InsaneJournal

I think you’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit.
WHO: Zach & Ianto
WHAT: Bromance & backstory
WHEN: Backdated to when Zach started Dreaming
WHERE: Ianto's
WARNINGS: n/a


Zach had been dreaming for about two weeks when he finally broke down and called Ianto. He needed his friend, and while Tessa was awesome, he needed the friendship he had made an continued for so long. Ianto was a steady support and finding out you had Zeus in your head was disturbing to say the least.

So, today, he was at Ianto’s place, setting up a video player for a movie for them, and bustling around while Ianto finished tea. Definitely, this needed tea.

Today, Ianto had brewed a calming blend with kava and carob, and its chocolatey aroma filled the house as he brought the tea tray to the living room. Not that he didn’t love a good, old fashioned cup of traditional, black tea; but he was always looking for herbal remedies. Besides, sometimes a nice, herbal tea just tasted good.

“This one is especially good with cream. It really brings out the chocolate flavor.”

“Really? Cool!” Zach inhaled the scent and grinned. “Wow! The scent alone is awesome!” He smiled at his friend. Even having Ianto around was welcoming and relaxing. The man had been there for him a long time, and he had tried to be there for Ianto just as much. Zach was more confident these days, but even so, he felt a little quiver of uneasiness about the dreams and who he was in them.

Casually-like, he glanced at Ianto. “Do you go to the Valarnet online?”

Ianto nodded, smiling as he passed the cream and sugar. He’d had a feeling that he’d picked a winner, and Zach’s reaction confirmed his instinct. It was hard to go wrong with chocolaty goodness. “I do, a bit. I’m not sure how well I keep up, but it’s a good place to network.”

“Have you noticed the talking about the dreams?” Zach smiled as he sipped some tea, then added cream and sugar both, stirring as he spoke. “It seems to be spreading.”

“I’ve noticed.” Ianto doctored his own tea to taste, listening intently all the while. It wasn’t hard to guess where Zach was going. “Have you caught the bug, then? Or is it Tessa?”

“She already had it but... I’ve got it now, too.” Zach looked down. And he sighed. “In my dreams, I’m Zeus.” He glanced at Ianto, serious, and shivering a little, holding the tea cup in his hands for warmth greater than physical.

"Oh..." Ianto nodded, sipping his tea. "That must be...intense." He couldn't even imagine. "I'm sorry."

“Thank you. It’s... not okay, but... I’m coping and I... I just... I’m having a hard time dealing with his mind. His memories. My memories, I guess, somehow.” He shivered, then smiled a little. He had no real idea what to say, but sharing things with Ianto was something he liked doing.

Ianto sighed, and nodded--if not in perfect understanding, then in empathy. “Are you sure you don’t want something a little stronger than tea?” he asked, glancing toward the kitchen. “I’m sure I have something.”

Zach raised an eyebrow, hesitated, then nodded. “Ah, sure. I’m not much of a drinker, but something light, maybe?” He wasn’t sure, but this was Ianto and he had never been led wrong by his friend.

Ianto set his cup down and rummaged through the cabinet where he kept his liquor, for special occasions. He returned with a bottle of brandy, and one of Bailey’s--plus a small glass for each of them. “You can put a splash of something in your tea, if you prefer, but it’s here if you want it.”

Zach nodded, eyeing the items, then swallowed and splashed a little into the tea. “I’ve never exactly had plain alcohol, e-exactly.” His old stutter comes back a little as old anxiety peeks its head out. “But a little sounds g-good.”

“Well, Bailey’s isn’t exactly plain,” Ianto said, “But I still prefer it mixed into things, and only once in a while, with guests.” When he was alone, he was usually too busy to even think of pouring a glass of anything--unless it happened to be caffeinated. “If you don’t like it, I won’t be offended if you pour it out and get another cup of tea.”

Zach nodded as he inhaled the scent of tea and Bailey’s. It smelled weird, but good. He slowly took a sip, and then coughed. “Holy smokes! That’s... weird.” He wasn’t sure about it, really.

Ianto couldn't help but laugh at Zach's reaction. "It is, a bit," he said. "Don't worry about finishing it if it's too strong. It's best in small doses anyway." He smiled. "Here I thought you were turning into this experienced wine connoisseur with your new girlfriend, and all those fancy restaurants you've been treating her to."

He was teasing, of course, but he hoped a little humor would help to lighten the mood.

Zach set it aside, and smiled at his friend. He stuck out his tongue. “Never! Mountain Dew and tea, to the end!” Then he chuckled. “I think I’ll go back to plain tea, thanks.” He rose to pour out his cup. “Maybe spirits are not that huge a thing for me.”

"Well, now we know you won't turn into some boozing bacchanal, " Ianto said with a nod. He let Zach rinse the cup, and then poured him a fresh one. "That's a good sign, right?"

Zach chuckled. “Never.” Then he went serious. “Not as long as I have to deal with Zeus in my head.” He shivered, and forced himself to smile. “I think so. And thanks, Ianto. You’re a pretty awesome friend.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Ianto said, topping off his own tea with a splash of hot water. “And I think you’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit.”

Zach sipped the tea and smiled. “Thanks. With you and Tessa both telling me that, I might come to believe it someday.”