20
The bunker was a hit. It was agreed that one room be for the children and their parents and the other one for the adults, with the third one being a medical bay in case of something being REALLY wrong. It made sense, those on duty and such after an attack or whatever would not scare of wake the kids, and those on night patrols would not be woken by the kids.
Ianto did not really pay much attention to all the discussions and carry on over the bunker's different arguments, knowing they would sort it out in time and hopefully they would never need it anyway so he did not make a big thing of the fact they were putting food down there that would perish and need to be constantly swapped out instead of canned goods like someone with a brain might store. Let them play.
As promised, they had spit their popcorn stash and handed it over, the Silurians overjoyed at the amount they received and then listened to instructions while they watched intently as Ianto popped some over an open fire. They all laughed and talked animatedly as Jack sat back and watched revelling in the strength of his mate to be able to converse with and be classes as one of these powerful and dangerous creatures.
The smell did bring other dangerous creatures and Owen walked to the tree line to leave a big bowl for Janet and her fellas. He watched from a distance as she snatched it up and snarled at the two bucks to show this was hers first. Then she looked over at him and he smiled "Love you too princess."
With a low groan she lumbered back into the pitch black and Owen turned to return to the fire light with his hands in his pockets.
"Are you OK?" Ianto asked as he watched Owen's approach.
"Yeah. I didn't think I would miss her ya know? Silly really. She's a wild animal and she has every right to be free but… I do miss her" he shrugged as Ianto drew him into a hug.
"Well, you are my wild animal Owen, like the Muppet" Ianto said, patting his back and moving away as Owen gaped after him.
"What?" he squeaked with shock, then started to laugh "Fucking bastard!"
Owen's grin was wider than Jack's as he threw more wood on the fire.
.
.
"So it's all sorted now?"
Ianto turned to find Martha behind him, watching him as he checked their stores.
"Yes" he replied with a firm nod "They are pleased with the agreement, as we should be too. Some corn is not a big ask, sunflowers… why not. These are things we will grow for ourselves anyway, if we continue to share so will they."
"I forgot."
"Forgot what Nightingale?" Ianto asked absently as he crouched to pull to a wooden crate to check the contents like he did not know edidically what was there already.
"You. Sometimes, I forget who you are. I don't mean that you are Ianto, I mean that you are the Dragon. I forget. Then something like that and I am forced to remember what you are" she said as she settled on a box to watch him.
"And what is that?" he asked, not pausing or looking in her direction to warn her of the anger rising.
"That you are the one with whom not to fuck" she replied, then laughed softly "That you are cruel, cold and callous when needed. Vicious and your decisions are final. You are loving, kind and loyal. You are the kind of man others fear, loathe and secretly envy. You are the epitome of a leader. Yet you stand behind Jack while he ponces about like it's all his idea…"
"No he doesn't" Jack said as he leaned on the doorway watching the two of them and listened to the exchange. He was watching Ianto's jaw clench and knew that whether she meant it or not, she was pissing off the man "Ianto stands behind no one. He is front and centre. He takes the bullets, he tenses at the blows and he shields others, even those who do not recognise him."
She looked over at him and smiled "I did not mean to show any disrespect Jack. What I mean is… I followed him into fire. I did. As much as I had faith in the Doctor's plan… this one here. He made it all happen. I saw the markers, I knew the signs and I felt the heat of flames but didn't fear them. I was immune. He made me fireproof. During that time, Ianto was not just the Dragon. He was the Knight as well."
Ianto snorted and sat back on his haunches "Next you will be saying Myfanwy was my steed. Can you imagine her with a saddle?"
Martha laughed at him and then her smile faded "You miss her?"
"Nah, she's just to the north that way" Ianto hooked a thumb and went back to his preserved.
"What?"
"My big leather bitch is over that way. Probably desiccating an entire flock of sheep" Ianto looked over and smiled "Always knew where my people were, remember?"
"Yes Dragon" Martha smiled back "and that comforted me too."
"So let it comfort you now and stop worrying. We have a truce with the Silurians and a good agreement sorted via the bunker. We have food, safety and healthy children. Let's revel in that and worry about the sky falling another day" Jack said as he offered her his hand and she rose to take it, letting him pull her into a hug that became a slow dance.
Ianto sat back and pondered the loss of some of their preserves.
The bunker. Right.
Somewhere new to check and itemize.
Oh good.
A new list.