2
Ianto was nervous, pulling at his cuffs as he stood by the large glassed wall looking out over the city.
A small hopper came into view, sweeping low into the courtyard below and Owen rushed to the glass, placing his hands on it to peer down like an excited child, "It's him."
Ianto estimated the hopper to be at least three year's wages and swallowed hard. Owen said he had money. Shit.
The doors swished open and he walked in, a wide smile and hand extended which Owen rushed to seize, "Jack, you OK?"
"Yeah, I hear they are threatening a quarantine now" he said as he settled into a chair, still not noticing the thin man by the windows, "Strangles is getting more intense. I've not seen a case in our quadrant yet but it's only a matter of time with the level of trade at the moment. Another month or so and this will get harder to navigate."
"Especially with weapons" Owen agreed, glancing at Ianto and back to Jack who swung on his seat with surprise to look at Ianto.
"Hello" Jack smiled and Owen snorted.
"I would say stop flirting but this is Ianto who you really need to be seen doing that with if he agrees" Owen warned and Jack's eyes widened as he shifted in the chair more, now looking fully at Ianto.
"Really? Owen…I mean you know the story?" Jack asked, nervous now.
"You have a daughter and the means to being her to a level one safe planet but your mad ex has embargoed you. Your daughter is not safe, your ex will never get her back but is simply doing all she can to make your life a misery and endanger her child in the process." Ianto spoke in a monotone, "You need a Green Card. I have massive debt and no way out of the hole, you have oodles of money and it forms a lovely ladder back to terra firma for me… both of us. We marry, spend a year as friends in the same lodgings and at the end of that year you get the means to ensure your daughter's safe upbringing and I reclaim my dignity."
"Gamble?"
"Excuse me?" Ianto asked with confusion.
"No" Owen understood immediately, "Ianto is a widower. His wife's death was slow and…unpleasant. The debt is from her medical care and such. Ianto is on the verge of total bankruptcy. He needs your money to save his good name. His family is well to-do, he was disowned for his choice of bride. Even though the money is gone, the good name is not. Bringing shame to his family would be the end of him."
"So a mutually beneficial agreement" Jack leaned back, relief showing as he watched Ianto walk to the bar, his long legs swinging like pendulums and Jack's mind whispered the question of what else might swing low. Jack cleared his throat.
Ianto turned, the bottle of whiskey in his hand as he heard Jack's noise, "Yes?"
"Please" Jack croaked as he watched the man pour three glasses and then walk over to fold into a chair with such grace that it took Jack a second or two before he focused on his face.
Those eyes were stormy and full of intelligence.
"Alice is three and full of noise" Jack warned, "Screaming, yelling, roaring, singing and sometimes stomping for some reason. Like she is an elephant. Seems to be proud of the noise she can make."
"My penthouse is soundproofed, had to be with Lisa's…she made noise too towards the end" Ianto grimaced and Jack knew. He saw a flash of it and knew with certainty that her death had been more than horrible, or a release.
"Penthouse. How many rooms?" Jack asked, glancing at Owen.
"He rents" Owen assured him, "If you can get along then I suggest you move ahead with your plans to buy a house and land. Ianto can move there with you, keeping the penthouse as a fallback and then after it is all said and done he simply moves back to his previous life…if he wants it. The money can be explained as his share of the house or something since it was purchased during your relationship, right?"
"I don't" Ianto said flatly, "Lisa is everywhere. No. I will live where Jack chooses for the term and then move onto something small and comfortable, more me. Lisa chose this penthouse, I hated it on sight."
"Really?" Owen said with open shock "You played that one well. Tosh said you were in love with the place, the way she describes it you were gushing."
"I am a good player" Ianto said softly, "Lisa and Tosh are such…shit. Were such old friends I knew Tosh would see through it if I didn't play the game. I didn't care where we lived as long as we were together. She wanted the view. I wanted her. Simple."
"Well ya learn something every day" Owen said softly.
"So, a few dates, the marriage and then we move in?" Jack frowned as he saw Ianto growing uncomfortable, "Then we do the house hunting as a loving family, the whole gushing thing and you live with me? You didn't answer the question."
"Two bedrooms" Ianto knew what he wanted to know, "You and I can surely share a bed without getting kooties off one another."
Jack blinked and then started to laugh, soft at first but then he doubled over as he laughed with abandon.
He liked him.
Owen relaxed as he watched a rare smile move across Ianto's face as well.
Thank Pete.
Looks like it's a go.
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OK, so another one for luck since you all asked so politely. If you think it's funny I am using the name Pete alot it is the name of my Dad. It was the 10th aniversary of his passing when I wrote the first ten chaps in one sitting so...get used to it. This Verse will have alot of moments where someone is going to 'Thank Pete for that' or go 'For the love of Pete' I think Dad would have found that funny.