Chapter Text
The society doors creaked open, it wasn’t too late in the evening yet, the outside was just light enough to be able to see, casting everything in warm shades of orange. All the lodgers were chatting with one another. Jekyll (with a lot of help from Jasper) had managed to convince them to start working on it again, it took a while to get them all to agree, but they managed. They were all working on their projects for the exhibition and just trying to have some fun. Most of them were fooling around instead of actually working like they were supposed to.
Everything was going well until an unfamiliar person walked into the society. A dark black coat covered the man’s frame, a gray cravat and black sleeves could be seen underneath his coat. He held a beautiful, silver cane in one of his hands. There were engravings on it on a language that the others couldn’t read.
As the man walked in, the lodgers could see a limp on one of his legs, which seemed to be the reason for the cane. When his face came out of the darkness, he could almost be mistaken for Jekyll. Though, unlike their leader,his hair was darker , a bit curlier too. He seemed to be taller, and there were freckles scattered around his face, as well as a large, old scar on his left cheek.
He looked around for a moment, then, his lips opened, a soft but sharp voice coming from him.
“Where is the man known as Henry Jekyll!?” The man hissed, looking at the lodgers who looked at one another. With looks of equal concern and confusion.
One of them stepped forward, looking up at the strange man before them all.
“S-sir…Dr.Jekyll is currently helping Mr Kaylock with somethin-.”
“No stuttering! Don't lie to me! Tell me where the bloody hell Henry Jekyll is!” A growl ripped from the man’s chest, as he clutched onto his cane tightly.
The lodger, known as Sinnet, stepped back. A flinch came from him as he was in front of the yelling.
“He’s probably busy right now, but–“
“WHERE IS HE!?” The man shouted, the room going silent…Then, a pair of footsteps broke the silence, walking down the stairs before pausing. Staring at the man, Henry Jekyll froze at the sight of him. His hand clutching the railing of the stairs as he did.
“Pardon me, sir. But who might you be? I'm…afraid that this area is off limits, did you want to speak with me?” Henry spoke, there was a slightly concerned look on his face, but he tried to hide it with a smile, aw he stared at the man, trying to figure out where he had seen him before. It seemed so familiar, something nostalgic that he couldn't quite remember, maybe he was someone from his childhood? …why couldn’t he remember?
The man chuckled, almost bitterly, shaking his head, tutting slightly as he stepped forward. Going near the staircase and leaning on his cane. Jekyll took a step back, frowning.
“How could you not recognize me, dear brother? Has it really been that long…? You really can’t remember your dear older brother Mortimer?”
Jekyll froze at that name, staring up at Mortimer, who had a shit eating smirk on his face. No…no no he can’t be alive, it couldn't be him. Mortimer died when he was younger, he went missing while they were playing in the woods, they searched for months, but no one could find him. How was he here? He was supposed to be dead, that happened years ago, he couldn't be alive. His breath hitched as he backed away, shaking his head, all the lodgers looking at him and then back at his brother.
“N-no..NO! You aren’t him! You are lying to me aren’t you!? You can’t be my brother, I never had one!”
Henry exclaimed, the lodgers stared at the two men. Not sure about what they should believe. Sure, the man was very similar to Jekyll, but he was a stranger, and they knew, and trusted Henry much more than some stranger. But did Jekyll actually have a brother that he never told anyone about? Or was this some random person trying to take something from Jekyll? So many thoughts and so many ideas popped into their minds.
“I am not lying, Hen. You know I would never lie, not to you. Aren’t you happy to see your dear brother Mort though? I have missed you dear–.” He stuck out his hand to grab Jekyll’s but Henry pulled back. He let out a loud cry and glared at him.
“Don’t touch me!” Henry glared at them, taking a moment to calm himself down, he took a deep breath, and coldly whispered to him,” “You are not my brother. I don't know who you are, or who told you about him, but you're not him. You're nobody. Now, I must kindly ask that you leave my society, and to please leave me alone.” He hissed, backing away more as he did so. He glanced at the lodgers who seemed to be staring at Jekyll like he was crazy. His breath picked up as he looked back at Mortimer. He uttered one last word before he made his exit. “Leave.” Henry turned away, and slammed the door behind him, finally back in his office,…Dear God, he needed a drink.
The lodgers stood there dumbfounded as they watched their leader storm off into his office. They all looked at one another. They realizee that Mortimer have indeed left,and went back to work silently.
————————————-
“Ooo, the good doctor has a long lost brother, hm? That technically makes him my brother too! Why don’t you like him?”
Hyde grinned, the floating shadow circled around Jekyll before leaning on his shoulder. Seeing the other man grab a wine bottle and then a cup, looking at the cup, before settling it down, and just taking a big drink from the bottle A groan coming from him as he shook his head .
“BecauseHe died when I was 5! H-he died or went missing…he…. That's not him. There's no way that is him, I….Fuck. Am I dreaming, Edward?”
“You aren’t, Jekyll. Stop being delusional! He is real, he is alive! Maybe he just finally found you… You know as well as I do that we share memories, and, well, even if it isn't him, you can't deny how much you share in appearance. Think about how interesting it would be to study him…”
Edward shrugged, floating around and then leaning against the desk. Looking at all of the paperwork and taxes.
“….I don't know…how should I even talk to him, Edward? Why would he even want to see me again?”
“He could want something from you? I don’t know Jekyll! But I know that that's our brother, we haven’t seen him in years, but I know it's him! The blonde one exclaimed, flipping upside down and floating in the air. Looking down at Jekyll who seemed to already be pouring himself another glass.
“Maybe? He didn't seem like like himself. I guess… I can’t really tell. It has been a while, we both grew differently, and…we were five, we don't look the exact same as we did back then, do we? How can we even tell it's him...”
Hyde hummed softly, listening to Henry’s panicked thinking.
“Do you remember how he was when he was younger? Or what happened to him?”
Jekyll paused, staring at the wine that almost seemed blood red. He let out a shaky breath and took a sip. Before chugging the rest of it and putting the bottle down. His head landed in his hands as he started to rub his temples.
“No…it’s hazy. I remember him but I don’t remember the memories. They are everywhere, some are almost like they weren’t real…Did I made them up? I don’t know anymore.”
“Maybe…or a memory that you don’t want to remember. You never know Henry..but we share the same memories. I slightly remember him…”
Hyde cackled; going into the mirror and standing with his hand on his hip. Looking at Jekyll with a expression of “how do you always fuck up everything”
“Well, what do you think,Hyde…hm? Can you help me here?”
His alter ego shrugged, before disappearing back into the mindscape. Leaving Jekyll sitting alone at his desk. He was exhausted, a yawn left his lips as he rested his head on his arms. Maybe he could close his eyes just for a moment right?…He could do that. Henry closed his eyes, everything going dark as he did so…maybe some sleep could help his anxiety.
It didn’t even feel like a minute had passed when he woke up, hearing the sound of footsteps nearing his room. Looking up as he heard the door, his brother stood before him. Mortimer walked towards Jekyll’s desk, though he seemed like he was young again. The sweet and quiet 8 year old who went missing…A child that he vaguely remembered from childhood. He tried to figure out his face, but it changed as he looked at it. The memory was blurred out from his mind. The child, like Mortimer, stopped in front of the desk, he seemed shy, small, afraid of him, but when he looked up at him, all of that shattered, there was asnarl on his face as he stared directly at Henry.
His hands slammed down on the desk, his cane was laying at his side. He almost looked inhuman…like he shouldn’t even exist. The way his face was distorted, the way he walked, breathed, everything he did. It all seemed unnatural and…in some type of animalistic matter.
Then… his hand stretched to grip Henry’s wrist tightly. His nails digging into his skin, it was definitely going to leave a mark. Jekyll winced, trying to pull back but Mortimer held it more tightly before speaking in a flat monotone voice.
“…You left me for dead, Henry.”
The face that was blurry, was now the one he had seen earlier. The voice didn’t sound like him either, it was staticky and it hurt his ears. Henry moved his hands on to his head, covering his ears as he shook his head.
“N-no…leave me alone! You don’t exist! I don’t remember you. You're not real! Stop it!”
Jekyll choked, the guilt swarmed his mind as he remembered this all. What did his brother mean that he left him for dead…they weren’t able to find him at all. They tried looking for him! They did! It wasn't his fault!
“YOU LEFT ME FOR DEAD!”
The figure screamed, the blurry face of it reached toward Jekyll. Grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him forward. Jekyll yelled at him to stop but it didn’t. He was pulled into something, the feeling of water rushing all over his body. He felt like he was drowning like water was filling his lungs. He is going to die! HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE!
Henry jolted awake; sweat pouring down his forehead as he looked around, his breath shaky and uneven. What….he didn’t remember.
Maybe he just hasn’t been sleeping well. He should just go back to work, he could sleep later…