75
Jack stood waiting for the vessel's ramp to touch the ground before stepping onto it and it immediately started to lift off again, Ianto's face shining with glee as he motioned for Jack to follow him.
"You see, they need another body, well you know, another member of the team now that this idiot got himself speared!" Ianto said as he motioned at a huge Predator sitting in a reclined chair being seen to by another one with some sort of powder.
"Oi! Up yours Rummer."
Jack was shocked to hear a cockney voice from it that sounded quite Owen-like and realised this was why Ianto was treating it like that, already bonded to it as a friend.
"Heddor, you know you can't fight with a hole in you, come on" Ianto was still arguing with the thing twice his size…at least and Jack watched its hand swipe at him menacingly as Ianto slapped it and leapt back.
"You two behave or you have to go to separate rooms" Maddy said as she wandered though the cabin, "Rumtuck's mate will think us unprofessional."
"How many battles have you been in!" a small blue Predator asked, obviously juvenile as it had shiny armour that seemed brand new.
"Lost count" Jack shrugged with a smile, "Lots? Never count, makes it too real then. I don't know how many kills either, hundreds, probably thousands. Don't cont."
"My Cariad doesn't need to count crow" Ianto said as he removed the tail barb from his belt and handed it to Heddor who looked pleased with the offering, "He is the greatest prize and he is mine."
Jack was touched by that.
"Well, does he have armour at least?" the blue one asked waving a hand at the Great Coat.
"No" Ianto said calmly as he peered at some sort of alien schematic even Tosh would not be able to read, "Jack just needs a direction to head in, then stand back so you don't get splattered too much."
"One time" Jack swung to glare at him, "I forgot to warn you I was about to explode the Krillov…one time and you still go on about it."
"I liked that suit" Ianto slammed his hands on his hips as he squared off with his mate, "You know I had only just got it, first day on. I told you I didn't want to go but nooooooo, Owen was busy with some Traxidorion autopsy and Tosh was ….compiling and where was Gwen?"
Ianto looked at the ceiling as if considering, like he didn't know this argument by now, "Oh yeah, Gwen's nails were not dry yet so you make me."
Jack opened and closed his mouth as he struggled to find a defence.
"It's OK Ianto" Ianto said in a gruff American accent "You can just stay in the SUV just a bag and tag, heh heh."
"I do not sound like that!" Jack spluttered.
"Then its…bring me the box, and then it's… kick it over, then it;s…. damned thing bit me finger off…then it's ….SPALT!" Ianto shouted as his hands flapped over himself, "Viscera all over it, wool. Bloody hand dyed wool. The stench never came out"
"I got you another as I recall" Jack suddenly remembered.
"Still wasn't the same" Ianto sniffed, "I always warn you if I am about to explode someone, do I not?"
"I said sorry Jack pouted, "Gods, it's not like I explode them all the time."
"Well, try not to today for Godsake" Ianto sighed, "I talked them into letting you come for a hunt. Make me proud and kill something, you are good at that. Killing things."
Jack grinned as he squared his shoulders, then watched a huge green tinged Predator walk though dragging a dead Alien by its tail.
"Ignore him" Ianto said casually, "He's fucking showing off. His only kill for the day, probably wants a picture to send his kids. Soft tit."
The other Predators sniggered as they agreed and Jack blinked as one hit Ianto hard enough to send him smashing into the console. Ianto bounced off and thumped it back, the Predator grunting and then laughing as it moved away.
"Next time I will go for your balls" Ianto yelled, "Even if they are tiny, I am sure I can find them."
The vessel erupted with hoots and barks of strange laughter as Ianto postured and struck his crotch with his hand at the retreating Predator, its own hand doing the same chopping motion.
"That had better not be a mating gesture" Jack warned loudly, "Because I don't share my mate."
Now some nods as they agreed that one should not share such a good match, they are rare after all.
Jack knew he had done right as Ianto flanked at him, the smile soft and loving.
"Right Cariad" Ianto said softly, "Game time. There are three so we are all going to war in this fucking mess. A shipping Container Storage Facility. Try not to die, I hate watching but…well….Bloody hell, just die with honour a few times and they will be right scared of you. A big deal coming back from near death for these things. To see you do it more than once will scare the shit out of them. They will never challenge you again, OK?"
"If I have to die do it with honour. Check" Jack kissed Ianto and stepped back behind him as the warning klaxons started to sound and the lights flickered to battle red.
Jack felt so alive.
Time to fight.
Gods, he had missed this.