Torchwood Fic: Mythology (4/?)
Title: Mythology (4/?)
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: R/NC17
Warning: None
Spoilers: Set after 2.13. Spoilers for both series 1 and 2, and a bit of DW: Last of the Time Lords and The Shakespeare Code
Summary: With mythical beasts turning up all over Scotland, Torchwood Two thought they were in charge; however, so did Torchwood Four. Unfortunately for both parties their main suspect was refusing to talk to anyone other than Torchwood Three’s Ianto Jones.
Beta: rakina
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - unfortunately. And I ain’t Shakespeare!
A/N: Set after my stories Lynchpin and Constant. Okay folks... time to investigate the other side of Ianto’s family tree! This one is lighter in tone to Constant - time to have a bit of fun!
Lynchpin here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/21730.html
Constant here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/23390.html
Mythology chapter 1 here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/25464.html
Mythology chapter 2 here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/25667.html
Mythology chapter 3 here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/25892.html
Chapter Four
Snippet:
Ianto saw Kelis scowl. That was not a good sign. “Look,” she said irritably, “I don’t know what you lot are playing at, but I’m rapidly losing my patience. Step away from the boy.”
Ianto wiped away the excess shaving foam with a hand towel and examined his handiwork, checking that there were no erroneous patches of hair or cuts from the razor. He continued with his morning ritual, applying his post-shave cooling balm and adding a small amount of gel to his still-damp hair. Discarding the towel that had been wrapped around his waist after his shower, Ianto padded back into the unremarkable bedroom area of his hotel room to dress, only to be distracted by an incoming call on his mobile.
The caller’s identity was not a surprise. “Morning, Jack.”
“What you wearing?”
Ianto sighed in a put-upon manner. “If I told you that you’d get far too excited.”
“Nothing then?” came Jack’s reply, the leer evident in his voice. “Fresh out of the shower by any chance?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. But don’t think I’ve time to play, Jack; I’ve got to get to the Armadillo.”
“Aw, you’re no fun, Ianto. Surely you can spare a little time for me? It’s not my fault that I’ve got used to having you about.”
“Then maybe it’s a good job that I’m up here. A dose of cold turkey works wonders to break an addiction.”
Jack chuckled. “You could at least pretend to miss me - even if it’s just a little bit.”
“I’ve had the first night of uninterrupted sleep since Suzie shot herself,” Ianto said, smiling to himself. “Why would I have missed you?”
“If you can’t remember I could remind you.”
“Honestly, Jack, you’re incorrigible!”
“Why, thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
Jack’s mock harrumph was comical, but Ianto hoped that Jack might have given up on his attempt at early morning phone sex. “Was there an actual reason why you called?” Ianto asked.
“Not really,” admitted Jack. “Your phone has a camera, doesn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“Then you could send me a photo of you in your birthday suit - just to keep me going ‘til you get back.”
“Goodbye, Jack. I’ll call if anything important happens.”
“Ianto -”
Ianto switched off his phone, throwing it onto the bed and shaking his head. Jack could be a total menace at times, and Ianto was surprised at his own internal realisation that he wouldn’t have Jack any other way. Chasing away the thoughts of mischievous bosses, Ianto dressed in one of the suits he had packed and headed out of the hotel.
The walk to the Armadillo took a matter of minutes, for which Ianto was grateful as the weather was decidedly inclement. He turned up the collar of his coat and thrust his hands into his pockets. Reaching the small hut-like structure that served as the entrance to Torchwood Four, Ianto pushed a large rivet which was basically a well hidden doorbell.
“Ianto?” asked a female voice from a disguised speaker which crackled noisily.
“Yes.”
“Nice and early - great! Do you think you could make your way down on your own or do I need to come and fetch you?”
Ianto recognised Mary’s voice, her brusque attitude the same as ever. “I can manage - just let me in before someone notices me.”
The door slid open and Ianto entered, glad to be out of the rain. He’d been to Torchwood Two twice before. Once with Jack, the other time with Tosh, but on both occasions he’d been there to retrieve long overdue items of alien tech that Stuart Dunston had borrowed but failed to return. Ianto negotiated the service corridors with ease and after taking the lift to the lower levels headed straight to the business area of the Armadillo.
Although a large space, the Armadillo was small in comparison to the Hub, and Ianto couldn’t help but feel a little bit proud of being at the Cardiff branch of Torchwood rather than at Glasgow. One of the main reasons for this was heading towards him. “Jones,” called Dunston. “I take it you can help with our guest. Quite why you couldn’t just tell us over the phone I’ve no idea.”
“Good morning, Stuart,” Ianto replied politely. “I hear the monsters are keeping you busy.”
“You wouldn’t be wrong there,” Dunston grunted. “We’ve bloody Pegasus in a storeroom, and it ain’t too happy.”
“Unless you really have the son of Poseidon in the Armadillo then I think what you actually have is a pterippus,” Ianto said coolly.
“Eh?”
“The name for a winged horse,” explained Ianto.
“You can’t help yourself, can you? You’ve always been a pedant!”
Ianto smirked, but didn’t respond as he was suddenly engulfed by the six members of Torchwood Four. He could feel their energy. So strong, so tempting. It was all too easy to sink into the cocoon of safety and familiarity that had hit him forcibly.
“I suggest you step away from Mr Jones.”
While the other members let go and turned to stare at who had spoken, Ianto felt Henshaw’s arm tighten around his middle. “How did you get out of the cells?” Henshaw demanded.
Kelis looked impassive, and still as beautiful despite having spent a night locked in the cells. “I have no interest in your questions. I do, however, have an interest in the young man you are holding in a far too improper manner for my liking.”
Ianto smiled. She was just how he remembered her, so vibrant and full of life that she rarely had to take no for an answer. Although the addition of a three-headed dog at her feet was new. He moved to step forward but Henshaw’s grip was firm. “You can let me go. It’s fine.”
Henshaw let go of Ianto, but instead of moving away chose to stand in front of him. Without prompting, the other members of Torchwood Four joined him to form a physical barrier between Ianto and Kelis.
Ianto saw Kelis scowl. That was not a good sign. “Look,” she said irritably, “I don’t know what you lot are playing at, but I’m rapidly losing my patience. Step away from the boy.”
“We won’t let you hurt him,” Henshaw stated firmly.
“Who said anything about hurting him?” Kelis looked confused. “I’m not going to hurt him, you misguided fool.”
Ianto thought enough was enough and tried to step out from behind his protectors. “Stay where you are,” ordered Henshaw. “I’ll not have Harkness moaning at me if we return you in pieces!”
Ianto bit back the indignance that rose in his chest. “Philip...”
“Right, that’s it! I’ve given you fair warning.”
“Why can’t you types of people ever take a hint? Still, since I gather you’ve the young man’s best interests at heart I’ll be gentle.” Kelis lifted her arms and reached out her hands, her fingertips stretching towards the ceiling. “Fight valiantly today; and yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it, for thou art framed of the firm truth of valour.”*
Ianto felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. As a child he’d experienced Kelis’s unique abilities. Nothing sinister, just games to entertain him, but even then he could tell she wasn’t even using the tiniest fraction of the power she had. No wonder some people thought she practised magic; there was nothing easy to rationalise about what Kelis was doing.
The members of Torchwood Four had linked, their connection humming between them. Ianto tried again to be heard, but no one was listening to him. When would the people in his life stop thinking he needed protecting?
One by one Torchwood Four was plucked from the ground and moved out of the way. Ianto saw them struggle powerlessly, unable to comprehend why they couldn’t retaliate. Kelis waved her hand and they floated to the side of the room where she deposited them gently, but still unable to move freely.
“Don’t struggle,” Ianto called. “She won’t hurt me.”
Kelis beamed. “Of course I won’t hurt you, you silly boy. Now come here and give me a hug!”
She held out her arms and Ianto happily embraced her, having to lean down due to the difference in their height. She pulled away and smiled up at him. “Look at you - all grown up. And you look so much like your grandmother. She’d have been so proud.”
“You haven’t changed at all,” he replied in awe.
“Then it’s a good job you benefit from my side of the family. Imagine how wrinkly you’d be if you had inherited your aging skills from your idiot grandfather!”
Ianto chuckled. “I think I'll still be fine for a while yet.”
Kelis waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s not talk about him - leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I want to hear all about you - and just what you’ve been doing to make people try and protect you in such a fashion.” She looked over at the shocked faces of Torchwood Four: the oldest of the men, in particular, looked rather dumbstruck. “Not that I’m surprised, even as a baby you had everyone wrapped around your little finger.”
“It’s a rather long story.”
“I’ve all the time in the universe,” she replied with a smile.
“First things first. What are you doing here?”
“I was searching for Floxy,” Kelis said pointing at the dog. “He wandered off and his owner asked me to find him.”
Ianto's brows crinkled. “What about the other creatures?”
“Other creatures?”
“The Loch Ness Monster and the flying horse?” pressed Ianto.
Kelis looked blankly at him. “Ianto, darling, I have no idea what you’re on about.”
***
“There are reports of strange beasts and mythological creatures appearing all over Scotland. Just this minute there’s been a sighting of a gorgon wandering around the car park of a leisure centre in Ayr,” said Gwen, brandishing a piece of paper. “Just what the hell is going on up there?”
Jack looked as perturbed as Gwen. “I’ll call Ianto; see if he’s found out anything more from his auntie.”
Gwen bit her lips, obviously uncertain about what she was going to say. “His great-aunt -she’s a Carrionite, and what Ianto said about them...”
“I know what you’re thinking, Gwen. And yes, there’s a very high possibility that she’s behind it.”
From nowhere a breeze rippled through the papers on Jack’s desk. Gwen looked around, trying to explain what was happening as her hair began whip around her face. A loud humming noise filled the room, pulsing in a strange, almost hypnotic beat.
“Jack, what’s going on?” Gwen shouted over the noise, an edge of panic in her voice.
Jack grinned. “He’s coming.”
TBC
*Henry V Act 4 Scene III
I’m so sorry this part has taken so long... Real Life... Gah! As always all comments are loved and adored.
Chapter five here: http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/26851.html