Title: True Romantic
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Tenth Doctor
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1, 50scenes
Prompt: 35, Poem
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own Ianto Jones or the Tenth Doctor. Please do not sue.

***

Ianto turned over onto his stomach, resting the book of poetry in his hand on the pillow and looking over at the Doctor stretched out beside him in their bed. The other man propped his head on one hand and raised his brows, smiling at his young lover.

"Are you going to quote something out of that book?" he asked, looking curious. "Whenever you reach for a book, I always feel that you're either going to quote me something you've been reading that's caught your eye, or that you feel uncomfortable and are looking for a way to say something."

Ianto couldn't help laughing; the Time Lord knew him very well, it seemed. "The first guess was the right one," he said softly, turning over onto his side and opening the book, letting the Doctor see the cover. "It's a book of poetry."

"Love poetry," the Doctor said, looking at the cover. He moved closer to Ianto, turning over so that his back was against the other man's chest. "I love hearing you read poetry."

Ianto pressed a soft kiss to the Doctor's bare shoulder, wrapping one arm around the other man's slender waist and pulling him close. "I've never quoted love poems to anyone else, do you know that?" he murmured into the Time Lord's ear. "No one else ever made me want to."

The Doctor smiled, twining his fingers through Ianto's and settling himself comfortably against the younger man's body. "I've never done that with anyone else, either," he said softly, almost sounding a bit embarrassed. "No one was ever important enough."

"It's funny how love poems seem to reach into your heart, isn't it?" Ianto asked, leafing through the pages and debating on which poem to read to his lover. "Excuse me, hearts, in your case," he corrected himself with a soft laugh.

"Yes, they do," the Doctor agreed, putting out a hand and stopping the rapid turn of the pages. "Ah, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. One of my fvorites."

"'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,'" Ianto quoted, without needing to look at the page as he recited the first lines of the poem. "I've always loved that one -- but it's a bit morbid, isn't it, love? That isn't something I want to think about at the moment."

"Perhaps a little morbid, but it's still a beautiful sentiment," the Doctor told him, removing his hand from the book and letting Ianto contine to look through it. "I've always liked 'She Walks in Beauty,' but the 'she' would have to be changed."

"But of course,' Ianto agreed, smiling as he bent his head to kiss the Time Lord's shoulder again. "I don't think I could picture reciting that poem to anyone but you -- and to me, the words suit you much better than anyone else. Though your hair isn't raven."

The Doctor laughed, leaning back against Ianto as the young man shifted his position to lay back against the pillows. "You couldn't always substitute another word for that one, you know."

"Hmmm, tawny," Ianto said musingly, laughing a little. "That would be the word for your hair. But all the other lines describe you to me, even the one about having an innocent heart. In so many ways, you do, love."

The Time Lord sighed, shifting to lay his cheek against Ianto's chest and closing his eyes. "I suppose so. There are so many things that I'll never understand -- but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Too much knowledge isn't good for anyone."

"Let's not go there," Ianto cautioned, stroking a hand through the Doctor's hair. "I'd rather not get into any kind of conversation about things that could be seen a disappointments or failings. I intend to be meltingly romantic with you tonight."

"And being romantic includes reading me love poetry," the Doctor concluded with a soft laugh. "You don't have to do that to be romantic, Ianto."

The young man put down the book, wrapping both arms securely around his lover's waist and nuzzling his cheek against the Time Lord's hair. "I know, but there's something about love poetry that sets a mood, don't you think?"

"Yes, I certainly have to agree with that -- but I think you and I are capable of setting a mood all by ourselves without any help, don't you?" the Doctor asked, a teasing note in his voice. "We've never had any problems in that area before."

"That's true," Ianto laughed, settling himself more comfortably against the pillows. "Ever since the first day I met you, you've been able to inspire me to romantic thoughts without any outside help. And .... errr .... racier thoughts, too."

"Ah, the truth comes out!" the Doctor teased, raising his head from Ianto's chest to smirk at him. "It's not just about being romantic!"

"Yes it is!" Ianto grinned at him, shaking his head. "The racier thoughts just snuck in there. The more romantic ones were in the front of my mind!" Their laughter mingled in the air as Ianto hugged the Doctor to him.

"You've always had a romantic heart, Ianto," the Doctor said softly as he settled down with his head once more pillowed on the young man's chest. "You don't need love poetry to bring that out, even though it's a lovely idea. I'm happy just to have you. I don't need bells and whistles."

"I like giving you the bells and whistles -- but it's nice to know that you don't expect them," Ianto murmured, blushing slightly. "I've always thought that I needed that sort of thing as a prop -- but with you, it just seems to come naturally."

"You could never need any props," the Doctor demurred, his tone soft and loving. "You're wonderful just as you are."

"So are you, my love," Ianto whispered, stroking a hand down the Doctor's side and pulling the other man closer to him. "I've thought that from the moment we met. I always knew that you were something precious and rare -- and that I wanted you by my side."

It was the Doctor's turn to blush, hiding his face against Ianto's chest. It was a long time before he looked up at his young lover again, but when he did, there was a smile curving his lips and a light in his eyes that Ianto knew very well.

"Love poetry is all very well, but I'd rather see you in action than listen to words," he said, his dark gaze meeting Ianto's. He sat up, swinging one long leg over Ianto's body and straddling the young man, making Ianto's eyes widen in surprise.

He laid his hands on the Doctor's hips, admiring the view as he spoke. "One day, I'm going to write a love poem for you. An ode to a Time Lord."

The Doctor laughed, leaning down to kiss him, moving his hands up Ianto's chest to his shoulders. "I don't think of myself as a Time Lord when I'm with you," he said softly, his lips against the other man's. "I'm just the man who loves you with all his hearts."

"And those words, my love, are more truly romantic than any poem I could ever hear," Ianto whispered, pulling the Doctor down against him. The book of poems lay forgotten beside them on the covers as the two of them let their bodies converge to make their own kind of love poetry.

***