"I know," Ianto echoes right back to him, his blue eyes sad but steady as he does. Because it's true. He'd known it then and he knows it now. He's come to know John in the past few months, the way that he thinks, the choices he makes. He might not know everything, but he knows enough to know that much. That he'd have done everything he could to see it through. And that there's a high probability he'll do it again.

"You don't know how brave you are," he says softly. "Facing up against that dragon like you did. Who am I to stand in your way? I've only known you for less than half a year now, I just." He presses his lips together, before stepping away as he feels his eyes begin to burn. He's already cried too much in front of John, he feels like an idiot for the thought that he might again.