For Lizhi - Merry Christmas!!
A Night To Forget
Lizhi watched Ianto from the other side of the table. She couldn't help but notice that he looked a bit distant, like something was on his mind. Something other than their date. 'Yan?' she said, softly. 'You ok?'
Ianto looked up from his food. It was the first time he had looked at her properly since they'd came here. Lizhi noticed a sadness in his eyes which couldn't be hidden by the fake smile on his face. She cut him off before his mouth even finished forming the word 'Yeah'. 'What's wrong, Ianto?'
'Nothing' he replied. He couldn't talk about his girlfriend who had been killed while on a date with another girl. He knew Lizhi wasn't going to believe 'nothing' she he also said 'I don't want to talk about it'. This was true, he loved Lisa but now he just wished he could forget about her. Maybe if he forget her it would stop hurting so much. If he forgot her maybe he'd be able to think of the name 'Lizhi' as Lizhi and not a name that was so close to 'Lisa'. Love and Torchwood were two things that didn't go well together as he had learnt the hard way.
'You want to take your mind off it?' Ianto wasn't sure if Lizhi's question was actually a question or simply a statement. 'All right' she smiled deviously. 'Then that is what is going to happen. Tonight will be dedicated to taking your mind off of whatever it is currently on. Sound good?'
'Sounds good' Ianto confirmed. It sounded more than good, it sounded fantastic, he just couldn't see it happened.
'Great. Once we're finished eating, we'll go clubbing' said Lizhi. 'Music so love you can't hear yourself thing. Perfect'
LH
Ianto had been doubtful that clubbing could hep un anyway right up until they were entering the club. He had a headache within seconds of being there, and just as Lizhi had promised the music was so loud he couldn't hear himself think. He found himself worrying about the fact that he was in a clue wearing a smart suit, and Lisa was miles away from his thoughts as he and Lizhi walked to the bar to get a drink.
Ianto had only half finished his drink when Lizhi grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. He wasn't much of a dancer but she didn't seem to care. While they were dancing Ianto thought about how he'd met Lizhi. It was a week before this date, the night after Lisa had been killed and Ianto had been sitting at a bar taking one drink after another and eventually succeeded in numbing himself. Him and Lizhi had got talking about everything and nothing. Nothing important at least. And then he kissed her. He'd barely even thought about it, he'd just leaned forward and placed his lips on hers. When she gave him his number, it took him four days to ring her and that was how he ended up here with Lizhi.
'You ok?' Lizhi had to shout so that Ianto could hear her.
Ianto smiled, his first real smile since before Lisa died. 'Yeah' he replied, and in that moment he meant it. He was ok. Even when he found himself thinking about Lisa, it hurt ever so slightly less. He was going to be fine. He was going to get through this and be just fine. He looked at Lizhi. 'Thanks for this'
Lizhi laughed slightly 'No problem' she said back.
Ianto kissed her. This time he did think about it, this time he meant to do it. At least he felt like he was betraying Lisa, but that passed quickly. The Lisa he had been with, he truly realised only now, had died in the battle of canary wharf, it was time he moved on. Lizhi returned the kiss quickly.
'D'you want to go somewhere quieter?' she whispered in his ear.
Ianto smiled a confirmation and Lizhi took his hand and they slipped out of the club.