Hello Goodbye Hello Goodbye - Open to holycrap2hearts & te_gwas

[fitz_fortune]

It was more or less inevitable that Ianto would leave again, but somehow Fitz had been hoping that that would change now that things between them had changed. Apparently not. As he walks into the console room, the Doctor is entering coordinates and chattering as Ianto double checks that he has everything that he came on board the TARDIS with. He

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[fitz_fortune]

Fitz follows the Doctor to the door and slides past him to step out. "No problem. I'll go announce us." He walks a little ways toward the house before wondering why it seems empty. But that couldn't be. Ianto mentioned they didn't go out. Maybe they're just having a quiet afternoon in. "I'll be right back!" He waves back to the Doctor and walks the rest of the way to the house. It is a pretty nice place- the kind of place suited to quiet evenings in. He can see why Ianto would like it here

[antitimelord]

It takes Zagreus a minute to place a name to the voice he hears, engrossed as he is in aimless rummaging through the deserted house. But once the identity of the voice's owner clicks into place, a nebulous plan starts to form. If Fitz is asking after Ianto, then clearly word of his return hadn't spread to the Doctor or Fitz, yet. Which meant the man on the landing was likely completely unwary.

Leaning out the door, he addresses his "guest" with a rather anticlimactic degree of normalcy, though something about his look of interest might register as a bit too intent.

"No, I'm afraid not." His smile manages to be both mocking and strangely melancholy.

[fitz_fortune]

The face and the voice surprise Fitz enough that he pauses in his walk down the hallway. This is definitely not the Doctor. He'd only just left him. So it must be Johann - but this man's manner doesn't match up with Fitz's brief meeting with Johann. When he had met him before, he hadn't seemed so collected. It could be just a natural change, and Fitz would have put it off as just that, but there's something of a predatory look in this man's face that makes him want to keep his distance. He can't shake the image of him pouncing forward like a hungry animal.

Something is off here, Fitz thinks, enough that instead of asking him where Ianto is, he asks "What's happened?"

[antitimelord]

Zagreus is paying enough attention to spot that flicker of surprise--and deduce at least part of the thought behind it. The usual annoyance at being recognised as similar to the Doctor is quickly shaken off, and he thinks to put more effort into his facade.

Padding on still-bare feet towards Fitz, he tries to offer a reassuring smile, though it slides into a grimace somewhere along the way.

"No need to worry. He isn't here, but everything's just fine."

[fitz_fortune]

Fitz stays in the same position, eyeing the closing distance between them should he have to turn tail and run. For now he's more worried about what could have happened to Ianto and the TARDIS. Despite the smile, he still can't bring himself to trust the word of the man creeping towards him. His explanation did nothing to convince Fitz that everything is just fine.

"Where is he? Where's the...where's Meredith?"

[antitimelord]

The other man's wariness isn't lost on Zagreus, and though he relishes Fitz's unease, there's no real point in drawing this out. He stops a short distance away and rocks back on his heels, as if considering the question.

"Somewhere far from here, I assume. They left when I opened the watch." With a close-lipped smile, he rocks forward again, into a lunge for Fitz's collar. "I don't think they were eager for my company."

[fitz_fortune]

When Zagreus (and he's pretty sure now that it is Zagreus) lunges forward, Fitz stumbles back and feels himself impact roughly into the wall behind him. The only avenue of escape is back down the stairs. There's no way he's making it past Zagreus to go hide out somewhere in the house, and to his left is nothing but a blank wall.

Fitz tries to think clearly - he has to get away - but it's hard to do much more than panic with Zagreus gripping at his collar and holding him back. Fitz doesn't know what the other man's plans are, but he knows he doesn't have much time if he wants him unconscious. He has to get down those stairs. Right now.

He punches out and squirms over, finding that he can easily get away from his pinned position. Too late, he realises that Zagreus still has a fierce grip on him and was letting him move into position, his back facing the dangerous incline of the stairs.

"Don't."

His eyes widen in surprise and he fights to keep his footing on the top stair.

[antitimelord]

It's easy enough to dodge Fitz's panicky flailing, and easier still to steer him into a precarious position at the head of the stairs. Caught between a rock and a hard place, of sorts. With an absent air, Zagreus tuts to himself, as though he were watching circumstances from the sidelines rather than causing them. The other man's protest, too, he answers with a detached air. "This isn't for you." As though it would matter to Fitz why this is happening.

The only trace of avidness comes when he reaches for Fitz's temple, watching his face with a sort of proud anticipation. Oh, the work he has planned. So often, Zagreus thinks, he is associated with destruction. But isn't it an act of creation to re-write others? Still musing idly to himself, he goes to work in Fitz's trapped mind.

[fitz_fortune]

Zagreus will find it easy to navigate within Fitz's mind. Ever since he was recreated by the TARDIS in the Rememberance tank, his mind has been catalogued in a way that most people's aren't. It was the equivalent of organizing a junk room into a infinite series of precisely labeled boxes. All Zagreus has to do is look in the right spot and he will find anything he wants. Fitz's face remains in its frightened expression as Zagreus delves into his mind and sorts through the organised contents. He doesn't know what's happening, but he can feel things changingHe screws his eyes shut against the pain, his mind racing over thoughts of the Doctor and Ianto. They're both in danger now and he has to warn them. He needs help. Will the Doctor be wondering what's taking him so long yet? He needs to make sure the Doctor doesn't get hurt. He needs to find Ianto. He needs to get out of this alive. Oh, but it hurts. He tries to yell out, but finds he can't

[antitimelord]

So much order ...On the surface, Zagreus is focused and efficient, in the way he only ever seems to be when he's re-orienting minds. But the neatness of this mind in particular (and oh, it would be the handiwork of a TARDIS, he finds the information about Fitz's origin easily enough) galls him, and he doesn't linger over his work, though he is nothing if not thorough

[fitz_fortune]

Fitz is vaguely aware of the sensation of falling

[holycrap2hearts]

As soon as the Doctor spots Fitz he can tell something is wrong. First of all, Ianto isn't accompanying him. Second of all, Fitz is carrying Ianto's guitar. Third of all, Fitz seems to be hurt.

"Fitz!" he shouts worriedly, running over to meet him. If he let something happen to Fitz he'll never forgive himself. If he let something happen to Ianto he'll never forgive himself either, but dealing with the problem immediately in front of him seems wiser than wondering what other problems there might be.

"Fitz, are you hurt?" Of course he's hurt, he's limping, what a stupid question to ask. Stupid, stupid Doctor. He takes the guitar and pulls Fitz's arm around his shoulders so he can help him walk as they head back to the TARDIS. "Fitz, what happened?"

[fitz_fortune]

Oh, Doctor. You're so easy to fool. "Nobody's home. Looks like they left in a- ow- hurry." He helps the Doctor place his arm around his shoulder and leans into him, letting the Doctor carry some of his weight. "I...uh...fell down the stairs. Fitz Kreiner: savior of planets, felled by a frayed rug." He chuckles, then stops himself, remembering that he should seem to be worrying about Ianto. He looks down to the guitar that the Doctor's holding. It could use some new strings.

[holycrap2hearts]

Left in a hurry. Not many things would have caused them to do that, even fewer given the state his future self's TARDIS was in. It must have been Zagreus.

The Doctor catches Fitz looking at the guitar. "Don't worry, Fitz," he says in his most don't-worry voice. "I'm sure that both Ianto and the TARDIS are safe. I intend to make sure of that, actually." By now they're back in the control room and the Doctor steers Fitz over to the armchair. He places a book that somehow ended up in the seat onto the small table beside the chair and sets the guitar down. "Sit still, I'll be back in a moment with some ice for you."

He turns to head towards the medical room. On the way he sends a short text of Where are you? to Ianto, hoping that wherever he is, he hasn't forgotten his mobile. Minutes later he returns to Fitz, a glass of water in one hand, a small pill bottle in the other, and numerous ice pads wedged between his arms and his chest. He sets it all down, digs out two of the pills, and hands them and the glass to his companion

[fitz_fortune]

Fitz settles down into the chair and props his foot up on the table. When the Doctor comes back burdened with ice packs, he can't help chuckling. Seeing him setting excess ice packs on the table, Fitz can help but think what a ridiculous man the Doctor is. It's surprising that he actually gets anything done at all. He takes the pills and the water from the Doctor, but doesn't take them right away. The Doctor could be giving him anything, and even if he had good intentions, he doesn't exactly have a sparkling history with identifying dangerous substances

[holycrap2hearts]

As if on cue, the phone in the Doctor's pocket buzzes, signaling a reply from Ianto. Funny you should ask, it reads, we've just landed in Cardiff.

He smiles at Fitz. "Don't worry, they're in Ca--" he is cut off as his mobile buzzes and lights up again with another message. Funny strange, not funny ha-ha, followed by a set of coordinates. "They're in Cardiff, he's sent me the coordinates. I'm sure they're fine, Fitz, it'll be okay." The Doctor leans over to give Fitz a comforting kiss on the forehead before walking to the console. Maybe the old girl will give them a smoother takeoff than usual given Fitz's state, he hopes as he presses buttons and turns dials. He can't imagine being flung out of the chair will help his knee.

She doesn't, of course. It's just as bumpy as normal, but soon enough they land, and after a quick check on the readout monitor, he opens the door and starts to head out.