On the other side of the door Will heaves into an open toilet bowl while the contents of last night’s and this morning’s meals leave his body empty. He’s rung out by the end, sweaty and really quite horrible to look at by the time he is able to see in the mirror.

Hannibal’s knocks are no more and he wonders if the alpha thinks he’s rude for not giving him answers earlier.

Will sighs and rubs his belly.

“So much for fancy food. Gonna have to stick to garbage from now on.”

He washes his mouth out with Listerine before he opens the door and Hannibal is of course not there. The bed is made and his bag sits in the middle of it.

No note or even a goddamn orange slice.

Not that he cares.

Will dresses and walks down the stairs with his bag slung over one shoulder only to pause at the bottom.

Hannibal stands there holding a glass of something and concern is in his eyes.

Will wants to rub all over him and run at the same time. “Thanks,” he mumbles, “What’s this?”

“A homeopathic remedy. Trust me.”

He drinks it slowly and tastes orange, mango and possibly ginger. His stomach feels better already before he finishes.

“It’s good. Look I’m sorry I—“

Hannibal puts two fingers over his lips.

“You were ill unexpectedly, there is no apology needed. While I am sure you want to flee I would ask you to stay?”

“I—I think the dogs probably need to go out.”

It’s a shitty excuse and they both know it, but he’s not gonna let an alpha baby him all day. Not even one he wants to drown in.

Hannibal takes his hand and kisses it.

“I understand,” he whispers, “Though before you go I have a momento for you to take.”

Will laughs as he pulls out a handkerchief, much more fancy than the one Will had been using before. Their fingers brush when he takes it from him.

“Thanks, Hannibal. I’ll call you when I get home.”

Hannibal pulls him into a kiss and their tongues brush just enough for Will to whimper when they part.

“Have a good day.”

The walk from the house is harder to make with each step and when he’s in the car Will finds himself in tears.

“Fuck.”

This whole business was dangerous to start in the first place and now he doesn’t know now if he can stop.

He drives home in a daze and cares for the dogs though they seem awful wary of him for some reason. He falls asleep almost immediately when he lays down and doesn’t get up till nightfall, hungry and aching for Hannibal.

Will rolls onto his back and rubs one out without much pleasure, his release only perfunctory and after still aches so much that he showers in hopes the water soothes.

It doesn’t.

He panics when he doesn’t smell like Hannibal after, rushes to sniff his clothes and put them back on.

The immediate effects all happen at once, content and safe feelings overtake Will.

“Fuck.”

He hates this so much.

Continued in: 

Truly, Madly, Deeply ~ Chapter Four 

slashyrogue:

Twilight Zone Episode 81: Nothing in the Dark

Life was a nightmare when you feared things no one else could see.

Will Graham had spent the last five years worried that the cold hand of death would take him, the feel of it nipped at his heels since the minute he’d woken up from being shot in the chest alive and well.

He’d quit his job at the force when the terrified ramblings of fear that he’d spoken to one too many others caused his otherwise spotless record to be tainted with talk of “overworked and spooked.”

After he’d left things got progressively worse so he stayed inside mostly with the dogs, getting deliveries and keeping doors locked more than anything else.

It was a cold night in January when he heard the screech of the car, the crash, and the dogs all started to bark. He’d long since covered the windows so there was no way of knowing who was there or whether they’d survived.

Really it could all be a trick to get him to open the door.

Death had done it many times before, with mailmen and even delivery boys. Eventually they’d left the packages on the step and Will took them in late that evening when he knew even Death wouldn’t expect him.

Late like now.

He sat up in his bed till the dogs barks started to wane, and was just about to go back to sleep when there was a polite knock.

Will didn’t move, especially when the dogs didn’t make a sound. Death was there, he knew it had to be, and there was no way he’d let him inside.

“Hello? I’m sorry it’s so very late but my car ran off the road. I just need to use your telephone. Mine got damaged in the accident.”

He still didn’t make a sound though the dogs started to scratch at the door.

“I’ve been hurt and it’s quite cold.”

Will laid down and pulled the blankets up to his chin.

“I know you’re here, I saw the car and,” there was a cough and then what sounded like someone sliding down to the ground, “Please I will not be long.”

The dogs were whining now, not at all frightened, and Will almost felt the stranger’s hurt from here.

“I am bleeding rather profusely, I could die.”

“I doubt that,” Will answered back, loud enough to be heard.

A chuckle. “If you hadn’t covered the windows you could see I am not lying.”

Continued at: Nothing in the Dark by nightliferogue

slashyrogue:

Twilight Zone episode 89: To Serve Man

Will looked up at the ceiling, sighing loudly as there was a
knock at his door.

“You don’t have to do that, I’m chained to the bed.”

The door opened and his captor came inside, locking the door
behind him as he brought in a plate of food.

“Will, you need to eat.”

Will glared, “Why? There’s no reason at all to eat, is
there? You only want me to eat so what, I taste better?”

“I would not harm you, of all of them I would not harm you,”
the alien said, reaching out to touch him.

Will spit in his face and rattled the chain on his leg, “DO
NOT TOUCH ME!”

The alien sighed, standing and leaving him alone again
locking the door behind him.

Will leaned back and thought about how he had gotten to be
here, hating himself for his stupidity.

The alien had arrived discreetly and without fanfare,
appearing before the UN and announcing their intention to put an end to the
world’s greatest woes: hunger, energy shortage, and war. The world was excited,
hearing out the beautiful planet, Chespek, their representative H’nbal, hailed
as a hero of the planet. Will worked as a cryptographer for the US government
at the time, he’d been there that day and he was the one who found the book.

There were squabbles among them about giving it back to
H’nbal, but in the end they thought translating it would be better before
attempting to return the book.

The others were all caught up in a tizzy of excitement,
booking flights to Chespek in droves and hearing about the paradise that they
were going to. Will wanted nothing of it, staying hours upon hours in his
office trying to figure out the symbols on the book.

Will was alone when he finally did it, the horror of it
almost making him too scared to move.

When he looked up and saw H’nbal standing there, looking
like a human but even more of a monster than he thought upon seeing him the
first time.

“To Serve Man,” Will whispered, his throat hoarse with fear,
“It’s…it’s…”

H’nbal walked over to him, his hand on Will’s own as he said
with a smile, “It’s a cookbook, Will Graham, you can say it yourself.”

Will cried out just as he felt a touch that put him to
sleep, and woke up in a room that looked just exactly like his bedroom, the
book by the bed mocking him for his failures.

He had no idea how long he’d been here, where here really
was, but he was here.

Despite what H’nbal said, no he shouldn’t think of him by
name.

What the alien said, because he was just that, an alien. A
monster.

The food beside him smelled so good, Will couldn’t remember
the last time he’d eaten and it called to him being so close. He took a piece
of the food designed to look like a potato and chewed, his eyes closing in
bliss. It wasn’t long before he ate everything on the plate, ravenous and
unable to help himself.

That was when H’nbal came in again, this time without
knocking.

“I am so pleased,” he said softly, making Will look up.

Will burst into tears, covering his face as he sobbed. He
felt arms around him and sunk himself into them, shuddering as he cried out his
fears and sorrow.

“I will not hurt you, Will Graham, I have promised you
this.”

“You’re a killer, a monster.”

“I eat what tastes pleasant to me, as do all of my kind. You
have just eaten the same.”

Will pushed him back, his eyes wide with horror. He choked,
shaking his head. “No, no, no!”

H’nbal smiled, touching his face. “Yes, Will, you have eaten
just what you were so disgusted with, and enjoyed it thoroughly did you not?”

Will felt tears on his face as he whimpered, covering his
mouth as H’nbal sat down beside him and put a hand through his hair. “I will
not hurt you, Will, your beauty is unparallel to any of the cattle we have
acquired thus far. You are so very lucky that I found you first, I will make
you my pet.”

Will shivered, moving his hand as he whispered, “What…does
that mean?”

H’nbal took his hand and kissed it, “Whatever you want it to
mean, Will Graham.”

Will could barely see through his tears as he said, “You
won’t hurt me?”

H’nbal shook his head, “No one will harm you, or they will
have to answer to me.”

Will relaxed, fearful but not as much as he had been moments
before.

“The chain?”

H’nbal kissed his palm, rubbing his cheek against it as he
smiled. “I will not trust for it to be off so soon, but be a good pet and we
will see.”

Will nodded, shaking so badly but having no other choice.
“Okay. I…I’ll be good.”

H’nbal patted his head again and said with a smile, “I know
you will.”  

slashyrogue:

Twilight Zone Episode 42: Eye of the Beholder

Will woke up cold, darkness surrounding him and knowing that
this eleventh operation was going to be the last before they sent him away.

He turned, wincing and feeling the pain in his face knowing
that when they took the bandages off nothing would have changed again.

The doctor had told him that crying would only aggravate
this condition, his flesh was bad enough already to look at and he was sick of
seeing the pity and horror in people’s eyes when his hood opened just enough to
show the hideousness that was his face.

The doctor came in, he knew the steps by now, and the effort
put into not getting closer almost made him cry but his resolve kept the tears
in.

“Hello, Dr. Sutcliffe,” he said quietly, not turning the
man’s way.

“Hello, Will. I wasn’t thinking I’d see you again so soon.”

Will was shaking with anticipation for the bandages to be
off, but almost just as much for them not to be.

“I can’t take it anymore, living like this…this…monster.”

He heard a deep sigh and a single tear fell down his cheek
as the doctor said, “I’m sorry, the treatments have not worked thus far but we
hope to see results this time Will. I hope and pray we do. But you know this is
the last treatment you’re allowed until we take you to the sanctuary.”

Will nodded, “I know.”

“The people there are just like you, Will, you won’t have to
hide there.”

Will let out a breath and said, “Please just take off the
bandages.”

Dr. Sutcliffe said, “Actually, I have been informed that the
sanctuary is bringing a doctor of their own, just in the case this is just like
the other times.”

Will froze. “I don’t want another doctor.”

Dr Sutcliffe sighed again and put a hand on Will’s covered
arm. No one wanted to touch him, no one had ever touched him, but the doctor
was the only one who even tried to touch his covered body.

“You have no choice. I will return with him shortly, Will.
He is the best in this field, I promise you.”

“His name?”

“Dr. Lecter.”

Will turned the name over in his head, dread filling him at
seeing someone as hideous as him upon waking. His skin itched, he wanted to
tear off the bandages on his face but knew it could make things worse not
better.

When the footsteps returned and he heard the voice, “Hello,
Will,” he shivered, the accent not something he was used to but the doctor
didn’t sound as condescending as Sutcliffe had been.

“Hi. Dr. Lecter?”

A hand touched his own and Will shuddered, almost crying
out. He hadn’t been touched skin to skin since his parents had dropped him off
here at six years old and at thirty one he was aching for comfort. He grabbed
onto him and felt the hand holding his tighten.

“They should never have left you this long. It’s cruel to
punish us for being different.”

Will started to cry, “Oh please, take it off.”

The doctor let go slowly, making Will bite his lip to keep
from whining at the loss. He heard the cutting of scissors and felt light
entering his vision as the bandages were unwrapped.

“Even if this does not work, Will, you should never blame
yourself for being what you were born. I have never seen your face, but I do
not believe you to be the monster they make.”

Will sighed, “Do you wear a hood?”

He heard Dr. Lecter chuckle. “Why? To make them feel better?
If they fear me, that give me power over them that they do not have over me
does it not?”

Will laughed, “I nev…never thought of it that way.”

When the bandages were off and Will felt air on his skin, he
blinked, feeling his vision return slowly. The room started to come into focus
and he cried out, surprised at the sight before him.

“Dr. Lecter?”

The doctor took his hand and held it tightly, staring at
Will in wonder. “Will. Please, call me Hannibal.”

Will smiled, tears on his face. “It didn’t work, did it?”

Hannibal put a hand on his cheek and Will cried out, leaning
into the touch. “I am overjoyed that it did not. I have never seen anyone so
beautiful.”

Will broke down, rushing into Hannibal’s arms. “I’m not a
monster?”

Hannibal hugged him tightly, his hand at Will’s back the
comfort he had never expected to receive with a face that scared everyone else.

“If you a monster, then so am I. Monsters are powerful
things, Will, they snatch up fear and consume it. They take what they need
without regard for anyone or anything else. Remember, beauty is in the eye of
the beholder. We can be beautiful monsters together, Will.”

Will pulled back, smiling even through his tears. “I’d like
that. Oh, I’d really like that.”

Hannibal smiled, taking Will’s hand to his lips. “Come with
me to the Sanctuary?”

Will laughed as Dr. Sutcliffe came in, stopping at the
doorway with two nurses at his back. He smiled at them both, enjoying the looks
of disgust and horror on their faces.

“Will, I’m so sorry.”

Will took Hannibal’s hand in his. “I’m okay now, Doctor. I
finally know what I’m supposed to do.”

slashyrogue:

Twilight Zone episode 123:  Nightmare at 20,000 feet

Will hated airplanes.

He walked onto the plane and sat down, feeling sweat
dripping down his face even though they hadn’t yet taken off. Closing his eyes
he took a deep breath, letting out all the air at once just before a voice
asked, “Are you all right, sir?”

Will opened his eyes, blushing as he said, “I’m fine,”
putting on his belt and waiting with his hands clawing at the armrest just as
they took off into the air.

He was surprised by no one sitting near him, grateful that
he didn’t have to justify his fear with a stranger for the next few hours
though the flight attendants giving him looks of pity were enough.

They were flying for over an hour when Will saw movement on
the wing. He turned, looking out the window in surprised when he sees a man
standing on the furthest point of the wing, wiping off his suit and walking
towards him.

Will almost screams, hands over his mouth as he turns to
look at the attendants walking around. No one else seemed to notice, Will
staring back out the window with growing horror as the man got closer.

He hurriedly pressed the button above his head, nearly
jumping out of his skin as the attendant appeared, smiling at him with pity,
“Yes, sir, can I help you?”

Will wiped his face, biting his lip as he looked back at the
window and then at the woman in front of him. “There’s someone outside.”

The attendant smiled, looking like she wanted to laugh.
“Sir, I think you’re just seeing things. There is no one outside. We are 20,000
feet in the air.”

Will shook his head. “No! I saw him! He’s wearing a suit and
he’s coming closer! He’s…!”

She grabbed his arm, “Sir, calm yourself. Your fears are
getting the best of you. Please, just calm down. There is no one there.”

Will took his hand back and turned, staring out the window.

There was nothing there.

He sighed, relaxing all the once. “Maybe you’re right, I…I
could’ve sworn I saw someone.”

The attendant patted his hand and said softly, “I will get
you something to drink. Scotch?”

He nodded once and she left, Will closing his eyes as he
relaxed.

She returned a moment later and handed him the drink, Will
downing it all at once before attempting to close his eyes.

The tapping on the window was what woke him, Will
immediately tensing as he opened one eye and nearly screamed.

The man was staring at him from the outside, his smile
curious and when he waved Will moaned, hands over his face just as he
disappeared as quickly as he’d come.

Will screamed out, “HE’S OUTSIDE! I SEE HIM!”

Two attendants appeared as Will shot up, pointing out his
window and they strapped him down, just as the captain’s voice said, “Due to a
disturbance, we are going to have to land sooner. I apologize for the
inconvenience.”

Will moaned as they strapped him down, “No, he’s there! I saw him! I did!”

The attendants all glared, just as a new voice said, “I can
help sedate him, I am a doctor.”

Will could barely see for the sweat and tears in his eyes,
but he knew that face anywhere.

“No, no, no! It’s him! He was outside! He’s…!”

The man sat down beside him, looking impeccable for someone
who had been outside just moments before. He touched Will’s hand and was ice
cold, making Will moan just as he took out a needle to sedate him. “I am a
doctor, sir, I am only here to help.”

“I saw you,” Will moaned, his yelling softening, “I saw you.”

The man smiled, touching his face. “Yes, Will, you did, as
you were meant to. I have been looking for you, for so very long.”

Will’s eyes were closing as he mumbled, “Who are you?”

“I am the keeper of your heart, mylimasis, and I am here to
collect.”

Will felt himself drifting as the hand on his intertwined
their fingers together, “I don’t…”

He shivered when the stranger touched his face. “My name is
Hannibal, and I am going to take such good care of you.”

slashyrogue:

Twilight Zone Episode 73: It’s a Good Life

They were all afraid of him.

Will could feel the icy chill in the air when he entered a
room, listening in on thoughts and feelings but knowing that most of them were
false just irked him more.

He had been living here since birth, though his powers had
only manifested after he hit puberty, the horrible surprise when he’d wished
his mother away during a scolding right in front of his father’s eyes. Back then
he’d missed her, still did, but the older he got the more he knew she should’ve
been thinking better thoughts.

They all should.

Mr. Crawford, the sheriff and one of his father’s closest
friends, smiled at him fakely as he walked past him on the street. “Good
afternoon, Will. Fine day. Wonderful day.”

Will smiled, “I thought maybe we could do with some rain,”
Will said.

Mr. Crawford smiled brightly, seeming almost happy about
something in Will’s presence for once. “I think that’s a GREAT IDEA! Did you
tell your father?”

Will frowned. “It’s not HIS idea, is it?”

Mr. Crawford blanched, shaking his head. “No, of course not!
It’s yours! It’s a great one!”

Will stomped past, almost thinking that he should just take
back the thought even as the rain started to follow him towards his car.

That’s when he saw the stranger.

He was staring at Will with a smile, though when Will tried
to hear his thoughts he was surprised for the first time in thirty years of
existence.

This man could not be read.

Will tried harder, staring deeply at the stranger only to
have the man wink his way walking towards an expensive looking car.

That’s when Will followed him, almost running across the
street. He knocked on his car window, shaking with anger when the stranger took
forever to roll it down.

“Who are you?”

The stranger smiled, holding out his hand.

“Dr. Hannibal Lecter, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your
name?”

Will frowned. “Don’t you already know?”

Hannibal looked at him oddly. “Why would I know your name?”

Will blushed, swallowing as he said, “Everyone does. I…I’m
Will. Will Graham.”

Hannibal smiled, letting his hand drop as he put both hands
on the wheel. “It is a pleasure, Will. You are the first to approach me since
my arrival. I have taken over the practice Dr. Bloom left behind.”

Will started to say that Alana hadn’t left her practice
behind, she left because Will had wished her away just like his mother.

“Oh. That’s good, I guess.”

Hannibal looked at him for almost too long, “I think it is
very good, Will. Very, very good.”

Will licked his lips and swallowed as he asked, “Are you
sure you don’t know who I am?”

Hannibal shook his head. “Should I?”

Will smiled. “Maybe.”

“I hope to see you in my office soon, Will. Good day to
you.”

He pulled away and Will was almost sad, he had never been
talked so nicely since he was little. Walking back to his car he found himself
smiling, feeling warm and welcomed for the first time in so very long.

His father was surprised at his smile when he got home,
rolling up to Will in his chair as he asked, “What’s happened?”

Will blushed, “Nothing, Dad. It’s…just a good day.”

Robert Graham sighed with relief, “Nothing bad happen in
town?”

Will smiled, shaking his head. “No, I just…there’s someone
new.”

His father froze. “You didn’t…”

Will glared at him. “No, I didn’t do anything! God, why do
you always think I’m going to hurt someone! I don’t…I promised I wouldn’t do it
again if everyone was just good they were supposed to be!”

He saw the fear in his father’s face and almost reveled in
it, though Will knew he shouldn’t.

It wasn’t good.

“I know, boy, I know. It’s good that you didn’t do nothing
to no one. It’s very good.”

Will stalked past him up to his room, falling on the bed
with a sigh.

He remembered Hannibal’s smile and no fear in his eyes.

Today was a very good day.

Hello, Happy New Year! I absolutely love your Twilight Zone AUs, and was wondering if you would do another? If I could request one, would you be able to write one for either “The Hitchhiker” or “The Lonely”? If you don’t want to I understand. Thanks!

slashyrogue:

I couldn’t find the right pictures and  this one really kicked my ass so here it is. I really hope you like it anyway? 

Twilight Zone Episode 16: The Hitchhiker

As he left the scene of his tableau, Hannibal took off his
plastic suit, throwing each part in the trunk and cracking his neck. It was
late, he’d had to drive five hours out of his way to kill this Dr. Derek
Draver, but the man was perfect for this particular message to the FBI and it
would throw off Jack Crawford more so than ever before.

He smiled to himself, getting behind the wheel and starting
to drive towards home.  

Looking at the dashboard clock he saw it was four thirty, he
felt himself tiring but kept alert and awake as he drove, seeing no other cars
in the road. He was driving for thirty minutes when the dog ran out in front of
him, causing him to veer off and nearly smash into a tree though he turned away
at the last moment, slamming on the break and taking a breath.

The dog ran off into the woods, Hannibal considering going
after the mangy thing in retaliation but thinking better of it. He had no idea
who could be lurking out in these woods, who might see him.

He started to drive and heard the tire making a noise,
indicating that he’d run over something. Flat, obviously, and when he saw light
up ahead indicating a gas station it was almost a relief.

Hannibal pulled the car into the gas station lot, parking as
close as possible and heading for the trunk to get his spare. That was when he
saw the hitchhiker for the first time.

He was young, mid-twenties by the looks of him, looking
bedraggled and hungry enough for a ride from anyone. Hannibal could not see his
face clearly but found himself wanting to, the cardboard sign he held illegible
from this distance as well.

Shaking himself he changed the tire, eager to get this night
over with and be home to read the article on Tattle Crime’s site in the
morning. When he looked over at the spot the young hitchhiker had been in,
Hannibal was almost happy to see him still there.

Not knowing what impulse drove him to do it, he drove
towards him and rolled down his window. “Where are you headed?”

The young man came closer and Hannibal saw through the mess
of curls on his head, he had beautiful blue eyes and was probably older than he
originally thought. Closer to thirty, than twenty, and when he smiled, Hannibal
fought for breath.

“Baltimore.”

Hannibal smiled. “What a coincidence, that is where I am
headed as well.”

The young man slung his bag over one shoulder and opened the
passenger door, sliding into the seat beside him. He shivered, “Thank you, sir,
it’s been…a long night.”

Hannibal took his bag and threw it behind them, feeling
slightly colder than he had before though he rolled up the windows and turned
up the heat. “You are quite welcome. Your name?”

“Will,” he said, buckling his belt as he looked at Hannibal
again.

Hannibal drove off towards home, feeling better than had
earlier though the chill was nearly getting worse as they drove. The car’s
heater was up almost completely, and he saw Will shiver beside him.

“So, what business do you have in Baltimore?”

Will never seemed to look away from him. “Going home, hoping
to…take something home with me.”

Hannibal frowned, trying to interpret the words and instead
saying, “Something, or someone?”

Will laughed. “I’m not sure yet.”

The next two hours were very well spent, Hannibal had never
gotten along with someone so quickly and Will had a lot to say. They spoke of
literature, life, and surprisingly death. The young man seemed equally
fascinated with death and suffering as Hannibal himself was, almost to the
point of making Hannibal think he was driving with a fellow hunter.

They were an hour away from home when he turned on the
radio, the classical music making Will cringe. “Not a fan?” Hannibal smiled,
seeing the twitch that Will made hearing it.

Will shook his head. “Not really, no. I’m all for classic
rock.”

Hannibal turned the channel, playing a popular FM station
much to Will’s delight as he sang along with whatever was playing.

“Will, may I make a personal query?”

Will froze, and Hannibal looked over to see him lick his
lips. “Depends on what you want to ask.”

“How old are you?”

Will smiled, shaking his head. “Now, now, Doctor, I don’t
think I should tell you that one.”

Hannibal frowned, not remembering when he’d told Will he was
a doctor. He must have, if he’d brought it up. When he music was interrupted
and an announcer cut in, Will almost turned off the radio but Hannibal stopped
him, his hand over Will’s own the deathly chill he felt making him grab Will’s
hand completely.

“Will?”

‘CHESAPEAKE RIPPER RIPS AGAIN AND FOR THE LAST TIME! The
body of what is now known as the very last Chesapeake Ripper victim, Dr. Derek
Draver, was found hours ago and not far from his home the body of what is now
known as the Chesapeake Ripper himself, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, was found in the
wreckage of his vehicle containing the tools of the Ripper’s trade.
Authorities…’

Hannibal stared at Will, who looked sad and reached over to
turn off the radio.

“I’m sorry.”

“You…you…”

Will squeezed their hands together, “I…I was trying to make
it easier, you…you didn’t want to go and I just…I’m sorry.”

Hannibal let go of his hand, snarling as he realized that
this was all make believe. This entire thing was a concocted fantasy that Will,
Death he was death, had given him.

“How long have I been gone?”

“About six hours. The…Hannibal, I just…”

Hannibal got out of the car, staring at it hard until he saw
the details change, the front end smashed and if he looked hard enough he knew
that seeing his own body would not be hard.

He felt a cold hand on his once more, and looked at Will,
who seemed to be more upset than Hannibal himself felt. “Why did you stay with
me so long?”

Will looked away, blushing as he confessed, “I…I liked you.
I didn’t want to send you off.”

Hannibal reached over to touch his cheek, the chill through
his fingers less now that he knew they were both quite dead. “I like you as
well.”

Will smiled, “I…you could…help? I…could always use another
pair of eyes.”

Hannibal smiled, caressing his cheek. “I am not known for my
comforting skills, Will, with me by your side I confess sending others to their
afterlife would not be as sweet.”

Will’s smile turned dark as he whispered, “It isn’t supposed
to be sweet for killers, I just…I didn’t want to scare you.”

“There is nothing that can scare me, little one.”

Hannibal leaned in and pressed his forehead to Will’s own,
surprised when the man in front of him aged another ten years his appearance
even more handsome than Hannibal had thought it before. “You are a vision,”
Hannibal praised, making Will turn away and smile.

“Thank you, and no longer so little. I really don’t want to
send you on. Please, stay with me?”

Hannibal reached out to take Will’s hand once more, bringing
it to his lips.

“No one should face eternity alone, especially one as
beautiful as you.”

Will smiled, squeezing their hands together. “C’mon, I’ll
show you what it’s really like when they deserve what’s coming to them.”

Hannibal smiled, looking at Will with brand new eyes. “Lead
the way.”