10

So, Ianto knew his time was up, the time spent here on this planet truly over as he stood at the window of his apartment looking out over the lights of Cardiff. He was going to miss this place, especially the man he had stayed for, the man who he had hoped would one day remember him.

Ianto now knew it would never happen. Whatever had been done to Jack's memory, it was never coming back, and he had been silly to think that it would. He was never that memorable the first time around clearly, and he now knew Jack would soon forget about him again.

Javic Thane was gone. Just a case of puppy love, right? At least Johnty bloody Hart had not shown up to create havoc. He would not have been able to put up with that shit, for sure. Mind you, Hart would not have recognized him, not with this face. But he had hoped that Jack would… well.

He had died for him, had been tortured and had died in such a horrible way, his eyes still sensitive to light in this incarnation. No. The boy who had encouraged him to join up and fight with him… the boy who had begged for his life as those things had…. No. That boy was not the man worth pining after now. Gods, if not for a paradox event caused by a temporal flux he would go back and warn himself not to listen, not to go on the recruitment drive, not to join as his best friend Javic Piotr Thane as he was just another version of his beloved Theta. This was just another déjà vu event where he fell in love and wanted to partner with someone who loved another. Gods, how Javic had encouraged with wide eyes and a desire to avenge Gray… so much like Theta and his lust for 'fixing' things. He had been a fool to love again only to die in a dungeon un the bowels of a vessel in the middle of nowhere for this… this… memory of a friend.

Ride or die. What a joke. He wished…. Well… If wishes were horses than beggars would ride. Right?

It was only once he had regenerated that he knew he was Gallifreyan and remembered himself. Gods, so young. Eternally so young with each regen. At least he had mastered how to keep his face, something Theta had never quite… well… that's not true. He has had the same face twice… just didn't know how he managed it.

Gods, being his study buddy back home had been terrible, the bastard of a prickfaced Koschei seems to have loosened his hold on Theta now at least. When the two of them became more than just friends it had been a relief to leave their little cozy friendship. Now he understands the term 'Friends With Benefits' and wondered if that is why Koschei is so angry. He thought Theta truly loved him only to discover how fickle the man is. Huh. He named himself Master as he was not one in the relationship? Makes a weird sense. The Doctor could not mend that broken heart for sure… even if he tries to fix the bloody known Verse.

Now Ianto knew the pain of being just a filler. Just… a convenience. Javic did not love him or even a to year mind block would not have held back his love. No. Friends with Benefits. Yes. How he understood Koshei's desire to flame the worlds.

Ianto knows the main reason he was drawn to Jack was the Time Energy within in. Then came the realization that this was Javic only…. Not. Although not Gallifreyan, Jack does possess that… golden glow. TARDIS energy, like radiation poisoning. Ianto smiled wanly at himself for that thought, knowing all Timelords have that power. Jack is…. An anomaly. A glitch in the Matrix if ya will and although he clearly scares Theta… he entrances Ianto. Puppy love? Ianto sighed, turning away form all he had protected.

They will be fine. The colonists he saved, they will be fine.

Ianto had watched Rhiannon ushering the children away as he considered his next moves and once the apartment was quiet, he rose and headed to a room that had a red door. Blerp was curious, sitting on his shoulder with one hand holding the collar of his shirt, eyes wide as the door swung open to reveal a huge room inside.

"Come on Blerp my boy, come meet my TARDIS" Ianto stepped into his ship and felt her joy as she fired up, lights coming on and a soft hum growing to a melodic note as she became her former self.

"Hello Melvic. Sorry I have been away from you for so long. I know you have been watching and know full well that I failed the one called Lisa, the last of the brood I was hoping to release to this planet" he spoke to her like she was a friend, and she was. A good, best one. One without the need for 'benefits' right?

Ianto stood in the middle of his ship, ready to leave and felt… well. His hearts skipped a beat as he looked a the monitor and saw Jack outside the apartment door, knocking. Well… shit.

Ianto exited the TARDIS, pulling off the black Burberry he had been wearing and as he swung open the door, Jack turned to leave.

Jack swung back and they stood staring at one another. Then Jack said the single least wanted thing to be spoken of in Ianto's world in this moment and relative space... and time of course. "Is that a purple alien on your shoulder?"

Fuck. He had forgotten Blerp.