Disclaimer: Standard still applies.
A/N: Sequel to my story 'Dreams Away'. If you haven't read it you can probably still read this, but that one is 300 some words. Spoliers for episode 'Small Worlds'. Written for LittleMissTake and Marajade963 here on fanfiction and for hazelayes, mv_girl, owensheart, yantoharkness, and mostly iceshade as she is the one who let me take her plot bunny home with me. Enjoy!
48. Childhood
Ianto came home after a long day of work. He hoped that by him talking to Jack had helped the older man. He knew that letting the Faeries get the little girl had been tough, but there was nothing he could have done against them. The Welshman sighed and sat down in his chair, loosening his tie. He relaxed and closed his eyes only to open them a few seconds later when he heard a clatter. He got up and put the picture frame where it had been, he smiled fondly at the photo of him and Lisa. Turning quickly, the smile left his face, "No."
Two Fae were in his living room with him. "Come Boy-Child. Come with us."
"I'm not a child anymore." Ianto replied, voice cool, "I will not go with you. We've been through this every few years since my childhood. The answer is still no."
"Even after everything that happened Boy-Man?" They questioned, "With us you will be free of the pain. Boy-Man can become free as Boy-Child had been."
Ianto rubbed his forehead absently with his fingers, "No. The answer is still no." He repeated the sentence he had said a few seconds previous.
They smiled at him and bowed. "As you say, Boy-Man. As you say." With that they left Ianto alone. And Ianto once again, was cursing the fact that he was a Chosen One.
----
"Ianto." Jack said, lightly grabbing the other man's hand after he put down the coffee, "Talk to me."
"Sir?" He raised an eyebrow. Over his suspension Jack had often told him to talk to him, and at first he hadn't but then about a week into it he told Jack all about Lisa. How they met, their first date, her favorite color, how he didn't like her brand of toothpaste.
"Have they left you alone?" Jack had never met a child who had told the Fae no before.
Ianto sighed, "No, sir."
"No as in they haven't left you alone? Or no as in we're not talking about this?"
Ianto didn't answer as he freed his hand and started walking out of the office, as he went through the door Ianto said, "Both."
Jack sat back in his chair. The Fae haven't left him alone? Once a Chosen One always a Chosen One? There goes the theory that they need children. They must just figure that it's easier to get the children. That or Ianto was special. More special than others if they're still wanting him to join them.
Ianto gave Tosh her coffee and smiled at her, "Don't be too hard on Jack, alright?" He advised, "After all, what would you have done?"
Tosh lowered he gaze and nodded. Ianto was right, she had no idea what she would have done if she had been in Jack's position. "He just, he's acting like it wasn't that hard of a decision to make."
Ianto sighed, "In one hand, it wasn't hard. Her or the world?" he shook his head, "Besides, it was her choice to go with them." He paused, "Then again, you haven't been seeing how much he is beating himself up about this." Tosh glanced up at Jack's office. "Also," Ianto continued, "you have found it in your heart, somehow, to forgive me. I don't see why I," he let a bit of his emotion show through, the fact that he didn't think himself worthy of her forgiveness, "should get it while he doesn't." With that he walked away from Tosh to continue giving coffee.
Ianto didn't even bother talking to Owen, he knew that nothing he said would make Owen forgive Jack any sooner. Owen had forgiven Ianto rather quickly, which surprised Ianto. The younger man didn't know why Owen had forgiven him, only that he had.
But when he went to give Gwen her coffee, he knew that she would probably start a conversation about what had happened. And he was right.
"I can't believe it Ianto." Gwen said as soon as he was in earshot, "Jack just let that little girl go."
"Yes." Ianto said, handing over the coffee, "He let her go of her own free will."
"She was a child, she didn't know what she agreed to."
"Yes, I think you'd find that she did know." Ianto replied. "I believe all the Chosen Children know. I am led to believe, through reports," he added quickly, "that the Fae have to let the Children know before asking them to join."
"But she wouldn't have had the experience to understand all the consequences." Gwen fought back. "Jack did."
"Yes, Gwen." Ianto bit his tongue to stop himself from snapping at her, "Jack knew the consequences. He knew that if he held the girl back that the Fae would destroy the world as we know it and that we wouldn't be able to stop it." he paused, "We really should be glad that the Faerie are kind-"
"Kind?!" Gwen asked, appalled by such a word to describe the monsters.
"-and let most of us go on with our lives." Ianto finished.
"Ianto, I know you had missed out on most of the case, but they are anything but kind. I don't know what the reports say, but I don't see how anyone could come up with that conclusion."
"I don't see how you can't, not after you think about it." Ianto said, he had previously put the old reports about the Faeries on her desk, he tapped him with his hand, "Read about what they can do and see if you come up with the same conclusion." With that he bowed his head and left her to her coffee.
Ianto hoped that with the three of them forgiving Jack (well, two at first, who knew when Owen would forgive) that he'd start to forgive himself. Glancing up at Jack's office he locked eyes with the older man. Ianto raised an eyebrow and Jack gave a slight smile, the younger of the men then nodded and continued with his work, all the while knowing that Jack was watching him.
Ianto sighed, he hadn't meant to tell Jack that he had been, still is, a Chosen One. Chances are that Jack will want to know more. He always wanted to know more about people. It's not like Ianto liked being Chosen. If he hadn't been Chosen, he would have never joined Torchwood or have had to live through the Battle. But then again, he wouldn't have met Lisa.
He felt himself thinking about how he had joined Torchwood; Ianto had been in London for a few months, had switched through five jobs in that time and was now working at Tesco. He had been moping up some vomit that a small child had left, thinking about how he had woken up to rose petals all over his small flat and six Fae helping themselves to his stuff when a blonde woman walked up to him. "Ianto Jones?"
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"Ianto Jones of Wales?" She asked again.
Ianto raised an eyebrow, "No, not from Wales, just like talking with a Welsh accent, me." He knew his tone was sarcastic, but he had a bad day so far.
She grinned at him, "Fantastic. My name is Yvonne Hartman and I'd like to offer you a job."
"You'd what?" Ianto stopped mopping, confused.
"I run an organization and would love it if you would join us."
"Why me?" Ianto wondered if the woman would ever stop smiling.
"You are a Chosen One?" Ianto's eyes grew as he nodded, her grin swelled, "And you told them no. I'd just love it if I you would say yes to me." She paused, "I can pay you triple what you're getting here and you can start in whatever department you want."
"What is the organization?" Ianto asked.
"Torchwood."
Ianto's thoughts got shaken from his memories when an alarm sounded. "Rift alert." Jack said, coming down the steps. He looked at the computer, "It looks like an easy one. Ianto and Tosh, with me."
Owen raised an eyebrow, "Teaboy?"
Jack nodded, "Ianto's going to become active in the field from time to time. Say, for instance, if one of us were hurt and we needed his help? Gotta get him trained. So yes, Ianto and Toshiko."
"Fine, Fine." Owen grumbled, he could follow that logic. Start the Teaboy on the smaller missions to train him and then he could get in the field when needed.
The three of them where in an alley, somehow, even though this was one of Ianto's first missions, he managed to not step in anything and kept up with them just as easily. He almost made it look like dancing.
They heard a noise around the corner, and the noise was defiantly one that was unusual. As the three got in eyesight of the alien, Tosh's brow furrowed, "What is it?"
"It's called a Hoix." Jack said, "They live to eat, so better watch out. They are not the kind of alien to be trifled with." He nodded to the two of them, "Bullets will work, just will take a fair few."
With that the three of them went to take down the Hoix, they were able to stand back at a reasonable distance and shoot it. The Hoix went down quickly and decently quietly. Only Ianto saw something that the other's didn't. He turned and saw another Hoix behind Toshiko, calling out her name, he shot off his gun, only having two bullets left as he ran towards her, pushing her out the way. Jack turned in time to see the second Hoix collided with Ianto as it started to go down as Ianto had hit it dead on.
Jack ran towards both Ianto and Tosh, going to make sure they were alright when a Faerie appeared on-top the unconscious Welshman and stroked his cheek before twisting his head and smiled at Jack. "Boy-Man is ours." It stated as it grabbed Ianto and disappeared.
Tosh sat up, eyes wide, "Was that? A Faerie?" She stood up quickly, "Where did it take Ianto? Why did it take Ianto?"
Jack cursed, "They probably think that since I gave up on Jasmine so easily that they can just take Ianto away. They will find out differently."
"But why Ianto?" Tosh asked again.
Jack sighed, "Not really my place to say, but they've been wanting Ianto for some years now." he paused, "Or at least that's what I've gathered." He sighed again, "I don't know much, I can't get Ianto to talk about it and so I know he'd appreciate it if we kept it quiet as to why they took Ianto. Understand Tosh?" Toshiko nodded mutely as Jack informed Owen and Gwen that they had cleanup. Jack was going to be busy. With that he set out towards the woods, where he figured they'd taken Ianto, leaving Tosh to watch over the dead Hoixes and waiting for Gwen and Owen.
Jack had found himself at the edge of the woods sooner than he should have been. He didn't bother taking his gun out, that would probably set the Fae on guard and cause them to do something reckless and he couldn't afford for that to happen. Easily remembering the way to the clearing where he figured they'd take Ianto he was able to hear the Faerie conversing with the one he was searching for.
"If you don't say yes, Boy-Man, we will bring about another ice age."
Ianto rolled his eyes while surrounded by many of the creatures, he was sitting somewhat comfortably on a rock, "That defeats your purpose. I'd probably die in the ice age."
"But all humans would too." They protested.
"Yes but, I'd be one of them. You wouldn't go through it. The logic doesn't stand." Ianto replied calmly.
A few of the Fae growled and even less moved about quickly, appearing beside Ianto and stroking his cheek or running their hands through his hair. "Boy-Man needs to say yes. We won't wait any longer."
"I will never say yes." Ianto replied, not bothering to tell them to back off or stop carding their hands through his hair, he knew that would anger them further and he also knew that he was walking a thin line with them as it was. The only reason they hadn't killed him was he was a Chosen One.
"You are alive because of us." They said, "Boy-Man should say yes to show thanks. If it weren't for us, Boy-Man would have died in London-Town."
Ianto's brow furrowed in thought. Is the reason he survived the Battle because of the Faerie? Had they stopped Cybermen and Daleks from getting to him? Still, it didn't matter either way, "You choose to save me, I didn't ask that." He paused, "The answer is still no."
"If Boy-Man waits till Boy-Man is dying and wants to live forever, we won't accept it."
Ianto snorted, "You would." He sounded sure of himself, "But I wouldn't."
Grins spread on their faces as they glanced at each other. "Fae will make Boy-Man say yes. Fae will make Boy-Man, Human-Man, Mortal-Man want to say yes."
Ianto really didn't like the sound of that. He found the ones who were petting him as if a pet suddenly changed and began to make small cuts on him with their claw-like nails. Taking a hesitant breath he hoped that this was only a scaring tactic and that they wouldn't actually kill him.
"Say yes Boy-Man."
Licking his lips Ianto kept from wincing in pain from the small cuts, "Never."
Full knowing that it wasn't their usual style and that the usual style would kill him sooner, Ianto was only slightly surprised when one of the small cuts went a bit deeper. He tried to get away from them, which he knew was unlikely, and didn't get very far when a number of them flew or jumped in front of him and then to all sides of him.
Jack had seen most of this happen and knew that he couldn't wait in the shadows any longer, waiting for a more ideal time to save Ianto. He burst into the clearing, "Get away from him!"
Ianto turned and saw Jack appear, which he didn't think was a good idea. If Jack tried to stop them they would kill him. He figured that he was the only one to stop them from hurting either man, "Jack, just leave! I can handle this."
Jack was closer now, hands in the air, hoping to talk them out of whatever they were going to do to Ianto. "I think things were getting out of hand and thought you could use one of mine." He gave a small smile, hoping to reassure Ianto.
"Jack-Man." They hissed, "He is ours." Three Fae clung to Ianto, one on an arm, second on a leg and the third was behind Ianto with a arm going over Ianto's shoulder and holding onto the tie.
"Ianto Jones is mine." Jack growled. "You can't have him."
"It's true." Ianto agreed, "You can't have me."
"Ours." The one that had been holding the tie reached that hand up and made a small cut on Ianto's cheek. "Not Jack-Man's."
"I'm not yours." Ianto growled out, trying to get out of their grasp. "Never." Using his free arm he quickly elbowed the one on his back in the face following with punching the one on his arm and kicking the one on his leg at the same time. The three had let go and Ianto started running to Jack only to have another one jump in front of him.
Jack was not stupid enough to get his gun out and try to shoot the one in front of Ianto for two main reasons; as far as Jack knew, they couldn't die and that Faerie would probably disappear last second an the bullet would hit Ianto instead. So he ran towards Ianto hoping to help fight off the Fae that surrounded them.
But more Fae only appeared, all of them grinning. They knew that the two humans were surrounded and with no way out. Ianto let out a curse as a few of them stalked closer to them. Jack grabbed Ianto by the elbow and held him close. "Try calling them off." He whispered in the Welshman's ear.
"You think I haven't tried that?" Ianto replied, rolling his eyes. He reached up and wiped some of the blood off his face, "Hasn't been working to well so far."
"Well try again!"
"Fine." Ianto opened his mouth before an idea occurred to him, he wondered if by wording it different, in a certain way that they'd have to obey him. All times before the kidnapping they had always obeyed him. He opened his mouth again and raised his voice, trying to sound confident and commanding, "I, Ianto Jones, Boy-Man, a Chosen One, wants all of the Fae, the Faerie, the Mara to know that I will never agree to join them. They will stop all contact with me. They will leave me alone. Now."
All the Fae stopped, a few hissed at him. "Boy-Man means this? Boy-Man is certain?"
Ianto was actually surprised that it was working so far, "Yes. I am human and will remain until death."
They looked at each other for a second before all the Faerie bowed deeply, "If this is what Boy-Man says. We will no longer protect Boy-Man or have any contact with him." With that a breeze came from no where and they disappeared.
Jack kept a hold of Ianto for a few seconds, the wind died down and all that could be heard was their breathing. "Huh." He said thoughtfully.
"I didn't expect that to-," Ianto paused, "It worked."
Jack let go of Ianto and turned him around. "It did." He was just as surprised. "Just by choosing the correct words." He halted for a second, "I bet you could win against the Carrionites of myth." Ianto raised an eyebrow, unsure on what Jack was even talking about. Jack grinned and then really looked at Ianto, "How badly are you hurt?" The smile falling from his face into a line of worry.
"I'm fine. Small cuts mostly-"
"And a nice bruise from the Hoix along with a deeper cut somewhere." Jack said, seeing the bruise underneath the small cuts on Ianto's face. "Let me see."
"What? No. I'm fine." Ianto protested, taking a step back from Jack.
"Either I check you now or I let Owen check you out and you'll have to answer his questions on why you got hurt." Jack threatened.
"That's fine. I can tell him I was mugged." Ianto replied, "I look like I could have been mugged."
Jack glared, "Either you let me look over your wounds and then Owen later or I will tell Owen what really happened. Otherwise we can do a need to know with the good doctor."
Ianto sighed, "Fine." He lifted part of his shirt and on his side was a deep cut that was still seeping blood. "Not that bad."
Jack reached out and Ianto jerked back from the touch, "Not that bad?" He asked taken aback, "You need stitches!" He looked at Ianto, "Take off your jacket." After a second Ianto complied and Jack tied it around Ianto's midriff, hoping that would help stop the blood flow. "Right. Lets get back, get you patched up and claim you were mugged!"
Ianto thought Jack sounded a bit too happy. "As you say, sir."
When they were almost to the SUV Jack quietly said, "Oh yeah. Tosh knows you were a Chosen One."
Ianto glared at Jack, "What?"
"Well I had to tell her! She saw one of them take you!" Jack protested.
Ianto sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Fine. At least it wasn't Owen or Gwen who found out."
Jack snorted, "Yes. Imagine, he'd call you Fairy-Boy instead of Teaboy!"