Bloodlust: A Hannibal AU

Chapter 11

Will was brought back to the hotel to rest, meanwhile Beatrice couldn't stop pacing in hers. She held photocopies of the symbols carved into each of the corpses. She stopped dead in her tracks as the knock came at the door. Stepping over her mess of papers, she crossed the room and opened it.

"Good evening, Beatrice." Hannibal greeted her. He was changed into a navy blue suit and muted yellow tie. "Will is resting in his room for the night. Would you perhaps care to join me for dinner?" She looked down at her messy blouse, still sporting a brown stain on the side from when she tripped going back down to the crime scene earlier. Looking out the window, she realized the sun had gone down. Hannibal eyed inside the room and seemed to smirk. "I see you have been working since you got back from the scene."

"I lost track of time." Trixie said sheepishly. She eyed Hannibal cautiously. "What did you have in mind for dinner?"

"I found a lovely Italian restaurant just a few miles from this hotel. The clerk at the desk was kind enough to give me directions. Would be a waste to go by myself." He smiled then. Not the usual Cheshire grin he seemed to use so often, the one where Beatrice could tell he was trying to hide something...something important and eerie. This was, instead, a genuine grin. One that, if Trixie wasn't too careful, could sweep a grown woman off her feet. Finally, she nodded and stepped aside for Hannibal to enter the room.

"Give me a minute to change my clothes." Hastily, she unzipped her suitcase and reached for one of her comfortable yet classy dresses. She hurried into the bathroom and shut the door. There was a mumble on the other side, so she opened it just enough to hear what Hannibal was saying. "I didn't catch that!" She hollered from the restroom.

"I said, it looks like a storm went through your room." Hannibal crouched to look at the mess of markings on the victims.

"That's how I work, like a tornado." As she went to zip up her dress, she paused and bit her lip. Silently, she smacked herself for the next words that came out of her mouth. "Hannibal? Could you zip me up?" Slowly, the door opened. He stood in the half light of the lamp, almost a silhouette. Beatrice turned away from him and straightened her back. Reverently, his fingers held onto the zipper as it ascended. He placed his hand on her upper arm and pressed his fingertips into it, breathing in her scent. He paused for a brief moment at the nape of her neck. Beatrice turned her head towards him, eyes darting around his face. Without another word, he turned on heel and shut the door behind him. Trixie took a shaky breath and wanted to smack herself for what she did. She felt dirty, and yet so thrilled. She shook off the feeling, exited, sat on the bed, and put on her strappy yet sophisticated black sandals that complimented the dusty pink of the dress. She reached for her purse by the door, but it wasn't there. When she turned, Hannibal stood with one hand behind his back and the other holding her purse out to her. She smiled, relieved, and they left.

---

Ever the gentleman, Hannibal pulled out Beatrice's chair. She sat graciously, but fiddled with her hair. When he sat, she confessed, "I feel a little underdressed, Hannibal. You should have told me it was a black tie type of place." She looked awkwardly at the couples at their respective tables. Most men wore three piece suits, a few in tuxedos. Women wore sparkling floor length gowns or elegant pantsuits. Trixie's cheek heated as she looked at her simple pink dress and sandals.

"Nonsense," Hannibal grinned and leaned in. "You look ravishing." He whispered, placing his napkin on his lap and picking up the menu. Trixie couldn't help her cheeks growing brighter at the thought of being ravished by Hannibal. She pushed the thoughts away and followed his lead.

"Well, Doctor, what looks appetizing?" Beatrice's eyes glanced over the long menu at the man across from her. Though she felt in her gut that something was wrong, or even dangerous, about him, she felt safe in the moment. His eyes met hers.