6.

"It's not much," Ianto said, switching on the light of the room in the attic. Ianto had told Owen once that he didn't know what Rhiannon and Johnny had planned to do with the room. The kids and parents had been sleeping on the first floor, where now Ianto, Owen and Mica had their rooms. The attic room had apparently already been an ongoing project of Johnny's, though, painted half yellow and half white – unfinished. Since their deaths, Ianto had used it as a storage for things he might want to give away as soon as Mica made a decision on the matter. Boxes with clothes and toys were piled in one corner. David's bed and closet had been pushed against the wall. The armchair, desk and shelf from Rhiannon and Johnny's room looked a bit out of place, not matching the bed or closet of their son.

Jack went inside and dropped one of his boxes on the bed. A small cloud of dust rose from he mattress. Owen handed him sheets. "You have your own bathroom at least," he said, nodding towards the door. "The shower's a bid dodgy, though. If you want to fix something, you can start there."

Ianto added, "And I'd appreciate it if you would be quiet after ten in the evening. Mica needs her sleep."

Jack rolled his eyes, draping his leather jacket over the chair. "Don't worry. I will be gone most evenings."

Owen frowned. "Where to?"

"I work in a club to earn a bit extra."

Ianto pulled a face. "Well, it's your decision on whether you manage to prepare for class."

Jack scoffed and sat on the bed.

"Do you need anything else?"

"I'm fine," Jack said.

Ianto nodded, turned away and went down the stairs. Owen looked after him but remained behind, checking to make sure that there were no leaks in the roof. Rain was still coming down, sounding loud up here.

"He needs a shag," Jack said into the quiet between them.

Owen snorted. "Are you volunteering?"

Jack smirked and seemed a bit relieved that Owen was sharing his joke. "Hell, no."

"Really?" Owen asked, leaning against the door jamb. "Because you keep staring at him when you think he isn't looking."

"I'm not blind," Jack said. "But I can't get over the fact that he's a straight-laced wuss."

Owen shook his head, becoming earnest. "The last year or so was tough on him."

"The last year or so was tough on me, too. Doesn't mean I get all high and mighty."

"No, you just developed a lovely personality."

Jack chuckled. "I had that from the start."

Owen smirked and stepped further into the room, tucking his hands into his jeans pockets. "I guess I should give you the obligatory warning."

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Which is?"

"Don't mess with him. His last boyfriend was an arse, he doesn't need another guy like that, especially now with the whole situation with his family."

"Don't worry. I won't touch him."

Owen sighed. "Now, if I could only trust you." With that he turned away and left, closing the door behind him.

xxx

Ianto didn't know how it happened, but when he came to school the next morning, he was listed as Jack's partner to take the 10b and Mica's class, the 10a, to the swimming pool – apparently because Mica's teacher Amy suddenly didn't feel well enough to go swimming. Ianto thought that Amy's illness might have to do more with having to go with the 10b … and maybe even with having to go with Jack. He wasn't exactly popular among the teachers either. His rude and distant behaviour didn't only come out in Ianto's presence. Being forced to go to the pool with him, though … Ianto took it in stride, knowing that Jack at least had some sort of control over the 10b and Ianto had some sort of control over Jack. Besides, the students usually all loved getting out of school and keeping them in check should be easier when they were having fun.

It turned out that he was right … for the most part. The students enjoyed getting out of school ... a bit too much.

Ianto blew the whistle, the sharp sound echoing through the tiled hall of the swimming pool, and pointed at Bernie and Jonah. "No jumping off the pool edge!"

They looked at him, laughed and jumped anyway. Ianto rolled his eyes and turned towards Carys and Annie, who were sitting by the side doing their nails. "And you both a have doctor's note?"

"Yes," Annie said, rubbing her stomach. "You don't know how it is, Mr. Jones, but I'm in so much pain."

Carys nodded and grimaced. It didn't look very convincing. "It's girl stuff, Mr. Jones."

Ianto turned away with a sigh, tugging his t-shirt into place roughly to vent some of his annoyance. "Everyone, please start swimming two rounds to warm up and then ..." He halted when he caught sight of Jack leaving the changing rooms. He was only wearing swimming trunks which were clinging to his legs from a quick shower, water droplets running down his toned chest. Ianto's mouth went dry and he quickly turned away, fumbling with the whistle to hang it around his neck and cursing himself for not making sure that Jack knew teachers usually didn't go bare-chested to these classes.

And certainly not wet.

"OMG," he heard Carys say breathlessly. "He's chung."

He had no idea what the word meant but he couldn't help but agree with her tone of voice. It took all of his control not to look Jack up and down when he turned back around and saw him approaching. He was afraid, though, that he couldn't stop the blush staining his cheeks.

Jack stopped in front of Ianto. "So, what should I do?"

Ianto swallowed and forced himself to look into Jack's eyes instead of staring at his chest. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He shouldn't feel so attracted to Jack, he was an arrogant, cheating arse. "Uh … just … keep an eye on everyone so nobody drowns." His eyes slipped downwards and he forced them up again. "And you can go and put a shirt on or something because we don't actually have to go into the water."

Jack put his hands on his hips. "Aren't we supposed to be role models?"

Ianto frowned, confused at the question. "Uh … yes. I mean ..." He yelped when Jack grabbed him around the waist and pushed him back a few steps. He only let go of Ianto to give him one last shove. Ianto fell into the water, but he immediately struggled back to the surface, looking up at Jack who was grinning down at him. Ianto coughed and climbed out of the water. His t-shirt stuck to his chest wetly and he was glad that he'd forgone the tracksuit bottoms and wore his swimming trunks instead. "You're such a jerk!" The words didn't come out with enough heat, though. Jack laughed and looked even more attractive with that bright grin lighting up his blue eyes and Ianto felt a dangerous fondness settle in his stomach.

Carys came to stand next to Jack. "Hey, Mr. Jones, the spiked hair looks great on you. Very lush."

Jack picked her up and threw her into the water as well. Carys vanished with a squeak, coming back to the surface quickly. "Mr. Harkness!" she screeched, outraged.

"Don't even start!" Jack replied. "You're here to do sports. You can shove that faked doctor's note up your arse. Now swim!"

"But-"

"Swim!"

She pouted and started to paddle away clumsily.

Ianto looked after her and then at Jack, wringing water out of his shirt. "So, that's your secret?" he asked. "You yell at them?"

"The worst thing you can do is try and coddle them. These kids earn respect with their friends for being tough, so you get their respect by being tough. Once you managed that, you can start and change their attitudes," Jack answered.

Ianto paused in trying to get his t-shirt as dry as possible. "That is the most intelligent thing I've heard you say until now."

"I know a thing or two about their mindsets," Jack replied and walked away to gather everyone at the head of the pool.

xxx

Jack decided that he actually liked teaching sports. It was something he was good at anyway and didn't require too much knowledge but mostly practice. He had always been more of a practical kind. He noticed Ianto watching him almost constantly, throwing a smile his direction ever now and again.

Jack found that he quite liked it.

When the class ended, he clapped his hands, getting everyone's attention. "Right, that was it. Go change and go home."

The students left the pool, splashing each other with water, chatting and laughing. Jack watched them for a moment, but got distracted when Ianto approached him, smiling tentatively. "I'd like to say thank you."

Jack frowned quizzically. "What for?"

"It's usually harder to get them to participate properly."

"You weren't so bad yourself," Jack said and it was true. It was obvious that Ianto loved his job and he had the patience of a saint, ignoring jokes and slights thrown his way as if he didn't mind or trying to explain why they shouldn't be uttered.

It seemed to be common knowledge at school that Ianto was gay. If Jack hadn't known before, he would certainly know now. Especially Bernie seemed fond of reminding him what he thought of it whenever he could. Jack had no idea why Ianto didn't defend himself but he couldn't help but develop a small form of respect for his dignity.

Ianto turned away and Jack's gaze was drawn down automatically, caressing the broad back and narrow hips to settle on Ianto's arse.

"Take that back!" someone yelled and Jack turned around, startled.

Bernie was pushing Jonah backwards.

"Fuck you!" Jonah answered.

Before Jack knew what was going on, Bernie had punched Jonah and then jumped on top of him. Their wet feet slid on the tiles and they fell, landing rather hardly.

Jack held Ianto back when he tried to intervene and approached the boys himself. "Hey!" he yelled, pulling Bernie off of Jonah and pushing him away a few steps, holding him back when he tried to attack anew. He was surprisingly strong. Jack had trouble keeping him in check. "Calm down!"

"He said that I want to shag her." Bernie pointed at Mica, who was standing near the changing rooms with a towel wrapped around her and seemed startled to suddenly be at the centre of attention.

Jack frowned. "So what?"

"As if, she's fucking ugly."

Mica's eyes widened and she ducked into the changing room. Jonah grinned, wiping blood off his lip.

Jack stared at Bernie. "Is that all?"

"Let me go!" Bernie demanded, pulling at Jack's grasp. "Let me go, you wanker!"

"Not before you've calmed down!"

"Not before you let go of me!"

"That's enough!" Jack pushed him further backwards, towards the pool. "I'm going to force you to cool off if you don't do it yourself."

Bernie pulled a disgusted grimace. "You're not allowed to touch me, you pervert! I know what you are!"

"Then tell me," Jack said challengingly, towering over him with his hands on his hips, "tell me exactly what I am."

Bernie seemed to see something in his gaze that scared him because he took a step back … but he didn't shut up. "You're a fag. And you shouldn't be allowed to teach children, just like that other pervert."

Jack straightened his shoulders. "Back down, now."

Bernie seemed to hesitate for a moment, then he kicked him into the groin. Jack was surprised and certainly not prepared, so he didn't block the kick. He doubled over with a groan, distantly hearing Ianto calling his name and then Bernie's in warning. Bernie smirked at him and Jack reached the end of his line. He jumped towards him and pushed him into the pool, following behind immediately.

"Jack!" Ianto yelled, but Jack ignored him. As soon as Bernie came up gasping for air, he grabbed him and pushed him under the water again.

Bernie struggled, managing to escape his hand and coming up to gasp for air. "You can't do that!" he sputtered. "You can't do that!"

Jack pushed him under again, just letting him come up to say, "I didn't hear you apologise!"

"Faggot!" Bernie screamed Jack pushed him back down.

A woman who had been swimming by was staring at him, apparently not sure whether she should intervene. "Are you a teacher?"

"Yes," Jack answered. "Why?" He let Bernie come up again.

"I'm sorry!" Bernie screamed, grasping for the edge of the pool. "I'm sorry."

Jack pulled him closer roughly. "Apologise to Mr. Jones."

Bernie sobbed. "Sorry."

Jack let him go and Bernie pulled himself out of the water. Jack turned to the woman once more. "I'm just a substitute teacher, though." He left the pool as well, the dull throb in his groin making it hard to stand upright.

Ianto was helping Bernie to his feet. "Are you mad?" he asked Jack.

"I taught him a lesson!"

"With violence?!" Ianto replied, wrapping Bernie into a towel. "Christ, Jack, don't you know that they copy what they see adults do?"

With that, he turned away, trying to calm Bernie down who just shrugged him off. Jack was left standing at the pool.