4
It was early, the mist coming off the lake was ethereal and almost Stephen King style creepy to an outsider. But Ianto as not an outsider. Not anymore. This was his jam. He pushed the canoe out of the boathouse and stepped into it as it continued to lazily drift out into the lake.
The Raccoon that jumped into the canoe with him with a surprise, but Ianto soon ignored him as Randy settled in the spare jacket like he knew it would be there. Og course he did, this little shit doesn't miss a thing.
Ianto dropped the handline over the side of the canoe, placing the oar in the bottom of the canoe as he settled back to hold onto the line, watching the water as the mist rose, the light grew more sold and morning broke.
A noise had him glancing over to see Randy opening the small chiller Ianto had placed in there for a snack, the sandwich soon devoured lazily.
"You know… I made those for me… not you ya bloody garbage disposal" Ianto scolded.
Randy stopped chewing on the sandwich and stared at it, then offered the remains to Ianto who laughed and waved a hand to show he was not annoyed "Go on then. I will have most likely not eaten them anyway. Not a breakfast person me."
Ianto went back to fishing and Randy went back to chewing slowly.
He then looked into the chiller again and made a soft chattering noise of delight as he discovered the packet of beef jerky, ripping it open with his teeth and after a moment he solemnly offered it to Ianto who said softly "Thanks old man, don't mind if I do."
Ianto hewed a hunk as Randy devoured the rest.
"You know…" Ianto said after a while "I worry that I have left a hole somewhere. I mean, the boundary is petty well enforced but there is a chance those fuckers might sneak up on us. Toshiko is working on something that might help."
Ianto pulled the line and paused then sighed as he missed whatever he had ben trying to hook so he continued to talk "She is calling it a dome. I know what it is, clearly she is trying to build a shield. I need to get her a contact with my company. Of course, the problem is that a half round is not a complete round. I mean, it cannot seal if there is only half a ball… but I know it can be done. If she gets her bubble thing right, it will mean that we can essentially disappear."
Randy stopped chewing to regard him, then look at the packet of Jerky like he was trying to work out if it was making them loopy or something. Then he resumed chewing.
"They will try again. This is for certain, I know thy will not let this lie.. they will have to have another go at us and I don't know if we will be ready. We have to be ready Randy old chum, I really think another go will be violent." Ianto pulled again, and started at pull the line in as Randy stooped chewing to lean over the side of the canoe to watch the fish flashing below.
Then the fish was in the boat, the Racoon holding his feet up like it might bite his toe and Ianto clubbed it before he got the hook out, then dopped it over the side again.
They sat in companionable silence for a while and then Ianto sighed, pulling up the line again "Well, time's up. They are waking up and eager for food so best get back. I will cut this for the cats and you can keep the jerky."
Randy chewed another piece as he agreed.
.
.
"Ew" Gwen said as she screwed her face up "Fish."
"The cats love it fresh" Ianto replied as he slapped the fish on the chopping block.
"You can buy it."
"No as fresh and Esmerelda is preggers" Ianto replied as he cut the fillets into strips and like she had ben summoned, the huge fluffy white cat appeared from under the porch to glare at Gwen like she had just insulted her bloodline, siring pertly as she waited for her fish.
"Bloody things. You know cats are…."
"It's a myth. If you are about to say they steal breath or whatever… that's a myth. They do steal a soul sometimes but that's kind of a voluntary assault thing" Ianto scolded ad he lowered the fish down to the cat.
Gwen looked at the cat, then the raccoon that was stalking along the pathway to the woods from the boathouse, a bag in his mouth "What's he got?"
Ianto turned to look "Jerky. No doubt taking it to his family"
"Family?" she squeaked.
"Racoons… yeah. A nursery of them" Ianto nodded "Cute little buggers. Reminds me, I need to get a bag of marshmallows for them."
She blinked and then said with a shake of her head "I never know when to believe you or not."
Ianto laughed as he stroked the cat, then rose "Owen thinks they are aliens. If only he knew, eh Ezzie? Yah? Cats have been around soooo much longer."
"See? Fucking with my head" Gwen frowned with fake annoyance and then she laughed as she shoved at him and headed back inside.
The cat blinked slowly as Ianto laughed "I know. She had no idea does she."