Sulu hesitated for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to tell Ianto everything he thought about him, how much he meant to him, but the words wouldn't come exactly right and he didn't want to say it all in person, when he could mess it up. So instead, he'd have to hold some of it back. Not all of it, though; not when Ianto was feeling as bad as he was. Sulu didn't want to let his self-esteem make him feel worse than he did already.

"You are amazing, though. I don't tell just anyone that, so I'm not just saying it. You sell yourself short without realizing how wrong you are." He pressed his cheek into Ianto's hair, trying to find some of the things he wanted to say in that moment. "You're brave," he said finally, "Incredibly brave, even when things are terrifying and going wrong. And you're smart, and don't pretend you don't know that." He laughed quietly and added, "I think I've already mentioned how attractive you are a couple of times now. So as much as you don't see how amazing you are, you should know that I do. Every day."