Title: Kitten One, Torchwood Nil
Characters: Ianto.
Rating: Open
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Unabashed cuteness.
Disclaimer: Not mine; they belong to RTD and to the BBC
Summary: Written as a result of the prompt by love_jackianto: Ianto. Black. Petting a kitten. This fails miserably as a drabble!



He'd gone to track down an alien incursion, only to discover that it was nothing more than a meteorite. It was while he was walking back to the SUV that he heard the small sounds and tracked them down to discover a plastic bin liner inside of which was a terrified black kitten.

Now he's back at the Hub and the whole of Torchwood has come to a crashing halt as everyone focuses on the tiny scrap of life kneading at his chest and purring in ecstasy, eyes squeezed into sapphire slits of delight. Ianto can feel the stomach, tight as a drum after a dish of fish bought from the local Harry Ramsden's and doused with cream and smiles at the memory of Owen bossing them about flaking the fish properly to make sure there were no bones.

Gwen and Tosh are currently locked in battle over who will find the kitten a home, with Rhys apparently going into a decline for the lack of a ball of fluff around the flat. Ianto smirks, visualising the expression on the other man's face if he could overhear the conversation. Tosh is equally adamant that a neighbour of hers would appreciate the company. It is when Owen chips in with a comment about his neighbour's little girl pining after her recently bereaved rabbit that Ianto pauses to give the kitten a suspicious look.

"Here."

Ianto is distracted from his thoughts by the reappearance of Jack. The Captain is offering him what looks like a diamond bracelet and Ianto raises an eyebrow.

"Really, sir, you should do your research. Diamonds are a girl's best friend."

Jack grins and slips the bracelet over the kitten's head. Ianto realises it is a collar when a moment of fiddling by the Captain tightens it enough so it is snug without being too constricting. The kitten flicks a ear and shakes his head experimentally before deciding that he has better things to do and goes back to pulling threads in Ianto's suit.

"You should call him Ramses," Jack says absently, running a finger along the kitten's head and scratching between the shoulder blades, reducing the kitten to incoherent bliss.

"Any particular reason?" Ianto asks, keeping half a ear focused on the conversation below, which seems to have devolved onto a paper/stone/scissors game.

"Well, solid coloured cats were sacred in Egypt, all cats are royalty and our little fella here has a nose which kind of reminds me of old Rammy."

Ianto rolls his eyes. "Please tell me that you didn't bed one of the most belligerent and famous of Egyptian pharaohs?" Jack just grins That grin and Ianto groans and lets his head thump back against the couch. "Too much information," he complains.

Jack laughs and strokes Ramses under his chin. "It'd be nice to have a cat to come home to," he says wistfully.

"I'm afraid Myfanwy would be likely to view him as a toy," Ianto says regretfully.

"Hmm, maybe I should get somewhere away from the Hub," Jack muses. "Not too far away, of course, but completely separate from Torchwood."

He wanders away with a thoughtful look on his face and Ianto is distracted from his dumbfounded staring after him by an imperious paw reminding him of his duties. He gives the kitten a look of infinite respect.

"If you're actually an alien bent of world domination, I think you're on to a winner," he says quietly.

The kitten gives him an impatient mew and butts his hand in silent command. With a smirk, Ianto continues to pet Ramses, the new and undisputed ruler of the world.