Archive of Our Own ^beta

Will looked into the fridge "What should we ingest today Dr. Lecter, it seems you have lots of spices, and accompaniments, yet nothing to truly consume."

With his gaze divided between Will's back and the laptop screen showing yet another polarizing tabloid from a frivolous reporter Hannibal spoke, "If you are looking to devour, we could order than Italian dish that features the diverse yet dichotomy of sauces and toppings on that foundation of dough".

Will turned around into Hannibal's eyes saying, "It is good you don't teach at my university, you over complicate every statement as if every word has a soul and you are trying to simultaneously capture and release it".

Hannibal gave a slight smile and shut the laptop screen to tell Will, "How would you react if I wanted to capture you".

Will moving over to the table Hannibal is at, with one hand on the table, the other on Hannibal's shoulder, and ultimately towering over Hannibal said, "Dr. Lecter, while not opposed, I may not be an animal you can cage".
Hannibal stood up, putting his plaid suit jacket buttons into place over his most vibrant tie replied "You know I told you to call me Hannibal, and you still never answered my original question".

Will chuckled, "Yes Dr. Lecter, now order the pizza".

"And it seems you are out of seasonings and condiments".

"Really Will? You just said I have myriad of them".

"I don't think Caviar and Saffron would be the most delectable when added to a Pizza".

"Any dinner with you is delectable" chuckled Hannibal moving the hair that covered Will's eyes.

"While you call the pizza Dr. Lecter, I will run to the store and grab some, as well as some refreshments" said Will putting his hand on Hannibal's as it stroked his hair.

"Just your presence refreshes me Will".

"Are these supposed to be jokes Dr. Lecter" Will said smiling then removing both their hands.

"Call me Hannibal remember, and what if it was" Hannibal spoke smiling back, wanting to get up and show Will his affection, yet not finding the ability to due to fear of Will not showing the same back.

As Will put on his brown jacket over his black collared shirt, and then walking out the door, he replied "Looks like tonight I will be having a Hann and cheese pizza".

Hannibal smiled at the pun until the door shut, Hannibal walked over, sniffing the air that Will just walked through. It was sweet yet a bit of heat, like a vanilla flower with a chili in its core. He then walked over to his laptop, opening it. Hannibal looked at the different flavors of pizza, he could order vegetarian and feel closer to the very Earth he was born in, or become a veracious meat-eater, once again reprising his role as the true carnivore. There was also a fish pizza, Hannibal thought how this is his time to prove his dominance over the land and sea by eating a fish pizza. He then decided and ordered the pizza and thought to himself. He pondered about how he has been having less time to acquire his true nourishment due to the time he has been spending with Will, how a day feelings like a minute, and hours flash faster than his own eyes can blink. He has even been reducing his patient hours in hope that Will decides to pop in. He looked at his hand, having a strand of Will's hair that fell off as he brushed it, he sniffed that as well, reliving the prior aroma, then took a small clear plastic bag from the interior of his jacket pocked, and put the hair in it, sealed it, gave it a light kiss, and placed it back into that same pocket. Hannibal then let his eyes relax, as he dreamt of him and Will together, and even the idea of a kiss not on Will's debris, but on the being that it originated from.

Knock-Knock

Hannibal unbarred his eyes, letting go of his fantasy for reality. He opened the door to reveal a medium sized man, around 25, wearing the uniform of this company, a short sleeve with 2 buttons, and long black pants, pizza bag around his chest, and the pizza box wrapped around his hand, he has stubble across his face and brown hair that was slicked to the side.

The man spoke "One medium seafood pizza will be $29.95".

Hannibal paused, he had his cash in his hand, yet slowly looked up from his black leather wallet, to the man who was shorter than him, yet taller than Will, to reply "I ordered a meat lovers pizza".

The man, having a blank face, replied "Well I only have the seafood pizza, my boss didn't give me any other pizza, and I will have to charge you a fee regardless for my delivery".

Hannibal then stopped, as if frozen in time, the only thing that moved from him was his olfactory neurons, as he sniffed and sniffed, he smelt an aroma that was similar to his tastes. He knew today was the day he showed his superiority over the animals, as he knew he better than any water creature and thus even the thought was not worthy of his presence, thus his desire was to ingest a meat-lovers pizza and not seafood. So, when he sniffed the smell of meat on the delivery man's breath, he was the one consumed, by anger. More importantly, Hannibal wanted tonight to be perfect to impress Will, now if he looks submissive, Will might never want to see him again.

Hannibal immediately grabbed the deliver man by his collar and pushed him onto his table saying to him in a calm, yet sinister tone, "What did you do to my pizza".

"I don't know man" the delivery man panicking said as sweat dripped from his forehead onto the back of the table.

Hannibal sniffed his breath some more, "You know I could check your story by calling your boss".

"Okay okay fine, I was hungry I knew I had an extra pizza that wasn't picked up and I hate seafood so I ate yours and hoped you would be okay with seafood"
"Do you think I am submissive?" Hannibal whispered into his right ear.

"No" cried the man.

Hannibal quickly remarked back "Am I an idiot?".

Then man cried more saying "No"

"Then why would you make me cover for your mistake and lie to me" quietly yelled Hannibal.

The man cried some more trying to respond no again.

"You know, I was planning on just pizza, but then again, I could add another meat to this seafood pizza", smiled Hannibal as he spoke.

Creeeeeeek, whatever was closed of the door opened, revealing Will, with a bottled exotic drink, and some ranch dressing.

Will dropped everything, the bottle shattered into thousands of pieces, the ranch dressing bouncing off the floor. Will looked shocked, as if his lungs removed and gasping for his last breath of air.

Will felt crushed. This is because he has been developing feelings for Hannibal throughout their time together, rather it be their dinners or work, he always enjoyed Hannibal's companionship. In fact when Hannibal invited Will over, just the two of them, Will was starting to think Hannibal reciprocated that and in fact they were going to commit to each other. So when he saw Hannibal inches from another man's face, let alone a pizza delivery man, he thought a cliche scenario was playing out in front of him. That Hannibal rather have a delivery man over him.

Hannibal quickly let his arm out and said "Will! Its not what it looks like I am just -".

Before Hannibal could finish his sentence Will Said "I thought I was your partner, what are you doing".

"What- I mean- its not-" Hannibal, looking flabbergasted, suddenly lost the ability to speak, losing control over his mouth. A wave of emotions washed over Hannibal, his anger now turned to happiness, he felt as though his whole life was in darkness, and Will was a light, and now he has been enveloped by the heavens themselves.

"Will I am sorry, I just wanted the perfect night with you, I have been scared to say and show how I feel, but I could have met every human soul, and my heart would always be in your hands."

Hannibal, now having the courage he didn't have before said "Will, I love you".

Hannibal, now letting go of the man turned to Will and said "He tried to give us the wrong pizza and charge me for it".

Will walked over to Hannibal and softly spoke "Is this true".

The delivery man quickly remarked cutting off any Hannibal response, "yes yes it is".

Will, suddenly slapped Hannibal's face, "Don't hurt me again Hannibal"

Hannibal, feeling emotions he never understood, as if he has lived with his eyes closed until this moment, "I would never hurt you Will, I have never been happy till this moment".

"Is this true Hannibal" Will said as his eyes fought a war with tears that formed.

"Wait, you just called me Hannibal" Hannibal said smiling.

"I am still enraged because you have no proof you don't love him nor you do love me" replied Will, his voice cracking.

Suddenly, Hannibal cupped Will's face, and rested upon his lips quiet kiss, while only lasting a second, felt to them both a pause in time.

Hannibal and Will both paused after, both not looking at the other yet smiling.

Hannibal then brought the delivery man up and patted him off "I am sorry for my anger but this has been the best day of my life... well next to meeting Will".

"Hey man, I am calling the cops on you" replied the man

Hannibal knowing he would deal with the delivery man later replied, "Here how about a one thousand dollar tip if you forget about today and if you come tomorrow and join me for an apology breakfast I will give you another one thousand cash which is all I have on me right now"

Will chimed in "But leave fast because we have lunch plans".

"So two thousand bucks... I guess I could live with that, but don't expect me to come back" said the man.

The man then left as Hannibal and Will embraced each other.

"I love you" said Will.

"I love you too" said Hannibal.

"Want to go eat pizza and watch a movie in front of the television" added Hannibal.

"Only if we can cuddle as we watch" Will chuckled.

They both smiled.

After several hours Will left to his house to take care of his dogs and get some house items to bring to Hannibal's house incase he spends any future nights, or every night.

The next day Will went to Hannibal's house for lunch.

"What is this food" remarked Will, complimenting Hannibal's cooking.

"It is a Beef Bourguignon" said Hannibal.

"I like your watch by the way" said Will

"Thank you, it costed two thousand dollars cash"

Will chuckled as they both gazed into each others eyes thinking what the future beholds.

"Want to cuddle" Hannibal said.

"Of course" replied Will.

They then watched television together thinking of what to eat for dinner.

Authors note: First one shot, tell me how it was, hope you enjoy it! :)