Chapter Text
He's coming to with a roaring headache.
It's pounding right behind his eyes and there is a foul taste in his mouth. The cold water splashed everywhere to wake him doesn't help.
His neck hurts when he rises his head and he realizes he is slouched over in the chair in the corner. Slowly raising his eyes he feels more than sees the menace pointing a gun at him.
"Do you think you can sit up? Try to sit up."
Try... It scares him. Has the Dragons promise by proxy been fulfilled? A slow inventory of his bodys responses brings relief and a certain disbelief.
"You didn't break my back..."
Why didn't he? It must be something the Dragon wants of course. Ding dong the Dragons not dead - he can just hear it already and wonders briefly if his inner voice is foreshadowing the real one. If he can survive this little encounter of course.
"Your face is closed to me..."
Well. Thank heavens for small favors. Will cranks up his empathy. Its surprisingly easy now that he is "back". Theres a cacophony of thoughts in his head, all vying for dominance. The chips are on the table again. A new game. A new threat, again, not just to himself. The fact that he's not dead means the Dragon wants something from him. It means he will have to go back. It means he will have to face -him- again. It means another ill timed opportunity for... choice. Ill timed for the wound he has inflicted when leaving. On -him- and himself.
"If I can see you ... you can see me."
It's a step forward. The Dragon has seen the part that belongs to -him-. The part Will cannot rip out, no matter how hard he tries.
"Oh, you think you understand, don't you?"
Slightly sarcastic, condescending there. Well he can't blame him. Being alone in his illusional world for so long and believing only -he- (say it), Hannibal can understand, will isolate you. Time for securing his own safety for once.
"I understand that blood and breath are only elements undergoing change to fuel your radiance."
Hannibals voice resonates in his head as he recites the words. There is a small pang of ... envy at them being directed at the Dragon, even though he recites them himself. It's not exactly unexpected, and therefore he feels it even more keenly.
"Hannibal said those words... to me."
He draws out the "me". Theres a chasm in his chest remembering the feeling of that intense, craved attention so long ago. But he is ignoring the pang for now. It's important the Dragon sees him as a ... kindred spirit for the time being. Will wonders if the words are really necessary or just testament for the Dragon to Wills time with Hannibal.
"I wanted to share with Lecter. And Lecter betrayed me."
An opportunity. The Dragon is -very- disappointed. Well, being played with is no fun, there is no one better knowing that. Still. He wonders briefly if he wants the Dragon to actually "share" with Hannibal. Considering not -all- of this has been on Hannibal... well, this time.
"Yeah, he betrayed me too."
That is the truth. And... not. He does not show it, but there is a whole maelstrom of feelings at this statement. The abyss of their zero sum game opening, battering his defenses. He knows that a decision will have to be made ... again... soon. The betrayer and the betrayed. Will wonders if he can, will, wants to betray again. And whom. There is just a hint of black fog in the periphery of his vision.
"I would like to share."
Indeed. He swallows down the knowledge just what sharing acutally entails. The proof of this desire has been buried in family graves and dragged Will back into this. One last shot to stop this. He is somewhat short of breath suddenly.
"Yeah, you shared with Reba."
Will wonders if it will be enough to remind him, at the same time knowing that it will never be enough. If the Dragon shared with the whole world it would not be enough now.
"I shared with Reba a little. In a way that she could survive."
A calculated exercise in restraint. Proof that the man is still there in the Dragon.
But a little is not enough, so he just states it.
"But you didn't change her."
There it is, the incentive to up the game. The change supercedes the sharing and is still desperately craved, but not everyone will do now. Rebas deliberately missed change has to be compensated.
"I've chosen not to change her. I'm stronger than the Dragon now."
Will feels it in his bones. He knows what the Dragon wants. He has to avert his eyes. Saying the words will change this game. There will be no going back. Opening this door will put everyone at risk again. It will mean deceiving everyone -someone- and setting Hannibal free. The man who sent the Dragon to kill his wife. There will be no going back to Molly if he goes down that path. Hell, there is almost no going back now. But if he doesn't the Dragon will destroy everything in its path in his fury anyway, starting with him. It's a choice not exactly forced but presented, this time, at the last, and Will, letting his self-imposed restraints go, makes his decision, for once for himself.
He refuses to acknowledge the shaky, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and concentrates on the feeling of justified revenge paired with elation that rears its ugly head, making his own darkness step up front. He forces himself to look into the Dragons eyes.
"Hannibal Lecter is who you need to change."
It is said. Unwavering. Compelling. Will knows he will take the bait. There is a dark, thrilling satisfaction to direct this game for once and he knows the addictiveness of it. If he concentrates enough he can feel the tips of antlers itching to break through at the base of his neck. Will knows this should worry him more, but then the game was afoot as soon as the Dragon entered his room. There is no more room for doubt now.
"I wanna meet Lecter. How would I manage that?"
He looks at the Dragon and there is a -hint- of a smile just tugging at the corner of his mouth.