29 – Ianto
I have gone to see my cousin. She is happy to see me, life so busy these days and it's only once in a blue moon we seem to see one another. Happily, it's not a funeral for a change. He is enamored with Jessie and they take a moment to stare at one another, Jessie excited to see another person with darker skin than me and Jack.
Martha grinned and let him touch her face, hair, stare into her eyes then laugh happily as he sees her beauty. I was not here for a social visit though and while she is entertaining my little snot bag along with her sister Tish, I am clambering over the back fence to visit my childhood friend who has lived his entire life behind his cousins with his old father. The two old brothers having purchased homes next to one another so their kids could grow up as close cousins.
"Idris?"
He hears me and lights up. Damn, I have been remiss in my socializing. I feel the need to apologize straight away for ignoring him but he just laughs and slaps me on the back "Come on Toto. What brings you to the Dark Side?"
Smart arse.
"Actually… I come looking for some …ah… protection" I say with an awkward grimace. He stares at me for a while then calls out to his father.
"Pops, me and Toto are going downstairs" Idris calls out, motioning for me to follow him down and we head to the basement. He gets out a huge bunch of keys and fiddles with them, and then opens the door to enter.
I look around with wonder as the walls are lined with guns. Weaponry of all kinds and I am drawn to the knifes down one end. "Wow. Wicked."
"Bowie knives" Idris agrees "They are wicked keen."
"For blood maybe" I mutter as he opens the cabinet, then hands one to me. I remember the feel of a knife. Man, another lifetime. Me in the junkyard, the druggie coming from around the busted out vehicle, his breath harsh as he hunted for us, Rhiannon crouched behind me crying softly as she once again admitted that she had chosen the wrong man to rob.
Yeah.
Blades like blood.
I reluctantly place it down and Idris snorts "come on. You know you like it. You are the best as hefting that weigh too. Guns are loud, sometimes there is not room or time to aim … a knife doesn't care about trajectory. You know that as well as I do."
"Yeah."
"Right. I little snub nose? Or a nice big…"
"Webley!" I blurt, "That one. That looks like a doozey."
Again I have a weapon in my hand and I feel the weight, test it as I roll my wrist, flick it up and back. Nice. "Kick?"
Ammo is placed in front of me and I soon have the gun ready to go, aiming down the extremely long gun range under the unassuming old house over top, firing at will. Idris laughs softly "Damn Totes. Let me get some earmuffs or something next time."
"Wouldn't be time for that either Idi. We both know any fight will be hard and dirty." I turn to him and sigh "You know I want that blade."
"Ankle?"
"Both? The smaller one and that wicked blade here maybe on my shin of the other leg? This one here maybe to place somewhere within east reach? Under a table or above a door frame or something? I like to be prepared" I turn slowly looking around "Those knuckle dusters… oooo… lookie!"
Idris laughs now as he takes down the snub nose I am pointing at "I thought you wanted the Webley still in your hand."
"Oh yes, this too. Shoulder holster for this baby" I grin at him as I turn and wink "This big boy needs room to move."
"Damn boy… after all this time you are still an evil bastard when you need to be" Idris laughed "You were so quick. A sweet little thing luring in those marks. How many did you and your sister fleece over the years?"
"Hey… Rhiannon was the one who lured men in and robbed them. I just picked pockets" I defend myself "I picked those rich bastards with label clothes, dripping with Rolexes and gold. I never went for a hard working man. You know I could pick the trust fund bastards."
"Yeah. True. It was Rhiannon who went after the nearest mark and you wound up defending her" he agrees.
"Shame she has forgotten that. She was a nasty little girl but I was the viscous one. It seems a lifetime ago, another person almost. I pulled my socks up, got on with my life and am now a stable and one of those who knows to keep my hands on my pockets when in certain parts of town." I remind him.
"Yeah. She was a viper but you were the dragon that eats snakes for breakfast…." Idris stalls out and I know he has finally caught on, turning to face me "he's back?"
"Yeah. We both know it's only a matter of time before he makes a play. He almost got me last time, he will not be so lucky this time." I nod "Jack thinks he knows but… he doesn't know it all."
"Ianto. He wants to kill you for what you did. You know if he can get his hands on you…"
"That man has no balls. Rhiannon may think she has him under control but even she has forgotten where my nasty streak came from" I agree, the no balls part not an exaggeration.
I did that.
Stabbed him in the groin when he killed her, my mama … when he attacked us and it all went to hell I took the blade and struck as had and nastily as I could. I wanted him to die but he didn't. They could not save his testicles though, I had twisted that knife with open malice.
Yeah.
I like a blade.
And I will use one again, this time… I will aim a little higher.
