26

Owen was making small noises of excitement as he flittered from one display case to the next, like a moth unable to choose a flame in a church. Toshiko was watching him like an older sibling begrudgingly watched a little one, rolling her eyes as she reminded him yet again to stop touching the glass.

"But it's a sword" he breathed, fogging the glass for a moment as he peered in.

"Excalibur" Ianto agreed, stepping in beside him "They say it is the real one but who knows. So much bullshit and hippy smoke aroid here at one point it might be a child's toy in there. We do not touch it … just in case."

"Really like the King Arthur tale around here right?" Owen canted his head as he squinted to see the fine writing on the blade "What it that?"

"Gaelic" a voice said and they turned to find a man motoring towards them in his wheelchair, his face calm even as Jack took a step back and raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Whhhhay now … I come in peace." Jack laughed, then they saw the chair was weaponized up the wazoo as the man pressed a lever and the two small gun barrels in the arm rests slid away. "Jesus wept … you were gonna shoot me?"

"Considered it ya bustard" came the gravelly response and Jack laughed, leaning in to kiss the old man on the cheek.

"Come now Ivy. Don't be a grump" Jack crooned and Ianto took a sharp breath in as he stared then he cleared his throat.

"Please tell me you were not lovers."

"Huh?" Jack looked over at him, still leaning over the chair, one hand in the old man's lap … definitely familiar territory as the upper thigh got a massage "What's that?"

"Jack. Did you sleep with him!"

"Oh bother. Just a couple of rolls in the hay boy" Ifan said softly "Don't tell me …. He got you?"

Ianto frowned a she glared at his grandfather and Jacks' pennies finally started to fall in the empty skull making loud tingling noises as he looked from one face to the other, the matching frowns too similar to be coincidence.

"Ifan. This… this is … no. No. Nope, no … oh dear" Jack sighed as he looked at Ianto with something akin to a kicked puppy "Come on now. There is NO Pendragon anywhere in your files. .. how was I supposed to know. Come on … Ianto."

"Grandy! Did you schlep my Jack?"

"YOUR Jack? Technically he was mine first" the old prick said with glee "You got sloppy seconds?"

"HEY!" Jack roared "I am not sloppy! Well … too much wine and… not …hey! Ivy!"

"Stop calling me that for fucksake. I am a bloody senior operative now. You know I hate that. Probably call Ianto here Yan or some shit!" the old man waved a hand at his grandson as he spoke and Jack frowned at him.

"I do not! I've not called him that since he thumped me for it at least…. Two years? Ianto? Two years since you thumped me for that?" Jack asked with a look of satisfaction like he was winning the argument.

"Yes sir. Two years since I thumped you" he sighed, and then added "For that."

Jack then cleared his throat and frowned "Well … of course there are other things but … well. You know I like a bit of slap and tickle some times. You do thump like a trooper. Didn't know biting was an option though. Now. Ivy … look here …ARGGHHHHH"

The old man ran over Jack's foot with a look of superiority in his face, heading for Ianto like Jack was not there "Listen here boy. It was a long time ago, drugs and booze were involved as were a lot of testosterone … before your mother was even a twinkle in me ball sack OK? He was a fling, something to tide me over on a mission and well … he was to bloody energetic for my liking. I mean … try this. Move that. Look … I found a banana … I couldn't stand his enthusiasm."

"GRANDY!" Ianto flapped his hands over his ears a he yodelled "NOOOOOO"

Toshiko was laughing as she followed suit and the old man laughed, cackling as he slapped at the chair's arms.

"Are we finished?" Eggsy asked calmly "Because… you know … saving the world and all that."

"Oh. Yeah, whatever" Ifan said as he backed up the chair and Jack leapt aside with a cautions glare. "Come on … follow me kids. And Jack."

"You know Ivy … I am older than you!" Jack muttered under his breath, knowing the old bastard could hear him "Ianto does know I have special powers."

"Special powers" Ifan snorted "You're not a fucking X-Man Jackie. And you are not the first nor will you be the last to have a touch of the Golden Goddess."

"Golden Goddess?" Owen asked as they entered a room "What does that…..holly fuck."

The room was stark white, clearly a static free environment with techs walking abut in lab coats, work stations and partitioned areas of clear glass filling each side of the long walkway.

"Come on. Let's see what is on that chip old man" Ifan said as he moved towards a side door.

Toshiko helped Gwen along as she gaped at everything as much as Owen was.

"Tosh … where are we?" Gwen asked softly.

"You know how the Hub is under the street?" Toshiko asked, "Well … think … under the Hub. Technically … we are under the bay itself."

Owen had stopped at a workstation near the door to stare at a quality piece of kit that was sooo shiny and Toshiko hooked his arm, pulling him away as he yelped "I wanna touch it!"

"Thant's what they all say" the old man chortled in the chair as Eggsy shook his head, turned at the door to bow the room and close it.

They were now in the inner sanctum.

And Ianto did not look happy to be there at all.