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Hannibal chatted pleasantly, continually turning to make sure Will was comfortable and feeling included. Will always offered him the same reassuring smile when their eyes met, and Hannibal always smiled back. In truth, Will couldn’t care less about what was going on around him. He had run out of the desire to interact with anyone else her some time ago, but he was enjoying the opportunity to see Hannibal enjoying himself.
Hannibal was a master of his craft, and this was the studio where he performed. He held everyone in the room in the palm of his hand, like he had cast a spell over them. It was endlessly entertaining, and it saved Will the trouble of having to do anything. If he just stood there with Hannibal, everyone basically ignored him.
Will didn’t know what had made Hannibal invite him tonight. They were friends, and Will enjoyed Hannibal’s company more than anyone else’s, but Hannibal had never asked Will to go with him anywhere before. Still, Will was enjoying himself because Hannibal was enjoying himself, and Will wasn’t expected to do anything.
Currently, Hannibal was entertaining the crowd with his vast knowledge of the Divina Comedia. Will was glad he was able to keep up with the conversation, because he knew there were plenty of things Hannibal knew that he wouldn’t have been able to follow.
“Don’t you think you should give your companion a chance to talk?” a voice cut through, interrupting Hannibal, “he hasn’t hardly said anything, and he must not be stupid if you keep him around.”
Will turned to see the man who had spoken, his mood immediately turning sour. He felt Hannibal tense at the interruption, and the insinuation that he was somehow strong arming Will out of the conversation. Before Hannibal could say anything, Will put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“Well, someone sure hasn’t been paying attention,” Will said to the rude man, having no patience at all for this kind of thing, “Doctor Lecter is keenly aware of how I’m doing right now, and if I wanted to say anything to you, he would make sure I had the opportunity. Doctor Lecter abhors rudeness, and would never let himself talk over someone like you seem to be implying. I didn’t want to say anything, because I knew I didn’t have the energy to be polite to people like you, who live for drama and want to cause problems whenever they can. Doctor Lecter has been trying to keep you entertained so you wouldn’t make me talk. Now that you’ve gone and done it, everyone gets to see just what a fool you are, and you’ve made me be rude when I was trying to avoid that.”
Will turned back to Hannibal with a scowl.
“I apologize, Doctor Lecter, for my discourtesy.”
Hannibal was looking at Will with wide eyes, surprised by Will’s outburst. While Will hadn’t raised his voice, he had spoken forcefully and harshly. It was something Hannibal wasn’t a complete stranger to, especially considering how they had met, but Will had never directed his anger at someone else in front of Hannibal like this. Not somewhere like this.
“I also apologize on behalf of whoever this is, because clearly he isn’t going to do it himself.”
Will felt shame well up in his chest from how Hannibal was looking at him. It was strange and new, and he didn’t know what it meant. He wished he hadn’t done this, but now it was done.
Will ducked his head, stepping back beside Hannibal and shrinking in on himself.
“I think we shall be taking our leave now,” he heard Hannibal say, “Thank you all for your time.”
With a gentle hand on Will’s arm, Hannibal led him away through the crowd. No one tried to stop them, and neither of them spoke until they were outside and finally at the car again.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Hannibal,” Will said, rubbing at his face, “I was trying not to embarrass you, but when that guy started talking I just-“
Hannibal interrupted Will by turning him and kissing him.
With his back against the Bentley, Will couldn’t have effectively pulled away, but that was honestly the furthest thing from his mind in the moment. His mind had gone entirely blank in the first second of the kiss, like a computer crashing and all systems going offline. Then, he wondered what on earth could have made Hannibal do something like this.
“I apologize,” Hannibal said when he pulled away, and he did look somewhat contrite, “I was afraid the next words out of your mouth would be self-depreciation, and I could not bear to hear that from you. Not now.”
Will blinked, still trying to gather his thoughts enough to form a coherent sentence.
“I still should have asked permission before kissing you,” Hannibal continued nervously, “and I am sorry.”
Will finally caught up with himself, and he shook his head.
“you don’t have to apologize,” he said, and Hannibal finally lifted his eyes to Will’s, “I just don’t understand why you kissed me in the first place. There are easier ways to shut me up.”
Even in the low light of the evening, Will could see the flush that darkened Hannibal’s complexion. It was as bewildering as anything else that had happened that night, and Will didn’t know what to do about it. He had never seen Hannibal act this way.
“I have wanted to kiss you for some time,” Hannibal confessed, “I was waiting for some sign that you would be receptive. After you rose to my defense, I could not stop myself.”
Will frowned.
“I thought you were upset with me because I should have let you handle it,” he said, “You had everything under control, and I just made a mess of it.”
Hannibal leaned forward and set his head on Will’s shoulder, curling his hands into Will’s jacket like he had to hold on or be lost. His entire posture was vulnerable, and Will had never seen him this way. Hannibal was like a force of nature, unstoppable and inarguable. To see his soft underbelly was unthinkable.
“I do not relish always having to fight for myself,” Hannibal admitted softly, speaking into Will’s chest, “there are times I want nothing more than for someone to be my champion. I could not wish for a better champion than you.”
Will felt emotion well in his chest. He realized he had been fooled by the act Hannibal had been putting on. Hannibal hadn’t wanted anyone to know he was soft, so he had put on a face of invulnerability in order to not be taken advantage of. To not be seen as weak.
Will put his arms around Hannibal, pulling him close and trying his best to offer comfort. He wasn’t very used to this kind of thing, but the way Hannibal melted against him made him think he might be doing it alright.
Will smiled.
“If Jack knew that was all it took to reduce the Chesapeake Ripper to this, he would have tried it himself.”
Hannibal stilled, lifting his head to meet Will’s eyes again.
“You knew?”
Will huffed a soft laugh and shook his head.
“For a while now,” he admitted, “but I was curious what you would do. I wanted to find out what you were after. I guess I found out.”
Hannibal smiled softly.
“I suppose you did. What do you intend to do now?”
Will considered it, petting over Hannibal’s back. It was bizarre and somewhat comforting to hold such a predator in this way. He hadn’t expected this to be the result of his patience.
“I think we should head back to your place and talk it over. Does that sound alright?”
Hannibal nodded, smiling softly. He still seemed almost shy. Will felt compelled to protect him, and he knew there was no way he was going to give him to Jack. He would keep him.