FOUND: A Hannigram Devil AU REWRITTEN

Chapter Sixteen

Slowly but surely, Will was traversing the treacherous cliffside. The ocean roared underneath him, slapping up against the rough rock and occasionally spraying him with warm foam. When he inhaled, his throat stung with the salty air and how heavy he was breathing.

He was exhausted. He hoisted himself onto another ledge and collapsed, hovering in the limbo between salvation and what would certainly be a deadly fall. 

He craned his neck. Hannibal was peering down at him, desperation in his gaze. He was in his true form, and his skin blended into the indigo night sky. His eyes were brighter than the moon. 

"Rest now," Hannibal said to him. "Please, Will."

"I— I want to..." Will trailed off as he sank to his knees. He could hardly keep his eyes open.

"You're getting there, Will. You'll be with me eventually." He lay on his stomach in an attempt to get as close to Will as he could. "Please rest."

The moon was so bright. Will stared at it for a moment before laying down where he was. The rocks were rough against his skin.

"I want to be up there, too."

"You will be. Soon, Will, I promise. Very soon, you'll understand, and then you can join me."

"Please don't leave me."

"Never. I promise."

Will let himself drift off to sleep.

~~~

Will awoke to the sound of birds chirping and white light streaming in through a crack in the curtains. He was warm, comfortable, and utterly bewildered as to where he'd just woken up. The remnants of the previous night were eluding him, and all he knew was that he was wonderfully relaxed.

He became aware of someone else breathing beside him, and when he turned his head the sight of a sleeping Hannibal startled him out of his daze. Everything came rushing back, and fear wrapped around him— he was so reckless. What had he been thinking? He'd just let Hannibal see a part of him that no one had ever seen before, a raw side of him that he hated to show. Now he had whipped off his mask, and it wasn't to just anyone; the devil knew his real face.

He'd never been more exposed in his life.

Hannibal stirred beside him, and Will feigned sleep. He didn't want to talk, didn't want to face what the two of them had done. It hadn't gone far, but it was surely beyond the realm of professionalism.

Hannibal's hand stroked his hair, and he couldn't hold back the small hum of pleasure that escaped his lips. 

"We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to," Hannibal said, his voice thick with sleep. "As far as I'm concerned, this never happened."

Will reluctantly opened his eyes. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm so embarrassed. I just—"

"No need to be embarrassed. I reciprocated. We'll move forward from here." Hannibal leaned in and planted one more kiss on his forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. "I've enjoyed having you here, though."

"I've enjoyed being here."

The spell was soon broken; without warning, Hannibal got out of bed, picked up his shirt, and exited the room. Will caught a glimpse of the scars on his back before he pulled the sleeves over his arms.