43
Rex was still in shock at how quickly things had blown up, not to mention the small fact that several large Predators were currently standing in the front room of the house like they were waiting for cocktail hour.
Ianto wandered through and reached up to pat one of the monsters on the arm and he watched with incredulity as the beast leant down and Ianto kissed its cheek before moving on.
"Don't stare" Andy said softly as he powered past, "She doesn't like it."
"She?" he whispered, "How do you know it's female?"
"Because she's Ianto's" Andy snorted with a look of surprise, "That's Maddy. She's Ianto's one."
Rex blinked and looked over again, this time to find the creature calmly staring back.
Ianto was feeling tired and he settled on the bed in their room, rubbing the little bump that Gwen had seen. It had hurt that she had leered at him like that, had tried to harm his baby.
Was it so wrong that he felt such a rush of satisfaction when he thought of her body, lying broken at his feet?
Maddy had been so loving in her actions, cleansing his world of Gwen's stench.
Funny really, he had never thought of her as a smell before, but with his senses so heightened he now saw her as a swirl of rotten egg and sweet honeysuckle.
When the Predators had entered with boxes that wafted that scent he had felt physically ill, wanting them to go to the lowest level and vowing to never go near them. He now knew he was being silly and had apologized for his reaction, knowing she would forgive him as she did.
"Brother?" the voice was soft and he opened his eyes as he looked up at her. "You are unwell?"
He nodded silently, pouting as his eyes filled with tears and she reached out a huge finger to stroke a tear from his cheek, then swung from the room.
Then Jack was there, crooning and kissing as he scooped him into his arms and that scent that trumped all filled him up with goodness. The ocean. Musky and smooth with a hint of cedar. Jack.
Then Maddy came back to stand patiently waiting for something.
Ianto rose and followed her down through the levels and after a while his steps slowed.
"Maddy? How deep are we?" he asked, feeling Jack's hand tightening as they stared at a large metal door.
"This will be level four" she replied, "I took the liberty of adding some."
"Adding …" Jack gaped, then started to laugh softly, "Maddy, did you terra-form?"
"I felt the need. Some of this tech should never leave, never be seen. I have added eight levels so there may be a central room close to the epicenter of this world. Also, you need somewhere to spar, this place is to small for me. I cannot fight in such a space with you."
"Terra-forming Technology, you naughty girl!" Jack scolded, "I hope it's been better laid out than your usual thing, Ianto hates mazes."
Ianto glanced at Jack with confusion.
"The pyramids" Jack whispered, "They love tests."
"What?" Ianto snorted with shock as they stepped thought the door and into another world.
"This looks like something out of an alien movie" Ianto whispered, then laughed at himself, "Wow! Look at the walls!"
Not plain dirt walls, they were engraved with patterns, spirals and intricate little scenes.
"My world" she said pointing at a wall, "This is our mountain range and twin moons."
"Beautiful" Ianto sighed, "My child will play down here, touching these and knowing about this world."
"I would like to think I would be allowed to tell him of it" she said softly, "To think of him as family."
"Don't be silly" Ianto scolded, "Of course you are family. You are my sister, his aunty!"
Maddy nodded and bowed slightly as she watched Jack place his hand on the small of Ianto's back, soothing and strengthening.
What a good choice of mate.
Ianto then wandered into a room and stalled out with his mouth hanging open.
"A bathing room" she enthused as she followed them in, "I see that your kind like water and we usually bathe in it. I understand that your kind can too. The rocks are chemically reacting to each other. As long as they touch, the water is heated. Kick them apart for cold water."
"Oh my god, this is big enough for Andy's rehab" Ianto enthused, then he turned and threw his arms around her as he thanked her for her thoughtfulness.
As he turned back to Jack and began talking animatedly she took a moment to centre herself.
Her brother had hugged like that and for a moment ….
His eyes had shone with such a familiar love.
Rumtuck.
Her brother.
For whom she would die.
Ianto reached out and hooked her hand to lead her from the room as he explored excitedly.
She found the action endearing.
Yes.
For whom she would die.