MY SKIN

Ianto remained blank. Staring at Andy with empty eyes that made him feel uneasy and desperate to run out of this pub and hide under his bed for the rest of the century.

"So...What do you say?"

Ianto remained silent for what felt like an eternity but in reality was only two minutes. Andy fidgeted impatiently before snatching his glass and draining what's left of his beer before slamming the glass down on the table.

"Oh come on Yan! Don't leave me hanging here! Just say no and let me hide under my bed in shame"

Ianto smiled. "I'm just surprised that you finally admitted it out loud"

Andy had the urge to bang his head against the table. "Not you too! Was I really that obvious?"

"Andy you have an Orlando picture in your locker. Also even my Dad knew it and he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed" Ianto said rolling his eyes. "And you are right. About Jack. I can't spend my life pining away for him when he has eyes only for Gwen but honestly I don't know if I'm a hundred per cent gay, I really did like Lisa"

Andy grimaced. "I guess so...how about just the prom and if you don't like it we can forget all about it and move on?"

Ianto finished his drink. "Hmm..." he said thoughtfully. "I'll need to get another drink before I can give you an answer"

Andy actually did bang his head against the table this time and let out a loud groan as Ianto smirked. Ianto was a sheer evil genius that could make Hitler look immature. Honestly the man had the patience of a saint and could carefully take over the world successfully and make everyone worship him before people realised what was happening! Ianto was also a right git who liked to tease!

After a few minutes Ianto came back with two more beers and sat down. "I've decided..."

"Yes?"

"That if we do go to the prom I'll be the one to pick you up at yours at seven o'clock because my father would make the whole night unpleasant if it was the other way round" Ianto said calmly taking a sip. "I have also decided we shall wear plain black tuxedos where you can have a white mask and I a black one to represent yin and yang. When we get there we can annoy the hell out of Owen"

"So that's a yes then?" Andy asked eagerly.

"It's a maybe" Ianto said causing Andy to deflate. He then smirked once more. "Of course it's a yes"

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Owen hovered outside of the flat door nervously. He never had a problem with this before but then he never deeply cared for someone like this before either. Dianne was all beauty, rough yet somehow charming wooing and lots of sex. There had been no emotional connection, no Christmas presents, and no plans to spend the next years together and definitely no saving one from psychos either. He was half tempted to run off and never ask Tosh just so he doesn't hurt her. She seemed so delicate and fragile and that was before he found out about her mental breakdown from before. Growling quietly Owen ran a hand through his hair before he harshly knocked the door.

The door opened a crack and he could see Tosh's eyes peering round before she threw the door open with a small smile on her face. "Hello Owen, is it time to meet the others already? I must have lost track of time" she blushed lightly and leaned closer to him to whisper, "I've been watching some anime that a relative had sent over as a present"

Owen grinned. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me" Tosh quickly slipped on her black pumps that were waiting by the door and then grabbed her bag before closing the door behind her. "Tosh...I'm not good at this sort of thing...rather rubbish really but I know Jack and Gwen are all loved up and the two gays are still dancing round their feelings and I never really felt this way about anyone before – not that I'm not experienced! Trust me I am but I never really, really lo...ah admired someone before and...well you, me, prom, dancing how about it?"

Tosh looked rather dazed, her cheeks were flaming red and a small smile was dancing across her face. She shook her head fiercely and then met his eye with what was probably a lot of determination for her. "Yes" she whispered fiercely.

"Brilliant! Come on then" Owen took her hand and dragged her down the stairs. He paused half-way through a flight of stairs and turned to face her again. "Just so you know, since we're definitely going to spend university together I fully expect to be allowed to take you out for pizza, drinks and other datey things"

"Snooker?" Tosh asked timidly and Owen grinned remembering yesterday when she surprised him by kicking his arse thoroughly in snooker.

"Yes snooker, I did to repair what little of my reputation I have left" Owen said. "Jack would never let me live it down"

"Ah poor Owen" Tosh said half sympathetic and half teasing.

"I'm sure you can make it up to me" Owen said dismissively.

"How?"

"Like this" He then bent down and quickly pressed a swift kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Come on, we're going to be late" he said now dragging a stunned Tosh down the stairs.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"Well about time" Jack said cheerfully after Owen announced to them that he was taking Tosh to the prom. "I thought hell was gonna freeze over before you got round to asking her out. Now then Tosh I have to say if you break our precious Owie's heart I'll have to hunt you down myself, got it?"

Tosh looked terrified and Owen looked pissed off, both Andy and Ianto snorted and Gwen smacked Jack at the back of his head. "Stop it, you're scaring her!" she snapped.

"Sorry Tosh, I was only joking" Jack muttered rubbing his head.

"And don't call me Owie!" Owen whined.

"Never gonna happen, I'll mention it in my best man speech when you and Tosh get married and have lots of cute half-Jap babies"

"Jack, I'm going to kill you" Owen growled.

"Now then, perhaps we should discuss how we travel to the prom" Ianto said calmly stepping in between Jack and Owen. "Andy suggested we should all rent a limo but I assume we all want to go out separately and enjoy our dates"

"As long as you all save me a dance I'm not complaining" Jack said. "I want to visit Alice beforehand anyway. Doctors say she moved a little last night and think she might wake up soon"

"That's brilliant! Why didn't you tell us, you wanker?" Owen said joyfully.

"Because you overwhelmed by announcing your marriage to Tosh" Jack said cheekily. "I'm not ready to be a godfather just yet Owen"

"Jack you pathetic hypocrite, you're already are a father" Gwen said rolling her eyes. "Ignore him, Tosh he's only being a tease" Tosh nodded though she was still blushing and looked uncertain. "Now then, I'm going to go looking for a dress and mask and I'm going to take Tosh and Andy with me. What are you blokes going to do?"

"Hey why am I coming? I am bloke to you know" Andy asked in a whiny voice.

"Oh sorry Andy, I assumed you would be wearing a dress. Pink suits blondes you know"

Andy scowled as everyone laughed and teased him even more.

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