What Lies Within, by xtricks (NC-17)

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Jack/Ianto/Other
Length: 13 chapters + epilogue
Warnings: Angst; illness/medical tropes; typographical funkiness; tentacles
Author on LJ: xtricks
Author Website: http://x-tricks.slashcity.org/
Why this must be read:

Early in season two, shortly after salvaging a crashed alien ship, Torchwood Three investigates a series of gruesome deaths. Then things go...well, not pear-shaped...for Ianto.

There was duty {duty} to defend {defend} and protect {protect}. Ianto knew the cost; family, lovers, {nest-kin}, everything {everything} and he paid it every day. {you know duty, Host, bow down to your duty and do not fight Other}

xtricks took an absurd premise (alien!jellyfish!Ianto), crafted a long, luxuriantly detailed story about the struggle to balance duty and desire, with gripping action, truly alien extraterrestrials, moments as mournful as anything in canon...and then topped it with tentacle sex (aided by alien psychic synesthesia drugs).

Ianto's skin was cool, moist and rubbery. But it was still Ianto and what was a bit of alien physiology between friends? ... Jack stroked Ianto, exploring the body under his hands, cool slick skin, the delicate ripple of boneless flesh and - dizzyingly - the electric hum of presence, the sense of Ianto's mind there and alive under Jack's hands. Ianto bloomed a sudden brilliant blue where they touched. He was there and beneath Ianto was something - someone - else. Other, unfamiliar with physical desire was nevertheless drawn towards them both by the familiarity of mental contact. "Ohh," Jack groaned at the rush of intimacy. It was working, they could do this. They were all there.

What Lies Within