of no return -
no backward glances:
the games we've played till now are at an end . . .

“How did you...”

“You thought I was going to leave the Hub without it? You're slowing up in your old age, Harkness.” John snorted as Jack turned the wrist strap over his hands.

“How did you...”

“Just because you lock something away doesn't mean it's locked away for all time, Ianto.”

Past all thought of "if" or "when" - no use resisting:
abandon thought, and let the dream descend . . .

“You didn't call me Eye Candy.”

“I must be slipping in my old age.”

There was that hollow sound again in his voice. Jack didn't like that hollow sound. “No.” It was a command, a request, a desperate bit. Jack knew John already was likely to do something and he wouldn't want to be a part of it.

What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

“This damn fool's gonna sacrifice himself.” Jack pointed at John just to emphasize it, his finger shaking.

“And why shouldn't I? Don't I deserve to go out like a hero?”

“You deserve to...”

“To what, be put on trial? Go through the motions of humanity? I've seen the planet. I can save it. You think I'd just let them recapture you? How much of an idiot do you take me for?”

“Whatever you're planning to do, he'll see right through it.”

“Just like the Earth.”

Past the point of no return,
the final threshold -
what warm, unspoken secrets
will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return . . .

Ianto's face turned inward with its seriousness. “No. It's too risky.”

“If he thinks the Earth is destroyed...”

“But...”

“No buts. If he thinks you've escaped and then turns a beam on me, I can make the Earth dissipate in the sky long enough to...”

“To what? You'll be dead and the Earth will reappear. It's a vicious cycle, Hart.”

“And what else would you like to do? Just go to the bridge and watch the fire works and then head to the Shadow Proclamation. Lilith might have an army ready to fight him. You have to stop him Jack. You have to use her, your Doctor, anyone who can help. Othello has to be stopped.”

Jack was quiet for just a second. “Which way is the bridge?”

You have brought me to that moment where words run dry,
to that moment where speech disappears into silence,
silence . . .

“Behind the throne.”

“You miserable bastard...if this is a trap...”

“Use the perception filter on the wrist strap. Even for his advanced state, he'll never find you. I've programmed it to mask both your signatures.”

“This was your plan all along.” Jack's face flickered grotesquely for a moment.

I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining
defenceless and silent -
and now I am here with you:
no second thoughts,

“It had to be this way. We've had our fun. But now I have do the right thing. Go, Jack. Eye Candy, keep him safe.”

Ianto nodded as John began to run down the hallway into the darkness. But Jack wouldn't move. John turned and shouted something. Jack felt numb as John was engulfed by the darkness. He didn't quite register Ianto tugging at his jacket.

Past the point of no return - no going back now:
our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . .

They sneaked back into the dark, empty ballroom. The light in here was red, cascading and echoing through every shadow. The moved up the stairs silently and behind the throne. The panel was moved ever so slightly by a hinge near the throne.

Past all thought of right or wrong -
one final question: how long should we
two wait, before we're one . . .?

The illusion of the place disappeared as they passed the engine room. Whatever it was that kept the ship running glowed a brilliant shade of blue. It hummed and Ianto seemed mesmerized for an instant. The columns they passed sang to him.

The bridge looked like any mill of the run ship. The stainless steel look never really went out of style. Buttons glowed and hummed. A nondescript woman ran her fingers over them as Othello watched the Earth through the large screen. He sipped something from a martini glass that made Jack's throat go dry.

When will the blood begin to race
the sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us?

“The end of the ants. A toast to them. Ingenious, caring, those poor bastards.”

The woman's voice was as nondescript as her body and face. “Five minocrons until weapon release, sir.”

“Very good. Savor this victory Maevon. It is the beginning of something much bigger than ourselves.”

“Sir. We have a small ship coming out of the bay. Offensive signatures registering.”

“Jack!”

“Not now, Ianto.” Jack hissed as he watched a pod fall to the Earth and John's ship turn around. John Hart then appeared on the view screen.

“Captain. Sending the bodies back to Earth? Bad form letting Ianto free like that, although it is a nice little touch to add to his insanity. I approve.”

“Sorry love. You've reached a wrong number. I'm John Hart. I'm not an errand boy. I'm a messenger. And I'm here to tell you that you picked the wrong species to mess with. Under the care of their physician, they are, and they'll be healed. Too bad for you.”

“John?”

“I really did think what I wanted was to be the head elite bounty hunter. Bullocks to that. I'm going out as a hero.”

“I'll still destroy the Earth and all its glory.”

“I'm afraid you won't. Not with a refraction charge or two placed in orbit around you set to detonate the moment my craft is destroyed.”

“You're bluffing.”

“Try me.”

“Two minocrons. Shall I fire?”

“Fire.” His voice crackled with rage.

“Jack!"

Past the point
of no return
the final threshold -

The screen turned to fire in an instant. A part of Jack howled but Ianto's voice was insistent. He set his jaw and looked down to the younger man. “What.”

“I've neutralized the engines and set them to explode.”

“How?”

“The recalibration of my body. The electricity from the storm deactivated the energy inside of them. And the rest of the structure fused them to explode. The ship is going to tear itself apart. I hope there's one pod left.”

the bridge
is crossed, so stand
and watch it burn . . .

“And we're going to make sure Othello doesn't get it. How long do we have?”

“Not long?”

“Ianto, we have to make a decision.”

“The Shadow Proclamation.”

“Are you ready for that?”

“I've almost been eaten by cannibals. I've had my memory wiped several times. I've watched my girlfriend die at the hands of the Cybermen. What could the universe offer that's worse?”

Jack smiled as Othello's voice rang with panic and rage. “I'm taking the warship.”

“No you aren't.”

Jack's fist met his face and he fell backwards into his chair. Ianto looked at the young woman. “You coming?”

“But...But I love him...”

We've passed the point
of no return

Jack and Ianto ran fast. The ship was tearing itself apart. The buzzing noises of the alarms were replaced by the buzzing of the walls themselves. Jack entered the ship bay, after the young woman had calmed down enough to give them direction from the intersection, and grinned.

“Ianto, have you ever had a hyper vodka?” An old chula warship was the only thing left in the bay.

Comments

[nondenomifan.livejournal.com]

Hi, can you point me to a place where you have all the chapters you've posted for this story already? I would really like to read all of it. Thanks!

[tigerstriped86.livejournal.com]

Hokay, so this is probably the last chapter for the entire trilogy. All the stories, although not in order, are on my fanfiction.net page, username of Tigerdust.

The first story is Someone (To Watch Over Me) found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4101658/1/Someone

Follow that with the chapters of Broken Boundaries here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4150947/1/Broken_Boundaries

And finally is Othello's Games found here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4252052/1/Othellos_Games

Thus ends the series, but I've writted lots of Janto. A fan favorite is Puppy Brigade and also Rare Weekends (all stories found on my main fanfic page). I'm glad you're enjoying the series!