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Ianto was waiting for the kids, leaning against the SUV as he looked at the rain clouds closing in.
Damn, it was going to bucket down before they got home. Those bloody dogs had better not…
Babbit was running towards him with tears streaming down his face and an ugly wail, his arms out for comfort and Ianto dropping to his knees and scooped his baby up with horror, reaching up to feel his hair.
"Oh Taddy" Babbit screamed, beside himself with grief as Ianto examined his hair.
"What happened" Ianto asked, on the verge of tears as all those loved curls were gone, hunks cut off.
"Dominic did it" Babbit cried brokenly, "Garen and Jacob held me while he did it, they said I was being a girl and should stop."
Ianto rose with him in his arms and strode towards the school, then stopped as he knew he was about to make both himself and his child immensely embarrassed with a scene.
Babbit didn't need that right now, Babbit needed reassurance and love.
Walter had walked out and stood with his mouth open, staring at the wailing child and Stephen had already turned, going back in.
The raised voices had Ianto turning to place the child in the car where Ton pointed at his head and burst into tears as well, his lovely curls not there for his fingers.
The headmaster was coming out with an enraged Stephen still in full Harkness rant, demanding justice, and the Heddlu be called if he was not allowed to thump the little bastards.
All he needed was a swishy coat.
"Language" Ianto said automatically and then glared at the headmaster as he stepped aside and the poor child could be seen sobbing.
"Ah" the man said softly, "Shit."
"I am taking my child home and he will not be back in your school until this is sorted, I also want the board of trustees and the school board's reactions to this and an assurance that transgender children are given the respect of any other child, I am also going to contact my local LGBT Rights Office for their opinion on this matter" Ianto knew he was ramping up and shakily took a step back to calm himself.
Blood pressure.
Calm down.
Ianto ordered the kids in the car and headed to the only place he could think of right now that would help.
The Torchwood Office was open and John was laughing as he leaned against Tosh's desk and Jack was regaling them with a story when the Spaceship screamed into a park outside and Babbit flew from the passenger door.
"What the fuck happened to your hair!" Jack roared as he opened his arms for his child.
"I don't care if I get in trouble, I'm gonna beat the shit out of them!" Walter was arguing with his Taddy as they followed Babbit it.
"Bullies!" Ianto spat angrily reaching for Jack as he shook with rage.
"Easy baby" Jack soothed, holding Ianto and kissing him as he saw angry tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Easy? Look what they did to my baby!" Ianto roared, "Fucking arseholes!"
Babbit was flopping in John's arms as John ran his fingers through the shorter hair and he glanced at Ianto, "What are we going to do? Where are his curls?"
"I think Tosh has started to get information, I want photos and video of this … this … assault and then I am taking him to get a haircut that is flattering!" Ianto declared, "My baby is beautiful, and always will be. I will make fucking sure of that!"
"Language Taddy" Walter said softly as he stroked Babbit's head.
"Oh god, I think I just outed our child as Transgender" Ianto gasped with horror.
"Good" John sat so Babbit could crawl into his lap, "Good. I'm proud of you. Oh god, his curls."
"What is Transgender?" Babbit whispered.
"That means you are a boy but also a girl, that you have different bits to what you feel inside," Ianto struggled to make it simple enough for the child to understand, "It means that you are my special little boy and also, inside, you are my beautiful daughter as well."
"Where's Stephen?" Jack asked, looking around and he saw that Stephen was standing by the SUV pulling faces at Ton though the window.
"My hair is all gone" Babbit wailed.
"No, no it's not. It's shortened but still long enough to fix." Ianto promised, "I know just who. He is an artist when it comes to hair and he will make you look pretty again baby."
"Taddy?" Babbit asked with big eyes.
"Yes my baby?"
"You do know I'm a girl, right. In here?" Babbit tapped his chest, "I'm a girly Babbit?"
"Honey I think I always knew you were special" Ianto assured him.
Babbit's sigh of relief broke Ianto's heart.
How long had he been hiding?
