Hate me today,
Hate me tomorrow
Hate me for all the things
I didn't do
for you
Cardiff really was beautiful at night.
All of the lights, illuminated in the night sky, shone brightly. Flat windows that were previously alight with yellow light were being hidden by drapes, stores and shops were closing for the night, dogs were called inside by their drowsy owners. All of this was intensified by one thousand; from the top of the rooftop. Jack's rooftop, as Ianto always called it.
"So, how's that bloody 'faith' working out for you?"
Ianto didn't turn around, for he knew whom it was. But he wondered how long Owen had been standing there behind him. Had he followed him up when he first saw him go?
"What do you mean?" Ianto sighed.
"Well, let's see." Owen said, coming over to plop down beside Ianto. "You're up here, feet dangling off the side of a tall building, with a drink of vodka in your hand. You've got to be bloody suicidal to do that."
"Jack used to do it."
"Point proven." Owen said smugly. Ianto sighed in irritation. He was right.
"Fine, maybe I'm suicidal. What's it to you?"
Owen was silent. Ianto wasn't going to hold his breath waiting for an answer, because he knew Owen wasn't going to reply.
"Misery loves company, I s'pose."
Owen briskly reached across Ianto, a dangerous task since he was leaning over the edge, and grabbed the bottle of vodka, which was half empty.
"There's not another glass." Ianto stated.
Owen shrugged, before taking a drink from the bottle. "Never stopped me before."
Ianto snorted, before turning his attention back to the city below them. The cars slowly drifting down the road were decreasing as the night became more and more late. Ianto glanced at his watch - 12:00 PM on the dot. He had been up here since - 11:30? Half an hour.
"Do you miss it?" Owen asked after a moment. "Not working in Torchwood? Living a normal life?"
"I used to work in Torchwood Two before I worked with this Torchwood." Ianto said, downing the rest of his glass and reaching for the bottle Owen was holding. Owen handed it over without looking away from the street below.
"Why did you join Three, then?" Owen asked. "I mean, you've been here longer than I have. And that's a damn long time, and then working at another Torchwood before this one?"
Ianto shrugged. "Lisa needed Torchwood. I needed Torchwood."
A man was having a fight with some one who appeared to be his wife. She screamed obsceneties at him as the man stood out on the lawn, before some thing flew out the door at him. It looked to be a shoe.
Owen looked wistful. "I envy you for that, you know."
Ianto raised an eyebrow at him as the screaming below them continued. "You envy me because I acquired a job because my girlfriend was dying, I lied to my boss's face every day of every bloody month that went by, and then when she went mad I had to clean up the mess after my team mates, you including, pumped her full of holes?"
Owen barked out a laugh, reaching for the bottle again. "Screwed, isn't it? But you had time, more than enough time, to spend with her with the hope she'd get better. You even got a proper goodbye speech in before she died."
"But it's never enough time to spend with the one you love." Ianto stated.
"And when you finally think it's getting better..." Owen sighed.
"Never does. You can spend your time screwing some body who doesn't give a shit if they ever see you again, you can work until you can't work any more..."
"You can drink vodka on rooftops in the middle of the night..." Owen suggested helpfully.
"And the moment that you remember her again, all of it comes crashing back." Ianto finished.
Owen nodded, and they passed the bottle around again.
"Can I ask a personal question?"
"Leave it to you to ask." Owen grunted. "But yeah."
"What did it feel like to be left by Diane?"
Owen sighed in exasperation. "Does every one in this bloody country know about that?"
"No, just every one in Torchwood." Ianto said, his turn to be smug.
Owen made a noise that sounded like 'humph'. Ianto did not expect a reply, but since Owen seemed to be pretty well carefree by now, he was surprised yet again.
"Hurt, at first. When she left the note, when she took off and made me stand there and watch her literally fly out of my life."
"And then?" Ianto nudged when Owen trailed off.
He smiled sardonically. "And then the alcohol kicked in, and I was pissed. It was like, what did I do to deserve this? What immoral and tragic sin had I committed to deserve having my heart tore out twice in a row?"
"Two seems to be an unlucky number." Ianto drawled. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Lisa, and then Jack replaced the image. Both were gone now.
"Yeah, well, I think I get the bloody point. There isn't going to be a third time."
"What about..." Ianto trailed off.
"Pardon?"
"Aren't you and Tosh...?" Ianto shrugged. Owen cocked an eyebrow at him before he snorted.
"Tosh, well I think I've already stated my opinion about Tosh. The day her and me could work out is the day that I become living dead. Which is not happening any time soon, I don't think."
Ianto smiled. "Well, I hope not."
Owen scooted a inch away from him. "Don't get all sentimental on me, Tea-boy. My shoulder is still recooperating, thanks very much."
"I was aiming for your bloody SHOULDER." Ianto said, exsperated. "You do not seem to get that through your one-track mind. Next you'll say I was aiming for your foot."
"It's a possibility, with your bad aim."
