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Will sat on their couch, reading a book he was really only half-paying attention to. He was sure he’d been staring at the same page for the last 5 minutes, unable to focus on it. He still didn’t dare break the tense silence, nor did he dare look at Hannibal.
Ever since he pulled them off the cliff and they’d survived by some miracle, or curse, Hannibal had been… silent. Will would’ve been grateful for the lack of corrupting words whispered in his ear before, but now? It was more than a little unnerving. It was wrong.
He had tried countless times to pull a conversation from Hannibal, but the most he ever got out of the man was a blank stare, maybe a slight cocking of his head if Will was particularly lucky.
It made him angry, angry that he had finally Become and Hannibal in turn disappeared into himself. It made him even angrier that he didn’t know why. Hannibal had never been truly shaken by the endless violence he had experienced in the time Will knew him, never like this.
More than anything, it made him afraid. He didn’t know how to help, how to fix this so they could finally live the life Hannibal had promised him. Will tried to avoid thinking about the idea that whatever has changed in Hannibal may be permanent, that he may never get his monster back. Hannibal is stronger than that.
Or, he at least told himself that. It was starting to sound less convincing every day he looked into Hannibal’s empty expression.
Will shook those thoughts away. There was still hope. It had only been 2 months since they plummeted into the ocean, there was still a chance that he could have the man he cruelly fell in love with.
He sighed and finally caved, closing the book and setting it to the side. He glanced at Hannibal, and found the man looking off into nothing. It was unfortunately all too common now. Will tried to ignore the pang in his chest.
“I wish you were still here.” He whispered hollowly, and Hannibal looked at him, still giving no further response. “I don’t know how I can fix this. I don’t care about what’s happened between us anymore, I just want you back.” It was recklessly honest, baring his throat to a predator that was too injured to sink its teeth in.
At this point, he didn’t care. He would bare any vulnerability he needed to if it meant getting Hannibal back. Anything to break free of the cruel cycle of what-ifs that Will was trapped in for as long as Hannibal was like this.
Will stood, emotion getting the better of him as he stepped in front of Hannibal and crossed a boundary he’d been too afraid to even acknowledge. He reached out and touched Hannibal’s face, for the first time since they’d recovered from the worst of their injuries.
He looked into Hannibal’s eyes, still devoid of recognition or any emotion at all. “Please, please just tell me what I need to do. This isn’t fair. You don’t get to leave me as soon as I finally have you.” Will pleaded, lifting Hannibal’s head and searching for any sign, any hint. There was nothing.
Then, an idea.
It was so obvious. How had he not thought of it before?
Will smiled at him, and pressed a daring kiss to his forehead. “I have to go. I promise I’ll be back soon.” He said, even knowing there would be no reply.
He quickly gathered supplies, which they unsurprisingly had plenty of. Of course Hannibal would’ve stocked all of his safehouses. He threw his coat on and, with one more quick glance at Hannibal, left the house into the dark.
—
It didn’t take long for Will to pick his prey. A man that he watched harshly shove a woman out of the way while leaving the store. The exact kind of prey Hannibal would choose.
He followed the man, who fortunately didn’t live far from where Will had found him. This would be easy.
Will parked the car a respectable distance from the man’s home, and stalked through the dark. He saw the man pulling some bags out of the trunk of his car. Bingo. Will slipped on gloves, picked up a rock and threw it to the edge of the treeline.
The man immediately noticed and cautiously set the bags on the ground before slowly making his way to the treeline. Will saw him pull out a pocket knife, and smiled to himself, it wouldn’t be nearly enough to fight back against a determined hunter.
He crouched, ready to strike. As soon as the man was close enough, Will pounced, grabbing the man’s neck and slamming his head into a tree. He watched the man crumple instantly, knocked out cold.
Will wasted no time in binding and gagging him. It really did feel like wrapping a gift for Hannibal. He only hoped this was enough.
He dragged the unconscious man to the car and set him in the trunk, testing the ropes knotted around his arms and legs and finding them plenty tight. He shut the trunk hatch and got back in the car, he pulled the gloves off and started the car, speeding off into the night.
—
Will pulled into their driveway, almost giddy with excitement. He had hunted for them, and could finally give Hannibal a gift.
He wasted no time, getting out of the car and opening the truck. Luckily, his prey was still unconscious and was easy, for a body, to drag to the front door. He quickly unlocked it and brought his prey inside, locking the door behind him.
Leaving his prey by the door, he went to find Hannibal. Will found him in the same spot he’d been before, as if he never even moved.
“Hey, Hannibal. I’m back, and I brought something for you.” Will said in his best attempt at warmth, still receiving no response beyond Hannibal acknowledging him. He shrugged off the ache and held onto hope, this could work. It had to.
He looked at Hannibal a little longer, internally praying that this would be the last time he had to look at such a blank stare.
Unable to wait any longer, Will rushed to grab his prey, who was beginning to come to. He dragged the man, and sparing one quick look to make sure Hannibal was still there watching, he finally showed Hannibal his gift.
“I brought dinner. Caught him shoving a woman for no reason while leaving the store…” He said hopefully, angling to the man that was beginning to struggle on the floor. Will smiled and looked at Hannibal, desperately searching for any sign of life.
Hannibal looked plainly at his catch, tilting his head curiously. Will held his breath, ready to vibrate out of his skin from anticipation.
He almost jumped as Hannibal stood suddenly, still looking at the writhing man on their floor, even as he walked in front of Will.
Finally, Hannibal looked at him.
Will saw recognition, pride, love.
“That’s my cunning boy.” Hannibal whispered raspily, and Will felt the dam break. He nearly sobbed as he fell forward into Hannibal, feeling arms wrap around him.
“Hannibal... don’t ever leave me again… I missed you so much…” Will mumbled into Hannibal’s chest, clinging on with everything he had.
“I won’t. I’m sorry, my dear Will.” Hannibal cooed back, petting through Will’s hair.
“I don’t want your apologies, I just want you.” Will leaned his head back as he said it, finally admiring Hannibal’s soft expression, the warm smile he thought he’d never get to see again.
“You have me.” Hannibal pressed a kiss to his forehead, a fair exchange for the one Will gave him earlier.
Boundaries be damned. Will surged forward and kissed Hannibal properly, crying his relief at having his monster back. Hannibal immediately kissed back with equal fervor.
They eventually parted for air, and Will remembered that his gift was still on the floor. “I want to watch you give him his due diligence.” He purred at Hannibal, earning a sly grin.
“Of course, my sweet boy. Shall we?” Hannibal offered, and Will nodded, eager to finally see what he’s been waiting months, years really, for.
Before Hannibal was able to grab their prey’s legs, Will grabbed him and pulled him into one more kiss. It was chaste, but satiated that last bit of his mind that wondered if this was a dream.
It was all real, and Will knew he wouldn’t trade this beast of a man or their life for anything.
Finally, he was happy.