9

Ianto was walking along the corridor in the twilight, liking this time of day. He entered the apartment, calling out as he entered and he listened for Emilie's little squeal of reply but there was none.

Weird.

"Jack?"

Ianto canted his head, removing his hat to flick onto his chair as he passed and he entered the bedroom that was Jack's to find the man folding clothing into a suitcase.

"Jack?" Ianto said with confusion "What… what's happened?"

"A lot… too much... not enough…" Jack said then stopped packing to turn and face Ianto "You should have told me. Not the blathering of last night….really… the real story."

"Told you... what?"

"You! The Reliant! Remember that? The ship that was sent into battle without shields? Everyone dead? The entire fucking crew! You were not just there….you were not just communicating with the Reliant" Jack was yelling now as he stepped closer to Ianto "You know… the ship my brother DIED ON! YOU… YOU GAVE THE ORDER!"

Ianto looked at him with horror "Jack… there are things you don't know…"

"Oh I know Ianto. I fucking know… you would be surprised what I fucking know" Jack was shaking with rage and Ianto took a step back, his confusion raw as he looked around as Jack added "I listened to you... then listened to your voice."

"You're leaving me? No chance to mount a defense?" Ianto asked in a small voice "I told you… I told you the official statement was not the true story… I thought we had a connection."

"For fucksake, listen to yourself. It's only been ... what... a month? Two? I don't belong to you, we are not a couple.. this was… a mistake. You were a good fuck, it was fun but now I know ….yeah… you were a pretty good fuck but a fuck never changes things" Jack pushed past him and Ianto slammed back into the doorframe to yelp, then step aside. "What was it you said? Nice deflection?"

"Jack, please… we need to talk about this. That was what you were told… the official report is not the real story… I took a hit for the betterment…"

"Shut up" Jack snarled, coming in to stand close "You broke my heart. You know that? First when you killed my brother and again when I… I was stupid. I have a child to think of, this... is too hard!"

"What?" Ianto blinked, still so confused he couldn't think straight "Jack…"

The door slammed, no mean feat with these hydraulic hinges but Jack managed it and Ianto sank into a chair with genuine sorrow.

Jack was right.

Ianto had lied to him… to everyone.

He had been ordered to.

.

.

Ianto was angry, so angry that he found it hard to speak as he went over the interaction with Jack. Fucking Hart. He had warned Jack… told him that man would be poison. Mad at himself for not saying the right thing, for not defending himself, mad at Hard who he knew told Jack the cover story and mad at the powers that be for deciding on that in the first place.

But it was for this.

Ianto looked at the wall and the detailed maps, information and photographs… turning to his team as they wrapped up the briefing, preparing for the raid in the morning.

"Remember" Ianto said as he stood to release them for their last night of madness before they stride into the Devil's Play Pen. Good men and women who were also called men in the collective… I mean… you do not want to challenge one as they can hit like a man to be sure. Loyal. They had been with him from the beginning, eager to take the hit and fake news on in order to get to this point… now they were gonna be righteous "Eat, drink and fuck… for tomorrow they all die."

They all roared as they raised their hats in salute to Ianto, their High Captain. For only the men the room with him knew the true stories, of course they did. They were a hidden elite crew called Ghosts for their undercover prowess who had been with him from the Academy. They went where no one else dared go… to hell with tiptoeing where angels fear to tread… this crew? They stomped in the Devil's footsteps.

Everyone moved to do their last minute checks as Ianto strode from the room with more pride then he felt. At least… at least with Jack gone there were no distractions. No one waiting for him, no one to mourn. Right?

He moved with some to a bar and sat drinking, why not. Why the fuck not. Hyper vodka flowing as more than one man covertly bought a drink for the man he saw as a god. The Devil himself.

Ianto threw back another drink then moved to leave, his hat pushed back on his head as he hummed softly, walking back to his forlornly empty apartment that he knew he would likely never see again.

He was almost there when he felt something and started to turn a moment to late as someone slammed into the back of him, sending him smashing into the wall and as he staggered back he felt the punch to his side that had him on his knees gasping for air as he was beaten, his training sluggish with the booze but he did start to fight back, connecting a few blows… then whoever it was, was gone. Ianto sat stunned and confused, coughing as he staggered to his feet, his hand coming away from his side with blood and for a moment he stared at his hand, the confusion raw as he looked down and saw it seeming into this clothing.

Fucking Hyper Vodka.

Stabbed.

Some fucker just… really?

Then he felt it, the swish against his cheeks that was so foreign so weird and he reached up to his head and felt it. His blood running cold as he felt it. Hair against his cheek.

His tail was gone.

Whoever had attacked him from behind like a fucking coward had not only incapacitated him with a cheap shot… while he was addled they had neatly sliced off his pride and joy.

His pride…joy… and strength.

Ianto stood totally empty now as he saw that once again the Gods were showing him his worth to them. Taking everything, shaking him to the core and telling him that above all else… he is just meat.

Ianto left his hat where it had fallen on the ground, walking past it and down the corridor.

Time to leave all of it behind.