34
It was the day before the opening, and everyone was on edge.
Ianto decided to do an inventory check sine there was not much else to do, they had done their jobs efficiently and with the usual calmness like they were not all jumping out of their skin with excitement.
Jack found him in the pantry room "Hey good looking."
"We have cake mix."
"Huh?" Jack was surprised, "In the immortal words of the great Jack Harkness, lothario, Captain and all around amazing human…. Come again lover?"
"Cake mix. Want to bake a cake for our last night in captivity with these baboons?"
Jack did.
Apparently, you can get pretty messy mixing cake mix and Jack found it easier to simply strip down to those lovely tight boxers to mix the cake while some of the others sat with moths open watching. Of course, Ianto did remove his own jacket and roll the sleeves up before applying an apron …. That delectable arse in those perfectly tailored suit pants still filled to the seams… yeah. Surprising some of them, seeing Ianto in that level of undress was just as interesting as Jack in his own level.
Of course, they looked fabulous.
"What sort of cake is it?" Martha asked.
"I would say Angel's Food but it's not. It's chocolate with what looks like coffee being added… so… it's an Angel's Grab Bag of Naughty. Devil's Food Cake? Crowley Cake? Yeah? Anyone else read those books?" Jack said as he watched Ianto calmly add two shots of his special blend it the mix "Oh wow…. Will we be eating this with whipped cream lover?"
"You know we don't have any" Ianto replied, then added softly "But I did happen to find some French vanilla ice-cream in the corner of the walk-in freezer under those vegan hamburger patties we never got to."
"Oh my god" Toshiko said softly.
"God? She had nothing to do with this level of debauchery" Donna said with a giggle "Look at that man. Does he wax his entire body or something? So tanned and silky smooth… how the hell is he tanned in here?"
"I am naturally devoid of body hair, other than my head and I suntan on the top of the garden shed roof darlink" Jack said, swinging to wink at her "And … well… I do shave…"
"Jack."
Jak grinned as Ianto scolded, so he waved a hand around his crotch area as everyone giggled, Ianto swinging around to face him with the spatula raised "This is daytime television right now, tell me you are NOT… oh god. Cariad, where are your trousers?"
"I didn't want to get flour on them" Jak replied like it made perfect sense. "Besides, it will be lunchtime at the old folk's homes around the place… give the old girls something to watch with the sticky date pudding. Hmmm?"
"Fucking nutter" Ianto said and then sighed, "Bugger. They will have to bleep me now."
Everyone roared with mirth as Jack lamented rubbing off on Ianto in all the right ways. Jack decided to demonstrate how to rub… then of course shrieking began as Ianto slapped Jack across his face with said spatula.
"Mmmmm, sweet" Jack licked at his lips where the smear of cake mix trailed down his face.
Ianto seized his head and licked his cheek then said absently as he tined away "needs more coffee."
Everyone watched Jack melt, the look of pure adoration as he watched Ianto add another shot was like watching some sort of Disney movie where the handsome hunk is under a spell. Ianto added more sugar.
Apparently, this cake was going to be well sweet.
.
.
"Mort" Ianto sat and looked through the plexiglass at their eyes and ears. Since leaving the Dome due to medical problems, this man had continued to be the voice… and ears…. Of the Dome Project.
"Are you all OK? I have bene watching and I detect slight madness there today boy." The old man said with affecting, noting the smear of cake mix on Ianto's collar.
"We are fine, high spirits and hoping we do not blow up on impact, is all." Ianto quipped and Mort laughed.
"Right. So. As I was part of the Dome Project, it has been agreed that the moment the clock ticks to zero, I will enter. I will then have a moment to talk to you all, also, bring in anything you need to the exit like clean clothes, footwear or whatever… then we leave as a team. Those at home will have to wait the extra fifteen minutes or so for us all to be ready. Like… we will say we have to open the domes and let the atmosphere reacclimatize or some shit."
"Yes" Ianto agreed "I do not like it, it feels weird. Like… what is it called Stockholm Syndrome or whatever… I am quite happy here in the madness thanks."
"I do not think you are there against you will, no" Mort agreed with amusement, this young man now like a son to him.
"Right. You enter, we have time to hug and those who gave you a list of needs so they look their best… God I know Jack asked for hair gel so I can't really scoff at the others to much… then… we exit while there are majestic shots of the Dome's venting system opening… slow motion shots of us leaving. Photo shoots and a press conference… blah … blah… then we disperse, and I retire back in here." Ianto tapped his finger on the hair for emphasis.
"You are not even going to spend the night outside? I thought you promised him the honeymoon suite at the four seasons" Mort scolded.
"You got it?"
"I did. You will spend one night away from here whether you like it or not, one night where he gets room service and all the mad stupid shit he wants" Mort wagged a finger at Ianto. "No cameras, no press. Soundproof and a lockable door!"
"I know… you're right. I just… I don't trust anyone in here while I am gone ya know?"
"Don't be silly. I will be in there. Me and a film crew will be in there overnight to look at the place, do some blah blah about the conditions and such. Don't worry, I will have the Domes" Mort assured him.
Ianto knew he could not argue that, Mort was family now.
And Jack deserved pampering… even if Ianto would secretly hate it.
After all… Jack gave up everything for him… right?