Title: I could use a hero (you could use someone to save)
Fandom: Torchwood
Medium: Television
Subject: Jack/Ianto
Notes: For . The prompt is “dance.” The concept of this mix is that after Gwen and Rhys’s wedding in “Something Borrowed,” Ianto made Jack a mix CD, inspired by their dance together. Commentary includes some spoilers for series 1 and 2.
♪ You Do Something To Me ~ Paul Weller
You do something to me, something deep inside
I’m hanging on the wire for a love I’ll never find
You do something wonderful then chase it all away
Mixing my emotions that throws me back again
The starting point of this mix, this is the song Gwen and Jack, and then Jack and Ianto, dance to at Gwen and Rhys’s wedding reception in the episode “Something Borrowed.” Ianto was acting as the DJ (since the original DJ got eaten by an alien—oh, Torchwood—and fanon says Ianto chose this song specifically to dance to with Jack. It’s their relationship in a nutshell: wonderful, confusing, so much left unspoken.
♪ Meet Me At My Window ~ Jack’s Mannequin
Come on, you could change me
You could steal me
You could turn all the lights on
And show me the real me
Then maybe, if I’m lucky
You’ll offer me protection
You could even heal me
Just meet me at my window
And here we have our mix title. One of the stories of Torchwood is the story of Jack’s search for redemption, of him trying to be a hero to atone for all the years he was a scoundrel. Ianto includes this song to tell Jack he’ll always be Ianto’s hero, and what he hopes that means. They’re both wounded by experience, and Ianto needs someone to save him as much as Jack needs someone to save.
♪ You Look So Fine ~ Garbage
I’m open wide
I want to take you home
We’ll waste some time
You’re the only one for me
Jack being Jack, it’s a bit much to expect monogamy. But Ianto hopes he’ll be enough for Jack, since Jack is more than enough for him. After all, there’s no one else like Ianto Jones.
♪ Tender ~ Blur
Tender is the night
Lying by your side
Tender is the touch
Of someone that you love too much
Tender is my heart you know
I’m screwing up my life
Oh Lord I need to find
Someone who can heal my mind
In essence, “I know you’re going to break my heart, but please, not yet.”
♪ May I ~ Trading Yesterday
May I hold you
as you fall to sleep,
when the world is closing in
and you can’t breathe.
May I love you.
May I be your shield.
When no one can be found
may I lay you down.
In return for all the healing and saving Jack does for Ianto, Ianto requests Jack allow him to do the same. There’s no reason why they can’t be each other’s heroes.
♪ Fall At Your Feet ~ Crowded House
The finger of blame has turned upon itself
And I’m more than willing to offer myself
Do you want my presence or need my help
Who knows where that might lead
Jack could have anyone he wants (and often does); Ianto wants to be the one he wants.
♪ Crack the Shutters ~ Snow Patrol
Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day
And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
I could sit for hours finding new ways to be awed each minute
Cuz the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
Jack’s very handsome. Ianto appreciates it, particularly in the small moments.
♪ You Are the Best Thing ~ Ray LaMonagne
Baby, we’ve come a long way
Baby, you know I hope and I pray that you’ll believe me,
When I say this love will never fade away
Their relationship began under deceit and mistrust, but those days are gone now. Ianto is in it for the long term.
♪ Swallowed In the Sea ~ Coldplay
The streets you’re walking on, a thousand houses long
Well, that’s where I belong and you belong with me
Oh, what good is it to live with nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive, not loving all you see
Jack left once before, to follow the Doctor. Ianto doesn’t want him to go again.
♪ One Slowdance ~ A Simple Plan
We don’t have to talk
We don’t have to live at all
I just want you here with me
There’s a simple magic in holding your beloved close, without a word between you, and nothing but music to say what you feel.
♪ I’m Glad There Is You ~ Jamie Cullum
I live to love
I love to live with you beside me
This role, so new
I’ll muddle through with you
If you’ll guide me through
Ianto doesn’t fall in love easily or often, and is learning his way along with Jack to show him the way.
♪ Stolen ~ Dashboard Confessional
You have stolen my
you have stolen
you have stolen my heart.
Ianto never expected to fall in love with Jack. Isn’t that just the way these things go?
Individual tracks will be uploaded on request. All tracks are in .mp3 format.
Edited to add: “Swallowed by the sea” got left out of the zip file originally so I’ve updated the zip and also included it as an individual file so you don’t have to redownload the whole thing.
♪ zip