1
Ianto swore as he ran for the elevator, his hand not holding something was trying to adjust his tie, even as the other one tried not to spill the travel cup of coffee. He made it and swung to face out as the doors closed, then cursed again as he saw who was still coming, sacrificing the tie as he reached out to slam his hand into the doors.
"Thank you" Yvonne said a she stepped into his space, nodding her perfectly coiffed blonde head at him.
"Not at all Ma'am. My pleasure" Ianto said with what he hoped was a calm voice, and then he stepped back so she might have more room.
As the elevator ascended, she looked at his reflection in the doors as he struggled with his tie some more, then she swung to face him and with an epic eye roll, she fixed it.
"Oh, thank you" Ianto smiled, forgetting to be afraid. "Me mam used to fix me Da's tie like that."
"Tell me Jones, do they still call me the Ice Queen in the Archives?"
"Then never called you that" Ianto said without thinking "It's Glass Queen because of all the windows."
Then he blinked.
She stared back and then laughed softly "Oh you are sweet. I know what they call me, but… nice try young man."
"One must try when in the presence of a great woman" Ianto replied.
They travelled more in silence and when the doors opened for his floor, Ianto went to step out but hesitated as some entered. Then Yvonne stepped in front of him and the doors closed. He was slightly alarmed but what goes up will come down so… he would get out on the rebound.
As she went to get out at the top, Yvonne turned once more "Jones. You are with Hallett right?"
"Was Ma'am. Was. She found me too… ah… vanilla?" he screwed his face up "does that sound racist? Her word not mine. No? I think I was a bit of a stick in the mud compared to her, she is a social butterfly."
"Ah. So, family?"
Ianto was confused as to where this was going but answered truthfully in case this was some sort of test "Just me sister Rhiannon and her two kids. None of me own."
"But you do have some experience in babysitting, yes?"
"Yes ma'am. Grew up on the estates, if I was not looking after the neighbor's kids it was me sister's … I moved in with her when the oldest was born, didn't move out until Mica started pres-school." Ianto blinked slowly "I do enjoy caring for another."
"Good. Good, I was considering someone else but now I've met you… you seem… like you said. Vanilla. We need someone with little to no real fluff to them, someone who can stay calm and get the job done."
"Well, my ex will tell you I am as boring as paint drying and just as determined to remain dry" he smiled.
"Good. Go to the Secure Area, ask for Rheams." She swung on her heel and stalked off, leaving him confused as hell but at the same time a little excited.
Archives did suit, don't get me wrong but the thing was 'Hallett' as Lisa also worked there and now they were no longer an item he knew it would be a matter of time before she was rubbing some other poor sod in his face.
.
.
"Rheams?"
"Jones. Right. Huh, you're younger than I wanted but… never mind. Follow me"
Ianto did not take the rudeness personally, they all spoke like arseholes in this area and he followed the man into a secure area where a swipe card did not cut it, Ianto encouraged to place his hand on a pad. God, a handprint?
The door opened and they entered, then Ianto felt the air leave his lungs with a huff as something moved beyond the Plexiglas they now stood in front of.
"This is Jack. Hey Jack… this is Jones. He's your new handler." Rheams said loudly and Ianto was about to say 'pleased to meet you' or something equally stupid but he was halted by the body hitting the glass before sliding down, leaving a shit stained smear behind.
"Ahhhh, come on. We will have to hose you down if you've shat everywhere again" Rheam growled, "you have a fucking toilet in the corner."
Ianto watched as Rheam hit a button and the cell filled with jet streams of water, the man howling as he cowered in the middle of the cell and got an exfoliation.
"He's naked." Ianto said stupidly before he could stop himself.
"He destroys clothes, tries to escape or kill you with them" Rheam shrugged "Gotta watch him, he is a wily bastard, aren't ya Jackie boy!"
Jack snarled from the floor, his hands over his head to protect his ears and face as Rheam continued to hold the button down, then released it.
Steam swirled.
"At least the water is not cold" Ianto blurted.
Rheam laughed as Jack slowly sat back on his heels to look at Ianto for the first time.
"No, it's hot mate" Rheam chortled "Boiling. If you hold the button down for five minutes, the boils will start soon as his skin burns."
Ianto felt sick as Rheam made a motion like he was going to show him and Jack flinched.
Rheam tapped the glass and laughed some more.
Ianto tried to hide his alarm as the poor man on the floor continued to stare at him silently.
Ianto was not sure he wanted this anymore.