29
Ianto wanted to get out of the house… so to speak and he wanted it covert. To this end, he went to the security pool and chose young Scott, a nice lad who looked…well… ordinary. They snuck through the underground tunnel to the garage and Ianto roared out of the garage in his lovely old wrangler he had purchased when he had first got his licence. A lifetime ago, saving up his money for this old banger that he had restored over time.
The press had never seen it, never knew it was him with the woollen cap pulled low over his ears. Well … apart from the select few that knew the rules and left him alone while in it. Scott held on and whooped with glee as Ianto showed that he had not only passed the defensive and offensive driving courses the Royal palace insisted all staff take, he had excelled.
Ianto pulled into a car park and grinned as he slid out to look around at one of the places he was a Patron for, the local cat rescue. Ianto wanted a cat. Had for some time, actually loved cats but Jack's mother despised them. Ianto never trusted someone who didn't like cats and although he could swipe one from the stables he knew from being a stable boy once that they were loved by those who lived there already. Besides, this was his charity, right?
They entered and the girl at reception pulled a face as she pushed a clipboard at him "Fill this out, I'll get someone."
Ianto blinked at her manner then realised he hadn't' pulled off his beanie, she hadn't recognised him. With a shrug he settled to start filling out the form, Scott taking the clipboard, pointing to some boxes and whispering answers as Ianto was stumped as to what the right answers were. He could not very well give the palace phone number… or really the palace address at all. The press would take anything he filled out and have a field day, Scott taking the task with such a scribble that Ianto found it slightly amusing.
"Hello here, looking for a cat are ya?" a voice asked and Ianto glanced up at the large man who stood with his hands on his hips
"Yes. Looking for a little snuggle puss" Ianto replied with a smile "Gets lonely in my little library when me husband is busy elsewhere."
It was slight. A tremor, a slight curl of the lip but Ianto had spent most of his life recognising the look. Disgust. Scott had not looked up yet to see the problem and said without thinking "Maybe we should get two. They can keep one another company when belting around in that huge place. Can be boring for them too."
"We don't have any at the moment" the man said flatly.
Ianto canted his head "None here, or none for me?"
Scott looked up with alarm as he caught Ianto's' tone, the man sneering now as he looked at them both "Nothing for your sort!"
Scott blinked. "Ah… sir… I think…."
"Please elaborate" Ianto cut the poor lad off, his arms folding across his small bump still hidden in the folds of the large coat he was wearing "Do you mean… same sex couples?"
"Queers"
"Ah" Ianto was gobsmacked. After everything he had been through in the last few months this was a little too much and before he could stop himself he started to giggle. He rose, "Come on Scotty, I don't think we are welcome here."
Scott was still seated, gaping at the man with horror.
"Scott. Now" Ianto demanded, finally annoyed now "I want to leave."
They walked outside, Ianto shaking with anger and he took a moment to scan the car park, finding the one he was looking for. That lone press that always eventually found him. He walked over and tapped on the window, the reporter jumping with shock as he wound his window down to gape at the King.
"Listen here, do you have a camera?"
"yes…..yes Sire"
"Good, get out and take my comment with this shithole in the background. I want the world to know this establishment that asked me to be its patron, for whom I have worked to secure finding and local support had just refused to give me a cat because I am gay!" Ianto snarled "I was just practically thrown out on my ear!"
"You're fucking joking" the reporter spluttered with open horror.
"Nope. No cats for queers!" Ianto ranted, his arms flapping "If the bloody king is not good enough for a cat from this place what chance does anyone else have!"
The reporter was on cloud nine, not only was the king letting him openly photograph him but letting him record him, the face slightly pinched and one side red. He wondered why that was but was more interested in the way Ianto spoke to his camera. Not many had even heard him speak and the soft welsh tones spoke of hurt and insult. Not for himself, but the gay community.
As the King drove off the reporter gleefully went inside to ask why the King himself had been thrown out on his ear.
It was a story of a lifetime.
