16
"Tad?" Walter called out as he entered his parent's inner sanctum. Their wing.
"In here Walty" came a distant reply and Walter entered the huge walk-in wardrobe that ran most of the length of the inner wall, it was huge and Jack like to refer to it as the Wardrobe Room with giggles.
Walter let his hand reach out to run the length of the suits, his Tads smart formalness broken with the occasional boa, a red ball gown or paisley suit, even a gold one he had never seen before. The opposite side was Jack's, his clothing more soft and practical. The smell in there was musky deep and comforting as Walter regressed with each step, finding his Tad at a mirror at the end looking through the drawers. Walter slid his arms around him and cuddle in like he did as a child, comfort there too.
"Hello Dumpling" Ianto said without tiring around "Can't find those cufflinks…..ah. There they are. Love these."
Walter kissed Ianto's' neck and looked at the drawer full of bling "And I wondered were Babs got her hoarding from."
Ianto snorted "What do you need love?"
"Piney. He is going to grow here … become something larger than life. He needs a better wardrobe for that too. I am so sick of just trousers and a shirt. He will walk outside amongst the wilds, he will have action across the moors … I need an outfit for that, also … I want him to be the local Police Chief … he need a uniform."
"Well … take what you need to get a feel for it love. Not like I will miss things in here and you know I all but choose Daddy's. He has no idea what he even has until I lay it out for him to put on like one of the kids. Just not the stuff in the red closet. That's our dress up box."
Walter knew he should be scandalized but he laughed as he promised not to look in there, also making a mental note that he needed one of those for him and Curty too. If he had learnt one thing from his parentals it was that fun is always welcome in the bedroom.
He found a row of waistcoats on their own and looked to his Tad who told him the suits were ruined but he felt bad throwing out the waistcoats. Now Walter knew where the odd waistcoat his Tad wore in the garden came from. So sweet. His Tad hated waste and his Dad loved him in a waistcoat with sleeves rolled up. win…..ah. Walter looked at them again and saw the message there.
Someone who is both solid and dependable. Someone who is buttoned up but still able to get dirty.
Walter removed a waistcoat and pulled it over his shirt, looking in the mirror as his image became softer somehow, more approachable. He looked more like a man who was too busy for a bloody jacket. Someone who would lean over desk to look at photos, then argue with someone and look tired at the end of the day.
Piney was starting to look older.