32
Ianto was waiting for him, something that startled him as he thought he had worked him out by now. Jack was right, he needed a frickin' bell.
"Captain"
"Shit, you fit those jeans better than trousers, you should wear casual things like that more often" he leered, Ianto's eyebrow rising.
"Tell me something Captain" Ianto said gently as he stepped forward, his eyes almost hypnotic, "What do you fear?"
"Failure" John said automatically, "I fear failing those I love."
Ianto nodded, "I thought so."
"Tell me something" John countered and Ianto hummed softly, "What do you fear?"
Ianto smiled as he looked down at his feet for a moment then he looked back into John's eyes, "Rejection I guess. I fear being seen."
"Being seen doesn't automatically mean being rejected" John frowned as he felt the heat coming off the man, "Why think that?"
"You've not seen me" Ianto grinned.
"I have, you were magnificent" John laughed, "That was amazing. Dragone."
"No" Ianto snorted, then considered, "Yes."
"Vampyre?"
"No" Ianto smiled softly, "Yes."
John considered as well, those pools of liquid gold pulling him closer, "Other?"
"No" Ianto breathed softly on his face, "Yes."
"What are you?"
"Many things. Nothing. Either. The spaces between the darkness? There are many versions of me, none of them me but other versions like… copies? Each an original based on something else like … you draw a picture over and over again none are exactly the same" Ianto explained.
"No." John stepped back as something whispered in the back of his mind, something that should not be able to breach his firewalls, not walls even Jax could not….something searching him.
Sigh.
John stopped moving as he regarded the creature who was examining him with open interest now.
"You do not see me, not really. None do. Jax comes the closest anyone has and I was so afraid to show myself" Ianto sat now, showing John he was no longer in any danger, Ianto had decided.
"Wow" John shakily chose a seat as well, "Jax knows?"
"He knew the moment he touched me, the first time we coupled he saw the hint of me and was not afraid. To be relieved was an understatement" Ianto laughed softly, now waiting for John to say it.
Jack did instead, startling John even as Ianto blinked slowly in acceptance.
"Chimera."
"Yes." Ianto looked over at him, "No."
Jack laughed as he walked over and settled on the arm of the chair, his arm thrown across the back in an open display of ownership. "You are a cheeky little enigma."
"Each of us is different, a mix of whoever and whatever touched us during our growth why I had hoped Joshua might prevail…why his turning hurt so much I thought I might die" Ianto leaned against Jack, letting his head rest against him, accepting the ownership without a second thought.
A couple.
"Chimera are unique, each one different" Jack agreed, "We were taught about them at the Academy. We were told they were stuff of myth and legend."
"And the legend?"
"That they were once friends to man, live and loved amongst us but we betrayed them, used them and they withdrew with despair at our childish and selfish ways" Jack said as John nodded to show he remembered.
"They were said to be…." John's voice petered out as he stared at Ianto for a moment, "you know … maybe your blood is what he needs. Did you try a transfusion when he was turning?"
"What?" Ianto was still, not even breathing as he stared at John.
"Well, Chimera are enigmas because no two are the same right? They alter and change according to what they interact with so … if there were more you than her maybe he would resist the Other?" John was leaning forward now, "do you think?"
"Owen" Jack rose, "I'll go get him."
Ianto tapped his finger on the chair "I knew you would be an interesting addition to the family Captain Hart."
"Please, I think we are past the games" John snorted, "its John I prefer."
"As I chose Ianto" came the sage reply before Ianto rose to go after Jack and John was left staring at the empty chair.
"Chose?" he whispered, "chose? Who are you?"
There was no reply but really he hadn't expected one.
Chimera do not explain themselves to anyone.