"No problem, Ianto," Ticia said with a giggle. "I think he's cute." Ianto shook his head before turning back to go behind the counter. "How long have you been together?"
"Ages," Ianto said. "I met him in the most unusual way," Ianto peered around before whispering that he had been chasing Jack for days trying to get his attention. "But once we got started it was a bit of a whirlwind romance. Jack doesn't do anything subtly, as you can see." He leaned back against the counter and sighed. A twitch of the curtain to the back room showed him that Mrs. Trundle was still listening. "Swept me off my feet and the rest was history!"
"I'm dead jealous," Ticia admitted. "I wish I had someone like that."
"Well, we'll just have to play matchmaker and find you someone," Ianto told her. "Can't have a pretty little thing like you out on your own." Especially with people disappearing from this place, he thought to himself. She giggled at his comment. God, she looked so young to him. It was scary that someone like her could end up being the victim of some alien. He resolved not to let it happen.
"I am starving! How about you?" Ianto asked. Ticia nodded. "Why don't you go out and get us something and I'll mind the store. You did most of the work today waiting on customers, so now it's my turn." Ticia lit up, obviously looking forward to a break. Ianto gave her some money for lunch and she left to go grab them some food.
Ianto cleaned up behind the counter, though there wasn't a lot to do. Ticia did a good job of taking care of her area when she was working. He served several customers to came in for coffee and made another pot for the after lunch crowd. Ticia came back with a sack from down the street, and had bought them both sandwiches and crisps. They ate behind the counter and just chatted about things.
"Are you still in school?" Ianto asked once his hunger had been somewhat slated. She nodded.
"I'm a dancer," she said. "I'd love to go to London at some point and get in some shows there." She got a dreamy expression on her face and Ianto smiled.
"You should do it," he told her. "Do what your dreams tell you and follow them as much as possible. I bet you'd be fantastic in a show in London, too." She blushed at his compliment. "No, really. Just make a promise to yourself and keep it. Then you will always know that you tried your best. And I bet your best is pretty good."
"Why did you leave London?" She asked him. His face got serious for a moment and she wondered if she shouldn't have asked him.
"I was in an… accident there," he said reluctantly. "And my family was here, so it made sense to come home." He was pensive for a moment, obviously remembering something painful. Then he brightened considerably. "Still, if I hadn't come back, I never would have met Jack. That, I'll never regret."
"Oh, I'm sure!" Ticia laughed. The bell over the door rang and they turned to face it. The post lunch crowd was stopping back in on their way back to their offices. The two worked steadily through the day with Ianto restocking and doing the heavy lifting while Ticia served the customers. Ianto was amused at the comments he heard as he bussed the tables about how the quality of the place had gone up and that they would be telling their friends about it. Around three Terry showed up and Ticia told Ianto he should leave to get ready for his date. Ianto grinned. She seemed more interested in it than he was.
"Let me just let Mrs. Trundle know I am going," he said. Terry looked at him in surprise. Apparently it hadn't occurred to him to do that himself. Ianto went in back and looked around for the shop owner but couldn't find her. He went downstairs to the basement and called out. No sign of her. He did see some sort of flickering blue light coming through the plywood boarding up the back room, but he didn't think it was a good idea to check that without knowing where she was. He did take a photo with his mobile and hoped there was enough light to see. Maybe Jack would see something he hadn't.
He gave the roasting area a once over in case she came out but didn't hear anything, so after a few minutes of puttering around he gave up and went back upstairs. Ticia and Terry were talking so he went up to the counter.
"I couldn't find her. Could you tell her I left and that I'll see her tomorrow?" Ticia nodded. "Thanks love." He waved to Terry who had gone off to serve a customer and left the shop. It had started raining sometime during the day and he walked through the drizzle down to the quay. He took a roundabout route in case he was followed, and ducked through the pharmacy on Bute Street on his way back to the Hub. He was cold enough to jog across the Plass and over to the Tourist Center, certain he hadn't been followed. He didn't think Mrs. Trundle could keep up with him at that pace if she were following him. He dug his keys out of his pocket and let himself into the shack. Stepping inside, he locked the door and headed downstairs.
