Chapter 9 - Putting It Together
A/N – Sorry for the long wait! This one is kind of short, but hopefully I'll be able to update again soon. I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think. Ta!
Cardiff, Wales, Earth, 2008 - 36 Tynged-Dragwyddol
Ianto was blushing profusely as he stepped into the bathroom to join Jack and Siani.
Once he mustered the courage to lift his eyes from the floor he couldn't help but laugh aloud. What he assumed would be an awkward communal bath seemed to have turned into playtime. He could barely see Jack and Siani's heads over the bubbles.
"How much bubble bath did you use Jack?" He asked, laughing as Siani gave him a bubble beard.
"Why? I only used one bottle, I swear!" Jack seemed genuinely puzzled.
Standing with his hands on his hips, distracted from his own nudity by the spectacle in front of him he continued, "One normally only uses a few caps full, not an entire bottle."
"Oh," Jack replied sheepishly. "That would explain the extra bubbles then!"
He grinned at Ianto, who responded with his customary eye roll.
Siani on the other hand, sat transfixed during their exchange. She stared unabashedly at Ianto's lean, muscled form, mouth dry and heart pounding.
Jack finally noticed his wife's silence and turned his attention toward her. She was staring at Ianto as if she had never seen a naked man before; if it were anyone else he would have been insanely jealous. This however seemed a perfect opportunity to move things along.
"Mela, close your mouth. I know he's gorgeous, but he doesn't like us to stare."
Jack winked at Ianto who blushed again as he remembered his nakedness. He shifted uncomfortably, and began to question the wisdom of joining them after all.
"No he's not." Siani said, she said dazedly as she continued to gaze up and down.
Ianto felt his heart break, his fears confirmed. He began to withdraw into himself.
I should have known better. You're so bloody stupid Ianto, why would they want anything to do with you? You're skinny and ugly and good for nothing. Tad was right all along.
His self-flagellation was interrupted when Siani continued.
"He's not simply gorgeous Shae, he's gloriously beautiful!"
Siani finally meet Ianto's disbelieving eyes which managed to snap her out of her lust-filled stupor.
"You don't believe that do you Yan?" She asked gently.
Jack watched Ianto intently, wishing he would say yes, that he knew that, and that Jack made him feel that way. But he was seeing more each moment how much damage he had caused his beloved.
Ianto's only reply was a terse, single shake of the head.
He heard splashing and turned back to the tub to see an unsteady bubble-covered Siani attempt to stand in the tub. Thinking only of her safety, he reached out and grasped her waist to keep her from falling.
Trying to ignore the feel of her silky skin under his hands and how the bubbles continued to slide down her body, he forced himself to meet her gaze.
Siani reached up to cradle the side of his face and gently stroked his cheek. She ran her gaze over his entire face, drinking in his masculine beauty.
"You are so unbelievably beautiful." She began. Ianto looked off to the side.
"Hey." She said, drawing his attention back to her. "I mean it; I have never met anyone else like you Yan. You have the sweetest, most generous spirit. You love completely, and you are utterly devoted to those you give your heart. You have the most amazing blue eyes; you and Jack make me jealous in that aspect. I love your hair, the way it curls; the way it's so much softer than it looks. You have amazing bone structure. Your cheekbones are insane, and your jawline is so strong and masculine. And gods, your body is amazing! But it's your lips that draw me in; so soft, perfectly proportioned, and entirely too hard to resist."
She shocked the already befuddled man by pulling him to her and claiming his lips with her own. Siani kissed him passionately and without restraint.
His world narrowed down to her lips on his and her breasts pressed into his chest as he stood frozen. After a few seconds though he began to return her increasingly heated kiss, and ran his hands along her body.
He became aware of the sensations coursing through him; all of those clichés of fireworks and tingles, he felt them. The only other time he felt this way was with Jack. At first he thought it might be their 51st century pheromones, but John Hart had kissed him once and he felt nothing but revulsion.
Finally coming back to himself and remembering that he was making out with a married woman in front of her husband, he gently pulled back.
"What was that?" Ianto asked as he looked at Jack guiltily.
He was surprised again however; Jack was not looking at him with rage as he had looked at the Doctor earlier. His face was flushed and his gaze heated.
Siani blushed, "That was me giving in to years of temptation."
Ianto looked at Jack again. "Jack, I-"
Jack held up his hand, stopping Ianto's apology. He shook his head and smiled at the younger man, a true, genuine smile, not the leering grin he showed everyone else.
"Nothing to be sorry for, that was the hottest thing I've ever seen; and something I hope to see very often!"
Ianto looked at him confused.
"But-" Ianto stopped when he saw Siani start to tremble, whether from the cold or weakness he couldn't tell.
"You should sit down Siani. Here." He grasped her hands and helped her sink back into the over-sized Jacuzzi.
Siani didn't let go of his hands though. "Come on Yan, as much as I'm enjoying you out of the water it's a little chilly, and I want to keep you warm."
She grinned at him, letting her eyes slide down to rest on his half-hard erection.
Flushing even brighter than before when he saw where she was looking (Jack was as well, but Jack always did that). He still felt uncertain, so he hesitated.
"Really Yan, it's okay. Get in here." Jack told him seriously.
Ianto finally stepped into the tub and sat at the opposite side of the circle from the Harknesses, only to have Siani tug him toward them.
"Don't sit all the way over there. Now that we're all here we can talk." She said in a business-like voice.
Ianto was sure that this was by far the most unusual setting for a meeting yet. He felt a little safer looking at them both now that Siani was seated and the bubbles covered most of her chest.
"Okay, we're really going to do this in the bath?" Ianto asked.
"Of course," Jack replied with a grin. "Serious conversations should always be in the Jacuzzi. We should make that a rule!"
Ianto rolled his eyes as Siani smiled at her husband.
"Ask us anything you want, I mean anything. We will answer your questions honestly." Jack told him.
Ianto looked back and forth between the two. They were smiling at him, naked, wet, and covered in bubbles.
And I thought my life couldn't get any weirder!
"Alright. Back to the question I asked in the cab I guess. Why is your bond different from others?"
Jack and Siani glanced at each other before Jack nodded at her slightly. Siani began to explain.
"Well, we told you why the bonds began and how most families are formed in our time. The thing to understand about those other bonds is that they are more flexible."
She frowned, trying to think of the best way to explain.
"Some bonds are polyamorous, most are not. The strange thing though is that a person in those bonds is not destined for one, or however many people are in the bond, specific individual."
"Then what is the purpose of bonding?" Ianto asked. "That sounds just like today."
"It's much better than today really. Even when they aren't meant for only one person, they are potentially meant for only a few. Oh, I'm not explaining this right!"
Jack took her hand. "What Siani is saying Yan is that there are several people that would complement those individuals biologically and emotionally. Therefore, they could be bonded to any one of those select few and be just as happy and productive. They can also have others partners aside from their bonded, as with the family units we told you about."
Ianto reached over to turn on the jets.
"Ooo! That's fantastic!" Siani exclaimed, grinning at him.
He smiled back before replying. "Alright. I think I understand that; there are say five possible matches that are equally good, and they can choose any one of them. Right?"
"Exactly!" Siani said as she threw her hands in the air, accidentally splashing the two men. "Oops."
They both glared at her playfully as they wiped off their faces.
"You'll be punished later." Jack said with a wink. Siani stuck her tongue out at him.
"Anyway," Jack continued. "Our bond is very different from that. Bonds like ours are rare, and are actually considered a curse by many."
A dark look passed over Siani's face and Jack caressed the side of her face.
Ianto looked at her with concern but she just shook her head and smiled.
"Why is it considered a curse?" He asked.
Siani replied. "We have only one, or as in our case two, mates throughout the entire universe. Most people with this type of bond never find their mate, and they die heartbroken and alone. You see, we are unable to take other partners so long as the bond is felt. Normally that would be as long as the mate lives. Though it's never an issue because most mates die within a very short time of one another. We were very fortunate to find each other, and even more unbelievably fortunate now."
Ianto nodded, thinking that she was referring to their reunion.
He's still not getting it! I think you're going to have to spell it out for him Jack. He won't believe it otherwise.
Yeah, you're right. He just doesn't see how amazing he is, and that's my fault.
Jack internally remonstrated himself. Siani's silence confirmed that she agreed, but was not going to heap any more blame on him.
No use sulking. I need to make him understand. Jack thought to himself.
Ianto was staring off to the side, his gaze unfocused. He thought of how difficult it must have been to learn that you were part of such a bond; and then how thrilled you would be to find even one of your mates.
It must be amazing to find that person who is absolutely right for you, who loves you completely, who is loyal to you and would do anything for you.
His thoughts were interrupted by Jack.
"Well, we're even more fortunate that we can start a family soon." He grinned.
That should do it!
Ianto was startled. They had found their third mate?
Oh God! Who is it? Don't let it be someone I know! I can't watch them with someone else. At least with just the two of them I could be happy that the two people I love are happy together, but someone else with them? Agh!
Not daring to look at either of them he said, "Oh, so you've discovered who your other mate is then?"
Siani was watching him closely, disappointed that he still wasn't catching on.
"Yep!" Jack said. "He's amazing; smart, funny as hell, gorgeous, talented, just the most fantastic person!"
Jack was watching him as well, waiting for it to finally click, but as he watched he noticed Ianto swallow hard, and he seemed to be fighting back tears. Jack frowned.
"I really shouldn't be in here." He said, moving to get out. "It's not right, you've found your other mate, it's not right that I'm in here like this."
"Oh for the sake of the gods!" Siani exclaimed.
*Smack* She reached forward and slapped Ianto's bum as he attempted to get out of the tub.
He froze, shocked, and turned to look at her. She was frowning at him angrily.
"Sit your arse down, you are not normally this obtuse!"
Ianto obeyed, not even thinking about it.
Jack slid closer to him and grasped the back of his neck.
"Yan, I know I've screwed up, a lot. I tried to push you away because I was scared. I never loved anyone the way I love Isi, until you."
Ianto's head shot up and he searched Jack's eyes to see if he was telling the truth.
Jack continued, pulling him closer on his left while he took Siani's hand with his right.
"Surely though, with everything we've told you, the way Siani has treated you; surely you realize that there could never be anyone else for us but you." He said passionately.
Ianto's jaw dropped. His ears flooded with white noise. It felt as if his brain shut down.
Siani smiled at him softly and gently pushed his mouth closed while Jack continued to hold him.
"Yan?" She waved a hand in front of him. "Yan? I think you broke him Jack."
"I think I know how to wake him up!" He said with a grin and pulled her forward.
They both leaned toward Ianto and met him in a three-way kiss. Each of them tried to show him in that kiss how much they wanted him, how they loved him, how they would never leave him.
Upon feeling their lips joining with his, Ianto snapped out of his shock-induced stupor. He hesitated, afraid to believe what he was seeing and feeling, but as Jack and Siani continued to kiss him he began to feel as if he could sense them. It wasn't their thoughts as much as their emotions projecting out at him. He felt overwhelmed by love, tenderness, regret, joy, lust, and fear.
All of this bombarded him and brought tears to his eyes. Ending the kiss he pulled back slightly to see their anxious faces. They both looked hopeful and completely terrified.
They really mean it. I'm their mate! Well shit, now looking back I see they were trying to tell me all along. Why are they afraid though? Do they think I would reject them? They do! They're really afraid that I'll reject them!
"Um," He started out eloquently. "Just so we're clear, you're saying I'm your mate?"
Both of them nodded their heads and said, "Yes!"
"Okay."
Jack and Siani waited for him to continue. After a moment they realized he still wasn't saying anything.
Siani finally said, "Okay? Okay what? Okay, let's have hot steamy sex and make lots of babies or okay, get the hell out of my house you pair of psychos?"
"Well, I like the first option better, but I think we should at least wait until we're married, for the babies anyway."
Ianto immediately found himself tackled into the tub by two ecstatic Harknesses. This lead to a fantastic water fight/make-out session which left the floor drenched and the trio giggling like school girls.