21
"What did you tell them?"
"What could I say Tosh? I said I would consider it" Ianto huffed "they gave me 24 hours. I guess they did Jack too but I think he accepted straight away without even considering me."
"And how do you feel about that?" she asked as she sat back on her heels, the garden they were weeding secondary to her friend's obvious dilemma.
"Pissed."
"What will you do? DO you have a decision?"
"I want to stay. I put years... fucking years into this place. And I am Welsh to the wet could not hamper me much but the cold? That extreme? My old leg injury flares now when it's cold out, imagine me on ice!" Ianto snorted softly "The deep chiller room, in there inventorying our food reserves is enough for me to have to rub liniment on the break site. And my lungs? Nah."
"Well, I was going to point that out. You are no good on ice and snow. I do not see you with a sled dog team" she replied, then giggled "you would want to knit them all bobble hats for their little ears."
"Oh shut up" Ianto huffed, unable to hold back the soft smile at her as she was right. He would be useless around any working animals too. If they really have those still.
"It's only a year. Like the time in here, it will pass. You cans skype, sext…ooooo…. Phone sex.. why not." She shrugged "I think you need to talk to him. Soon. You only have another four hours to make up your mind and we both know that you knew what the answer would be as soon as you heard the offer. Right?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Time to suck it up buttercup" Ianto huffed, rising to go in search of his lover.
.
.
"I know, right?" Jack was hissing softly as Ianto came up behind him.
"And if Ianto wants to stay? He does own this place, well some of it. He's put a lot of time and money into it, you can't expect him to just leave it all behind!" Owen was replying "anyway… didn't you say this was all just a bit of fun?"
OUCH
Ianto froze, staring at the back of the two men huddled in a whisperfest that was way too loud to be safe. Suddenly Ianto got it. This was for ratings. They had deliberately done this to cause a rift, things so smooth and so all lovey dovey… right. Tension to crease some drama.
Ianto waited for Jack to refute the claim tht they were just marking time but when Jack answered Ianto felt his mouth go dry "Look, I don't' even know what we are. I mean… it's fun dabbling and all but… I don't know if we have a long-term kinds goal here. What would I do? Wash fucking windows? We all know I don't really do anything, just waft about talking reports and shit for the cameras."
Ianto took a step back.
"And besides" Jack continued to drive that stake through Ianto's heart "this place is far too tame for me."
Ianto was moving fast, sliding along the walkways as he bypassed the main Domes until at his own private one and he stepped inside, closing the door to stand in silence.
"Merrrrp?"
"Not now" Ianto said, reaching out to bop a little cat's head anyway, then moving off to stand in the undergrowth where there were no cameras or mics, no reception and no way for anyone to find him.
He had no idea what he was going to do now.
Fuckers.
Time to check the paperwork.
.
.
"I made my decision" Ianto said calmly as the men all leaned forwards, their faces almost touching the glass. "I decline. Upon my release, I will sell my dome and shares to the highest bidder."
They all stared at him like he had grown an extra head, this so… what? Huh?
"After all the time and love…"
"Love. What is that anyway, right?" Ianto huffed "You've opened my eyes with your offer to Jack. Really you have and… well … I know he already accepted so it's a done deal. This shall be too. Time is up to decide and I decline your offer of employment here. My Dome will be sealed from your staff, my private Dome. I will sell it to whomever I please as per the agreement and then… who knows.. I may start a new Dome Site somewhere else. I will take my knowledge and expertise with me. Good luck finding someone who can run this bitch, training someone else is not part of my deal either. I read my contract carefully, maybe you should have too."
"But… but…. What if we remove the offer form the table for the Captain…"
"Don't you dare. It's done and signed, all done and dusted. I know it is. He will sue and you will lose. You decided on this path and it is set. Jack will leave me. I will be heartbroken. You win. But you do NOT get me as a booby prize. Oh no… I am no one's boob!" Ianto snarled, angry now "Keep pressing the matter and I shall make it publicly known that you did this. See how the ratings go then! Actually… come to think of it…"
Ianto slammed out of the room, startling those in the main room who watched him then forcibly slam the door so hard the frame cracked.
Then he turned to face everyone and said calmly "Snore who is offered a job after this is over.. take it. There is no loyalty here, not between us or them so… grab with both hands. But get it in writing or the fuckers will screw you over."
"Ianto?" Jack said softly was he rose from the table he was at with Owen and Toshiko "What… what happened."
"I got played for a fool is what happened Captain, but don't worry. My eyes are open and the time for dabbling is over!"
Jack looked at Owen with alarm as he shrugged back, Ianto stalking along to the media scrum where he sat and then angrily told them everything … EVERYTHING… that had happened and ended it with "..So, I will cut my losses and accept that they have won. I do not belong here do I. My Domes, my life's work… for what. Paper pushers to sully and despoil."
Ianto retreated to his room and hoped the fallout would do wonders for the feckin ratings.
Right now he didn't care how childish he was being.
He hated to lose.
And Jack... a death blow.