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After they’ve had two beers each, and were just laying on the bed next to each other, facing the white ceiling, Will finally managed to muster up the courage to ask what was bothering him for quite some time already:
“What’s in that sketchbook, Hannibal?”
The other boy’s cheeks flushed, and definitely not because of the alcohol.
“Uh, well…”, he started awkwardly. It was weird for Will to see Hannibal like this - awkward, nervous, flustered. Normally, he’d quote Socrates or some other lesbian poet out of memory, like that, in the middle of the class, but, turns out, when it came to his feelings… He was shy. Which Will found very amusing.
“Come on, Hannibal, don’t keep me waiting”, he taunted with a smirk.
The Lithuanian sighed and reached under the bed to retrieve the sketchbook. Then, he also grabbed a bottle of wine from the nightstand and poured two glasses of the Chianti before giving Will the sketchbook.
“Wine from the nightstand, really?”, Will chuckled, sitting up and taking a gulp from his glass. Hannibal grimaced.
“Will, wine is meant to be sipped…”, he murmured watching the brunette open the sketchbook. Hannibal got up from the bed and sat down in the armchair, putting his glass on the desk, just a bit too harshly.
Will looked at the first sketch. It was a simple portrait of his face.
“Ooh, it’s pretty”, he said and flipped the page. This time, the drawing depicted him and Hannibal, sitting together on the couch, laughing and drinking wine.
Hannibal practically squirmed in the armchair, clearly anxious.
“Must you really-”, he stopped talking when he saw Will flip the page to show a sketch of them kissing.
“Ooh, this is nice. I see this crush of yours has been going on for some time already, hm?”, the brunette chuckled.
“This sketch is from seven months ago”, Hannibal said, sipping his wine.
“But we started talking about five months ago…”, Will looked up at Hannibal with a soft smile. “No way, you had a crush on me before we even talked!”
And Hannibal’s only response was to blush and look away.
“Yes, I did”, he finally said softly. “Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all…”, he flipped the page again to see a sketch of Hannibal sitting on the couch in the study in Hannibal’s home, kissing Will who was in his lap.
He hummed in consideration and Hannibal stole a glimpse at the sketchbook, wanting to see whatever it was Will was looking at.
“They’re just gonna be getting steamier and steamier?”, Will cackled.
“Yes”, Hannibal responded, downing his wine.
“What happened to ‘wine is meant to be sipped’?”, the brunette cocked an eyebrow.
“At this point, I don’t care”, the artist poured himself another glass.
Will got bored with looking through the sketchbook page by page. So, he flipped through it a bit and landed on a random page. He blushed.
“Oh, oh, wow, Jesus…”, he stammered out. “That… That is detailed. Wow. Okay”, his brows knitted together. “Surprisingly accurate.”
Hannibal hid his face in his hands, trying to hide the redness in his cheeks and nose, but it was still visible as it spread all the way to his ears.
Will looked at Hannibal, then again at the sketch.
“You didn’t strike me as the kinky type, honestly”, he said.
“Well, I am”, he half-growled and stood up, turning away from Will to face the balcony door and look out into the garden, as if to cool off.
Will closed the sketchbook and stood up, moving to stand right behind Hannibal.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”, he asked gently.
“I just… I’m not sure if I wanted you to see these sketches”, Hannibal’s lips formed a thin line of frustration.
“Hey…”, Will’s hand found its way to Hannibal’s arm, caressing in soothing, circular motions. “Sorry I pushed. Why didn’t you want me to see them?”, his voice was quiet and soft.
“I just… I’m afraid you won’t like what they depict”, the Lithuanian admitted.
“Oh, Hannibal, come on, they’re amazing”, Will smacked his lips.
“I don’t mean if you like the sketches, I mean if you like their content. I feel like they may have been a breach of your privacy.”
“I don’t give a damn about that. Jesus, Hannibal, I’d love to make each of them come true.”
Will could see the reflection of Hnanibal’s eyes in the window widening with surprise.
“Each…?”
“Yes, even the kinky ones. God, especially the kinky ones”, he smiled softly. “And I reckon you haven’t imagined every possibility… So we can also do things that will be worth sketching, hm?”, he gently kissed Hannibal’s neck and felt the Lithuanian shudder.
“Will…”
“Hannibal, I really am in love with you, and I’m in love with you for who you are. And your kinks, and artistry, and all that, they’re a part of who you are. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”
“You don’t want me to be insecure because you have feelings for me for both my flaws and assets?”
“Yes. Flaws, assets, insecurities, I want it all”, his arms snaked their way around Hannibal’s waist to gently caress his stomach. Then, he whispered teasingly: “But never down wine in front of me again. It’s weird when you do that.”
Hannibal chuckled, covering Will’s hands with his own.
“I know. I don’t like doing that, either way. I think it’s rude”, he gently leaned against Will.
“Oh, rude? And what do the rude deserve?”, Will smirked, one hand away from Hannibal as he downed his glass. He could taste the Chianti was too good for such treatment, but he didn’t give it much consideration.
“Punishment.”
“Mm, you really are kinky, Hannibal”, Will laughed gently and nuzzled against the nape of Hannibal’s neck.
“I am. But, really, Will, you mustn’t drink your wine like that. I can’t have a rude boyfriend.”
Will’s eyes widened.
“Boyfriend?”, his voice was full of disbelief.
“I don’t make out with people with whom I don’t wish to be involved. And I really would prefer us to be exclusive.”
Will smiled, resting his chin on Hannibal’s shoulder as they both looked out into the garden, their eyes set upon the stag sculpture that stood there, surrounded by colourful flowers. Finally, Will spoke:
“Boyfriend sounds good.”