4

"Come on ya little pussy fiddler… fingered your own sister, surely you can finger me too" the voice hissed in his ear as the hand slid under the covers to squeeze and he cried out as he struggled away from the other youth in the borstal who was intent on breaking him.

He jabbed at him with the sharpened toothbrush handle, slipping from the covers as the other boy cried out with pain.

Ianto fell.

Ianto landed on the floor and took a moment to center himself, looking around the room that was in no way a sleeping hall filled with bunk beds and randy teenage boys intent on raping you. He rose and took another breath, walking to the curtains to open them and look down over the city.

After all these years, that still haunted him. One of his most unpleasant moments, one of many that his parents inflicted on him for the good of his sister. He sighed and stretched, then yawned, heading to the front door where he knew his paper would neatly folded on his stoop, looking up and down the corridor before plucking it up and retreating back inside the apartment.

His Grandy wanted him at the house but he had resisted. Glad of that decision now that the 'P's were sniffing around. He did consider the country house, his work holding him in the city… well… and Grandy of course. So weak, near the end. He knew as well as Ianto that there would be no move in career or living standards until after the old man 'fell off his perch' as Owen put it.

Crass little bastard.

Ianto knew there would be rumbling once the will was read. Whatever his Grandy planned, it would NOT include the Ps. Ianto hoped the old man shared his wealth with some good charities, and that Jack got a little something for the care and attention he was showing the old man. Not once did Ianto consider himself in this. After all, all he wanted was the old man and without him… he would have no one. He gave up trying to read the paper at the little table. Everything was so benign.

Ianto rose and padded to the bathroom, dropping his PJs on the floor to step into the nice hot shower, standing there as the water cascaded down his back, the scars puckering his shoulders and upper back like wings making the water into a waterfall down one side of his arse.

Ianto tried not to think about it, turning to tip his head back and yawn, then he rinsed and turned off the water, got out and got dressed in one of the suits his Grandfather had purchased for him and loved to see him in.

He called the store, checking on the stock due that morning then walked to the garage to consider his drive to the Grandy House nearby. After a moment or two he grinned, lifting the large leather jacket from a hook and slipping on over his jacket, then a helmet, taking the Harley Davidson that he knew his Grandy would be delighted to hear rumbling up the driveway past his bedroom window.

He had purchased it for him as a graduation gift.

Ianto rarely rode now but knew it would do the old man's heart good to know he still appreciated the expensive gift that had actually horrified him when he first saw it. She was a beauty, a candy apple red tank on chrome and black leather. He called her Cherry… of course.

He rode like he stole it… as always and reveled in the freedom as he dodged and weaved through the morning traffic, reaching the Grandy House within ten minutes and as he got off the bike he felt a chill in the air.

He hurried inside and was relieved to see his Grandfather's breakfast being made in the blender "Hey Toshi."

"Hey sweetie… Jack is already in there" she relied without looking up from her task.

"I… I didn't ask about him" Ianto spluttered, then grinned as she laughed at him and gave him a shove. "Look here wench, stop that!"

"Hey" Jack leaned around the doorframe "He heard the bike and perked up. Cherry?"

"Cherry Red" Ianto grinned "Yeah. He got her for me, I knew he would like to hear her."

"Tell me something…. Do you ever run out of suits?"

Ianto blinked, then started to laugh "Cheeky prick. I have to head to the store to check a delivery later"

"Ah… the coffee shop slash book store slash hidey hole" Jack said dreamily "Where you hide from the world pretending that you are a dragon sitting on your hoard of books, stroking a cat while sipping elixir of the gods."

"Stop it!" Ianto snorted, blushing now with a soft smile.

"So… date night… this Saturday?" Jack asked stepping closer.

"What? Ah… yes… OK…" Ianto blustered with shock as Jack calmly cornered him, the blush too sweet as Jack leaned in and whispered softly in his ear.

"I can't wait to get you alone hot stuff."

Ianto's smile faded as he stepped back the discomfort clear as he shot his cuffs and seemed to be trying to unruffled himself.

"Sorry? Did I say something wrong?' Jack asked with alarm.

"No I… ah… I don't like whispering… ah… bad memories of a bully who liked to whisper in my ear from behind… scaring me for pleasure. He called me that… Hot Stuff" Ianto explained as he really did not want to spoil this one.

Jack nodded "Sorry.. I will remember that."

Ianto nodded then looked down, hoping the next step might be a little more… easy.

Because he had been with no one since …. Well… ever.