Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was a miracle that they both survived the fall. Chiyoh had decided she did not like Will but Hannibal would not leave him behind. Losing Will would break his heart beyond repair, so Chiyoh cared for them both and prayed she was wrong about the mysterious man who had ensnared Hannibal so completely.

She left once they were out of the woods. She could see that Hannibal had already given away his heart and there was nothing she could do to spare him the pain he was inviting in. Will Graham would only bring him agony.

She was right, as she often was. For someone who spent most of her life alone she had a talent for reading people and their emotions but Hannibal was too far gone to listen to reason.

It was four months before Hannibal put his feelings into action. Will had joined him out on the porch, looking out over the ocean, whipped into a frenzy by the winds. The moonlight cast him in an ethereal glow, his eyes gleaming and moonbeams tangled in his curls. Hannibal was momentarily swept away by his quiet beauty and the almost peaceful aura that had settled over them both, an odd kind of domestic bliss they had carved out for themselves. Almost unconsciously, he moved closer to Will.

When Hannibal reached his side he placed a hand on Will’s shoulder, turning him to face Hannibal fully. Will did not resist and he did not step away when Hannibal’s hand slid to the nape of his neck. Hannibal eyes flicked over Will’s face and a second later he closed the distance and pressed his lips to Will’s, eyes fluttering shut when he felt the chapped warm flesh against his own.

It was as wonderful as he had dreamed when his mind wandered to Will late at night. His every sense was focused on Will, the feel of his body and scent of his tanned skin that seemed to have absorbed the salty taste of the sea air. His heart was beating loudly in his chest, the only thing he could hear. The sound of the waves and everything else fell away as he sank into the centre of his universe.

Will did not move for two full seconds, stunned or conflicted and Hannibal moved closer intending to deepen the kiss but then it abruptly ended. Will turned his face to the side, squeezing his eyes shut and placing a firm hand against Hannibal’s chest, forcing a short distance between them.

He shook his head silently. “No. It was wrong of me to stay here. I should have left sooner, as soon as it was safe,” he whispered.

“I don’t want that,” Hannibal answered, speaking quietly, head tilted towards Will’s.

“I know,” he answered mournfully. “But I don’t want… this,” he said, finally meeting Hannibal’s eyes and stepping back. Hannibal felt his heart crack in two, the feeling so intense it was almost audible and he felt as though all the oxygen had been robbed from his body. “I’m sorry.”

Hannibal shook his head, swallowing twice before remembering how to make his voice work. “There is no need to apologise. The last time I wanted to kiss you you launched us both off a cliff. No-one could accuse you of leading me on,” he said with a hollow laugh.

“Hannibal…”

“Yes, it hurts,” Hannibal said sharply, drawing a calming breath before speaking again. “I had no expectations, only hopes. I have never asked you to lie to me and I won’t now.”

“I should go,” Will repeated.

“It is late,” Hannibal agreed.

“I mean really leave, go… somewhere else,” Will said, distantly. “I think it’s best.”

“You are free to go whenever you wish, you have a new identity and I am sure you will find a way to hide yourself, you no longer need me,” Hannibal answered woodenly. His emotions felt distant as though he had subconsciously forced them down so they did not destroy him.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them, guilt and heartache making the air feel heavy. “Goodnight Hannibal,” Will eventually said.

“Goodnight Will,” Hannibal responded, staring out at the ocean.

His mind wandered in painful circles for what could have been seconds or hours. He was drawn back to the present when the wine glass in his hand shattered in his grip, red wine splashing on the wood and a large shard of glass embedding itself in his hand.

He looked down at his bloodied hand, barely feeling the pain. Mechanically he pulled out the glass, the pain finally kicking in as blood began to flow freely. He raised his hand to the mouth, sucking on the sore wound, blood staining his lips. It would not bleed out but it would need dressing. Still not reacting fully Hannibal retrieved a first aid kit from the kitchen and washed and dressed his hand. He carefully cleaned up the rest of the shattered glass and sat on the cold beach, staring up at the swollen moon, waiting for tears that never came. He was completely numb, toying with the largest piece of glass, still slick with his blood.

He pressed the sharpest point to the pad of his thumb, testing how hard he could push before the flesh broke as his mind found a path he could follow. After a few moments his thoughts became more rational, at least by his standards, and he walked to the edge of the sea, throwing the glass into the thrashing waves and moving inside.

He checked the clock outside Will’s bedroom door. The time he had spent on the beach and then locating his tools had stretched into nearly three hours and he was confident Will was fast asleep. He lingered outside the door, pressing his ear to the wood, barely breathing until he heard light snoring, almost like a kitten purring. Dressed in only his pyjama bottoms he gripped the knob, twisting it slowly.

The door was silent when he opened it and he did not make a sound as he made his way into the darkened room, placing a mostly full bottle of lube on the bedside table as though that was its usual place. He settled on Will’s bed, his darling barely stirred. Hannibal reached for the switch that would trigger the flashing bright lights that would reduce Will to a suggestable, pliable state. His brain was healthy now but Hannibal had him trained to respond to the stimuli. It would not cause a seizure but it would leave him vulnerable to Hannibal’s control.

Will’s face grew confused and his eyes flicked open, squinting against the bright lights. He opened his mouth to respond but his face suddenly went slack, Hannibal took his hand, pressing his thumb to the centre of Will’s palm. “Follow me into the light, Will,” he commanded quietly, carefully chosen trigger words for when he needed Will to forget conversations or actions.

He used to look so distressed when Hannibal did this but now he was relaxed, open and willing to be manipulated. He even smiled a little, the lingering grip of killers long since caught releasing their grip on him. Hannibal cupped his cheek in one hand, his thumb running along Will’s lower lips, warmth blooming in his chest when Will turned his face into the touch with a happy purr. “That’s my boy,” Hannibal cooed softly.

Hannibal shifted closer and pulled Will into an embrace. Will did not return the gesture but he also did not resist, leaning against Hannibal without any hesitation.

“Follow me into the light, Will,” he repeated, guiding him deeper into his vulnerable state. He guided Will’s hand to his heart, connecting him to the beat and waiting for Will’s breathing to unconsciously match his. It didn’t take long until Will was completely under, heart and mind open to Hannibal. “Lie to me.”

Hannibal whispered suggestions into Will’s ear. He told Will how much he loved him, that he would always love him more than anything and told Will that he felt the same way. A second later Will wrapped his arms around Hannibal, instantly believing the words. “It’s okay my darling, you don’t need to hide it anymore. I love you and you love me, we are together now, free to be open with each other. No-one is here to judge us or keep us apart. We have both waited so long,” Will was pressing himself closer to Hannibal’s body, hands moving over his bare chest and stomach. “Show me how you love me, my one and only darling Will,” he had barely finished the sentence when Will pressed his lips to Hannibal’s, seating himself in Hannibal’s lap as he slid his tongue between his lips.

Hannibal moaned at the sensation of Will’s chapped lips, moving against his. He wrapped both arms around Will’s sleepy soft body and responded eagerly, memorising the feel of Will and locking away any thoughts of Will leaving once he came back to himself.

Will moved so he was straddling Hannibal’s body. Hannibal groaned when he felt Will’s rapidly hardening dick pressing against his, Will felt it too and rocked his hips forwards seeking more contact.

Hannibal broke the kiss, stroking Will’s hair and meeting his stormy eyes. “I love you Will, I love you so much.”

Will gave him an open and pure smile before answering. “I love you too Hannibal. I am so happy to be here with you.”

“Say it again, Will, please.”

“I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Keep saying that, I want to hear it at least a hundred times,” Hannibal pressed a kiss to Will’s nose, delighted with his giggle. Will wound his arms around Hannibal’s neck and lay himself down, pulling Hannibal to lay above him, his heavier frame pressing Will into the mattress.

Will spread his legs, wrapping them around Hannibal’s middle, only boxers and Hannibal’s thin pants between them. Hannibal moaned against Will’s lips, melting into him and basking in his warmth.

Will squirmed against him, his hands travelling down Hannibal’s body and pushing at his waistband. Hannibal drew back and turned on the bedside light, needing to see Will. He pulled Will’s boxers down his long legs, licking his lips at the sight of his erection and blissed out face.

Will made no move to hide himself, gazing up at Hannibal with adoration, happy to let him look. He quickly became impatient and pushed at Hannibal’s pyjama pants again. Hannibal tossed them to one side, gasping in pleasure when Will eagerly gripped his erection, stroking the weeping length. “I want you so bad, baby,” he whispered, leaning up to press kisses along the line of Hannibal’s jaw. “Make love to me,” he pleaded, sweet as the morning’s birdsong.

A shiver ran through Hannibal’s body at the want in his voice and Will’s beautiful face. He could not deny those eyes anything, especially when they sparkled with affection, pupils blown wide. He pushed Will’s hand away, pressing their bodies together again and kissing him desperately. “I love you,” Will repeated again and Hannibal’s lips moved down his body, leaving a trail of tingling nerves. The request to hear it so many times was not part of the hypnosis, but Will obliged because Hannibal wanted it and Will loved him. Temporarily, but deeply.

When Hannibal reached Will’s pulsing length he licked down the length before gripping him behind the knees and throwing Will’s legs over his shoulders, exposing his tight hole.

Hannibal kissed down his inner thighs, resisting the urge to bite down and leave marks that he could not explain when Will forgot this. He might remember flashes, images and sensations, but he would think it a strange dream.

Will was still repeating his sincere feelings as Hannibal lay himself down, face to face with Will’s most intimate area. He licked at the skin surrounding the hole, teasing the wrinkled skin at the edge, drawing soft mewls of pleasure from Will’s mouth. His hole relaxed with every lick and soon Hannibal moved on to directly lapping at the hole, letting the tip slip past the tight ring of muscles. until Will was rocking closer to his mouth eager for more.

“More Hannibal, I love you,” he broke off with a cry when Hannibal speared him with his tongue, pushing the wet muscle in as far as he could, moaning as Will’s warm wet passage tightened around him. The bedding was disturbed when Will moved the lubricant to lie by Hannibal’s head.

Hannibal drew back and grinned at Will, dragging the back of his hand over his drool slicked mouth. Will grinned back and spread his legs wider, raising his knees and exposing himself completely. “You look gorgeous, I love you,” Hannibal said in awe, dragging his fingers down Will’s burning torso.

“I love you too,” Will replied. No matter how many times he said it, Hannibal never tired of hearing those words. It was the sweetest lie he had even chosen to believe.

Hannibal sat back on his knees, his dick hard and curved upwards, proud and throbbing. Hannibal drenched his fingers in lubricant, letting it warm before looming over Will and pressing his index finger to his fluttering hole. Will’s body turned to butter and Hannibal’s finger slid it easily. Will’s back arched and his eyelids fluttered when Hannibal located his prostrate easily, stimulating the gland and making him gasp in pleasure.

Will had no idea it was their first time, he reacted with trusting ease, absent of nerves of shyness. Hannibal loved him like this, every touch held the excitement of the first touch but every touch was perfect, it was as if Will’s body was made for him and he instinctively knew how to make him fall apart.

He added a second finger swiftly and Will’s ass clamped down on him with a delighted quiver. Hannibal licked his lips and bent low to capture Will’s lips in a hungry, desperate kiss, swallowing his moans as Hannibal began to work him open. He alternated between making Will squirm by stroking the sensitive nerves at his core and pulling back to scissor his fingers, loosening his opening.

His body opened up for Hannibal and soon Will was fucking himself on Hannibal’s fingers, pleading for more. Hannibal soothed him with devoted kisses as he withdrew, Will’s body desperately trying to cling to his fingers.

Hannibal watched his lover with blazing eyes as he slicked himself up. If he ever got the opportunity to do this again he would make sure every light in the room was on. He pushed the thought away as his heart contracted painfully at the knowledge that this might be the only time he got to express his feelings for Will this way, to touch his deepest parts.

When his hard member was shiny and slippery he guided himself to Will’s opening and pressed his forehead to Will’s before sliding in slowly, treasuring every inch. Will moaned deeply at the sensation of being so completely filled and clutched at Hannibal’s broad shoulders. “I love you,” he whispered brokenly when Hannibal was fully sheathed inside him.

“I love you Will,” Hannibal answered, gathering Will in his arms as he began to move. He crushed their bodies together and Will responded in kind, digging his fingers into Hannibal’s body. Hannibal buried his face in Will’s neck, lapping at the sweat droplets streaming down his neck and inhaling his scent.

Will was still professing his love through gasps and moans and Hannnibal screwed his eyes shut, praying that the moment would last forever. His orgasm was approaching far too fast and Will was near incoherent with bliss, pressing kisses to the column of Hannibal’s throat and along his shoulders. Hannibal tried to slow down and extend the experience but Will locked his legs behind Will’s back with a wounded cry, forcing him to drive himself deeper into Will. “I love you,” he gasped into Hannibal’s ear before sucking faint red marks down his neck, devouring his taste.

Hannibal tipped his head to the side, baring his skin to Will’s sharp nipping teeth. Will took the invitation and sank his teeth into the soft flesh at the base of Hannibal’s neck. Hannibal clutched his curls with a snarl, urging him to bite down further. Hannibal fucked into Will harder as his skin split and Will kissed away the beads of blood.

Pleasure rushed though Hannibal at the knowledge he was marked by Will, hopefully permanently. He rammed into Will with wild, reckless abandon and seconds later he felt Will’s cock twitch and spasm against his stomach as he reached his peak, seed smeared between their bodies. The sight of his dear Will, lost in pleasure and still gazing up at Hannibal with love, crimson blood on his lips, tipped Hannibal over edge as his orgasm crashed over him and he emptied himself deep inside Will’s willing body.

He collapsed above Will, enveloping him in an embrace. Laying in a tangle of limbs, they caught their breath through soft lazy kisses, basking in the afterglow.

When Will stopped trembling, Hannibal grabbed the tissue from the bedside table and cleaned them both with tender movements. He turned off the beside light and Will pressed himself against Hannibal’s side, resting his head over his heart. Hannibal held his limp body in his arms as Will pressed himself in as close as he possibly could.

“How do you feel, my love?” He asked quietly.

“Wonderful,” Will answered, his words slurred. “Sleepy.”

“Would you like something to drink?” Hannibal asked. Will shook his head with a hum of contentment. “I could get you some fruit, there were fresh clementines at the market together, wonderfully sweet and fragrant.”

“Hannibal,” he whined.

“Yes my love?” Hannibal answered instantly, reading.

“I’m not thirsty, I’m not hungry, I’m sleepy and I just want to go to sleep with you,” he said, eyes falling shut.

“Will…” he was cut off when Will placed his fingers over Hannibal’s mouth.

“Shhh,” he purred. “I love you.”

“I love you too Will, goodnight,” his only answer was a soft snore.

Hannibal lay awake for two more hours, enjoying the feeling of Will, warm and vulnerable in his arms. When Will woke he would return to himself, his real self, that did not love Hannibal in return. As the sky turned from deep indigo to dark grey he released Will and dragged his heavy body to his own bed.

It would take Will a few days to arrange transport at least. He had not even decided where he was going yet. Somewhere near water he imagined. He had chosen this property because he thought Will would like to live by the sea, the waves did seem to comfort him and he slept much better here than he had in Wolf Trap. He was not leaving right that second, in the morning they would share breakfast, he had a few more days, maybe the chance of another night.

Maybe Will would stay nearby, they were still friends, even if that was all Will felt for him. Once upon a time Will had needed him, now he had achieved his becoming he no longer needed Hannibal but he may still want him in his life.

There was hope. Hope that he would not lose Will completely.

As sleep tugged at his whirling mind he closed the black out curtains against the slowly lightening sky and pulled on his sleep mask, hiding under the covers.

In the silence of his room, Hannibal cried himself to sleep