Chapter Text
Will finds himself waking in a fog; mind heavy and confused at where he is. Blinking through crusty, sleep filled eyes Will is slow to realize where he is and what woke him. The biggest giveaway to where being the large, canopied king size bed he is laying on with silk sheets, a sharp contrast to his cheap cotton ones. Will doesn’t remember how he got there, only vaguely recalling having drinks with Hannibal after their bedroom activities and dessert. But, if his head is any indicator to the quantity of drinks, he most likely had one too many. God, only knows what I did or said…
With a groan, Will rolls on his side just as the ‘what’ that woke him chimes again, the pleasant melody of a doorbell echoing in the house. Flinging the covers back, Will figures that’s his que to get up and face Hannibal. Standing, Will is glad to find that he is clothed, wearing a t-shirt and plaid pajama pants; definitely dressed in more than what he wears to bed at home.
Peeking out the double doors, Will finds the hallway empty except for the smell of bacon, the aroma making his stomach growl. Following his nose, Will heads to the kitchen, momentarily forgetting what woke him till he’s walking through the dining room to the kitchen and hears voices.
“It’s early, would you like some coffee?” Hannibal asks just in time for Will to pause outside the closed kitchen door. He looks down at his crumpled pajamas and immediately knows that whoever is behind the door will jump to an obvious, and somewhat accurate, conclusion if he were to walk in there now. Will is not ready to face the scrutiny of another person; hell, he can hardly face the scrutiny he gives himself when he looks in the mirror. With his decision made, Will is about to back away and head upstairs to wait until the guest has left, when they respond.
“Thank you but I don’t plan on staying long.” Jack replies, short but courteous. “I am actually about to head to a crime scene. I was wondering if you might know where Will is, I tried calling him a couple of times with no response.”
Will silently curses under his breathe. Of course he hadn’t planned on staying the night so he also hadn’t brought a charger and his phone was most likely dead. What confused Will though was the fact that Jack was looking for him at all. It’s not like they were exactly on speaking terms, on top of the fact he was just recently been removed from consulting on anything not Ripper related. Curiosity has Will leaning in closer to the door.
“No worries Jack, Will is currently upstairs sleeping. He had a little too much to drink last night and stayed the night.” Hannibal replies.
“That’s convenient…” Jack says slowly. “The last two times there has been a suspected Ripper victim you have been entertaining a guest all night.”
Will’s eyes widen at Jack’s thinly veiled accusation and wants to shake him. So much for not letting Hannibal know you are suspicious of him, Jack. Will thinks ruefully. At least that explains why you're looking for me. To Hannibal’s credit, he remains seemingly unperturbed and, from what Will can hear, keeps diligently making breakfast. “You act as though my guests don’t stay over willingly. You are more than welcome to go wake Will up yourself if you would like to check.”
“I’m fine, thank you. I prefer not to see Will right after you two spent the night together.” Jack replies with barely controlled disdain lacing his words. The ire only seems to make Hannibal chuckle.
“It’s interesting that you infer Will stayed over for reasons of the sexual nature.” Hannibal says and Will can practically hear Jack audibly open and close his mouth. “What I also find interesting is that you are looking for Will at all. From my understanding, you removed him from his last case saying he was incompetent.”
“I’m not wrong…” Jack replies with a growl. “I find myself each day questioning his judge of character more and more. Makes it hard to trust his judgement in the field as well.”
“Trust is something that has to be earned by both parties.” Hannibal replies coolly. “When we want to build trust we have to first lay the foundation for the trust to be earned. You never give Will the foundation Jack and he’s left trying to build on sand.”
A flicker of warmth passes through Will’s body at Hannibal’s words, something he slowly realizes is appreciation. Not wanting to hear more, Will opens the door to the kitchen before either can get another word out. Jack jumps in surprise at disturbance with his mouth still open about to says something, while Hannibal on the other hand, keeps plating food with his natural air of aloofness.
“Good morning, Will.” Hannibal says, not even looking up from his task at Will’s sudden appearance. The nonchalant demeanor making Will wonder if Hannibal knew he was listening outside the whole time. “Would you like some coffee?”
Will looks between Hannibal and Jack. “Sure, though I think we will have to make breakfast brief. I imagine Jack is here for a case, not for mimosas and scones.” Will quips, the comment making Hannibal chuckle and Jack scowl. Jack’s previous comment makes Will’s words come out bitter and condescending as he continues. “That is, if you think I’m competent enough to be of use, Jack.”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Jack replies with his eyes narrowed, clearly trying to decide if Will heard any of his and Hannibal’s conversation. “It’s a Ripper case and you are the profiler most familiar with him.”
Will highly doubts it’s a Ripper murder and figures that Jack is just being stupid, that or he is trying to get back in Will’s good graces, however unlikely that was. Will merely grunts in affirmation at the words as he takes a drink from the coffee Hannibal hands him, not even acknowledging the off-handed, piss poor excuse for a complement as an acceptable apology. Hannibal, completely unfazed by the thick tension, cuts the silence between them and answers Jack for Will. “We will meet you at the crime scene Jack, just text me the address.”
With a curt nod, Jack heads for the door and Hannibal, as his usual polite host self, follows him out. By the time Hannibal comes back Will has already started on one of the breakfast scrambles. He joins Will at the counter and starts to eat as well, both forgoing eating at a table for time and convenience sake.
“How much did you hear?” Hannibal finally asks Will when he’s half way through the plate of food.
“Enough to catch Jack’s homophobic tone and the comment about his lack of trust in me.” Will says grimly before giving Hannibal a small smile. “Though I guess he’s not completely wrong in his lack of trust.”
Hannibal responds with a smile of his own as they continue to dig into their breakfast. Will finds himself not giving a shit about Jack doubting his trust and questioning his judgement. Let him. Since he found out that Jack had brought Freddie Lounds on as an informant, Will was officially done with his help in catching Hannibal. Will would get evidence on Hannibal without it and shove it in Jack’s smug face.
“Thank you by the way… for what you said to Jack.” Will says in a low voice. “You didn’t have to defend me to him, I hardly care about his trust or friendship anymore, but thank you all the same.”
“It was as much for your benefit as it was for Jack’s.” Hannibal simply replies.
“What do you mean?” Will asks, setting his empty plate in the sink.
Hannibal does the same with his plate and begins to wash the remaining dishes, his voice measured in his response. “Jack is a good leader but his lack of trust strangles the relationships he creates. Like an invasive plant, he drains life and energy from you in the form of demands while expecting blind faith without giving anything in return.”
“Sound like you are trying to alienate me from Jack” Will says offhandedly.
Hannibal pauses his scrubbing and looks directly as Will. “No. I believe he’s doing that himself.”
Will gives him a wry smirk. “You’re not wrong.”
******
When Hannibal had said the crime scene was at a church Will had expected polished floors, the smell of incense and maybe some people in clerical colors or habits getting questioned while organ music plays in the background. What they really find is stone rubble, dust and foliage completely overrunning the ruins of a collapsed Catholic church with broken stain glass windows littering the ground around it.
Stepping out of Hannibal’s Bentley, Will draws attention from the surrounding FBI agents that are collecting evidence and taking pictures. Their gazes are heavy and attentive as Hannibal and he walk under the police tape, glancing between the two of them while mostly lingering on Will. He shoots Hannibal a glare and mentally curses, kicking himself for letting Hannibal dress him. Will isn’t wearing anything as elaborate as Hannibal’s three piece suit, but it is definitely more than his normal button up shirt and dress pants.
Will wears, in addition to a white button up and dress pants, a red tie with a blue sweater on top. He had to fight Hannibal for a solid red tie over a blue and red paisley monstrosity, but now regrets not asking to forego the tie altogether. Will feels like a yuppie Harvard professor and, judging by his leisurely stares, Hannibal likes the new look. Of course he does. I’m finally his personal Ken doll to dress and undress as he pleases, Will thinks coolly.
“Is there something wrong, Will?” Hannibal asks with a small knowing smile.
“Besides the blatant stares I’m getting from everyone?” Will asks with thick sarcasm. “I look ridiculous.”
“You look dapper.” Hannibal corrects.
Will barks a laugh at that. “Is that supposed to help?” Will asks rhetorically, shaking his head. “Just remember I’m choosing your outfit next time.”
“Will we dress to match?” Hannibal quips back, making Will snicker.
“Watch it or I’ll dress you in flannel.”
Hannibal chuckles and flashes him a devious smile, one Will finds himself getting lost in and makes his stomach do a little flip. “Sounds terrifying.”
Walking through a broken arch way, Will sees more destruction littering the main chapel making the interior a maze of broken roof, pews, and plants that had taken up habitat in the ruins. Winding their way through the wreckage, Hannibal and Will approach the stage of the chapel where the bodies are displayed. In the air above the raised platform is a man with his chest ripped open, held aloft with wings made of rainbow colored glass attached to him. The body and wings are supported by rope and steel cables that connect to structural beams of the remaining roof. The arms are lifted by fine string in the air to hold a trumpet to his lips and below him are two decaying bodies covered in dirt with the scene accentuated by the heart of the suspended man lying on an open bible on the center podium.
Will doesn’t even need to close his eyes to know who the killer is. He doesn’t need to close his eyes, let the ambient noise sound, and pendulum sway to know who this man is. Maybe it’s the melding of their minds or the overtness of it, but Will knows the meaning behind the design as if it’s calling to his being. It might even be, it was after all made for him…
Will’s breathe comes in short pants at the horrific beauty of the man-made angel and feels his vision dim. Panic claws its way up his throat like an animal trying to get out and it takes everything in him not to fall to his knees in front of the display like a worshiper kneeling to pray. The effort is not needed though because Will immediately feels strong hands supporting him. Hannibal’s face comes into view cutting off the display, his warm amber eyes search his and Will feels himself consumed in their depths.
The artistry of the design Hannibal has created for Will takes his breathe away while terrifying him, the intensity behind the devotion in it shaking Will to his core. The design a symbol of Will’s own awakening and the promise of new beginnings. The wonder in it, however, is undercut by anger as Will slowly grasps the chain of events leading to its creation.
“Will… Will…” Hannibal says and his words slowly break through like waves on a shore bringing him back to shore. Will realizes he’s leaning in close to Hannibal with his hands on both of his shoulders in a tight grip. Taking a deep breath in and out, Will loosens his hands, feeling his joints and muscles sigh with relief at the release in tension.
Will keeps the steadying breathing in and out as he tries to control his anger and confusion. He feels like an idiot for thinking Hannibal wouldn’t use him as an alibi and on some level Will doesn’t blame him. It was a logical decision, but that alone doesn’t pacify the hurt that clenches in his chest. So Will feels no remorse as he glances around the chapel to make sure they are alone before pulling back his fist to punch Hannibal in the jaw.
They break apart with a crack and Will barely keeps himself from falling over at the loss of Hannibal’s support. With impossible ease Hannibal takes the punch gracefully, his face only turning slightly to the side while his features remain schooled into perfect indifference. Only when Hannibal straightens and looks at him does Will see the silent storm brewing under the controlled mask.
Anger ripples off of him as well so Will holds the gaze, too pissed to be afraid at the fact he’s having a staring contest with a serial killer he just punched in the face. Hannibal is the first to speak, his voice low with controlled rage and with something else that Will slowly recognizes as uncertainty. “I believe it would be best if we speak in private.”
Will’s gaze cuts from Hannibal back to the alter created for him… His alter. The sight makes his chest ache and he knows he would be content to stare at the scene designed for him forever, an alter meant to sing a hymn of reverence to him. Betrayal swirls through it though and keeps Will from revealing in its sight. Will is instead content to absorb the sight into his mind palace for him to visit later.
“Let’s head back to your place.” Will finally says not meeting Hannibal’s gaze, wrapping his anger back inside himself. Only once they are in Hannibal’s Bentley again does Will break the silent tension.
“Where was Jack?”
Hannibal keeps his eyes on the road, his cool indifference back in place. “He texted me when we were on our way to the crime scene saying he wouldn’t be there. He was called away for an important meeting but says that he will be expecting an evaluation of the Chesapeake Ripper scene by Wednesday.”
Will bristles at the expectation. Jack was about to be sorely disappointed because there was no way he was evaluating that crime scene, at least not truthfully. “I won’t be writing an evaluation on a Ripper murder. I will be writing a profile on a new killer with religious hysteria.”
Will’s response surprises Hannibal causing him to glance from the road to look at him. “Jack already suspects it’s a Chesapeake Ripper killing.” Hannibal replies tentatively.
“Jack also thought Abel Gideon’s killing of that nurse was you and your killing of Cassie Boyle was Garret Jacob Hobbs.” Will replies heatedly. “Jack trusts facts even if he doesn’t trust me, and I’m good enough at my job to make him believe that murder wasn’t the Chesapeake Ripper.” Will pauses in thought for a moment before continuing. “You didn’t take any surgical trophies, did you?”
“No.” Hannibal replies, seeming unpleased by it. The fact that Hannibal didn’t take a surgical trophy should concern Will, its relevance meaning something if he were to look at it, but at the moment it’s only a blessing.
“Good, that will make it easier at least.” Will replies, as Hannibal pulls the car into the garage.
“May I ask why you intend to lie about the murder?” Hannibal asks turning towards Will in the passenger seat.
Will could tell him the real reason, he could confess his need to keep something that means so much to him and something so personal away from the FBI who will dissect and pick it apart. Will doesn’t though, hardly able to admit what he felt looking at the crime scene to Hannibal when he is pissed at him. So Will sticks with the safer option. “Jack and the FBI think Fredrick Chilton is the Chesapeake Ripper, a man who is currently locked away in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. It would be in our best interest to keep it that way.” Will replies, avoiding Hannibal’s gaze as he gets out of the car.
“Jack seemed far from convinced it was Chilton this morning in my kitchen.” Hannibal replies, following Will into the study.
“Jack’s also only one man. It’s more of a problem if the FBI reopens the file on the Chesapeake Ripper than if a single person pursues it on their own volition.”
“You suspect me as well though and, from what you told me yesterday, so does Freddie Lounds.” Hannibal replies smoothly. “The number seems to keep going up.”
“Freddie is a trashy internet tabloid writer; hardly a threat.” Will replies, anger lacing his voice as he stalks toward Hannibal. “As for me, you can take comfort in knowing I would rather kill you than turn you in, something I’m struggling not to do at the moment.”
Hannibal’s gaze darkens with lust at Will’s threat, eyes searching. “Did you not like the gift I created for you, Will?”
“I don’t like that you drugged me to do it.” Will seethes, avoiding the question. “You’re still playing games Hannibal despite trying to woo me to your side. That’s where you fucked up.”
Despite his rage Hannibal seems to visibly relax at Will’s words. It takes Will a second to realize Hannibal thought he was mad about the murder and mutilation done for him. Will probably should be, but it hardly mattered why Hannibal did it, he never had a reason before and would have probably still killed the person without one.
It was the slowly building trust he had started to form in Hannibal that angered Will, mostly because it had started to form so naturally and Will had only noticed it when it was replaced with betrayal. “You talk about trust and forgiveness Hannibal but you continue to do the same damn things that destroyed our friendship the last time.”
Hannibal seems to mull over Will’s words carefully before responding. “Would you have wanted to know? And if so, would you have helped or would you have felt obligated to try and stop me?” Hannibal asks, eyes sharp as he searches Will’s face for lies in his answer.
Will clenches his jaw, tempted not to answer and leave it as another ‘lie of omission’, but anger edges his words out of mouth. “I would have wanted to know so I could have watched and then fucked you after.”
Hannibal’s surprise at Will’s response makes the carefully controlled walls of his control crumble and push Will against his desk. Hands gripping head and hair, Hannibal gives Will’s scalp a light pull as he devours his mouth. Will gasps at the feeling of tongue and teeth bruising his lips in a fierce kiss that leave him dizzy when Hannibal pulls away. Will’s heart is beating fast as he looks up at Hannibal, who has now neatly schooled his features back into place.
“Be careful with what you say Will.” Hannibal warns in a low voice next to Will’s ear. “Or I might disregard your only term entirely.” His hot breathe ghosts the words against the fragile shell of Will’s ear making him shiver. Hannibal notices it and gives Will a knowing smile.
Hannibal’s conceited smirk on top of his constant reticence and controlling behavior mixes with his anger making Will snap. In an instant he grabs Hannibal in a hungry embrace. Will rakes his hands though Hannibal’s perfectly styled hair and pulls none too gently at the roots making Hannibal growl into the kiss. Will doesn’t recede though and instead pushes Hannibal further by deepening the kiss and scoring Hannibal’s lips with his teeth. Will’s tongue dips into Hannibal’s mouth to taste him and groans with the need to taste more.
Bodies still connected, Will kisses down Hannibal’s neck all the while loosening his tie in the process. Will’s tongue flicks out and lightly licks Hannibal’s neck before his teeth graze the flesh there making Hannibal gasp. The sound is music to Will’s ears so he does it again, nipping at the exposed flesh while enjoying the small groans and gasps they elicit.
Will removes Hannibal’s tie and suit jacket in fast secession before he feels hands still his movements. Will keeps his hands in place and glares up at Hannibal. “So help me Hannibal if you say ‘I didn’t give you permission to undress me’ I will head-butt you in the face so fast. Then, while you are clutching your broken nose and stunned, I’ll just proceed to undress you anyway.”
Hannibal hesitates for a second, his eyes dilating at the threat. Will almost doesn’t think Hannibal will relinquish control but he soon removes his hands so Will can continue. Letting out a sigh that he didn’t know he was holding, Will starts to remove Hannibal’s vest next.
Will didn’t realize till now how much he needed this, needed to let Hannibal give him control for once. In this moment, Hannibal’s perfect control was something Will wanted to make tangible and shatter in the palm of his hands. Hannibal had said trust worked both ways and Will had to agree. He trusted Hannibal only as much as he was given in return and it turned out they both sucked at it.
Once the vest is on the floor among the other discarded clothes, Hannibal starts to remove Will’s tie and sweater as Will unbuttons Hannibal’s shirt. With each button he undoes, Will plants a kiss on Hannibal’s body, trailing down till he is kneeling on the ground. Will wasn’t sure when the endeavor to taste Hannibal completely lead him to this precipice but all of a sudden Will was there, completely consumed with the need. Stomach clenching in anticipation, Will looks at the hard outline of Hannibal’s dick; the lewdness of it making his cock twitch and harden in his pants while his mouth waters with the need to feel the heavy weight of Hannibal’s cock in it.
With shaky hands Will undoes Hannibal’s belt and pants’ button, all the while staring up at him, Will’s eyes almost daring Hannibal to try and stop him. Hannibal’s stares back with hooded eyes, his breathe hitching when Will strokes his length over the fabric to feel the erection straining there. Will’s breathe comes in little pants as he pulls down Hannibal’s pants to expose his hard cock.
Nerves makes Will’s stomach do a little flip at the erect member, Hannibal’s cock seeming larger than he remembers now that it’s in his face and he’s about to try to put it in his mouth. Licking his lips, Will grabs Hannibal’s cock in his one hand and looks up at him. Above him Hannibal is looking down at the show, lips parted and eyes filled with barely controlled lust. The blatant arousal on Hannibal’s face gives Will new found confidence and, while holding Hannibal’s gaze, he licks the precum from the head of Hannibal’s cock.
Hannibal’s eyes flutter closed and hips jump forward, trying to follow the warm sensation before he catches himself. Looking back down at him, Hannibal runs his fingers through Will’s hair. “Keep going.” Hannibal says, voice husky and thick with his accent. The sounds of Hannibal’s voice so fully aroused makes Will smile as he leans forward to do it again.
Will licks Hannibal’s cock till it’s fully lubricated from base to tip enjoying the musky flavor there. Tentatively, Will gives it a couple strokes, unsure how to proceed and settles for starting out slow. Enclosing his mouth around the head of Hannibal’s cock, Will swirls his tongue around the tip. Hannibal groans above him so Will begins to take him deeper, slowing putting more and more of Hannibal’s thick cock in his mouth before pulling back and swirling his tongue around the head. Once Will reaches the limit of Hannibal’s girth, he starts to stroke and bob his hand and head in tandem.
Hannibal’s breath becomes labored and when Will looks back up at him, Hannibal is the image of sin. Eyes glazed and dark with his hair falling across his forehead makes Hannibal’s face a perfect mess. The sight makes Will’s cock twitch and him groan around Hannibal as he takes him as far as he can into his mouth, the act making Hannibal moan in return. Will picks up the pass after that, all the while moaning and moving his hand and mouth in time together. Hannibal’s cock gets as hard as steel in his grip and is soon moaning Will’s name.
“Will… ah, ah… I’m going…” Hannibal says in wanton abandonment as he tries to form words of warning. Will doesn’t stop though and keeps going, dragging his tongue over Hannibal’s slit and swirling the head in encouragement. With a groan, Hannibal comes undone as hot, salty liquid fills Will’s mouth.
Will attempts to swallow it all but a little bit of cum gets on his lips and chin. Falling backwards on his ass with a gasps, Will catches his breath from the exertion and smiles up at Hannibal. He stares back at Will with lust filled eyes; enjoying the view of Will at his feet with his cum on Will's swollen, red lips and hair messed up by his hands. In one swift motion Hannibal pulls up his pants and buckles his belt before turning his gaze back on Will and by the time he looks back at Will, he's regained some of his composure. “Pants and shirt off, Mr. Graham.”
Will blinks at him for a moment before the words register. “What?”
Hannibal stares back at him and picks his discarded tie from the ground. “I said pants and shirt off. Don’t make me say it again.” Hannibal warns.
Will’s cock pushes against the fabric of his pants at the request, impatient as well to be free. Will stands and undoes his shirt, wiping his face with it before tossing it on the nearby arm chair. All the while Hannibal’s eyes are watching him. It’s far from a strip tease but, none the less, the action makes Will’s abdomen clench with nerves at the way Hannibal is following his every move.
Undoing his pants, Will pulls them down and steps out of them, leaving his boxers on. “I said to undress, Mr. Graham.” Hannibal says in warning.
“You said to take off my shirt and pants, I did that.” Will corrects, unable to keep from teasing Hannibal after causing him to so thoroughly come undone.
Hannibal’s eyes flash at Will’s challenge. “Today seems to be the day I teach you manners, Mr. Graham.” Hannibal says in a low voice, making Will’s pulse sky rocket. “Now take those off and go lay on my desk. I’m far from done with you.”