Of Snow and Visions
Jack sat on the snow, over looking the grand scene before him. To most people the mountain top view would have been magnanimous and breathtaking. The brightness and clarity seemed to shine from every point. Jack figured it was Christmas or near it anyway. He remembered spending last Christmas in Ianto's apartment, laughing hysterically at their gaudy Christmas tree and crying from the sadness of what they had lost that year over eggnog. Jack almost smiled as he thought about how they made love by a fake fire place Ianto had bought just for that night. It was the first Christmas in a long time he hadn't been alone.
He took a deep breath as he attempted to see what was in front of him instead of the past or the future. His coat was soaked through but he didn't care, he couldn't bring him self to care about anything anymore.
The one person who had showed him how to truly love and care even through the pain and endlessness was taken from him. He laid back with his arms spread out; the white snow covering his hair. There were no more tears, now it was just an agony that he could do nothing about. He knew that it was his own emptiness that he was running from not the world, but he would rather blame it than cry any more. He closed his eyes and decided that he hadn't died of hypothermia in a long time, it was peaceful and numbing.
"Jack, you hate the cold, why are you here?"
With a gasp Jack looked up and saw Ianto, his aura shining as bright as the sun. The tall man's dark hair and suit came into sight as Jack sat up. The immortal couldn't answer, what could he say? He just wanted to drink in the lovely sight.
"You asked me not to leave you remember? I couldn't keep that promise in that world. But here I will always be there to bring you back into the light," Ianto told him and leaned down giving him a gentle kiss. Jack kissed him back softly putting a hand on the man's cheek, it was cold, like their surrounding.
"Don't make me go back, not without you." Jack pleaded finding more tears after all, his chest heaving from the sobs.
Ianto shook his head, his dark blue eyes were sad with regret. "I can't save you from your fate, I'm sorry, I love you," the man replied the numbness of death was fading and the world around them was bleeding like an overheated oil painting. Jack couldn't see Ianto anymore he reached for him but only felt cold emptiness.
"Please don't leave! I love you too. I can say it now, What am I to do now without you?!" Jack begged his arms still reaching for his lover, his voice was weakened by his sobs.
With a sharp gasp that was clouded by white fog, Jack awakened from death. His face was stained with his tears. He stood up and began to walk again. He knew he had to leave this dying planet then, what he longed for and needed wasn't here anymore. He had missed his chance, taken it for granted as Jack tended to do with everything in his life. A side affect of immortality and having seen too much. Now what he had seen was in his own soul and it broke him.