11 Howls

[coyote_walking]

Having a car to work on is one of the best things ever. If anyone's looking for me, that's what I'll be doing.

This last curse wasn't bad. Just... weird. I was doing some weird R&D work and putting together some prototype of... something.

Don't even know who the people were, but I sure felt like I did then.

Anyone up for doing something after work?

Comments

[justashow.livejournal.com]

There's no rush. They aren't eating what I've got out at the moment anyway.

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

I'd offer to help, but I'm afraid they wouldn't like the coyote.

...

They'll be back. You have to believe they'll be back.

[justashow.livejournal.com]

They don't like anything that isn't Ianto.

They keep crying.

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

I'll be there soon.

Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[Kyle is in the bedroom he shared with Jack and Ianto, the ducklings crowded onto the bed with him, their peeping, desperate mouths pressing against the suit jacket that hangs over his arms.

The jacket is Ianto's, and it's far too big on Kyle.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy came in quietly, leaving the bag of alfalfa pellets by the door and came over to sit beside Kyle on the bed, hoping the poor ducklings wouldn't freak out at her scent.]

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[The ducklings' distress stems from the absence of their imprinted object, not in the presence of a coyote. They are already agitated and continue to be, even though Kyle had attempted to soothe them with the use of the jacket.

He sat now, herding them onto his lap, his face utterly expressionless. He didn't say anything when Mercy sat down beside him.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy leaned her head against his shoulder, wishing there was something she could do for him.]

I'm sorry.

Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

They'll forget.

[Kyle's hand cradled a duckling in his palm.]

A few days without him and they'll forget. They'll stop crying.

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[She closed her eyes, the scent of his grief almost overwhelming.]

But we won't.

Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

No.

[Kyle whispered the word, finally looking up, despair in his eyes and in the twist of his lips.]

Never.

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy turned and leaned in to kiss him on the temple, wanting to hug him, but not wanting to disturb the already distressed ducklings.]

They'll come back, Kyle. We have to believe that they will.

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[Kyle shook his head, and then he shook all over and winced as the ducklings objected to the movement. He began to put them back into their box under the heat lamp. He didn't want to hurt them and he couldn't stop the shaking.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[She reached to help him put the ducklings back, then reached for him.]

C'mere.

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

He's gone back to die, Mercy. Ianto's going to die.

[Kyle's voice broke on the word and he hid his face in her shoulder. Somehow saying it made it real.]

And something happens to Jack. If they come back at all they won't be the same. And I never got to say goodbye.

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy wrapped her arms around him tightly and just held on. She didn't understand why he'd say that or how he knew and she couldn't begin to think of the right words to say.]

Kyle...

[Her heart was breaking for him.]

They knew. They knew how much you loved them.

Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[The tears came, stinging his eyes and burning trails down his cheeks, into the collar of his shirt.]

It's not enough.

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever feels like enough.

[Her voice was soft, her hand gentle as she stroked his hair. All she could do was hold him while he cried.]

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[That was all Kyle seemed to be able to do now. He'd been holding back all day and now the tears wouldn't stop.

Tomorrow he'd feed the ducklings. He'd do the paperwork Niko would deliver, and pour the brandy in Ianto's honour. And he wouldn't cry a drop.

But right now, in Mercy arms, he let go.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy was more than willing to hold him all night if he needed her to. She stroked his hair soothingly, just letting him get it all out.]

I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.

Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[Kyle's breath caught in a sob and he muffled it with his hand.]

You can't promise that.

[Because they had. And they still left him.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

Not tonight.

[Her voice was firm and sure.]

I'm not letting go of you, so if I go anywhere tonight, you're coming with me.

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[He nodded, as it seemed the only response that would be accepted.]

Re: Action?

[coyote-walking.livejournal.com]

[Mercy was glad that he couldn't smell how terrified she was at the thought that he, too, could just disappear at any time, leaving her alone in the City. That was something she was going to stuff as far down inside her as she could possibly manage.]

Is there anything I can do?

Re: Action?

[justashow.livejournal.com]

[Kyle shook his head again and closed his eyes.]

You can't reverse time.