Fic: Local Transport
May. 7th, 2026 07:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedTitle: Local Transport
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack, OFC.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1025
Spoilers: Nada. Set in my Ghost of a Chance ‘Verse.
Summary: On a distant world, Jack needs a ride back to camp, and Ianto provides most unexpected transportation.
Written For:
word_devourer’s prompt ‘Any, Any, Showing up riding a dragon,’ at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
threesentenceficathon.Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
Ianto had settled into his new life well, travelling with Jack from world to world aboard their cargo ship, transporting various goods for various individuals and companies. Jack was enjoying showing him around, teaching him the ins and outs of negotiating with the beings who wanted to avail themselves of the services on offer. It was a good and profitable life for two immortals who valued their independence.
Nevertheless, everyone needed the occasional break from routine, which was why they also took other assignments, mapping unexplored regions of space, of which there were still many, scouting out uninhabited planets for colonisation, or for the mining of minerals and metallic ores. Such missions satisfied their craving for adventure while still performing a useful purpose. Besides, exploration was interesting work; they never knew what they might stumble across. It was also more profitable than the cargo haulage business, which meant they always had funds to spare to help out struggling colonies. It was there way of giving back to the universe.
They were engaged in a spot of exploration at present, assessing a few planets, moons, and asteroids on the edge of know space that might or might not be of interest to their employers. Thus far, they’d found some promising mineral deposits on a couple of the asteroids, and a barren moon with potential for terraforming. This was the first of four planets on their list to look at, and their explorations had been going well, until Jack had suffered a minor accident, wrecking his skimmer.
Realising it couldn’t be fixed with the tools he had with him, he’d called Ianto, who had stayed at base camp with the shuttle they’d made planetfall in, doing chemical analyses of various plant life, to say he needed rescuing, not because he was injured, but because it would have been an awfully long walk back. He’d expected his lover to fly over and get him, which technically, he supposed Ianto had, it was just that… he hadn’t used the shuttle.
“Okay,” said Jack when Ianto arrived in response to his SOS. “Now that’s just showing off.”
Ianto shrugged. “Your message said your skimmer crashed, you were stranded, and you needed help getting back to base camp,” he replied innocently, from his perch a good twelve feet above the ground. “If you’ve changed your mind, we can just as easily go away again, and you can walk back. It’ll only take you… oh, four or five days on foot, I should think, what with that pesky mountain range being in the way.”
“No, no, I wasn’t complaining,” Jack insisted. “All assistance is greatly appreciated, in whatever form. I just expected you to arrive in the shuttle, not… with an alternate mode of transport.”
“I considered it, but I thought it best to conserve fuel where possible. We do have to get back up to the ship when we’re done looking around down here, and we still have three other planets in this solar system to assess. We can collect your damaged skimmer before we leave the system, if we have fuel to spare.”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose that’s sensible, but… Where did you even find a dragon? Let alone one willing to give you a ride.”
Ianto shrugged. “I’m Welsh. Apparently we have an affinity for dragonkind; it’s hardwired into our DNA. That’s what Evrenna says anyway.” Ianto ran one hand affectionately along the smooth, silvery-green scales. “She wasn’t so sure about you, so she waited until you left to introduce herself, but she’s quite willing to give you a ride back to camp, now that she knows you’re my mate.” He reached a hand down to Jack as Evrenna crouched lower, making it easier for him to mount.
“Well, that’s an offer I’m not going to refuse. I’m honoured. Thank you,” he added, addressing the dragon.
“You are most welcome,” a low but surprisingly melodic voice whispered in Jack’s mind as he mounted, wrapping his arms around Ianto’s waist and gripping with his knees. Seconds later, they were airborne, heading back towards their camp, the mountains no longer an insurmountable obstacle.
“I suppose this means this planet is off limits,” Jack added conversationally as Evrenna flew, her powerful wings beating slowly, steadily, almost effortlessly. “What with it already being inhabited by a sentient lifeform.”
“Yes,” Ianto agreed. “We’ll have to set beacons in orbit so Evrenna and her people will be left alone.”
Jack smiled ruefully. “A shame, really. I would have liked to explore a bit more, it’s really quite beautiful here.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you wish,” Evrenna responded. “I would gladly show you around our world. It would be an honour.”
“Well, we’re really not in any rush, so provided we wouldn’t be inconveniencing you…”
“Not at all, friend Ianto. You, and your mate, will always be welcome here. You and I are kin, after a fashion. Dragon blood flows in your veins; somewhere in the distant past, your people and mine must have encountered one another. The minds of our respective species, having once touched in a spirit of mutual respect and brotherhood, are now linked. Wherever my people may be found, be assured you will have a place to belong.”
What could Ianto say?
“Thank you, Evrenna. And should any of your people ever be in need, for any reason, we will gladly help in any way we can.”
“Then both our peoples will be blessed, as it was in the past.” Evrenna glided to a landing a short distance from their shuttle. “I will return just before first light, so you may join the dawn celebration. There is nothing better than flying to greet the sun.”
“We’ll look forward to that.” Jack and Ianto slid to the ground. “Until morning, Evrenna.”
The dragon dipped her head in a sort of bow, turned, and took to the air once more, the two immortals watching in awe.
“Well, that was certainly something,” Jack said at last.
Ianto nodded. “Yes it was. And tomorrow should be even better.”
“Oh, undoubtedly.”
The universe really was full of surprises!
The End
Nevertheless, everyone needed the occasional break from routine, which was why they also took other assignments, mapping unexplored regions of space, of which there were still many, scouting out uninhabited planets for colonisation, or for the mining of minerals and metallic ores. Such missions satisfied their craving for adventure while still performing a useful purpose. Besides, exploration was interesting work; they never knew what they might stumble across. It was also more profitable than the cargo haulage business, which meant they always had funds to spare to help out struggling colonies. It was there way of giving back to the universe.
They were engaged in a spot of exploration at present, assessing a few planets, moons, and asteroids on the edge of know space that might or might not be of interest to their employers. Thus far, they’d found some promising mineral deposits on a couple of the asteroids, and a barren moon with potential for terraforming. This was the first of four planets on their list to look at, and their explorations had been going well, until Jack had suffered a minor accident, wrecking his skimmer.
Realising it couldn’t be fixed with the tools he had with him, he’d called Ianto, who had stayed at base camp with the shuttle they’d made planetfall in, doing chemical analyses of various plant life, to say he needed rescuing, not because he was injured, but because it would have been an awfully long walk back. He’d expected his lover to fly over and get him, which technically, he supposed Ianto had, it was just that… he hadn’t used the shuttle.
“Okay,” said Jack when Ianto arrived in response to his SOS. “Now that’s just showing off.”
Ianto shrugged. “Your message said your skimmer crashed, you were stranded, and you needed help getting back to base camp,” he replied innocently, from his perch a good twelve feet above the ground. “If you’ve changed your mind, we can just as easily go away again, and you can walk back. It’ll only take you… oh, four or five days on foot, I should think, what with that pesky mountain range being in the way.”
“No, no, I wasn’t complaining,” Jack insisted. “All assistance is greatly appreciated, in whatever form. I just expected you to arrive in the shuttle, not… with an alternate mode of transport.”
“I considered it, but I thought it best to conserve fuel where possible. We do have to get back up to the ship when we’re done looking around down here, and we still have three other planets in this solar system to assess. We can collect your damaged skimmer before we leave the system, if we have fuel to spare.”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose that’s sensible, but… Where did you even find a dragon? Let alone one willing to give you a ride.”
Ianto shrugged. “I’m Welsh. Apparently we have an affinity for dragonkind; it’s hardwired into our DNA. That’s what Evrenna says anyway.” Ianto ran one hand affectionately along the smooth, silvery-green scales. “She wasn’t so sure about you, so she waited until you left to introduce herself, but she’s quite willing to give you a ride back to camp, now that she knows you’re my mate.” He reached a hand down to Jack as Evrenna crouched lower, making it easier for him to mount.
“Well, that’s an offer I’m not going to refuse. I’m honoured. Thank you,” he added, addressing the dragon.
“You are most welcome,” a low but surprisingly melodic voice whispered in Jack’s mind as he mounted, wrapping his arms around Ianto’s waist and gripping with his knees. Seconds later, they were airborne, heading back towards their camp, the mountains no longer an insurmountable obstacle.
“I suppose this means this planet is off limits,” Jack added conversationally as Evrenna flew, her powerful wings beating slowly, steadily, almost effortlessly. “What with it already being inhabited by a sentient lifeform.”
“Yes,” Ianto agreed. “We’ll have to set beacons in orbit so Evrenna and her people will be left alone.”
Jack smiled ruefully. “A shame, really. I would have liked to explore a bit more, it’s really quite beautiful here.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you wish,” Evrenna responded. “I would gladly show you around our world. It would be an honour.”
“Well, we’re really not in any rush, so provided we wouldn’t be inconveniencing you…”
“Not at all, friend Ianto. You, and your mate, will always be welcome here. You and I are kin, after a fashion. Dragon blood flows in your veins; somewhere in the distant past, your people and mine must have encountered one another. The minds of our respective species, having once touched in a spirit of mutual respect and brotherhood, are now linked. Wherever my people may be found, be assured you will have a place to belong.”
What could Ianto say?
“Thank you, Evrenna. And should any of your people ever be in need, for any reason, we will gladly help in any way we can.”
“Then both our peoples will be blessed, as it was in the past.” Evrenna glided to a landing a short distance from their shuttle. “I will return just before first light, so you may join the dawn celebration. There is nothing better than flying to greet the sun.”
“We’ll look forward to that.” Jack and Ianto slid to the ground. “Until morning, Evrenna.”
The dragon dipped her head in a sort of bow, turned, and took to the air once more, the two immortals watching in awe.
“Well, that was certainly something,” Jack said at last.
Ianto nodded. “Yes it was. And tomorrow should be even better.”
“Oh, undoubtedly.”
The universe really was full of surprises!
The End
(no subject)
Date: 2026-05-07 11:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2026-05-08 09:50 am (UTC)So do I. Thank you!