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Ianto's punch sent Jack to the floor with a huff of pain.
"Alright Cariad?" Ianto grinned down at him.
Jack took the offered hand and Ianto hefted him up to his feet. Checking Jacks chin, which would surely bruise, Ianto made a comforting noise and while Jack as trying to unruffle his feathers Ianto did a nice leg sweep and Jack was down again.
"Nicely done Mr Harkness-Jones" the instructor called out across the dojo.
"Thank you sensei" Ianto enthused, again pulling his husband to his feet. "Oh Cariad, I'm having so much fun! This was a wonderful idea."
"Ah, god. Glad you like it baby, ah shit" Jack hobbled back onto the mat and again took the position.
After some mind blowing, reaffirming sex the night before, Jack had learned a thing or two in the dark. Ianto was afraid. The thing with the Halletts had shaken him up and Jack offering to do some self-defence with him had quickly morphed into the beat-down he was currently suffering.
Jack strikes again! Note to self – you married a Hoodlum idiot!
Ianto's face was open and shining with joy, that made up for the bruises Jack knew he would sport tomorrow.
He had almost lost him. First, the day they met when he was shot. Then came the fire that made him realise he was truly in love with this creature. Then the mad thing that drugged and kidnapped him, then came the fall and Cancer. Oh, let's not forget all the times he deserved to lose him due to his own stupidity.
All those times, Ianto had been defenceless against his foe. Seeing his body move and undulate as he took up a fighting stance filled Jack with pride. He now knew that in hand-to-hand combat his husband was a force to be reckoned with. My force, Jack grinned.
Another leg sweep but Jack was ready and blocked, only to find himself staring at the ceiling when Ianto grabbed him by the raised leg and calmly put him down.
"Wow, you're a natural at this Mr Hark …"
"Call me Ianto, please" Ianto turned and gave the full Jones charm to the instructor who went gooey. Jack wondered if he should be jealous but was too hurt to care as he struggled to breathe.
"Cariad?" Ianto looked down as his writhing husband with concern. "Was I a bit rough on that one?"
Jack smiled weakly as he tried to sit up and Ianto offered the hand for the umpteenth time that afternoon. This time, when hefted up Jack gave a low moan.
Now Ianto was worried and began fussing.
Gentle kisses and Ianto slid his hands under his shirt, Jack gave a low moan as Ianto touched his ribcage gingerly.
Ianto raised the shirt and the instructor clucked his tongue. "A bit rusty there Captain? Forgot how to fall?"
Jack looked over at the small Asian man with open anger, obviously he had forgotten to protect his bloody ribs. He then looked at Ianto and melted.
Biting his bottom lip, Ianto was on the verge of tears as he looked at the bruising on Jack's ribcage.
"It's OK Ianto" Jack reached for him and pulled him into a hug, "Nothing's broken and I probably deserve a beat-down for the last few months of stupidity."
"I didn't want to hurt you" Ianto whined, ah shit.
"Oh god, you didn't. I fell wrong, that's all." Jack looked into his face and used his thumbs to catch the first tears and then kissed him gently, "I'm getting old and soft. Damn, we both needed the tune up."
Ianto smiled and sighed as he let Jack pull him into another hug.
Jack knew he was rattled, these public displays were usually avoided and he felt bad for forgetting to protect himself better. As for Ianto, god he was good.
They headed for the locker room and a hot shower, Jack lamented the fact it would be separately and grinned again as he wondered if Gray knew how ninja-like his husband could be.
Bet he could put the smart arse martial arts trained Gray down too.