Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/6797974.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Hannibal_(TV), Adam_(2009), Charlie_Countryman_(2013), Hannibal_Extended
      Universe_-_Fandom
  Relationship:
      Will_Graham/Hannibal_Lecter, Nigel_(Charlie_Countryman)/Adam_Raki
  Character:
      Will_Graham, Hannibal_Lecter, Nigel_(Charlie_Countryman), Adam_Raki, Adam
      Raki's_Father, Nigel's_parents, Mischa_Lecter, Bedelia_Du_Maurier, Alana
      Bloom
  Additional Tags:
      tagged_as_underage_as, Teen_AU, all_characters_are_high_school_seniors,
      adding_tags_as_I_go, Unexpected_Visitors, Fluff_and_Angst, First_Time,
      Rimming, Blow_Jobs, Implied_Sexual_Content, Hand_Jobs, Teen_Angst, Hurt/
      Comfort, I_Love_You, date, Family_Issues, Angry_Sex, Anal_Fingering, Anal
      Sex, Gentle_Sex, Texting, Masturbation, discussing_sex_toys, Family
      Dinners, apology_letter, Heartbreak, One_Big_Happy_Family, Manipulation,
      School_Dances, Bedelia_is_a_nasty_bitch, Alana_is_in_the_wrong_place_at
      the_wrong_time, Mischa_is_fierce, Family_Drama, Count_Lecter_is_such_a
      dick, everyone_wants_to_run_away, Reunions, what_is_it_with_airports?,
      Eventual_Happy_Ending, winter_formal
  Series:
      Part 2 of Senior_Year_-_Spacedogs/Hannigram_Teen_AU
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-05-09 Completed: 2016-05-15 Chapters: 6/6 Words: 26538
****** Strangers Who Visit ******
by TigerPrawn
Summary
     The Winter Formal is approaching - Nigel and Adam have been together
     2 months and they are taking things slow but Nigel's parents don't
     approve. Will and Hannibal find Hannibal's family increasingly
     unhappy with their son's relationship... for reasons that will become
     clear!
     As you can imagine there are slightly sexually frustrated teenagers
     all over the place!
Notes
     I'm posting this as I write, and I'm also working on other fics and
     an original story at the moment too - so I might post this daily, or
     it might be weekly - depends on when I have time and inspiration :D
***** Adventures in loving *****
Will jumped awake, realising he was nodding off. An amused if put-upon noise
from Hannibal.
“Sorry, sorry…”
“Mmhmm.” Hannibal gave him a smirk in reply but didn’t put down his pencil.
Will ached. When he had stretched out on the rug he truly thought it would be a
comfortable position. But it turned out no position was comfortable when forced
to hold it for any length of time. When the aching wasn’t quite so bad, the
warmth from the fire and dim lighting had him nodding off only to jerk awake
when the ache returned.
When Hannibal had asked him to pose nude so he could draw him - to perfect his
ability to sketch the human form in pencil. For science - Will had thought it
would be… sexy. It wasn’t.
Earlier that day, Will’s dad had left for work and Hannibal had snuck out of
his own home to pick up Will. It was Friday night and he was hoping to get away
with spending the whole weekend with Hannibal in Baltimore - even though it had
meant Hann lying to his parents. As time passed they seemed to be less and less
happy with Will being in Hannibal’s life. Even Mischa seemed to be drawing back
from him a little - keeping her distance, perhaps her parents had told her to.
Will had never been allowed to stay over but now the Count seemed less than
happy about Will coming over at any time at all. And of course it was
completely forbidden for the boys to spend the night together anywhere.
That night in the hotel after Homecoming, Will had hoped would be the first of
many. That Hann’s parents were letting up a bit. But if anything it worked the
other way. They were even more insistent that the boys be low key. They never
said it, and if Hann knew he never voiced it, but Will was pretty sure his
parents wanted them to break up. Will wasn’t sure what he had done to earn the
disdain of the family - he’d always been polite and pleasant. Which wasn’t
always easy because Hann’s parents could be a bit much and Will, as Bev often
told him, could be a little bitch. They had been super nice when he first met
them, but once they realised that he was more than a friend, and then as he
didn’t disappear over time but grew closer to their son, they seemed less
pleased with him. Maybe it was a snob thing - Hann’s mum had this look of
barely hidden disdain on her face when Will told them his dad was a mechanic, a
specialist in certain engines though really so pretty skilled. But even so that
didn’t seem to be the appropriate background for the future Count’s paramour.
Hann had seen the look and spoke quickly in Lithuanian and then took Will home.
He had told his mum off for being rude. That had been early on and they had
been civil since, other than this growing coldness as time passed.
When Will told his dad he and Hann were going to Baltimore for the weekend the
old man had smiled and said “so, drive safe… And don’t touch any liquor.” All
seriousness, but then he grinned like a cheshire cat as he threw a box of
condoms to Will. Will had gone so red he thought his face might melt. Hannibal
had laughed when Will had told him.
So the weekend had arrived and Hannibal told his parents he was going to visit
a university campus for an open day. He said his parents had wanted to come
along but Hannibal had put them off by saying that he didn’t want the attention
his dad’s presence especially would draw, so wanted to go alone and
anonymously. They had agreed and in a show of true press management, his dad
had planned to take his mother for a nice dinner in the city that evening in
order to hopefully draw any paparazzi away.
It was true, Hannibal was registered on the open day at John Hopkins with Will
as his guest. And so Hannibal had rented a cabin for the weekend in a place
called Wolf Trap - an hour or so drive from the university. As soon as he had
seen the open fire he had insisted that they light it and that Will pose for
the sketch. Explaining that because the university was interested in him
because of the anatomical sketches he had included in his application, it was a
necessity to hone that skill.
In truth Will had been all too eager. Stripping down as Hannibal lit the fire
and then bewildered and not at all amused when Hannibal - after gently posing
Will on his front atop the thick rug in front of the fire - actually did take
up a sketch pad and begin to draw. When he first took up his pencil Hannibal
had started describing what he was drawing, what he was seeing -
“The smooth curve of your buttocks against the backdrop of the fire, the long
line of your back, ever so slightly arched. Your hair curling at your neck…”
Will smiled at the soothing tone and that was the first part of the night he
had had to struggle to stay awake. It was only Hannibal suddenly stopping and
clearing his throat that woke Will before he could truly nod off.
“You ok Hann?” Will asked, turning his head that he rested on arms crossed in
front of him, see he could see the boy.
The look in Hannibal’s eyes was hungry and he had cleared his throat again
before saying. “I think I should continue in silence for now… I think I would
find it less… arousing.”
Will had chuckled and wiggled his bum.
“Will, stay still if you please.” Hannibal had admonished.
“You can draw me anytime, let’s make the most of being alone.” Will had
replied, propping himself up on one elbow.
“Not naked, not like this.” Hannibal corrected. “I would like this, I want a
picture of you that I can look upon when we’re not together.”
That hung in the air for a long moment before Will, with both hesitation and
amusement asked “Hannibal… are you drawing yourself some porn of me?”
There was absolutely no outward sign of embarrassment, and Will knew better
than to even think that his boyfriend might be embarrassed. Hannibal instead
just smiled enigmatically. Will had laughed and resumed his posing.
That felt like hours ago now and Will had nodded off more times than he could
count. This time when he awoke there was a weight pressed against his thighs.
Blinking sleep from his eyes he lifted his head and looked over his shoulder to
find Hannibal was now also naked and straddling the backs of his thighs. Will
Graham was suddenly very hard in the way that only a 17 year old boy could get
instantly hard. He let out a groan.
“Hann… what…”
Hannibal shushed him and began laying gentle kisses at the base of his spine
whilst he moved further down his legs. He nudged Will’s legs apart and nestled
between them, Will’s breath hitching with each light kiss. Hannibal broke away
for a moment.
“In the spirit of not wasting this time together… there is something I’d like
to try, if you’ll permit me?” His voice was rough with arousal. Between that
and the accent Will so loved, he had Will grinding into the rug below, seeking
friction.
Will licked his lips, swallowed in an attempt to soothe his dry throat and then
nodded, emphatically. He looked back enough to see Hannibal smile, watch - and
feel - as the boy pushed his thighs apart, spread his buttocks and lowered his
mouth.
“Holy fuck!” Will cried. The movement of Hannibal’s tongue between his cheeks
making him arch up off the rug.
He heard Hannibal chuckle.
*
Nigel’s parents were at the club. They were currently a little understaffed and
so they both were needed there Friday and Saturday nights when it was
especially busy. On nights such as this, Adam stayed over. His parents, he was
sure and certainly hoped, did not know. Mr Raki always knew - he made a point
of that so that he knew he didn’t need to worry about Adam.
His parents had met Adam a few times and it had been weird. First they were
surprised by Adam, thought he was a little odd and not at all Nigel’s type.
Then when they got to know Adam a little better, but not well enough to scratch
beyond the surface of his quirks, they worried Nigel was actually taking
advantage and were angry at their son. They had sat him down after Adam had
left one day and told him they thought they should stop seeing each other -
that clearly Adam was too young, naive, special to really understand what they
were doing. They’d fucking used the word special! Nigel stormed off, angry and
ended up spending the night at Adam’s. They hadn’t spent any time at Nigel’s
place after that, unless his parents were out. Mr Raki, as far as Nigel was
concerned, was an awesome guy. Not only was he welcoming and friendly with
Nigel - had even told him how good he had been for Adam - but he was cool with
them being together. He knew Adam was safe when he was with Nigel.
They grabbed a snack and went up to Nigel’s room. They had eaten, watched TV
and then ended up cuddled up on the bed together. It was comfortable and Nigel
enjoyed it. He absolutely wanted more from Adam when Adam was ready, but in the
meantime he actually found this really nice. With people in the past he had
never gone slow, and neither had they - some of them were quite determined in
wanting something from him - usually to piss off their parents. So much so that
he hadn’t realised until Adam that there had been many times where he had gone
too far and/or too fast but never said anything. He was the bad boy after all -
it wasn’t necessarily about image, more that he figured you just didn’t
complain about stuff like that - especially when it seemed to be expected of
you. So Adam then was the only person he had truly been intimate with even
though he wasn’t the first he’d had sex with.
Not that they had had sex. So far there had been kissing. Lots of kissing. And
it was so good. Adam was just a curious being and that curiosity extended to
everything including exploring his mouth. It also included being curious about
Nigel’s body and how it differed from his own - so yes, they had been naked
together lots. Just Nigel at first, and that had only started with topless and
then just underwear and so on as Adam explored each new part with his hands. It
had taken him a while to get up the nerve to start taking his clothes off as
well, and letting Nigel touch him, as innocent as all the touches were.
Sometimes it was fine, other times it was too much for him, but Nigel let Adam
guide it. Now though, two months on from their first kiss, this evening was
different.
As they had sat watching TV, over the course of an hour or so, Adam had been
removing items of clothing. He probably thought he was being subtle about it
too, at which Nigel hid a snigger and of course said nothing about the loss of
the clothes. In the end Adam was topless and then, realising he could no longer
be subtle, he stood and took off his trousers before sitting back on the bed in
just his cute little underpants - covered in spaceships (where the hell did
Adam get these things?) - and white socks. He said nothing but moved back next
to Nigel on the bed. Nigel was still playing oblivious - this seemed to work
best for Adam.
And then Adam’s hands were on him. Without saying anything Adam started to
unbutton Nigel’s shirt. Despite his heart rate picking up the pace Nigel
remained silent and didn’t even look away from the television. When the shirt
was unbuttoned Adam pulled it open, exposing Nigel’s chest - puberty had been
kind enough to already bestow abundant chest hair that held no end of
fascination for the almost completely hairless Adam. Adam lay down, curling up
next to Nigel with his head on Nigel’s chest. Nigel acknowledged the situation
at that point - bringing a hand up to play in the curls on Adam’s head. They
sat like that a long while, both content, until Nigel realised Adam was
becoming a little restless. Before he could think of how to phrase a question,
aware that he didn’t want to spook Adam who might be feeling vulnerable now he
was so naked, Adam’s hand moved to his crotch.
Nigel hadn’t realised he was holding his breath until he had to let it out.
Lithe fingers started to undo his jeans, and Nigel felt his heart racing and
his lungs working overtime. It was all he could do not to move as his cock
started to harden.
Adam was focused, single minded a lot of the time. Like now. So it was a
surprise when he suddenly stopped just as Nigel thought he was going to pull
him free of the jeans. He didn’t look at Nigel when he spoke but Nigel smiled
seeing his ears redden with the blush that must cover his face -
“I want to try something… I saw it, um, I have a dvd I bought from the internet
and it… there are two men and they… I want to…”
“Darling, you can try anything you like. You just do whatever you’re
comfortable with…” He might have said more but the words were strangled off as
Adam did then free him from his jeans and sank his mouth down on his now
totally hard cock.
*
Two weeks before, Adam had ordered a dvd from the internet. Curious. He and
Nigel had kissed and they had sort of touched themselves, intimately, and each
other not quite as intimately. Nigel was so wonderful - he took things at
Adam’s speed and was never angry or frustrated with him as people sometimes
were. But he was also discovering a new kind of wonderful. Nigel’s body was
wonderful - so different from his own. The sounds Nigel made when he was turned
on were wonderful. The way he touched Adam was wonderful. The way he made Adam
feel…
But it was all becoming not enough. Adam knew that if he knew more, had an idea
of what might happen next then he would be a lot calmer about the whole thing -
hopefully feel less overwhelmed. In that way the dvd had been educational,
though Adam wasn’t completely sure how realistic it was considering that the
stars all seemed very unreal. All muscles and shiny bodies that seemed more
cartoonish than anything. And he was pretty sure that a plumber would never
turn up dressed in so little and then have sex with their client. He couldn’t
decide whether it would be good or bad for business, concluding that it
probably depended on the both the client and the severity of the leak.
Plumbing aside, the men had used hands and mouths and then they had sex and
Adam wondered what any and all of that would be like with Nigel. It had taken a
while to get up his nerve, but he was in no doubt of the right decision made
when he tasted Nigel and heard Nigel moan. Inexperience stopped him being able
to make Nigel cum, which on reflection he was glad of because in the dvd it
always seemed to go over the men’s faces and Adam was sure he wouldn’t like the
mess of it. Instead when Adam’s jaw ached and Nigel pulled him close, Nigel had
intended for them to stop. But it seemed so silly to come so far and not end in
completion so he had put his hand on Nigel then. Nigel had protested at first
but then wrapped his own hand over Adam’s and began moving them - sliding up
and down. All the while he was kissing Adam and holding him tight with his
other arm. So tight that when he did finally cum over both their hands, he
squeezed Adam tighter still.
“Nigel!” He managed to squeak and was immediately released with both apologies
and thanks and then pulled into more kisses.
“Darling! You are just… where did you…” Nigel was funny and wonderful when he
was lost for words. Adam wanted to make that happen again and often. He felt
calm and relaxed - a reflection of how Nigel was feeling. He managed to last a
whole five minutes before he absolutely had to wash his hands. Nigel had come
with him to the bathroom and they had cleaned up together before returning to
the bed. Nigel shucked off his jeans and they both lay in their underwear
holding each other.
In the morning Adam woke up with Nigel draped over him and felt comforted by
it. He wondered what it would be like to wake like that every day. He felt
emboldened by the events the night before and wanted to explore further but
worried about the time. The club closed at 4am but Nigel’s parents would be
there until at least 6am clearing up. He could just see the clock from his
pinned position and it was almost 7am.
“Nigel!” Adam whispered loudly. “Nigel, it’s almost 7!”
Nigel stirred a little and let out an unhappy sound - he obviously didn’t plan
to wake up anytime soon. Adam shoved against him but was unable to move him.
Though now he did stir but only to pull Adam into a kiss which he found himself
melting into. He wanted to pull back and tell Nigel he had to go, he must not
have set his alarm and had to go before Nigel’s parents got home.
Nigel let out a long low moan as Adam’s hands began exploring him…
The door opened suddenly and Nigel’s mother was in the doorway. Both boys,
dressed only in underwear and both clearly aroused, jumped out of the bed.
After a moment of surprise, Nigel’s mum started speaking quickly and angrily in
Romanian. Nigel answered back as quickly and angrily until everything went
quiet. Adam stood, shaking at the sudden confrontation. He hadn’t realised he
was running hands up and down his arms in a calming fashion until Nigel caught
hold of him. Adam wasn’t certain of anything else in the room at that point.
Nigel held him tight and spoke soothing words.
Slowly he started to feel more in control but before he could totally ground
himself, Nigel’s mum spoke in a strong accent - “What is the telephone number
for your parents? We have much to discuss.”
*
Hannibal had a stiff neck when he woke up. It was a bit chilly and he was at an
awkward angle. It took him a few minutes to realise, in the semi darkness,
where he was. He was spooned up next to Will on the rug in front of the fire -
now just burning embers - in the cabin he had hired for the weekend. There was
a perfectly good bed in the cabin, although the patterns on the linen he could
only describe, politely, as quaint. He felt Will stir beside him with a groan
so pulled him close.
“I ache!” Will groaned.
“This rug is thinner than it first seems. My bones are weary too.” Hannibal
kissed Will’s shoulder.
Will laughed. “Yeah that too, but that wasn’t the ache I was talking about.”
Hannibal joined in the laugh as he ran a hand lightly up Will’s side.”Come, we
have a full weekend ahead.”
He wasn’t wrong. The days they spent at the university and exploring the city.
Hannibal had already been accepted to study medicine and this was his favoured
option so far and it was nice to get acquainted with the place. The evenings
they spent in the cabin - in front of the fire or in the bedroom, making the
most of the time together.
“I can’t wait until we leave home. Just think how great it will be to be here,
together. When you’re at John Hopkins and I’m at the Law School. Well, not
together as in living together, but we would be able to see each other. Stay
over. Wake up together. Spend all night fucking.”
A raised eyebrow from Hannibal and a scolding “language Will!”, though he knew
Will had said it for that exact reason - to get a reaction.
Will laughed. “Well, what would you call it Hannibal… when you have me pinned
to the bed, buried deep… thrusting…”
“Will!” equally admonishment and the need for Will to stop. They were driving
home now and Hannibal was not happy to spend the entire journey painfully
aroused, especially as they would now no longer be a position to indulge each
other again for a while. His parents were becoming ever displeased with him but
he didn’t dare try and explain to Will. He would rather resolve it with his
parents - make them see sense. Make them understand they would not give each
other up.
With the heavy heart of someone who had spent a weekend experiencing the best
kind of love to have it taken away until some unknown time, Hannibal drove Will
home. They said goodbye on the doorstep - kissing deeply until it was Will who
finally broke - a sad look on his face -
“Enough… I… I want more and I can’t have it again for now so… let’s just…”
There was anger there too, though not directed at Hannibal, he knew that.
Frustration at the situation that mirrored his own. He knew well too that
Will’s feelings were the same as his own - that it was becoming almost too
painful to be around each other when they were unable to be with each other in
totality.
He would speak with his parents again. Enough was enough.
One last chaste kiss shared. Will’s eyes a little wet as they broke apart. He
retreated into the house quickly and Hannibal took no offence at it.
The drive to his house seemed over in a blink of an eye. He parked and went
into the house, finding his parents in the sitting room. This was it. Nerves
ate at him, not because he doubted what he was about to do, but knowing it
could forever damage his relationship with his parents, his whole family.
“Mother, father.” He greeted them with a small and courteous bow. “I have
something I need to say…”
He was cut off by his father’s hand raised to halt him. Out of habit he did
stop and then inwardly cursed himself, but before he could continue his father
spoke.
“Hannibal, I will not ask if my suspicions over your trip this weekend are
founded.” In Lithuanian - the use of it denoting the serious nature of this
talk. “It is of no matter now. You have always known that your… friend… is not
acceptable. You chose to pursue this despite knowing it could go nowhere.”
“Father, I love hi-”
The same hand raised again. “Enough of this now. Put away your boyhood fancies,
you are to be a man soon. With all that entails.”
Hannibal was about to respond again when his mother spoke gently.
“Please Hannibal, don’t make this harder for yourself. Bedelia is coming to
visit.”
***** Parental Expectations *****
Chapter Summary
     Both Nigel and Hannibal have to deal with the respective parent's
     issues with their relationships. Both Nigel and Hannibal have
     revelations for their boyfriends, one parts fluff to one part angst.
Chapter Notes
     Please please please remember my darling readers - There will always
     be fluff with my angst and I am yet to not deliver on a happy ending
     :D Which is my way of saying things are about to get a bit angsty!! :
     -/ <3
Mr Raki arrived quickly at Nigel’s family home. Nigel had called him, explained
the situation in brief, and that Adam was ok - but that obviously didn’t stop
the guy rushing over which was understandable.
Nigel’s mum, Adam’s dad, Nigel and Adam sat around the dining table. Adam was
between his dad and Nigel and he was not doing great. Nigel held his hand under
the table, stroking a thumb over the back of his hand. Nigel’s mum didn’t look
angry but she was clearly concerned.
“It is lovely to finally meet you.” Mr Raki smiled. “My Adam thinks quite a lot
of your son and I’ve grown fond of him myself.” the smile turned to Nigel and
Nigel smiled back. He hadn’t been able to tell Mr Raki everything over the
phone but enough that he knew his parents had a problem. And he knew Mr Raki
would understand that.
“Mr Raki.” through his mother’s thick accent he could hear her exasperation “I
am concerned that this is not a healthy relationship. Adam is clearly…” she
searched for a word and Nigel felt himself tense with anxiety and anger over
what she might chose. She cleared her throat “he is very young.”
“He’s 17, almost 18” Nigel interjected. There was barely a year between them.
“Nigel, don’t make this harder than it must be.” She glared at him. “I love
you, but you are… you have been in a lot of trouble and I don’t want more for
you. You should not take advantage of this boy, he doesn’t know what he’s
doing…”
Nigel’s face was red with anger and he had to bite his tongue to stop himself
shouting, instead trying to phrase what he wanted to say in his head first so
that he didn’t just make it worse. Adam had taught him that - Nigel wasn’t
always great at self control and Adam was very patient in getting him to think
before he spoke when he was angry. It had resulted in a lot less detentions at
school.
“That’s not -” Nigel started through grit teeth but was interrupted.
Mr Raki cleared his throat and smiled gently at both boys before turning to
Nigel’s mum. “I think I understand your concerns here. I understand that you
think Nigel is taking advantage of Adam, and I need to tell you that that is
not the case. My son is not stupid, nor a child. He is different, yes, but he’s
not easily taken advantage of and I would certainly know if that was the case.
I understand your concerns because I share them, I am always concerned about
Adam as any parent is for their child, and I have never felt less concerned or
felt that Adam was more safe than when he is with your son.”
Nigel felt a tug in his chest, bolstered by the faith Mr Raki had in him. Adam
squeezed his hand but was shivering a little.
Nigel’s mum seemed exasperated as though she knew better than Mr Raki. That
galled Nigel, though not as much as the fact that his parents clearly thought
he was some sort of predator or something fucked up like that, that he would
take advantage of Adam.
“I hope you can see my view. Nigel needs to concentrate on finishing school, he
cannot afford to get into trouble for -”
Adam spoke up, blurting out his interruption - “Nigel’s grades have improved,
I’ve been helping him and he hasn’t been in trouble since the Freddies.”
Nigel smiled, touched by his little spaceman coming to his defence. And he
wasn’t wrong. Nigel was never going to be a straight A student but with Adam’s
help his grades had improved and he was getting into a lot less trouble. With
school being the main place they would spend time together - it proved one hell
of an incentive not to get suspended when it meant less time with Adam.
Nigel’s mum slammed her hand onto the table in frustration “Neither of you know
Nigel as well as his own mother, you would surely agree…”
Nigel was glad that she stopped. It had been years since he had got on well
with his parents, for which he knew he had a lot of the blame with all the shit
he would get up to. But it hurt that their relationship was now so far passed
bad that she couldn’t think anything but the worst of him. What hurt more was
Adam’s reaction - he had been on the edge of something the whole time so the
hand slamming on the table was enough to push him over that edge. He was now
rocking and running his hands up his arms. Both Mr Raki and Nigel went for him
at the same time and Mr Raki immediately stopped, let Nigel step in.
Nigel pulled Adam out of his chair and into his lap, holding him close to his
chest and muttering gently - “It’s ok baby.”
Adam bit down on his lower lip and Nigel knew it was his way of holding back
the words he might say - calming little mantras that he was holding back in
front of Nigel’s mum. Nigel ran his hands up and down Adam’s back whilst still
holding him to his chest. It passed in a couple of short minutes but the way
Nigel could feel his mother watching them, made it seem much longer. Adam
finally moved his arms up around Nigel’s neck and just clung to him, his breath
evening out.
Nigel buried his face in the crook of Adam’s neck for a minute before looking
up at his mum.
“I know you don’t understand, I know he’s different and you’re worried. But I’m
good for him, he’s good for me. I love him.”
There was a small whimper from Adam who then slowly pulled back to look at
Nigel with wide eyes. He hadn’t said that before, he was sure Adam knew it, but
then Adam wasn’t great at reading people. Adam let out a bark of laughter and
then buried his face back against Nigel who was grinning.
Mr Raki let out a low chuckle, but looking over at his mother, she was clearly
not amused. If anything she looked confused and unhappy. Maybe they were an odd
pair, even to those who knew them.
“I think I should Adam home.”
“Nigel, we have not finished this discussion.” his mother said firmly. She
seemed bewildered by what had just happened.
“It’s ok… I’m ok now.” Adam said, pulling away from Nigel at the same time as
holding onto him tightly.
“We’ll head off, let you two talk about this.” Mr Raki first addressed Nigel
and then turned to his mother as he rose and coaxed Adam from Nigel’s arms. “If
you would like to discuss this further at all, if you want more information on
anything, please feel free to call me.” He smiled.
Nigel reluctantly let go of Adam whose face held more emotion than he had ever
seen before - a smile beaming at the same time as a creased forehead where
there was still tension. This wasn’t exactly the way he had wanted to tell Adam
he loved him, but he let himself enjoy the reaction anyway.
After the Rakis had left, Nigel sat back down and took a breath in order to
remain calm.
“I wish you could understand that I would never hurt him.”
“Nigel… He’s vulnerable, can’t you see that. What happens if…”
“If what? What do you expect to happen? What little do you think of me that you
think I would use him or take advantage.”
“Are you sleeping together? Having sex?” Her tone betrayed the fact that she
already knew the answer.
In truth he wanted to groan, he wanted to have the same half embarrassed
reaction he had had when his parents had asked the same thing when he was with
Gabi. But he was younger then, and if ever there was a need to act like an
adult in order to ensure he was taken seriously, it was now.
“We’ve been… intimate. And all at Adam’s pace and request.” He kept his tone
matter of fact. If this is what it took to get his parents on side with this he
was willing to be embarrassed and uncomfortable.
She seemed to think for a moment and then - “What happened before, was that a
panic attack? Does that happen often.”
Nigel breathed out and with it went a lot of the tension he was holding within.
To have his mother genuinely asking and being interested rather than just
dismissing their relationship, was all he could hope for.
“Sort of.” He didn’t want to mention that it could often be worse. “He has this
thing called Asperger’s Syndrome. It makes it hard for him to be around people
sometimes and sometimes he doesn’t really understand people especially if they
are speaking with metaphors. I know to people who don’t know him it can make
him seem child-like, but he’s not. He’s smart and kind and gentle and sweet.
He’s kept me out of trouble, helped me study, stuck zup for me. I don’t
understand how this happened between us, I don’t know why he chose me, but I do
know it makes me the luckiest person alive.”
When he looked up his mum had a sort of lopsided smile. A look on her face that
he hadn’t seen directed at him for many years, not since he started to act out.
“Dragă, you are very good with him. Perhaps you are just the sort of person he
needs.” A full smile now that caught Nigel off guard.
“Um, thanks.” Now he did feel a little embarrassed, but he’d survive.
*
Hannibal was quiet for a moment.
“Did you hear your mother?” The Count was clearly annoyed. “You knew this day
would come Hannibal and yet you insisted on leading on this poor boy. I would
not have expected you to act so irresponsibly.”
“I love him.” Hannibal said plainly but quietly.
“Then I am sorry for you both, but it changes nothing.”
Hannibal was quiet, unsure he could talk through the tightness in his throat.
Could he really throw over the traditions of his family, the arrangements his
parents had made with his future happiness in mind - earn the indifference of
his parents - for Will? Of course he could.
“It changes everything.” Hannibal said “I will not give Will up.”
At that the Count was on his feet and Hannibal knew he wanted to strike him but
wouldn’t, he would never raise a finger to any of them and yet, when angry, he
was coiled tight as though waiting to be unleashed. Hannibal had inherited the
same trait but hid it well under an exterior cooler than even his father's. The
count paused and calmed himself.
“Hannibal.” His name sighed out. “I know you think this is something you can
negotiate, but it is not. It is not just your happiness at stake. Think of
Mischa.”
That cut into him.
“Bedelia is coming for the arrangements to be finalised, and then you will
return home and be married in Lithuania. You will live there for a year before
you can return and take up your studies - if you still choose to.” No malice,
just plain facts. Hannibal knew his father hoped he would change his mind and
would embrace the position he would inherit. “Hannibal…” his name said kindly
as his father stepped close and placed his hand at the back of his neck in a
comforting gesture. “This betrothal was arranged in your infancy, you knew this
to be inevitable - your duty. You should never have taken up with this boy.”
“I fell in love with him.” Hannibal said softly. He had fallen in love with
Will almost the moment he had met him. He couldn’t imagine his future without
him, much less one with a woman he barely knew. He had only met Bedelia a
handful of times, and all those being formal occasions. He hadn’t allowed
himself to think of the betrothal at first. This wasn’t the middle ages,
families surely need not marry their children off to each other to secure
alliances.
“I’m sorry father, I won’t marry her.” Slightly louder now but just as soft in
tone.
The Count pulled away. “Do you think that is an option?” His tone was loving,
caring. Hannibal knew his father didn’t want to hurt him as much as he didn’t
want to hurt his parents. “Hannibal if you do not marry her then on my death
all will pass to her family - the castle, our lands, your inheritances,
Mischas. Would you see your sister destitute?”
Hannibal’s breath hitched and he fought down the burn in his throat. He knew
his father was only speaking the truth, he was not trying to hurt him. The
second world war had devastated his family, and over time the survival of their
ever dwindling fortune became a struggle - the cost of upkeep of the castle and
lands had been almost impossible for Hannibal’s grandfather, and only became
worse each year. By the time Hannibal was born and his father was count the
only way to keep it was to become entwined with a wealthy family. He was only a
child when the deal was made - their fortune was saved, bolstered until it was
able to thrive once more - in return for a title. Bedelia’s family were new
money and desired the legitimisation a landed title would bring. Hannibal was
to marry Bedelia - share wealth and title - or else the family would be repaid,
leaving the Lecter’s once more destitute.
Mischa. It came down to her. It was Mischa or Will.
In his heart he wanted to walk away - leave his family to their misfortune and
stay with Will. He had even thought he would do it, right up until the moment
he knew he couldn’t possibly do it. He would sacrifice his own happiness so
that Mischa might have everything she required or desired. His only regret was
that it would also hurt Will - something he had never intended. And he could
only blame himself for it.
He would never forgive himself. He would never forget Will. But he had to
honour his family.
“Bedelia arrives in three days. You will make her welcome.”
Tone cold, resigned. “Yes father.”
*
Adam was quiet, thinking everything over, while they drove home. Nigel loved
him! He wasn’t sure all the time about emotions - how to display them or read
them. He knew what love was, possibly - he loved his dad, and Harlan - he knew
that. But being in love? That he was less sure of. But he thought that must be
that warm feeling in his chest, which was even better when he felt it in his
crotch too - and both things happened all the time with Nigel. He decided to
ask Nigel about it and see whether it was the same for him.
“Are you ok?” His dad asked when they got into the kitchen.
“Um.” Adam considered and tried to put into words, sometimes difficult - though
right now it was surprisingly easy. “Happy. And sad.”
Mr Raki gave a soft smile and pulled Adam into a hug. “Why sad honey?”
“Nigel’s parents don’t like him.”
Mr Raki chuckled a little. “They love him, but you have to remember he has been
bad in the past and it can be hard to earn trust back.”
“They don’t like me…”
“They don’t know you hon. If they did, they would love you. How about I call
them later and we arrange a proper dinner together? All of us, then perhaps
they will start to see a different side to Nigel as well.”
Adam stepped back and returned his dad’s smile. “Yes.”
*
Will sat in his room. It had gone dark and he hadn’t bothered to turn the
lights on. The amazing weekend with Hannibal was enough to remind him that
things weren’t getting any easier for them. He was looking forward to going off
to college so they could finally do their own thing, but that was still so many
months away. The more time they spent together, the more often they were
intimate, the more he wanted. Maybe they should never have slept together at
Homecoming - he could have gone on not knowing how good it would be, not
knowing what he was missing out on.
He couldn’t help but feel sad about it all. In the beginning Hann’s parents had
been nice, and then when they realised they were together they seemed a little
standoffish. Over time this seemed to progress to indifference and then
disapproval. He wasn’t sure what he had done to earn it, other than being not
good enough for their son. Which he couldn't argue with.
Just a few months, he had to keep reminding himself. Their lives would change
forever - they would be away from home, they would be living on their
respective campuses - able to visit and stay over as much as they liked. Able
to wake next to each other without having to sneak around.
Just a few months
His phone rang and his heart lifted and fell at the same time when he saw it
was Hannibal.
“Hi.” He tried to sound upbeat, but in truth he wanted to cry.
“Will… Can I see you tomorrow night? I can pick you up from school.”
“Sure.” Will answered, trying to sound brighter than he felt. Seeing Hannibal
was starting to feel bitter sweet. There was silence on the line and Hannibal
made an odd noise and cleared his throat. As though he were holding back
emotions. “Hann is everything ok?”
“I just… I have something I need to… We’ll talk tomorrow. I have to go, my
parents are expecting me.” The line clicked off before Will could reply. A
feeling of dread came over him.
***** Hot and Cold Truths *****
Chapter Summary
     Whilst things get much better for Nigel and Adam, shit is about to
     hit the fan for Will and Hannibal.
Chapter Notes
     Ok guys, I'm going to warn you now - this is an emotional chapter
     (good and bad). I had no intention of making it this angsty and this
     is pretty much the most angsty angst I have ever written and it
     gets... not quite ugly, but it's emotional. Please, please, please
     know that true to form there will be fluff and happiness in the end.
     But just maybe put your little protective armour over your hearts for
     this one. Sorry :(
     More shit was going to go on with Adam and Nigel, but this shit with
     Hanni and Will gets so angsty that I just can't do that to you all -
     so please know, Adam and Nigel are pure fluff from here on in (this
     time) <3
See the end of the chapter for more notes
“Nigel!” Adam looked surprised and delighted when he found Nigel waiting
outside his house on Monday morning. “Are you going to drive me to school?”
A wolfish grin. “I was hoping not.” Nigel replied. He was hesitant for a
moment. “I know you don’t like skipping class, but I was hoping you’d spend the
day with me…”
“Yes.” Adam said immediately with a smile.
Nigel beamed back at him. Watching him and licking his lips as Adam opened the
door, slipped into the passenger seat and then continued across until he was
damn near almost in Nigel’s lap. He pressed his lips up to Nigel’s which Nigel
happily accepted. It was a sweet thing, tender and just a little more than
chaste. Adam sat back into his chair with a smile.
“But just this once though.” Adam said sternly. “I don’t want you to get in
trouble for skipping school.”
Nigel nodded and started the engine, pulling away with a grin on his face. “I
thought it would be harder to convince you than that!” Nigel chuckled.
“How were you going to convince me?” Adam asked, completely innocently -
nothing of teasing in that tone and yet Nigel felt his jeans tighten slightly.
Nigel cleared his throat. “I was… going to ask you if you remembered what I
said yesterday… Um, and tell you I wanted to spend the day with you and talk
about it… show you…”
“That you love me.” Adam finished with a smile.
“Yeah…” Nigel answered hesitantly, keeping his eyes firmly on the road. Very
aware that Adam hadn’t said it back, that despite being pretty sure Adam also
loved him, there was that anxious doubt.
“You said it in front of our parents.” Adam said lightly, amusement in his tone
and a smile on his face.
“Yeah. I did.” Nigel swallowed. Licked his lips. It suddenly seemed really dry
in the car.
“I… that was really… funny.” Adam giggled. “Was your mum mad?”
Nigel smiled then and let himself breathe again. “No, actually. I think she’s
starting to like me… again. When dad got home the three of us talked and
they’re ok about it I think. They want to get to know you a bit better.”
“Dad wants us to all have dinner.” Adam replied. “I was going to suggest
Sunday.”
“We might be too tired, the Winter Formal is the night before… I want to make a
good impression.”
“I didn’t… um, are we going to the Formal?”
“Oh. Um, only if you want to I guess.”
Adam hummed and smiled, then nodded but didn’t say anymore and so Nigel dropped
it for now - truth was he wanted to go. He wanted to take Adam and show him
off, but he wasn’t going to say it in - he didn’t want Adam to go just for him.
Not after the debacle of Homecoming.
There was silence then for a few minutes, by which time they had reached the
turn off Nigel had been heading for. Adam was watching intently out the window
now and a few moments later Nigel pulled over in a small carpark. They were
deep in the woods, the carpark set up for visitors using the hiking trails.
Nigel got out of the car and then went around and opened Adam’s door. Adam
still sat in the seat for a few moments before he too got out.
“You wanted to skip class to come to the woods?”
“I wanted to skip class to bring you to the woods… I wanted to show you
something…” Nigel grabbed his parka from the backseat and shrugged into it
before looking Adam over - he was already wearing a pretty thick coat but he
grabbed a spare scarf in case it got any colder.
Adam took hold of Nigel’s hand and allowed himself to be lead. They were silent
for the twenty minute hike up the trail until they reached the overlook. It was
empty - it always was. It was a track off the beaten path with a couple of run
down benches and a railing so that you couldn’t fall. But the view was amazing
- the woods and the town beyond.
“I used to come here sometimes… to think. To get away from my parents.
Especially when we first moved here. I didn’t know anyone and my English wasn’t
great and I just couldn’t understand why we had left Romania. I needed to get
away from them, away from the town. I found this place - it reminds of
somewhere my grandmother used to take me when I was a boy.”
He looked over to see Adam watching him intently from the bench he’d taken a
seat on. Nigel rested back against the railings and smiled.
“Why did you bring me here?” Adam asked, curious.
“I wanted to share it with you. This place means something to me. I haven’t
come here since I met you, because of you… I wanted to bring you here before,
because I wanted to bring you here to tell you that I love you.” The last words
he had to force out through his anxiety over them.
“Oh.” Adam replies with a slight frown. “But you told me last night that you
love me.”
Nigel sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “I know… that was an accident.
I wanted to bring you here and tell you.”
“Oh!” This time in realisation, followed by a small smile. The frown returns
slightly “What does it feel like?”
“It feels like love, Adam.” Nigel replied a little frustrated. He didn’t mean
to be frustrated, but at this point he had said that he loved Adam many times
without it being really acknowledged, much less returned. He sighed at the
continued confused look on Adam’s face. “It feels like my heart is going to
thump out of my chest when I see you or think about you. I feel sad when I
don’t get to see you, excited when I do…” He didn’t really know how else to put
it.
Adam stood and walked to him now with a smile on his face, slipping his arms
around Nigel’s waist and melting into him, his breath coming out in icy little
puffs.
“Oh.” He says again, this time a tone of understanding. “I love you too Nigel.”
*
Adam smiled as he pulled out his lunch and split it with Nigel - who hadn’t
thought to bring any. They had walked in the woods until they found their way
down to the small lake. It was too big a lake, and the weather not quite cold
enough, to freeze completely but the edges were icy. They had found another
bench, a little broken from the proximity to the water and lack of upkeep. When
they finished Adam’s sandwiches, Adam had nestled against Nigel.
“I was surprised you agreed so quickly to come with me today, maybe I am a bad
influence on you.” Nigel laughed.
Adam considered it with a smile. “No, I… I just wanted to spend time with you
and knew that if I came with you I would get more time with you than if we were
in class.” He let out a contented sigh and then thought he should, and so did -
“not that this will be a regular thing!”
A low chuckle from Nigel and a squeeze that comforted Adam in the way a warm
fire in the middle of winter would.
“I wanted to spend time with you after yesterday… Your mum, I know she didn’t
mean to, but she scared me. And all I wanted to do was curl up with you and
have you hold me.” He felt Nigel’s arms tighten around him. “But we had to go
home and you had to stay and I just want your parents to like me so I can stay
or you can come with me.”
“That’ll happen darling. I think they understand better now. We’ll have dinner
and you’re dad will win them over if nothing else - who knows you better than
him to convince them this is all ok?”
“You do.” Adam answered with a smile. He had never felt so known by anyone, had
never been this close with another person, nor really desired to be. People
could be loud and unpredictable, and when they realised he was different they
could be rude and cruel. Nigel wasn’t like that at all with him. The weird
thing was, he knew Nigel could be all those things, but he wasn’t with Adam and
it meant a lot. He had never known anyone - other than his dad - adapt
themselves to him rather than expect him to adapt to them - which was often
impossible.
“Nigel, would you take me home?”
Nigel pulled back to look in his face. “Are you ok, darling? Is it too cold?”
Adam shook his head and managed a shaky smile. “No… I’m ok, I’d just like to…
um, I’d like to be with you, at home. With you.”
Nigel’s eyes seemed very wide then, and it took a moment for his mouth to form
a grin because it had instead gone completely slack.
*
Will saw the bentley waiting outside the school gates and smiled at the way his
heart automatically skipped a beat. How could he ever help that, despite
knowing that every time he saw Hannibal lately he just ended up feeling like
shit afterwards. Not Hannibal’s fault, just a result of the way his parents
were being about the whole thing. Best to just try and forget about it when
they were together and deal with the sadness it caused after.
“Hey.” He said with a smile as he slipped into the passenger seat.
Hannibal looked over at him, a sadness about him. He responded only by reaching
over for Will’s hand and squeezing it before pulling away to start the engine
and drive away.
“Hannibal, what is it?” Will is immediately concerned. He’s never seen Hannibal
like this. His face is pale with the exception of dark circles around his eyes.
He is never normally quiet like this. “Hannibal, what? Talk to me!”
“Let me take you home, we can talk there…”
“Fuck Hann, you’re scaring me. What is it? Is it Mischa? Your parents? Are they
ok? Are you ok?”
Will was surprised when Hannibal suddenly pulled the car over on the thankfully
quiet road. He stared forward, hands gripped on the steering wheel. His lungs
were heaving as though he was trying to stop himself crying.
“Please. What is it?” Will couldn’t keep the edge of anxiety from his voice -
terrified that something had happened to Hannibal or someone in his family -
what else could have him this upset? Maybe he had confronted his parents over
their disapproval and had a falling out? But it would surely have been a
serious falling out to warrant this. Will had never seen Hannibal so obviously
upset. It hurt.
“Will…” Hannibal breathed out his name.
Silence descended again in which Will just listened to Hannibal breathing,
unsure what to say when he still had no idea what was happening. His skin was
prickly - a cold sweat breaking out that reminded him of those nights he
sometimes had nightmares.
“Will… I…” A sob breathed out that made Will’s blood run cold. “We… we can’t
see each other any more.” He forced the words out. Still looking ahead - frozen
in place, much as Will was now. Confusion burned through Will’s mind. What the
fuck was going on? Was it something he had done? Was Hannibal just unable to
cope with the disapproval of his parents?
“I don’t… what are you… Is it me? I know I’ve been down about us not being able
to spend time together, but I can… I can wait until we leave for college. I
know how it feels - I’ve wondered if it would be easier just to go our separate
ways but then I realise I can’t. I love you too much… I can wait…”
“Please, Will. Please stop!” Hannibal raised his voice. He had never done that
before. It made Will jump slightly and shudder. “It’s not you, not anything
you’ve done. It’s me… it’s my fault. I should have told you before.” He was
still facing forward, his knuckles now white from gripping the wheel. His words
were starting to sound mechanical as if he had rehearsed them again and again.
“I’m engaged already, I should never have kept it from you…”
Will felt like his world had just turned upside down. Absolutely nothing made
sense. Were they breaking up? What was Hannibal saying? Already engaged? That
wasn’t right, this was just a stupid joke. A very unfunny joke. But he looked
at Hannibal, frozen in place other than the tears rolling silently down his
cheeks.
“I don’t understand.” Will’s voice broke.
“I’m sorry Will. I am betrothed to another and now the time has come for the
wedding to be planned.” Despite the tears the words no longer betrayed any
emotion - mechanical.
“What the actual fuck?!” Will all but shouted. “What are you talking about?
How… who is this person? Do I know them?” Will shook his head. “This doesn’t
make any sense.”
“She is in Lithuania… my parents made the arrangements when I was a child.” He
was softening slightly now but still didn’t turn to look at Will.
“When you were a fucking child? Hann… How… We’ve been together over a year and
this is the first you tell me of this?” Will felt like a dagger of ice had been
plunged into his heart. “I don’t even know who the fuck you are!”
“I didn’t think it would come to this, I thought I could get out of it…”
“But you never told me. You took away my ability to choose whether I wanted
this or not, knowing... “ He swallowed down some emotion. “Knowing that it
wouldn’t mean anything in the end.”
“It means something, you mean something. You mean everything to me Will… If I
could… If there was a way…” Hannibal’s voice was trembling.
“And now this is it… We’re over.” Not a question. No wonder Hann’s parents had
a problem with him. Were they concerned for him or did they think he knew? God,
if they thought he knew, what they must think of him.
“Will…” Finally he looked at him, his eyes red and face wet. Will could
practically see his broken heart but his own pain screamed within him.
“No. Take me home. Just… take me home.” Will fought the urge to cry.
*
Hannibal felt like he was being crushed from the inside out. He just wanted to
pull Will to him and hold him and never let him go.
The rest of the journey was silent and when they arrived outside Will’s place
he jumped out immediately and slammed the door behind him. Hannibal wanted to
just sit there and cry but he couldn’t walk away with this being the last
interaction with Will. He couldn’t imagine he’d want to be friends after this,
besides which Hannibal was about to be relocated to Lithuania. He got out of
the car quickly and went after Will. Will was still at the door, struggling in
his emotional state, to get his key in the door. He managed it as Hannibal came
up behind him.
When Hannibal went to follow, Will turned and blocked the door.
“Please Will… let me explain. Please don’t let this be the last we say to each
other.”
“Fuck you Hannibal.” Will’s tone was low and cold. He started to close the door
and for a moment Hannibal considered blocking it and entering the house, but he
knew he couldn’t do that.
But the door didn’t close. Will seemed frozen for a moment, pain writ over his
face. A moment later he had grabbed Hannibal around the back of the neck and
pulled him forward, meeting his lips in a crush of teeth and tongue. Hannibal
didn’t - couldn’t - resist Will as he pulled him through the house. Lips barely
leaving each other until they were in Will’s room and the door was closed
behind them.
Will was pulling at Hannibal’s clothes as well a his own. Hannibal, hesitant at
first, began to assist. He wasn’t sure what this was, but if it was the last
time he would see Will then… he needed this. Will needed this and he needed it
all the more for that.
Will was already in his boxers by the time his hands were back on Hannibal,
stripping him of his trousers. He pulled down Hannibal’s trousers and underwear
until they were around his ankles and then pushed him back on the bed.
Hannibal’s shirt was still half on, his school tie half fastened still holding
it together at the top. Will now was naked, flushed red all over.
“Will…” Hannibal wanted to say he was sorry, to hold Will to him. He would
always want to be the person to comfort Will when he was upset, and now he was
the cause of that upset. He wanted to say something, anything, that might make
it better. Not that anything would. And not that he could say anything because
Will’s hand immediately and forcefully came up and covered Hannibal’s mouth so
he couldn’t talk.
In short order Will moved around him, everything becoming a little of a blur -
his head spinning with emotion. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, Will’s
hand was gone, so was Will, but he couldn’t see through the tears now blinding
him. Then there was a hand on his cock and his body arched up.
“Will…” he breathed. “Yes… Please, Will…” He wasn’t sure what was in Will’s
mind but he needed this. He didn’t want to ever not have this but that was
inevitable now. So this was it. This was all there was.
The hand was gone and Will moved over him, straddling him.
“Oh… Will…” Hannibal’s words were cut off as the hand came back to his mouth,
silencing him again. He could see the pain and determination in the face now
above his own. The anger and hurt.
Will’s hand acted to stifle his cry as he felt Will sink onto him - taking him
in little by little as he moved. Time seemed to stand still as Hannibal felt
his heart breaking. He wanted to hold Will, he wanted this to be sensual and
intimate as it had been before, but that seemed impossible now. Pleasure
sparked through him as he was gripped tight within Will. Another groan held
back by Will’s hand. Once Will was seated flush against Hannibal, completely
filled, he began to move. Slowly at first in order to accommodate Hannibal with
as little pain as possible.
Will began to ride Hannibal’s cock, his hand now moving from Hannibal’s mouth -
not that he could speak any longer. His breath came hard and painful through
his lungs and tight throat. A pain in his chest, pleasure tingling through him.
He grabbed hold of Will’s hips and held them - no pressure on them, not holding
him still, just holding him steady as he fucked himself on Hannibal’s cock.
Hannibal, still blinded by his own tears, kept his eyes tight shut. The pain in
his chest hurting all the more as he felt Will’s tears drop down onto him.
There were none of the light moans and gentle whispers Hannibal had grown to
love, and he didn’t dare make a noise himself other than the involuntary grunts
that escaped him.
Will moved forward, pressing their foreheads together, tears falling freely.
Now there were little noises, tinged with something - anger? hate? - as the
angle suited Will. He felt Will reach between them to touch himself. Hannibal
automatically moved a hand from Will’s hip to take hold of him instead as he
had done in the past, but his hand was batted away with an angry grunt.
Hannibal strangled an anguished cry. After a moment he put his hand back to
Will’s hip and this time not just to steady. He gripped hold of him and used
the purchase to thrust up into Will. He wanted to give Will what he wanted,
wanted to give him everything. All of himself, even if only in this moment.
Will let another sound escape - pleasure tinged with resentment, or so it felt.
“Ahh… yes…” Will’s words seemed to escape him without thought or notice.
Hannibal was losing himself to the pleasure too. Emotional pain swarmed through
him, chased by the physical pleasure. Being in Will, being surrounded by Will,
being joined together with him in a way that deepened the connection, the
emotions. Even now, even through Hannibal’s pain and Will’s anger. His heart
was almost losing beats as Will continued to take everything from him. And then
Will was crying out, his muscles were squeezing tight around Hannibal who
thrust once, then twice and then was spent.
They stayed for a moment, panting as Will gently rode out his orgasm to its
full completion. Foreheads still pressed together. Will leaned in and took
Hannibal’s lips in a hungry kiss, which Hannibal returned. He could almost
forget everything, he could almost be transported back to the weekend in the
cabin.
But then the spell was broken - he had reached his arms up to encircle Will, to
pull him close and hold him tight. But Will batted his arms back and moved off
him, causing Hannibal a little discomfort until he slid completely free. Will
had rolled onto his back and was panting, staring at the ceiling. Hannibal
wanted to roll over and hold him, but with the last attempt rebuffed, he knew
he needed to ask first.
“Will… Can I…”
“Get out Hannibal.” Will’s tone was cold and he had slung an arm over his face
- eyes and tears hidden. He lay, a naked mess - cum in him and on him and his
body still trembling with the pleasure he had felt. He had never been so
beautiful and awful to Hannibal in that moment.
“Will… please…” He didn’t want to force the embrace, he was happy to leave it
but he just wanted to at least talk. To salvage something of this. But his
words were cut off once more.
“Just fucking leave.” Will all but shouted.
It went through Hannibal like a knife. Will struggled with people often, not as
Adam did, but in his own way. All except Hannibal. Until now. Will moved and
curled in on himself, his back to Hannibal. He wanted to hold him, comfort him.
But they were beyond that now. He had hurt Will too deeply by keeping this
secret. Will would find no comfort in him, only pain.
Hannibal didn’t speak, there was nothing that he could say, as he pulled up his
trousers and left the room. He stepped into the hall and closed the door,
listening to Will’s sobs as he pulled the rest of his clothes back together and
considered once more going to Will and holding him. But he couldn’t do that to
Will and he couldn’t be rebuffed again. He, quietly, left.
*
Nigel ran his tongue out over his bottom lip and swallowed, almost painfully.
He couldn’t believe this was about to happen. Was this about to happen?
They were in Adam’s room, his dad was out - grocery shopping night, he’d be
gone a while Adam said. The way he had said it - not teasing, not sexual. So
matter of fact, but… delighted. And Nigel was fucking delighted too.
Adam had put on the dvd that he had bought. In typical Adam fashion, this was
not for titillation but for instruction - he wanted to show Nigel what he
wanted to do because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to explain it right.
And that was how Nigel now found himself in Adam Raki’s room. With Adam Raki
moaning with something between pleasure and impatience as Nigel pulled out the
fingers he had inside him. The fingers he had been using to work open Adam
Raki. He made sure the condom on his cock was rolled all the way down and now
he was moving over him, over Adam Raki’s beautiful pale form.
“Nigel… wait…” Nigel paused completely still, frozen in action as he was about
to enter him. He started to slowly move back - he had known this might be a
possibility and he was ok with it - whatever Adam was ok with. But then Adam
grabbed him and stopped him moving.
“I want to…” He told Nigel with a smile. “So far it...uh, it feels really
good.” The smile beamed. “But, in the dvd they… um… they were…”
Nigel smiled as he realised what Adam was trying to say. In the dvd they had
done it on all fours. “Oh, um… we can do it like that if you like. But I’d like
to see your face…” Nigel allowed a wolfish grin.
Another beam from Adam. “Oh! I didn’t know we could do that. Ok, yes, let’s do
that…”
Nigel swallowed again and damn near tumbled over, his limbs were so weak with
the thrill of it all. He must have been still a little too long because Adam
squirmed and added - “Now… please?”
Nigel leaned in and kissed Adam then. Adam Raki. Adam fucking Raki.
The kiss was soft and languid. He moved forward gently, a couple of strokes of
his cock to ensure it was as lubed up as he thought - he’d probably used much
more than needed, and he’d worked a lot into Adam, but he wanted this to be
right.
They both held their breath as Nigel pressed into him and stopped. Adam’s eyes
were wide and Nigel was momentarily terrified, but then Adam let out his
breath, broke into a smile and said - “This is good.” He’d explained to Adam
that it would hurt and Adam had reassured him he would be ok - was made to
promise to say if he needed to stop.
Nigel swallowed hard. Again.
He kept it slow, easing in little by little and then keeping it gentle. He
moved forward a little and lifted Adam’s hips, allowing him to go deeper,
hoping… and there it was - Adam practically exploded in a wave of pleasure and
he knew he had angled himself at the right spot. Adam’s hands gripped hold of
Nigel’s upper arms, fingers digging in. Nigel worried it was too much for him,
stopped again. Waited for… something.
“More…” The word was a breathless whisper that turned Nigel on so much he
wasn’t sure how he didn’t cum right then. So he moved again, and again. Each
time a little moan escaped from Adam and his heart skipped a beat. How was Adam
even possible, how was this even possible.
“Do you want to cum baby?” Nigel asked gently. He knew from when they’d
sometimes masturbated together that it got too much, Adam got too sensitive and
he had to stop.
“Y… yes…” A breathless Adam now as their bodies moved together. Nigel reached
between them and gently took Adam in hand, stroking him in time with the slow
thrusts. More whimpers, little groans.
Oh so gradually Nigel picked up the tempo, still as gentle as possible.
“Nigel… I’m… I’m going to…” Nigel swallowed his words in a kiss as Adam came
between them. Adam tightening around him was more than enough to bring him
right over the edge after him. They rode through it and then slowed to a stop,
panting against each other.
Nigel went to move off, give Adam his space, but he was held in place by lithe
arms. They held each other for a while before Adam finally needed to move - a
little unhappy with the mess, they went to the bathroom to clean up. Adam
beaming the whole time.
“I can’t believe we did that.” Adam smiled.
“Believe me, neither can I. I still can’t even believe you're with me!” Nigel
let out a disbelieving laugh.
Adam’s face suddenly fell. “I think we made a mistake…” He didn’t seem anxious
but maybe concerned, enough for Nigel to be immediately worried.
“What… Why? Wasn’t… are you ok?”
“I think we were meant to wait until the Winter Formal.” Adam frowned. Nigel
had no idea what to say. “Isn’t that what people do - special occasions. Like
Will and Hannibal did it after Homecoming - Will told me. And then in future
you’ll always remember I guess. Like it will always be a special day.”
“It’s still special.” Nigel laughed, pulling Adam into a hug. Adam seemed
appeased by this but then still added-
“We’ll just have to remember that it was five days before the Winter Formal.”
Nigel was sure he’d never fucking forget.
Chapter End Notes
     HOLY SHIT! WHAT DID I JUST DO??? WILL, HANNIBAL - I'M SORRY!!! D:
     Also - I usually don't write characters having unsafe sex, but it
     felt like that would be the way it would go down right then and Will
     would have (hopefully correctly) assumed they are each other's first.
     That said - PLAY SAFE KIDS!!!
***** Future People *****
Chapter Summary
     Bedelia arrives, Hannibal writes an apology to Will. Nigel, Adam and
     their families go for dinner after a little texting silliness.
Chapter Notes
     Ok, still a little more angst aftermath, but things are moving
     forward and there is spacedogs fluff!
“Miss Du Maurier, you are very welcome.” The Count took her hand in both of his
as she entered the foyer.
“Please, call me Bedelia, after all we are to be family.” She smiled and the
Count looked thoroughly charmed. Hannibal felt sick.
He stood on the second lowest step of the grand staircase that swept into the
foyer. He didn’t want to step down and be in that room with her. As unfair as
it might be, he hated her, hated her family. Hated his parents. Hated himself.
I’m sorry Will.
“Hannibal.” Spoken not sharply, but with command, by his father. Hannibal felt
a chill come over him as he stepped down and walked to Bedelia Du Maurier. She
held out her hand and he made a low bow as he took it and kissed it.
“Miss Du Maurier.” He acknowledged her.
“Hannibal.” She replied with a smile as he let her hand go. “It’s nice to see
you again.”
Hannibal acknowledged this with a nod but couldn’t bring himself to offer a
false but polite response. He knew he was being rude and knew he would be
admonished by his father, but he had no energy or inclination to be polite. And
anything his father could say or do would not be as bad as the reality of
having to marry this girl. Of not being with Will. Even if she were perfectly
nice, she wasn’t Will. And from the few occasions they had met at formal
functions she struck him as snotty and rude. But then what was to be expected
of a family that wished to buy a title and practically enslave him as a
consequence.
Hannibal stepped back a pace and his father seamlessly continued the
introductions - his mother and then Mischa. Mischa for her part looked about as
pleased as Hannibal did. She didn’t know everything that was going on, not the
details, but she did know that Hannibal had had to break up with Will because
their parents wanted him to marry Bedelia. She was set to hate her on
principle, but Hannibal had asked her not to. It was unfair and would be
unbecoming of a young lady like Mischa.
If Bedelia sensed the hostile welcome from either of them, she did not let on.
“Hannibal, if you would show Bedelia to her room.” His father’s tone did not
allow for a refusal so he merely nodded and stepped forward, offering his arm
to his betrothed. She took it with a polite smile and Hannibal lead the way to
the small wing that housed the guest accommodations.
“Hannibal, you do not seem pleased to see me.” Did he imagine the cruel twist
to her smile?
“In truth Miss Du Maurier, I never truly believed this day would come.” He kept
his tone level, but he told the truth. He had been so young when it had been
arranged and he had grown up with it. First the knowledge that this distant
thing would take place, and then as he got older he just couldn’t believe that
such a thing would ever take place - one or both of them would meet someone
else or some reason or other would have their respective parents realising they
had essentially enslaved their children and call it all off. Of course, the few
times he had met Bedelia it had seemed a less dim prospect to her - as with her
parents, the title was all she thought of. Clearly she had been promised it all
her life, raised to believe she deserved it even if it was at the cost of
another’s happiness. Of two people’s happiness. His chest constricted slightly
as he thought of Will. Beautiful Will posing in front of the fire.
He touched a hand ever so briefly to his chest. The drawing forever carried in
the inside breast pocket of his blazer. Had he sketched it then knowing Will
wouldn’t be his much longer? No. he truly had believed he could walk away from
his family.
“Well, the day has come now Hannibal. As we are to be married after your
graduation I think you should get used to calling me Bedelia.” Had she smiled
gently he might have seen something sweet in her. Not anything he could ever
love or even abide this situation for, but something he could tolerate. As it
was the glint in her eye was that of someone who knew they had the upper hand.
Perhaps she wasn’t as enslaved in this situation as he was.
He was relieved that they had reached her room, one of the staff was unpacking
her bags for her already.
“I have discharged this task my father set me - here is your room.” He
indicated and her eyes narrowed, perhaps she didn’t find him as easy to control
as would please her. “Good day Miss Du Maurier.”
Hannibal turned and walked away his mind set on telling Will everything,
whether he would hear him or not.
*
So as not to clash with the Winter Formal (which they had agreed they would go
to), or with the work schedule of either parents, dinner was arranged for
Thursday night after school. They’d had enough time to go home and freshen up,
change and head to the restaurant. Nigel and Adam texting each other the whole
time they were apart.

A: I don’t have a suit. should I have borrowed one?
N: A suit? I’m not wearing a suit. It’s not a formal dinner Adam! :-*
A: I could wear the tux I hired for Saturday night?
N: You’ve hired a fucking tux? Shit, I’m going to look underdressed.
A: What are you wearing to the formal? Are you wearing a suit then, because
that is formal.
N: I’ll wear my birthday suit :D
A: I googled that… it means you’ll be naked. I think you’re joking.
A: Are you joking? I can’t tell over messaging ?
N: I’m joking Adam. It’s too fucking cold, har har har! ;D
A: I still don’t know what to wear tonight
N: Your birthday suit? ;P
A: Nigel, this is serious!
N: I’d seriously like to see you in your birthday suit! :D ;D <3
A: I’m going to stop texting you now because you’re not helping and I’m
nervous.
N: I’m sorry baby :( I just wanted to keep it lighthearted. I’m nervous too.
A: I still don’t know what to wear. What are you wearing?
N: Jeans. The blue shirt with the little dogs.
A: I really like that shirt! :D
N: I know ;D
N: Adam, just wear something you’d wear to school. You’re the best dressed
person I know!
A: But those are school clothes.
N: Adam! :-/
N: Adam?
A: Ok. I’ll wear my light blue shirt - it doesn’t have dogs but it will match
yours
N: I’ll find you one with dogs on it :D But not in time for tonight
A: Nigel, I will look silly in a dog shirt! Don’t you think I’m picked on
enough? :p
N: Ok, one with planets on it or something then
N: Did you just make a joke? 0_0
A: I won’t look as good as you do in that shirt :P I’m not attractive like you,
or Will or Hannibal
N: You’re much better looking. I don’t want to sleep with Will or Hannibal!
A: Because I’m better looking? (I’m not sure that is true)
N: Yes, but also because I only want to sleep with you darling! (yes it really
is!) :P
A: I’m still not dressed. I should hurry. I’m already nervous!
N: Ok baby.
N: Wait! If you’re not dressed, what are you wearing right now?
A: My underwear. I’m just trying to find my shirt.
N: Which pair?
A: The one with planets on. Should I change them?
N: No baby, wear them. I love that pair. That’s all you have on right now?
A: Yeah, I’m still looking for the shirt but you keep distracting me.
N: You’re distracting me too darling!
A: I’m not, you keep texting me.
A: Nigel? Are you still there? You’ve gone quiet
N: I was thinking about you in your underpants.
A: I have the shirt on too now.
A: Nigel?
A: Nigel? Is everything ok?
N: Sorry baby… I was still thinking about you in your underpants ;D
A: Nigel, were you masturbating?
N: I’m nervous. It relieves tension! ;D :P <3
A: Maybe I should have masturbated. I don’t have time now. It took so long to
find the shirt.
N: 0_0
N: If you had gone with the birthday suit option you’d have had time ;P
N: Adam?
N: It was a joke.
A: I know. I was just on the internet. I wanted to order a toy.
N: ?
A: From the dvd - there is that one bit with the little toy.
N: What? You’re doing this now? Shouldn’t you be getting ready?
A: You masturbating reminded me.
N: What toy? What are you talking about?
A: The sex dvd - they had the little toy that was shaped a bit like a rocket.
N: Holy fucking hell Adam!!!
N: I think I need to jerk off again 0_0
A: Ok. You do that, I have to finish getting ready.
A: Thanks for talking with me, I feel a bit less nervous now :)
A: Nigel?
A: Nigel?
A: Ok, I’ll see you there then.
N: Sorry. My hand aches. I’ll see you there <3

*
Nigel wondered how Adam Raki could be constantly so mesmerising! Adam had just
arrived with his dad, wearing that blue shirt that brought out his amazing
eyes. Nigel and his parents had been there a few minutes and were already
seated, but without thought or hesitation Nigel was on his feet and greeting
them. He shook Mr Raki’s hand quickly and then pulled Adam close to him and
nuzzled into his shower-fresh curls. A contented hum from Adam sent a blaze of
adoration through him.
Apparently the embrace went on too long because his dad noisily cleared his
throat. Nigel pulled back, pecked a kiss on Adam’s cheek and then turned to his
parents.
“Dad, this is Mr Raki.” They took it from there introducing themselves and
taking seats at the table. Nigel had saved the one next to him for Adam, though
his dad had initially expressed that Adam and Nigel should not sit close. It
had been his mum who had interjected -
“Adam is sensitive, if he gets upset maybe Nigel should sit close - he has a
way with him.”
Nigel’s dad was reluctant - “I’m not sure I approve of this, so it seems
inappropriate that Nigel should comfort him. He should sit with his father.”
At that Nigel’s mum had given a look. A few quick words exchanged in Romanian
and now his father agreed they could sit together. Nigel shared a smile with
him mum for the first time in years, warmed to know he had her onside.
When they sat, Adam grabbed Nigel’s hand under the table before Nigel had the
chance to do the same. Nigel squeezed the hand and brought it up to rest on the
table before looking at Adam with all the love he felt.
“It’s all going to be fine.” Nigel said and watched, relieved, as Adam exhaled
the breath he had been holding since he sat down.
*
The letter had arrived overnight - hand delivered. It was Friday and Will
hadn’t been to school since Monday, feigning illness. Or more correctly not,
but a broken heart wasn’t something you could get a doctor’s note for.
“Will?” A knock at his door a moment before his dad appeared. “Will, this came
for you.” He set the letter down on the nightstand and then placed his hand on
Will’s brow - actually sweaty from nightmares that didn’t seem likely to come
to an end. “You still feeling unwell?”
“Yeah.” Will croaked out, his throat raw from crying. He hadn’t told his dad
what had happened. He hadn’t told anyone. It just seemed easier to ignore the
world and try to process it all in his own way. Not to mention he felt like an
idiot. How could he have been with Hannibal so long and not known he was
keeping something from him. Even so, as he looked back he just couldn’t find
anything that might have given it away.
“Do you want me to call Hannibal?” His dad asked softly.
Will sat bolt upright in his bed. “No!” Too loud, too abrupt. “Um, no. I… he
has a lot on this week at school, and with this family. I don’t want to bother
him. I’ll probably feel better soon.”
“The Winter Formal is tomorrow, hopefully you’ll feel up to that.” His dad
smiled in an attempt to encourage. He ruffled Will’s hair and left the room.
Will picked up the letter and immediately recognised Hannibal’s cursive
handwriting. He considered ripping it up or burning it, but instead sat numb
for a few minutes, giving time for those considerations to pass. With shaking
hands he tore open the envelope and unfolded a letter in the same hand -
usually neat but now scrawled in places and the paper stained in places with
tears. It made his chest constrict painfully.

Will,
I hope you will allow yourself to read this letter. I knew calling you would
result in your hanging up and I don’t think I could easily see you in person
for now. And I expect you feel the same on that issue. I wish it were not the
case as I miss your beautiful eyes. I miss you.
I hope that you will read on to the end and receive my apologies even if you do
not forgive me. And I could not expect that of you. I would never ask it of
you.
I should elaborate on this situation. A situation not of my making, not that it
excuses my part in it - in deceiving you.
Ever since I was a child I was told that one day I would grow up and marry a
fine lady and she would be my countess. When I was very young I just thought it
some fairy tale. As I grew older I learned more bit by bit and understood that
there was a specific lady in mind. Her family had rescued ours - saved us from
the brink of financial ruin. In return I was to marry her. Even with the
knowledge of truth, and having started to meet her now and then when attending
formal events, it still seemed as a fairytale. How could it not? How could such
a thing be real in this day and age?
And then, four years ago, my father’s diplomatic position brought us here and
it seemed no more than a distant story. We were so far removed from life in
Lithuania, and those few times I had met my betrothed seemed almost as though I
had imagined them.
This cannot be an excuse, but believe me when I say that it seemed so unreal as
to be untrue.
And yet I knew it was true. But when we moved here, I cannot explain why, I
just assumed that it no longer stood. America seemed so foreign and modern.
There is no aristocracy here, people do not use their children as bargaining
chips. As time went on I started to believe, with no basis for this, that the
marriage would never take place. That surely one or both she and I would meet
someone else, or our parents would see sense. That the arrangement would be
void. It was one reason why I never told you - I never saw it as real. This was
my mistake and I’m sorry that we’re both having to pay the price of this. The
other reason I could never bring myself to tell you was that I felt ashamed. I
was no more than a pawn for my family’s needs, and what could you think of
that? Of my me and my family that such an arrangement had been made?
It was only when my parents realised how serious we were that the arrangement
was brought to the fore. And I’m sorry, I should have told you then at least.
But by then I had decided that despite the will of my family, even if it meant
being disowned, I would not submit to their arrangement.
And Will, I wish I could say that I tried harder to resist it. But I did try, I
told my parents I would not marry Bedelia, that I loved you.
But now I have to submit. For my parents I care little of their misfortune in
this. I could have easily left them. But it is Mischa who I cannot desert. I
know you know how much I love my sister. I would die for her, I would kill for
her. And so now I must marry for her - to secure her fortune and her place in
the world. Of them all, I cannot leave her destitute.
I know you might understand and perhaps even forgive this. But I do not hope
the same for my not telling you. That was badly done and I was wrong to keep it
from you. As you said - I took away your ability to choose to be with me,
knowing that it would have to end. For that I can never apologise enough. I am
sick at myself. At this situation. At having hurt you and having taken your
choice in this as mine has been taken from me.
I would ask that we could remain friends but I know I would not be able to have
only a friendship, it would be too painful.
I know one day you will meet someone who will be totally honest and loving with
you Will and you will be happy. You will laugh and love and not think of me,
and I’ll be glad of it. But in this moment I must tell you, this was the only
thing I ever kept from you. You know this, surely. It matters not. I just wish
you happiness.
Your ever devoted friend
Hannibal Lecter VIII
Will had to stop reading several times. Reread parts of it. In reality it
changed nothing. It was good to know Hannibal’s side, even if he was right that
Will would not forgive him. All that time and he had said nothing. A sudden
wave of nauseous anger overtook him and he screwed the letter into a ball,
throwing it across the room.
He had to move on, he had to forget Hannibal because there was no coming back
from this. Even without the lie by omission, Hannibal would be married. At
least he would return to Lithuania so that Will had no chance of running into
him. No chance of ever seeing him again.
He couldn’t help the anguished sound that escaped him. He still loved Hannibal.
He couldn’t imagine never loving Hannibal, even through the hurt. This had
never felt like a teen romance that would end when they left for college. He’d
had those relationships before he met Hannibal, if adolescent adoration and
fumbling could be called that. With Hannibal it felt like those couples who
told years later how they married their high school sweetheart. Corny, so
corny, and yet he really had felt that way.
Will let out a heavy sigh chased with a short sob. Suddenly feeling much older
than his 18 years.
He would wallow another day in it, and then tomorrow he would start to heal, he
told himself. He lied to himself.
***** Wrong Hearts Dancing *****
Chapter Summary
     It's the night of the Winter Formal - Adam and Nigel are adorable,
     Will is drunk and Hannibal's pretty sure he'll never be happy
     again...
Chapter Notes
     Ok, this is the beginning of the end for the angst - there is a happy
     ending in sight!
Nigel was in a good mood. Better than good. Life was pretty fucking amazing.
After an evening with their parents, during which their dad’s got on like a
house on fire and bonded over a shared interests, things had been great.
Both fathers had served in the military of their respective countries which
gave them common ground and respect for each other. And of course, Mr Raki was
so well versed in explaining Adam and Aspergers that he had Nigel’s dad nodding
along and even giving a reassuring smile to Nigel and Adam as they sat with
hands clutched together. It helped that Nigel’s parents seemed to find a sudden
willingness to understand, not only Adam but their own son. Again, it helped
that Mr Raki had opened with twenty whole fucking minutes of praise for Nigel -
how fond he was of Adam’s boyfriend, how good he was for and to Adam. His mum
had stared at him throughout, as though seeing a new side to him. And that
wasn’t wrong - he’d had an increasingly poor relationship with them since they
moved to the US, only made worse by his increasingly poor behaviour.
He had resented being dragged from Romania, missed his grandparents and
friends. He had started acting out and never stopped. Never stopped hating
having been uprooted. Until he met Adam. And now he couldn’t thank his parents
enough for bringing him here. He couldn’t imagine his life if he hadn’t met
Adam.
He straightened his tie in the mirror. He didn’t own a suit and he wasn’t sure
how he’d look in a tux, but he hadn’t needed to think about it, as it turns
out. He woke up Saturday morning with his dad knocking at his bedroom door -
insisting on taking him shopping for a nice suit to wear to the formal. Adam
had told them at the dinner about the tux he had rented - he left out that he
had rented one because of what happened to the one he borrowed last time.
“Can’t have you showing that young man up!” His dad had beamed as they looked
through the options. Who knew there were so many kinds of suit. In the end he
didn’t go with a tux - he went with classic black suit with a slim straight
black tie. The shirt was red, dark enough to not stand out too much, but enough
to be different.
He’d asked Adam if he wanted to go to a hotel after the dance, not anything as
fancy as Hannibal had for Will, but he’d said no. He was already nervous about
the dance, the only thing that made him want to go was being with Nigel, so he
needed to know he was going somewhere familiar and safe afterwards. Nigel was
just fine with that, especially as the parents were all happy with him staying
over too. No more sneaking around.
He checked his tie one last time before heading downstairs. He was surprised to
find both his parents waiting for him.
“Mike is covering so we will go in late, we didn’t want to miss you leaving.
Looking so handsome.” His mother smiled and stepped forward, adjusted his tie
and smoothed down his lapels. “You scrub up well, Adam is a lucky boy.”
Nigel, for the first time he could ever remember in his life, blushed.
His dad laughed, not to make fun, but kindly - slinging his arm around Nigel’s
shoulders. “Who would have imagined such a thing as this, our young man dressed
up smart?!”
“Ok, ok…” Nigel shrugged them off, embarrassed by the attention. “I have to go
pick up Adam.”
He picked up his overnight bag and rushed out the door quickly, his parents
laughing. He might not admit it, but it warmed him.
*
Will had waited until his dad had left Saturday afternoon for his fishing trip
with his buddies, before he opened the liquor cabinet. He wasn’t sure it would
help. His dad drank a lot when his mum left, but he pulled himself back
together after a while. Had it helped him? No, of course it hadn’t, but Will
reasoned that it at least gave him a release from the pain when he was so far
into oblivion that he couldn’t remember anything.
By the time the evening rolled around Will had worked his way through almost a
whole bottle of whiskey. He stopped just as he thought he might throw up. He
dragged himself to his room to collapse in the bed. The bed, which along with
the room was now spinning slightly, where he had fucked Hannibal a few days
earlier - for the last time. He laughed and rubbed his hand roughly over his
face. Well, he had managed almost an hour without thinking of Hannibal. Clearly
alcohol wasn’t the answer. He didn’t think he was brave enough to try drugs,
his brain felt addled half the time anyway. Besides which he had no idea where
he might get some from.
There had to be something else. Maybe he would just go to a bar in town and
pick up some stranger. Screw into oblivion. Would that erase Hannibal? Maybe a
bar was a bad idea - he was underage and he might be drunk but not drunk enough
to invite the sort of shame it would bring to get picked up by the police. He
couldn’t do that to his dad.
He flopped onto the bed and looked at the cupboard. The door to it was open -
he had been a slob all week and the door had been opened and then unable to
close as his dirty clothes piled up next to it. He could see the cellophane
wrapping on the suit he had had dry-cleaned.
*
Adam was beyond happy. His skin tingled. Nigel had picked him up - looking very
attractive in his new suit - and they had driven together to the dance. Or at
least once they had pulled away from the curb - they had kissed for sometime on
Nigel’s arrival. Both hard by the time they broke apart and Nigel laughed when
he suggested they get to the dance before they ended up not going at all.
They drank punch, and danced and smiled. Nigel didn’t stop smiling at him. They
had been there two hours before Adam even realised how much time had passed, he
was having so much fun. He had never expected that of a school dance, but it
was like they were there alone, so focused was Nigel’s attention on him. And
his on Nigel.
Nigel had gone for a bathroom break, leaving Adam at their table, when Adam
spotted Will.
“Will.” He called out and waved. He watched as his cousin frowned at him, must
have recognised him and then waved back. Will didn’t look well. He knew he’d
been sick all week and was really surprised he had made it to the dance. He
continued to watch as Will seemed a bit unsteady on his feet - maybe he was
still really sick. He could see Will was talking to someone who was currently
obscured by the pillar - Hannibal must have brought him to cheer him up from
being sick. Adam smiled, it was a nice thing to do.
Adam had intended to wait where he was for Nigel, but he decided to go over and
say hi to Will and Hannibal. He was excited about being at the dance and being
ok with it. He knew it was only Nigel being there that made it manageable for
him. Even so, that made him happy. Adam got up and started over.
It wasn’t until he could see past the pillar that he realised Will wasn’t
talking to Hannibal, it was a girl. It took him a moment to remember her - he
had seen her around the school but he was sure he knew her from somewhere else.
He remembered when he looked at her again - it was Alana, Will had dated her
the summer before he met Hannibal. He didn’t realise they were still friends,
they didn’t ever seem to talk during school time.
“Hi Will.” Adam beamed when he reached them. Will just nodded an
acknowledgement and Adam frowned. Will’s head had lolled slightly, he must
still be really sick. “Are you ok?”
Will smiled and nodded. “Oh yeah. Just peachy.”
Adam returned the smile, a bit unsure. Will didn’t seem himself and it worried
Adam. “Where’s Hannibal?” He asked, looking around.
Will’s bark of laughter made him jump a little. “I have no idea.” He said,
waving his hand dismissively.
“Maybe he went to the bathroom…” Adam started but was cut off by a hiss from
Will, sucking air in through his teeth before laughing it back out and pinching
his fingers to the top of his nose.
“Whatever.” He replied so sharply that it shocked Adam. “Come on Alana…” He
grabbed the girl’s hand and headed out the nearest door.
Adam felt a bit shaken and was glad when Nigel appeared beside him and snaked
an arm around him.
“Baby what’s wrong. Why are you tense?”
“Um… Will. He snapped at me.” Adam felt a lump rise in his throat. He and Will
had patched up their little difference of opinion on Nigel, and though Will was
still standoffish with the Romanian, he accepted their relationship. And they
had become pretty close again, which Adam was glad of - he counted Will as a
close friend. “I think he’s still sick. Something is definitely wrong with him.
I’m worried.”
“You want me to go see if he’s ok?” Nigel asked, stroking his hand up and down
Adam’s arm.
“No… I’ll go check on him. Maybe you can see if you can find Hannibal, just in
case Will needs to go home. I think he might be in the bathroom.”
Nigel nodded and headed off back the way he had come. Adam went through the
doors Will had left through. He didn’t immediately see Will in the corridor so
he walked along until it branched off. Right went outside and left would
eventually lead back around to the toilets, so Adam chose that direction,
thinking that Will might have gone towards the bathrooms looking for Hannibal.
He rounded the next corner and found Nigel coming towards him.
“Did you find Hannibal?”
 
“No, not in the bathroom. Maybe he’s getting some punch or something. Will?”
Adam shook his head. “He must have gone a different way.” He frowned.
“He’ll be ok I’m sure. You want to dance some more? They’re probably in there
right now.” Nigel smiled reassuringly.
Adam nodded. “Ok, but when we see Hannibal I think we should tell him to take
Will home. He’s really still not well. Must be some sort of flu.”
Nigel slipped his arm around Adam and they were about to head back to the main
hall when there was a noise. Both stopped and stared at the classroom door -
slightly ajar. A moan. Adam’s immediate thought was that Will was unwell and
maybe had gone to the classroom to rest. Was he moaning in pain? Adam stepped
forward but Nigel stopped him before he reached the door.
“No, Adam… I think he’s… Um… Will’s ok.”
Adam wasn’t sure what he meant until he heard another moan and this time could
hear it was the types of moan that he made with Nigel. He blushed and ducked
his head, a little embarrassed to hear Will’s pleasure.
“He… uh… must have found Hannibal.” Adam stammered.
Nigel nodded with a grin and started to steer them passed the door. “Holy
shit.” Suddenly, from Nigel.
“What?” Adam asked, startled as Nigel continued on with him.
“Nothing… I… I could see as we walked passed - through the crack in the door…
It isn’t Hannibal in there. Will is with a girl.” Nigel actually looked
shocked, which was something Adam was sure didn’t happen often.
“Alana?” Adam asked no one in particular. “Why would he… Maybe he’s so sick he
doesn’t know what he’s doing. We should - “
“- do nothing. It isn’t our business Adam.” Nigel’s tone was tinged with
regret.
“But… Hannibal. If Will is so sick he doesn’t know what he’s doing… but
Hannibal will be so hurt, and Will. I don’t want that for them.” Adam had
stopped and Nigel stopped next to him.
“I think it’s a bad idea Adam. It really isn’t our business.”
“He’s my cousin and friend. I don’t want him to do something he might regret.”
Adam reasoned, determined.
Nigel smiled and seemed to relax a little. “You’re a good friend to want to
walk in on someone getting it on.”
Adam returned the smile and headed back to the classroom. He took a breath
before pushing the door open and clearing his throat so that they knew he was
there. Will and Alana were pressed against the wall next to the door - they
were kissing, Will’s hand was on Alana’s breast, still covered with her dress
though he could see it had been unzipped at the back. Alana’s hand was down
Will’s undone pants, stroking.
Adam gasped and then the breath caught in his throat. Finally this seemed to
get him noticed and Will looked up.
“Shit… Adam, what the fuck? What are you doing?” Will started trying to do up
his pants as Alana pulled away from him a blush visible across both their faces
even in the dim light.
“Will… are you ok? I think you’re sick. You need to go home…” Adam managed not
to stammer the words out.
“Fuck off Adam.” Will snapped.
Adam physically jumped back. And then Nigel was at his back. He’d waited the
other side of the door but now was there and narrowing in on Will.
“What the fuck is your problem Graham?” He growled. They had reached a
generally easy truce in the last couple of months, but Adam knew Nigel was
upset with the way Will had treated Adam when he first met Nigel and he wasn’t
happy to put up with it in future. Even so, Adam grabbed Nigel’s arm and
stopped him from reaching Will.
“I’m going to… go” Alana was zipping up her dress as she indicated the door and
then pushed passed them and away.
“Will… what about Hannibal.” Adam practically squeaked the words, his throat
now tight with emotion.
Will started laughing. And laughing, and laughing. Laughing so hard he allowed
himself to slip down the wall until he sat on the floor. And then he was crying
and his head was in his hands and Adam didn’t understand what was happening. He
froze to the spot. Nigel squeezed his shoulders and then moved over to Will.
Placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you ok Will?” Nigel asked gently.
Will shook his head and then leaned forward into Nigel. Nigel for his part
looked a little surprised but then hugged Will to him as the boy sobbed. Adam
took a breath and moved forward crouching beside them he placed a hand on
Will’s back.
“Are you sick Will?” He asked quietly.
“He’s drunk, Adam.” Nigel replied in little more than a whisper. “What’s going
on Will. You want us to take you home?”
Will nodded against Nigel’s chest and then pulled back to look at them both.
“Hannibal… he…” More tears he couldn’t hold back. He sucked in a breath and
steadied himself. “We’re not together any more.”
Adam and Nigel looked at each other for a quick moment. Adam was confused, how
could they not be together. That didn’t make any sense at all. He opened his
mouth to say something and then stopped, not wanting to say or ask anything
that might upset Will.
Will sat back from them both now and buried his head in his hands. His words
came out muffled as a result - “I just wanted to forget… I can… All I can think
of is his hands on me and I just wanted to forget.”
Adam felt a stab of sadness for his cousin and shuffled close, snuggled up to
Will’s side and slipped his arms around him. “It’ll be ok.” He whispered.
“I’ll go bring the car around.” Nigel said softly, leaving the cousins huddled
together.
*
Hannibal looked at the clock and wondered what Will was doing. Was he at the
dance? Did he stay home?
He was sat in the study, hiding perhaps. He had spent most of the last couple
of days hiding when he wasn’t at school. He would get home and head for the
study or the conservatory - going to his room was too obvious and he’d be too
easily found and forced to spend time getting to know Bedelia.
Although his mother was quiet on the subject, an air of sadness about her, his
father was the opposite. He was determined that Hannibal make Bedelia happy, he
didn’t want her family to have any cause to rescind the deal. They didn’t have
the money available - it was tied up in the castle and land back in Lithuania.
If the Du Marier’s requested the return of the money they would in effect own
the Count’s titled land and the castle built by his ancestors. That was what
his happiness was worth, Hannibal mused. What he was worth to his family.
He pulled books from his bag, thinking he might attempt homework, though so far
that had been impossible since the last time he saw Will. A flash of images
then - Will over him - images from their first time together after Homecoming
mixed up with the last time they were together at Will’s house. A mix of tender
love and heated hatred. Hannibal tried to shake the image away.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been sat there when Mischa opened the door,
followed closely by Bedelia. An apology writ large on his sister’s face. Their
parents must have asked her to help Bedelia find him.
“Hann, um…”
Hannibal smiled at Mischa and nodded - she didn’t need to say anything, he
didn’t blame her. Mischa returned the smile and headed back passed Bedelia and
out of the study.
Bedelia watched her go and then turned to Hannibal. “I’m starting to think
you’re trying to avoid me.”
Almost succeeding - he wanted to reply but bit his tongue against the rudeness.
“Hannibal.” An exasperated note to her voice. “I understand that you may
dislike me. I won’t insult you by asking you to try and get to know me. It
hardly matters does it?” A pause, but Hannibal didn’t think a reply was
necessary. “But I do ask that you try to learn tolerance at least. Otherwise
this is going to get quite tedious for the both of us.”
Hannibal could only reply with a sigh as he sat back in the chair.
“I’ll come to my point. I understand from my parents that you had formed an
attachment with some boy.” She paused and he couldn’t help but give a reaction
- his jaw tightening at her words. The grin this brought forth from her was
quite cruel. “I see it is true then. Hannibal I am willing to offer a deal for
you.” She walked over and perched on the edge of the ornate desk. “If you wish,
you can have your boy on the side, as long as you’re discreet of course. In
return I would ask that you defer to me in all things. We will be staying at
the castle when we return to Lithuania, but after that I wish to come to
America and explore it further. And so we shall, and I will choose where, the
house, the staff. And of course I would need some restrictions on your boy -
it’s not as though he could live and travel with us.” She laughed lightly. “I
think it quite a fair deal.” She smiled. The cat who got the cream.
Hannibal stood and started from the room.
“Are you not going to give me your answer, Hannibal?”
He stopped and sighed before turning to her. “Miss Du Maurier, my boy, as you
put it, has my deepest affection and respect. There is no possible way I would
install him in such a degrading position.” Little more than a prostitute, he
would be as enslaved as Hannibal. All for one family’s greed for a title, and
another’s covetousness of wealth. “You will have to find some other way to
exercise over me the total control that you seek.”
He noted her grin. For her this was a game and she obviously had more tricks up
her sleeve. He turned on his heel and left the room.
“Mischa?” His sister looked stricken as he found her just beyond the door.
“Hannibal, I don’t understand. Why does she want to hurt you and Will?” The
tears in her eyes caused a stab of pain in his heart.
“Come dearest, not here…” He lead her away from the study and back towards her
room.
*
Will groaned as he woke. His head thumping.
He felt the warmth of a body next to him and for the slightest of moments his
heart skipped a beat. And then the night before came flooding back to him. He
sat up and looked over. Adam was at an awkward angle on top of the covers, a
book next to him - he must have fallen asleep whilst sitting on Will’s bed
reading. Nigel was slumped, also sleeping, in the beat up old armchair in the
corner of the room.
He eased himself from the bed and into the bathroom, only returning once he had
emptied his painfully full bladder. Adam was awake then and on Will’s phone.
“... oh, no he’s back now. Do you want… ok, here he is.” He put his hand over
the receiver and held the phone out to Will. “It’s Hannibal’s sister, she just
called so I picked up…”
Will swallowed, his heart heavy as he nodded and took the phone.
“Mischa?”
“Will… I…” a sob from the girl made Will’s throat tighten. “I didn’t know what
my parents had planned with Bedelia… What Hann...“ That was her name then.
“Mischa honey, don’t cry… Hannibal has to do the right thing…” He found himself
suddenly in the odd position of wanting to defend Hannibal to his sister.
“The right thing is being with you Will!” Angry tone now. Eight year old
indignation.
“He has to do this, Mischa.” He found himself saying.
“No… It’s not fair. He loves you, you love him. I hate this!” A pause and a
gasp for air. “Hannibal explained everything… I’d rather be poor than for
Hannibal to have to marry her.” Will found himself smiling at that, such a
sweet child. “I’m going to tell my parents that!”
“Mischa…” he sighed. “It doesn’t really matter what you say. The situation is
unchangeable. And even if Hannibal didn’t marry her, I’m not sure Hannibal and
I can go back to how things were. I’m sorry honey. I…” His throat closed off
and he choked out a sob. He couldn’t do this. He pressed end on the call and
looked up to see both Adam and Nigel now awake and looking at him.
*
Hannibal could hear the shouting from the end of the hall but it took him until
he reached the door to realise it was his father and Mischa. A chill ran
through him. They never fought, and even if Mischa had ever done anything
wrong, his father would never have raised his voice to her. Not as he was in
that moment.
Hannibal opened the door and all went quiet for a moment.
“Did you put her up to this?” the Count angrily asked of Hannibal and then
turned back to Mischa when he received a confused expression. “It is not your
place to question your parents-”
“It’s my future! I don’t want it.” Mischa was angry, her face was red but she
wasn’t close to tears, she was coldly determined.
Hannibal stood rooted to the spot and slightly shocked by what he had walked in
on. Was Mischa really admonishing their father? By virtue of the schooling she
had received and the general intelligence they had both been blessed with, she
was older than her 8 years and, it appeared, quite formidable.
“Young lady…”
“No father! I will not allow you to use me as an excuse in this. Hannibal must
marry Bedelia or they will need to be paid back with lands that we do not use
and a castle we do not live in. And a fortune we do not need.” She was raising
her voice but not quite shouting. “I won’t be part of it. I refuse. I don’t
want any of it. If it means Hannibal’s happiness! If you are happy to sell his
happiness, to sell him - because that is what you’re doing no matter what else
you have convinced yourself of - then I do not want any gain from it. If you
feel these things are more important than your son then that is on you, but my
brother and his happiness is worth a fortune to me.”
There was silence for a moment. All the more deafening for the cessation of the
loud voices. The Count’s face creased in pain as he looked between a determined
Mischa and a resigned Hannibal.
***** Free To Run *****
Chapter Summary
     There are a lot of decisions ahead for the Lecter family. And Will
     has to decide whether or not to stop Hannibal leaving town.
Chapter Notes
     When I started this installment I just thought "ohhhh, I wonder what
     would happen if Hannibal was betrothed to Bedelia in an arranged
     marriage!!??!" and for some reason didn't consider that that might
     get... angsty. This is possibly the most angst I have ever written
     and early on I thought I might have written myself into a corner. But
     here were are at the end and the eventual happy ending. Thanks for
     sticking with it!! :D <3
“Mr Du Maurier, an unexpected pleasure…” The Count greeted as the man was shown
through to the study where he and Hannibal had been sitting.
“Hardly!” Spat the man. “You surely can’t imagine that I would have taken no
action after receiving the call from your lawyers and my daughter on the next
plane home? Indeed I have come in person to see if we can resolve this folly as
men.”
The Count, a diplomat of many years and charming to the last, smiled and
nodded. “Of course. If you do not have other arrangements you are more than
welcome to stay in our guest wing.”
“I hope not to stay that long Count.” The title said with disdain. “I believe
this is something easily remedied - I can send for my daughter and we will have
no delay in this wedding. This is enough stalling.”
“Stalling? Mr Du Maurier, I am sure my lawyers informed you that the marriage
is not going to take place. I apologise for the inconvenience but we have
decided instead to return the money your family was so kind as to loan us.” The
Count walked to his desk and picked up a dossier. “You will find details in
here… of course we have accounted for inflation and interest.”
“This is absurd! There was never a deal to return the money. We don’t need the
money, we want the title. You’re son is going to marry my daughter.” The man’s
face, already ruddy, was heating through several shades of red.
Hannibal stood silent the whole time. Poised politely behind the desk, hands
clasped behind his back and head held high.
Almost two weeks had passed since Mischa had confronted their father. Shortly
after Hannibal had arrived in the study, their mother had also joined them.
Within minutes the Countess was a weeping mess. She clutched hold of Hannibal
and turned to her husband. “You are not selling my son.” She snapped the words
out much to the surprise of all. Evidently she had decided that the agreement
with the Du Maurier family did not sit well with her now that the reality of it
had sunk in - that it was costing her son’s happiness and freedom. Hannibal had
taken his mother’s hand and squeezed it.
There was then talking and shouting and crying for hours. None of this from
Hannibal who remained still and quiet as the rest of his family argued over his
fate -
“It’s not that I wish this for Hannibal but the deal was stuck and there is no
other choice.” His father’s words weren’t all that convincing when he said he
did not wish it - if anything he sounded completely unmoved by the whole
situation.
Mischa and his mother had argued in his favour, and it was only their onslaught
and threats - the final one being that the Countess would be left no choice but
to leave and take the children with her for Hannibal’s protection - that seemed
to bring the Count to his senses. He started to really consider what he was
doing. What he was asking of Hannibal. Though Hannibal suspected that he just
wanted to avoid the embarrassment of a family breakup, and worse yet, it being
made public in the press.
“You do not wish it.” It wasn’t really a question.
Hannibal spoke for the first time in hours. “I wish for nothing.” He was
resigned. “This arrangement has broken my heart, it has torn me from the person
I love most in this world and now it tears my family apart. I do whatever it is
you wish, I have never been asked what I wish and it is too late now to
consider that.” He thought of Will - how he would likely never forgive
Hannibal, certainly never wish to be with him again even if the marriage was
called off. So what was the point. If he could not be happy then why not at
least make his family happy. “Though I thank my mother and sister for their
concern, I will marry Miss Du Maurier as arranged. There are no other options
left to me now.”
“No Hann!” Mischa cried. “I won’t let you do this.”
His mother came to him and pulled him into an embrace that he found he returned
eagerly, as he might of as a young boy. “I will not allow you.” Said quietly
but heard by all. “Your happiness means everything to me.”
Hannibal felt his chest heave and silent tears roll down his cheeks. He was
exhausted by this. He wished he could disappear into nothing. He pulled himself
together for a moment and spoke into his mother’s hair, though loud enough for
all to hear -
“If I could have wished for anything, before we came to this, it would have
been for Will. I would have wished for nothing more than to spend my life
making him as happy as he made me.” A breath to soothe the constricting pain in
his throat. “But that will never happen now. My relationship with Will has
become irreparable, so it no longer matters. You may do what you wish with me.”
Perhaps he had finally realised his son’s pain, but the Count now let out a
slight and barely audible sound of anguish. He moved to Hannibal, still in his
mother’s arms, and rested a hand on his back.
“We will be ruined.” The Count said. Hannibal tensed under his hand. “But… how
can I… I have been blind so many years to the pain this might cause. We are not
living in the age we once were.”
Hannibal knew that although his parent’s marriage was not arranged, they had
essentially chosen each other from a pool of potential appropriate options from
the society within which the families moved. Not that they hadn’t found
happiness, but not all of their peers were as lucky.
Silence continued for many minutes as his father moved to the desk and began
making notes. Mischa, who had alternated between sitting on an overstuffed
sofa, and standing in indignation, was now curled up on the sofa fighting
sleep. The Countess stepped back and out of the embrace, leading Hannibal by
the hand to the two matching armchairs facing the sofa, and sat them down in
respective chairs - hands still clasped across the space between.
After what seemed like many hours but was barely twenty minutes, the Count
looked up.
“We could keep this house. We would need to lose the staff, perhaps my salary
at the embassy would be enough to keep a small handful, less if we hope to put
the children through college. The castle, the land, all the fealty payments
therein… everything we own in Lithuania, would have to go to the Du Mauriers.”
He looked stricken and Hannibal wondered if he would decide, on weighing it up,
that it was worth selling Hannibal for.
Quietly his mother spoke, a gentle smile for her husband - “Would you not
gladly lose everything for our son? He, and Mischa, are our future - the
Lecters of the future, what need do we have of the Lecters of the past? Of
their cold corridors and swampy fields. I think we would be much better served
by investing in our children rather than ancestors long dead.”
Hannibal knew, in fact they all knew, from the look on the Count’s face - a
sort of resignation - that Hannibal would no longer be marrying Bedelia Du
Maurier. Hannibal was strangely bereft - he knew how much their ancestral home
and lands meant to his father, they meant almost as much to him. Losing them
felt like losing part of themselves, and yet it was no choice at all really. He
would lose them over Will any day. It was just heartbreaking that this had come
too late and now he had lost them both.
That thought had returned to him time and again over the days since that night
in the study - almost the exact spots where they all stood now. And he knew,
again, that he might as well have allowed it to go ahead now that he no longer
had Will any way. His father had seen to Bedelia being sent on a flight back to
Lithuania the morning after the discussion in the study, his lawyers calling
ahead. And all the time, whilst Hannibal knew it was stupid for them to lose
everything after he had already lost Will, he could not bring himself to offer
the marriage once again. He would keep his freedom, though he wasn’t sure,on
balance, that he deserved it.
He had spent his days and nights thinking of Will.
“You have my family seat sir, the fortune tied to it, I can give you no more.”
The Count was polite.
“It’s the title we want man!” Du Maurier raged. Hannibal wondered if he might
have a heart attack.
“Neither of my children are for sale, so that would be quite impossible.”
“It was not impossible fifteen years ago when the deal was struck! I will not
stand for this. My lawyers-”
“- Will do nothing.” The Count smiled amicably. “This arrangement was between
gentlemen, not a legally binding contract. Such a contract would be tantamount
to slavery sir, and that is not legal here or in Lithuania as far as I am
aware.” The Count held up his hand as Du Maurier went to object. “And as noted
it was a gentleman’s agreement, and as I no longer have land and you do not
have a title, I would be hard pushed to see either or us as gentlemen.” the
briefest of pauses and then - “Now, if you wish to discuss this further, I am
more than happy to oblige, but please know that there will be no other
resolution than that which has been settled - our debt to your family has been
repaid, accept it with good grace.”
Du Maurier was puffed up, red. He looked like he might say something but
instead turned on his heel and marched from the room.
There was silence between the two Lecters as the Count resumed his seat behind
his desk. He busied himself and didn’t look up but said -
“I am sorry Hannibal. When these arrangements were made we… I didn’t think to
the consequences.”
“Yes father.” Hannibal acknowledged for what seemed like the hundredth time.
His days were spent between apologies from his father and being urged to eat
something by his mother. He ignored completely the requests from Mischa that he
go and see Will. He would not impose himself on his love, it was not his place
to intrude after what he had done.
The Count looked up to where his son stood and looked pained. “Are you sure of
this Hannibal?”
Hannibal nodded. “I don’t… I can’t be here right now.” He wanted to be away
from his father, perhaps one day he could forgive him. He wanted to be away
from Will. It hurt too much to know he could be at his house in under an hour,
to his school in less, and not all that much further to the hotel they had
stayed in the first time they made love and the first morning they had awoken
in each other’s arms. “I can defer my entry to John Hopkins, which seems for
the best now we may not afford the fees.” resignation but no malice there -
wasn’t it a small price to pay?
“Perhaps Paris will be good for you. Your uncle and his wife will no doubt
enjoy your company.” The Count forced a smile. He didn’t want Hannibal to leave
but Hannibal wasn’t sure he cared about that. Or much about anything. His
father cleared his throat - “For what it’s worth, I liked Will. A sensible boy,
with intelligence, integrity… he suited you well.”
Hannibal wanted to be sick. Not that it matters now. He turned and left the
study without another word.
*
Will woke late. It was the weekend. There was no need to get up early and even
the lure of a fishing trip with his dad fell flat these days. At least he had
stopped missing school - it was too painful to be in his own head all the time
and school was a welcome distraction.
Adam and Nigel had taken to seeing him most nights. Either coming over and
hanging out or taking him out somewhere. They were gentle with him, pretty much
ignored he was there unless he chose to join in conversation, and yet he was
never made to feel like the third wheel on a date. The way Nigel looked at Adam
broke his heart over and over. But he was happy for them, he was even starting
to like Nigel - and had to at least admit that he treated Adam so well it hurt.
He couldn’t imagine anyone so bizarrely right for Adam. He hoped every day that
they would always be together and Adam would never feel the pain he felt.
“Will, um...you have visitors.” His dad shouted. “Are you up? Get up!” There
was a weird edge to his father’s tone. Maybe he was getting sick of Adam and
Nigel dropping around and eating half the contents of his fridge every night.
He hadn’t specifically made plans with them so it would be interesting to see
what they had come up with to occupy the freezing Saturday lunchtime. “Will!”
His father’s shout was now almost panicked. Way to overreact dad!
Will pretty much rolled out of bed, pulled on some sweatpants and a t-shirt
that had seen better days, and headed towards the front door. His dad was
already outside, the door open. Had he gone out to warn them to stop eating the
anchovies - they were his bait fish not pizza toppings! Will chuckled at how
mad it was driving his dad and was pretty sure that was the only reason Nigel
kept doing it. Or maybe he did it to make Will and Adam smile. It worked either
way.
Will stepped out onto the porch and wrapped his arms around himself against the
biting cold. He had been about to tell his dad to leave off them when he
realised it wasn’t Nigel and Adam at all. His dad was emphatically shaking the
hand of a tall, well dressed man with slightly angular features. Hannibal’s
dad, the Count. He could see Mischa standing next to him, and now they were
both being ushered to the house by his father.
Will swallowed down bile and retreated back inside. He saw his boots by the
door and considered pulling them and a coat on and disappearing through the
back. He couldn’t see them, it was almost as painful as seeing Hannibal. What
did they even want? He thought about Mischa and how sweet she was to him and
how he missed her too, but it didn’t matter. He began pulling on his boots but
it was too late, they were coming through the door.
“Will… Count Lecter has come to see you.” His dad spoke awkwardly - formalities
didn’t suit him. Will cringed inwardly, how did he ever think it would have
worked with Hannibal anyway? Their families were so different.
“Will.” A delighted yell from Mischa as she ran straight to him and wrapped her
arms around him, her head at chest height, rested there. “I’ve missed you. My
new babysitter is horrible!”
New? Why wasn’t Hannibal babysitting her? Had he already gone back to
Lithuania? Was he already married? Will felt the bile rise again and his eyes
sting at the corners.
“Will.” The Count greeted and held out his hand, which Will felt obliged to
shake. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“The sitting room.” Will’s dad urged when Will remained silent, unable to form
words. Everything hurt. “I’ll bring through some refreshments.” his dad added.
“Mischa, will you help Mr Graham?” The Count asked though it obviously wasn’t a
request. But MIscha beamed a smile and nodded. The two pairs went their
separate ways.
In the sitting room the Count sat in their beat up old sofa, Will moved to
stand by the window. Before the Count could say anything, and to be fair Will
was at a loss as to why the man was here at all, Will blurted -
“I didn’t know he was already engaged. If I’d known…” What? He wasn’t sure. He
was sure that he had started to fall in love with Hannibal Lecter from their
first meeting. How would he have reacted? At what point would it not have hurt?
Maybe if he had told Will within the first five minutes of their meeting?
Anything after that would still have resulted in a small degree of pain and
regret no matter how slight.
“I know.” The Count replied with a look of comfort. Perhaps even regret. “I’m
sorry that his not telling you caused so much pain, to you both. But I hope you
can understand his reasons as I do. It has taken me a while to understand his
feelings on all of this. Too long.”
“I… I don’t understand why you are here.” Will interjected. He didn’t want to
seem rude but neither did he want to spend time with his ex-boyfriend’s father
after said father had forced said ex into an arranged marriage.
“I wanted to apologise to you personally for my part in this situation. It has
taken me too long to see the pain this has all caused. I hope you will accept
my apology for that.”
Will felt his face burning, anger coursing through him. Was this guy serious.
“No Count Lecter, I don’t think I can accept your apology.” He spat the words,
not caring for rudeness now.
The Count, for his part, did not look in the least angry or offended, he only
gave a sharp nod of acknowledgement. “I understand.” He stood and Will thought
he was going to leave but instead he came to Will and put a hand on his
shoulder. “Will, I can ask nothing of you, much less forgiveness, but I had
hoped you might forgive Hannibal. He leaves in a few hours and Mischa urged me
to come and see you. You have time to catch him, if you could find your way to
forgive him, at the least. Nothing more if that is all you can offer.”
Will was somewhere between confused and nauseous. Did the count really expect
him to go running to the airport and accept Hannibal’s apology and then wave
him and his future wife off on their flight and send best wishes to the happy
couple?
“I’m not sure Hannibal would want that any more than I do.” Will replied
quietly, lowering his eyes to the floor.
The Count looked as though he was about to say something further but the door
opened, admitting Mr Graham and Mischa with tea trays.
It broke Will’s heart a little to admit, but Mischa looked so happy. Was she so
pleased at the match made for her brother? Perhaps she’d always hoped for a
sister and got on famously with the young woman. That hit Will like a pain
through his gut.
“Will… are you going to go see Hannibal?” She asked brightly. He saw the Count
shake his head out of the corner of his eye and her face fell. She quietly took
a seat and began setting mugs out ready for the coffee. A small and delicate
“oh.” was her only verbal response.
Will took a seat opposite her and felt bad for any pain he might be causing
her. “Are you… Um, are you going to be a bridesmaid?” He asked as his dad
started pouring out coffees.
She looked at him with a confused expression, which faded into realisation. “He
didn’t...Hannibal hasn’t talked to you has he?”
“He wrote me a letter and explained everything.”
“That’s not… He didn’t write about the marriage? About it being off?”
“What? No.” Will felt like his blood had turned to ice in his veins.
“I thought…” Mischa looked confused. “He never outright said it, but when we
spoke I thought he had let you know. I asked him to let you know.” She looked
angry now.
“Can I ask what’s going on?” This from his dad who clearly could see the look
of anguish on Will’s face.
“My son’s engagement came to an end, other arrangements were made.” The Count
explained in short. “Mischa believed that he had let Will know of this and had
heard nothing in return -” He turned to Will “Which we would totally
understand.” Then back to both he and his dad “But Hannibal is leaving today
and I had hoped that my own apology might tip the balance in having Will talk
with Hannibal.”
“Don’t let him leave Will!” Mischa pleaded.
“Mischa.” Admonishment from her father. “If Hannibal wishes to leave then we
cannot stop him. It is true we would prefer him to stay but that is not why I’m
here. I’m not asking you to convince him to stay, I am asking that you both
make your peace with each other. At the least you might be able to part as
friends.” There was something in the Count’s face - regret, guilt? Whatever the
emotion it was clear that this was his way to, at least in part, absolve
himself.
Will’s head was spinning. “I don’t… I don’t understand. Hannibal is going to
Lithuania -”
Mischa interrupted. “No, he’s going to Paris to stay with our uncle Robert. He
needed a break after everything that happened.”
Will’s stomach dropped. There were so many emotions coursing through him that
he thought he might be sick. “I can’t...I can’t deal with this. Please, can you
leave… I can’t…” Will stood and walked from the room.
*
Adam sat in the passenger seat with some coupons in his hand, flicking through
them and then reading one aloud to Nigel, adding - “I think they are only valid
one per lane not per person.” He waved the one for the bowling alley.
“We can do something else if it’s too expensive.” Nigel offered. It wasn’t like
any of them had a lot of cash - Nigel’s parents were comfortable enough, the
club doing well, but they tended to have him make his own way in the world so
they weren’t quite the bank of mum and dad. Mr Raki had a good job but being a
single parent meant things were always a little tight, same with Will and his
dad.
Nigel was happy to do pretty much anything, but Adam was convinced that the
things they did had to be elaborate enough to take Will’s mind off of Hannibal.
Nothing so far had worked, including the zoo which had cost a fucking fortune.
So today was bowling, though they’d probably have to talk Will into it- he was
often resistant. But Nigel agreed with Adam, it wasn’t good for him to wallow
in it all.
After the Winter Formal, the breakup became public knowledge - Alana had spread
it around at school along with her hopes that she and Will might get back
together.
From what Nigel could tell, she was quite a popular girl and Will had been
strangely acceptable to the popular kids because he was so ridiculously pretty
- family trait, he grinned thinking of Adam. Will had been a quirk and he and
Alana had dated a couple of months before Will realised it wasn’t really
working out - she just wanted the pretty boy without all the baggage, like the
abandonment issues from when his mum left, his sometimes crippling social
anxiety which only Adam could really understand, his need for space and time
alone. Will had explained this to them when Adam had been a little vexed the
day after the dance by seeing Will with Alana.
Will having now dated the son of a Count seemed to have also raised his stock,
and several people had shown an interest once he had returned to school the
Monday after the dance. He’d ignored them all with the exception of Alana who
he apologised to and gently rebuffed.
Mr Graham had been amazing throughout the whole thing and really helped hold
Will together. He knew what it was like to lose the love of his life after all,
not that Nigel would ever pry as to what had actually happened with Will’s mum.
He wasn’t sure Adam even knew the details.
They finally arrived at Will’s and Nigel was sure he saw a bentley pull out
from further up the street before he pulled the car up and parked. Had Hannibal
come by? It seemed unlikely from what Will had told them. Although Will didn’t
divulge all the contents, the letter he said Hannibal had sent was clearly
meant to be their final communication. And he’d be getting married any day now,
visiting his ex might be a bit odd.
Nigel felt kind of bad for Hannibal. He was team Will all the way, but Hannibal
was clearly under pressure from his family. Nigel knew what that was like and
was pretty sure he didn’t have it half as bad as Hannibal. He had been
diplomatic enough to not say that in front of Will.
When they got in the house Mr Graham looked stressed and a little washed out.
“Oh boys!” He greeted them and then started to relay the meeting that had just
taken place.
When they got to his room, Will was laid out on his bed with his face planted
in his pillow. Adam went immediately to his side and sat on the bed, taking
hold of Will’s hand. He saw Will squeeze back.
“What are you going to do?” Nigel asked. Will, still face planted, shrugged.
Adam, who appeared to still be processing the whole situation, looked
thoughtful. “Hannibal isn’t getting married.” He knew Adam had found this
really difficult to process when Will had finally revealed everything to them
the day after the dance. He couldn’t understand what was going on - why
Hannibal would suddenly be marrying someone other than Will. It had hurt him
and that made it so much harder for him to grasp.
Will finally pulled back and sat up on the bed. “He’s going to Paris.” was all
Will offered.
“You should go stop him. Tell him you love him.” Adam said ardently, eyes
sparkling.
“Adam.” a humouring tone “he kept something very big from me and broke my
trust. He really hurt me, I don’t think I can go after him.”
“But you love him.” Adam was confused again.
“I do.” Will admitted, choking back a few tears. “But-”
Adam interrupted “-it wasn’t his fault he hurt you, his family were forcing
him....”
It went on from there like a game of tennis. Nigel watched the two cousins bat
arguments between them as to why Will should or should not go and see Hannibal
before he left, possibly even stop him from leaving.
“-Besides, perhaps he wants a fresh start in France. Perhaps that’s what we
both need.”
Adam looked fit to burst, was it anger or frustration? Finally he snapped
“Will, get in the car this instant we are driving you to the airport” Both Will
and Nigel were a little stunned, and yet Will started to move.
*
Hannibal had declined his father’s offer to drive him to the airport and
instead had been driven by the chauffeur that they would likely not be able to
afford in a month. This seemed no hardship to anyone except his father who was
still struggling with the idea of living only on his income rather than the
family wealth. It had been a quick and simple thing to transfer over the castle
and lands. Knowing their stay in America could be several years, they had
brought many furnishings and items of sentimental value from the castle when
they had moved. Even so, he knew his father was sad to have given over the
castle with the entire remaining contents - family heirlooms all, and art worth
a small fortune in itself. His mother had insisted it was a small price to pay
to save their son, and sometimes he thought his father might share the opinion.
Not always.
It wasn’t that his father was a bad person, he was of a different generation
and had been facing ruin when he made the arrangement. Was he a bad father?
Perhaps. Regardless of anything else, Hannibal found himself unable to be
around his father. He did not hate the man but he could not ignore the pain he
had caused. He could not see the pain in Mischa’s face over the whole thing and
her want for him to reunite with Will. He could not live with Will so close and
yet so far.
Cruelly perhaps, he had allowed Mischa to believe that he had informed Will of
the change in circumstances. She had asked and asked and he stopped replying in
the negative rather than truly telling her he had. But he needed her to stop.
He couldn’t hear about Will any longer and his flight couldn’t come soon
enough.
In his eagerness to leave, Hannibal had arrived at the airport earlier than
necessary. He decided to sit and have a coffee, look over the email from his
uncle regarding how to reach him once the plane landed. Maybe he’d even start
on the book he’d brought for the flight, though knew realistically that was
ridiculous. He hadn’t read anything since he last saw Will, didn’t have the
concentration necessary to bring his mind from Will long enough to focus on a
book. He had drawn though. From memory, sketches and sketches of Will, of the
little cabin in Wolf Trap, of the hotel after Homecoming, of the park they met
in. His sketch pad was a historical document plotting their lives together.
Instinctively, Hannibal put his hand over his breast pocket, thinking of the
nude sketch that lay within.
From experience, Hannibal knew that the best place for coffee - less busy and
more cosy - was the little shop in the main building. It was before the check-
in desks, and wasn’t ever as hectic as those in the departure lounge. Looking
at the boards he could see quite how early he was, his flight wouldn’t be
available for check in for sometime. He got a coffee and took a seat directly
facing one of the digital update boards so that he could see when he had to
head through to departures. He stared at the board but let his thoughts drift.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lost in thought, paying no attention to the
flight information at all, but it was long enough for his check-in desk to open
and now be flashing on the screen that it would be closing shortly. Grabbing
his luggage he moved swiftly towards the desk.
There was a small queue, which was surprising - odd that so many people were
cutting it as fine. He looked passed them to see the two staff at the desk
looking rather put upon. There was some kind of hold up - three people stood at
the desk.
“I’m sorry, but I am not going to repeat this again. We cannot let you through
to departures without a ticket, we cannot give you information on passengers
who may or may not be on this flight, there is nothing we can do to help you
and I’d appreciate if you calmed down.”
“I am very fucking calm!” A deep, rough voice with a Romanian accent. Not
Nigel, surely? Hannibal moved out of the line and started forward slightly to
get a better look, the coincidence would be baffling. But yes, there he was,
leaning - not menacingly but imposing - over the desk, now speaking in low
tones with the woman who had just spoken. Next to him two slight figures, both
with curly hair, both pale. Adam, he realised. But then, they could almost both
be Adam.
“You don’t understand!” Definitely Adam’s voice. “It’s really important…”
“Please. Let’s just go…” The third person sounded exhausted and Hannibal
sympathised.
And then that one, who wasn’t quite Adam, turned. And suddenly they were
looking at each other as his companions continued talking to the staff. And
Hannibal’s heart stopped.
“Will?” He breathed the word, no one could have heard it. It could almost be
Will. He was thinner, skinny like Adam but an unhealthy size on the slightly
bigger frame. His skin wasn’t just pale, it was palid, with the exception of
dark circles around sunken eyes. Hannibal felt a stab in his heart. Could it be
Will? His eyes were the same colour but lacked the brightness of Will’s.
They, neither of them, moved nor turned away. And then Adam was looking at Will
and then following his line of sight to Hannibal. A smile then spreading over
his face.
“Hannibal! Nigel look, it’s Hannibal… we found him!” Adam was moving forward
now. Nigel leaving a few quiet parting words with the staff, who now looked
rather affronted, but Will still stood frozen. And Hannibal wanted to go to
him. He wanted it so badly. Had he done that to him? When was the last time he
ate properly or slept? Perhaps the same time as Hannibal.
“Fuck, he looks as bad as Will.” He heard Nigel. Saw Adam’s concerned face.
Yes, he probably did. He hadn’t eaten or slept properly since the last time he
saw Will. He’d only showered and dressed daily because otherwise his father
would have had the staff bathe him.
It was only as they neared him that Nigel and Adam realised Will hadn’t
followed. Adam turned -
“Will, we found him.” Adam smiled.
And then Will was moving, as though the words had woken him up. He turned,
moved quickly. Heading for the exit.
“Fuck!” He heard Nigel say, but nothing else because they were soon out of
earshot as he took off after Will. He wasn’t sure why. He had made up his mind
to leave Will be, he’d already caused him enough pain. He had decided not to
make contact and certainly not to see him in person because, as now was proven,
he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop himself.
“Will please.” Hannibal caught up with him and touched his arm lightly, didn’t
dare take hold of it. “At the least… let me say goodbye.”
Will stopped but did not turn. His breath was heaving, but the exertion alone
couldn’t have caused that. Was he crying?
Will didn’t turn but after a long inhale and stilted exhale, he spoke - “You…
you didn’t tell me things had changed. Your father and Mischa came and saw
me…”a sharp sob seemed to escape. “Do you know how… embarrassing… hurtful…”
Another exhale. “I can’t believe, after everything, you wouldn’t just let me
know… so that I could handle this, so that when people start telling me about
it, I don’t feel like I’m the last to know- like I never meant any-fucking-
thing to you.”
“Will…” Hannibal’s voice barely above a whisper. “You know that isn’t true… you
meant… you mean everything to me.” He paused, unable to see how he could make
any of this better. He really did need to leave, not just because he was on the
verge of missing his flight, but for Will’s sake. He needed to stop all this
pain he was causing and get out of Will’s life - let him heal. He reached out
and gently squeezed Will’s hand. “It doesn’t really matter what I say, but I
love you, I am so deeply sorry, and I… I wish you so much happiness.” He let
Will’s hand drop and went to walk back to check in.
And then Will turned and caught his hand. “You’re not going to fucking walk
away from me Hannibal. You owe me that much at least.”
Hannibal stopped, he couldn’t argue with that, but he was also shocked now to
see Will up close. He couldn’t help reach out his hand, he cupped Will’s cheek.
“Did I do this to you?” His heartbreak was clear in his broken voice.
Will, perhaps an involuntary action for it seemed to surprise himself as much
as Hannibal, leaned into the hand, eyes closing. And Hannibal knew the feeling
- he had missed the touch of Will so much it had become a physical pain.
“Can I hold you?” Hannibal asked, his voice still breaking with emotion.
They were frozen for moments that felt like hours before, finally, Will gave a
sharp nod and Hannibal enclosed him within his arms. One to the small of Will’s
back and the other in his hair, pressing Will into him as he buried his nose in
familiar curls.
This was difficult. So difficult. And he knew he shouldn’t have done it. How
much this just kept hurting them both. But it was just as difficult not to do
this - faced with the person he loved the most in the world in pain, pain he
had caused, how could he not hold him?
He might have held him forever if he didn’t know how much harder that would
make it for them both.
“Will… my flight…” He murmured into Will’s hair.
He felt Will catch his breath, holding a sob. And then, before he even had
chance to pull away, Will was clinging to him.
“You can’t go. No… Please Hannibal… Don’t go…” Forceful words punctuated with
sobs that broke Hannibal’s heart afresh. “I wasn’t going to do this, they made
me come here. I wasn’t… I didn’t want to. After everything, I thought I didn’t
want you back, I thought I could hate you but I can’t.”
Hannibal realised his own face was now wet with silent tears and his arms ached
from how tense they were around Will’s form. “Will… I’ve… I’ve hurt you so
much. I can’t ask you to forgive me, I can’t ask you to bare my being around -
I will happily go away and let you be.”
“I don’t want that.” Will pulled back now and looked at Hannibal with a
fierceness in his eyes. “You can’t decide that will be the best thing for me.
You can’t go to France because of me - you’ll be taking another choice away
from me!”
“And what would you have me do Will? What would you choose?”
“I wouldn’t have you do anything, only what you want. If you want to go to
Paris then go, I won’t stop you. But don’t go because of me, that’s unfair
Hann.” The anger flashing in Will’s eyes pulled at Hannibal’s gut. Will was
right, he would be making another decision for them both without asking Will
what he wanted. What he needed.
There was silence for a moment and then Will’s hand was on his cheek and he
pulled his face close, almost close enough to kiss.
“If you want to stay, please stay.” There was a note of pleading in Will’s
voice. “If you don’t want to ever see me again, then avoid me, it should be
easy… But don’t leave just to avoid me.”
Hannibal swallowed and then cleared his suddenly dry throat. Considering his
words carefully as he lost himself in Will’s eyes. “And what if I don’t want to
avoid you? Do you want me to avoid you? Do you want to avoid me?”
Both Will’s hands moved up into his hair, their bodies pressed together and
faces, mouths, so close, Hannibal let out a quiet whimper of want, need.
“You weren’t given a choice so you should have known better than to take mine
from me. I...It’s going to be hard to get over that. But I’m willing to try.
Because I know this situation has hurt you just as much, if not more than it
has me. I didn’t come here to do this, I didn’t want to do this, but I know
that I need you when I’m sad and hurt. If you need me when you’re sad and hurt
then tell me now and we can start over. But if not, I won’t stand in your way,
I’ll let you go.”
Over the tanoy came the final call for the check-in for the Paris flight, and
Will tensed on hearing it. A sudden look of fear on his face. And that was it.
How could Hannibal leave. Now that he knew that he and Will might be able to
get through this. Now that he could look into the face of the boy he loved and
see the abject terror there at the thought of them being separated by an ocean.
“I’ve been demonstrably stupid Will, please forgive me that at least.” Hannibal
buried his face in the crook of Will’s neck. “I can’t leave you, not again.”
Will whimpered and pulled him somehow closer than they already were. And then
their mouths found each other’s - quick, needy kisses, a reassurance that each
of them were there. And then slower, exploration, reacquaintance. Their hands
clutching to each other.
Hannibal wasn’t sure Will would ever totally get over what he had put him
through, but he was going to spend as much time as Will would allow making up
for it - forever if Will would have him.
The kisses melted into a crushing embrace, broken only by the final tannoy
announcement that the check-in desk for Paris was now closed. Will pulled back
and let out a light laugh. A laugh. It was musical and the sparkle in his eyes
was breathtaking. And Hannibal wasn’t sure he could keep breathing.
“Let's go find your luggage.” Will murmured against Hannibal’s cheek. Looking
back to the counter Hannibal could see his bags were still where he had left
them, guarded by an apparently delighted Adam and an amused Nigel. Hannibal let
out a laugh then.
Will went to pull away but Hannibal held him in place with a sudden and
difficult realisation -
“Will… I… I can’t go home. I can’t be there, be around my father. I can’t deal
with that right now.” Will look confused for a moment, did he think Hannibal
was still going to leave? He didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings.
“Can I, um, stay with you. Just for tonight, I will find a hotel tomorrow - if
I can still afford one....”
Hannibal wasn’t able to continue. He wasn’t sure what he might have said, but
it had been apparently rendered unnecessary as Will kissed him again. Soft,
languid. Breathing a sigh into his mouth that Hannibal gratefully swallowed
down. Time might well have stopped, Hannibal couldn’t be sure. All he knew was
that his hands were in Will’s curls, that Will’s hands were grabbing his back,
pulling him tight to him. That they needed each other at that moment in any way
possible. So much so that Hannibal was quite sure that the drive to Will’s
house would be almost unbearable. He could hardly think about it, his mind was
consumed. The only reason he finally, definitely knew that time had not stopped
was because he could hear the gruff Romanian voice approaching them -
“This is lovely and all, but it’s time to leave before the staff turn a hose on
you…”
Will laughed but continued to kiss Hannibal. And Hannibal wasn’t about to stop
Will doing anything he wanted to do.
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