Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Will leaned back from his worn desk, feeling the weight of fatigue settle heavily on his shoulders. Rubbing his tired eyes, he slowly made his way to the small, dated kitchen that felt both familiar and soothing. As he shuffled across the worn linoleum floor, Buster playfully weaved between his legs, seeking attention while Will set about brewing another pot of coffee. He carefully measured a single scoop of Folgers into the crinkled paper filter, his mind drifting to memories of Hannibal. The thought of the doctor’s rich, gourmet coffee—the kind served in sleek Thermoses, always accompanied by an inviting smile—made Will’s mouth water.  

 He remembered the first time he had tasted Hannibal’s coffee; the moment the deep, complex, and slightly bitter flavor rolled over his tongue, he had fought the urge to moan aloud. Instead, he had swallowed his delight—he didn’t want to inflate Hannibal’s already considerable ego, not when so many already seemed to orbit around him. “He has Alana for that,” Will thought bitterly, the edges of his mind sharpening at the thought. Despite his initial resolve to maintain a professional distance, his connection with Hannibal had deepened in ways he hadn’t anticipated. After sharing that delectable breakfast, Will found himself yearning for Hannibal’s company. An unspoken bond had formed, one that pulled him closer with each private dinner they enjoyed together. During those evenings, Hannibal dressed down in cozy sweaters and slacks, greeting Will at the door with a warmth that felt almost intimate. It was as if he had been granted access to a side of Hannibal that few others saw, a privilege Will cherished. However, all of that intimacy came to a gradual halt a few weeks ago when Hannibal began dating Alana, severing the connection that had grown between them. Will clenched his jaw, the tension tightening his muscles as he removed the pot from the burner. He poured himself a steaming cup of coffee into a fishing mug, its chipped edges a reminder of simpler times, a relic from the thrift store from when he first moved to Baltimore. The warmth of the mug in his hands offered a moment of comfort, even as the bitterness inside him lingered like an aftertaste. Soon after his dreadful kiss with Alana, which he now knew was spurred by his growing panic about his emerging feelings for Hannibal, he learned that they were seeing each other.   

***  

He remembered Hannibal's face when he had shown up on his doorstep that night. Even after almost an hour and a half drive through a blizzard, his panic had yet to subside, and the first thing he had blurted out had been, “I kissed Alana.” Will had even left his coat in a heap by Hannibal's oak front door and his shoes on as he barged inside, not waiting for an invitation. Usually, behavior like that would lead to a tiny flex near Hannibal's eye in annoyance, one of his few tells. He was a master at controlling his body language, making it difficult even for Will to read, but on this night, his unmistakable hurt was clear. Hannibal’s face had gone from happy curiosity, his eyes bright and golden at Wills sudden arrival, to shattered at his admission. It had only flashed briefly, but it was there in the way Hannibal wouldn’t meet his eyes and busied himself around the kitchen while they talked. He had known for a while now that Hannibal had a penchant for touching things when he was upset, a touch of OCD that the doctor could not seem to shake. Hannibal had taken a dish filled with some kind of fancy apple pie from the oven for Will and painstakingly arranged it on a small porcelain dessert plate.    

“Tell me, what was Alana’s reaction?” Hannibal asked airily with a tinge of polite concern as he straightened and restraightened an ivory dish towel on his prep table.   

Will had still been reeling with his discovery for the most part and seeking to push for his own answers. Mainly if Hannibal felt the same edge of desire he had started to feel over these past winter months. “She said she wouldn’t be good for me, and I wouldn’t be good for her,” Will said, not hiding a trace of bitterness as he took a small bite of the dessert. He normally didn’t like apples or desserts, but his eyes almost rolled back at the first touch of warm spices and flaky dough on his tongue. He had been slightly hurt at Alana’s reaction, even though it would never have worked out. She had all but called him crazy and said it was a mistake, even kissing him before fleeing his small house like it was a tomb. He had thought they were at least a little closer than that, and now he found himself questioning if Hannibal felt the same deep down. That he was just some charity case that Hannibal had seen and taken in. Yes, he knew his “gift” made him interesting company for the therapists surrounding him, but he hoped that wasn’t the case with Hannibal. For once in his life, he was questioning someone's intentions. His empathy usually allowed for clarity, but in Hannibal's case, he had never been able to read him fully. He had seen glimpses, things that were incongruous with the passive therapist suit Hannibal wore. But whenever he tried to look deeper, he always fell into an abyss, a void, clutching at threads in the dark. Hannibal was one of the only people he had encountered that he couldn't “see” clearly, just an outline...one with stag horns. It terrified him now that all he had to go off of was a shadow now that he was starting to understand his true feelings regarding the doctor. When Alana’s sticky lip gloss-slicked lips had met his own, he had felt nothing but a mild disgust for the texture. He found himself going through the proper motions of lips against lips and trying desperately not to think of a pair that had been haunting his dreams for a while. A plush upper lip that just begged to be nipped at.    

“I don’t disagree, " Hannibal said loftily as he spun around to start clearing up the dishes from dinner. “You would cause each other nothing but ill feelings; her nature would drive her to fix you, and you would resent her for it.”    

Fix you . Will could not stop the sinking feeling in his stomach at Hannibal's choice of words, so similar to Alana’s. “I know, " he said quietly, pushing his plate away slightly, suddenly feeling nauseous.    

“I am wondering then why you drove almost an hour in the snow to tell me then.” Hannibal spun around, and Will tried to connect their eyes to gather just a hint of his feelings while he snatched up the dirty dishes from making his dessert, but Hannibal would not meet them. Hannibal almost sounded...jealous. Will’s heart raced. Maybe he wasn’t the only one sitting on these feelings after all. Hannibal turned back around to the sink, and Will jumped at the sound of the dishes being dropped unceremoniously in. Hannibal's back seemed more rigid than usual as he washed up.    

“I don’t know...I thought we could maybe talk about it, I guess.” Will said cautiously to Hannibal’s back. Hannibal released a dark chuckle, “If you are looking for advice on seducing her, I am afraid your trip was for nothing.” He started with an air of grim finality that set Will back on his heels. This was all going horribly sideways. “I cannot lie to you Will, with everything that has been happening recently I do not recommend you enter a relationship. It would only destabilize you further.”    

Will felt the blood drain from his face and faltered in picking his fork back up with his numb hand as Hannibal finally turned to face him when the silence grew uncomfortable. He hastily stuffed a bite of the now dreadful dessert into his mouth with an air of nonchalance he did not feel. Forcing himself to chew mechanically as he tried to stop his heart from feeling like it was being twisted painfully in his chest by a spectral hand. Hannibal was giving him his undivided attention now, and Will wished he would go back to avoiding him so he could try to leave with what little dignity he had and preserve their relationship. He could be friends with Hannibal, he decided; being without him completely was too painful to consider. It was clear now that Hannibal, like Alana, had never even considered him in a romantic light, and he couldn’t blame them. They were perfect, and all he would do was drag them down into the sweat and the nightmares and the blood.    

Will stood from the table and worked a shaky smile onto his face, hoping it did not look too far off from his usual ones. The best thing about being perceived as crazy is no one batted an eye at your odd behaviors. He picked up Hannibal's fine China dessert plate and took it to the sink for him. “It was delicious, thank you,” Will said truthfully, although when he finally worked the courage up to meet Hannibal's eyes, he could see their dark depths pursuing the still full plate with a slight frown pulling at the edges of his mouth.    

“I could send you home with some.” Hannibal waved his hand to his own still full plate. “You do not look as if you have been eating much again between cases.”    

Will flinched and covered his scrawny chest with his arms self-consciously; how could he ever think he could land someone as perfect as Hannibal with his graceful dancer's physique and high alpine cheekbones? In contrast, Will must look like a half-starved mutt; his hair had grown longer while he had set aside everything to work on case after case for Crawford. Half the time, he didn't even have time to shave after his quick shower before racing out at 4 am to work on whatever grisly case Crawford had ranted about that morning. His eyes were the only good feature he had, so he was told, and he had permanent purple half-moons under them, destroying whatever appeal he may have had. He was not vain and had never cared much about how he looked, but now he felt disgusted with himself.    

Will barked out a self-deprecating laugh. “I know I look rough; I should probably just get home and get some sleep. Crawford has been runnin me ragged.” Will saw Hannibal open his mouth to speak, his eyes looking a little lost now at Will’s behavior, and Will talked over him quickly, not wanting to hear his concern; it hurt too much right now. Will made to move around Hannibal, escaping to the front door to get his coat. “Thanks for the pie and the talk. It really helped bring some things into perspective for me.” He hoped that he didn’t give off too much of his inner turmoil and reached to pick his wet coat from the floor. Only to have a pair of hands snatch it from him before he could shrug it on.    

“Please, allow me,” Hannibal said gently, and Will was surprised to feel tears brimming in his eyes at this familiar routine. He didn’t dare turn around as he heard fabric rustling, not wanting Hannibal to see, but he couldn't suppress his shocked gasp as the warm, soft fabric was draped over his shoulders. It was Hannibal's dark coat made from God knows what and probably cost a small fortune, not the torn-up coat he had held onto for years. Will started to shrug it off, intent on giving it back to him, when firm hands closed around his shoulders, keeping it in place.    

“Please, your things are wet, and I would be a horrible friend if I sent you home as such.” Hannibal breathed into his ear in his smooth voice, and Will could not stop the full-body shudder that overtook him as Hannibal's warm breath hit his ear and his spicy cologne filled his lungs. He jerked out from Hannibal's grasp, terrified he would notice, and start putting two and two together and made his way to his front door. Pulling it open swiftly, Will only spared a gruff “Thanks.” over his shoulder as he took off into the night, trying his damnest not to slip on the icy pavement and really top this whole night off. That would be the real icing on the cake, breaking his coccyx and needing to have Hannibal take him to the hospital for a broken ass. Once in the safety of his car he pulled the coat more firmly around himself. Hannibal must have worn it recently because his scent was faintly surrounding Will as he drove home, almost as if he was in the vehicle himself. Will gave in, brought the coat up nearer to his face, and breathed in Hannibal's spicy scent from the collar. He immediately felt a sense of peace wash over him, loosening his rigid grip on the wheel and bringing more moisture to his eyes. He was sure Hannibal would want it returned eventually, but for now he gave in to his depravity and enjoyed the comfort it provided. He would return it in a few days...or a week.    

When Will finally arrived home, he “forgot” to remove the coat, and it followed him to bed for a few nights. When it had lost the last of the delicious scent that clung to the fabric, he decided it was time to return it. His first inkling of something being off should have been when Will pulled up to Hannibal’s drive in the early morning before work to find Alana's car parked in it. Will frowned as he walked up to the front door, the coat tucked firmly under his arm. He examined the vehicle out of the corner of his eye. Last night's snow had piled on top and obviously hadn’t been moved. Will convinced himself that maybe Alana took up Hannibal's ever-present offer of the guest bedroom and stayed the night after partaking in too much beer.   

It was not unusual for Hannibal to offer his guest room and had given Will the option many times after a late-night dinner, professing his worry over Will traveling at night while tired from a case. He never took his offer and has been regretting it very much recently. Will could only imagine how beautiful Hannibal looked, rumpled from sleep. He knocked at the door twice and receiving no response, shrugged his shoulders and let himself in. Will gave a soft grunt as he tripped over something in the doorway and discovered Alana’s leather heels were the culprit. They looked as if they had been kicked off just at the doorway, never picked up, and moved to the proper space Hannibal had reserved for guests' shoes. Will grimaced, picking them both up and moving them off to the side. In the kitchen, he could hear the soft tinkling of silverware and smiled slightly at images of catching Hannibal unaware and making breakfast dancing in his mind. He might even be able to snag a cup of his coffee to take to the BSU with him.   

He moved quietly, already having memorized all the spots the wood floor would creak, and made his way to the kitchen. The jacket slipped out of his hands and hit Hannibal’s oak floors with a quiet rustle, like a falling flag. In the kitchen was not Hannibal, but Alana. She was standing by Hannibal’s professional stove and making eggs by the smell of it, humming a Christmas song cheerfully...Jingle bells, it sounded like. She was also only dressed in Hannibal’s red cable knit sweater. Will’s favorite on him because of the way it brought out his tawny eyes and golden skin; now Will was looking at it contrast beautifully with Alana’s pale, shapely legs. He could not help but feel an intense amount of hatred for them both at the moment. Of course...of course, they would get together. It made perfect sense; they were both beautiful and had successful careers. Hannibal would never have to change the sheets in the middle of the night because they were soaked with sweat or deal with someone who would only embarrass him in front of his high society friends with his biting remarks. No, he had Alana warming his bed...perfect Alana.   

Will turned soundlessly and left the jacket on the floor as he sightlessly left the room. He left the way he had come in, noting new things he had ignored before in his eagerness to see Hannibal. One of Hannibal's paisley ties was draped over the couch, along with a pair of slacks that he assumed belonged to Alana. His teeth ground painfully when he noticed they were missing their button, and he spied it glistening dully over by the coffee table.   

“Will?” Hannibal’s voice drifted from the top of the staircase. Will turned and tugged the front door open, slamming it on his way out of the house. He had to get out of there, he could not imagine the awkwardness that would ensue if he stayed. Will leaped into his car, turning the key over aggressively. His thoughts were a rolling boil, and he breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself. He could do this. He was good at burying painful things and continuing on, he had done it all his life. Hannibal didn't owe Will anything, he reasoned, yet the thought echoed in his mind, feeling strangely hollow and unconvincing. As the front door of Hannibal's home creaked open, Will instinctively looked up. There was Hannibal, emerging from the warmth of his house, a plush robe wrapped snugly around him to ward off the morning chill. The soft light of dawn illuminated his hair, revealing the golden highlights that glimmered like strands of sunlight. As Hannibal approached Will’s idling car, his bare, delicate feet left ghostly footprints in the freshly fallen snow. Despite his usual confidence, Hannibal’s expression was almost apologetic as he walked toward Will.  

 Feeling like a coward, Will's heart raced as he abruptly backed out of the driveway, a surge of anxiety propelling him toward the Bureau. He disregarded the relentless chimes of his phone, which lay abandoned on the passenger seat, and his mind replayed last week's conversation like a broken record. Hannibal’s reactions to Will's kiss with Alana began to coalesce into clarity; what he had mistakenly interpreted as jealousy directed at him now revealed itself to be a different narrative entirely. The realization hit him hard—Hannibal’s feelings were reserved for Alana, a truth that cast a shadow over Will's expectations. He couldn't fathom how long Hannibal had desired her, but he understood the depth of their relationship, forged over years as friends and, before that, as mentor and student. In his mind, reminders of their bond rushed forward: Alana had an open invitation to Hannibal's home, just as he did, and Hannibal always spoke of her with a warmth that now stung.  

 As Will drove, he wrestled with swirling thoughts, trying to push them aside, but the quiet of the car only amplified his feelings of unease. An hour later, he finally pulled into the parking lot of the Behavioral Science Unit. Jack’s sharp gaze met his as soon as he entered, taking in Will's disheveled appearance. Without a word, Jack shoved him gently toward his office, where a mountain of case files awaited him.  

 Will felt a flicker of gratitude as he settled into his chair, staring at the stack of papers Jack had handed him. In recent weeks, he’d been drowning in stress and responsibilities, so the reprieve was a welcome change. He didn’t have the mental bandwidth to immerse himself in the horror of crime scenes right now, and this paperwork felt like a small mercy. He plunged into the files, focusing on the stark facts and narratives, hoping the mechanical nature of the task would provide a temporary distraction from his turbulent emotions.  

 Just as he began to lose himself in the details, his phone erupted in a cacophony of ringing, jolting him back to reality. He glanced up at the ancient wall clock on the office wall, realizing that hours had slipped by unnoticed; it was nearly 8 PM. The realization left him slightly disoriented. He hadn't acknowledged the passage of time, but fatigue washed over him—his eyes felt gritty from staring at the papers, and his mouth was dry, sour from the relentless consumption of the Bureau's mediocre coffee throughout the day.  He picked up his phone before it could buzz off the edge of his desk and flipped it around to check the caller ID, even though he was pretty sure he knew who was calling.   

Hannibal flashed across the screen of his outdated scratched phone, and he felt the anxiety he had been pushing down resurface again. How he had behaved this morning was odd, but he hoped it was not too unjustifiable considering the circumstances; anyone would be a little upset if they discovered their friend was sleeping with the girl they had kissed and been rejected by. However, if he kept ignoring Hannibal and the situation, it would only become more awkward, and he may lose his tentatively built friendship. Will had decided during his long drive to the office that he did not want to lose Hannibal altogether; that would be a worse pain than what he was experiencing now. He did need time to sort through his emotions, though. Will sighed as he answered his phone curtly. “Hello?”  

“Will...you left.” Hannibal seemed to stumble over his words uncharacteristically, and Will felt his brows draw together. This was not how he had anticipated this call to start off.   

“Yes, I didn’t know you were busy...I am sorry for just barging in like that. I had wanted to return the jacket you let me borrow.” Will said with a forced, even tone. He didn’t mention the trout he had caught and packaged up carefully in hopes of surprising Hannibal, but they still resided in the back of his car. He would dump it when he got home, containers and all.   

“Yes, thank you for returning it...I was wondering if everything was alright?” Hannibal said with a tremor in his voice that sounded a lot like the nerves Will had been experiencing recently.   

“Fine! I'm just working on some paperwork. I got caught up and forgot to message you back. Sorry.” Will brought his chewed thumb up to his lips while he waited for a response, drawing blood with his anxiety and licking it clean from the cuticle bed.   

“Will, I am sorry. Alana and I were having dinner...” Hannibal started, and Will cut in, not wanting to hear the particulars   

“It’s fine, Hannibal. I should be the one apologizing for stopping by unannounced. I am happy for you guys.” He tagged on graciously, digging his nails into his palm. Hannibal cleared his throat delicately on the other end of the phone. “Thank you.” He sounded a little disappointed. Will felt confused. Is that not what he wanted to hear?   

“It's great; you both are perfect for each other.” Will tried again, hoping he sounded enthused enough about the situation. “Alana is very beautiful.”   

“Yes, she is a beautiful woman.” Hannibal almost sounded snappy, and Will felt his frustration grow in response. This was nothing but confusing, and he was trying his best to repair things despite the ragged gaping hole in his chest. “I have to go; I think I need to head home and feed my dogs.” Will ground out, flexing his fingers and preparing to snap his phone shut.    

“One moment!” Hannibal’s voice cried out before he could end the call. “I would like to invite you to a Christmas Eve party I am hosting in a few days.” Hannibal finished, his smooth tenor bleeding persuasively over the electronic speaker. Will had yet to attend one of Hannibal’s famous parties, something that Jack lamented frequently, having never secured his own invitation. He only had to imagine the slew of board-certified psychologists...Chilton, and that put him off attending. Now he found himself willing to risk it; perhaps, if nothing else, he could get stupid drunk off Hannibal’s liquor cabinet; it beat staying home licking his wounds. That was another reason to go, he didn’t want pity or for Hannibal and Alana to think they had hurt him with their affair. He wanted to show up and prove that he was fine.    

“Okay...” Will replied cautiously, “I will be there.”    

Hannibal breathed a sigh of relief over the phone, and Will felt touched. Perhaps his friendship meant just as much to Hannibal as it did to himself.    

“I look forward to seeing you, Will.” Hannibal practically purred, and Will felt his stomach heat with desire before he beat it down. Friends, they were friends. He hung up the call and made his way home in a daze. The following day, he awoke with a new problem. From what few Christmas parties he had attended at the BSU, he knew it was polite to bring something. He doubted Hannibal would appreciate a box of wine. Texting Hannibal and asking what he should bring brought no clarity because he only received “ Yourself ” in response to the digging, and he felt stuck. He also was playing with the idea of getting Hannibal something special for Christmas. But again, Will had no idea what he could get the Doctor that he did not already have.  Luckily one of these problems was solved at the dilapidated coffee machine in the breakroom. Will was wincing at the taste of burnt coffee and still trying to wake up when Beverly attacked.    

“Hey, you! I heard your attending Lecter’s Christmas eve party!” she exclaimed, nearly hopping up and down in her excitement. Will thought it was too early in the morning for this type of energy, especially after viewing a corpse with candy canes jabbed in its throat, but did not share this thought out loud. Out of everyone in the department, he found Katts to be the most tolerable despite her overenthusiastic temper. She was funny and dependable and took her work seriously. She even stuck up for Will sometimes when Jack was being particularly unbearable.    

“Yes, I thought it might be a nice change from cadaver viewing, " he replied dryly, and Beverly punched him lightly in the arm.    

“What are you gonna wear? Please tell me it’s not that suit you wore last year.” Beverly groaned. Will tried to evade her by taking another sip of his awful coffee, but Beverly saw all she needed to see apparently to draw the answer.    

“You cannot!” she gasped. “It looks like something a tenured anthropology professor would wear.”    

Wills's brows rose at her detailed description. “You have a lot of experience with that? Also, I am a tenured professor,” he finished lamely.    

“You are, but you don't need to dress like one.” She stuck her tongue out at him childishly, and Will shook his head with a soft scoff. He never really cared about his clothes before, why start now. Beverly’s mouth quirked strangely, and she leaned close as if to share a secret. Will raised his brows at her questioningly.    

“You have a great ass, use it. I see how you look at Lecter when he’s otherwise occupied.” Will felt his face heat up, a wave of embarrassment surging through him as he pulled back from the conversation with a glare. “I do not look at Lecter; besides, he’s not interested in me anyway.” Even he could detect the soft hurt lingering in his voice, reminiscent of a 16-year-old girl nursing her first broken heart. Feeling utterly humiliated, he turned on his heel to retreated to his office, seeking refuge until Beverly concluded her shift. A twinge of anxiety flickered through him at the thought of Beverly revealing her theories to their other two colleagues; they had a knack for turning every shred of insight into gossip that spread like wildfire through the precinct  

Just as he thought he was in the clear, Beverly caught his arm with a gentle but firm grip. “Hey... trust me, he notices you too,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling with residual amusement and a hint of compassion. “Now, come on. I’m going to help you out, Graham.” With a mischievous giggle, she began to drag him toward the exit.  

 “We still have work! Beverly!” Will protested, trying to reason with her as he attempted to pull away. However, her fingers were like iron, digging into the soft flesh of his bicep. Deep down, he had to admit that a flicker of relief and hope ignited within him at her observation and the prospect of receiving her help.  

 Come on, Graham! You never take sick days, and you work late almost every day while the rest of us go home! Jack can spare you for a few hours,” Beverly insisted, her tone firm with a touch of playful authority. Before he could object further, he found himself thrust outside the doors of the Behavioral Science Unit and into her waiting vehicle. He could barely believe his eyes when he caught Jack’s approving smile as they passed by his open office door.  

 Once in Beverly’s car, she drove him to a bustling mall—another venue he typically avoided at all costs, especially on weekends when it was teeming with crowds. Yet today was different; today was about his transformation. Beverly energized him, insisting he try on an array of clothing: turtleneck sweaters, slacks, jeans, and crisp button-down shirts. He eventually found himself sweating and exhausted, grappling with fabric after fabric, when he finally slipped into a dark blue cashmere sweater. The soft material caressed his skin, and he ran his hands over his torso, smoothing it down a few times, before stepping out for Beverly’s meticulous inspection.  

 Beverly tapped her pen against her lips thoughtfully, evaluating him like a professional stylist. She scribbled something in her notebook—was she actually taking notes? “Turn around; I want to see how those slacks fit from the back,” she instructed, her tone all business. Will spun around, feeling a flush rise high on his cheeks as he allowed her to appraise his appearance completely.  

 “Those slacks fit perfectly! And the sweater clings just enough to show off some definition while still leaving Lecter wanting more,” she remarked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. Will felt the heat suffusing his face deepen at her words, a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration coursing through him.  

 “So... are we getting this?” he asked, a hopeful lilt to his voice.  

“Absolutely! Now we just need to find a belt and some shoes!” Beverly cheered, her excitement undeniably contagious. Will groaned internally, realizing he should have known better than to think their shopping excursion would end so easily.  

 By the time they finally left the mall, the night sky had settled in, casting a soft glow over the parking lot. Will found himself laden with more shopping bags than he had ever intended to carry. Beverly had skillfully talked him into purchasing far more than just one outfit. As they made their way to the checkout, he noticed that his selection included several new sweaters, slacks, and even a few pairs of boxers that had made him blush from embarrassment during their purchase. However, the nagging thought of Hannibal spotting his holey underwear back at home had given him the necessary strength to go through with it all. He had enough money to indulge in this spontaneous splurge.  

 In addition to clothes, Beverly had also guided him toward a selection of fine wines to bring to the upcoming party. Now, all that remained was one last daunting task: figuring out the perfect gift for Hannibal. The prospect both thrilled and terrified him as he weighed his options, feeling a hopeful anticipation building within him.  

***  

Which is what he was working on currently. Will set his empty mug in the sink and made his way back to his fly-tying gear. He had spent the past few days working on Hannibal’s gift, redoing even the slightest mistake. Everything had to be perfect. He had a headache brewing at the back of his eyes from doing the detailed work for so long, but he had to admit these lures were some of the best he had ever made. They held little tokens he had picked up on his travels with Hannibal while working cases. A raven's feather he had pulled out from underneath Hannibal’s Italian loafer in North Carolina, a bit of string pulled loose from one of his jackets, a piece of brown sea glass that was the same color as Hannibal’s eyes. So many little trinkets he had found and stored just for this moment it seemed.    

Will placed the finished lures in a shadowbox he had found and refinished and wrapped them up with brown parchment, he had forgotten wrapping paper. Once they were set safely on his tall bookshelf to keep the dogs from getting to them, he went to get ready. Will took a longer time than usual in the shower, washing his hair twice and leaving the conditioner to soak in his curls. He washed the rest of his body brusquely with bar soap while he waited. Stepping out of the shower Will dried and examined himself in the mirror, he still had dark circles under his eyes, nothing could be done about that, but his beard was getting unruly. Will pulled open the drawer where he kept his trimming supplies and spied a set of new razors he had yet to use. He debated for a few moments before bringing them out too, fuck it he thought, might as well go all out.   

Smoothing the blue sweater down over his spare frame he went back to the bathroom to appraise the overall look. Beverly was right the midnight blue was a good color on him, it brought out the blue in his eyes and the flush on his cheeks. Will smoothed a hand over a bare cheek still getting used to not feeling stubble there for the first time in years. It made him look young and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but it was too late to go back now. Grabbing Hannibal’s gift off his shelf and the wine from the kitchen he left for the party.   

There were more cars than he anticipated when he pulled up to Hannibal’s house and he was slightly disappointed to notice Alana’s taking up front and center parked in the driveway. He steadfastly ignored the electric car as he knocked politely on the door. Alana had not texted him once since their disappointing kiss and he was relieved she seemed to be giving him the cold shoulder, although now he did not know what to expect from her tonight. With a deep breath, Will approached the door and knocked softly. The moment it opened, his heart skipped a beat as he was met with Hannibal’s familiar and inviting presence, sending a rush of adrenaline coursing through him.  He was dressed in one of his signature suits, a deep cobalt blue that matched Will’s sweater exactly, and around his neck was a paisley tie in shades of soft greens and a lighter blue than his suit. His hair was not in its usual combed-back style, and instead, the blonde locks hung loosely around his brow, lending him a youthful look. Hannibal smiled...actually smiled, revealing his sharp fangs. His eyes seemed to be taking Will in much the same as he himself was being looked at. Will felt a soft warmth build up on his cheekbones as Hannibal dragged his eyes down his form slowly before branching up and meeting his own for a few brief moments before beginning the journey again. Will felt his hope take wing and soar in his chest as Hannibal seemed to be awestruck by his appearance; maybe Beverly was on to something. When this was over, he would have to get her a thank you card.   

Hannibal cleared his throat lightly and finally stepped aside from the door, motioning gracefully for Will to come in. “I apologize, Will. I seemed to have misplaced both my manners and my senses. Please come in.”   

As Will passed under the doorway, he breathed a breathless thank you in response not missing the way Hannibal's eyes continued to track him into the house Did he just inhale as Will passed him? Will was almost giddy with Hannibal's reaction to seeing him. It was so different than how they had ever behaved around each other before, and he was determined to run with it. He set his bags down containing the gifts and made to shrug out of his new jacket, a black Burberry that Beverly had claimed made him look like a model. However, before he could even begin the process of removing it, Hannibal's light hands caught him at the elbows. “Please, allow me.” Hannibal practically purred, and Will swallowed in response to the desire slowly flooding his body.   

Hannibal’s hands drifted up along his arms, almost seeming purposeful in the way they were caressing him to remove his coat, and he heard a quiet gasp as he was fully revealed. He would have missed it if he hadn’t been straining to hear a reaction, but he definitely heard Hannibal’s swift intake of breath. Will’s confidence was growing, and he turned with a slight smirk to look up from under his eyelashes at Hannibal “Thank you for the invite.” Will tried to pack as much sultriness into his voice as possible and was gratified to see Hannibal swallow thickly while looking down at him. His eyes had lightened to tawny, and his cheeks seemed to be slightly more golden than usual. Will felt high with his success in affecting Hannibal and made a mental note to get Beverly a thank-you gift as well. If not for Beverly, he would have never attempted this and never been this successful.   

***  

“Beverly, he is seeing Alana.” Will reminded her as she commented on his ass and how much it was going to make Lecter drool for the umpteenth time. Beverly blew a raspberry at him. “Pleeeeease, Ms. Goody Two Shoes has nothing on the Graham Cracker, and I’m never wrong about these things.”   

“Remember when I told you about Jimmy and Brian?”   

He did.   

“Hannibal has never looked at Alana the way he looks at you.” She finished confidently as she handed him a belt to try. Will took it silently, slightly mollified at her urging, and slipped it through the slacks loops. When he was finished, he met Beverly’s gaze, and she softened.   

“Hey, buck up, Graham, just go in there knowing you're the hottest stuff around, and trust me, everything will play out as it’s meant to.”   

Will grimaced slightly, “What if...it's not my looks they opposed.” He asked quietly, “What if it's because I'm too damaged?” He waited with bated breath for Beverly to respond to his secret fear, only to be punched hard enough to leave a bruise on his bicep.   

“Don’t give me that crap, Graham! You are brilliant and a good man; anyone who thinks differently is stupid.” Beverly caught his hand and tugged him into a hug, and Will, for once in his life, didn’t struggle. “What we see is dark shit, and it gets to everyone sometimes, don’t pull away from people just because some can’t deal.”   

“Besides, Lecter doesn’t strike me as the type to scare too easily.” Beverly released him, and Will felt his heart swell warmly for his newfound...friend.   

***  

Will allowed a slight smirk to tug at the edges of his lips and watched as Hannibal seemed to respond, his own small sphinxlike smile making an appearance.   

“So, where are all the sycophants?” Will asked, glancing around the empty corridor, and Hannibal chuckled lightly in response.   

“They are in the living room awaiting dinner,” Hannibal said, his eyes flashing with knowing amusement. “Would you like to give me an extra set of hands in the kitchen? I am running behind.” He whispered the last part dramatically, and Will felt his stomach jerk with a small chuckle.   

“Sure, but don’t give me anything too hard,” Will replied, following Hannibal down the hall and into the warmth of his kitchen. Hannibal glanced over his shoulder, a mischievous sparkle playing in his tawny eyes. “Are you sure, Will? I believe you are more capable than you portray.” Will felt his blush return and glanced down with a small smile.   

“Maybe.”   

Upon entering the kitchen, Will felt his eyes widen dramatically at all the food sitting out on Hannibal's pristine counters and the prep currently happening. Bowls filled with different sauces were stacked, and something that smelled delicious was bubbling in a small pot over the stove. “Christ, Hannibal! You did all this yourself?”   

Hannibal smiled at Will’s reaction and looked pleased. “Yes, who else would do it?”   

Will scoffed at him, “I don’t know, I thought maybe you hired catering for some of it.” Hannibal's mouth fell into a moue of distaste.   

“I tried catering, but they never met my expectations, and on one occasion, a cook destroyed my Kintsugi sets, trying to bring them down from the China cabinet without assistance.” Hannibal's eye muscle twitched, and Will sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, knowing what that meant.   

“Did you put him in the soup?” He deadpanned, and Hannibal's eyes looked over him fondly.   

“I was very tempted.”  

Will grinned. He knew how much Hannibal loved his cannibalism puns: “Well, show me what you want. My daddy taught me how to work for my supper.” Will played up his Cajun drawl and was excited to see the immense effect it seemed to have on Hannibal. His tawny eyes darkened and locked on Will’s lips before moving up and meeting his own. Will mentally made a note that Hannibal seemed to like his true accent and saved that knowledge for later.   

“Here, Will, let me demonstrate for you.” He beckoned Will over to his side by the cutting board. “I would like for you to cube these for me, please.” He gestured to the shaved potatoes and carrots before taking up a knife and drawing a potato towards himself to efficiently cube it into several sections. His hands were neat and quick, and Will felt morbid desire thrumming in his blood as he imagined them doing the same in the emergency room as a surgeon. Hannibal breathed in deeply beside him and let out a soft groan. Will glanced up, worried he had somehow cut himself with the knife, and let a soft gasp escape his own full lips at how close Hannibal's face was to his own. It hovered just a few inches away and Will could now see a slight scar that existed on the bridge of his nose. He wanted to brush his lips against the slight imperfection. Hannibal’s eyes were filled with...desire. Will felt his heart rate increase so much he feared Hannibal could hear it while being this close. This was the first time he had ever gotten a clear read on Hannibal, and his belly twisted in knots with the hot lash of the aching desire he picked up on. Hannibal wanted him with a desperate hunger; it was unbelievable.   

“Hannibal.” Will gasped, feeling himself start to harden in his slacks in response to the gut punch he had just received. Hannibal's eyes regarded him like a watchful lion, tawny and ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. Will gave it to him; he leaned in the last few inches, breathing Hannibal's spicy cologne into his lungs, delighting in how it mixed with his natural warmth. It beckoned to him like a poisonous flower, and he connected their lips softly. Hannibal did not respond for a few moments; he didn’t even seem to be breathing.  Will eventually pulled back, their lips disconnecting with a slight popping sound from being so perfectly melded. He kept his eyes shut for a few more seconds, savoring the taste of Hannibal that he had finally gained before peeling back his lids trepidatiously.    

He would apologize if he had misread and gone too far, but Hannibal was not as stoically polite as he had pictured; he seemed to be coming apart at the seams. His eyes were wild as they stayed locked on Will, and his lips were parted softly, allowing him to finally drag in a shuddering breath. In a flash, Will was lifted as if he were a bag of groceries and not a 27-year-old man, and he heard the crash of dishes as they were shoved off the counter to make room for him. As soon as Hannibal set him on the countertop, he locked his legs around his hips to keep him close, terrified that if given the space, Hannibal would stop this obscene affair. Hannibal released a low growl in response that made the hairs on the back of Wills's neck stand on end. He jerked his hips closer to his own, and Will gave his own groan of delight at the feeling of Hannibal's hardness meeting him.    

Hannibal was frantically mouthing at his neck, pulling the edge of the silky turtleneck down to bare even more pale skin for his feast.    

“You are the most beautiful creature I have ever been gifted enough to witness.”    

Hannibal breathed as his lips settled on the hollow of Wills's ear before gently sucking the lobe into his mouth, and the protest Will was about to voice died in his throat as the new sensation seemed to shoot straight to his dick. He cried out as he felt a bit of precum burst from his throbbing tip to wet his boxers.    

“Please, please, please ,” he chanted, trying desperately to rub himself along Hannibal and relieve some of his tension. Sensing what he wanted, Hannibal gripped his hips, firmly adjusting the angle, and finally, Will was getting the needed movement. Hannibal rocked against him firmly, and Will’s eyes fluttered at the feeling of their hard cocks rubbing together through the material of their slacks.    

“Is this what you need, darling?” Hannibal whispered cockily, his full lips just barely brushing against Will’s own soft feathers, and Will all but panted into his mouth. He could feel the knot in his belly building and was scared he would cum in his pants like a teenager from Hannibal's teasing.    

“Yes!” He gritted out before gripping the back of Hannibal's neck and weaving his fingers through his silky locks to pull him closer and kiss him hungrily. Hannibal moaned even louder at his rough grasp, sending another wave of pleasure through Will, and met his questing tongue with his own hotter, silky one. He began thrusting it along Wills's own, mimicking what they would hopefully be doing later and kept up the agonizing rhythm between their cocks. Will’s hands released the hold they had on Hannibal's hair, producing a small whimper of discontent from the man that quickly turned into a stuttered gasp as Will reached down to stroke him roughly through his slacks.    

At this moment, they were interrupted by another glass shattering, this time not from their desperate grinding. It sounded like it came from the kitchen's entryway and broke Will from his bubble of heat and desperation. He broke the kiss, and Hannibal rested his head on his shoulder, trying to catch his breath, it seemed, before he looked up. Will swiveled as much as he could while still wrapped around Hannibal to see which socialite they had indecently scandalized, a blush riding high on his cheeks from both what they had been up to and being caught.    

In the doorway was Alana, dressed in one of her signature slinky dresses, her red-painted lips open in a comical O of surprise. Her eyes were wide with betrayal, and Will felt a small wave of sympathy, but that was quickly overtaken by a dark feeling of possession. His empathy felt horrible for causing her even the slightest bit of hurt, but his inner more feral self crowed in delight at her seeing them together.    

“What...Hannibal? " she stuttered, her eyes moving rapidly as if trying to replace the scene before her in a more mundane light. Will offered no words and instead rested his cheek on Hannibal’s chest, listening to his still thundering heartbeat with satisfaction. They were no longer friends, apparently, anyway. He was sick of her pity long before their disastrous kiss.    

Hannibal stood rigid in his arms and frowned in discontent. If he apologized to Alana and attempted to repair things between them both after this, then Will wasn’t sure what he would do. He was nervous at the novel feelings of possession he was feeling towards Hannibal. As the silence grew like a wake, Will started to squirm to get free, but Hannibal grasped his hips firmly, keeping him in place.    

“Alana, I am sorry that you walked in on us, but Will and I were sharing a private moment. I will be out shortly, please.” His smooth voice said firmly.  

Will was almost as flabbergasted as Alana. Had Hannibal just cast her aside that quickly and easily? He glanced up to gauge her reaction to see if he had misinterpreted that morning and they were never having an affair, but the redness suffusing her face at the dismissal confirmed he had been right.    

“I can’t believe you! A...a... private moment,” she accused, even wagging her finger at Hannibal as if he was some disobedient mutt before she came further into the room. “I am speechless, Hannibal.”    

“Alana, we were never exclusive.” Hannibal seemed unconcerned with her mounting rage and voice and caressed Will's hips as he spoke. Will almost purred in delight despite the annoying presence of Alana still in the room. His body was still thrumming with desire, and every caress from Hannibal seemed to stroke it back to being aflame. He watched Alana falter near them at Hannibal's words, and her eyes jumped from Hannibal's to his own before speaking slowly as if to a child.    

“Hannibal, this is a mistake. Will is unstable and he is either taking advantage of you or you are of him.”    

Will felt the sharp knife of rage cut through his desire—how dare she. He pushed firmly against Hannibal's chest, and this time, Hannibal relinquished him. He slipped off the countertop to face Alana. Will noticed that Hannibal was frowning deeply at her words, but before he could speak on his behalf, Will defended himself.    

“Alana, you need to stop. Neither Hannibal nor I are children, and we don’t need your approval or advice.” Will bit out acerbically, watching with immense satisfaction as Alana flinched in response to his words. Unfortunately, she did not stay silent.    

“Hannibal has been my friend for years, Will, before we were lovers, I am just concerned...as anyone would be. Hannibal is very generous, and I don’t want him being taken advantage of.” She spread her hands in front of herself as if the nonsense she was spewing held any merit. He felt his anger come to a fever pitch.    

“Are you seriously suggesting I want him for his money?” He chuckled dangerously.    

“NO! I know you don’t care about that, Will, but you haven't been feeling well lately, and it seems to me that you are clinging to Hannibal because he is a source of stability in your life. It would be wrong to engage in a sexual relationship in an attempt to feel more secure.” Her mascaraed jewel blue eyes pleaded with Hannibal over his shoulder, and Will felt as if his teeth were about to shatter from grinding them so hard together. He was done trying to reason with her and didn’t miss the little claim she had attempted to make on Hannibal. “Before we were lovers” rang in his ear in her deeply satisfied voice, like she had won over him in some way. He hadn’t reacted purposefully to her little bait; she was hoping to shock him and upset him in front of Hannibal, to demonstrate just how unstable he was. She was so easy to read.    

He turned his back to her in a subtle dismissal and faced Hannibal.   

 He was also expressing his emotions openly for once, and Will could see in the tightness of his jaw and slightly narrowed eyes that he did not appreciate what Alana had suggested. His eyes flicked to Will as he approached, and they warmed slightly, although his jaw never softened with them. Will stood up on tiptoes and made sure to graze his lips along Hannibal's high cheekbone feather-light on his journey to his ear. He spoke softly into the shell, not missing Hannibal’s slight shudder, and pitched his voice just loud enough for Alana to hear; he was feeling very petty now.   

“Get rid of her. I will not share.” Will nipped sharply at his ear before he retreated, and his stomach tugged at the want on Hannibal's face and the indulgence that warmed his eyes. He stroked Wills's chin and softly dragged his lower lip down, exposing his teeth and gums before releasing it.     

“Of course, mylimasis. You are all I will ever need.” He spoke softly, and Will was delighted with the term of endearment. He would have to ask Hannibal to call him that again, preferably while buried inside him. Alana sputtered unattractively behind them both, and they both turned to face her. Will was annoyed to note that she cried very prettily. The tears welled in her eyes like topaz before they spilled down her creamy cheeks. He was not moved.    

“Hannibal, we have been friends for years...and recently I thought more. Can’t you see he’s trying to manipulate you? What kind of person would ask you to lose a friend?” She pleaded, and Will rolled his eyes, moving over to a bowl and using a finger to scoop up whatever cream was inside. Meeting Hannibal's gaze, he lapped at it before sucking it slowly into the warm depths of his mouth...mmm, vanilla.   

“ Hurry , I'm getting hungry.”    

That was the last push Hannibal needed, and Will felt euphoric with his newfound power over the man.    

“Alana, I think it’s best you leave,” Hannibal said firmly, stepping toward her to lead her to the door. “You have been very rude to Will, and I will not tolerate it. I understand if you are hurt because you felt we were something more than we were, but that was never the case and had little to do with Will.”    

“Don’t bother!” Alana snapped, spinning on her heel and crunching through the glass on her way out “I will be speaking to Jack about this!” She threatened.
Will listened to the harsh clicking of her heels growing fainter and finally the front door slamming so hard that it rattled the silverware laid out on one of Hannibal’s prep tables. He met Hannibal's gaze barley containing his smile “I think she underestimates how much Jack desires me to keep working the ripper case.” He said bemused at her little tantrum. Hannibal lips turned up slightly at the edges in response and suddenly Will was reminded of the distance between them both, too much distance. He crossed the room, and Hannibal immediately closed his arms around him like a steel trap. He nuzzled into Wills dark curls.
“You said you were hungry?” he asked breathlessly, his hands already starting to roam expertly along Wills sides, fitting his slender fingers into the grooves of Wills spine and ribs.
“Yes, me and your guests.” Will reminded him with a slight teasing edge to his voice, and Hannibal didn’t miss a beat.
“I will send them away and we can have a private feast.”
“No, that is very rude, and you hate rudeness.” Will responded playfully fixing Hannibal's tie, he didn’t know how to retie it in whatever elaborate knot Hannibal had before they rutted and settled for smoothing it with his fingers before tucking it in, purposely ignoring the pouting look he was receiving.

 “I will help you and we will serve dinner and then you will kick them out and then...I will reward you for your patience.” He looked up at Hannibal beneath his thick inky lashes and enjoyed the pain that flashed across his face at having been told to wait, nonetheless he granted Wills request with a nod.  

“ We will serve dinner and then have dessert later.”  

Will enjoyed the flash of possessiveness that flitted across Hannibal's face at the “we.” Together, they were able to salvage much of what Hannibal had set out for dinner, although the heart-shaped red beet hors d'oeuvres were a loss. If the guests were annoyed at waiting so long to sup, they were wise not to mention it aloud. Hannibal graciously apologized for the delay before leading everyone to the dining room. He snagged Will’s wrist as he tried to fade behind a Christmas tree decorated in antlers, and Hanibal wound his arm into the crevice of his own before leading Will to his seat, practically preening as he pulled his chair out for him near the head of the table. Will rolled his eyes and took his seat, gruffly hating the attention this little production drew.    

Across from him at Hannibal's other side sat a blonde woman stiffly whom Will surprisingly warmed up to as the night wore on; she was witty and didn’t bat an eyelash at Hannibal's behavior; her name was Bedelia, he learned. Others were not so reserved, but Will did his best to answer the questions battering him graciously. He didn’t want to embarrass Hannibal. To keep himself entertained, he tortured the man beside himself by eating his food more sinfully than usual. He locked eyes with Hannibal as he dragged a piece of pork through a rich wine reduction sauce that looked like fresh blood against the snow white of the plate before lifting it and taking the bite into his mouth slowly, but not carefully. Will noticed Hannibal's breathing speed and the pulse in his neck grow so strong and rapid that it was visible underneath his smooth skin as he used his tongue to lick away the sauce that had gathered on his lower lip before drawing it into his mouth to clean more thoroughly.    

“Delicious.” He stated before releasing his lip with a soft pop. Hannibal swallowed and took a sip of wine before replying with a soft thank you. Will grinned a rare full smile and slipped his foot along Hannibal's calf under the table...this could be fun. The doctor admirably maintained his composure and struck up a conversation with Bedelia about a recent article he had read about early childhood attachment and conduct disorder as Will slipped his shoe off and slid his socked foot up Hannibal's thigh. Will could feel the anticipation brewing under both their skins, and he was excited to see how much Hannibal could tolerate his teasing before he broke. Will ignored the woman beside him, who was endlessly chattering about how difficult it was for her to cope with being an “empath” as he rubbed the arch of his foot high along Hannibal's thigh. He had to sink a little into his chair to reach his intended target, but he hoped it didn’t look too suspicious as they were well over an hour into their meal.    

He felt a hand clasp his foot right before he could reach the apex of Hannibal's thighs and paused, waiting to see if Hannibal was going to push his foot away. A thumb stroked into his arch firmly, and he almost moaned out loud at the impromptu massage. He had never had anyone touch him with such care and gentleness before, and he felt his eyes shutter a little as he enjoyed Hannibal’s firm stroking. Hannibal’s magical hands soon extended from his arch to the ball of his foot, where he ground his palm deep to massage the tissue before moving on to stroke as much of his calf as he could reach. He gently pulled Wills's toes one by one, popping them, and Will had to stifle his giggles into his wine at the odd sensation.    

Hannibal smirked, continuing his talk with Bedelia, and patted his leg. Will took that as a hint to switch and thrust his other foot into Hannibal's lap. He let out a soft groan in delight (that thankfully no one noticed, although Bedelia's perfect eyebrow rose) as it was treated with the same decadency, his former intentions only floating back into his mind as he caught the gloating look on Hannibal's face. He slowly withdrew his foot and dragged it along Hannibal's inseam, delighted to find that he was painfully hard. He gave Hannibal the pressure he obviously needed by digging in with the ball of his foot and dragging it upwards before using his toes to outline the tip and starting the process over again. When he sped up, he saw Hannibal grimace slightly and lift a shaking hand to grasp his wineglass. He brought it to his lips, and Will laughed breathlessly as they both simultaneously realized the glass was empty. Hannibal quickly set it back on the table, and Will, seeing another opportunity, sat up to retrieve the bottle between him and Bedelia. He gestured for Hannibal to let him refill his glass, and He saw his fine brow raise in response before he produced it. Turning his back to most of the dinner guests, he refilled Hannibal's glass and popped a rich dark cherry from his dessert into his mouth. Hannibal seemed uncharacteristically lost as he waited to see what Will was up to and watched as Will swirled the cherry around his tongue before spitting it into Hannibal's wine glass.    

He passed the glass back to Hannibal with its new garnish and watched delighted as Hannibal drained it, uncaring for table manners, before tipping it up further and securing his prize. Will watched as Hannibal swirled the cherry around his mouth, eyes closed, before biting into the delicate flesh. He then leaned forward unexpectedly and pulled Will into a deep kiss; Will could spare no thoughts for the other guests tittering as he moaned in delight when Hannibal's tongue pushed past his slack lips, carrying the residual flavor of Sangiovese and some of the cherry. Will pulled back, making sure Hannibal’s molten eyes witnessed him swallow it thickly, and ignored the hush falling over the table.    

“I think it's time for dessert.’ He said meaningfully.    

Hannibal stood gracefully and addressed the table.    

“Thank you all for joining me this evening and providing such wonderful company; I am sad to say that it has come to a close; however, please let me show you all out. Leftovers will be provided, of course.” And with that, Hannibal strode off to help the guests struggle into their coats and fetch containers full of the dessert they had not quite finished. There was no grumbling as everyone was satisfied with both the food and the new gossip they had acquired about the doctor. Will watched bored from the table as he shifted over to Hannibal's seat to polish off the last of his dessert while he waited; he had developed a strong sweet tooth, it seemed.    

He had just finished the last bite of cherries and cream when Hannibal reentered. Will’s throat went dry, and he suddenly felt like prey pinned under his intense gaze. Hannibal circled behind him smoothly, and Will fought the urge to turn and instead remained facing forward stubbornly; Will trusted Hannibal. A smooth hand flitted under his jaw and tilted his face upwards, and Will was forced to look at Hannibal from this new odd angle; he felt a thumb brush the edge of his mouth. Hannibal released him, but he stayed in position, watching as the doctor brought his thumb, now coated in a bit of cream, to his own lips, sucking it clean. His eyes fluttered shut as if he were savoring the flavor, and he looked beautifully pensive as if nothing was more important than memorizing Will's flavor, which was mixed with cream and cherries.    

Will couldn't stand it anymore...he needed him...now. He stood abruptly and shoved the chair aside, uncaring as it landed on its side with a clatter. He dragged Hannibal to himself by his necktie and set a frantic pace of lips meeting. He slid his tongue frantically along Hannibal's own and snarled when Hannibal shifted him back gently. He nipped his full upper lip in retaliation, and Will whimpered.  

“Let me take you upstairs, mylimasis...and worship you like you deserve.” He purred seductively against Will’s ear. Will nodded frantically in response and gasped in shock as the ground suddenly disappeared beneath his feet. He clutched at Hannibal's shoulders as he was lifted into his arms like a bride.   

“Hannibal! I am... way too heavy for this. Put me down.” He gasped as he started to squirm defiantly in Hannibal's surprisingly firm hold. Hannibal merely shifted him higher into his arms and began to ascend the stairs. “Please, darling, you are no burden.” he chuckled warmly. Will shut his eyes firmly and went, still fearful he would cause Hannibal to trip and break his neck. Hannibal laughed again at this, and he felt a light butterfly kiss drop on his forehead...he didn’t even seem to be out of breath, and his heart rate hadn’t changed, Will noted. Fucking psychopath.   

They reached the top of the stairs, and Hannibal made a left, heading towards a cracked door that spilled warm light across the Persian carpet runner. Will reached out an arm and pushed it open so Hannibal could enter unhindered, and his eyes drank in the details of the private space as he was carried in. The room was lavish and painted a deep shade of blue that soothed Wills's nerves. The bed was plush, and he got to test just how soft it was when he was laid out across it gently. Hannibal went to straighten, no doubt to ogle his prize, and Will tightened his arms around his neck. With strength that seemed to surprise Hannibal, Will dragged him on top of himself and into the bed. Hannibal immediately groaned and shifted, spreading Wills's thighs open and making a space for himself in between them. Will felt a blush riding high as he met Hannibal's molten gaze. “Don’t make me wait any longer, please.”   

“Of course, love.” Hannibal sighed, besotted, as his fingers played with the edge of Will’s shirt before gently lifting it. Will sat up to allow easier removal and avoided Hannibal's eyes as he was bared for the first time to his intense gaze. The silence dragged on, and Will couldn't help it as his hands started to flutter up to cover himself. They were immediately snagged, and he gasped as Hannibal kissed each knuckle.   

“Please, darling, do not hide yourself from me; you are more beautiful than even my wildest fantasies could imagine.” His tongue laved out against Wills's knuckle with a satisfied hum before he released him, and Will gathered the courage finally, with Hannibal's praise, to meet his golden gaze once more. He didn’t shy away, and Hannibal smiled beatifically. Wills' hands lifted, and he started to undo the buttons of Hannibal's shirt, baring his flawless golden skin slowly. Will was pleased as he ran his hands along Hannibal's broad shoulders to remove the shirt and looked his full. Hannibal was gorgeous; his frame was leanly muscled, and he had a small, tapered waist with just a hint of softness to his belly that made Will’s head filled with fantasies of kissing it for hours in worship, dragging the soft flesh into his mouth and making Hannibal pant. His needs, which had slowed to a warm simmer, now began to heat once more, and he made sure to brush his knuckles against that soft flesh, causing it to jump with his faint caress as he began to undo Hannibal's belt.    

Hannibal was stroking his sides, gently mapping him with his cool fingers and causing Will to shiver before he leaned forward and started to lap at his neck with his sinful tongue. Will groaned in delight as he felt Hannibal suck along his neck down to his collarbone.   

“You taste so sweet, Will.” Hannibal gasped against his wettened flesh and moved further down to lave his nipple roughly. Will moaned at the sensations flooding his body and pulled Hannibal down against him, loving his solid weight and warmth as he used his feet to push off his slacks, stoking his foot along Hannibal's calf to enjoy the springy hair there. He carded his fingers through Hannibal's hair, delighted when that resulted in a purr erupting from the man in pleasure. He held his breath as Hannibal's kiss-swollen lips descended further and further down, taking time to kiss a freckle that resided next to his belly button before slipping warmly into it. Will’s hips rocked up against his control, and Hannibal caught them laughing raggedly as he undid the buckle of Wills's belt and parted his slacks just enough to see what lay beneath.   

Hannibal's eyes flashed hungrily up to Will at the sight of rich blue silk, and Will blushed. “I hoped.” He said simply with a shrug, and Hannibal released a breath against his stomach before he bent his head again and kissed over the growing wet spot in front of Wills's boxers. Will’s eyes shuttered in pleasure, and his heart leaped in his chest at the sensation of Hannibal's mouth suckling the tip of his cock through the material. He writhed against the cool silk sheets, the sensation both not enough and too much.   

“ Please...please...please .” He chanted as Hannibal seemed to enjoy making him slowly come undone at the seams with his teasing.   

“What do you need, darling thing.” Hannibal breathed against his cock, his breath soaking through the fabric and drawing out another wanton moan from Will. Will felt anxiety creep through the haze...he knew what he wanted, but he felt too embarrassed to ask. Hannibal's golden eyes watched him knowingly from between his legs, stroking his thighs soothingly.    

“You know...” Will trailed off, burying his face in his arm.    

“I do not think we should leave such things for interpretation. You are going to have to say what you want, darling.”    

Will jerked his arm away to stare aghast at Hannibal, and Hannibal looked placidly back, making no moves to go further until his demand was met. Will could see it in him. This was a test to see how Will would respond if Will would open up. Hannibal wouldn't complain and probably would cuddle Will all night, happy as a lark if he didn't. Will did not want that. Sucking in a deep breath to steady his nerves, he met Hannibal's gaze directly as he voiced just what he wanted.    

“I want you to use your mouth on me, and then I want you to fuck me, Hannibal.”    

Hannibal's eyes flashed in delight.    

“I would love to.”    

He stripped Will of the rest of his clothing, pausing for only a moment to admire the deep blue silk stretched across his thighs, and then lowered his delicious mouth to the tip of Will’s cock. Holding Will’s gaze, his tongue snaked out to delicately lick the tip and slide along the slit gathering the moisture there with a soft groan of delight. Will could feel the air puffing from his lungs and let his hand slide down to gently tangle in Hannibal's hair. Hannibal gasped, and Will figured he must like it. He tightened his hold. He watched, awed, as Hannibal's lips closed around his cock before he took it all into the back of his throat in one go.    

“Oh!” Will gritted out, his toes curling in ecstasy as he felt the tip of his cock slide into the warm tight cavern of Hannibal's throat. Hannibal hummed, sending another shockwave of pleasure through him, and began a punishing pace. Will found himself releasing whimpers and sounds he had never dreamed of making before as his cock was ravaged by the doctor's mouth. It didn’t take long, and soon he was pulling Hannibal off himself jerkily while gripping the base of his dick to keep himself from cumming. He groaned, shaking, and watched a pearlescent drop escape, only to be lapped up hungrily by Hannibal's waiting mouth.    

“Stop!” He panted, and Hannibal released a light laugh in response to his pleading, licking the underside of Wills's cock one last time before shifting up and kissing him hotly. Will groaned into his mouth at the taste of himself mixed with the richness of Hannibal. After a few moments, Will turned his head to the side, gasping for air, and Hannibal switched to his neck again. No doubt it would have been covered in Hickie's in the morning, given all the attention it was receiving. Will was darkly pleased imagining it.    

“Turn over, please.” Hannibal requested gently.    

Will frowned in confusion but was too numb-brained to ask why, so he flipped himself over. Hannibal's lips cruised along his shoulders and down the vertebrae of his spine, and Will heard a dull ringing in his brain that warned him where this was going.    

“Hannibal...don’t...that’s dirty.” His voice was muffled by the pillow, and he felt his whole body flame in embarrassment and, if he was being honest, excitement. No one had ever done this before, and while he had never even thought of it, he certainly was picturing it now, and he couldn't help the arousal that flared through him at the thought of the doctor tasting him there. He felt Hannibal’s lips pause at his lower back and then lift away. Will tried to bury his disappointment, and he squealed when he felt a sharp nip at his ass cheek.    

“You want this, Will, I can tell,” Hannibal said, all but preening at the reaction he got.    

Will flushed further and shook his head against the pillow in denial. Hannibal inhaled deeply, and Will gasped, trying to shove him away now for real. Hannibal caught his wrists, firmly shoving them away.    

“Let me enjoy you, Will.” He admonished, and Will felt mortified as he spread his cheeks wide to look at him down there. His fingers dug deeply into Wills's plush cheeks, and he heard Hannibal sigh in delight before he felt a warm, wet tongue grace him. He mewled into the pillow...it was so so good already, and Hannibal hadn’t even started yet. Hannibal lapped a broad stripe with his tongue from his taint to his tailbone, moaning like he was the best thing Hannibal had ever tasted. He then licked again, each time going deeper. His hands manipulated Will’s hips higher, and Will cried out into the dampening pillow as this allowed him to start spearing into him with the tip. He could just hear the lewd noises that were escaping from Hannibal over his keening as the doctors sucked and lapped at his rim like it was a mouth. He pulled away from Will, and he let out a sob as the unbelievable sensation of Hannibal's mouth was removed.    

“You taste delicious mylimasis, ambrosia .” Hannibal gasped, kissing at the base of his spine.    

“ More .” Will moaned, rocking his hips up and hoping to tempt the doctor.    

Hannibal did not disappoint as he respread Will's full cheeks with a grunt of arousal before burying his face between them. Will was chanting his name into the pillow as he felt Hannibal fuck him deeply over and over with his hot wet tongue, and when he introduced a finger into the mix, Will couldn’t help the short scream that left him.    

“Yes! Yes...yes .” He cried, finally turning his head to the side to receive air. He caught a glimpse of them through Hannibal's mirror (coincidentally facing the bed) and hoped the image stayed in his retinas forever. Hannibal was fisting himself roughly as he lapped and sucked at Will's rim around his finger, and it was beautiful. Will moaned in perverse delight as he felt Hannibal stretch him with another finger scissoring them roughly to allow his tongue even deeper inside.    

Will felt his orgasm quickly approaching again and warned Hannibal breathlessly. Hannibal retreated slowly...reluctantly, giving Will’s gaping hole a few sloppy kisses before he pulled away and stretched his weight along Will’s back. He sucked a piece of Will’s shoulder into his mouth firmly before whispering in his ear, “Turn around, please, love; I want to see you.”    

He had to help Will flip as he felt like every muscle in his body was lax from the treatment he received. Tears were brimming in his lower lashes as he took in Hannibal’s gorgeous face. His lips were puffy and red from what he had been doing, and his hair was mussed like a halo from where Will had gripped it to keep him firmly in place. Will leaned up and ran his tongue along his lower lip, asking for entry, and Hannibal parted for him, allowing it to enter the slick cavern of his mouth. As they kissed, Will felt Hannibal trembling slightly and broke free, worried.    

“What's wrong?”    

“Nothing, darling. My body is just eager for your warmth.” Hannibal laid a gentle kiss on his brow, and Will chuckled, understanding.   

“Then fuck me already.” He dragged his nails down Hannibal's back just the edge of too rough to goad him, and Hannibal's hips stuttered. Taking a deep breath, Hannibal resumed their kissing before reaching down and bringing the tip of his aching member to Wills's soft heat. Will tried his best to relax as he felt the tip slowly breach him, but Hannibal was large, and his fingers had done little to prepare him for that. He whimpered, burying his face in Hannibal's shoulder to cover the sound. He heard Hannibal shush him soothingly before he started to back out. Will clamped his thighs around his hips to keep him inside and bit Hannibal's shoulder deeply, drawing blood. With a wail, Hannibal's hips shot forward and buried another few inches into Will.    

“Don’t treat me like I’m glass, Hannibal. I can take it.” Will ground out, lapping happily at the blood escaping from Hannibal's wound. He hoped it scarred.    

“Oh, I won’t, dear Will,” Hannibal said darkly before sliding the rest of himself inside deeply. Will’s eyes brimmed with tears at the sudden intrusion, but thankfully, Hannibal remained seated deep within him, allowing Will to grow used to the intrusion. He worked hard against the muscles that seemed to desire, pushing Hannibal out and moaning loud and long in intense pleasure. Hannibal filled him so well .    

He ran his hands down Hannibal's sides, caressing the smooth skin before grabbing his ass roughly and pulling him in tighter. Hannibal gasped against his shoulder and took the hint to begin rocking gently in and out.    

“You are like a silken vice, my love...never before have I felt such pleasure.”    

Will’s brows bunched in pleasure at the praise, and he kissed Hannibal's cheek gently in return.    

“Darlin...please...faster,” He breathed into Hannibal's sweat-slicked neck before his tongue flickered out for a taste. Hannibal grunted and slipped one of his legs onto his shoulder to get deeper...and move faster. Will was awash in pleasure, each thrust moving him along to his orgasm like a tidal wave. He felt his stomach tightening with his impending release.    

“Yes, love, just like that...I can feel you getting close.” Hannibal’s velvet voice goaded him, and he reached a hand down to stroke Will’s steadily leaking cock in time with his powerful thrusts. It only took a few passes of his smooth fingers for Will to wail his release, his cock shooting his glistening seed all the way to his chin. He felt his ass pulsing around Hannibal with his orgasm and felt the man shudder as he came inside him. In awe, Will watched as Hannibal's hand drifted to his belly to press down firmly and feel how deeply he resided in Will.    

“ aš tave myliu ” Hannibal whispered, and Will saw his golden eyes were bloodshot and brimmed with tears. Will reached up and stroked a callused thumb against Hannibal's smooth, flushed cheek.    

“I love you.”    

Hannibal shuddered and collapsed to the side before pulling Will firmly into his chest to rest against him. He pressed kisses into Will's hair and took deep, shuddering breaths of his scent. “To hear those words from your sweet lips is the best gift I have ever received, Will.”    

Will grinned and turned to face Hannibal, planting a quick kiss on his lips before leaping from the bed. Hannibal watched him quizzically from where he was still lounging, and Will pulled on his boxers, not bothering with rest as he planned on stripping again for sleep.   

“Will...?” Hannibal called as he darted out of the room to retrieve his gifts.   

“Just a sec, darlin, I gotta grab somethin,” Will called out as he took the stairs two at a time. He found the gifts stashed near Hannibal's antlered tree along with one other. Snooping, Will read the tag and flexed his jaw as it revealed it was from Alana; he brought them all back up to the room. He gently placed the offerings before Hannibal and peeled off his boxers before climbing back into bed. Hannibal secured an arm around him, immediately dragging him back into his warmth possessively.    

He nuzzled Will’s ear. “And what is this?”    

“Presents, one from me and one from Alana.”    

Hannibal’s lips turned up mischievously as he grabbed the neatly wrapped esthetic package, obviously not from Will.    

“That was kind of her.”    

Will's teeth bared in a dangerous smile. “Yes, I wonder when she had the time to shop between trying to get me admitted and sucking your cock.”    

Hannibal had the decency to look slightly nervous as he dropped the package beside the bed.    

“I was only teasing Precious. You did not have to gift me anything; just being able to hold you is more than I could have dreamed of.”   

Will's heart softened immediately at the quiet truth of Hannibal's statement.    

“Then why...I mean, if you have wanted me for so long... Why did you sleep with her? He asked his eyes on the bedspread. He kept telling himself it didn’t matter that Hannibal was with him now, but the hurt was still there. He felt cool fingers lift his chin, and he met Hannibal's unwavering gaze. He was ashamed to feel tears brewing beneath the surface.    

“Ah, dear one, I am sorry. When you came to me that night after kissing her. I did not react well.” Hannibal admitted, his eyes burning with shame. “I had waited so long, and I thought in vain. I wanted to hurt you and perhaps make you jealous. I regretted it as soon as it happened...I felt I had lost you.”    

Will could tell Hannibal was speaking the truth and felt the massive weight lift from his chest, which he had been carrying since he first saw Alana dressed in Hannibal's clothes.    

“You didn’t want her?” He pressed.    

“No, Will. I have only ever wanted you.” Hannibal soothed the last of his fears.    

“Only ever you.” He repeated firmly.    

Will smiled angelically a flush suffusing his cheeks as he shyly reached for his parchment wrapped gift and presented it to Hannibal.    

Nervous, he said, “It’s not much, but I hope you like it.”    

Hannibal's smile lit the room as he accepted the gift and began running his finger along the taped edge to unwrap it gently. “Anything you give me would be wonderful Will, and I will treasure it.” He pulled the paper away and stilled, only his eyes moving as he took in the many lures Will had crafted for him.    

Will rubbed the back of his neck, growing steadily embarrassed...Hannibal didn’t fish and he probably did not want his home cluttered with odd nicknacks. He should have just gone with a tie or something.    

Hannibal's eyes filled, and Will groaned, reaching for the gift.   

“Hey, it’s not a big deal! I can just use these and we can go shopping together and pick out something you like!” Will said engaging in a tug-of-war with Hannibal, who won by prying Will’s hands off by gripping his thumb. He cradled it to his chest with an outraged snarl.    

“WILL! You will not be using my gift to go fishing for trout!”    

Will fell silent in shock, he had never seen the doctor lose his composure like this.   

“So, you do like it?”    

“Of course. These are all things you have collected with me, are they not?” Hannibal stoked a finger down the glass “A raven feather, thread from my coat...sea glass from the Totem pole case. You must have spent a lot of time on this, and I will cherish it always.”    

Will’s heart filled with warmth from Hannibal's approval.    

“I just wanted to get you somthin that was special.”    

“You did Will, and now I must fetch you my gift.”    

Hannibal grinned wickedly at Will’s protests and left the room, his own gift still clutched at his side. When he returned, it was with his arms empty and his fist clenched tight around something small. Will’s heartbeat painfully as Hannibal resumed his position in the bed and turned to face Will with a small velvet box held out.    

“Will Graham, I have been tied to you since I first met your eyes over a styrofoam cup of truly disgusting coffee in Jack’s office.” Will let out a peal of laughter remembering that moment as well “And I have been in awe of you ever since. If I saw you every day, I would never tire of your beautiful face, and even more beautiful mind. I do not know what I did to have the fates bless me so, but if you accept me, I will worship and honor you forever, Will.”    

Will felt tears spilling down his face as Hannibal's love and devotion washed over him, everything he had ever wanted and didn’t dare hope for during his lonely nights with only his dogs for company was being offered and he would be a fool not to seize it. He grasped Hannibal's face leaning in and pressing their foreheads together.    

“Yes...I want you,” he said breathlessly. “I want to spend every night with you and wake up each morning beside you. I want to spend nights in front of the fire with you sipping whiskey and talkin. I want to make you dinner and even go to a stupid opera with you where everyone is gonna envy me for being on your arm. I want it all, Cher.” Will whispered fervently before letting their lips meld, he sucked on Hannibal's tongue when it was offered, and Hannibal broke away with a groan.    

“Before we get distracted, I would like to put this where it belongs.”    

Hannibal opened the velvet box to reveal a golden wedding band with intricate carvings of stags and flowers interwoven along it. Will gazed in delight as he noticed the script hidden within the inside of the band, and he plucked it from the box to reveal the words inscribed.    

“ Every day, forever. ” “ Will Lecter Graham ”   

He held the ring back out to Hannibal so that he could place it himself. He sighed as it slipped easily and rested perfectly on his left hand.    

“It’s beautiful.” He whispered enjoying the gold against the paleness of his skin. “We will need to get you one soon.”    

Hannibal laughed delighted and pulled Wills hand up to his lips with both of his own to rest there, and Will felt heat tingle down his spine at the breath of warm air that was released against his fingertips warming them.    

“We have time, Will.”    

They spent the whole day celebrating in bed, only leaving their warm nest to feast on the leftovers from Hannibal's elaborate dinner. Will chuckled at the look on Hannibal's face as he ate the pork tenderloin with his fingers, but he didn’t refuse any of the morsels Will pressed against his lips.    

It was the best Christmas Will had ever had.    

The end for now.