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Will had been around Hannibal for years now. They’ve become a constant in each others lives, especially after running away to Cuba. Living with him, Will started to notice some things. It was the way the fridge always had fresh vegetables, the way the fruit was replaced every three days, There wasn’t even a little junk food. Will loved what Hannibal cooked for them, but sometimes he just wanted to grab a bag of chips and sit on the couch.
He also started picking up on more things while living with Hannibal. He always checked the ingredients on every box in the pantry, there was a lack of sugar and carbs in the kitchen and his obsession with food.
Will started researching into this, it had started to become concerning when he’d watched Hannibal throw away a perfectly good pastry Bedelia had given them when they’d moved in. He hoped his husband wouldn’t look into it.
What does it mean when someone cuts out food groups?
What does an obsession with health and good mean?
He’d found an answer. Orthorexia. It made him think, he wanted to help Hannibal, but he wasn’t sure how.
- · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·
Hannibal was sitting in the living room on the couch. Winston was beside him, the two weren’t too fond of each other, they really only tolerated the others' existence for Will. He was reading, softly petting the dogs back every now and again. The TV played at a low hum. Will leaned on the doorframe, watching the two interact. He smiled before walking up behind the couch.
“Hey, I’m gonna pick up groceries. Anything you need?” He asked, grabbing his jacket from the coat rack near the front door. Hannibal turned away from his book, his hand resting on Winstons head.
“Could you grab some cucumber and zucchini? I have a dish I’d like to prepare for us later this week.” Will grabbed the car keys, opening the door.
“You got it.”
Will wasn’t actually going to get groceries, he was going to find some sweets. He pulled a basket out from the stack and went searching.
He grabbed some smaller things, foods that weren’t too sugary but added new food groups into Hannibals life. Muffins, pudding, yogurt. Simple things to introduce back into their lives. He also grabbed the vegetables that Hannibal had asked for, as well as a loaf of bread.
When Will got back, Hannibal was in the kitchen, he was cutting up some meat to put in the freezer. He shut the door, “I’m back!”
“Perfect timing,” Hannibal said, “I’m just preparing for later tonight.”
Will put the bags on the counter, beginning to unpack them. He wanted Hannibal to see what he bought.
He put the bread on the shelf above the stove, and the vegetables, yogurt and pudding in the fridge, he left the muffins out for the other to see.
Hannibal turned around to look at his beloved, wiping his hands on a towel. He looked down at the muffins and back up at Will.
“What’s this?” He asked. Will leaned against the counter.
“I noticed some things going on with you. You’ve been cutting food out, you’ve been throwing away anything that has sugar in it, and you look like you’re losing weight.” Hannibal looked to the side.
“You.. need not fret over this. It’s just to keep me healthy.”
“But you’re not healthy.” Will divulged, “you have an obsession with what you put in your body. Why is that?”
Hannibal turned around awkwardly, grabbing the meat and putting it in the freezer.
“When I was younger.. My family was killed by some men. They took our house and I had to escape with my sister, Mischa. We were living in horrible conditions. There wasn’t enough food for the both of us, I would steal from trashcans and use whatever money I could find to feed my Mischa. We were still incredibly malnourished despite my efforts. She died by the hands of the same men who killed our parents.” Will let out a quiet noise, neither could tell what it was. He put a hand on Hannibals shoulder, massaging it in a comforting way.
“I was forced to eat her. From then on I made a promise to myself to only eat the purest foods. I never wanted to starve again.” Will watched his husbands eyes, he looked as if he was reminiscing on the past. It hurt him to see the cannibal like this. He pulled the older into a hug, rubbing up and down his back.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” He whispered. Hannibal put his hands at Wills waist. He took a deep breath, as if to compose himself.
“It’s quite alright, it was years ago.” Will looked up. He held the others face in his hands, and watched as he closed his eyes.
“You know you can eat anything you want to, right? You’re allowed to enjoy small things. You won’t starve again.” A tear fell down Hannibals cheek, Will thumbed it away. The two held onto each other for a little while longer.
- · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·
It had been days, Hannibal refused to touch anything Will had bought despite his best efforts. It scared him, but he wouldn’t say that aloud. He sat in the dining room, sketching down some buildings in Italy from memory when Will came out.
“Hey, I gotta go get some dog food, I’ll be back in a few minutes, okay?” Will kissed his husband on the cheek before walking out the door. He looked at the muffins on the counter. They were blueberry flavored.
Hannibal waited for a few minutes, just to see if he’d come back in, to see if he forgot something. When he didn’t, he picked up one of the dense cakes, observing it for a while. He placed it in front of him and contemplated.
He could do this right now. He could do it later at night. Or, he could never do it. But he didn’t want to disappoint Will. He wanted to try at least once. He picked the muffin up again, carefully bringing it to his mouth. His teeth sunk into the exterior and a blast of flavor he couldn’t remember tasting before fell onto his taste buds.
He’d eaten the whole thing and picked up the wrapper to put it in the trash. Will had come back, dog food resting over his shoulder, as soon as the lid closed.
“Welcome back.” Hannibal smiled at him, walking over and placing a delicate kiss on his cheek.
“Thanks. The market closest to us was out so I had to go to the town over.” He nodded.
“Would you like to watch a movie?”
“Sure, just let me put this down first.” Will walked towards the kitchen, putting the dog food next to all the dogs bowls. He turned to walk back to the living room when he noticed something different about the counter.
One of the muffins was gone. It brought a smile to his face. He sat next to Hannibal on the couch, pulling him closer.
“I’m proud of you.” He beamed. Hannibal only made a quiet humming sound in response, but Will knew it made him happy to be praised.