#ianphy

[morethantheteaboy]

❄ [cackling]

Long, pale fingers wrapped around the Irishman’s neck, tight enough to bruise but not to suffocate. Ianto’s eyes had dimmed; there was hardly any emotion behind those blue irises anymore. “Do you think I’m afraid of you? Did you want me to cower at your feet like a terrified animal?” Ianto pressed his thumbs into the hollow of Murphy’s throat and gave him a shove. “Let me make one thing very clear, Mr. MacManus,” his words came out as a hiss, “Whatever it was that you thought about me, you were wrong."

Before the Irishman could retort, Ianto crushed their lips together, hands still squeezing Murphy's neck tighter and tighter until Ianto was certain he was struggling to breathe. Ianto forced his mouth open, explored it with his tongue, let his teeth scrape against Murphy's as he kissed him in the darkness of the alleyway. 

Then, he pulled away and took a few steps back to stand in the entrance of the alley. His crystal blue eyes gleamed in the light pouring in from the street. Immediately, he stuffed his shaking gloved hands into his pockets. "Don't underestimate me. Get in my way and next time, I won't hesitate to strangle you." He smiled then, eerily kind, but his eyes were colder than ice. Turning on his heel, he strode away, whistling as he made his way back to the Hub.

Something told Ianto this wouldn't be the last time he saw Murphy MacManus.

[morethantheteaboy]

ø

8. A nose kiss

There was rarely affection in this kind of relationship. The fear of being disobedient and doing something that would make Murphy angry kept Ianto from ever doing anything unless prompted. But the gentle brush of Murphy’s fingertips across his bare shoulders told him that he might have been at least bordering a good mood. So when he came close enough that Ianto could feel his breath on his face, he delicately leaned forward and kissed Murphy on the nose. Then he recoiled and felt the uneasiness burn hot in his stomach. Ianto swallowed and kept his blue eyes fixed on the man in front of him, the man that could break him.

"I-I’m sorry…" he apologized quietly, fingers twisting into the bedsheets as he awaited a strike to his face that he was certain would come. But he didn’t close his eyes, because he wasn’t afraid of the pain anymore; he was only afraid of making Murphy angry enough to kill — not him, but someone else. Keeping him in a good mood was crucial, because it meant that some poor, helpless person out there on the street would be saved from his murderous hands. 

[morethantheteaboy]

(♥♥,)

5. A love letter

Murphy,

I guess it's a bit odd to write a letter. They're sort of old-fashioned, but I suppose I can be the same way. It's easier to express yourself in a letter. Words come more naturally in writing than in person. Besides, I'm too nervous to confront you about this yet and I wanted to do something a bit different from the norm. 

I know that we haven't been together long and things have been... interesting. I'm fairly certain that it's not easy for you being with a man who catches aliens for a living and I know that it's difficult for me to be with a man who puts down the wicked. Our relationship is odd. It's very odd.

But that's the beauty of it. You and I, we're two different people with two very different stories but somewhere, we connect. It's special and it's something that I've only felt once before in my life. Now here I am again, doing exactly what I told myself I wouldn't do. I can't help it though. You're truly brilliant.

I can't help but wonder what it would have been like if I hadn't kissed you that night. Perhaps I would have met someone else but probably not.

Anyway, my point is that you're amazing. You've given me more hope than I've had in a very long time and I want you to know that I care deeply for you. I'd even go as far as to say that I love you. I love you very much, Murphy MacManus. I don't care how many times you show up to my flat with bruises and stab wounds, I'll still love you just the same. I don't expect you to feel the same, but I had to get my feelings out in the open. 

I'm very glad that I met you. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

With love,

Ianto

[morethantheteaboy]

Claimed

8. An angry/jealous text

[text] Rhys told me he saw you out with a friend.

[text] Said you were getting pretty “handsy”, as he put it.

[text] I’m not mad. Not really.

[text] You could have mentioned it though. I wouldn’t have cared.

[text] Okay, yes, I would have cared.

[text] I thought we were a couple is all.

[text] I may have assumed and I’m sorry. I really am.

[morethantheteaboy]

"I had a nightmare."

Murphy didn’t have to say it; Ianto already knew that much. The shouting had woken him up minutes before, but it wasn’t until after Murphy was safe in Ianto’s arms that he had woken up fully. This wasn’t unusual at all. It happened on a regular basis (at least twice a week, sometimes more) and Ianto had gotten used to it. But it was the first time that Murphy had admitted it out loud. Normally, they would lie there in the darkness, Ianto holding Murphy so tightly he could barely move, and then the Irishman would relax and drift off again. They never talked about it the next morning. 

But now, in the pale light of the early morning, Murphy had said it and looked up at Ianto with watery eyes. The Welshman planted a firm kiss to Murphy’s forehead and pulled him as close as possible. “Do you want to talk about it?” he whispered, kicking around the sheets in order to tangle their legs together. There was a long silence and Ianto could have sworn that Murphy had fallen asleep again. However, seconds later, the Irishman shifted and pressed his face into the crook of Ianto’s neck.

"No." The reply didn’t surprise Ianto. He started to rub Murphy’s back gently, hoping to provide some sort of comfort. He was starting to slip back into sleep but he forced his eyes to stay open until he was sure that Murphy was alright. 

"Okay," Ianto murmured into Murphy’s hair. He tried to say something meaningful, like "I’m here" or "I’ll protect you" or "You’re safe" but what good would it do? Those words meant nothing. Being there, holding him, that was what mattered. So he held onto Murphy for dear life and didn’t let go, even when the Irishman relaxed in his arms, even when his own eyes closed and he started to drift off to sleep again. 

[morethantheteaboy]

"I’ll be waiting for you."

"Don't." Tears were stinging Ianto's cheeks, but he kept his voice steady. His arms extended, hands coming to rest on either side of Murphy's neck. He felt his stomach roil and he swallowed down the hot bile trying to claw its way up his esophagus. "I don't know when I'll be back... if I'll even come back."

His façade broke down once the words were out in the open and his silent tears turned into gut wrenching sobs. He gathered Murphy up in his arms and buried his face in the Irishman's hair. "I'm sorry. I love you. I'm so sorry." His body trembled, even when Murphy wrapped his arms loosely around Ianto's waist. 

"Ianto! We don't have much time!" There was urgency in Jack's voice and when Ianto turned to see his silhouette in the door of the TARDIS, standing tall next to the Doctor, he knew that he couldn't linger. He pulled away, just enough to press a gentle kiss to Murphy's forehead.

"Yer doin' t'e same t'ing he did," Murphy muttered bitterly, pushing Ianto away. The Welshman stumbled backward and looked down at his feet. It was true, but what other choice did he have? Ianto was convinced that he was destined for a lifetime of this. His life would always be catching aliens and saving the world. Pretending to be normal and living the rest of his life wondering what was out there wasn't how he wanted to go on.

Sometimes, you had to make sacrifices.

"I'm sorry, Murphy. I love you. I do." He started to slowly back away, tears still spilling over and rolling down his cheeks. "Don't wait for me. That's all that I ask. Don't make the mistake I made." He stopped when a hand curled around his shoulder. He knew it was Jack's. His stomach turned violently again.

His mouth opened, as if to utter one final goodbye, but nothing came out. So he held up his hand and waved. Then, he felt himself being pulled back into the warm interior of the TARDIS and the doors began to close. Ianto Jones would never forget the betrayal he saw in Murphy's eyes just before the doors shut completely. Those eyes would haunt him for as long as he was alive, he was sure of that.

[morethantheteaboy]

"How did that happen?"

Warm fingers brushed against the darkening bruise that completely surrounded Ianto's left eye. "Well," Ianto mumbled weakly, wincing slightly at Murphy's touch, "It wasn't aliens this time." With the back of his hand, he wiped at the partially dried blood under his nose and laughed feebly. "I got into a row, if you can believe it. With a man in a pub."

Anger flashed across Murphy's face then faded into concern. The pad of his thumb stroked across Ianto's cheek carefully and the Welshman let his eyes flutter closed. He knew that Murphy was waiting on an explanation and as much as he wanted to lie, they had agreed that they would be honest with each other from now on.

"His name is Captain John Hart. He's sort of a rival I made back in my Torchwood days." If Ianto could have mustered a sneer, he would have, but frankly, his face hurt too much. When his eyes opened again, there was something apologetic behind his blue hues. "I didn't expect to see him here again, not after the last time."

There were questions that Murphy had for him; Ianto could tell by the way his lips were slightly parted, waiting to speak. A few seconds passed in silence and then the Irishman finally spoke up, sounding somewhat apprehensive of how Ianto might answer. "Ye said ye were rivals... wha' exactly was it t'at ye were competin' fer?" 

Ianto didn't want to say. They had both laid down strict rules regarding conversations about him. But right now, he didn't have much of a choice. "It was Jack," he said matter-of-factly after a long moment, "We both had feelings for Jack. That's not why he hit me though..."

Murphy was wearing an expression that read as "okay, if that's not why he hit you, then why did he hit you?" which made Ianto sigh and start to rub at his temples. "At first, we were making small talk and then he asked me what happened with Jack and Torchwood. So I told him and..." Another defeated sigh passed through Ianto's lips, "He hit me. He hit me because I let Jack leave. He hit me," it was starting to become obvious that Ianto was getting angry, "because of something I couldn't control. It really shouldn't surprise me. That man is a bit of a psychopath." 

Then Ianto started to laugh and shake his head, reaching for Murphy's hand. He intertwined their fingers and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. "He doesn't have any competition anymore at least." He brought his free hand to Murphy's chin and pulled him in for a gentle kiss, completely forgetting about the throbbing pain behind his eye or the smell of blood filling his nose. Forget Jack and John and Torchwood; Murphy MacManus was all that mattered to him anymore.

[morethantheteaboy]

"I have work in the morning,"

Murphy muttered against the curve of Ianto's shoulder while his calloused fingers swept over the Welshman's back. The predictable statement barely phased Ianto anymore; he was used to being rushed out after the sex, because Murphy always had to go to this mysterious job of his at odd hours. Every now and then -- like tonight, for instance -- they managed to get a few hours of sleep, tangled up together, before Murphy would gently shake Ianto awake and tell him it was time to go.

It wasn't even dawn when Ianto woke to find that Murphy had already gone to take a shower. Without complaint, he collected his clothes, put them back on the best that he could in the dark room, and then left the flat without saying goodbye. It had become a routine and Ianto might have gotten tired of it if he didn't like Murphy so much.

Ianto navigated the streets of Cardiff as the sun began to peek over the horizon, his shirt wrinkled and partly unbuttoned at the bottom, and dark marks covering his neck. The first time, he had been embarrassed, wondering what people would think seeing him like that, but he was beginning to get used to the odd looks he received from strangers on the street. Most likely, he'd never see them again anyway.

He stopped by Millennium Square, where the Hub used to be, before trekking back to his flat to make a strong cup of coffee and take a hot shower. Except when he opened the door, he found a very unexpected guest sitting in his living room. Jack Harkness grinned from the sofa and Ianto groaned at the poor timing of his visit. 

It was bound to be a very interesting day.