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It was normal for the lawyer to stay behind after dinner parties hosted by his closest friends. Everyone who knows the solemn man knows he is agreeable at such events and can perfectly understand why his closest would wish to spend extra hours in his company. The man's closest companions are known to be Dr. Hastie Lanyon and Dr. Henry Jekyll, two rich and popular men in London and some of the city's greatest doctors in their respective fields.
When Dr. Jekyll held a dinner party on a cold December evening, no man who arrived was even the slightest bit shocked that his best friend Mr. Gabriel John Utterson had been invited to attend such an event. Some were shocked that the man arrived however, as the lawyer had been known to avoid large crowds such as this one. To no one's surprise, the lanky lawyer stayed close to his dear doctor throughout the night, only ever leaving the latter's side when his glass needed a refill half way through the evening.
As Jekyll said his final goodbyes to the final gentleman to leave that evening, Utterson sat peacefully in the doctor's sitting room, sitting on an expensive sofa that was placed close to the fireplace. Utterson's wine glass had been left on the small table next to the seat with half the glass still full. It was not that the wine was not to the lawyer's taste, as the wine was most agreeable, but rather that the man wished to prevent himself from growing too attached to such tastes. He himself was not poor, in fact the lawyer was somewhat wealthy being a part of the upper middle class, however he knew society would frown on those who drank such vintages alone in their own home. Rather, the lawyer would punish his taste buds with the bitter taste of some cheap gin when alone in his own manour. He saw no reason to finish his drink until he had the company of a certain doctor.
The door creaked open and the heavy footsteps of Jekyll could be heard entering the room. The man had always been heavy footed since he was a boy, Utterson remembered how much the man's father hated it. The lawyer looked round as the dirty ginger haired doctor sat next to him, leaving an appropriate gap for two close friends between them.
"My, my! That was quite the lively gathering, wouldn't you say?" Jekyll turned to his friend.
Utterson reciprocated his gaze, looking into his friend's missy grey eyes. "Yes... quite," the lawyer answered, turning back to the fireplace where his gaze had previously lay. Jekyll looked his friend up and down, taking note of the lawyer's slight slumped posture. "Has the evening worn you dry my dear Gabriel?" Jekyll asked.
Utterson let out a deep sigh. "Yes I must confess that the evening was filled with more engagement than I prefer," he answered. "Not to say I did not enjoy it though."
The doctor answered with a warm chuckle. "Yes, well, I understand my fellow. You have never been the type to enjoy others' company, have you?"
The younger hummed slightly. "That is not strictly true. I enjoy some company."
"That is hard to believe, I am afraid, my friend. You leave every gathering as soon as you can. You always have since you were a boy," Jekyll shook his head, closing his eyes. "I must say, you've always seemed to enjoy time alone more than your time in the company of your fellow man."
"There are few who I enjoy the company of but there are some. You and Hastie for example," Utterson answered. "Only a few times have I found myself longing for solitude when in Hastie's company. I must confess I cannot recall a single time I found myself wishing to be alone when in your company. Even now, when my old bones are tired, I do not mind having you at my side."
The older let out a small chuckle as his thin lips tugged upwards to make a smile. "My dear I am honoured."
Utterson found himself rolling his eyes slightly at the nickname. Jekyll had always been one for nicknames and Utterson often found himself on the receiving end of them. As a boy it was kid or laddie, during their teenage years he had been Gabe and as they grew old, Jekyll seemed to call him my dear Gabriel or just simply, my dear. The lawyer had never had a distaste for nicknames but he always found himself wondering where the latest had come from. Utterson was simply Jekyll's closest friend and using dear felt rather romantic, especially to his face. Now, the lawyer would be a hypocrite if he were to say he did not like the nickname, as once or twice he had found himself referring to his friend, who he simply called Henry or Harry, as his dearest. This phrase, however, had never been used towards the man's face.
"Henry?" The younger asked.
"Yes Gabriel?" Jekyll answered, taking a sip of his own wine.
"Is... there a real reason you call me dear?"
Jekyll looked at Utterson with his eyes, before lowering his glass and placing it on the table. "Whatever do you mean?" The doctor finally said.
Utterson sat up more in his seat, now feeling a slight embarrassment at the question. "No, nevermind. Forget I said anaything." The man looked away as the slight embarrassment began to fill him.
"No, Gabriel, why do you ask? Does the name make you uncomfortable?" Jekyll asked.
Utterson looked to his friend who was looking back at him with a worried look etched into his features. The lawyer sighed. "Not at all. I was merely curious is all. It is a rather intimate name yet you use it so freely towards me."
Jekyll hummed before turning his gaze to the fire. Utterson copied the gesture, worried he had made their peaceful evening, or rather night due to the late hour, awkward. He had never intended to upset his friend, nor did he wish to make the conversation awkward. The lawyer found himself now wishing he had never said a word!
"I guess I personally believe we have quite the intimate relationship. Do you not agree?" Jekyll asked.
"N- no... Yes! I mean- I do agree," Utterson stumbled over his words, worried he was giving his friend the wrong impression. "I believe our friendship is as deep as friendship goes. I certainly see you as my closest."
Jekyll chuckled. "I am honoured to hear that," the man paused before speaking again. "Though, I did believe our relationship has gone, or could go, deeper than you describe."
Utterson tilted his head slightly to the side. "How so?"
"Well, I have never been closer to any other man."
"That remains true for me too."
"And I have never been this close to a woman."
Utterson opened his mouth then closed it again, his brain was slow from the alcohol so he was unsure if he was processing what his friend was saying correctly. "H- how so? I fear I do not truly understand what you mean."
Jekyll chuckled lightly. "Yes, of course. I forget how impassive you are at times my friend."
The younger one hummed. "I do not think that entirely true for I do feel emotions, they just remain hidden inside. Though I cannot deny my inability to always notice others' emotions."
"I guess you are more stoic?"
"Perhaps."
Jekyll laughed again, smiling wide. "Yes, well, either way, you have always been decent at figuring out my feelings so I cannot fault you for getting it wrong on occasion."
"Does that mean I can get an explanation as to what you mean?" The lawyer questioned.
Jekyll sipped his wine. "It means I view you as my closest."
"Yes, well I believe that too but-"
"No Gabe. Closer than friends."
Utterson tilted his head once more. "Are we not best friends already? I believed us to be closer than friends many years ago, Harry."
Jekyll chuckled. "My, my... do I always have to tell you directly? Gabriel, I see you as more than just a best friend. As someone closer to my heart. For most men a woman would take this place but for me... it has always been you."
The gears were turning behind Gabriel's grey and green eyes, trying to figure out what his friend truly meant. What relationship would someone who calls someone else dear have? He had heard his Mother call him it a few times as a child, but that was different. Maybe it was the alcohol, or simply his own misreading of the conversation, but the only word that came to mind was...
"...lovers?" Gabriel muttered under his breath.
A smirk escaped his companion. "There we go."
"Harry do you- you really see us..."
"I understand it may be hard to process, especially with the current laws, but I have always had that sort of affection towards you my dear Gabriel. I guess my nickname was my way of telling you," Jekyll explained.
Utterson looked at his friend, his eyes wide. He and his friend had always been closer than most and it was true there were rumours that such feelings had bloomed between the two in their early university days but no outsiders ever approached the two about the issue and Jekyll certainly had never said a thing. Utterson remembered a time he asked Jekyll about such rumours and the elder had simply laughed them off in his usual manner.
To hear now that maybe the man had harboured those feelings for him made his heart stop for just a moment. All his life he had been told having such feelings towards a man was wrong yet when Jekyll told him how he felt, it felt warm.
"Now, I completely understand my Gabriel if this means you do not wish to be my friend. If you do decide you dislike me, I can only beg for mercy that you will not tell anyone else about this," the doctor said. "I am on the verge of a breakthrough and would hate to face imprisonment or worse before I can have the chance to complete my life’s work, you understand?"
Utterson shook his head. "No, I do not dislike you at all my friend."
"I see. Well, I guess you always were the accepting type," Jekyll answered. "Let's say we put this behind us and enjoy the evening, yes?"
"Henry I-" Jekyll looked towards the younger. Utterson hesitated before continuing. "I do not wish to put this behind us just yet, for I wish to discuss it further..."
"Is there more to discuss?" Jekyll asked.
"Well yes... I-"
Jekyll's eyes went wide as he watched the lawyer's cheeks grow pink. Utterson was known to never show any sort of emotion on his face yet this was the second time the lawyer had pulled an expression this evening. First it was shock at the elders feelings and now it was embarrassment about wishing to continue the conversation.
Never once before had Jekyll considered that his friend may feel the same way towards him. Though it remained true the man had never had a real interest in the fairer sex, he had never shown interest in his own either. Jekyll had always assumed that feelings of love and romance would remain foreign to the man for his whole life. Not to say Utterson is incapable of loving anyone, for the man had truly loved his parents and loved his friends deeply to the point he remained completely loyal to them for his whole life. Still, Jekyll thought Utterson's loyalty towards him lied in the fact he was the lawyer's first friend and no more. Yet now he questioned his friends' loyalty and acceptance of him, wondering if there was a different intention all along.
"Gabriel... Please say something..." Jekyll asked. "I honestly cannot take the silence."
Utterson nodded, his face growing more red. "Yes... sorry... I- I just do not know how to say it is all..."
Jekyll then began to chuckle, building into a laugh. "My God Gabriel... you are the strangest yet most lovable man I have ever met!"
Utterson looked at the doctor, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was clear the man was not confident with his own smile yet he could not help but let it free. Jekyll smiled at him. "You have quite the nice smile my dear."
The younger lips tilted further upwards at the sides. Jekyll felt his own cheeks go red now as he looked at his friend. No, this man was slowly becoming more than just a friend.
"I know the laws very well... I guess I have to for my job," the lawyer said. "But to me this one is... not one I agree with."
Jekyll smiled more.
"I would not mind if I could be called yours, if you would have me my dearest Harry."
Jekyll's face warmed up. "Of course my dearest Gabriel. I would love to have you."
"Then I guess we are no longer best friends in private."
The pair smiled at each other, both taking in their new lover. They knew each other well, but this moment felt as though they truly understood each other from their hearts to their souls. The older placed his hand on the younger’s and the latter smiled gently, becoming more familiar with the action. Jekyll leaned in and kissed his new boyfriend's cheek, causing Utterson to blush more and practically melt under the touch.
The pair continued to sit by the fire like they had many times; however, this time, they were able to fully accept the feelings harboured between them.