Title: You Are the Light
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Ianto Jones/Tenth Doctor
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Rating: PG
Table: 50ficlets
Prompt: 14, Light
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own Ianto Jones or the Tenth Doctor. Please do not sue.

***

"You need to take better care of yourself," Ianto scolded the Doctor, folding the wet cloth in his hand and holding it to the Time Lord's cheek. "I know that you're supposed to be much less vulnerable than a human, but you're not invincible."

The Doctor nodded, sighing as he placed his hand over Ianto's to hold the cloth in place. "That cut won't be there in a while, Ianto. You know how quickly my body can heal. Within a few hours at the most, you won't even know I was hurt."

"I'll know," Ianto murmured, his eyes meeting the Doctor's. "Every time you're hurt, that's imprinted on my heart. And it terrifies me when it happens."

"You have to accept that I can get hurt, Ianto," the Doctor said softly, his fingers curling around his young lover's hand as they both held the cloth against his cheek. "As you said, I'm not invincible. I can't expect to never have any physical injuries."

Ianto sighed, wishing that he didn't have to agree with the Time Lord. "It's just that --" he began, then shook his head. "You've heard it all before. You know how I feel about you getting hurt, Doctor. My heart is in my throat any time I feel that you're in danger."

"I feel the same way when I think you could get hurt, you know," the Doctor told him. "Yes, I've heard you say things like that before, but I-I like hearing you say them. It's good to know that someone cares what happens to me."

"I'm the man who loves you with all his heart and soul, more than anything in the universe," Ianto said quietly, his blue-grey gaze never leaving the Time Lord's face. "Of course I care what happens to you. I'd not have much of a life without you in it."

"Dont say that, Ianto." The Doctor shook his head, his voice sombre. "I hate hearing that. I don't want to think that you put so little value on your own life."

"It's not that." Ianto paused, searching for words to describe how he felt before taking both of the Doctor's hands in his own and bringing them to his lips. "It's that I can't bear to think of anything happening to you. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"You know my feelings are the same about you, love," the Doctor whispered, swallowing back the lump that had formed in his throat. It always touched him to know that Ianto loved him so much; he'd never had that kind of devotion in his life before.

"You are the light in my life, Doctor," Ianto whispered, his eyes still holding the Time Lord's gaze. "If that light went out -- then I'd be left in darkness."

"I'll try to never leave you that way, my beloved," the Time Lord said, a catch in his throat. His voice was barely a whisper; Ianto leaned forward to brush his lips gently across the softness of his lover's mouth, knowing that the Doctor had no words to reply to what he'd just said.

He always felt a bit ashamed when he could render the other man tongue-tied like this. He wasn't sure just why he felt that way; maybe it was because the Doctor always seemed to have an answer for everything but the fact that he was loved.

It tugged at Ianto's heart to think that this man had never felt completely loved before in all of his long life. People had cared for him, yes -- he'd explained that. But never with same fierce passion that Ianto felt for him.

How could people have not felt this kind of overpowering love for this man? Ianto couldn't fathom it -- but in a way, he was glad that no one had.

That just made his own love for the Time Lord even more special, more meaningful. And though he didn't want to the Doctor to feel that Ianto was all he had in the world, it was gratifying to know that his lover depended on him to that extent.

"If that light ever went out of my life -- I'd be lost, Doctor," Ianto continued, swallowing back the lump in his own throat. "Before I met you, in some ways I'd lived my whole life in darkness. You brought me into the kind of light I never thought I'd have."

"I hope you'll always be able to stay in that light, love," the Doctor told him, sighing softly. "But you know that I have to take some risks, Ianto. I have a responsibility to the world -- to the universe. I can't walk away from that."

"I know," Ianto told him, nodding. "And I'll be right beside you to make sure that your light stays in the world -- and with me -- for as long as it possibly can. If that light ever went out, I have a feeling that the world would be in terrible trouble."

"Don't worry, sweetheart," the Doctor said, a smile starting to form on his lips. "I'll do my best to make sure that light doesn't fade away -- for you or for the rest of the world."

As though to prove his words, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Ianto's, those thin arms wrapping around his neck and pulling him close. The cloth fell to the floor, forgotten by both men, their attention completely riveted on each other.

Ianto was sure that he'd never felt any light burn so brightly.

***