12
Ianto did OK for not knowing anyone. Jack's parents seemed to make an effort to include him even if he did sit slightly apart and Rose watched him for a while before deciding that he was not just shy… the poor man was terrified.
She sat next to him "tell me. What did you do at Christmas with your family growing up? What tradition did you all have back home?"
"If we were not in separate foster homes Rhiannon and I would go to the soup kitchen for the meal together." Ianto said as he fiddled with a toy Mica had broken, not really paying attention as others turned to look at him with horror as he spoke "One of the worst things about being dirty, poor orphans on the streets was knowing Santa didn't come for us. We didn't' get gifts, we didn't get the big turkey and fixings. We only had one another and we clung to that. When it got bad… well. We hid in abandoned buildings and stole food… we slept in junkyards, old cars and such where the dogs knew us and would keep the Heddlu… the cops out."
She stared at him and then said softly "Orphans?"
"Well… my Da killed me Mam. He went to prison, we went into care. Simple" Ianto handed the fixed doll to Mica and sat back, looking around to find many eyes on him and he definitely felt the urge to bolt, rubbing his hands on the arms of the chair instead. "My sister died by the hand of another too … at least her husband loved her. I know Gray fought for her. He was a good man Well … that's life. Some of us get to be pigeons, some of us statues. Ya know? Shit falls from a great height on those who don't matter. "
Jack snorted with mirth as he grinned at Ianto, knowing he could get worse if panic sets in.
"Wow. You and your sister were street urchins?" a woman sat and smiled softly "My sister... Millicent, tells me you are not going home?"
"Well, the kids are all I have now and their home is here. They have school, friends and Gray's family of course. They are happy here. My wants and needs are secondary. Besides… the place grows on you" Ianto blushed, glancing at the man who was grinning broadly.
"I am luring him in" Jack said loudly "I think he is gorgeous and am thinking of a way to convince him to go on a date. See if we have more than a spark here. He is definitely not what I thought was my type and I know for sure now he surely is. Ianto Jones is an enigma that dresses so fine that I want to parade him down the main street on my arm."
Ianto was shocked, staring at Jack like he had gone mad, Jack rushing to add "So… I call dibs. Any of my cousins thinking they will make a drunken pass at him this week… back the fuck off. Ianto is out of bounds. He is the legal father now of these kids… family, not a bloody servant either!"
Ianto sat back as he relaxed seeing that Jack was just protecting him by letting the others know no bum pinching or weird suggestive passes were allowed. Not like he meant it about fancying him. Right?
Right?
.
.
Ianto decided to explore. The pool was covered for winter, as were the gardens. The frost cloths placed in preparation for the snowfall predicted that afternoon or evening. Ianto missed that. Rain and snow. Welsh weather. He did remember it fondly, this land of opportunity a little too dry for him. But… he knew he would adjust and if he…. Oh. Hello. Ianto had found an area to one side of the house that looked different to the rest and for a mad moment he thought it ws a cricket pitch before remembering that he was the one considered a mad Englishman here… no. He looked around at the raised garden beds, the perfectly cut grass and calmly walked it out. It was perfect for some quiet meditation and exercise.
Ianto kicked off his shoes, pulled off his socks and tested the grass, finding it springy. Perfect. He started to unwind.
Jack found him like that. Barefoot and doing what appeared to be Tai Chi. He was slowly dancing around the area as he loosened his muscles and hummed softly to himself a tune Jack could not recognise. Finally Ianto struck a pose Jack recognised and he spoke "Tai Quan Do?"
Ianto turned to face him and Jack felt his mouth go dry. The shirt was open, the buttons open almost halfway down and Jack could see that chest that was more defined and powerful than he had first thought. Jack grinned as he stepped forward and kicked off his own shoes "You know that this area is?"
"No, perfect for unwinding though" Ianto replied "A nice yoga spot."
"It is for lawn bowls. My grandmother is mad about it" Jack replied, stepping into the 'arena' with a wide smile "I know that dance there as well. Took classes."
Ianto found himself being led around the grassed area in a slow waltz as Jack said softly "But this dance is nice too."
Ianto grinned as he held onto him as they came to a halt, still in a shared embrace "well maybe some time we need to spar?"
"I would like that" Jack answered with a sweep of his arm, leading Ianto back inside to prepare for a family meal.
It was not until later that Jack went back to the image of the man moving around that garden like a wild animal. A cat.
A tiger.