21

Ianto stood calmly watching the woman as she flounced around ignoring him.

Maybe he should have been more insulted but knowing what was about to happen gave him the strength to pull out a chair and settle to wait for her. Jarred stood beside him and he absently placed a hand on his shoulder. Ianto wasn't sure if it was to reassure him or himself.

He had taken the time to talk things over with George and was sure of his footing here, knew the law and his actions he was currently enacting were the correct ones.

He could wait.

Finally she turned to address them, her face betraying her annoyance at the interruption and Ianto knew this was going to be more pleasurable than it probably should be.

Seems he was getting harder in his old age.

"I am hereby informing you or the termination of your contract and am giving you 24 hour notice to vacate the premises." Ianto said with a low drawl, "The school is hence with closed until next week, it will reopen on Monday with the one teacher until I am happy with a replacement."

She blinked and looked at Jarred as if to say, who the hell does he think he is.

"I have a busy day tomorrow, it's a pop quiz and I need to move the classroom around" she said angrily, "These children need…"

"Mister Mayor would like me to inform you that your termination is immediate and you have thirty minutes to gather any personal possessions you have within the school, and as already indicated you have 24 hours to vacate the school house …and our village." Jarred felt a sting of triumph as he jutted his chin and Ianto saw Jack in his stance, realising this was why he liked him so quickly.

"You can't …"

"Yes. Yes I can" Ianto unfolded his long legs and rose gracefully, his cane sliding in his hand until he was cupping the knobbed handle as he leaned into her face.

"This is my village, I am the Mayor and you have been informed of MY decision. I have the full support of council and the village." He snarled softly, "Now kindly fuck off. I will also be looking into an official complaint that might alter your chances in gaining further employment elsewhere. The level of energy I put into this action will be impacted by your next move."

She spluttered and then swung to run over to the desk and start snatching up her things.

Once she had stormed from the school Jared turned to him. "So, you might just let her go without a complaint?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you have already stirred the shit with your huge 'Ianto Stick' and that was a bluff to get her to move" he hissed back and Ianto snorted softly as he agreed.

"By the time I am done she will be lucky to get a job wiping arses in a rest home" Ianto whispered before pulling the school doors closed.

"You are a hard man Ianto Harkness-Jones" Jarred mock scolded and Ianto laughed softly as he accepted Jared's arm and they walked slowly up towards the chalets, people calling out and Ianto lifting his cane to wave every few feet.

"I thought it was Mister Mayor" Ianto giggled and Jarred laughed as he shook his head.

"I have no idea where that came from, I have never called you that" he snorted, "I don't know what came over me. I saw my little boy in that room, ya know? Ren would never complain but …I saw in my mind, my poor damaged son locked in there like he was beyond help or something and I was so …so …"

"Righteous" Ianto supplied, "That is the word you need. You are a father now. This is the feeling you should always have when defending them. You are their god their saviour and their only defence. You need to be righteous."

"I shall emulate you at all times Mister Mayor" Jarred said with wide eyes and then they both laughed.

"Before Walter I didn't have much of a backbone, I had a little bit in defence of Lisa" Ianto stepped over a small crack in the pavement and frowned, Jarred knew that would be addressed at the next meeting, "Her family hated me. The scrawny white boy. They made it known and disowned her in the end. My own family had as well so we were all alone, adrift just the two of us. Lost at sea. Then I lost her and had to get used to the idea that the person who made all the decisions and provided the strength was going to have to be me, not her. I bricked it. God, I cried so much those first few months. That first Christmas, sitting in the NICU with a newborn, a tarnished wedding ring and a grave. I had to find my backbone. And fast."

"They fought you for him, didn't they" Jarred remembered the book.

"Yeah, but I found my righteousness" Ianto swung to face him, "And it's stronger than ever. Do not aspire to be me Jarred, love. Aspire to be Taddy they need."

Jarred embraced him, enjoying his warmth and softness as the village continued around them.

Whether Ianto knew it or not, he is the backbone of us all.