Imperial Lather, by minervasolo (NC-17)

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Pairing: Ianto/Owen
Length: 1,286 words
Author on LJ: minervasolo
Author Website: femmedelalune on JournalFen
Why this must be read:

This story is set between seasons one and two, and it all feels plausible to me: the eccentricities of Torchwood’s showers, Ianto’s adaptation to Jack’s absence, and especially Ianto’s relationship with Owen — its evolution from grudging tolerance to something friendlier, and how the contrast between Jack and Owen could actually work to the latter’s advantage.

The Torchwood showers are somewhat notorious among those who have to use them. Strange rules govern those pipes. For example, only one person may have hot water at a time, but they may only have hot water. Two people may have have reasonable water pressure, but the third will be pounded into mush while the fourth would do better standing in the rain. The water will inexplicably vary between hard and soft, so however much shampoo you use, it is never the right amount. Only Jack suits the acoustics, so only Jack may sing...

He and Owen are more than capable of ignoring each other, in that ever so heterosexual manly man sort of fashion, though they're both aware neither of them really qualifies as such. When Ianto first found himself having to shower with Owen, they didn't talk much. Gwen and Tosh could be heard on the other side of the wall, chatting to each other, and sometimes comments would get called back and forth, but not often.

And then, one day, Owen dropped the soap. Both men had frozen, watching it skitter across the tiles to bump against Ianto's toe. They'd looked at each other.

They'd cracked up.

Imperial Lather