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Ianto sat calmly as the green cards were issued without fanfare or the mandatory one year probation, Jack picking one up and looking at it with open wonder.
Seems Yvonne wanted something and he saw Ianto's slow blink of silent agreement as he opened the credit chip with his thumb print and looked at the amount that had been deposited. A slight paling of his features the only indicator that it was an unexpected amount before it was calmly placed back down like it was a simple transaction completion.
Kent was understandably shaken as he sat with the official spokesman for the Agency and listened to the familiarity between the three men.
"I suppose she found him" Ianto said.
"Yes Sir. She did. She was pleased you had placed the tracer, wanted me to pass on her gratitude for an efficient clean up as always. She hopes you accept the bonus in your final payment that shows her hopes for an occasional consulting role?" the man with no name said and Ianto canted his head as he seemed to be considering, "Also, she wanted me to remind you that as an official retiree you can now freely use your secure rank. First Lieutenant Jones."
Now Kent was sweating as Ianto slowly blinked again and grinned like a predator, "So. Consulting? Really? My face is public property now, once word gets out that two ex-agents have married things will…ahhhhh. That's what she wants? A public face? She wants my family on display to show that those war horses loyal to the Agency get their pasture?"
"Or, perhaps in your place the wolf is allowed to sun himself without fear of the hunter" the man snorted, then his smile faded as Ianto's eyes bored into him and Jack leaned forward to join the conversation.
"Was that an ultimatum?" Jack asked, "Did you just sit before the Captain and the Wolf, two of the most vicious and successful covert operatives of the Agency and threaten our family? That is what she wanted to convey?"
"No, no" the man spluttered and Ianto folded his legs then tapped a finger on his knee. Jack followed the finger's point to the pen sitting on the tablet and he grinned as he marvelled at how easily and quickly they had fallen into a partnership.
"Look, if Yvonne wants a bum fight she needs to remember I am one of her elite assassins thought to be immortal with my ability to evade any attack and Ianto here was her most successful and highly feared trackers/cleaners. We can find her easier than she could find us so if she…" Jack started to rant then fell silent to let the man claw at his ear with a shriek of horror, the sound audible to everyone else as a series of high pitched tones.
"Don't look so worried Kent" Ianto purred as he pointed at the pen and mouthed the word microphone' then sat back "Yvonne is just having a bitch fit. He will come back once he has his hearing back to apologise. You need to learn a better poker face, you have potential. You would never make elite but if you continue to please you can assure yourself a rank. I will ensure that, you are a good man. I know people who can put some good marks in your book."
Kent tried to look calmer.
The man with no name returned and slid back into his chair with a week smile, "Yvonne wishes to extend an apology for my rude interpretation of her orders."
He swallowed and looked terrified.
"Finger or toe" Ianto barked as his blade slid from his boot, glinting in the light, leaning forward and looking at the man with open impatience, "Well?"
Jack couldn't help it, his laughter booming as he leaned back, "He's joking. He would never do it in the company of our daughter over there playing. He would take you to another room to punish you. Sweetling, stop playing with him. Such a Kitty playing with a wee mouse."
Ianto grunted, "Yvonne I know you are listening you could have just said hello yourself, you would have been welcome in a place of neutrality. I do not need to converse with my husband to know that we will accept your request to let our ranks be known and show that our retirements are fortuitous for us. In return you will please be respectful of that. You will always be welcome in my house, once we get there and these green cards ensure that can happen. When we have our house warming you will be sent an official invite, I do hope you come for a photo or two, the tabloids will go insane with the revelation that this wee family is at the bosom of the agency. Might help let any enemies know we are still there too"
The man sort if, jerked and grimaced so Ianto held out his hand, "Look man, just give me your earwig."
The man removed his ear piece and Ianto placed it on his tablet then tapped a few things in, "Please repeat that Yvonne."
"Ianto. Thank you for your service, you have served me with style as always. I hope you remember my gratitude and modest retirement gifts in a time of peril for my office."
"Yvonne if the end of the world were near, Ianto and I will be there with weapons drawn" Jack said calmly, "We are Agency. Retirement gives us rank, it does not take our pride in what we did to achieve that rank. Agency for life."
"Thank you Captain, I did hope we could be on the same page. Of course the two of you together are leaps and bounds ahead of me"
"Nonsense Yvonne" Ianto said with a gentle grace, "We are right beside you, defending our sector. As it should be."
Jack watched Ianto close the call and sat back with wonder as he glanced again at those little travel cards that gave him and Alice a home.
No.
Somewhere to live.
Ianto was going to make it the home.
.
.
.
.
OK going to single postings now, we are getting near the end of part one ...don't worry, I'm already working on part Two, honest. xxxx