2

Ianto was driving, Jack going over the files being downloaded to his tablet, even though they both knew Ianto would go through then resection them into the correct titles, even as Jack sought a single one that he recognised as his. Most of the work assigned seemed to be for Ianto, as per usual.

It wasn't until Ianto slowed the vehicle did Jack look up and realise with horror that they were in a lock-out zone. Ianto waved their creds with a look of distain at the guards who saluted and opened the blockade, letting them into an area that was not exactly Agency Friendly. Their Hover stood out like a sore thumb with the insignia on the side.

"Ianto?"

"Trust me" he said as he reached out and taped a code into the Hover and Jack gaped as several things happened at once. The hover changed pitch, the windows peeled back to show the atmmo was safe and not full of the fumes Central City had and the third most interesting thing for Jack was the soft music that emanated from the speakers.

Ianto turned a corner and Jack now saw something else that had him dropping the tablet to openly gape. As they moved through a maze of large concreted wall-like structures he looked back and found bright colour splashed on the side not visable outside the fencing.

Jack finally saw that they were entering the Subversive Zone.

"Shit"

Ianto moved along with a soft smile and he glanced over to see Jack leaning over to touch the ground, the sad fluffs of grass were not the bright green of our verse, more a sad yellow but still colour in a world where mostly concrete ruled. Jack was engrossed, the Hover stopping to make him straighten and look straight at open Subversives blocking the Hover with their arms folded defiantly.

"HEMMAK!" Ianto yelled and he clambered from the hover and one of the men lit up, his teeth flashing as he rushed to greet Ianto, Jack carefully extracting himself to slide around the back of the Hover and stand behind Ianto nervously.

"Look at you!" one laughed as he poked at Ianto, "Like a raincloud! Boring man!"

"I know" Ianto laughed "Is he here?"

They were led into a boring grey building, no doubt so the drones travelling at height did not detect anything but once the doors closed Jack's eyes widened. Colour. Everywhere. Bright splashes of …well … everything. Like a psychedelic trip. Jack was entranced, reaching out to touch a neon green lamp and whisper "green. This is green. Wow."

"Super green" a voice said and he turned to find a black man on a bright red suit with a white shirt and purple tie. Now Jack was speechless.

"Idris" Ianto said happily, "hello old friend."

"Hello Toto" the man smiled as they hugged and Jack was now drawn to a goddess that was stalking the two embracing men, her dress black with red flowers splashed on the fabric, green leaves and a bright pink moth Jack knew were once called butterflies peppered here and there. Blue peeked underneath, underskirts that flared as she walked and Jack saw long slender legs of a dancer.

"Ianto?" her voice was soft and hesitant.

"Lisa" he smiled as he released the man called Idris and embraced her, their kiss shocking to Jack who considered Ianto his. Her hand moving to Ianto's butt cheek made Jack clench his fists and it was not unnoticed by Idris who looked back at the ex-lovers with his own surprise.

"Lissy, break now" he warned as he stepped forward and yanked on her arm, Ianto staggering back and Jack now saw that he had been trying politely to get away from her.

Ianto laughed softly, "Still a bloody octopus Lissy."

"Still taste like a cup of goodness" she replied then looked at the captain, "And who is this cup of sweet tea?"

"Mine!" Ianto said and Jack felt the swell of pride as her face fell.

"Really? You finally find a male counterpart that could handle you?" Idris was laughing as he slapped Jack on the shoulder and addressed him, "You must have a constitution of steel, the patience of a saint and the ability to slap him hard. This one is a shit when in a mood. I knew he wanted a male bond-mate. So glad he found one in the end."

Jack find himself smiling as he replied, "actually, I quite like him smacking me behind closed doors."

"Captain!" Ianto gasped with genuine glee, "so naughty Cariad."

Lisa looked between the two men, "I see. Come to show me my replacement?"

"I came to see Idris, not you" Ianto was annoyed now, his frown forming as he stepped closer to Jack in a show of ownership, "I have things to discuss. Official things between our people and I did not think you were here, not in the middle of the week. All those subversive posters to sneak up about the place … so much to do, so many guards to catch you and so few willing idiots to do your bidding while you stay safely behind the barriers."

"Now now" Idris growled, "Not that old stone. No more throwing them please. She has not sent out a subversive team in months."

"She did last week, your own nephew caught in the madness!" Ianto's reply was low enough for Idris to hear but not his men and the smile faded from the man's face as he turned to look at her with anger.

"Brian? You sent Brian into the grey zone?"

Her leer at Jack changed to one of shock as she swung to face one of her security team.

Seems Ianto was surprising them both today.