Doctor Jekyll had been fully intending to allow Hyde an evening out, but upon standing from his desk to retrieve the formula’s ingredients and literally collapsing to his hands and knees, Hyde became alarmed and refused to let him transform.

“You wanted this night out.” Jekyll had rasped as he resigned himself to sitting on the floor to examine the small amount of rug burn on his palms.

‘If I get this night out, you’ll die of exhaustion when I turn back.’ Hyde retorted. ‘Either that or I’ll pass out in the middle of my outing.’

After that point, Jekyll had gone home without another word between them.

It went unspoken that neither of them wanted to be found out, especially not in a way that could be avoided.

He managed to get to his home with the (helpful) yips from Hyde to keep him alert enough.

It was only after Jekyll got home that he and Hyde spoke for real once again.

“I am surprised at you, Mr. Hyde.” the doctor said wearily, as he sluggishly entered his bed chambers and closed the door. “I’d think you’d leap at any opportunity to get what you want.”

‘Yeah, well, I’m not an idiot,’ Hyde remarked with a scoff. ‘I can see disaster coming a mile away if I take tonight to fool around.’

“That is why I’m surprised at you. You wouldn’t care if I pass out of exhaustion when you get back, that’s not your consequence to bear. And I’ve stayed up for far longer times…”

‘It has been eight days with maybe four hours of sleep across them.’ Hyde deadpanned, watching with a raised brow as Jekyll stripped. ‘And I wouldn’t even call it sleep, really, more like periodic blackouts when you think nobody’s paying attention.’

“Nobody has noticed enough to comment on it, Hyde.” Jekyll grumbled as he got into his nightwear, glaring at the mirror Hyde had shown himself in.

‘I noticed.’ Hyde said back, which launched the pair into a sort of staring contest, Jekyll halfway buttoning his shirt and Hyde stubbornly trying to assert his newly discovered fatherly qualities.

Jekyll eventually sighed and looked down to button the rest of his shirt, then shuffled to his bed. “Hopefully I don’t get too much beauty sleep.”

‘Don’t be like that, you ass.’ Hyde scoffed. ‘As much as I am loathe to admit it, sleep is important, especially for a dual personality freak like you.’

“Thank you, Mr. Hyde.” Jekyll said, exasperated.

‘You’re welcome.’ He returned, fading from the mirror.

After Jekyll had settled into bed, Hyde reappeared seated on Jekyll’s bedside, looking down at the exhausted adult.

‘Hey.’

Jekyll looked at him, and Hyde’s heart twisted a bit at how completely drained and lifeless Jekyll looked like this. He sincerely hoped he wasn’t seeing a preview of them in death right now. They were still too young, there was still so much to do…

‘Love yourself.’ Hyde said quietly, looking firm in his words. Jekyll blinked in surprise. ‘It is is important to stay positive, because…’ He shook his head. ‘Because beauty comes from the inside out.’ He smirked a fake little smirk, distantly remembering who he was and where his focus was supposed to be; on himself.

Jekyll looked too weary to process what he said. Hyde’s face reddened as he realized he could have just outright said he loved Jekyll and the man probably wouldn’t have even been alert enough to process the sentence.

But Jekyll did nod regardless of understanding Hyde’s words, before nodding off completely, pulling Hyde’s consciousness with him.