Fandom: Red Dragon/The Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal

Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham

Rating: R/NC-17

Beta: Malakai_Amlug (thank you very much for your great help)

Summary: Sometimes running is not possible as the past catches up with you.

Notes/Warning: This is a slash story which means that it features two grown up men in love with each other and physically expressing this emotion in various forms. If you are in any way or degree homophobic, disgusted, disturbed, feel threatened or weirded out by such a relationship, please do not read any further and don’t write me any stupid e-mails to preach about the wrongs or rights of homosexual relationships.

Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story are by no means mine and belong to Thomas Harris. If you want to have some picture as a guideline for what these guys actually look like I would strongly suggest watching the movie versions of the books, which were done by DeLaurentis Pictures. As for the musical help I had with this story. The chapter titles and the paragraphs of lyrics in each chapter are songs composed and performed by Placebo. Therefore they are not mine either. I am not making any money with this and purely do it for my own amusement and entertainment.



CHAPTER EIGHT - Pure Morning


"Day's dawning
skin's crawling"


The younger man felt indescribable good in his arms. The other's slight
but still powerful frame pressed up against him, trying to crawl into
Hannibal's skin and seeking comfort from the same person that had him
tremble with fear not more than twelve hours ago. It was incredible how
things could change in such a short amount of time.

Hannibal turned his face slightly, burying his nose in the silken gold and
inhaling deeply. Will smelled very clean despite the slight tint of sweat
that was to be expected in a place of this particular climate. Underneath
Will's own body scent he was able to make out the faint residue of the
coconut scent of the other's shower lotion. Combined with the sharp smell
of oil and work, it was a heady and intoxicatingly unique combination that
greeted Hannibal.

Nothing could do this moment justice. He was able to feel the younger man
fall apart in his arms. This sudden lowering of Will's defenses was a
perfect opportunity for Hannibal to take the next step in his plan. He
didn't have to worry about any sudden walls blocking him or keeping him
from this amazing mind. Will was at a point where the older man had
complete control over him. And nothing in the world could make the former
psychiatrist give that up, nothing.

The sobs got softer and the vice-like grip with which Will clung to
Hannibal's shirt loosened considerably. He watched the former FBI special
agent closely, noting each movement. Slowly the whole body started to
relax. The breathing, which had been hitched before, grew more even.

"You are safe, Will." There was no response to that so Hannibal slowly
reached down with his left hand, caressing the tear-stained cheek that was
not pressed against his chest and finally turned the face upwards. Will's
reddened and slightly swollen eyes looked up and those incredible blue
orbs met his maroon gaze without the slightest hesitation or fear.

"What?"

The question didn't come as a surprise, because he knew that Will falling
apart didn't equal a complete stand-still of his restless mind; it still
wanted answers and explanations, now maybe even more than ever. This was
new and, for both of them, unusual territory that needed to be charted out
and explored. Will was trying to find out about his position, about what
Hannibal wanted, maybe even get a hint about the goal of their journey.

Once more Hannibal took a deep breath and inhaled the addictive scent of
one Will Graham. The longer he was able to savor this closeness between
them, the more he felt the need to ensure the permanence of this
situation. This idea that had started as an interesting notion and nice
twist on things had slowly but surely transformed into a certainty of how
things were supposed to be.

"Do you dream much Will? About chances you missed? Things you should have
done?" not even once did the younger man's demeanor change, not once did
the former FBI profiler give the tiniest implication that he was impacted
by the questions in any way. "I know that the past is haunting you and I
told you years ago that you shouldn't allow your fears to take over your
life. I even offered you to help you with your burden. I could help you
bear it now."

Hannibal's gaze bore into Will's drowsily answering gaze, looking for any
reaction. For a long time nothing happened, but then suddenly and very
cautiously the younger man reached out to Hannibal's face, tracing the
contours and mapping out the other's features.

"What exactly are you offering here, Hannibal?" Will was now slowly
stroking Hannibal's face, "I won't fight you, I am not strong enough to
and I am tired of fighting. But I need to know what you want. And why?"

Would the other understand? Was Will really willing to be so honest with
himself to face and acknowledge who he was? It was difficult and highly
dangerous to confront the other with the truth. Hannibal was not
completely sure if Will's mind was at the moment strong enough to be faced
with this. The difficulty was that all these insecurities and the lack of
knowledge were just as bad for the younger man. The question was which
option was the one to cause the least harm?

"A lot of things I said to you in the past are part of the explanation of
the `what' and `why'. You are not ready yet, Will. Take your time to take
one step after the other. With time you will understand."

Again there was no real reaction to Hannibal's words, but Will's hand had
stopped its caress and was now calmly resting at the corner of Hannibal's
mouth. "I want to go home."

"Let us go together then." Both of them remained where they were sitting
and only with combined efforts was it possible for them to get up into a
standing position. Hannibal tenderly guided Will away from the beach.


"Pure Morning"


It was close to high noon and this was already recognizable in the drastic
increase of temperature. But not only had the temperature altered, the
amount of people on the streets had doubled if not even tripled. There was
a steady flow on the dusty roads, many of the civilians were dressed in
parts of their festival costumes.

As they drew closer to the market, the air grew heavy with the smell of
fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, fish, and other food. The shouts of
the sellers echoed over the streets, offering goods and trying to engage
the people passing by.

Will unconsciously pressed closer to Hannibal, burying his fingers deeper
in the sleeve of his left arm. The older man took the advantage presented
and wrapped Will in his arm as if to protect him from all the people on
the street. If the younger man knew that the incentive behind this gesture
was not only of a protective nature, but had reasons of a completely
different kind as well, Will would have probably not allowed the contact
as readily.

Through the thin shirt, Hannibal was able to feel the other tremble
weakly. He was still surprised about this development and the future that
was now implied.

It was true that he had always been intrigued by more complex or unique
minds. As such, the former FBI profiler had always held a fascination for
him, even back when he had been sure that their acquaintance would end up
differently then he was directing it to be now.

The thing about Will was that if he was caught at the right time, it was
possible to break through the defenses he had built up to keep himself
separated from the world around him. When Hannibal had first met him,
these walls had crumbled to the ground only shortly before. In this
vulnerable state it had been easy to enter into Will's mind and not only
see the world through the FBI profiler's eyes, but also to watch the slow
and tedious work of the defenses being rebuilt. And while watching he had
made sure to construct loopholes to enable him a continuous entrance to
the other's mind.

He ought to have known, though, that it would not continue like that
forever. He had known it, to be more precise, but the younger man had been
too fast. One holiday away from Hannibal had been all that was necessary
to ensure that Will's incredible mind discovered the deception on
Hannibal's side. Back then, the older man would not have hesitated to
dispose of the threat in the person of Will Graham. These days he had
realized that the other man was actually quite essential to him and his
world.

They left the market with all its diversions behind and continued on
through the more quiet back alleys. The small streets were even dirtier
than the bigger main streets, but the enclosing houses on both sides cast
enough shadow to prevent them from getting sun burnt. Will was actually
used to the sun and its heat, but Hannibal was sure that he would not
enjoy the midday sun very much.

The sound of laughter and cheerful children's shouting informed him that
they left the center with the market and the little shops and taverns
behind and neared the outskirts where most people lived. There was less
dirt in this area, but as compensation, garbage bags were lying at the
corner of every house, waiting to be taken away and in the meantime
filling the air with a slightly sour and rotting smell.

As the alleys were constantly broadening, the litter declined and the
houses got bigger. The two men had finally reached Will's part of the
outskirts. The small alley made its way through cottages and single houses
with gardens of the white population of the town. Hannibal steered Will to
the left and directed them the rest of the way to the younger man's
cottage. He liked the calm of Will's neighborhood.

Tall palm trees and walls of bougainvillea reminded him everywhere of
their tropical location.

Around the next corner, they finally saw their goal and a tad rejuvenated,
Will hurried his pace. He no longer clung to Hannibal, but his fist still
held the other man's sleeve in its grip. The doctor smiled amused at the
unconscious gesture.

As they arrived in front of the cottage, Will stopped in his tracks and
let got of the cloth in his hand. The young man rubbed his face as if to
wake himself up and turned slowly to the man beside him who closely
watched his every move.

"Would you like to come inside?" The soft question was almost inaudible.
But Hannibal had heard it and felt another surge of pride of Will's
courage. He softened his features to a kind and patient smile.

"I would like that very much, Will."


"A friend in need's a friend indeed
A friend who bleeds is better."