AN: Just to clarify, incase my story gives readers the wrong idea, I am in full opposition of my character, Mr. Pine. I am part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, and would never tolerate his actions. Plus, despite no longer being religious, I have a very good understanding of the Bible - the Old Testament, having learned it in depth as a student. However, the reason I have him in my story, is to illustrate that however much we would like for the opposite to be true, people like Mr. Pine exist in multitudes. They believe they are correct, and many will stop at nothing to force their beliefs on the Queer community. As well as to illustrate that many LGBTQ+ people, youth or otherwise, when caught in a situation like Ianto is in, may not know how to handle it, or fight back, or they may not have the knowledge. I think it's important to bring it to attention, and to find ways to educate those within the community, in the event they wind up in a situation such as this. I'm hoping my story can aid with that, at least a bit. Obviously it's not the only way to fight homophobes, especially when they spout religious nonsense, but I'm hoping it helps at least somewhat. And not to worry, Harriet, Estelle, and Alice will have a lot to say on what's going on and will have a showdown of sorts with Mr. Pine.
Chapter 5 - Mr. Pine
Trigger warning for mentions/depictions of conversion therapy
Not long after the start of Year ten, Mr. Pine made up some inane rule which Ianto would have no knowledge of and he'd end up breaking the rule. He made it so that it kept happening, and by the fourth time, he gave Ianto detention. Ianto was very confused about what he did, and scared. He knew Mr. Pine was overseeing the detention, which was what frightened him. That, and the fact that he never broke a rule before, so he wasn't sure what he could've done to merit a detention. When he walked into the detention room, he confusedly asked what he had done wrong, but Mr. Pine just smiled that predatory smile of his and refused to say why. "Have a seat, Mr. Jones. We're going to talk about your behavior with Mr. Harkness. Now, before you say anything," he continued holding up his hand to stop Ianto from speaking, "I don't just mean this year. I mean all the years prior. And don't think I haven't seen the glances you continue to throw his way, or the times he tries to engage you in conversation, on the small touches as you "brush" past each other in the hallway." He put brush in quotes, as he was convinced it was wholly intentional of them.
Ianto again opened his mouth to say something, but shut it quickly at a glare from the teacher. "I'm doing the talking here, Mr. Jones. You are to keep your mouth shut. Nod if you understand." Ianto nodded. "Good. Now, you see, Mr. Jones, there is the devil within you and Mr. Harkness. Don't worry, I'll find a way to talk to him as well. I got to you first, because I believe you are the weaker of the two, and the easiest to convince. See, you have homosexual tendencies, and that is unacceptable in the eyes of God. I don't know why the other teachers and students have accepted it, but it is something that needs to be changed. It states in the Bible, that one man shall not lie with another. Homosexuality is a sin, and should be erased completely. Once a week, you are to stay behind after school, and I will help you start on the straight path, and help you find a nice girl to date. Perhaps my daughter, who is your age, will be good for you."
"I like you, Mr. Jones, and I only want what's best for you." For the remainder of his detention hour, Ianto was forced to endure Mr. Pine preaching the Bible at him, and explaining in various ways which were just repetitive of how he was a sinner. Finally the hour was up, and he was allowed to leave. "Remember Mr. Jones, every Monday I expect you to stay after class so I can cure you, until I deem your homosexual tendencies gone."
As soon as he got home, Harriet demanded to know where he was. Ianto broke down crying, saying he had been put in detention for breaking some rule, he didn't know what. The teacher overseeing it was Mr. Pine, and he wouldn't say what Ianto was in detention for. Through his tears, he told her that he was required to stay after school on Mondays, so Mr. Pine can have a chat with him. "A chat about what, Ianto?" "Me being gay. He lectured me in detention today, saying he targeted me first and as soon as he could he'd go after Jack, but he went to me first because he believed me to be the weaker one . He preached to me quoting the bible in multiple ways about how the devil was living in me and I was living a sinner's life and going against God's will." He laughed mirthlessly. " How can I be going against a god I don't even believe in?" His tears flowed harder, and he was too distraught to finish his story.
However, Harriet had heard enough. She was fuming at the teacher, and that the school would allow something like this. She pulled Ianto into a tight embrace, soothing him. She didn't say anything, other than that to assure him he wasn't weak, he was not allowed to stay after school, and that she'd speak to Estelle and Alice, and figure out a solution. And if they had to pull the boys out of school for a bit, so be it. Alice had a teaching certificate, and she could homeschool the boys if needed.
Too distraught to eat anything, Ianto quickly did his small amount of homework and went to bed early. In the meantime, Harriet called Estelle, Alice and Jack over to her house to explain what had happened, and to work out a solution. The two women were enraged about what had happened, and felt terrible for Ianto. After a moment of shocked silence, Alice spoke up. "I think we should pull Jack and Ianto from school starting tomorrow, as we sort this out. Ianto not staying after school for Mr. Pine's sessions is apt to get him in trouble, and the teacher will continue to target the boys. I can teach them in our home, keep them up to speed with their classmates, should they decide to go back once we get rid of Pine. And believe me, we'll get him removed."
"What about the funding from his family for the school? We don't want to be the reason a whole town has no school or has to switch schools," Harriet inquired. "Oh, don't worry," Estelle reassured them. "I recently acquired a significant sum of money that my late husband had put away. I didn't even know he had it. There's a sizable portion to fund Uni for Jack, and I've put some away for Ianto as well. There's still quite a large amount left over, and I have no need for it. Apparently it was to be released to us ten years after his passing if he passed prematurely. And if he didn't, and passed later in life, it would go to Jack when he turned thirty. Alice and I had no knowledge of this. Franklin and Grey passed away when Jack was four, and now he's fourteen - it's been ten years which is why we just found out. The excess fund will be more than enough for the school for three years, until they can find another, and better donor than this Mr. Pine."
Harriet and Jack looked shocked. "That's incredibly generous of you Estelle. We really owe a lot to you and Alice. I don't know how to repay you for all of this." "Don't concern yourself with that, just help us with Jack and Ianto, keep our boys safe, and help them get back together. If that's what the boys still want," she added, looking inquiringly at Jack.
"I want that very much, but I don't think Ianto does. None of us know," Jack responded, having been silent until the conversation was turned to him. "And Auntie Alice, I don't know how well Ianto will respond to having you teach just the two of us. It'll probably be really awkward." "Well, it's not really an option for you two to stay in school right now with everything going on, and you still need an education. I'll do what I can to lessen any tension, but I can't promise it'll be completely successful. And I'll see if Ianto wants to mend things between the two of you."
Estelle spoke up again. "I may no longer be religious, or believe in religion, but Alice and I grew up pretty religious, and we know how to counter Pine's so-called "Biblical attack." So when we go to work this out with the school tomorrow, I'll talk to him about it, though I doubt he'll listen. But, We'll know we tried. And as for the rest of this week, I think we can give the boys a break from schooling, and give them a chance to recover from all the damage that was done." Harriet and Alice agreed, and Jack gave a small smile at that.
Ianto woke up from hearing multiple voices talking downstairs, and curious, he went downstairs silently to investigate. He was surprised to see Jack and his family there, and was more than a little nervous, but he didn't turn and run. Instead, he walked into the living room where everyone was seated, and sat down next to Jack on the sofa. "Hi," he greeted them. His voice croaked a bit from when he was crying earlier, but it didn't waver. Jack turned in shock to stare at Ianto. "Ianto?" "Hey Jack." He moved closer to the Scottish boy, and pulled him into a tight hug. "I missed you," he whispered, tears beginning to fall again. Jack returned the embrace, tears of his own flowing freely down his face as well. "I missed you too," he whispered back.
The women got up and moved to the kitchen to give the boys some privacy, and talked through the plans for the near future in quiet tones. Ianto and Jack sat together on the couch, holding each other close. For a while, neither of them spoke, just relieved to be able to hold the other one close again. Soon Jack's curiosity started to get the better of him, and he couldn't help asking Ianto what happened. But first, he did something he had been dying to do for many years. He pressed a soft kiss to Ianto's lips, and smiled when he felt Ianto return it.
"Yan-Yan, before you tell me what happened, I have to know. Do you want to repair our relationship?" He pulled back slightly from the Welsh boy, and gazed into his piercing blue eyes. Ianto couldn't help smiling at the old nickname. "Yes, Jack, I'd love that very much. And I'm so sorry for shutting you out and pulling away." "Hey, none of that. I completely understand. I'd have probably done the same if I was in your position. Are you okay with telling me what happened with stinky old Mr. Pine?" At that, Ianto giggled, and Jack laughed with him. It seemed their relationship was on the mend, and he could feel his broken heart healing. Ianto, for his part, felt his broken heart mending too, and he relaxed into Jack's embrace.
After a long silence, Ianto began to speak, and detailed everything Mr. Pine had done to him, from his direct targets. As he spoke, Jack's hold tightened around Ianto, he felt a heaviness in his heart for the boy he loved, and anger towards their despicable teacher. By the time he finished, he felt tears pricking at his eyes. "Jack, I know he targeted you too. What did he do to you?" Jack told him, and when he finished, Ianto pulled him into a tight embrace. The two held and comforted each other. "Hey Yan? What stinky Pine said about you being the weaker of the two of us - that was a load of crap. You went through all his shit, and still didn't break. Even though you withdrew, you still stayed strong, and that is the opposite of being weak. I'm proud of you, Yan." He pressed a kiss against Ianto's head.
It was a while before either of them spoke again. "Hey Jack?" "Yeah Yan?" "Please don't be mad, but I haven't opened any of the birthday presents you gave me. They're in my closet, still wrapped." "I can't be mad for that - I haven't opened the ones from you," he admitted. "How about we open them together tomorrow?" Ianto smiled. "I'd like that."
Jack relayed to Ianto what the women had been discussing about their school situation. "We have a break from school for this week while they put things in motion, and then Auntie Alice is going to homeschool us in my house until this is all resolved." "Sounds like a good plan." After that, for the next couple of hours, they just held each other on the couch, content to be in the other's arms once again after so long.