The Legend of Ianto Jones - Chapter Five
Standing like a deer caught in the headlights Jason could only stare as the handle turned. The knock had been too heavy to be Gwen's and who else knew they were here? A little part of his brain did register that they had knocked – a hit squad would not have been so polite.
An instant before the door opened Jason felt strong and familiar hands grab him from behind. One arm snaked around his abdomen while the other clamped a hand over his mouth, leaving him just enough space to breath. The room shimmered for a moment and Jason felt a warm power embrace him.
The door opened.
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FBI agent Harry Kendal sucked on a cigarette, his fifth of the day. At least he was cutting down was something he told himself was a plus about today. Nothing else was.
"You lost him?"
The man before him shrugged. "He was in there I tell ya – if dickwad 'ere hadn' knocked we would have the animal collared and boxed."
The 'dickwad', a shorter man in his late forties scowled and spat on the ground next to the first man's polished shoes. "He's one of Jean-Claude's pets – you know what that means and I see enough shit without walking in on some faggot orgy." As he spoke one hand absently touched the crucifix at his neck. "I heard they can be fast but how they got away through a closed window I can't say."
Kendal winced and stubbed out his cigarette. "You don't have to – I do and the boss won't like it. Shit! If we got that boy in custody he'd probably thank us." Harry thought back to the call he had received earlier today. It was the second of two to do with tracking down Jason Schuyler and apprehending him.
It was the FBI who wanted Schuyler in protective custody. They knew about him being ousted from Jean-Claude's inner circle and wanted him for themselves. A former intimate of the Master of the City would be a boon for the department. The knowledge he would bring was invaluable and he would probably welcome their protection since none of his former comrades would dare lift a finger in his defense.
First they to find him; of course once they did Harry would deliver Jason not to the FBI but to the person behind the first call. The FBI might reprimand him for failure but the other would kill him, slowly. Also the FBI wanted Schuyler alive – the other just wanted him as bait. Bait did not have to be alive.
He stepped away from the two agents and flipped open his phone. Dialling a number he spoke quickly and without preamble. "Tell our master the target has escaped but I have a good idea of where they'll be. Send everyone when I give the signal."
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Jason watched powerless as Ianto crashed back onto the bed. He was pale and breathing heavily – not in a good way.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Holding up a hand to shield his eyes from the sun Ianto smiled reassuringly. "That took a lot out of me – didn't even know I could do it."
Putting on some clothes Jason took a moment to understand what just happened. The two men had walked into the room and not even noticed Jason or Ianto. As he watched they had gone through ransacking the small wardrobe and side table. The whole time neither had spoken except to curse in irritation. Ianto had kept a tight grip on Jason but had removed his hand once it was obvious Jason wasn't going to make a noise.
Pulling on his t-shirt Jason then picked up the spare shirt Gwen had given him. "This should fit but I don't have any spare pants – you'd be too tall anyway."
Ianto just waved a hand as he pulled on the sweatpants. Standing he looked down on Jason who gasped. Colour had returned to the Welshman and his whole stance radiated power and seduction. Two things Jason was surrounded by on a daily basis yet this man still seemed to have that extra something that made it better; more irresistible. His torso revealed a smattering of dark hair that was intermixed with gold that glittered in the sunlight. Added to that were well developed biceps and a strong neck below a face that was at once both angelic yet severe. For just the barest of moments Jason thought he could see a covering of multicoloured scales. Like a heartbeat they pulsed around Ianto's body before disappearing.
He could not help but step forward and run a hand across the bare chest. Goosebumps followed his hand and Ianto smiled indulgently. "I did the same while you slept. There was just something about you."
"Something draws us together Ianto." Jason continued to talk and muse while he rand a hand over the other's chest, then arms and every exposed body part. "It is beyond what shape-shifters feel for each other. I have felt weird for a few days, since before you arrived. Ianto, what the hell happened to bring you here? Why does it involve me and-," he brought up his hand and used a finger to cover Ianto's mouth, smothering the other's response. "Thank god I am because meeting you is the best thing to ever happen to me."
The hurt in Ianto's eyes turned to determination and he grabbed Jason's hand. "We have to go see Jean-Claude. Clear this all up and let's see what he knows."
"But Ianto – what happened? How did you change from human to…whatever you are?"
The taller man hesitated then turned around slowly. Jason stared dumbly at Ianto's back for a few seconds before the light caught it just right and he could see two very thin scars running from shoulder blade to kidney.
"Oh shit," muttered the blonde as he recognised the marks. "This just gets more fucked up all the time."
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"Now remember what I said," muttered Jack to Owen and Toshiko. "Under no circumstances make eye contact and let me do the talking – stare at your shoes if you have to." He flicked Owen on the earlobe. "Especially you or you'll end up some side dish to a vampire buffet."
Owen wanted to argue but given the seriousness of the situation and what was at stake, he chuckled at his own pun, he made do with scowling and nodding. They had been led down a stone staircase with oddly shaped steps that meant you had to look down or trip. Probably a security measure he figured since the other option meant something big and nasty lived down here – not a pleasant thought since he had met enough big nasties in the last few years.
Finally they were ushered through several rooms, every one of them more opulent than the last. The one they stopped in was a hall with a cavernous ceiling but strangely it had modern furniture. A leather couch positioned between two stainless steel lamps and then several armchairs spread about. In every chair lounged people of varying amounts of looks and clothing. The one constant was that they were all beautiful and seemed disinterested in the newcomers. In Owen's experience that meant they were ready to tear them apart in an instant.
Careful not to look any in the eye he scanned the room but saw no-one he could say was the famous Jean-Claude. Some were definitely vampires. Their stillness and pale features a giveaway. Others were shape-shifters since what human would remain in such company?
The long couch remained empty but it was not for them. If it had been Jack would already have sat down and put his feet up. Owen had learnt a lot by observing when Jack was serious or not. His life often depended on it; at the moment Jack was very serious. The man himself stood in the classic Jack Harkness pose; legs slightly apart with arms crossed but ready to draw at a moment's notice. So much for this Jean-Claude being a friend of Jacks.
Anita, who had escorted them in just gave Jack a sardonic look and planted herself on the couch. She smiled coyly and patted the place next to her. "Come on Jack – Jean-Claude told me you love expensive things."
"I'll stand thanks." He said curtly and made a show of scanning the room. "Last time I saw JC he was one of the lackeys and by the way you sit there I'd say nothing has changed."
The whole room became charged all of a sudden. Nobody moved but Owen could sense the malice building from all the creatures around them. Speaking about their master in such a way would naturally anger them; which was why Jack had done it of course.
Laughter flittered across the room and it seemed to surround Owen and whisper in his ear. He could not make out any words but he was all too aware of his sudden arousal. Fear and intimidation he had been ready for but this was just disconcerting. Owen could tell by Tosh's expression that the same thing was happening to her. Jack still had on his 'give nothing away' face.
The laughter stopped and was replaced by a silken voice. "Captain Jack Harkness." The accent was French yet he held on to the 's' like he was rolling it around in his mouth. Which made Owen think of rolling things in his mouth and only added to his discomfort and rising lust.
"You call for a favour and my whole city erupts in chaos. How typical."
"I do what I can JC, now lets gets down to it – my boy is missing and so is yours. That means we both have a problem."
It was noticeable to Owen that Jack did not use Ianto's name. Maybe using it would push Jack over the edge or maybe he just didn't want to give too much away. Apparently these vampires could read you like a large print book. It made such meetings pretty damn hard and was probably why Jack was adamant that Owen and Tosh remain silent.
There was a rustle of movement and then Jean-Claude was sitting next to Anita on the couch. Who else could it be thought Owen? The man, or vampire, was dressed immaculately in white and black. His white pants were skin tight and left nothing to the imagination. Knee high black boots were matched by a black silk waistcoat that covered nothing but bare skin. The guy, whatever he was, was certainly good-looking. Beyond good looking and made everyone else in the room seem dull by comparison.
Jean-Claude put a hand to his chest. "Missing? I do not know what you mean mon ami."
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"This is where you live?" asked Ianto incredulously and ran his hands over the stone wall. They were in Jason's room under the Circus of the Damned. The headquarters of the Master of the City and apparently the one place where Jason ought not be, but had to be in order to clear everything up.
"Yeah." The blonde had got them here through a series of false doors and very narrow passages; apparently known only to him and a select few. It had been risky since Jean-Claude knew he might use them and have them guarded – but there had been no-one. Not even in the corridor outside or the rooms next door.
Jason did not elaborate but opened a side door that led to a bathroom. "I need a shower and so do you. Then we can find some proper clothes and go see Jean-Claude."
Ianto sighed. A shower would be good and it would be helpful to be wearing something not stolen or too small. Still the risk was high. "Are you sure? We could just leave town and catch up with Jack later – he'll look after us."
Running water told him Jason was already in the shower. "Up until a moment ago I might have agreed," Jason called over the flowing water. "But come and join me and don't forget to close the door."
Shaking his head at the stupidity of fooling around at a time like this Ianto did as he was asked. It may be stupid but the thought of running water and Jason's body was impossible to resist. As he closed the door two suit bags swung on the hook and looking closer Ianto could make out a label on the first. It simply read 'Jason' in a flowering red script.
He looked to Jason who had stuck his head out from under the spray. "That's his hand-writing. Couple that with the fact that my room is as I left it means I am not as abandoned as I first thought."
At Ianto's continued confusion Jason laughed easily. Ianto found his lust lurch at the pretty sound and he quickly removed the little he had on and jumped into the shower. It was the biggest shower he had ever seen. Put a couple of extra shower heads on the wall and it would be more suitable in a gym. The blond had already lathered his arms and torso and pulled Ianto in for some serious fondling. The hot water, combined with the soap and the extremely delectable Jason did the trick and Ianto put thoughts of master vampires and strange changes to the back of his mind. He did make a note however that he was thinking more like himself in the last few hours and less like a predator. That had to be a good thing, right?
Jason nibbled on an ear lobe and Ianto almost came there and then. "Christ Jason – at least let me wash first. I must smell like a cross between a wet dog and a hospital trash bin."
"And what's wrong with a wet dog?" grumbled Jason at just the right pitch to make Ianto's abdomen shudder involuntarily.
Refusing to give in Ianto reached around and grabbed the bar of soap. Starting at the top he worked down. From hair, face, neck and torso. As he breached lower Jason sat back against one wall and watched him lazily – and hungrily. His arousal was obvious but somehow he managed not to touch himself or Ianto. It seemed they were both learning a little self control.
Taking the opportunity to test that control Ianto put both arms against the wall, facing away from Jason, and let the water wash away the soap and dirt. He allowed his own senses to open up and luxuriated in the flow of water over flesh. It was something he had experienced almost every day of his life but now he could feel every drop over every hair. He could sense every temperature variation from even before it hit his skin until it flowed in rivulets down his chin and across his body. His whole world became the patterning of water flow and the pleasure it was giving him – that and he knew Jason was watching.
Just the thought of what Jason could see made images flick across Ianto's closed eyes; frozen images of himself from Jason's viewpoint. He was both amazed at this ability and unnerved. After all it was disconcerting to see your own backside from someone else's eyes. Shaking his head Ianto slowly turned as the last of the soap disappeared and he stared at Jason through the steam and chaos of droplets. Still able to sense the water Ianto stretched his sense further and added Jason's body to what he could feel. Both men gasped at the sudden intimacy. Still an arms breadth away yet both could feel the skin and texture and warmth of the other.
Jason stood and held out a hand which Ianto took. Neither moved any closer as Ianto used his sense to move over Jason like a lover's caress. In a way that was exactly what it was. Like having an extra hand, or four mused Ianto. Whatever he was doing Jason was learning quickly as Ianto felt an invisible caress from the other man. Working out how all this was possible was not as important right now as simply enjoying it.
He allowed his sense to scry across Jason's sensitive nipples and down his body to rest just above his cock. Jason followed suit and they smiled wickedly at each other.
"You first," prompted the smaller man.
"Oh no," answered Ianto. "I insist."
Neither waited a moment longer and enveloped the other's erection. Ianto bucked in the sudden elevation of pleasure as Jason worked him. Raising his head he started moaning as the motion quickly moved towards ecstasy. Their physical hands still intertwined as each widened their senses to include the entirety of the other's body. The result was enough to lock Ianto in place – he could not have moved to save himself. That and he would not have tried. Luckily he did not have to as the invisible caress from Jason brought him to climax. He vaguely felt Jason experience the same as he opened his mouth and roared. Jason's roar matched his own and the intermingling multi-toned noise was intense enough to vaporise the water around them and crack the basin mirror.
Collapsing Ianto panted heavily as the water and feel of Jason snuggling against him brought him back to some kind of normality.
"We have got to do that again," whispered Jason.
Ianto was not about to argue. Of course first was the little matter of sorting this whole mess out.
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Jack grinned at the master vampire. "You tellin' me you know where they are?"
Jean-Claude gave the Gallic shrug that Jack knew so well. "Where they are Jack or where they will be – which is more important do you think?"
"What you are doing Jean-Claude is testing my patience – and you know how that will end don't ya?"
The vampire's expression hardened at the implied threat and the tension in the room rose just a little higher if at all possible. At the last moment just before Jack was sure violence would break out a voice spoke from the back.
"Actually we're here – and have been for some time." It was Jason and Jack relaxed slightly. If his guess was correct then wherever Jason was then Ianto would not be far away.
The young blonde walked forward a little tentatively towards Jean-Claude. Several body-guards stood in front but Jean-Claude hissed and they jumped back. The vampire and former Pomme de Sang stared at each other for a while and no-one dared speak. Jean-Claude's words had been implicit – return meant death for Jason. Yet here he was standing, if a little hesitantly, before his master with some amount of confidence.
Jean-Claude made the first move and glided forward, embracing Jason before he could move.
"Welcome back… Jason." He used the man's name and not any nick name or vampire servant title. The moment was both trivial and momentous. Jack knew a little of vampire politics and it gave him a headache.
The next instant there was a rush of air and Jean-Claude was thrown back onto the couch. "Mine!" growled Ianto as he stood protectively in front of Jason. For some reason none of the body-guards attacked him as Jean-Claude stood and rearranged his clothes, somehow making it seem as if nothing untoward had happened.
Obviously Anita thought differently as she aimed a gun at Ianto and Jack could tell by her stance that she was ready to shoot.
"No!" shouted Jason and moved to block her aim. "No guns Anita – Ianto is a friend, just a little over protective."
"Jean-Claude?" muttered Anita. The Master Vampire touched her arm and she visibly relaxed and lowered the weapon.
"Next time Jason explain the rules to your friends before bringing them in," said Anita exasperatedly. She did move forward however and stared at Ianto quizzically. "You're not a lycanthrope but neither are you human." She touched him lightly but Ianto did not seem to mind. He was dressed in black leathers over a deep purple t-shirt. What Jack would not have given to see Ianto in such a get up in other circumstances?
The pants and jacket were perfectly fitted, probably due to Jean-Claude Jack knew. The jacket was shaped just right to accentuate Ianto's height and exaggerate his build. His hair must have had some kind of product because it sat differently to how he normally had it and glinted like it had shards of obsidian in it. Dark eyes flashed in Jack's direction. He so desperately wanted to know what Ianto was trying to convey to him but Jack just could not understand. It was Ianto but yet not Ianto.
Anita stepped back. "What is he Jean-Claude – I know you know or we wouldn't have gone through this whole charade?"
The master vampire walked up to Ianto slowly. One of Jason's hands encircled Ianto's arm and he allowed the vampire to inspect him. "He is something of legend ma petite."
The small woman sighed heavily. "I thought we'd met everything already."
Chuckling quietly Jean-Claude almost went to touch Ianto's face but stopped short at his fierce glare. "Not this."
Jack's patience was wearing extremely thin and he had no time for any more games. "Spill JC, what's happened to him?"
The vampire grinned in pleasure, clearly enjoying the moment. "Many descriptions may suffice but the best and most accurate is also the most dangerous."
Ianto had also clearly had enough and grabbed Jean-Claude's hand in an iron grip. "What am I?"
Jean-Claude's eyes glowed a sky blue as he leant forward and whispered. "You know what you are, you can feel it – sense it."
"No," Ianto growled more to himself than others. Jean-Claude pulled away from his grasp and stepped back.
"Behold that of myth and old," he put an arm around Anita and let his eyes move across everyone in the room. "Ianto Jones," he announced with a flourish. "The Dragon."
Tbc…