48
Two more levels, two more hours eaten away and they currently stand in front of what looked like nuclear blast doors.
"Bloody nutta" Kev muttered as he watched Ianto work, "This Archie was a frigging genius."
"He did like his theatrics" Jack nodded back, the last level they had traversed through had been full of weird and wacky fish. Aquariums of all descriptions. Not many left alive and the smell was not pleasant. Seems the Notstrovites had been trying to care for them though, maybe they had been their food source once they had eaten everything else. At least these past two levels had been safe due to their cleansing.
This door however … looked sealed from a long time ago.
"Got it" Ianto said without looking up from the screen and he punched in a code then stepped back, handing the PDA back to Billy who flicked it underarm style to Liam. The doors started to open slowly, klaxons sounding which was even more unpleasant as it was a warning. Right? Apparently they were at the level they wanted. A bad one.
A cat.
A ginger tom sat in the doorway, just inside the sliver of light regarding them like it was fed up with the service and ready to complain.
"Hello there" Jack said softly "we come on peace."
"Holy shit, is that … is that an alien cat?" Mickey asked with wonder.
Ianto stifled laughter as Jack turned with wide eyes "Could be. Proceed with caution."
It was just a cat. Seems Jack was getting fed up with the tension in the air and Ianto was reminded of the way he and Owen used to play about with alien innards and such to relieve boredom. Jack smiled as he caught the thought.
Archives in the literal sense.
Files everywhere, boxes of files and folders and even some bits of paper just shoved places. Gods. Archie had just placed things in the wardrobe to make the place less cluttered? Think of Dumbledore's office without the friendly smile.
Jack checked his watch "OK. Thirteen and a half hours left. Let's take the half hour to rest, eat and recoup some energy. Kitty, a good time to change your socks after the aquarium leaked on your foot. Dry socks, dry feet are essential"
"Yes sir, always look after your feet. Check!" she agreed as she sat and pulled some socks from the pack. Francine had knitted them and she looked at them with affection before changing out.
"Holdfast, there is a little office over there, might be where he logs the artefacts before he puts them away? Might be on the grid?" Jack asked and they headed that way, Ianto entering the room behind Jack who headed for the desk with his usual officious bluster. Ianto slowed as he took in the room.
Sort of like a bunker or office. Pretty close to the one he had back at T1. As Ianto stood in the doorway he felt something in him whisper that it might be nice to relax for a few minutes, Jack needed a release after that adrenaline rush. No death or reset, he was thrumming with excitement.
Ianto relaxed and let his black sleek body suit shimmer away, recalling that hound's-tooth three piece number in the dark charcoal with the shots of silver though it he always wore with the lavender shirt and deep purple tie that matched the lining. Rotting in the hub. Something he only wore when he needed to get Jack's signature on something he didn't want to sign if he looked at it instead of Ianto's' arse, usually for Lisa's bits.
Jack swung with a folder in his hand and froze as the virile creature minced towards him with a predatory look that was way more bloodthirsty than anything out there.
"Oh baby" Jack sighed as the folder fluttered from his fingers to land on the floor "where the hell … I mean … you could do one of those suits with your fur all along?"
"You never asked" Ianto said with wide eyes "Sir."
Jack stopped breathing as he found the desk pushing against the back of his legs and Ianto nose to nose "Is there anything…..anything… you desire…sir?"
"Oh Ianto" Jack breathed softly "you are so damned wonderful."
"Careful. That's Harassment, that is!" Ianto canted an eyebrow and Jack cleared his throat
"I mean … if you are in need of some work, maybe you can file those" he finally managed to choke out.
Ianto sashayed to the filing cabinet that had stacks of folders on top and made a show of bending over to open the bottom drawer, his arse waving. Jack whined. Mickey walked past and froze as he saw Jack lick his lips and rub at his crotch.
"Christ almighty" he said to himself as he moved off to warn the others to stay out of there "like fucking animals on heat those two."
Then he grinned as he knew he was the same with Martha. She just had to start breaking down a gun as she leaned over the kitchen table and …BAM preggers!
Jack was still trying to role-play but it was a losing battle as Ianto did that little tip of the tongue thing that always drove him insane and when Ianto's clothing just….disappeared… leaving him naked and hot to trot, Jack knew who had won this one.
HIM!