14
Ianto did not come to breakfast the next mooring and was polite yet frosty on the bridge. Jack felt it as Ianto did not look at him but at Gwen most of the shift then left with a short nod. Lunch was Ianto-free too. It was obvious to the crew that Ianto was eating in his room and when the evening meal seemed to be the same Jack left the Mess and walked to the quarters, politely waiting instead of simply entering as he had in the past.
Harrison opened the door with a look of hope that seemed to die, the whiskers drooping as he ushered Jack into the main room where Ianto was speaking with a large Tom.
"I simply feel it is best" Ianto was arguing, "I will not feel right in that role now."
"But we all agreed, it was a unanimous vote" the Tom rumbled deep in his chest, "We wanted you in our chair at the table."
"After this has died down I will again sit around the Table with you, but I will not represent you, not now I know the rumours" Ianto sighed, then turned to see Jack and Jack caught a flash of annoyance before the Tom turned as well.
"Captain, tell him!" the Tom demanded, "Tell him he is our spokesman, he represents us. A simple misunderstanding in the heat of the moment should not cost us a good head!"
"I will not be owned!" Ianto snapped, "I will not represent if it is used as a punishment when you are displeased with me! No. Chose one of your own, I was told quite clearly I am not one of you. Is my son not ostracised too? Or is it coincidence that he was left out of the morning clowder?"
"What do you mean, our Kats do not deny a clutch!" the Tom was aghast.
"Harrison, come here please love" Ianto demanded and the little one slid around the doorframe, "Harrison please tell Uncle… I mean Mister Velt what happened when you were all sent for morning snoozes."
"I went to go in the nest and they said I was not allowed" he whispered with shame, "They said I am not a Kat, just a human in a mask. They said their parents had talked about me and my Taddy and we were bad."
Ianto pulled Harrison to him, "Thank you love, I know you hate repeating things and I shall not ask again. I am proud of you. You are my Kat, all that matters."
Harrison nodded and slid away again as Ianto rubbed his face with annoyance, "Please inform the Kat Council that I have stepped down as their representative and accept that I am not a Kat but I resent my son being punished for something he wasn't even present at."
"I am angered" the Tom hissed, "I am rubbed wrong."
"As am I but there is no queen to soothe me, be glad you have one to go home to" Ianto flopped into the chair and waved a hand, suddenly small, "Go away. Everyone just go. Sorry Sir, I am off duty and have nothing left I want to do. Please. I am done."
Jack hesitated and Ianto flicked his head to show he was OK, then Jack turned to follow the Tom into the hallway, "Mister Velt, I wish to apologise to your council and kin for my blundering. I have had little training in Kat Lore and was totally to blame for the debacle. I am horrified that Ianto has been rejected for my actions and wish to apologise. Please how do I do that?"
"We do not need an apology, not when we need to apologise for our own reaction to the issue" Velt sighed, "He has been rubbed wrong and we need to show penance. It is a Catkind thing. He spent many years with us, married into us, even adopted the little one and transferred his religion to us only to have us act like scorned lovers once word got around you and he were becoming an item. He said he would never love another queen, he promised no other female would share his bed. You were not expected as a compromise."
"Wait, Ianto and I…. we are not lovers" Jack said with surprise, "Although I am immensely attracted to him he is still cool to my advances. I know he likes me, I know he finds me attractive but we've not even kissed!"
Velt reared back with surprise, "Really? We all were of the opinion you had chosen him as your mate."
"First Mate. It is a title, it is the nautical tern for a First Officer" Jack frowned, "I have two children and no mate, perhaps in time I will find a mate during our long journey. Is it unthinkable that it might be him?"
"You give me much to ponder and converse with the others with" Velt said as he began to move away, "It seems we have been letting poison drip into our ears. We have ….ah….how do you put it? Jumped the gun."
"I think the term is throwing the baby out with the bathwater" Jack replied, "But maybe closing the barn doors after the horse has bolted might fare better now."
Velt gave a chuff of amusement and headed back to the Kat Quarters and a night of talks.
Jack tried Ianto's door but found it locked.
He left him to lick his wounds, walking away as it occurred to him that he was thinking if him like a cat more and more even as Catkind seemed to turn away from him.
Hopefully not for much longer.
Someone was definitely undermining his FO.
And maybe him too?
He hoped Ianto knew what he was doing and vowed to remain on the agreed course, it was too late to back out of this now.
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OMG OK, I sm posting these extra two chaps to calm you down ... I do not want a blood veesel burst or something ... easy now ... method to the madness remember... breathe