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]

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."

[thirstforvice]

"Don't I know it," Matthew laughs.

"Though I think maybe.... the rum has gone to my head."

[thegentlemanthug]

"Sleep for you," Bennet tells him. "And no more rum."

[thirstforvice]

"You don't want to love me in bed?" Matthew thinks he will probably pass out the second his face meets his pillow, but he can still try.

[thegentlemanthug]

"In the morning," Bennet deflects, thankful when they reach the top of the stairs.

[thirstforvice]

Matthew grumbles under his breath as he's steered towards their bed, but the second he catches sight of the mattress, the pillows, exhaustion hits him like a ton of bricks.

[thegentlemanthug]

Bennet undresses his lover without asking permission, guiding him under the covers as soon as he's in his nightshirt.

"Sleep now," he reminds him.

[thirstforvice]

"Mmm," Matthew doesn't argue, making no effort to do anything more than flop into bed, practically comatose on his feet as it is.