[ week one ➝ hannibal ]

[sweats]

[ The afternoon was honestly, a blur. He remembers talking to Ezio, curt and to the point and trying not to readily admit his reasons for this. He remembers putting together a sandwich and being annoyed that he ate something that Hannibal hadn't cooked for him. He remembers trying not to focus on Hannibal outside for a while before realizing that if he was going to do this, he'd need supplies.

So, there was a moment where Will left the hotel again on a straight shot to the General Store. He didn't look in the way of Hannibal and instead kept his eyes down and his stride direct. He wasn't sure what he would find there but he's thinking, vaguely, of Molly, which hurts in a way he doesn't quite want right now. He puts his frustrations into searching, thinking of what Molly enjoyed here. She liked candles and tea, of soft soaps and herbs that filled up their steamy bathroom and made even Will feel drowsy with contentment. He remembers sharing those times with her, of dozing with his nose pressed into her hair and soft music filling the room.

He doesn't quite realize he's back at the room until he's standing there with a pack of candles, some bath oils, and pockets full of herbs. It's not quite losing time but... but it's a near thing. He looks out the window to see Hannibal and Percy, talking to each other in the middle of their work.

Will is here though and he's committed and he's staying the -- well, he's not exactly staying the night but he is spending a while on Hannibal's couch without any urge to leave. He gets to work soon after, setting the bathroom up and going downstairs to put on some tea. It takes some effort and Will nearly abandons the venture altogether but in the end, everything is prepared just around the time Will spots Hannibal finishing and heading back to the hotel.

He hates this. He hates this. Why did he offer? What possessed him to do this?

When Hannibal finally gets there, the bathroom door is closed but even the outer room smells good from the bath, like lavender and herbal tea and warm milk. The tea Will picked is, of course, chamomile and Will sits on the couch, mug in hand and looking like he's been holding his breath much too long. He bites out immediately instead of a greeting -- ]

I changed rooms with Ezio for the night.

[ God damnit. ]

Comments

[sating]

[ As Will starts to undress too, Hannibal doesn't watch. He's not indifferent to it (quite the opposite, actually), but there are different sensations that he's taking in with his eyes closed. The scent of everything here will certainly burn itself into his memory, from the gentle, romantic herbs, to that light scent of Will's aftershave, to the dirt on his own person. There's the warm water against his skin, the texture of the thoughtful pillow against his neck, and perhaps most of all, he thinks, the sound of Will's voice.

He thinks of something wry for a moment, a "I'm glad you haven't changed your mind," because it would be impossible at this point. It would be sincere from anyone else, but between the two of them, it was a joke. They both knew that they were inexorably intertwined. The cliche was that until death do they part, but clearly, by being here, they went beyond even that. Even in his most romantic imaginings, he couldn't have dreamed of this. Hannibal may know that this isn't technically death, but considering how they arrived here, he could hardly think of it as anything but.

He opens his eyes again as Will draws up, though his eyes stay directed to the ceiling as if he were looking up at the stars instead. He almost says something romantic and poetic, but Will speaks first. The comment draws a laugh out of him that's followed by a half-wry quirk of his lips, though it's short-lived. It could hardly stay on his face for that kind of question, but as was often the case with Hannibal, there's little hesitation in his answer. There never is when he's faced with difficult questions. ]

Because you couldn't stay. You always knew.

[ Hannibal speaks with such certainty about Will and how he feels or thinks, but really, when hasn't he? He's always known Will's thoughts. Even if he was the one to put them there in the first place. ]

Jack Crawford would have always returned to ask for your help. Circumstance aligned that when he did, it would free both of us.

[ He turns his head lightly to look down at Will, and though he's tempted to reach out and offer a comforting hand to touch him, he refrains from it. It's his own desire more than Will's, and with this question in the air, he's more delicate. ]

And, to be honest, I wanted to see you. [ He won't lie about that, at least... Though he does ask a question in return. ] Did it feel like a long three years, Will?

[sweats]

[ For a question that Will had wanted to ask for so long, he knew the answer anyway. Hannibal speaks and Will can practically predict his words as they hit the air which in the end, can only make him sigh and his shoulders relax. Hannibal is right -- he's always so god damn right, but there is still something so telling about hearing his words spoken aloud, hear all the things Will tries to ignore given voice.

A laugh escapes him, tired and accepting. There's really nothing for him to say here but -- ]

Yes, it did.

[ Because god, how he missed Hannibal. It was like a tear in his soul and while Will is always willing to shoulder the burden for the good of everything -- it still hurt, every single day. He finds himself squeezing his eyes shut tight because even with how happy he was most days just spending his quiet with Molly, there was still that ache. That... shameful, buried desire to just go back and change his circumstances, just say yes to Hannibal when he so desperately wanted to.

Jack was always going to ask for one more time and Will was always going to use it to see Hannibal again. Three years or thirty years, Will would've done the exact same thing he did if given the opportunity. When he speaks again, it's quiet and barely audible for how much shame and hurt laces the words. ]

I missed you so much.

[ And god, despite everything, they're together again. ]