Fic: Windswept

[badly_knitted]

 


Title: Windswept
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ianto, Nosy, Jack.
Rating: G
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: It’s a very blustery day, but Nosy is determined to go outside anyway.
Word Count: 861
Written For: Challenge 210: Windy at beattheblackdog.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
 


 
Ianto looked up from his book as Nosy slithered past him towards the French doors, humming a politely questioning hum. He frowned, looking from the Fluff to the view through the windows, and then back to the Fluff again. It was dry outside for the first time in several days, but there was a strong wind blowing.
 

“Are you sure you want to go outside? It’s very windy today.”

 
“Hum,” Nosy said firmly.
 

“Well, okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Setting his book aside, Ianto went to open the door for the Fluff, wondering if installing a pet door might be a good idea. That way Nosy would have access to the roof garden any time it wanted, without having to ask to be let out.
 

With a brief hum of thanks, Nosy slithered out onto the decking and Ianto waited patiently, buffeted by the blustery wind, until the Fluff’s tail end was well clear before sliding the door shut again and returning to his book, but he found he couldn’t settle. He kept glancing towards the doors, always expecting Nosy to be there on the other side of the glass, wanting to come back inside out of the wind, but there was no sign of the friendly alien. Eventually, beginning to grow concerned, Ianto closed his book and went to check on the Fluff.

 
He was hit by a strong gust as soon as he opened the door and he slipped out quickly, sliding it closed behind him. It wasn’t a particularly cold wind, just very blustery; the forecast had been for wind speeds of up to forty-five miles an hour, and because the flat and its garden were high up, comprising the top floors of an old warehouse building down near the waterfront, there was very little in the way of taller buildings to act as a windbreak so they were getting the full force.

 
Ianto liked living up so high and could understand, at least in part, what drew Jack to high places; in good weather the views across Cardiff and the bay area were wonderful, and on exceptionally clear days it was possible to see right across the Bristol Channel to Weston Super Mare on the other side. It did, however, mean their home was more exposed to the elements than any of the places Ianto had lived before, and he half expected to be blown off his feet as he went in search of Nosy.

 
He found the Fluff stretched out on the artificial grass that made up the lawn. Nosy’s long, thick fur was all fluffed up and it was rolling this way and that so the wind could get to its underside. It hummed a happy greeting, twisting again to allow the wind access to another section of its long body.
 

“Enjoying yourself, are you?”
 

“HUM!” Nosy agreed emphatically, giving its whole body a vigorous shake, the wind whipping through its fluff.
 

Ianto drew a deep breath of the fresh sea air; despite the strength of the wind, and the way gusts sometimes hit him right in his face, snatching his breath away, it felt quite pleasant, refreshing and invigorating. Hands in his pockets, he watched Nosy’s antics for a few moments.
 

“Gets to all the places nothing else can reach, does it?”
 

“Hummmmmm!” Nosy sighed blissfully as the wind ruffled its fluff the wrong way, lifting the longer guard hairs and combing through the shorter, denser fur underneath.
 

“Well, let me know when you’re ready to go back indoors.” Ianto wandered over to the wall that edged the garden and rested his forearms on the top, looking out at the grey-green waters of the bay, churned up and tossed by the wind. Invisible fingers teased his hair and tugged at his clothes, while sudden gusts made him sway on his feet. Being low to the ground gave Nosy a definite advantage in such weather, but nevertheless, Ianto was beginning to see why the Fluff had been so eager to get out in the warm, dry wind.
 

It must have been over an hour before Nosy finally decided its fur had been sufficiently aired out, and Ianto opened the sliding door to let them both inside. He’d scarcely closed it behind them when Jack came in the front door and stopped dead, staring at Nosy.
 

“What on earth happened to you?”

 
“Humm!” Nosy said cheerfully, giving itself a vigorous shake. That didn’t help much; its fluff was still sticking up in all directions.
 

“We’ve been outside enjoying the wind,” Ianto explained. “Apparently Fluffs need airing occasionally.”

 
“Huh.” Jack looked at the dishevelled alien. “Well now it needs grooming.”
 

Ianto smirked at Jack’s windblown hair. “You can talk. Have you looked in the mirror lately? You and Nosy are practically twins.”

 
Jack hurriedly combed his fingers through his hair, making it lay more or less flat, or as flat as it ever got. “It’s alright for you, your hair’s wind-resistant,” he grumbled.
 

“One of the benefits of keeping it short. Why don’t you fetch Nosy’s grooming brushes while I make us all a coffee?”

 
Jack smiled, relaxing. “Best idea I’ve heard all day!”
 

 
The End