#miss lilly

After the success of the first few nights about a week ago, Jekyll had begun full treatment of himself, keeping rigorous notes after each night of debauchery and fun. What else was it but fun! The thrill of being alive, spending time with Lilly, Rosie and Andy without worry of keeping up the act of being okay.

Because he was okay for once.

Even as Jekyll, he was alright, he breathed a little easier and found himself waking with a satisfaction following the evenings. Of course, the melancholy and lingering shadows weren't fading as he'd hoped, but never mind that.

Because he was someone new.

Absinthe, it had been disgusting and overly sweet at first, but the taste of licorice was starting to grow on Hyde. He sat in a booth to one side of the Mountain Tavern, his feet up on the table, watching things silently with a smug little grin. His clothes fit better, given that he'd found some of his older outfits from years before. They were a little too tight, but nothing a little stretching and twisting couldn't solve. He wasn't quite ready to wear those clothes he'd ordered, they still needed to be washed anyhow.

What he wore now was a blue vest and there were some popped stitches along the side, but it fit better than Jekyll's clothes that had swamped him before.

Lost in thought, Edward almost didn't notice when Lilly took a seat beside him. He looked over and smiled, "Lilly! How good to see you, again. How are you this evening?"

"Wondering if you're here for business or play," she said knowingly. Hyde felt his face get hot and he ran a hand through his hair, fighting the urge to snicker. "Weeeeell, I wasn't planning on it but, I mean, if you're free." He winked and Lilly grinned, Hyde still hoping she caught his meaning.

"I'm almost finished for the evening, you'd be my last," she said with a smirk, placing a hand on his thigh.

"Can I buy you a drink first? At the very least?" Hyde offered, holding up his own glass to show he was in need of another drink. Lilly raised a brow, "How gentlemanly. I could go for a beer."

"So unladylike, any particulars?"

"Something dark." Edward grinned and stood, taking her hand before he left and kissing it. "Of course, my lady."

He saw her eyes go wide in surprise, but strode away before she could say anything, snickering to himself. Living on impulse was certainly an effort, but already it was making things more entertaining. And Lilly had sought him out this time, perhaps because she recognized a return client, or perhaps something else?

Hyde snickered again and set his glass on the counter, waiting patiently as Andy strode over. "Refill Edward?"

"Yes please, and a dark beer for the dark lady at my table," Edward said pointing to Lilly.

"Watch your tongue, Rosie might take that the wrong way," Andy said with a frown, taking the glass.

"I could take that ivory colored pipsqueak," Edward said with a smirk, putting his head on his hands. He frowned and brushed his hair out of his face, it'd only been a few days with bangs like these and they were starting to get more than a little annoying. Andy returned a moment later carrying a small glass and a mug of some dark brew.

"Bad hair day?" he asked, smirking.

"You could say that," Hyde said, scowling and tucking it behind his ear only for it to fall back into his face. Andy chuckled and reached under the bar, pulling out a thin blue ribbon. "One of the other girls left this upstairs the other day, you probably need it more than her though."

Edward took the ribbon and raised a brow, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Tie your hair up, idiot," Andy said, shaking his head as he walked away. Hyde scowled and shook his head, but held onto the ribbon as he took his absinthe and Lilly's beer.

He resumed his gentlemanly smile and strode towards the table, only to notice a broad shouldered man with reddish hair leaning on the table. He was saying something to Lilly, and Edward could see her expression was cold. A familiar kind of cold, the mask you put on when you were trying not to cry, the kind that barely held back anger.

As Hyde got closer, he only heard: "-itch like you would be better off as my maid rather than pretending to be a Lady for any guy too drunk to-"

Edward set his drinks down, took a deep breath, then slammed his hands on the table. "Who the hell do you think you are?" The guy, smelling strongly of whiskey, turned to look at Hyde, his flirty, half asleep expression turning into a glare. He stood straighter, a full head taller than Edward and at least forty pounds heavier. Hyde squared his shoulders, unafraid.

"Who's askin'?" the big guy said.

"A friend of the lady you were just insulting," Hyde snarled, balling his fists.

"She ain't a lady," the guy countered. He grinned, "Tell ya what though, she's probably only good in the bedroom, I wouldn't mind sharing if you-" Before he realized what he was doing, Hyde had pulled back and threw a punch right into the smug arse's face. He felt his knuckles pop uncomfortably on impact and the guy was practically thrown to the side, crashing into a card table and throwing cards everywhere.

Edward cussed loudly and clutched his hand, feeling it throb, not noticing his own strength through the pain. Lilly called out to him and he turned, hurrying over and forgetting the ache in his hand for a moment, "What??" She took his hand and, pulling a bandage like strip from her bag, she began to frantically wrap his throbbing hand. "Lilly what're you doing?"

"Protecting your hands from breaking, this guy is not going down without a fight," she said worriedly, tying it off at the wrist. She gasped and turned him around to see Big Guy staggering to his feet, turning with a glare at them.

He shouted and lunged, Hyde and Lilly dodged in separate directions, meeting on the other side of the table as he crashed into the chairs. Lilly took Hyde's other hand and began to wrap it, both of them looking uneasily at the drunkard as he struggled to his feet, cursing and spitting. Tempers beginning to flare, people were shouting at him and at Hyde for ruining their card game and spilling drinks, but it was clear this guy didn't care about them.

Lilly tied the knot and nodded at Edward, "Good luck and, thanks."

"No problem?" he said, grinning awkwardly. He was shaking with excitement, or was it fear? Impossible to tell, but it felt good. He nodded at Lilly and turned to face the drunkard, raising his fists and frowning, "Let's dance."

Only to be pulled back by someone tugging on his hair, and a glance back revealed Lilly with the blue ribbon, tying back his hair. He gave it a test shake and, finding nothing falling in his face, he grinned. Now he was really ready to fight.

Someone pulled the drunkard to his feet, speaking in a low voice. They shared a nod, then turned to glare at Hyde. This was going to be more than a scuffle at this rate.

Someone let out a shout, there was the sound of shattering glass, and everything imploded.

Drinks were thrown, Lilly grabbed a chair for defense only to start swinging it like a bat. Andy was behind the bar with a broom, pushing people off the counter top and swatting away flying glasses. And in the center of it all, practically in a fight ring, were Hyde and the drunkard that someone had called McGrath.

He charged at Hyde, swinging both hands over head in a downward swipe, Edward sidestepping just in time for McGrath to smash his hands onto a table and tip it sideways. Hyde scowled and let out a shout, lunging forward and driving his elbow down into McGrath's back with full strength. Hyde barely managed to catch himself as McGrath's face followed his hands into the table, tipping it completely and crashing to the floor.

Edward backpedaled, swallowing hard and feeling his heart pound in his chest. A grin tugged itself onto his face as McGrath stood, turning with a growl to face the shorter man. Hyde stepped forward to go in again when someone grabbed him from behind under his shoulders, pinning his arms back and lifting him off his feet.

Whoever it was held Hyde easily despite how he wiggled and struggled, kicking wildly and cussing like a sailor. McGrath grinned and stormed over, rolling up his sleeve. "You little-" and he slammed his fist right under Hyde's ribs, knocking the air out of him.

Edward gasped and let out a wheeze, crying out in pain when McGrath punched him again. As he pulled back for a third time, Hyde curled up and kicked into the air, the heel of his shoe finding a home in McGrath's nose and sending him backwards.

The guy holding Hyde cried out in surprise for his friend, his grip loosening for a second, long enough for Edward to slam his head back at full force. The guy's grip gave way and Hyde dropped to his feet, turning fast and throwing a punch into the guy's gut.

Hyde felt someone grab his hair from behind and his eyes widened in surprise as they pulled hard, yanking him backwards and slamming him into a table behind them. Drinks went flying as Edward crashed to the ground, beer spilling down his vest and stinking of alcohol.

McGrath grabbed Hyde by the shirt collar and dragged him back to his feet. He threw two punches with the same hand before Hyde had a chance to react, hitting Edward twice in the face, his mouth and in his right eye. Hyde ducked before McGrath could land a third, pulling himself out of the larger man's grip and backing away until he felt a table behind him.

He could feel a bruise beginning to swell around his eye and his lip, his heart and head were pounding and every muscle was shaking with adrenaline. It was hard for him to breathe, but still he was managing with a sort of wheeze. As McGrath stepped forward to throw another punch, Edward scowled, this ended now.

He reached behind him and found the cool throat of a bottle, and as McGrath lunged for him again, he swung with the bottle and shattered it across McGrath's face. The larger man let out a shrill cry of pain as small cuts scraped across his face, Hyde stepped back with the shattered glass dropping from his hand.

Thank god Lilly had wrapped them.

McGrath shouted in pain and his buddy went to his side, checking his friend's face. He helped the bigger man stand, glaring at Hyde before helping him stumble off. Edward scowled, finally catching his breath as the chaos around them continued.

A bottle flew past his head, but Hyde didn't notice.

He scanned the tavern, searching for Lilly, and found her behind the bar, fending people off with Andy. He nodded to himself and made a break for it, grabbing his cape from where it'd fallen on the floor and vaulting over a table. He ducked under the flying fists of another fight and dodged a young woman swinging a stool like an axe.

With surprising agility for his sore and shaking frame, he slid over the bar counter and crashed behind it. Lilly let out a shout of surprise and he gave her a small wave, propping himself up against the bar and letting out a groan of pain. Lilly dropped down beside him, "You okay?"

"I'm exhausted," he said bitterly. He looked at her and grinned, "But I mean, I won."

"Only because you glassed him," Lilly said with a frown. "That wasn't fair play."

"I don't play fair when someone refuses to respect another," Hyde said firmly, nodding.

Andy crouched nearby both of them, "We need to leave before this gets any worse. The girls already know to stay in their rooms and-"

"Mine's still unlocked, I grabbed the key before the fight started," Lilly said, searching in her bag. "If we can cause a distraction, we might be able to make a break for upstairs."

"The way's practically clear," Andy said, pointing.

"Then let's go!" Lilly said. She paused, turning to look at Hyde.

Only then did he too realize he'd been staring with a tiny, odd smile on his face. He shook his head vigorously and grinned excitedly, "Let's go then! What're we waiting for!"

He tried to stand and hissed in pain, but pushed through it and dragged himself to his feet. He offered Lilly a hand and they both stood, ducking low behind the bar before making a break for the stairs to the upper floors, to the inn. Andy ran close behind them and the trio sprinted upstairs, narrowly dodging thrown projectiles and a pair of scared women trying to flee up the stairs.

Edward tripped on the top step, only managing to stay on his feet because Lilly grabbed his arm and helped him on. They made it to the end of the hall and Lilly unlocked her room, ushering Hyde and Andy in behind her before shutting it and locking it.

The chaos from downstairs was leaking through the floor, shouting and screaming, but all mingled with some odd manic laughter. The room itself was near silent but for a small stove in one corner that creaked and popped occasionally. It was dark, only a small bit of moonlight and lamplight leaking through the curtains that hid the window, and there was a sweet perfume smell in the air.

They all sighed in relief and Edward dropped onto the bed, letting out a groan as the bruises forming on his stomach let out a shout of protest. The bed was soft, the sheets felt fresh and clean and he just wanted to lay there for a while and disappear until the bruises stopped hurting.

He remembered this bed from the first night, the nights that followed and Lilly, but now he was too sore to think of scandalous things. Sleep seemed optimal, but all things considered it would be a very bad idea to fall asleep here and awake as Jekyll. That alone could cause quite a problem.

Edward sat up a little and began to undo the buttons on the vest, pulling up his shirt and prodding his stomach. The muscles there were already sensitive, especially just under his ribs, which was to be expected. He lay back on the bed and began to feel around on his face, testing the edges of the bruises under his eye and on his lip.

"Edward? Eddie? Are you okay?" Lilly asked, walking over and sitting on the bed. Hyde prodded his face, "I think so. I'm sore as hell and I want a nap."

She snickered and took his hand, untying the bandages from around his wrist. "I, appreciate what you did for me. You didn't need to though."

"I do whatever I want," Edward said with a huff. "But, I couldn't just stand by when that, arse, said that to you. It was stupid and insulting and-"

"And I hear it all the time," Lilly said solemnly, pulling the wrapping free. She took Hyde's other hand and began to do the same. Edward shook his head, "You looked ready to cry. I could see it in your eyes Lilly, I know that feeling. You didn't deserve that."

"I'm a Flower Girl, it's part of the job."

"But it shouldn't be," Hyde insisted, lifting his hand to his face to inspect it. Dark bruises were forming on his knuckles and the skin was chafed from the bandages rubbing on his skin. His knuckles popped uncomfortably as he flexed his fingers. When Lilly finished unwrapping his other hand, he found the same thing.

Lilly sighed, "It's ridiculous for women like me to expect any kind of respect, we-"

"Are working women doing your jobs and getting paid for it," Edward interrupted, rubbing his sore eye and almost enjoying the sting. "You're doing what you have to to survive in their world, you deserve their respect at least."

"You, really think so?" she asked, sounding surprised and kind of floored.

"If a scumbag like me gets respect, you deserve at much or more respect," he insisted.

"You aren't a scumbag," Lilly said, smirking.

"I'm inclined to agree with Mr. Hyde," Andy said, sitting in a wooden chair by the door. "You ladies work day in and day out, you get sick 'n injured 'n all manner of things, you deserve more respect than those drunkards give you."

"You only say that because you're married to Mrs. C," Lilly said, smiling wider.

"So?" asked Hyde, sitting up with a hiss. He bumped Lilly, "Just because he's married doesn't make it any less true! You, you girls, are incredible. I keep meaning to ask Rosie to teach me how to pickpocket but I never can remember. Also, thanks for wrapping up my hands, and my hair." He flicked his ponytail off his shoulder, "I like it this way, a lot."

Lilly chuckled, "It suits you. You're welcome, Eddie."

A gunshot fired off downstairs and all three of them froze.

"Perhaps I should call the police," Andy said, grimacing.

~

"Sir? Did you fall out of bed?" asked Poole the next morning.

Jekyll touched the bruise on his lip and cringed, "I uh, yes, the eye, I did fall out of bed. Hit the bedside table on the way down." He'd awoke, aching, sore and hung over, worse than before. Luckily most of the bruising, now an ugly purple color, could be hidden with clothing. His face, however, was not so easily disguised.

"And, your lip? Sir?" Poole asked, frowning suspiciously. He grinned half heartedly, "I, ran into a door frame. At full speed, without realizing it."

Hyde stepped out onto the street not much later, and realized that something had changed. The newly dubbed Edward Hyde- dressed as neatly as possible in clothes a size too large, missing Jekyll's worn black gloves for he cared not about the scars on his hands- had to pause on the steps and stare. Everything, though fuzzied by imperfect vision, seemed to be shining.

The tiles of the rooftops glittered with rain water and moonlight, fog swirled along the street in wisps and tails, the sound of rattling cabs echoed from beyond the street with the clamber of voices. A hum of chaotic energy that permeated the night, quiet enough to be missed, yet still loud enough to be heard. All ordinary, incredibly so, and suddenly so beautiful and real. Edward leaned against the door frame, allowing himself to stare at the beauty of this evening.

A beat passed and he stood, grinned excitedly and leaped from the steps, taking off at a sprint down the nearly silent street. His hands flew out on either side, he carried nothing but himself tonight. God it felt so good to just run, to feel his heart beat and his feet pound against the cobblestones, cape flying behind like a dark pair of wings.

He felt like a child again!

He skid to a stop, breathing heavily, eyes darting around in awe and curiosity. They drifted up, to the rooftops of the houses around him, slick with rain water. All his life he'd wanted to explore, see the city from such a vantage, why not tonight? Hyde's grin widened and he ran for the alley, effortlessly climbing a rickety drainpipe and pulling himself onto the steeped roof of the house. With steady footing, he climbed to the top, sat, and looked out over his street with a smile.

This felt incredible! Every moment unique and entirely worth it and-

Edward sighed deeply and looked up at the sky, watching the smoke from this house's chimney swirl past him. After a silent moment he stood and strolled along the peak of the roof, arms spread out on either side of him for balance as he walks. At the edge of the roof he paused, looking out over the alley before him to the slightly lower roof ahead.

Most of him was petrified, he couldn't make a jump like that!

But feeling like this, maybe he could. Hyde grinned and stepped back a ways, running and leaping at the last second. His footing was sure and he landed gracefully on the next roof with only the slightest sound, until he laughed aloud and began to run again, leaping atop the next house without any hesitation.

This continued all the way down the street until he came upon a plaza, where there were no more roofs to jump to before a sharp drop to the pavement. Here, Edward sat at the edge of the roof, breathing heavily and grinning happily.

Here, he paused to consider himself. If he was indeed half of Henry, the serum induced personality, shouldn't he be more violent and aggressive in a way like the rats and dog were? In his current state, he did not feel any urges to actively seek out aggression, rather he simply felt alive and-

Edward's thoughts stopped as realization came to him. A will to live, strength and energy that wasn't followed with the insane drive of manic inspiration, he was the mirror of his ordinary self. Lively and graceful, things Henry Jekyll was not, yet driven and gentlemanly, things he was known well for being. Where did Jekyll end and where did Hyde begin?

They were one in the same were they not? Jekyll was merely acting without his gentlemanly melancholic facade. Did that make Hyde the true self? And Jekyll the one to be erased or smothered? At this, Hyde laughed aloud and gestured with his hands as if addressing a crowd, "It matters not! Hyde is for tonight only!"

Someone below, clearly drunk, shouted back: "Here here!"

Surprised, Edward leaned forward and squinted to look into the street below where a well dressed man was walking along the sidewalk, swaying heavily from side to side and singing softly to himself. Behind him, a familiar tavern spilled golden light into the street, drunken laughter and music echoed out into the plaza with the sounds of the night, accompanied by the pungent smell of smoke. Two ladies, young and beautiful, stood outside the building talking, occasionally calling out to a passerby or rattling cab.

Silent as a shadow, curiosity blooming in his mind, Edward slipped away from the edge of the roof, sliding down a drainpipe into a dark alley beside. He peered out into the plaza, a childish fear nagging at his mind, looking again to the lovely ladies before bolstering his courage and striding across the plaza towards them.

One of them, small and petite with dark hair and shockingly red lips called to him: "Oi love! Cold night tonight ain't it?" She winked at him, "Don't suppose you'd mind me keepin' you company would ya?"

To even his own surprise, Hyde answered: "I wouldn't mind at all dear, but I'm afraid I have a whole night ahead of me. But-" he pulled a few stray coins from a pocket in his coat, tossing them to the lady, "Consider me considering." He winked back at her and strode into the tavern, snickering childishly to himself.

As Jekyll, he would've never even spoken to a painted lady like those to, lest someone assume the worst of him. Yet, as Hyde, he felt a freedom of the heart and mind, unfamiliar but undeniably wonderful. Whatever inhibitions Henry had made to protect his reputation were gone now, be it from the intoxicating effects of the serum or the freedom of the soul brought by wearing another man's face, that would be for Henry to decide later.

The tavern was loud, rowdy, and smelled thickly of smoke. The people who sat at the tables looked tired, messy, and happy. Some sang drunkenly on the shoulders of friends, some flirted with the scantily dressed women at the neighboring table, some played cards, some cheated at cards, and one was passed out on the bar. He snored loudly as Hyde strode up, chuckling at the drunk man's misfortune.

The bartender was a heavier set man, with lighter brown hair that was almost auburn, streaked with grey. He had a mustache like a tiny brush and wore a dirtied apron over a clean shirt and trousers. He looked like a surprisingly respectable gentleman, for running a tavern so clearly full of less savory folks.

He raised an eyebrow as Hyde leaned on the bar, "Say, do I know you fella?"

"I shouldn't think so," Edward said smoothly, tilting his head to the gentleman. "This is, after all, my first time in London."

"Right, well, what c'n I get ya then?"

"Uh, surprise me!" Surprise me? Surprise me! He'd said that! The bartender smirked and shrugged, "Suit yerself."

Edward couldn't stop his grin now, as he turned to look at the people in the tavern, this was all so interesting! A window into a simpler life, one without all the restrictions that money and reputation brought, everyone here was so happy! Perhaps that was the answer, that as Hyde he simply did not have the responsibility that so often depressed him, and that he didn't care for it.

"Now, I'm certain I've seen ya somewhere," the bartender said, placing a small drink in front of Hyde. Edward shrugged as he took the glass, "I've gotten that a lot this evening, seems there is someone here who looks like me. But I know for a fact, I have never visited this tavern before."

"Nah, it's from somewhere else." The bartender frowned, shrugged, then offered his hand. "Anyway, bein' it's yer first time here, welcome to the Mountain. I'm Andy an' I run the place, my wife 'andles the Flower Girls."

"A pleasure," Hyde answered, shaking his hand. "And, Flower Girls?"

"Did ya see the two out front?" asked Andy, smirking and nodding towards the door. Edward raised an eyebrow, his smile becoming a smirk, "That so? I'm guessin' you got rooms upstairs 'n everything?"

"Of course! What good inn wouldn't?" Andy chuckled, "I say this, cuz you look like a man who knows what 'e wants, but considerin' you don't know much 'bout London, I'd suggest you stick 'round here."

"What reason would I have to stick around this place when there's a whole city full of sin to explore?" Edward asked, leaning on the bar. Andy seemed taken aback, surprised by his customer's bluntness. He frowned, "Well, fer one, yer less likely to get pickpocketed 'ere, an' our girls are known fer keepin' secrets."

"Keeping secrets?"

"Aye. We consider it, leverage."

"I understand the sentiment," Hyde said with a chuckle, finally taking a sip of the drink Andy had made for him. The strength of the drink made it hard to swallow, and he coughed after nearly choking on it. The bartender laughed aloud, "Too strong for ya then? Sorry 'bout that, but ya asked for it."

"That I did," Edward said with a growl, coughing again. He cleared his throat and grinned sarcastically at the bartender, "Thanks."

"You're, welcome," Andy said with a smug grin, turning to talk to another that had come to stand by the bar. Edward steeled himself and tried another drink of the small glass, this time finding it easier to swallow and the burn of the alcohol more pleasant.

Someone stepped up to the bar beside him and waved Andy over, handing him what sounded like a small bag of coins. "Here's what Rosie and I managed tonight. She's about to start reciting Shakespeare she's so drunk, I figured we'd call it a night." Andy inspected the contents of the bag, "Nice job, actually. This'll make up for what you missed last week?"

"What I missed?" the woman snapped. "Andy, we got robbed last week. The guy knocked me out and then stole my everything. I had to use what he paid me to buy a new corset."

"Alright alright," Andy said, holding up his hands in defense before turning and going. The woman sighed and leaned heavily against the counter, glancing at Hyde who had been staring at the exchange with a mildly interested expression.

She was no doubt one of the Flower Girls, for over a pink dress that barely covered her shoulders she wore a silver shawl embroidered with lilies and lily pads. A similar pin held her wildly curly dark hair up in a bun, a similar necklace hung at her throat. Her eyes were a deep brown and her face dark, but soft and strong.

She was also at least a head taller than Hyde.

When she noticed him staring she said: "What do you want shortie?"

"Oh nothing, I apologize for staring," he said with a smug smile. "You're one of the Flower Girls?"

"Lilly," she said, scowling. "But I don't know if you just heard, I'm through for tonight."

"Indeed I heard you, but say some gentleman was willing to pay whatever price you ask to enjoy your time for a while?" Inside, he was laughing in a childish and moderately insane manner, what was he doing? Honest to God what was he doing?

A man of his status and stature would normally not associate with such sultry folks, but now he did not care! A night of truly enjoying himself, why not? Why not!

Lilly raised an eyebrow and leaned on the bar, "Is that so? Even if I were to charge you ten pounds a half hour?"

"Then I guess we'd only enjoy each other's company for an hour," Hyde answered, resting his head on his hands and his elbows on the bar.

"Twenty pounds a half hour?"

"Only half hour then, I suppose. But it is time nonetheless." Lilly did not smile, but she nodded slowly. She turned and walked outside, dragging her drunken friend in by the elbow and setting her at the bar.

"Lilly! I'm fine, we've still got time," she groaned, flopping on the counter. Lilly pulled over a chair and sat her down, "Easy Rosie, you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk," Rosie mumbled, pressing her face on the counter. She grinned drunkenly at Hyde, "Heeeeeey, I know yoooou."

"No you don't," Hyde said, snickering at her. He pat her on the head, "There there darling, perhaps we'll meet when you're more sober."

"But yer right heeeere," she groaned. Hyde laughed, only to stop when Lilly placed her hand on his shoulder, "You'll pay anything I want huh?"