51
The leaves skittered across the sidewalk and into the darkened alley, as did the pair of immaculately polished shoes, followed by some combat boots that were of a large footed man. The dark blue pants hugging the ankles gave a clue who it was long before the Great Coat flew around the corner like a cape.
"I will do the talking, we have history" Jack said as he fell back into step with Ianto who seemed to be moving faster than usual. This place spooked him too.
Ianto did not answer as they reached the large black door that appeared out of the brickwork like some ominous invitation to hell. Ianto stopped walking as Jack stepped forward and rapped his knuckles on it with a cheerful temp, then with a grin added two more taps. Ianto rolled his eyes at him, and then grinned back. How could you not when a puppy wags its tail so happily.
The door swung open without the creaky hinge you would expect, making jack giggle nervously as he glanced at Ianto who merely stepped over the threshold to disappear into the darkness.
Jack had a choice to either stand there like a moke or go after him. Bugger. Into the black we go.
Jack could not help but reach out to seize the back of Ianto's coat, knowing he looked like a little boy chasing after his daddy but he did not like the dark. As they entered a room filled with candles that flickered softly, Ianto slowed and then drew a bag of jelly beans from his pocket, placing them on the table.
A little finger pulled the bag open to peer in and then the child made a noise of surprise "all black?"
"Yes."
"Lovely, no one else remembers my love for the black ones"
"You are very welcome Faith" Ianto chose a seat even though he had not been offered one and Jack took one quickly, trying not to look too discombobulated. Usually the meetings with this one were different, it seemed that the Kingsmen know this entity as well as he does, on a different level.
"So… the cards show the knight… hello Captain… the castle which is the Kingsmen of course… then we have a maiden… hmmm. Is that me perhaps?"
"Yes." Ianto said softly and she looked at him with interest, then turned over another one.
"Death."
"Oh goody, I am there too then" Ianto said blandly.
She did something Jack had never witnessed before, she giggled softly at the joke as she shifted in her chair and turned over another card. Jack had never seen her continue to flip cards like that and he watched as Ianto blinked slowly, like for him it was normal.
"You have acquired a child of your own? I cannot be two cards and if it is upside down like this… it's a boy?"
"Yes."
She sat back and drummed her fingers as she stared at them, then impulsively flicked another to show a man on the ground with swords plunged into his back. "Oh dear, someone had pissed you off."
"Pigsy."
Her hand had been reaching for the deck and froze as she looked from the deck to Ianto "Him?"
"He poked me. I intend to show him why one should never poke a dragon." Ianto warned her "I may get a little… flamey."
"Oh, so that is why you are here" she grinned as she sat back "I am in. Even if the cards did not tell me to help… for that piece of crud…. what do you need?"
"Where, when and why."
"I will send word."
"Thank you sweetie and I love that necklace… this bracelet might match" Ianto rose and dropped a heavy gold bracelet on the cards with deep red rubies encrusted on it. She gasped with delight as she scooped it up and held it to the light.
"I have not seen this in a long time. This was one of hers."
"Yes, payment for something. Now payment once more"
Jack did not understand a single thing but trusted Ianto who now rose and reached out to take the hand of the child, leaning over to kiss it softly "As always Faith, it pleases me to see you well."
"Thank you Captain and you… oh and Captain? Hold fast your sword, these in the man's back were stuck there. Do not lose your own grip in the battle."
"Why is Ianto death? Do you not have a dragon one?" Jack pointed at the deck and she giggled.
"Ianto is more than just a dragon. He is a harbinger of death. If this all goes down, keep your mettle and stick close to him if you want to see some real dancing" she smiled, snatching up the bag of sweets and running from the room, slipping behind a tapestry to disappear.
As they walked out Jack glanced at him "Black ones?"
"Aniseed. She likes anything like that. Liquorice too, but I was after a specific thing." Ianto explained.
"What was it?"
"Like I said. Where, when and why."
Jack gave up asking as he knew all too soon it would be relieved.
.
.
It was almost 24 hours later that a little bouquet of flowers was delivered to the tourist office and Ianto looked at the Forget-me-nots with open pleasure, removing the card to open it.
An address, a time and also the last line which said Poker Game.
Ha.
Gotcha.
Where, when and why.
Jack watched as Ianto lit up with delight over the card as much as the flowers and felt a little jealous actually. He did not smile like that for him ya know.
Mind you… Jack had not presented a target like this before, with flowers no less.
Maybe he had to revise his wooing techniques with this man.
