Come Dine With Me

[thirstforvice]

Slowly, life returns to normal.

Treves visits, regularly at first, then less so, helping Matthew to rehabilitate his leg to a level where he can walk without help once more, though he still relies heavily on the use of a cane. Bennet's memories continue to return, in steady dribs and drabs, and Edmund invites them both to return to their work before too long. Matthew's stomach turns at the thought of going back on the trains again, even the underground ones, and blames his leg for why he favours a carriage.

He's taking laudanum again, coca too, but that he keeps quiet. There's no need to worry Bennet with that, not yet anyway, not when everything is still so fragile.

They've been back at Leman Street just over a week when Matthew and Bennet return home to a frantically cooking Mrs Ramsay.

"There was a message, from your Inspector Reid," she informs them both as she moves around the kitchen. "He will be dining with us this evening."

Comments

[thegentlemanthug]

"Knock us both out, you mean," Bennet says, trying to make light of it all.

"Only if you're both still in short trousers," Mrs Ramsay retorts.

[thirstforvice]

"I can take my rum," Matthew promises, finding Bennet's hand and resting his over it on the table.

He can take a lot harder than rum.

[thegentlemanthug]

"Wait 'til you try this," Bennet says, and accepts their drinks, as Mrs Ramsay comes to sit with them.

"I know you must've been fond of her," Mrs Ramsay begins, "but I don't much care for that wife of yours, Captain."

[thirstforvice]

Matthew doesn't want to talk about Susan any more, but he knows Mrs Ramsay means well. And he could never raise his voice to her, any more than he could stamp on a puppy.

"Don't worry, feelin's mutual," he promises. "Any fondness died a long time ago. She's no wife of mine."

[thegentlemanthug]

Mrs Ramsay pats his hand.

"Well, you've done much better for yourself now, haven't you?"

Bennet hides his blushes in his hot rum.

[thirstforvice]

"A thousand times and more," Matthew declares, looking lovingly at Bennet even as his lover looks away with colour hot on his cheeks.

[thegentlemanthug]

"He done all right," Bennet mumbles.

"You're both very lucky," Mrs Ramsay says firmly, before rising from her seat and knocking back her drink. "I'll be saying goodnight then."

She crosses behind Matthew, squeezes his shoulder, and disappears to her room.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew keeps his hand over Bennet's as Mrs Ramsay leaves them, squeezing gently. "I did more than all right," he declares, made bold by the laudanum working its way through his bloodstream.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet smiles shyly.

"I did best of all," he declares.

[thirstforvice]

"Nah," Matthew laughs. "I drink too much, smoke too much... sleep too much, most likely. Definitely gamble more than I should. I'm awful." He says all this with a smile, meaning it all as a joke.

[thegentlemanthug]

"You are everything I want," Bennet says simply, frankly.

[thirstforvice]

"Then I am thankful," Matthew smiles, a little drunkenly, "For your very low standards, Bennet Drake."

[thegentlemanthug]

"I'll have you know that my standards are very exacting," Bennet says, with an affected air of arrogance. "You were the only one what I allowed to tumble me, after all."

[thirstforvice]

"Maybe..." with the laudanum running through his veins, the rum affects Matthew very quickly, leaving him more than a little drunk.

"Maybe I just know how to seduce a man."

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet is alarmed at how a little whisky has gone straight to his lover's bed.

"I think you need your bed. To sleep."

[thirstforvice]

"'m fine," Matthew shakes his head.

"'m happy here."

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet stands.

"We both need our rest. Come on now."

[thirstforvice]

"'m fine," Matthew repeats, shaking his head. "'m alright here."

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet frowns.

"I'm going upstairs," he says. "You joining me?"

[thirstforvice]

"Fine, fine..." Matthew struggles back to his feet, swaying slightly as he tries to find his balance without his cane and with the heady mix of alcohol and drugs in his system.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet grabs Matthew's arm and places it around his shoulder.

"Your head for liquor has deserted you."

[thirstforvice]

"'s Mrs Ramsay," Matthew decides as he sways against Bennet.

"Put something in our drinks."

[thegentlemanthug]

"Must be," Bennet says, though he feels perfectly fine.

Perhaps Matthew isn't as recovered as they hoped.

[thirstforvice]

"I love you," Matthew suddenly declares, pressing a kiss to Bennet's cheek, sloppy and poorly-aimed.

[thegentlemanthug]

"I love you too," Bennet says, all but carrying Matthew up their narrow staircase. "But I'd love you more in bed."