11
The drive back to the Hub was in silence.
Gwen slid from the seat and carried the dead PDA in as Ianto stood and breathed deeply.
"So how did she go?" Jack asked, seeing his mate's annoyance even without the bond telling him Ianto was ready to explode.
"She is over eager, under trained and slow to respond" Ianto sighed, "She almost killed herself at least three times. If the piece of Rift Junk was anything dangerous I would be offering you a body bag right now."
"Ah" Jack sighed, "Well, we have to start somewhere."
Ianto grunted as he opened the SUV to retrieve the unused kit.
"You've been pissy all week" Jack followed him into the side room where the kits waited, "What is it scrumpy?"
"Stop it" Ianto muttered, "We are on duty."
"Ianto?"
Ianto sighed and turned to face him, "Dreaming about Lisa again. That…place and I am struggling with the fact that the one who I trusted as a potential mate had been double agent helping to track and capture me like a bloody specimen for Torchwood One."
Jack thrust his hands into his pockets as Ianto started to disarm himself, the small pile of weapons growing as he slipped blades and small firearms from pockets.
"Ianto?"
Ianto sighed, "Jack. You of all people know how hard it is wearing a mask all the time. The Treaty was a form of imprisonment for my kind, I still find it hard to accept that my people gave in."
"Well, you didn't" Jack said softly, "When I found you in the basement of the scorched Tower I thought you were dead. Your people fought to get you and your kind out."
"Sometimes I wonder if our deaths would have served a greater purpose" Ianto turned to face Jack and saw his dismay, the bond thrumming with annoyance that died to find Jack's concern stroking his ire.
"I'm sorry" Ianto sighed, "You know she annoys me. I'm just not good company right now. The stars are aligning and it's that time of year."
"Ah. The traditional flight" Jack nodded, "You always feel that keenly. Shit, I should have known. Will you go this year? Just to see them off?"
"No" Ianto turned back to slam another blade down, "Watching those of my kind enjoy the one small window of time that we are allowed to transform and then to fly, soar and mate like that. No. They will never mock me for my infirmity but I know it makes them uncomfortable, having a cripple in their midst."
"You are not a cripple" Jack scolded softly, "You were damaged in that bloody place. Lucky to live, only the fact you are a red dragon meant the terrible things they did, the tortures and tests didn't take you before I even knew you were there. You saw the carcases, you know others were not so lucky."
"Jack" Ianto stepped into his space, "Of all the things I fear, my PTSD making me a nightmare, I never fear our bond. I mean that. I trust you. Always. You are honourable."
Jack smiled softly as he slid his hands around Ianto's waist, pulling him closer, "As are you darling."
Ianto sighed and let his head fall against Jack's. They stood like that for a while as the bond renewed and soothed, then he stepped back and nodded as Jack turned to leave calling over his shoulder "Tell the truth. She's growing on you."
"Like plaque" Ianto muttered to himself and his mate caught the words in his mind, laughing as he skipped down the stairs to see if Owen was still teasing Gwen or not.
Ianto considered things as he pulled the containment box from the back of the SUV. Those cats were getting a worry and next time there might not be a bloody cliff to jump off. Not that he would mind that not happening again, having to fly with his eyes closed and hope the bloody thing was stupid enough to jump after him was not ideal. Nor was having to open his eyes to get down.
Maybe that is why he is dreaming so much.
Ianto wondered if he needed a rest. He did get Burke off the streets after all, didn't kill that worm after all either. Duncan had passed on the drop in drug sales immediately as well as his regards. Ianto knew he was another that had hoped for a pairing once Ianto was deemed well enough to pursue another bond mate. But after Lisa and her betrayal…or whatever her real name was…Ianto knew he would not trust another dragon again.
Honour was a huge thing to him and to have been betrayed by his own still stung.
It had not just been Lisa.
He knew that too.
He had been chosen, dangled and sacrificed on order to find the place the others were kept. The Dragon King's daughter taken a week before him. What really hurt was the fact that he would have agreed if asked, would have wanted to chance to serve.
He had meant that little to them.
Dragons.
He hated being one at all.
