Work Text:
Henry Jekyll was an incredibly smart man. Too smart for his own good, in the opinion of Gabriel Utterson, his closest friend. They were sitting at a desk in the cramped dorm room that they shared- Utterson’s side furnished with a single law textbook, which he flipped restlessly through. The pages were worn, the corners slightly ripped and some pages repaired haphazardly with tape, leaving them with great, traumatic scars.
Jekyll’s side of the desk had a cacophony of papers, books and notes sprawled about it like a sleeping animal of academia, while Jekyll himself was focusing his attention on some kind of medical textbook- Utterson had no idea what in particular the subject was, he was making assumptions based on the graphic diagrams he caught glimpses of as Jekyll leafed through the book to find whatever page it was he was looking for.
Jekyll had already completed several medical degrees, so it was anyone's guess as to what he was doing now. Jekyll had a habit of collecting degrees like a child may collect bottle caps- if Utterson didn't know better, he would have assumed Henry Jekyll had some kind of addiction to the academic process, but he was a high-class man. Addiction was beneath him, beneath both of them. As were a lot of things. Sadly.
Utterson turned his attention back to his own book, and picked up a pen that lay beside his hand on the desk, dipping it in the swirling, black inkpot and neatly circling important points and writing down notes in the margins of the well-worn pages.
His concentration was broken by the clear, smooth voice of Jekyll next to him.
“Perhaps later, do you think you could quiz me on some of this content? You do not have to know any of it yourself, just look at this page and formulate some simple questions, if it is not too much trouble.”
Utterson turned to look at Jekyll- he was wearing a brown waistcoat and a long-sleeved, white shirt, as well as dark brown trousers, all of which complemented his beautiful crystalline, green eyes that sparkled so perfectly even in the dim light the dorm room’s poor quality bulbs had to offer.
His face was equally as perfect, his features well-defined, his long, mahogany-brown hair neatly combed back into a ponytail, how Utterson wanted to touch it, run his hand through it- he cut his own thoughts off. It wasn’t very gentlemanly of Utterson to admire his friend in such a manner. And besides, there was no way Jekyll would reciprocate, he was so smart, neat, and remained so cautiously within societal normality. Utterson cleared his throat before speaking.
“Yes, of course I can, my friend.”
Jekyll smiled in response, a crooked smile that seemed almost unpracticed in nature, yet was more contagious than the diseases that he studied. Jekyll turned back to his textbook, scrawling messy notes in the margins of his pages and on the scraps of paper that dotted his side of the desk.
Utterson made an attempt to go back to his own work, however he found his eyes continuously wandered back over to Jekyll- he was so focused, so diligent, he seemed so thorough in the way he scribbled down his notes.
Utterson laughed internally as he looked over at Jekyll’s work- you could tell that man was a doctor, his handwriting says it all. An ancient Egyptian would probably have an easier time reading his notes than Utterson would.
He moved his hands so elegantly, and sat up with perfect posture- he had to keep pushing his glasses back up his nose because they had grown loose over time, Utterson thought this was adorable- wait, no, he can’t be thinking that, he needs to stop- yet he still felt a warm tinge on his cheeks as he admired Jekyll.
He thought it was so impressive the sheer focus the man had, and the amount of times he’d gone through this process to get the amount of degrees he had- Utterson could only dream of that. It’s taking him long enough to get his singular law degree- and yet here was this perfect man, so pretty, so intelligent, doing exactly what he wanted to and more.
He traced the movement of Jekyll’s pen with his eyes, leaning his head on his hand. He felt his eyelids grow heavy as he watched, a goofy, tired smile encompassing his face as he watched Jekyll focus on his work.
He was unsure how long he was actually watching Jekyll for before he slipped from consciousness, and was claimed by sleep; his head hitting the desk gently, his prematurely grey-streaked, fluffy hair facing up as he fell face-down.
-
Jekyll deftly flipped through the pages of his textbook, trying to find something he was yet to memorise. Basic anatomy, drugs, why did all textbooks have to include these basic principles he already knew? He had to remind himself he’s not the only one taking this degree, and most were starting completely from scratch, without the knowledge of god knows how many doctorates already under their belts.
He would make a small note here or there, but he was incredibly focused on the task ahead of him. Exams were soon, he had to work as hard as possible. He was yet to fail an exam and have to resit, he was not going to let this be the first.
His trance was broken by a soft thunk on the desk next to him, startling him as the sound cut through the silence that had previously taken up residence in the room. He turned his head to the side, and saw his friend Utterson, laying face first in a textbook. Law, Jekyll noted, skimming the sentences that were not covered by Utterson’s silver-grey streaked, brown hair. Law seemed interesting. New, as well. Perhaps there would be more things to learn. New case studies. And an excuse to spend time with Utterson.
Jekyll’s eyes traced over the form of his sleeping friend- his hair was fluffy and mousy brown, the silver streaks looked purposely placed, as if by a fine jeweller. Usually kempt and neat, it sprawled over the desk like a scruffy, sleepy cat.
He breathed heavily in his sleep; the sound was somewhat comforting to Jekyll. The dim dorm light caressed the dark, navy blue of Utterson’s jumper, the white collar of his crisp shirt peeking over the edge of his jumper like a cresting whale amid a stormy sea, the waves made by the gentle rise and fall of his back with each breath he took.
A soft smile crept over Jekyll’s lips. Utterson was really adorable. Not that Utterson could know he thought that. God, how ungentlemanly would that be? He had been inclined to feel this way towards his friend for a while now, but if he ever found out? He’d hate him, for sure. He’d have to take that to the grave with him. He turned back to his revision.
Several hours had passed at this point, Jekyll intently poring over his textbook. The margins were practically blots of black ink with the amount of notes Jekyll had scribbled, it was a wonder he could still turn the pages with the amount of ink soaked into the edges of each one.
Utterson was yet to awaken. The thought to wake Utterson strolled through Jekyll’s mind- the man would surely have a bad back if he was allowed to remain like that. Surely he was cold as well, although he was wearing a jumper, so maybe not?
Jekyll’s mind was in conflict with itself- on the one hand, he wanted to wake his friend up, so he could get into bed and sleep without hurting his back, but the gentlest way to do so would be to touch Utterson- he didn’t want to yell at his friend, after all- but he didn’t want Utterson to infer things he didn’t want Utterson knowing.
This miniature war raged on for a while, making it impossible for him to focus on his work.
After around an hour, he finally made up his mind and steeled his nerves- waking up Utterson was the most logical thing to do here, right? That way he wouldn’t wake up with a bad back, and he could be warm in bed. See, there were reasons other than physical contact with Utterson. Regardless of how much he wanted that.
Right as he had made his decision, Utterson made a sleepy sound and shifted his head upwards. Jekyll’s heart leapt in his chest and he pulled his hand back before he touched Utterson. His hair was a mess, and he blinked slowly, turning to face Jekyll.
“Do you happen to know the time?”
Utterson’s voice was thickly laced with sleep. Jekyll felt a blush creep up his neck, his friend’s voice was really quite sweet and he rarely got to hear it when it was foggy and tired. He swallowed before speaking, and glanced at the clock which hung diagonally on the wall.
“Yes, I would say it is about two in the morning.”
“Two? Really? I suspect I shall feel the consequences of sleeping hunched over for so long tomorrow.”
Goddamn it, maybe if he’d just made up his mind sooner his friend wouldn’t be in pain. And he would have got to touch Utterson’s shoulder. But that’s not the main point here.
“I would recommend going to bed right now, you are in no state to revise. Anything you read, you will not take in.”
Jekyll watched Utterson as he yawned and rubbed his eyes, before stretching his arms like a tried cat. God, how could this man make everything, even being tired, so beautiful?
“I will. Remember to take care of yourself as well, my friend. Goodnight.”
He watched as Utterson stood from his chair and made his way to the bed situated in the far left corner.
“Goodnight.”
Jekyll’s voice was barely a whisper as he watched Utterson go. He tore his eyes away, and once again turned back to his book.
-
Jekyll was struggling to concentrate. His exam was very soon- although he couldn’t quite remember the date as the late hour began to slowly fog his mind.
He absent-mindedly continued to make notes in his margin; however he found his thoughts would continuously wander back to Utterson: his blue eyes that pooled like ponds where elegant fish would swim, his beautiful hair, the way he never seemed to be able to complete anything neatly, the way he smiled, the way he laughed- wait, had Jekyll been writing all that down? He glanced down at his textbook. Yes. Yes he had.
He hastily scribbled it out, feeling the back of his neck burn, making a hole in the paper as he did so. He couldn’t risk Utterson seeing that. Even though Utterson would probably never pick up this book in his life. Better safe than sorry.
He continued his half-hearted attempt at focusing for several hours, but the hour at which he was awake was affecting his ability to focus greatly by this point.
He stole a glance at the clock they had haphazardly attached to the wall when they first moved in- he’d got Utterson to do it, now it was permanently stuck slightly off-centre and skewed. He didn’t want to change it though- he smiled when he thought about that memory. Four thirty.
It was just then that it hit Jekyll how much of a hypocrite he was, telling Utterson to go to bed when he’d do this every night. It would probably be fine. He’s Jekyll after all, he has more degrees than you can count on your fingers, he doesn’t need that much sleep. That being said, he was quite tired.
He closed his textbook and walked over to the bed on the right side of the dorm, curling into the covers like an animal seeking shelter from a great storm.
He couldn't sleep. Jekyll’s thoughts were completely occupied by the man across from him. He wanted to hold him, run his fingers through his grey-streaked hair, tell him just how much he- but Utterson surely wouldn’t reciprocate. He turned over in his bed.
His head was filled with images of Utterson: his eyes were as deep as oceans- a deep, dark blue that pooled and rippled like a stormy sea. Jekyll could so easily drown in that sea.
He must have lay awake until at least five thirty, until his brain could no longer keep up and succumbed to sleep.