Chapter 10
A warning is not a threat
Applause on the vid-cast drowned out the shower as it slowed to a trickle and Ianto padded barefoot from the private washroom to his drawers to hunt for a fresh uniform t-shirt.
"I guess you heard..." the guy on screen asked the crowd "The Face of Boe is getting bonded. He's made the perfect choice...Ianto Jones!"
The laughter and applause was cut off as Ianto changed channel.
"Jack Harkness with day two…" Jack reared onto the screen larger than life with his bright red suspenders glittering in the light. "of Ianto Jones: Will there be a Bond?"
I'm with Alonso, Ianto's barber." Jack gave the squat little pig faced man a breath-taking smile.
"Stylist... razor cuts, colour, full blow dry." The pigman said.
"That's very nice." Jack purred softly. "What do you think? Will there be a bonding?"
"Ianto is booked for Saturday. A full styling. I say yes."
"Elmo Wilson, who has just delivered Ianto's private vid-cubes..." Jack leaned closer and breathed on the man "his intimate correspondence. Anything we should know?"
"I can't reveal that." Elmo bristled "I'm a starfleet employee."
"Don't make him mad." Jack whispered to the camera with a wink.
"Of course he's getting bonded." Elmo said with authority "He's a man of his word."
Jack smiled at the man's loyalty and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Is this outer-national?" he asked Jack with a twinkle.
"You bet." Jack nodded.
"Please, use your full ship to ship codes." Elmo demanded of the public.
The scene shifted to the common room and some of Ianto's cadets surrounded Jack Harkness giggling to each other.
"Torchwood High, cradle of crisis. Ianto's seniors... youth in the crossfire."
Ianto noted the change of braces and the lighter blue shirt that complemented the midnight strips on his chest.
"Tell us in your own innocent young words, is he omnisexual?"
"JACK! Oh, no. He told us." Andy said with an open smile, "It was all this huge mistake."
"It happened 'cause he likes poetry and uses a napkin." Jenny yelled over his shoulder.
"Unlike some people." Amy giggled.
"What?" Eugene frowned.
"Teens in turmoil." Jack turned back to the camera. "And your message to the Americas?"
"Greenleaf Torchwood rules! Yeah!" they all screamed as Eugene stole a quick kiss of Jack's cheek.
"Kids on the edge." Jack grinned and swatted at Eugene's butt as he scooted away with a shriek "A community in chaos. Torchwood cries out."
Jack stepped closed to the screen and Ianto could feel him filling his small sleeping quarters.
"Ianto, can you hear?"
Ianto shut the screen off with a cry of despair.
ooOoo
"Ianto, uh, you got a minute?" Smith asked Ianto as he passed his office. With a nod Ianto entered the room and let the door close behind him.
"Ianto, uh..." Smith looked really uncomfortable and Ianto grew afraid.
"Your... your life, I mean, since..." Smith stopped and took a fortifying breath. Yeah, this was gonna be bad. "Since the Awards, I can only imagine."
"It's over now." Into rushed to reassure him and alleviate his obvious discomfort, "It's fine. It's just fine. It's all ancient history."
"We do have graduation coming up Monday..." Smith continued to shift in his seat "and you kind of put us right... right in the spotlight."
"I'm so sorry, John." Ianto sighed.
I'd be less than honest if I didn't tell you... "John tried to think how to word it "that I've gotten some calls from parentals... wondering if, in fact, you were a om... om...oh-ho... oh-ho..."
"Home room teacher?" Ianto felt his hackles start to rise.
"Homni-omni-omnisexual." John finally choked out looking down at his hands.
"John, do I look like an omnisexual?" Ianto demanded.
"Would you walk for me?" John asked.
"Excuse me?" Ianto yelled.
"Uh, Ianto?" John reached for Ianto's hand.
"Yes." Into slowly removed his hand and placed it on his leg to stop it jigging.
"Do you enjoy teaching?" John tilted his head.
"No, I don't enjoy it." Ianto frowned.
"You don't?" John gasped.
"No, I love it. It's my life." Ianto groaned.
"Then you'd miss it?" John said softly.
"Are you threatening me?" Ianto reared back in shock.
"No, no." John waved his hands in worry. "I'm... I'm your friend."
"Friends don't threaten." Ianto hissed.
"No, they don't." John agreed, "Friends warn. And you, uh...you are getting bonded, aren't you?"
"But are you saying..." Ianto's mouth fell open"that if I weren't getting
bonded, I'd be fired?"
"That's not an issue, is it?" John asked desperately hoping to end the discussion.
"No." Ianto said with a deep anger that made John shiver with discomfort.
"Best wishes." John pushed Ianto toward the door and then sat back down to ponder this problem some more.