Chapter Text
“I hope you know we’re staying in my cabin. So no fanciful notions about sleeping outside and finding rare ingredients, alright?” Lanyon asked, half joking and half serious, as he and Jekyll strolled down the path towards his family cabin, each man carrying a bag of their belongings.
Jekyll hummed in response, staring at the reds, browns, and oranges of Autumn in the trees. He inhaled the scent of decayed leaves, the smell of wood, and felt at peace. There was a slight chill in the air, signaling winter’s future arrival, but Jekyll paid it no mind. It felt wonderful to him. This trip with Lanyon would be the first break he had in years, and what better season to go than Autumn? The plants that grew during the season, and in this area might be useful in his experiments as well…Perhaps he could take some time to-
“Henry! Are you even listening to me?” Lanyon jabbed his elbow into Jekyll’s side, the latter turning around with a “huh?” The older man sighed. “Do you promise me you won’t go wandering in the woods?” He asked, a small note of worry in his voice.
“Oh, of course not! I’m perfectly content to stay at the cabin with you!” Jekyll replied with a smile. “I am simply enjoying the season for what it is.” His eyes sparkled, and Lanyon’s heart skipped a beat. Jekyll looked authentically cheerful, less tired, and alive. This break would do him well.
Lanyon rolled his eyes at his friend in an attempt to push the sentimental feeling down, but the action was without a hint of malice. “Alright, but I better not wake up tomorrow to find you knee deep in plants. Again.”
Jekyll flushed at the comment. “It was a rare specimen!” He protested, but smiled nonetheless.
“This holiday is so you and I can have a break. That means no work, no experiments, and absolutely no self-deprecation, alright? Just the two of us.” Lanyon stated, placing emphasis on the last phrase.
Jekyll nodded. “Just the two of us.” He repeated, cheeks growing hot when he felt his hand brush up against Lanyon’s. The desire to reach out and hold the other man’s hand was strong. Jekyll tried to push down the thought, but pleasant memories came back to him. And he wondered, maybe, if he just told the other man, perhaps…
Oi, Jekyll! Enough fantasizing!
I was not!
I beg to differ. You’re filling me with uncomfortable feelings, dear doctor.
Well, then you can ignore them and leave me be.
Aren’t you testy today? Is it because you’re alone with the same man you’ve pinned after for-
“Ah! Here we are!” Lanyon’s voice interrupted Jekyll from his thoughts (and Hyde). The cabin hadn’t changed much in the past years, aside from some small repairs to keep it in shape. It still maintained its warm and inviting appearance that brought both men back to their university days.
Lanyon grinned at Jekyll. “Shall we?” He slipped a key into the lock, turning it until he heard the “click!” The two gentlemen walked into the cabin, turning down corners until they found the bedroom. The rest of their belongings had been set beside the two beds already. Lanyon unceremoniously dropped the bag he had with him at the foot of one bed, took off his shoes, and laid down. Jekyll followed shortly after on the other bed, sighing with relief. A whole weekend away from the city with his best friend, no lodgers in sight, no Frankenstein either. How absolutely perfect.
“So,” Lanyon started, propping himself up on his arm. “Are you glad to be away from it all?”
“Yes. Thank you again for inviting me out here, Robert.” Jekyll smiled at his friend. “I’ve missed this, you know. The times where it was just the two of us. It’s very nostalgic, and I’m so very glad to be here with you.”
Lanyon felt heat rise in his cheeks. Sometimes, the sincerity of the younger man still caught him off-guard. “I’ve honestly missed this as well.” The two men locked eyes for a moment, taking in each other’s features. Lanyon’s cheeks dotted with dozens of freckles, Henry’s little dimples, the shape of their lips…
Lanyon rolled onto his back, then pushed himself to a sitting position. “Are you hungry?” He asked, changing the subject as quickly as it came up.
Jekyll nodded. “Famished.”
“Why don’t we eat something? Then we can head out for a bit.” And with that, both men left the room, shoulders touching as they walked back down the hall.
“I warned you about the lake, didn’t I? And look where that got us!” Lanyon scolded, or at least tried to before bursting out into laughter. It was extremely late in the evening, and both men were exhausted from the day’s activities, as well as finally relaxing after busy schedules. This exhaustion also caused them to find the smallest things absolutely hysterical, to the point where you would assume they were tipsy at first glance.
“Well, how was I supposed to know it was right there?” Jekyll giggled into his pillow. He truly hadn’t meant to drag Lanyon down with him in the lake. But was it worth it? It was to his sleep deprived mind. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed so hard or had this much fun.
Lanyon faced Jekyll, stifling a yawn and another laugh. “Are you ready to sleep yet?” Jekyll shook his head and giggled again. “Not yet.” God he was adorable. His sleepy face, with a small smile and eyes ready to close any moment. It was almost unbearable for Lanyon, as it only reminded him of what he had lost years ago.
“Henry, I know that we were supposed to relax on this trip, but I have something to tell you.” Lanyon suddenly said, the words tumbling out of his mouth without thinking.
“Hm? What’s the matter, Robert?” Jekyll asked, sitting up, pillow in his lap. He hugged the plush item close to his chest, resting his chin on it. He stared at Lanyon with wide red eyes, waiting expectantly for the other man to speak.
“I-You know what? Nevermind.” Lanyon shook his head, turning away with a wave of his hand. “Far too many unnecessary feelings there.”
Jekyll frowned. “I see.” He played with a loose thread on the pillow. “Forgive me if I caused any of them.”
Lanyon whipped his head back around. “Who said you caused them?”
“Well, after what happened in university when we…I mean, I only assumed that it was my fault.” The words stung Jekyll’s throat to speak, years of guilt, embarrassment, and yearning all mixing together and bubbling up inside him. Both men had pushed the topic aside for so long, it was bound to come up sooner or later.
Lanyon huffed. “Well, it was far from your fault. I’m the one who broke things off, not you. If anything, you should be utterly spiteful towards me.”
Jekyll shook his head rapidly. “I couldn’t be.” Not to you. Not ever.
“Oh? And why is that? Is this another part of the facade I taught you?”
“ Because, I never stopped pining after you for the last fifteen years! ” Jekyll blurted out, covering his mouth a second later. The blush creeped back onto his cheeks, and he couldn’t make eye contact with the other man. Lanyon stared at Jekyll, mouth agape at the confession. In Jekyll’s mind, Hyde cackled: The good doctor finally slips up! Jekyll squeezed his eyes shut tight. “I’m sorry.” He hurried out of the bedroom, leaving the older man behind to ponder.
Fifteen years? All this time, Henry? I understand why you haven’t said anything, but, Dear God.
Lanyon heard the cabin door click open. “Henry, wait!” He took off after Jekyll, running out the unlocked door into the dark night. He was barely a foot out of the cabin when rain began to pour. Lanyon stood near the doorway, watching the torrent of rain, and for a sign of the other man. “Henry!” He yelled once more. Nothing.
Panic seizing him, Lanyon rushed back to the bedroom, grabbing his coat and throwing it over his pajamas. Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, was the mantra in his mind. Who knows what could happen out there in the woods at night? He looked for his shoes, slipping those on next as fast as he could. Almost tripping over himself, Lanyon ran back to the door and threw it open.
Then he shrieked.
Jekyll stood in front of him, soaked to the bone and shivering. The whites of his eyes were red, and his cheeks tinted pink. He must have started crying at some point. Lanyon’s expression twisted between anger born of worry and sympathy. “Are you hurt?” He finally asked, the younger man shaking his head. “Just cold. I didn’t go far when the rain started.”
Lanyon sighed, partly out of relief and part out of exasperation. At least Jekyll was safe. “Come now. You need to dry off. Again.” He grabbed Jekyll’s hand, not saying a word when their fingers interlaced.
“Henry Jekyll, what were you thinking?! Running out into the woods at night! Who knows what could’ve happened to you?” Jekyll winced at the sharp tone. He was seated on Lanyon’s bed, wrapped in a blanket with dry pajamas, hair still slightly wet from the rain.
“I’m sorry.” Jekyll whispered, looking down at his lap. If only he hadn’t said anything. He bottled up everything relating to Lanyon for fifteen years so far! He would’ve been content to hold it longer, even for the rest of his life. There were some things too dangerous to say in their society.
Lanyon sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. “No more apologies.” He sat on the bed next to his friend. “I think it’s time we were honest with each other. Besides, no one’s here, remember? It’s just us.”
Jekyll’s eyes went wide with fear. Being open was never easy for him. It was much easier to hide behind a smile and a charming personality, acting as if everything was alright when he was breaking down on the inside. And besides, it could be dangerous for them.
Lanyon leaned in closer to Jekyll. “Do you want me?”
“I-” Jekyll paused, taking a deep breath. Be honest. No one is here but us. “Yes. More than anything in this world.” The relief he felt that those words were out in the open was immense. It felt as if a heavy chain broke inside of him, freeing him and allowing him to breathe once again.
Lanyon smiled genuinely. “Good. Now, I might not be a sentimental man, but I suppose this should be alright. Just this once, of course.” Lanyon cupped Jekyll’s soft face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs across the younger man’s cheeks. “May I?” He asked. Jekyll could feel his heart pounding in his chest at the question. Was he willing to dive back in after what happened? Could they be honestly, absolutely, truly happy? Was love worth it?
“Yes.”
With that, Lanyon pressed his lips into Jekyll’s, the latter wrapping his arms around the older man’s neck. Despite the years it had been since their last kiss, both men fell into it easily. In fact, the absence only made their passion increase. Lanyon’s fingers intertwined with Jekyll’s brown curls, pulling him further into the kiss. He could taste peppermint tea on the younger man’s lips, the familiar flavor only making him want more of him, and wanting to make up for the lost years. Jekyll, with similar feelings, unwrapped his arms and tugged on Lanyon’s shirt, taking in the softness of Lanyon’s lips, the bitter taste on his tongue from the spiced tea he drank. Jekyll wanted this for years, and he intended to take in every second of it. “My Henry.” Lanyon breathed, pulling Jekyll on top of him, the latter falling on top of him with an mmph! Throughout it all, neither of them could let go of each other, and even struggled to stop kissing to take a breath. Fond memories of the eight months they were together in the past came flooding back. But in this instance, after so many years apart, they were happier then they ever had been.
By the end of the session, both men were left panting for breath, laying down on Lanyon’s bed together. Jekyll rested his head on Lanyon’s chest, which had become exposed while they were kissing. Lanyon held the younger man close with one hand, gently playing with his hair with the other hand.
“How…How will we make this work back there?” Jekyll asked, mind suddenly filling with worries and what-ifs.
Lanyon stopped petting Jekyll’s hair, pressing a kiss to the latter’s forehead. “Let’s figure that out when we return. For now, it’s only us, and nothing else matters.”
The answer appeared to soothe Jekyll, who buried himself into Lanyon’s chest, letting out a yawn. The older man smiled, tucking both of them into his bed. Lanyon blew out the candle on the nightstand, then laid back down on his pillow. They slowly fell asleep to the other’s breathing, never letting the other go during the night.