it's not what it looks like
The expression so clumsily written upon a lion's face caused a smile to light up on Ianto's own, amusement dancing in blue eyes as he watched Remi, though the bond they still shared made it a little difficult to fully appreciate. He felt the alchemist's uncertainty, not wanting to scare him away as he knew he'd managed to do at least once before, back in Northaven. Clearing his throat, obviously surprised by Remi's response, his smile grew softer and he shrugged.
"Not like that," he murmured. "When I... when we were together in Northaven, shortly afterwards you confessed your feelings to Loren, I believe. I wanted you to be happy then, too. You were so stubborn, so determined to be miserable over something that wasn't your fault." His tone was warm, affectionate. "That you could be brave enough to tell Loren what you felt was more than I ever expected. So I backed off, and then... well, then we fell through into here." He rubbed at the back of his head.
"But that didn't stop the way I felt, obviously."
"Not like that," he murmured. "When I... when we were together in Northaven, shortly afterwards you confessed your feelings to Loren, I believe. I wanted you to be happy then, too. You were so stubborn, so determined to be miserable over something that wasn't your fault." His tone was warm, affectionate. "That you could be brave enough to tell Loren what you felt was more than I ever expected. So I backed off, and then... well, then we fell through into here." He rubbed at the back of his head.
"But that didn't stop the way I felt, obviously."
