Ianto's breathing on the other hand is far from steady, especially when John reaches out to tug him forward and hold him against his chest. He smells like the cream that they've been putting on his skin but Ianto doesn't mind it so much. John's body is warm against his own and covered in burn cream or not he's alive. He's alive and he may think he's awful at everything but Ianto doesn't care because he knows otherwise. He would never like him this much if there weren't a reason for it.

Ianto's arms come up around the other man to fasten in his shirt, a little awkwardly because he still has the bottle of cream in one of them, and cream all over the other. He tips his face forward to bury against the other man's shoulder, taking in a deep and shuddering breath.

"I don't care," he says roughly. "I didn't kiss you to get you to listen to me. I'm not just telling you this to try and convince you that you're a better person than you think." His arms tighten around the other man. "You are who you are, John. And I don't know who you think I am but I really am only just Ianto Jones. And maybe that's not as good a person as you think, and maybe I'll disappoint you in the end, but I've made my choice, mess and all. And unless you really want me gone stop trying to convince me out of this and just let it be."