30
It was all set, London was on Monday so tonight, Saturday was the wrap party.
This gave Ianto Sunday to pack everything and he liked that just fine as he had not told the children yet, or Rhiannon. Gods. Shacking up for a dirty week away. His cheeks burned at the thought.
"Aye, aye you thinking dastardly thoughts there Yan?" Rhys asked as he slid alongside the man he had recognised as someone he knew outside of the series. Ianto turned from where he was waiting at the bar and smiled.
"Always Rhys, it's the Welsh standard to always be looking for a way to get another mug of Brains" Ianto answered and they both grinned.
"We miss you on the field ya know" Rhys continued, "You just stopped coming. You were a bloody power house and by god you can run. What happened?"
They went over and sat at the table with Gwen, Jack, Owen and Toshiko. There were some speeches underway so they could hear Ianto as he answered Rhys.
"My wife and I worked at Canary Warf. We were there the day of the attack. She died and I was…injured. I have never fully recovered and cannot play anymore" Ianto said as he lifted his mug and took a mouthful of beer.
"Shit, me and Gwennie watched that on the news. Bad business. Sorry to hear that mate, she was the wee blonde bit with the gob" Rhys said and Ianto choked as he laughed and nodded.
"You are Gwen met her a couple of times. Gwen liked her white fur coat, the faux rabbit fur. Gods, did you know she wore nothing underneath? It was our wedding anniversary and the cow flashed me, that's how you managed to fell me that day at training" Ianto smiled softly and Rhys roared with mirth.
"Roger, remember him? He told me and I didn't believe him. Christ. What a mad mare" Rhys chortled.
"She was" Ianto said softly, glancing at Jack, "Who would have thought I would fall for another jokester, aye?"
Jack blinked, then his face softened as he reached for Ianto's hand while saying softly, "I'll catch you. Whenever, wherever you fall love."
"Twypsn" Ianto whispered with his face flushing into a brilliant blush that had Jack's smile widening to a Cheshire Cat grin.
"Shit. Jonesy" Gwen said suddenly "You're the one that runs. Oh my god, I remember you on the team. Oh my god, you know us."
Ianto canted his head as he looked over at her, "Rhys, BB, Roger, Clyde and Wally. All teammates I went to school with Gwen. Yes. I recognised you at the first sit down but so much time had passed I knew you would not have remembered another grungy rugby player."
"I remember her" Gwen said softly now, leaning back, "Laughed like a man. Threw her head back and brayed. Always laughing and joking around. We joked that she would be my matron of honour. You left before me and Rhys got wed and I remembered that. Even tried to find you in the book to invite you, oh my god how could I not have recognised you!"
"Gwen, I was a different person then. W all were. It might have only been a couple of years ago but really…it's a previous life to this one. It's a wonder we remember our bloody names let alone the scant script lines they want inserted somewhere" Ianto assured her, "My best trick was always to be forgettable, wraithing about the place."
"Like a vampire" Owen blurted, then slapped a hand over his mouth as he started to giggle. Ianto looked at him and reached out to pull the bottle of beer back from him.
"Do I have to take your bot-bot away?" Ianto asked in a baby voice as Owen snorted and giggled, "You be a good boy or I confiscate the bot-bot? OK Owie?"
Owen nodded with mirth, his eyes dancing as Ianto glared, then let him retrieve the bottle, "Sorry. Fell out."
"I bet you say that to all the boys" Ianto purred as he leaned back and Owen started to snigger again with his head down as he tried to control his urge to laugh. Cheeky bastard.
"My papers were finalized" Toshiko said with delight, "We have our papers to stay. I want to start house hunting, will spend the next few weeks checking out possibilities."
"Make it local" a voice said and they swung to see their boss behind the table with a bottle of wine and some glasses, "We got papers too. Renewal. Season 2 is a go."
"No!" Jack breathed, then let out a whoop as Ianto looked around with shock.
"Well then, I have this great idea with Owen's character, will send you what I have so far, I have a few things written down already" Jack was gushing and in total geek mode so Ianto ignored the flapping hands and looked over at Toshiko who was smiling happily as she learnt there would be more money towards her new home.
"Jack and I are away next week but perhaps the week after we could come look with you, if you have narrowed down some choices we can come look and let you know our feelings. I have lived here my entire life and know the bus system and trains. I can tell you how close you are to schools, malls etc or how often the area floods in winter or such" Ianto offered, pleased for her and her face lit up.
"Really? Oh, I do need that. I don't care what they say, agents always 'forget' to tell you if it's a riot street" she giggled, using quotation marks.
"Well I can defiantly help you there, you see I was a Hoodlum in my youth a real 'rioter' ya see" Ianto used quotation marks as well and she grinned with glee "footy season always had a good punch up. I was a right wee bastard. I can tell you if you are in the way of a possible march. You do not want your garden fence broken or car vandalised during a clash. Believe me, we used to be vicious wee thugs, not much has changed."
"Yah" Rhys laughed as he nudged his wife, "This fella here was a right wee killer on the field, remember his tackles? Makes sense now."
The killer blinked slowly as he smiled at Rhys and Jack had an image of him attacking a rival rugby player on the field and tearing out his throat with those huge teeth, a snort of amusement escaping.
"Well, he can't play now in case he is injured. Can't turn up for work with a black eye or split lip" Jack said calmly, once in control of his amusement, "Continuity."
Ianto slowly turned his head to look at Jack and his smile became a blinder.
Gods he's gorgeous.
For a wee killer.