Title: Tear-Filled Trails of Blood
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating: PG-PG13
Info: This is a story bred from the plotbunny of estarcollector based on the idea of Owen and Ianto being brothers. This is my take on the idea. Expect much cuteness and angst from the boys.
Summary: Owen and Ianto never get along. The others think its just for stupid reasons. But the boys know better. They know exactly why they don't get along, and they refuse to change it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the known characters. All OC's are mine though.

Chapter 1

(Present)

"Owen, could you be anymore of a slob?"

"Oh piss off Ianto! I don't need you nagging me like my mum." snarled Owen, glaring up at Ianto who glared back, fists clenched at his side.

"You know, sometimes I feel like that's what you see me as."

"You're way uglier than my mum."

"I am not here to pick up after you like your slave. I have better things to be doing than clearing up your shit."

"Yeah, like what? Making coffee? More filing? Big deal. See, I'm a doctor and-"

"Enough!"

Ianto and Owen both jumped as Jack came striding over to them, looking irritated. "I do not want to hear another word out of either of you. It's seems like every other day you two are fighting. Ianto, no one's making you clear up after Owen except yourself and Owen if I hear you try to lord it over Ianto with the 'I'm a doctor' crap I will lock you in Janet's cell and see how well that holds up there."

Owen snorted, glaring between Ianto and Jack, "Figures you'd favour him."

"I'm not favouring anyone. It's not good for the team if you two are always fighting, and, quite frankly, I am sick of it. I swear, you'd think you two were related the way you're always arguing."

"Oh, could you imagine how bad they'd be if they were brothers?" giggled Gwen. Tosh pulled a face.

Owen's jaw tightened, "Yeah, well I was an only kid. No brats to bug me."

Ianto's eyes narrowed a little, "So was I. No bastard older brothers to kick me around."

Jack looked between the two of them and rolled his eyes, "Enough barbs and jabs. Ianto, I need the files on this list and Owen, I want you to continue with your study of Janet and her telepathy."

"Yes sir." Ianto took the list from Jack's hand and stalked away.

"Whatever." growled Owen and he got to his feet with the grace of a rhino and stomped off, muttering to himself as he went. Jack sighed and shook his head, walking back to his office, while Tosh and Gwen shared a look and then returned to their respective works.

(28th March 1981)

Waiting was not something many people were very good at, especially seven year old boys. With a heavy sigh, Owen slouched in his seat, and stared up at the ceiling, swinging his legs back and forth without rhythm. How much longer would he be made to wait?

There were books and toys in the waiting room, but Owen had deemed them too young for him when a five year old had started playing with them, thus leaving him with nothing to do.

"Owen, sit up straight." said Nan, poking him in the shoulder. Owen narrowed his eyes at her and slouched down some more. No stupid old woman was going to tell him what to do.

"How much longer?"

"It'll take as long as it takes."

"Well why can't it hurry up?"

Nan sighed and her hands tightened around her purse. She always seemed nervous about her purse when Owen was around. Like Owen cared what she had in there.

The door to the waiting room opened and Owen looked up to see Dad striding through with the biggest grin on his face. Everyone said that when Owen grew up, he'd look just like Dad. Owen jumped to his feet.

"Well?" he demanded.

"Come and see." Dad held out his hand. Owen took it. He liked the way Dad held his hand so tight. It made him feel safe. Dad led him down the white hall. Owen's eyes followed the blue line that they were following. Blue was a boys' colour. He'd been told that was the colour to follow if he wandered off and got lost. Of course that was a hard thing to do when Nan was around. She kept him by her side like he was a dog. Owen hated it.

Dad led him down another corridor and then stopped at a door.

"Ready son?"

"Yeah, whatever." Owen shrugged. Dad smiled at him and pushed open the door.

It was quieter in the room, away from the rest of the hospital. There was one bed. Sitting up in the bed was a woman with long, wavy black hair, white skin and blue eyes. She was wearing a pink nightdress with flowers and sheep that Owen had picked out for Mother's Day for her. Was she glowing? In her arms was a bundle of blankets. Looking up, she smiled at Owen,

"Hello cariad, come and meet your brother."

Dad pulled on Owen's hand and led him to the side of the bed. He lifted Owen up onto the bed by Mum's side. Owen leaned against her to see what all the fuss was about.

Nestled in the blankets was a small baby. His face was pink, and he had a tuft of jet black hair on his head that went over his forehead a little. His nose was upturned just a little like Mum's, and his cheeks were rosy, with dark eyelashes resting against them. A little fist was nestled between his cheek and the blankets.

"Well, what do you think of him Owen?"

Owen stared hard at the baby, pursing his lips in thought, before pulling them back and curling them.

"He's alright I guess. What's he called?"

"We're calling him Ianto. Ianto Jones-Harper."

"I guess that's ok."

Ianto squirmed and then his eyes opened blinking up at the three of them. Owen thought he was a bit silly looking doing that.

"Hello Ianto. Are you waking up to say hello to your big brother?" cooed Mum, shifting Ianto so he was facing Owen better. Owen and Ianto stared at each other, Ianto's eyes wide and blinking, Owen with an unsure face. Then Ianto let out a wail. Owen fell off the bed in shock.

(Present)

"You can stop smirking right now."

"Why? It's annoying you. Why should I stop?"

"Because I'll smash your pretty-boy face in, that's why!"

"Aw, you think I'm pretty?"

Owen froze and looked up at Ianto, who was daring him, just daring him to do something. It was a look Owen was all too familiar with when it came to the Welshman.

"You're as pretty as a girl. Come to think of it, it's often hard to tell the difference. Someday you'll probably come in here in a suit skirt."

"Now wouldn't I love to see that!" crowed Jack as he sauntered over before Ianto could retort. Ianto threw Jack an exasperated and fond look and then shot Owen a smirk that screamed victory. Owen gripped hold of the autopsy table to keep from running at the younger man and making his fist acquainted with Ianto's face.

"Jack, this wanker of a Welshman is interfering with my work."

"Oh? How so?"

"He won't leave when I tell him to and his presence is distracting me." Owen glared at Ianto, "Why can't you just be invisible as usual? Why can't you just fucking disappear?"

Ianto's jaw twitched and his bright blue eyes flashed. Jack raised an eyebrow but Ianto simply turned to Jack and said,

"Coffee Jack?"

"Sure Ianto. I'd love one."

"I'll get it." Ianto threw a look at Owen before leaving. Owen breathed a sigh of relief. Today was not a good day for him to be around Ianto, or for Ianto to be around him. Not after Jack's little joke.

"You know, one of these days I'm gonna stick you two in a cell and let you wrestle it out. Hmm… maybe I'll fill it with mud… or Jell-O. Now that I'd pay to see. Could there be snogging involved?"

Owen fixed Jack with his most disgusted stare at the very thought of it. Jack smirked at him and walked away with that swagger of his that irritated Owen and caused Ianto to stare.

With a snort as he thought about the way Ianto followed Jack around like a puppy, Owen resumed his work, examining the neurosystem of a dead weevil that they'd preserved. It was useful in figuring out Janet's brain without having to sedate her or cut out her brain. It was very important work, required so they could understand the weevils better, that could help them to communicate with them, and maybe finding some way of explaining why ripping homeless people to pieces was just a bad idea on Earth. And the fact that he had to triple check what he was examining was not because of the fact that he was distracted by the sound of Ianto laughing with Jack somewhere in the main Hub.

He refused to admit that sound tugged at his heart and made his stomach clench in a way that was more emotional than physical.

(12th June 1983)

"Ianto, stop it!"

Owen scowled at his little brother as the toddler pulled at his sleeve again. Ianto pouted at Owen and made grabby motions with his hands, stretching them up to Owen.

"Hungy." he whimpered.

"You already had a cookie! I'm not giving you mine."

"Ow'n, hungy." Ianto made more grabby motions with chubby fists. Owen sighed as he looked down at the bright blue eyes that were gazing at him so sadly. He tried to resist, but in the end he broke off a corner of his cookie and handed it to Ianto. Ianto gave him a toothy grin and ate the cookie piece, pressing the palm of his hand to his open mouth before biting down with milk-white teeth. "Thank Ow'n." he said, leaning forward and putting his arms around Owen's neck, burying his face into Owen's neck. Owen rolled his eyes and gave him a quick squeeze with one arm before pushing him off. Ianto tottered back and Owen's heart jumped, feeling panicked that he might fall. But Ianto was as graceful a toddler as there ever would be according to their mum, and he managed to stay on his chequer-shoed feet.

Ianto looked surprised that he was still standing and he giggled, clapping his hands. Owen smiled at him.

"You're one lucky kid, you know?"

"Ow'n lucky too!"

"I-"

"I DON'T CARE!"

Owen and Ianto jumped at the shout from Dad. Owen sighed and Ianto looked frightened. Their parents were fighting again.

"Keep your voice down! The children will hear you."

"They know something's not right you-"

"Choose your words carefully Arthur!"

"Are you threatening me Elen?"

Ianto whimpered and reached out to Owen, looking for shelter from the shouting. Owen knew Ianto hated loud noises. They scared him, especially when he was alone or in the dark.

With a heavy sigh, the nine year old got to his feet and picked Ianto up, hefting the toddler onto his hip. Being careful not to step on anything but carpet, Owen made his way up the stairs, grimacing when there was a bang. Dad had slammed his hand down on the kitchen table again. He usually did that a few times when he and Mum had a fight. Ianto clung onto Owen tighter, hiding his face in Owen's shoulder.

Owen carried him to their bedroom and sat down on his bed, letting Ianto slide out of his arms when he wiggled. Even upstairs and the door shut, the shouting could be heard, but Owen couldn't make out the words. He doubted he wanted to.

Ianto walked over to his teddies and picked one up, then wandered over to his neat pile of books. Ianto liked his books in neat piles. Owen had seen him struggling to do it more than once, his little hands not able to manage. So Owen always helped him.

Now, Ianto picked up a book and carried it over to Owen and offered it to him.

"What? You want me to read to you?"

Ianto nodded. Owen wasn't really in the mood, but the book might take his mind off the shouting downstairs. So he bundled book, teddy and toddler up onto the bed and pulled the duvet over them both, leaning back against his headboard. Ianto cuddled up against his side, and Owen put his arm behind Ianto, sandwiching him. The teddy in Ianto's hand was dressed like a doctor. It was Owen's favourite, he was going to be a doctor when he grew up, but he was too big for teddies, or so his parents had said, and so he'd given them to Ianto. But Ianto shared them with Owen whenever he asked. Ianto now had an arm around the teddy's middle and was holding him close.

Once all three were settled, Owen picked up the book and opened it up. Frowning in concentration he began to read.

"Once… Upon a Time, there… were… three bears…"

I hope everyone likes this fic so far. More soon, hopefully.

Night's Darkness