Born This Way - Chapter 8

[madbottoms]

Title: Born This Way 8

Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, John, Gray, Owen, Toshiko/Tommy, Suzie, OCs

Rating: NC-17

Warnings/Contains: Supernatural themes, character death, drug references, dub-con.

Summary: Sequel to Choices - Ianto Jones was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Jack Harkness. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences and suddenly Ianto’s and Jack’s happily ever after may not be so happy.

A/N: For those who already don’t like Gray very much, you’re really going to dislike him after this one!

 

8

*~*

A Deal with the Devil

*~*

Ianto

The town library is a gray granite eyesore near the high school. I pull into the car park and jog across the street to the stone building. Glancing at my watch, I see I’m just on time. I’d meant to be early for my first day, but I dropped Jack at Owen’s on my way, and I couldn’t leave until I knew for sure that Gray was there.

I can’t help the smile as I peer through the glass panel in the carved wooden doors, then push them open and step inside. Even my human nose can appreciate the scents of the library—dust, old paper, and history. I scan the spines on the bookshelves as I make my way to the counter—a rather limited selection, but all the classics and some excellent obscure titles as well.

The tiny stick figure of a woman behind the curved counter in the centre of the cavernous room is filing books off the cart onto a shelf labelled ‘hold’.

I stride over, lean across the counter, and clear my throat. When she turns, I hold out my hand. “Hello. I’m Ianto Jones.”

She looks me over with appraising pale gray eyes. She can’t be a day less than one hundred, despite the jet-black curls framing her creased face. She takes my hand with her thin, bony one and grips it with surprising strength. “I’m Estelle Cole. Head librarian. We spoke on the phone.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she says in a quavering voice, releasing my hand. “I have to say, I was more than a little surprised by your knowledge of books and our system,” she says, looking me over again. “You’re obviously too young to have done any library work in the past.”

“But I’ve spent a lot of time reading.” I turn and scan the stacks again, wondering if there’s anything in them I haven’t read—that’s worth reading, anyway.

Charlie Williams, who happens to be the way I heard about this job, emerges from the stacks in a bright orange T-shirt. He walks up and drops a stack of books onto the counter, then smooths his dark hair back into his short ponytail with his palms.

“Hey, Ianto. Ready?”

“Absolutely.”

Charlie familiarises me with the computer and filing systems while Estelle eavesdrops and interjects to underscore the importance of particular points. He wraps up my orientation with a tour.

“We’re moving the kid section over here next week—” He indicates a larger section of the library near the front that currently holds travel references. “—so we’ll need you to stay late at least one night—probably Thursday next week—to help re-shelve the books.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

He elbows me. “Then maybe we can head over to the Harkness’ for our other halves.”

I almost can’t suppress laughter, thinking about what Jack’d think of being referred to as “my other half.” I picture him smiling and saying, ‘Yeah, the better half’. I can’t help but agree with that. A smile breaks across my face. He misreads it and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“Those Harkness’ are something, huh?”

My smile widens. “Something, indeed.”

He dips his hand into his pocket and comes out with a key. “Estelle always opens,” he says, nodding his head toward the counter. “And we’ll switch off closing, so you’ll need this.”

As I take the key from his hand, I glance over his shoulder and see that girl from my apartment building—Elle—slip past an exiting patron into the room. She pauses just inside the door, then turns and looks like she’s going to leave again.

“Excuse me,” I say to Charlie. I stride over to where she’s pulling the door open.

“Did you need something, Elle?”

She jumps a little and turns back to look at me, her eyes wide. When she sees me, she exhales. “Oh, hi Ianto.”

I smile reassuringly at her. “Can I help you find something?”

“Um…I was hoping there’d be like a job board or something.”

“You’re looking for a job?”

“I barely scraped together this month’s rent. I need to find something fast.”

“Hmm…” I glance around and the only bulletin board I see has library-related notices for children’s story time and an author reading. “Let me ask Estelle.”

She jumps again when I touch her arm to guide her to the counter, but she lets out another long breath and ventures a small smile. She walks with me to where Estelle is scanning in books.

“Estelle, do you know of anywhere there may be community job postings?”

Estelle looks from me to Elle and fingers the tiny silver cross hanging from a delicate chain around her neck. “Other than the newspaper…there’s always the community centre. That would be your best bet.”

“Thanks,” Elle says, dropping her gaze.

“Do you know where that is?” I ask as we head back to the door.

Elle nods. “So, you work here?” She scans the stacks before settling her gaze on me.

“As of today.”

Her eyes light up as she smiles for real. “So you’re not just a pretty face.”

I laugh out loud, and Estelle scowls at me over the top of her glasses.

Elle’s eyes flick to Estelle. She cringes and lowers her lashes. “Sorry,” she whispers.

“My fault.” I give her another reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you later?”

She nods and slips through the door.

But just as I make it back to the counter, the doors swing open and Suzie steps through. She browses the shelves up front, but her eyes aren’t on the books. They’re on me. She nods almost imperceptibly—a reminder that she’s watching me.

Stalking me, more like.

But better me than Jack. I wouldn’t say anything to Jack, but after that party at Charlie’s house, I’m not sure Gray is as focused as he should be. It was my fault that Suzie and her crew were there, but Gray should have known before they got that close. John chose Gray because he has a vested interest in Jack, but I’m not sure that’s enough.

Suzie smiles with a quick flash of her fangs before turning and pushing back out onto the street. I walk to the door and watch as she slides into the driver’s seat of a silver Mercedes. Part of me hopes she’ll leave, but when she doesn’t, I decide it’s for the best.

There’s something reassuring about knowing your enemy—or at least her whereabouts.

I think about Jack partying with his friends at the quarry. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted to go, and Gray swore he’d do his job. I ended up giving in because Jack can’t live like a caged animal. He needs to have his life. Which means I need to trust Gray.

But still, it’s better to have Suzie where I can keep an eye on her.

When I leave the library at five, she’s still there. She watches me cross the street to the Shelby. I think about heading back to my apartment—keeping to myself, away from Jack. But I can’t make myself do it. I need to see him—to be sure he’s okay. So I drive up to the quarry.

And Suzie follows me.

Even though she doesn’t seem to pose any immediate threat to Jack, I still don’t like it. As much as I hate to admit it, a piece of me wishes John hadn’t left, because my infernal shadow is going to put a serious crimp in my ability to protect Jack.

The thought that Jack might be better off if I left flits through my head as I watch Suzie tail me. But even if that’s true, despite what I promised his grandpa, I’m not sure I could actually make myself do it.

*~*

Jack

When I see Ianto standing on a boulder near the path, I can’t help my grin. I swim to the rocks and pull myself out of the water, pressing into him and totally soaking the front of his T-shirt and jeans. But he only pulls me closer.

Being in his arms on the rocky edge of the quarry brings memories back. I glance over at the rope swing, remembering the night I brought Ianto out here, under the stars. I shudder with the memory. It wasn’t our first kiss, but it was definitely the most romantic—and the most romantic night of my life up till that point. Something about the stars, maybe. But more than that, Ianto let down his guard and showed me who he really was that night. I’m pretty sure that’s when I fell in love with him, though I never would have admitted it to myself at the time.

At the moment, however, one of my least favourite people has laid claim to the rope swing. Lisa Hallett is sitting on the wooden disk at the bottom, dragging her foot along the surface of the water as she swings out over the quarry, and trying to look as sexy as possible in the process. She won’t actually go in the water, though. God forbid she should trash her hair and makeup and come out looking like a drowned rat. Her double-Ds are barely contained in her black bikini, and I’m hoping Ianto and I will be gone before she’s had a few more beers and they make their appearance. To her credit, they’re totally real. All of us, boys and girls alike, have been watching their progress since sixth grade with fascinated interest.

Tosh and Tommy climb the rocks out of the water and come over to where we are.

“Hey, Ianto,” Tommy says. “Tore yourself away from those books, huh?”

I elbow him. “Shut up, Tommy. Maybe if you knew how to read…”

He flashes me a sarcastic grin. “Where’s Owen?” I ask.

Tosh points down the quarry to a group of guys showing off on the diving cliff—which isn’t really a cliff at all. Just a place where the rocks stick out over the water. It’s only about a ten-foot drop, but it makes the guys feel more manly to call it a cliff, I guess.

Sure enough, Owen’s up there. I squint to see who he’s talking to.

“Holy shit! Is that Dale?”

Tosh nods. “He’s back for the summer.”

What the hell is he thinking?

My face twists into a scowl. “So Owen exists again. How nice of her.”

Dale is the guy Owen lost his virginity to. He’s also the only person to ever break his heart. He left for Edinburgh last year on some sports scholarship, and as far as Owen knew, they were still together. When he stopped answering his phone calls and never bothered to tell him when he’d come home for a visit last year, it became clear they weren’t.

“I know,” Tosh says. “I can’t believe he’s over there.”

Tommy rolls his eyes. “He’s a total wanker.”

I look up at Owen again just as Dale slithers his arm around his waist. He wraps his arm around his shoulders, and he leans in for a kiss.

And makes me want to puke.

But the very next second, Dale is wheeling through the air, screaming like a little girl. He hits the water and the screaming stops, only to start again when he breaks the surface. From the way he’s thrashing around, some of his friends catch on that he can’t swim and jump in after him. They drag him to the rocks, him pulling them under every few feet, with much yelling and swearing.

I crack up as Owen waves at us, then dives off the “cliff” in a beautiful, arcing swan dive. He swims over and pulls himself out of the water. “What a wanker,” he says, echoing his brother.

I turn to explain the deal to Ianto and see his eyes still locked on the cliff. When I follow his gaze, I notice three people tucked into the trees at the edge of it, all very inappropriately dressed for swimming, in jeans and black T-shirts. I recognise the one in the middle. She’s the scary chick from Williams’ and Giovanni’s.

I feel Ianto’s fingers weave into mine. “I shouldn’t have come here,” he says low enough that only I hear him.

I turn back to the cliff and they’re gone. “It’s okay. We can go.”

He smooths his fingers over my cheek. “Is Gray here?” I nod, pretty sure it’s true, and then a rock flies through the air and hits Ianto in the back of the head. He winces and shoots a look behind him—where, of course, nobody is.

“He’s here,” he says, disgusted.

I glare into the empty space behind Ianto. “Let’s go.” He smiles and kisses me softly on the cheek. “You should stay with your friends. I just needed to know you were okay”—he shoots a glance over his shoulder again—“and not alone.”

I tug his arm. “Stay.”

His eyes dart back to the cliff. “It’d be better if I didn’t.”

“Fine,” I huff. “Be that way.”

He laughs and pulls me into his arms. “You have no idea how cute you are when you pout.”

I crack a smile, then press harder into him and stick out my bottom lip. “Cute enough to make you stay?”

Still smiling, he glances around. Lisa steps off the rope swing and strikes a pose. He looks back at me and rolls his eyes. “Have fun and I’ll see you later.”

He squeezes my hand and heads up the path, and in the shadows of the woods, I catch three dark shapes weaving through the trees behind him. I start to take off up the path after him, but something tugs on my shoulder. Gray.

“He’s a big boy, Jack. He’ll be fine,” comes his whisper in my ear.

So I watch Ianto go, wishing he didn’t suck so bad at judo.

*~*

Gray

Once I know Jack’s going to stay put, I follow the demons up the path behind Ianto. Ianto climbs into the Shelby, and when Suzie and dumb and dumber phase into the Mercedes, so do I.

“So, I’ve been thinking—”

Before I can finish the thought, three glowing fists are inches from my face.

“Nothing like shooting the messenger,” I say, lacing my fingers behind my head and slumping back into the backseat.

Suzie’s eyes follow Ianto’s Shelby as he pulls out onto the road and drives by. She lowers her fist and the others follow suit. “What do you want?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.”

In a nanosecond, her fist is crackling in my face again. “Don’t play games with me, cherub.”

I roll my eyes. “We could do this all day,” I say, pushing her fist out of my face, “or we can figure out how to help each other.”

She’s silent for a long second, then says, “First tell me if you did it.”

“Did what?”

“Turned him and tagged him.”

I snort out a laugh. “I’m assuming you mean the demon.”

“Lucifer,” she confirms.

“First of all, the fact that he’s tagged for Heaven is making me want to hurl—if I had a stomach, that is. And second, I don’t have the power to turn a demon mortal.”

“Then who does?”

This is tricky. I have a feeling Jack might be in danger if I tell him the truth, but I can’t lie. Even to a demon. “Why do you care? What’s it to you that the demon is mortal now?”

Her eyes narrow as she sizes me up. “I have orders. I’m supposed to bring him back.”

“For trial?” I can’t hide the hope in my voice.

She continues to glare at me, but doesn’t answer.

I shift in my seat and cross my ankle over my knee. “I think we may be on the same side, strangely enough.”

“Meaning…?”

“Meaning, it wouldn’t break my heart if the demon disappeared.”

A malicious smile curls her lips, turning her face into something significantly more demonic. I’ve captured her interest.

“He’s a demon. Just as stupid as any other demon,” I say, gesturing at the moronic pair of bookends.

She growls at me and her eyes flare red, but she doesn’t move.

“So, how hard can it be to get him to sin? Reverse his tag?” I continue.

The big demon leans against the seat. “I’m listening.”

“You need him in demon form to bring him back for trial, right?”

“That’d be preferred.” Suzie’s face pulls into a predatory leer, like a cat eyeing a mouse. “But dragging his mortal soul back to Hell is a close second.”

“Fine. So if he could be convinced—” I stop abruptly when I realise I almost gave Jack’s secret away. “I think I know a way to turn him demon again.”

Suzie’s eyes flash red. “How?”

“I’ll take care of it. You just be ready. When it’s time, you’ll need to be quick, before he—” I stop again. “Just be ready. It’ll be obvious.”

Her hand darts out and grabs a fistful of my T-shirt. “I need more than that, cherub. Details.”

One of the moron brothers sitting next to me in the backseat tries to grab my arm, and I zap him with a crackle of white lightning. Just enough to back him off.

“No,” I say plainly, leaning forward and getting into Suzie’s face to show her I’m not intimidated.

She cracks a grin, watching dumb smoulder, and when dumber turns to retaliate with a raised red fist, Suzie drops my T-shirt and punches him across the jaw. She turns back to me and grimaces. “So, I’m just supposed to trust you? How stupid do you think I am?”

I can’t keep the smirk off my face. “Pretty much as stupid as the rest of your kind.”

Her fist is hot in my face in a heartbeat. I raise my hands, my face a mask of feigned innocence. “Hey, you asked, and angels can’t lie.”

Her fist glows brighter for a moment; then she lowers it with a scowl.

“Just be ready,” I say, then phase back to the quarry with Jack. All I have to do is convince Ianto that Jack’s better off without him. He leaves, Jack gets over him, and voilà, Ianto’s either dead or a demon again. Either works for me. And if he turns demon, Suzie taking him to Hell will ensure that he doesn’t change his mind and come back.

I watch Jack and Owen splash each other in the face and almost feel guilty. But the truth is, Ianto will inevitably let him down. In his true essence; he’s a demon. And who knows how much damage he could do in the meantime.

Better for him it never gets to that point. I’m doing the right thing.