9
Ianto needed to think and right now all he could think about was Jack.
He needed space.
Ianto took a moment to go through what alternatives he had to facing the wrath of his ex-lover and took the most logical one.
He ran.
Jack was pursuing him and he knew he should have more stamina but he was tired again.
This need to sleep at inopportune times was really starting to piss him off and he vowed next time he saw them, he would ask why.
He decided to go to neutral ground, somewhere they would both feel the safely of a bit of space and he slammed out into the roof of the car parking building as Jack's boots thumped a solid tattoo behind him.
He ran to the edge and spun, seeing that Jack had stopped and was slowly advancing.
"Stop" he was saying softly, "We can work this out. Just step towards me."
Ianto glanced over the side and judged his options again, then stepped off the edge as Jack let out a wail of despair, following him.
Jack was a strong man, an agile one but his Parkour was shit compared to Ianto's and he knew he had twisted his ankle as he slammed to the ground, Ianto already bouncing up over a garbage can and hooking against the next building.
"Please!" Jack wailed, his despair finally halting Ianto's assent and he reluctantly slid back down the drain pipe to stand glaring at him, one eye in his direction of escape.
"Ianto" Jack said softer, "Please. I don't want to hurt you, please."
"Why?" Ianto snapped, "You know what you're looking at. What they were, I have no idea what they did to me. What I am now. Look at me Jack!"
"I'm looking" Jack replied, "Ah Gods, I see you Ianto."
"I don't know how it happened and I don't know why they spared me" Ianto sighed softly, "All I know it that we are both here. It's real and…and …."
Jack knew that the rare occasions when Ianto lost the power of speech and flapped his arms like that he was on the verge of a breakdown and he stepped closer.
"You know Mickey, Tish .. you remember that year?" he asked.
"Yeah" Ianto huffed, "I seem to have these dual memories and my brain feels like mush and I am hungry again and tired, so damned tired but its cold and … and …"
Jack took a chance and stepped into his personal space, pulling him into his arms.
Ianto resisted but also smelt that heady scent that was maddening, and he finally laid his head on Jack's shoulder as he started to shake.
"Oh Ianto" Jack sighed, tightening his hold and they stood on the roof as the wind whipped around them, holding on to one another of grim life.
After a while Ianto spoke softly, as he always did when not wanting to startle his captain, "I don't know where to go from here."
"Down" Jack answered softly, "It's fucking cold up here."
Ianto snorted, then started to laugh, his shoulders shaking as he let Jack lead him to the door and down the stairwell.
They found the others waiting silently, Mickey stepping forward with question in his face and Ianto nodded to show he was alright.
"Forgot how fast you can move" Mickey needled as they walked, "You were always having to wait for me."
"Only because you're a bloody magpie filling your pockets instead of running" Ianto replied, "I was always yelling at you to leave a piece of tat you were carrying."
"Oh yeah" Mickey frowned, "I was doing that, wasn't I"
Ianto laughed softly and Jack tightened his hold.
"Come on" Jack said as he slid into the back of the SUV that looked uncannily like the Torchwood one and waited for Ianto to join him.
"Does this mean I can drive?" Mickey asked with glee.
"Think again Chuckles" Martha snorted as she slapped her husband's arm and walked to the driver's door.
"She never lets me drive" Mickey muttered as he slumped in the passenger seat and Tish slid in beside Ianto to watch him place his head on Jack's shoulder again.
"Home" Jack said as he started to smile, his teeth gleaming as they passed under streetlights and Tish wondered if she was the only one who could see the matching smile from Ianto.
.
.
.
.
The Predators watched the vehicle and then turned to regard each other.
"I hope your soft heart is not scoffed Mardlenia" he growled and his mate snorted, her head canting.
"You know the rules as well as I" she answered, "He is progressing."
"Yes. But we didn't know that when you chose him" he huffed, then looked at her with surprise. "Mardlenia?"
"It was my turn to choose" she said suddenly moving away from him, "I like this one. He has promise."
"Yes. He is a survivor" he stopped following and looked back one more time, "The heart of a Predator too."
