back - ao3 link - words: 2,163 - publish date: 03 Dec 2025
Mr. Gabriel Utterson's recent nights had been spent with escapades out into the streets in an attempt to gather more information on that Mr. Hyde fellow. That man had been plaguing his thoughts after he had seen his face, and he needed to quell his worries somehow.
Most of his attempts consisted of following the man to find out what he did, where he often visited. He… may have had a few direct encounters with Hyde in all this, and may have been questioning him, but Hyde still allowed him some time near him, so there was a sliver of hope left.
In this, he had ended up seated next to Hyde in some small pub tucked away in the streets of London, one that Hyde must have been to before. It was silent, between the two of them, the background chatter of the other patrons filling the room. For everything, Hyde didn't seem too averse to his presence, though more annoyed by his constant interrogations. Utterson had yet to speak to the man that night, tracing his finger along the edge of the glass. He could see Hyde staring at him, out the corner of his eye.
Eyes running up and down Gabriel's figure, Edward observed the man who decided it was a good idea to bother him tonight. He was wearing a nice vest, wasn't he? Fit well on his figure, though most everything did, in his opinion. Resting his chin on his hand, he watched as the man took a long swig of his drink and sighed. Time for questioning, he presumed, tearing his eyes away and preparing himself.
As he stared into his drink, Gabriel started trying to pry whatever answers he would never get out of him, asking the same round of questions he heard almost every other time they saw each others faces. Edward soon tuned him out, as the question felt more routine than anything. Was he really this dedicated for answers? Did he have some ulterior motive? Edward snorted aloud as a thought crossed his mind.
"What's so funny?" Utterson said, turning towards the other.
"Nothing, nothing." Hyde leaned back in his seat while smiling, dangerously close to falling. "You know you don't have to make up excuses to be around me," he teased, peering at him out of the corner of his eye. "I don't mind."
Utterson scoffed. "If that's what you want to believe."
Edward only stuck his tongue out in response, before finishing off his drink in one quick motion. He would need it.
The questioning had stopped, as Utterson realized he wasn't getting anything out of it that night. Truly, why did he keep trying? There was very little chance in walking out with anything of value, and he knew this every time he decided to continue on his attempts. Yet for some reason, he kept finding himself within proximity to this man despite his appalling aura. Though certainly it wasn't an excuse to be near him.
"Do you really not have anything better to do?" Hyde asked, almost in earnest, "or do you just enjoy ruining a man's night?" (Edward may have been exaggerating a bit. Gabriel could never ruin his night, really, he had sometimes made it better, if he wasn't being unpleasant. Though he wouldn't admit that. Not to his face.)
"I'm sure I do, but this is much more interesting," Utterson said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hyde cackled, throwing his head back, causing Utterson to jump a bit. Before he could attract too much attention to himself, he nosed into the crook of his elbow. "You're a funny one, aren't you, Gabriel?"
He only grunted in response, shifting a bit at the use of his first name as he looked at Hyde's resting place on the table. His ears twitched, only reminding Utterson that this man (if you could even call him that) wasn't truly human.
Silence fell between the two, a few moments of peace. Utterson continued to nurse his drink while listening to the faint noises of the bar, people chatting, glasses clinking. It was a normal scene, in contrast to the two men sitting together. Hyde's head still rested on the counter.
Edward hummed, unsatisfied with the silence, turning his head to face the lawyer. Jokingly, he asked "So, what's your relationship to Dr. Jekyll, hm?" An imitation of one of the many common things he found himself asked by the other man.
Gabriel chuckled slightly, before stating, "He's a close friend of mine. I'm his lawyer, as I'm sure you know. But we've known each other for years. I'm not sure what life would be like without him." He spoke with a fondness in his voice, reminiscing over memories of his old friend.
Looking down in thought, Utterson didn't notice Hyde staring at him with wide eyes. Huh. Edward didn't expect him to actually answer honestly. Even if he wasn't currently Jekyll, he still took that directed towards him. It made him… happy to know he was so valued, so important to his friends life. He quickly wiped away the stupid smile on his face before Gabriel saw.
Utterson was surprised by the lack of reaction from Hyde after his confession, expecting some taunt or another. He said too much, didn't he? Hyde would find some way to use this against him or something, and trying to not spill anything else, kept quiet for the remainder of their time.
An awkward air settled around them. Not much conversation to be had now, was there? Edward glanced at his empty mug and decided he'd had enough of this, pushing himself out of his seat. "Well, I do believe it my time to leave." He said, stretching his arms towards the ceiling. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, hm?" He cast a sly glance towards Gabriel.
Soon after Edward made his leave, he stalled by the door for a few moments waiting to see if Gabriel trailed behind him. That did seem to be his thing, after all. Not that he minded.
After standing in the cold for a bit, he turned away from the pub, soon hearing footsteps behind him. A quick glance confirmed Gabriel strolling behind him, not very inconspicuously.
Turning a heel to face the other man, he chuckled. "Couldn't get enough of me, huh?"
Utterson only grunted in response, walking up beside Hyde so they were standing next to each other, making their way down the street. Pulling his coat closer in an attempt to keep himself warm in the night time frost, he kept his eyes ahead and away from Hyde.
Edward found this to be like the many times he and- Jekyll and Gabriel had gone on aimless strolls with each other, just to share their company. Deciding to enjoy this brief moment, he comfortably walked beside Gabriel. He could even pretend it was like before, if he were to ignore the staggeringly different height.
He took the moment to stare at Gabriel once again, at how his face flushed from the cold, how he receded into his coat after the breeze hit, his slightly disheveled hair falling over his forehead. God, was he handsome. After spending so many years of his life with this man, he found it increasingly hard to restrain himself from doing something… rash while in his presence like this, Edward Hyde. This moment was no different, though the alcohol might have been taking its toll.
Gabriel looked his way with a confused look. He must have noticed him staring. "Is something wrong, Edward?"
That was it. The use of his name had opened some floodgate in him, his restraint leaving as he grabbed Gabriel's wrists and pushed him against the wall, staring up into his eyes.
Utterson jolted from being pressed to the cold wall, fear striking him as his eyes blew wide. Did Hyde finally get fed up with him? Was that the last straw? He attempted to wiggle out of his grasp, only to fail and frantically look everywhere but Hyde's eyes.
Edward observed his close friend, how he squirmed slightly in his grip, and it almost made him feel bad about scaring him like that, but the desire coursing through his veins was much stronger and overpowering. With the better look at Gabriel, he was able to see his face in its full glory, his eyes shining in the light as they darted above him.
Once Utterson's gaze landed back onto the other man's countenance, he was faced with the hunger behind his eyes, which only fueled his terror. Before he had the chance to say anything, Hyde's hands slipped down from his wrists and onto his collar, pulling him down and smashing their lips together.
Startled, Utterson grunted, but didn't immediately retaliate. His hands shook, falling down to his sides as his stared in confusion at the face much too close to his, Hyde's mouth pressesd against his. What suprised him most that he couldn't find it in him to hate the feeling of it, of his chapped lips against his own.
Soon it ended, Edward pulling away, breathing heavily, grip still resting on the others collar. He just— oh god he just did that. His eyes met Gabriel's, both expressions filled with shared puzzlement, though Edward's with his insatiable hunger.
He had gotten a taste and he craved it more than he thought he could, and unable to resist the pull of the man in front of him, he shoved him back against the wall, lips meeting once again.
His eyes were shut tight, reveling in this amazing feeling he would never get again. And god did it feel good, bodies pressed against each other, the warmth shared between the two. He expected that Gabriel would soon push him off, scold him, run off to wherever, but he was glad to get a taste of what he so horribly desired, even if it was brief.
Somehow, he found Gabriel's hand entangling itself in his hair as he started to return his movements, even if not as strongly, and it only made Edward even more desperate for his touch as he hummed into the kiss, hands falling closer to Gabriel's neck and cupping around his chin as he stood on his toes for better reach.
They weren't able to last for long, as much as Edward didn't want it to end, and he took a small step back to catch his breath, giving Utterson some space. Utterson was stunned by the other man's actions, even more so by his own response. Regrets came crashing in as soon as he recalibrated himself, the near excitement from the events immediately leaving his body.
What even persuaded him to to indulge in whatever madness overtook him? What if somebody saw him, ruined his reputation? (a quick glance around proved that the streets were empty, but he worried nonetheless.) Hyde didn't do anything but stare in what he assumed was awe at the other man, still standing close but not yet touching.
Edward stood, still taking in the man in front of him. He had kissed his closest friend, somehow, while as Edward Hyde, and he didn't seem that repulsed, at least in the moment.
Gabriel had actually reciprocated his affections, despite the fact that he never seemed to like him a bit. Was there some chance that he actually shared the feelings he had for him? That Gabriel actually liked him in this form? Or was he forced by his hand to cooperate with his actions?
In a flurry of emotions, Edward looked Gabriel in the eyes for a brief second before turning and dashing off in some direction.
Utterson watched as Hyde bolted away, leaving him in his thoughts and with nowhere to go. Who was he to run off like that, after what he just did? He didn't say anything, give any reason. All Utterson had now was the quickly increasing stress piled on with regrets. He shouldn't have come out at all, never should have bothered Hyde and this never would have happened. He was sure that is was just the drinks, that was all that made him do it, the only reason why Utterson reciprocated at all.
Running his fingers over his lips, he was only provoked to recall the feeling, and he couldn't bring himself to admit that he may he enjoyed… whatever that was. Shoving everything down, trying not to think of the memories, he decided there was no point in standing out in this cold, he pushed himself away from the wall and started on his journey back to home. Hopefully he could do his best to ignore it, and maybe staying away from that man was the best of ideas. His influence was clearly not any good, and it only made him worry for Jekyll more. With a sigh, he turned onto another street and continued his slow stroll through the foggy paths.