Yearn | Hannigram

peaches and cream

A blacked out car with tinted windows took them down near the harbor where they were escorted to the roof of an old hotel. There, Hannibal had set up a meal, wine pairings, even desserts he knew Will loved; a bougie version of peach cobbler and cream. There was a fire pit set up in the middle for them to stay warm while they ate. It was all beautiful, meticulous, and refined; as everything Hannibal did was.

     Will allowed himself to be spoiled, let Hannibal slide raw sushi into his mouth and make him sip whatever white wine he thought would compliment it nicely. Fed like a king with a feast of beautiful food and drink arranged in a beautiful painting of pastel cherry blossom petals, all wrapped in a glistening bouquet of sliced mangoes and kiwis. Will was blushing as Hannibal dropped urchin and yellowtail onto his tongue. Letting the meat melt and dance, nodding as Hannibal explained how they harvest the urchins, the history of the delicacy.

     "Is there any reason we came all the way out here to eat sushi?" Will asked, crunching on a piece of candied ginger.

     "Can't I just indulge my desires with the man I love?" Hannibal asked wistfully, looking overtop the scattered light of the cityscape. He looked like himself here, as that dye was fading from his hair and he even adorned his usual three piece suit, tightly fit around his waist. It made Will smile, thinking of Baltimore and the way Hannibal looked all swallowed in the orange streetlights and swirled in the smoke coming off of Will's cigarettes. Of that space that they both shared in their minds, a dark office with plush leather chairs where they first saw each other for real. Where they had become each other, as Will's mind boiled over.

     "Of course. I just wonder why it is so public compared to our... hermetic months so far," Will chuckled a bit. They'd been so isolated, so enraptured in each other and in cuddling with Winston that Will kind of forgot that this was how Hannibal truly lived. He was no house husband, even if he did love to dote over Will and keep him close at all times. He probably missed his globe-trotting and decadent dinner parties far more than he'd admit.

     "I need to tell you something. And I was hoping some overly sugared southern sweets would ease your anger." Hannibal slid a plate of peach cobbler, a surprising choice given the Japanese theme of the rest of their dishes, towards Will slowly.

     Will rolled his eyes, already pissed but reluctantly taking a bite of the dessert anyway. He fought the way he wanted to groan in admiration for the way the peaches were perfectly soft, the batter doughy and sweet. "What did you do, Hannibal?"

     Hannibal sighed, taking a large sip from his glass then leaning forward to grab Will's hand. "The FBI aren't looking for you, you're dead, or at least they think you are. Alana has your dogs and I believe she is still looking after the house as well. They've removed her off of the Ripper case, off of my case. No one knows you are with me."

     Will's eyebrows furrowed, "How do they think I'm dead with no corpse? I-I don't even understand... Alana-they all think I'm dead- that you killed me? And Jack?"

     "Yes, I believe so. As for your body, I would think that they found enough of your blood and DNA around the burnt house to assume you came with Jack and I slaughtered you both. They posted that they found you and Jack's bodies; probably just to put me on edge. Freddie posted about it, how I wish we'd just killed her before we left."

     "Wha-what burnt house? You burnt it down?" Will yelped.

     "I left the fire going... and maybe gave it some extra gas to cover our tracks. While I regret not telling you, it is far better that they don't know who you are, what we've done together is still just for us."

     "Why didn't you tell me?" Will asked, softly, lip trembling only slightly. In anger or confusion, he just wasn't sure. "Or why are you telling me now?"