Chapter Text
Will wakes up shortly after Hannibal this morning. A rarity but not unexpected in the context of what they set out to accomplish today. His husband’s precious Bentley has been begging for an oil change and they decided to surprise him by working on it.
They drag out of bed and start their normal routine seeing growing stubble in the mirror and wishing it gone so they shave it away. Hannibal has changed their life in so many ways and that fact even breaches their skincare regimen. Prior to coming out, they had none. The words of dear ole dad always permeated through like a persistent migraine.
“Men don’t need to get pretty, they work hard and don’t complain ” He said when they asked to buy cream for acne in high school. They tried a few times after that but nothing ever stuck. His stubborn partner though made it seem that having well-kept skin was akin to heaven.
“I understand that you are not accustomed to having your epidermis looked after beloved but I must insist you at least try these products before you dismiss them entirely” He said after pushing an expensive-looking black bag with gold trimming around the edge.
“Epidermis honey really? And for your information, I’ve tried Proactiv and Olay a few years back I’m not completely clueless” They replied flippantly obviously not in their element.
The words they said seemed normal enough but judging by Hannibal’s face you might assume they said the most crass thing imaginable.
“Pray tell my darling Will what does showing initiative and the spanish origin for bravo have to do with skincare?” He asked with brows furrowed slightly in deep concern, presumably of the mental kind. Will looks up to meet his face and their eyes almost pop out of their head.
“Have you seriously never heard of those companies?” “I have not, you sounded a bit mentally detached without the context” He sits down in the chair adjacent to them.
“I don’t know why I asked of course you haven't. They’re pretty nice honestly I just never kept up because of the price or bad time management” Hannibal hums in understanding.
“You couldn’t have possibly thought I was talking about the adjective and the exclamation” They say while pulling the bag closer and looking through his purchases. “I was truly unknowledgeable of what you were referring to. I supposed the fumes from years prior may have left lasting effects on your psyche and I was worried for your mental. Hopefully, these products won’t continue the same cycle” He says with a smirk. “Oh fuck off” They joke back.
Will rinses their face and chuckles to themselves at the memory. After getting dressed they begin the trek downstairs smelling the delectable breakfast that Hannibal has prepared for them. They turn the corner to hear the quiet talk between him and Winston.
“You cannot have more pieces of bacon Winston, you are already at your max. Your whining has not gone unnoticed but it will be ignored”
They walk through the door to see him give winston another piece regardless of his threats and Winston in return spins around in happiness at his win. “I thought you said you wouldn’t feed him any more table food” They say leaning against the frame of the kitchen entryway.
“He is impossible to deny when he pouts and wags his tail. As if I do not indulge him he will simply perish” Will rounds the kitchen island and kisses him before bending down to greet Winston.
“Have you been scamming Hanni again buddy?” They scratch behind his ears and he yips in response. “You have haven’t ya? Come on let's get you outside so you can run it off” After the door is open to their backyard he runs around finding his own fun.
“Did you sleep well love?” Hannibal asks while slotting his face in Will’s neck. “Mhm, I slept like a rock, you?” They reply with a smile watching Winston chase a butterfly.
“My body feels adequately well rested and to have you come down smelling as wonderfully alluring only seems to improve my morning”
“It’s just the products you got me from before. I'm surprised how much I actually like them” They say with a small laugh while pulling from him in search of coffee.
“I am elated that you do, your skin has been clear and refreshed as of late. Not to say that you weren’t a sight for sore eyes prior to this regiment but I believe my statement still stands” He turns back to working on a mean egg scramble alongside a tofu one, as Will has become enamored with the flavor as of late.
“Hey don’t hate on Proactiv it’s what got you interested stud” They say with a cup in hand that’s being pointed at their ridiculous partner. “Ah yes it must be to blame for its offending scents alongside your horrendously prosaic aftershave” He offers his own shit-eating grin to them at which they return with an eye roll.
“I’m gonna be in the garage all day I have plans” Hannibal shuts off the stove and brings the breakfast to the table as Will follows. “May I ask what of or do you intend to keep it undisclosed?” He gives a genuine smile that they know is one of intrigue.
“I’ll keep it a secret for now but you’re welcome to bother me at a later time” They dig into the delicious meal he has prepared and hums in appreciation.
“I will keep that in mind beloved, perhaps after my online sessions I have this afternoon. And I would like to make it known that my attraction to you was not simply because of your questioning choices in aftershave. It was your cunningly beautiful mind. Among a plethora of other things” He catches their eye and they smile at each other in fondness.
“Of course how could I ever forget that” They chuckle before getting another forkfull. Their breakfast goes at a leisurely pace until they break off to be on their own. Will opens the garage door and sees his husband’s prized possession. Regardless of the countless faux arguments they’ve had over its importance to him. They know it's pretty high up there even if he says otherwise.
“It is simply a car will, you are a million times more precious to me than it, that I can promise you with an unmistakable certainty” Hannibal said one morning on the chaise accompanied by crossed legs and a tablet in hand.
“Okay so if I were to go fishing with it then get it sideswiped at an intersection you wouldn’t mind?” They countered with the pettiest look they could offer.
“Širdelė that is beyond a dramatized scenario. You going on a fishing excursion in my car serves no practicality for you as it is not meant for the terrains you wish to traverse. And you already have a decrepit car that is centuries old from what I can gather when I hear the ghastly noises it makes when you start it up” He looks up from his tablet to catch Will’s line of sight. Meeting a middle finger for his trouble.
“You leave my 1991 dodge power ram alone. It was my fathers half baked graduation present and it hasn’t steered me wrong since I first got it”
“Will, I have literally seen it almost veer you off the road in a failed attempt to displace you from life. Is it even street-legal?” He asks with genuine curiosity.
“Probably? I don’t know. Don’t act as if you care about legalities in the least though, I’m on to you” They signal putting fingers to their eyes then pointing outwardly. Hannibal plays the silent game, putting up his hands briefly in an attempt to seem benign as if Will was a wild untamed horse. “I haven’t a single clue to infer what you’re alluding to dearest”
“You’ve been trying to buy me a new truck for years. Even when we were dating you were still pestering me about it. And it didn’t veer it just needed a rework which it got” And that’s the truth almost every year like clockwork Hannibal attempts to persuade Will with beautiful new trucks that could do more than his current and each year they turn him down.
“I am sorry my emotions were heightened with worry for your safety after the imagined veering incident. I will work on controlling them in the future” They roll their eyes before stating a compromise. “Fine drama queen, I’ll use your car more often. Happy?”
“Trawling exempt?” He questions with a brow quirked up. “No fishing in your pretty car darling” It brings her to the now. She looks at the state of the car, it looking almost picture-perfect due to the wash it got a day prior. “Alright your highness let's get under your hood and see what's going on” Will says to no one.
She pops it open and does a basic maintenance check and finds that her assumptions were correct. She finds the new oil filter she ordered and gets her wrenches prepared before rolling out a car jack. Once the car is lifted enough she gets on her blue creeper and promptly rolls under.
Time seems to go by without her knowledge and she ends up getting preoccupied with cleaning debri from the undercarriage after changing the oil filter. She hears the distinct click of her husband's oxfords on the concrete floor but ignores it for a few counts of a breath before promptly rolling out.
She’s offered a lemonade by him and she takes it with a thanks trying her best not to touch him with her oily hand. "What's that look for?" She asks after having a refreshing sip feeling it coat her throat with its coolness.
"I'm just surprised to see you under a car" He says with an amused smile. "Why? I used to fix cars and boats with my dad all the time when I was younger, you know that" She says wiping her hands on a nearby towel before draining the lemonade.
"Yes, but I suppose I thought your newfound expression with gender would make you no longer yearn to do such tasks at least not in the same way” He walks to the car seeing the work she has already done so far.
"I don't just lose the knowledge 'cause I'm genderfluid now, I can still fix things while serving cunt darling” She gives a wry smile before stretching her back in preparation for going under again. Hannibal nearly gets whiplash from how hard he turns his head to his astonishing wife. "I'm sorry serving cunt? What could that possibly refer to beloved?" He looks at her with his lip curled upwards.
"I'm sure you've heard of the word cunt come on. It's european bloc that's totally your jam” She replies in a sassy eye roll starting to lean against the storage closet. “I have heard of the phrase but I'm still uncertain of its use here. Are you referring to the literal or dramatized interpretation?” He walks around the car noting the fixed external scuffs that were dismissive to the public eye but known only to him.
“Don’t break your brain overthinking hon. Basically, it means like “turning a look” She looks at him glance at her with a confused face. She knew that phrase wouldn’t be known and concedes. “Looking good outwardly in an expressive way. Like when you wear that overpriced saran wrap cloak I would say you're serving cunt"
"I do cherish that smock it's very protective and worth every penny, thank you very much. To say it's a "saran wrap" is wholly dismissive of its effectiveness my love” He walks over to her with a smile. "Whatever you say bubble boy" They say leaning off the closet and fully getting a chance to see what he’s wearing.
He’s wearing the suit that he wore on their first date and it looks breathtaking on him. With all the daily drooling he does over them they sometimes forget the beauty that is him or more accurately get lost in it.
“Your head has been yelling your thoughts for about a minute or two mylimas. Would you care to share with the class?” He tests by walking closer enough to kiss them if they move forward.
“Don’t get so close I’ll get oil on you. I don’t want you to mess the suit up” At this he chuckles before leaning forward and kissing them with a hand around their cheek pulling away with them breathless. “I would gladly burn the entirety of my wardrobe just to brandish a kiss upon you” He pulls back with a smile.
“You’re so dramatic Hannibal. You’re lucky I love you” They say with a lovesick smile.