5
Jack couldn't wait to see Ianto again and he was pleased to find him in a store Jack was already creeping about, the soft tone of voice not present as Jack heard anger in the man's voice. He turned the shelf to find Ianto in the same space as Yvonne, her face so close to his she might be about to kiss him.
"I do not care" Ianto said in a cold, slow growl "Fuck off."
She looked scandalized, clasping at her chest and looking around wildly for someone who can defend her, Ianto still standing stock still. She then saw Jack and her face changed, looking between the two men before she made a rude noise of contempt and took off down the aisle to exit stage left and disappear. Ianto turned to Jack and sighed "Good timing."
"Was that about me?" Jack asked with shock.
"Yes. Apparently she is the one who needs to warm me off you. A good looking, single parent like you. A widower no less, does not need a little freak like me simpering all over him" Ianto said in a weird high pitched voice, complete with hand flapping. "I shall corrupt you to the dark arts of… buggery!"
Jack laughed.
"Bitch" Ianto said under his breath, then a blinding smile appeared "But you know… it ws nice to think I could hook such a catch."
"Well… if it's any consolation… you are definitely making me want to nibble your bait" Jack winked and Ianto stared at him with wide eyes, and then roared with mirth. A real laugh A deep rolling bellow that filled Jack with delight.
Then voices were coming closer, Yvonne returning with who must be the poor store manager, his face showing total despair like Hades was opening up.
"Hello Harry" Ianto said calmly.
"Mister Jones."
"Him!" she snarled "He attacked me and he…"
"No he didn't" Jack said with a raised eyebrow "You were the one snarling and spitting in his face while you jabbed him with your finger. You do know spitting is assault? Right?" Jack asked.
She gaped.
"This is the third time this month you've been … attacked… in here Yvonne" Harry said with the same look of desperation all must have sooner or later in this woman's presence "shall we check the cameras again? This time… I might call your son in as well. So he can hear the audio as well?"
Her face changed to one of pure horror as she raised herself to her full five foot eight. "You know what? I think … I think is shall not press charges this time. Just… bar him or something!"
"Or something" Harry repeated "You know… I have a good mind to bar you!"
She gaped, spluttered and then took a deep breath to say something, Harry pulled a phone form his pocket "Right… a call to Danny it is, is it?"
She deflated, then stormed from the store as Ianto breathed out. Jack had not even been aware that he had been holding his breath and Jack looked at him with surprise, seeing tht he was slightly shaken.
"Sorry. I hate confrontation" Ianto said as he rubbed his hands on his pants.
"She will be pissed but the threat of Danny usually makes her back down. Gay ya know… gay as a fucking unicorn that one. She tries to hide it, makes out he is an actor. An entertainer. Sure, a drag queen!" Harry laughed "Don't you worry. One phone call telling him his mother is being homophobic again and he will go No Contact again. She will not risk that. Still in her own little world of entitlement that one."
"I've never met him" Ianto said to Harry and Jack with interest.
"He's not been back in years. She goes to the city and tells everyone it's to visit with him but I personally believe it's to beg him to forgive her for reacting badly when he first came out. The whole… burn in hell you satanic lover… or words like that." Harry rolled his eyes, then he sighed softly "Actually … I hear that he and his partner are about to adopt and she is terrified that she might not be allowed to be Granny."
"Well, can't blame him if he wants to keep his child away from her, not if she is going to be rude about it" Jack agreed then felt shock as he started to gossip with Ianto and Harry. It seemed so normal. So easy and simple to laugh and talk like his world had not been ripped apart and was now held together with sticky tape.
Ianto was somehow plastering over those cracks, one smile at a time.
Man.
Jack knew sugar paste was sweet but this guy… this guy is straight off the sugar cane.