Chapter Text
The man was sitting on a wooden throne, carved from a still rooted tree. His skull, cut off cleanly from his torso, was held by the corpse's own hands like an offering. The skull was devoid of its brain, filled instead with golden items - jewelries, dusts and coins.
Atop his headless torso, dark red carnations emerge from his spine, looking like spurting blood.
Jack Crawford felt a migraine coming up, his left eye already pulsing and a strange haze was lingering in his vision. He called an fbi trainee and asked them to fetch him an ibuprofen and his coffee.
Special Agent Will Graham said he would be at the crime scene in half an hour. For the mean time, he told his team to take as much picture as they could.
He couldn't move the corpse yet - he needed to ask, to confirm with Will, if he also thought the Chesapeake Ripper could possibly be in love. Jack stared at the red carnations, dread finding it's way into his skin.
He remembered getting the same kind of flowers years ago, as advised by a gift shop owner, on his then girlfriend's first birthday with him. The gorgeous bouquet, clueless as he was about these things, was adored by his now loving wife.
He wanted to cry in frustration, if the Ripper now has a partner, the more it would be difficult to catch him. He briefly wondered if the monster's new lover liked his gift but forced the thought away, hoping it was just his overactive mind looking for clues that weren't there.
---
"Are you sure about this? Will, there will be no-"
Will cut him off by a peck in the cheek.
"I do not dislike your gesture, but this is a serious discussion-" another peck.
"Will!" Hannibal grabbed Will's face and squished his cheeks. Will's laughter echoed around the psychiatrist's kitchen. They were having coffee, when Hannibal opened up to Will that he will leave later that night to do something.
"Can I come with you?"
"Are you sure?"
Will peeled Hannibal’s hands away from his face. Once his laughter subsided, only a subtle smile was left before he spoke, staring straight into the doctor's eyes.
"That night, when I gave you my forgiveness, and my body joined with yours for the first time, Ripper... was the moment that I've crossed the Rubicon. And I've crossed it willingly."
Fear and anticipation was simmering in his skin. Hannibal stared back at him with awe.
Hannibal, after all this time, still gets surprised by Will Graham's words and actions. When he told Will that he'd love to share this side of him with his beloved, he never really expected Will to agree, all the more push through with it.
It has been three months since they became lovers, but the doctor never once brought up this plan with Will again. The latter never asked him, too. Perhaps he was simply waiting for Hannibal to be ready, or was not really looking forward to it.
He was reckless, like Will told him. He invited Will out of excitement, while his mind and heart was giddy and his body too aroused from kissing and touching the man he was in love with.
He was terrified of possibly losing Will as quickly as he had him. The two of them getting together was already unexpectedly quick and easier than Hannibal has imagined, and sometimes it worries him that Will would realize his mistake and leave him once he witness the monster in his full form. The Ripper would be so devastated if his beloved leave him. Hannibal would be crushed.
"I can be content, fully, despite not having to share this part of my life with you. The fact that you know me and still accepted me, love me, is more than enough-"
"Is it, really?" Will cut in. "Is it truly enough for you? 'Coz it isnt, for me." Will leaned closer "I want all of you." Will purred, teasing, and yet his words were sincere.
Hannibal looked at Will severely. His eyes were teary, yet a smile was slowly forming as he absorbed Will's genuine words. Will nudged Hannibal gently. "Where do we start? Tell me how I can help."
"I only wish for you to watch me, this first time. You can decide your level of participation after that. Whatever you choose, I will be content."
Will chuckled.
"Always so thoughtful. Okay, let's do this."
Hannibal smirked, kissing Will.
"Who is it?" Will inquired.
"He's a nurse. Robert Reese. Used to work at Baltimore State Hospital but after his license was taken, he now work as a maintenance man somewhere else."
"What did he do to warrant losing a license, and to soon end up on your plate?"
"When you were hospitalized... " Will's eyes widened. That was about six months ago.
He remembered getting shot at a mission and passing out after losing so much blood. He woke up in an ICU room in Baltimore Hospital with Hannibal and Alana worriedly watching over him. He hid his smile at the memory, as he listened to Hannibal explain further.
"I noticed him administering only half your medications. Your I.V pain medications, to be exact. I came up to him and warned him that I will kill him if he doesn't take care of you properly."
"What??"
"And then I told him I will tell his Charge Nurse what I saw if he kept under dosing you. Fortunately, he stopped. You became better at a faster rate after that."
"Did you still report him?"
"Only after you were discharged. Then, I followed him a few days and learned that he was selling the drugs and gaining a lot of money from it."
"How could he make it pass the hospital guards though? Narcotics are strictly monitored."
"I honestly do not care how he does it, or what he does with it, but that what he did to you is terrible." Will shouldn't be surprised, but he was.
"But I turned out alright, yeah?" Will cannot remember most of the hospital staffs. He was asleep most of the time, but he does recall a pleasant male nurse named "Rob" during day shifts giving him meds and checking his fluids. He remembered the nurse was nice to him, smiling and asking if he's in pain all the time. He assumed he was just being attentive.
"I do remember my wounds hurting the most in the mornings, but I assumed it was just the time of the day."
"He placed you in a state of unnecessary suffering when you should have been recuperating properly. I should have noticed it sooner." Hannibal finished talking and sipped his coffee, waiting for Will to say something.
"That's it?" Will asked.
Hannibal paused, hesitant, before answering.
"Yes."
"You're omitting something, Doctor." Will narrowed his eyes at him.
"Unnecessary details, Will. Now, if you don't mind, the knives are under the sink." Will shrugged, crouching and retrieving the hidden weapons while Hannibal watched the back of his fluffy hair fondly.
"These are so fuckin' sharp, Hannibal..."
---
Former nurse Robert Reese was confused and surprised to see Special Agent Will Graham staring down at him while he was tied to Hannibal’s surgical table.
The three of them were now in Hannibal’s basement. The Ripper was preparing his equipment, as he gave Will time to observe the victim.
Their victim, Will corrected himself.
Will was currently brimming with a strange energy he cannot describe. Witnessing the Chesapeake Ripper stalking, slow and sure, and quickly incapacitating Robert with a precision that even Jack Crawford wouldn't be able to match, without a chance for the victim to realize what happened or defend himself, was a sight to behold.
He saw all of this from a distance, seated inside Hannibal’s car. He couldn't imagine the better experience - to see everything up close.
His feelings for the Ripper, which he thought he already had under control, was catching him off guard with it's sudden intensity.
"Rob, hello." he greeted. He felt a little bad for Robert, but he was surprised by his lack of concrete guilt, for letting the events unfold.
Robert Reese, despite his situation, blushed and stuttered at him.
"Will." the nurse replied nervously. Will was a bit startled that the guy knew his name.
"I'm just curious, Robert, did you mean to, uh... torture me? You were so nice to me when I was at your care, I didn't know what you did, until Hannibal told me."
"Will, I didn't want to hurt you. I swear. It was just a complication."
"A complication." Will replied coldly.
"I like you. I would not put you in danger." Will heard Hannibal scoff from across him.
"But you did."
"No. It was a mistake to prolong your stay and to gain something from it. I regret it. Will, please tell the Doctor to release me. I will not make a move on you or even go near you. I swear." he lowered his voice into a whisper, pleading. "He's crazy, Will. Stay away from him."
"I don't think you realize but, he won't let you go. Hannibal plans to kill you."
"Why are you here, Will? Did he kidnap you too?"
"No. I came here to watch."
Robert Reese's eyes went from teary, to empty, in a few quick seconds. His mask totally slipping. Will felt his whole body run cold at the man's lewd, sweeping stare.
"I should have had my way with you while I had the chance. Didn't know you like psychos, pretty boy. Does he fuck you good? I could've done it, too. Such a waste." he smirked at Will.
"That's enough Mister Reese. Will is now taking his seat from across us. Hopefully he enjoy the show."
"Are you going to gut him alive, Doctor Lecter?" Will asked, devoid of emotions.
Hannibal nodded and stared at Will as he roughly gagged Reese with a roll of medical gauze, his eyes cold and calculated, but instead of being terrified like he felt with Reese, Will was impressed and awestruck.
He held his breath as The Chesapeake Ripper lifted his knife and poised to strike his first cut unto the man's skin.
---
"The Ripper strikes again, Will. I need you here." was Jack Crawford's first words as soon as Will answered the agent's persistent phone call. Will was naked, only covered by a thin blanket which was being hogged by his still sleeping lover.
He couldn't blame Hannibal for sleeping so much, though. After all, the man was tired from last night's events. He has put so much work into his gift for Will as the latter watched him intently.
"That was so beautiful." Will breathed, staring awestruck at the Ripper's artwork.
"I am so glad you like it."
Will moved closer until their bodies were touching. He leaned up to kiss him.
" Take me to bed, Doctor Lecter... " Will whispered into Hannibal’s ear.
Hannibal has gotten even more tired after the extremely passionate event that followed.
"Hannibal, wake up."
"Stay on the bed, Will."
"Baby..."
Hannibal’s eyes opened at once. "Stop annoying me so early in the morning, love."
Will snickered.
"Come on, Jack wants us there asap. I need to see the Ripper's new work, too." he kissed Hannibal’s shoulder before standing up. Hannibal reluctantly moved, sitting up and dangling his legs at the edge of the bed.
"You're too eager for this, Will. You saw it already last night."
"Well, it would look better in the day."
"I've created a monster." Hannibal lightly shook his head, smiling.
"Love you." Will replied casually, stretching his arms and groaning as several bones snapped.
Hannibal raised his head up so quickly, Will thought he heard a cracking sound.
"Why are you so surprised? You're so silly." Will chuckled, scratching his beard nervously. He stared at Hannibal Lecter's gorgeous face and body, seeing his beloved in complete, full light for the very first time. He cannot wait to see it every day.
"Let's go, before Jack gets himself a headache."