Chapter Text
“You’re being an utter fool, Hyde.” Henry frowns. Edward didn’t need to see the slimy bloke to know he was probably wrinkling his nose at him from within the enigma of his hungover brain.
“I don’t need no bloody advice from a glocky macer like ya’self!” Edward snaps, sitting up in bed, too pissed to even care about the splitting headache threantening to tear his skull in half.
“Hyde, you’re a drunkard that brought a stranger into your sorry excuse for an estate! For all we know, he could be a burglar, or a tramp-”
“Shut ya bloody mouth, Henry, you old fool!” Edward hisses, standing up and marching over to the dirty mirror hanging on the wall. He glared at the reflection that showed- one of a short and slim man with greasy black hair in need of a trim, his chest and arms covered in scars he’s won from various bar fights and street fights, and green eyes staring into his soul. “This ain’t yer body any more, y’ain’t got a say in what happens anymore!”
“Hyde, you’re overreacting. I’m simply trying to warn you-”
“Oooh, cor blimey, ya tryin’ to warn me, then? Pray tell, Doctor Henry Jekyll, what’s my drunken brain so obviously missed that ya wanna point out fer me?”
“Hyde. Enough. You know nothing of logic. You are a creature of depravity that I regret ever bringing to life. You have no way of knowing anything that is right or wrong.” Henry snarls. “I’m not the one with blood on my hands and a body count. You’re the one that’s slaughtered people. You’re the monster here.”
“Get. Out. Of. Me. Bloomin’. HEAD!!” Edward screams, snatching the mirror off the wall and tossing it to the ground, watching as it shattered into dozens of shards. He knew what Henry would say next- he'd gloat about how Hyde just proved his point, that he’s violent, angry, disgusting, something that shouldn’t even be-
“Mr. Edward?” A deep voice calls out quietly. “Er, are you alright? I heard some shouting, and glass breaking.”
Edward stiffens. Apparently, his tantrum had woken up Adam, the poor bloke he’d found moping around in the pub last night, all bundled up in an overcoat and a scarf. He’d brought the fellow back to his home- a modest little spot that he’d snagged with the thick envelope of banknotes he’d found in Henry’s coat pocket. It wasn’t the big ol’ estate that Henry used to wander about in, but it was good enough for Edward. Either way, the point was, that hulking stranger had found his way to Edward’s room and was... asking if he was okay.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t ya worry ‘bout me,” Edward scoffs, trying to play off the whole fiasco with a shrug. He grabbed his walking-stick from its place leaning haphazardly against the foot of his bed and turned to look at Adam. “I’m just tickety-”
The words died in Edward’s throat.
Adam wasn’t wearing all those layers anymore. And Edward now understood why he was so intent on hiding his face.
His skin was thin and yellow, stretched haphazardly over his gaunt face, and covered in thick black stitches. His eyes were hollow and dull, his nose nothing more than a hole in his face. His lips were thin and gnarled, his hair wild and black...
“...bloody hell,” Edward manages to say, staring at Adam with wide eyes. Adam, seemingly realizing that he was exposed, stumbled back, weakly attempting to cover his face with his hands.
“I- sir, please, I- I can explain, I-”
“Hyde, you’ve brought a damn monster into your home!”
Edward wasn’t listening to Adam or Henry, just... staring at this creature. He couldn’t believe it.
“Bloody hell,” Edward repeats, his face turning into a grin. “I ain’t alone. I ain’t the only freak of nature out there!”
Adam paused, staring at Edward through his fingers.
“...come again?”
“You- you got mugged off by science, too! I- This is great! I ain’t alone!” Edward says.
Edward’s never felt this happy before. For the first time, he didn’t need any alcohol to drown out Henry. He had someone who could understand him.
He had a friend.