10
It was during a John-less period that Ianto felt the tendrils of fear, like smoke, twisting and twirling around in the thin air of the room.
He had been ill at ease all day, since waking from a dream he could not quite remember.
In the months following their exit into other star systems, Phoenix had tried to put his thoughts of his father to one side, knowing the bond worried the children.
Since that decision, the children had flourished.
Ianto had been there, behind him like a shadow with a voice in his ear and they seemed to be trying to comfort each other for their forgotten fright.
Whatever it had been, it had ruffled feathers.
He had decided to burn it off, going to the workout room and after choosing the burning sticks he had changed his mind. Extinguishing them in the bucket of water, un-swung.
Something was wrong.
Something even fire could not soothe.
Ianto directed him towards the blades, the echo of fear wanting something more heavy and vicious to heft.
He started his dance, swirling, twisting and humming softly to encourage the air to move with him.
He kept stumbling, kept missing his mark. Like he was being distracted and he huffed angrily at himself, pushing for a higher arc, a wider swing.
Soon he was sweating, tired and his arms complained as he swung again, again. Once more he lunged, roaring with rage at ….
What?
What is it?
He put down the heavy blades he had been practicing with and canted his head, trying to put his finger on the problem.
He cast out through the bond, seeking his children (Yes they were all his babies now) finding them at play, oblivious to his fear.
Bennu straightened, canting his head as he turned aft, in the direction of his dam.
He felt it.
Looking around the room, he checked the elders present, then left. He walked quickly towards his dam's workout room and entered silently.
Phoenix was standing in the middle of the room with his wings open wide, glistening in the starlight through the window screen.
Phoenix was hyperventilating as his skin shuddered with small convulsions.
Bennu closed his eyes and opened the bond, something he had kept hidden from his parentals as he knew he was too young to have this gift just yet.
It was Bennu's cry of horror that broke Phoenix's fugue and he swung, rushing to his child and curling the wings around him as a mother hen would her wee chick. As though he might shelter him from the incoming horrors.
Ianto took charge, lifting the boy and racing for the nursery.
Those out in the halls were soon running as well, the sight of a firebird in full flight a sobering thing.
Ianto/Phoenix slammed into the room and found the babies clinging to one another with fear on their little faces.
Rhia had tried to comfort them and Jack was moments behind his mate, the bond calling for the comfort.
Dropping to his knees, he let his wings unfurl once more, sheltering the children and breaking the contact with the blood bonds in the cosmos.
He held his chicks to him and closed his eyes as Jack held him from behind, nuzzling the feathers across his shoulders gently.
Ianto/Phoenix wept silently as he felt his father's death.
It was slow.
So cruel and slow.
He did not betray them.
He had lied, sending those seeking the firebirds in another direction but Phoenix knew it would only be a matter of time before they realized the trick and sought him again.
They were coming.
Blood was spilt.
Phoenix looked at Jack as they silently communed.
It was time.