Cathryn (formerly catslash) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
remindmeofthe) wrote2008-07-12 10:29 pm
remindmeofthe) wrote2008-07-12 10:29 pm
Entry tags:
"Errands," G, gen, ABOFAL/Torchwood crossover
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notatracer convinced me to post this around a little. (Uh, not that she had to work all that hard.) So, here's the polished final draft for communities.TITLE: "Errands"
AUTHOR:
catslash (Cathryn)FANDOM: ABOFAL (Control and Tony)/Torchwood crossover
PAIRING: None; genfic.
RATING: A harmless G.
WORD COUNT: 540
WARNINGS: Crack!
SUMMARY: Captain Jack Harkness is dispatched to London for a meeting with the Head of British Intelligence. He's in for a bit of a surprise.
DISCLAIMER: Boffle and Torchwood are definitely not mine. I take no credit and make no money.
NOTES: I've been writing a lot of crossovers. Something was bound to go haywire in my brain eventually. This takes place post-"telescupe" for Boffle and at some point prior to Jack's taking over Torchwood Three for Torchwood.
"Captain Harkness." His contact greeted him with a smile, rising to shake his hand. "How delightful to meet you. Do sit down. Did you have a pleasant journey?"
"Yes." Jack flashed a smile of his own, sitting in the chair provided by Control, as he was apparently known. "Thank you."
"All the way from Cardiff, I understand. I do appreciate your taking the time. It's very kind of you."
Jack paused to flick a doubtful glance at Control. The man still wore a small, genial smile and looked as though he believed, with utmost sincerity, that Jack was very kind indeed. "Right," he said. "Well, I go where they send me. You know how it is. Didn't have any trouble finding the place, anyway," he added lightly.
"No? Oh, good. That is good to hear. People do, you know."
"- do?" Jack asked blankly.
"Have trouble finding us, Captain Harkness," Control supplied helpfully. "It's all very well and good with enemy agents, but it's not much use having a secret service if even your own people can't find you."
"I, uh, suppose not," Jack conceded. "But the, uh, the sign - I mean, we're not the only ones who can read English."
"No, I would imagine not," Control agreed. "It's quite widely taught these days. It's even an educational requirement in some countries."
Jack waited, but no further explanation was incoming. He had the distinct feeling he should leave it alone, just stop playing along and move on to the matter at hand, but he couldn't resist.
"So, doesn't a great big sign saying 'British Secret Service' kind of give you away?"
Control just looked at him for a moment, then, "Oh, yes. Yes, I believe I see what you're saying. You think perhaps the sign has proven helpful to enemy agents as well."
So that was how it was going to be. "It crossed my mind," Jack said. Control nodded earnestly.
"Yes, well, I won't deny they've found us a time or two. I've even been under enemy surveillance."
"What did you do?" Jack asked, because there was nothing for it now except to let this thing play out to its conclusion. And he really did kind of want to know the answer.
"I asked him not to."
"You . . . asked him not to." Jack stared, waiting for Control to crack and start laughing, or at least smirking. But the polite, benign smile stayed firmly in place.
"I asked him not to," Control confirmed.
"And that worked?" Jack asked disbelievingly.
"It did," said Control. He spoke with no irony whatsoever, and that was when Jack knew without a doubt that this was not a prank. Oh my god.
Still, though, he had to ask. ". . . are you sure?"
"Oh, yes," Control said. "Enemy agents understand just as well as we do that you don't get anywhere in life by being rude."
"Huh," Jack said. He was beginning to understand why Torchwood One had been so quick to delegate this one. He sank back into his chair a little, resisting the urge to rub his temples. This was going to be a very long meeting.
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I'm glad you got a laugh out of this. Thanks for commenting!