At the beginning, he was certain there wasn’t a single thing that could bring his night down.

Tricking Henry, wiggling out into Hyde’s physical manifestation, crashing the Blackfog Bazaar, and now he was at - gracious - Queen Lucy’s house! The Queen Lucy! Granted, she wasn’t an actual Queen, but she was royal enough for him to treat her as one! His absolute idol.

And then there was…egh. He hated the very name on his tongue, it tasted so disgusting.

Lanyon.

Oh, how Hyde downright despised the man. It was why he’d avoided him so fiercely for these two years, why he’d made sure that contact was a thought that never crossed his mind. The particular reason why Lanyon was at the top of his hatred list? Not sure, but he downright fuckin’ hated him! He’d rather eat bucket after bucket of shards of glass than interact with that rich-boy.

But of course Lanyon had followed him to the bazaar, and of COURSE he was here now, trying to bother Hyde. Something, something, Henry. He didn’t care. He could easily tune the words out as he had done time and time again with others.

Yet, as Hyde attempted to filter out those little rambling sentences, there was something…off. Lanyon was speaking of…a love for Henry? No, no, it was not his problem.

So why was there a blush on his own face? It was just some physical response, he was sure. That’s why he made his way off of the sofa chair, began to distance himself from Lanyon dismissively.

And then that hand clasped onto his shoulder, pushing him back against the wall. And suddenly his head was fuzzy with rampant thoughts, and Lanyon had pinned Hyde’s hands above his head and he found himself saying things he shouldn’t.

“You could take just about anything you’d like from me, darling. You always did like to take control, didn’t you? Lord knows you’re good at it.”

’What am I saying?! I HATE Lanyon! I hate his STUPID face and his STUPID freckles and his big, powerful hands pushing me up against the wall and…’

’Oh no.’