Inside Of Our Minds (Hannibal Lecter's Son)

Ashton's side

My boyfriend wrote this bit! Considering the character is based on him so all credit goes to oomegaboi221

It happens the first time in Florence.

They're on the balcony enjoying delicious wine and a gorgeous view. Mick is halfway through some story from his youth with Hannibal when Ashton feels an odd feeling begin to creep over him.

It begins slowly.

First, his gaze drifts to his left and past the hundreds of historic buildings surrounding them.

He sighs contentedly at the scene and goes to take a sip of his wine, but finds even the thought of lifting the glass to his lips exhausting.

That's alright, he thinks, reasoning that he's probably had enough to drink anyway.

He turns his attention away from the scenery back to Mick just in time to hear the funniest part of the story.

Or what he thinks is the funniest part, anyway.

Truth be told, by the time Mick has finished speaking Ashton has forgotten what was being said or what the words even meant.

But Mick is laughing, so he laughs too.

Then Mick pauses, likely expecting a response but Ashton can't seem to rise to the occasion.

Various responses come to mind but just as quickly flee and that's when panic begins to settle in.

If he stops talking Mick will stop talking and that's the last thing he wants. They're having so much fun, after all, and Mick is being so nice to him and he doesn't want it to end yet. It can't end yet.

This sudden, childish, fear of missing out only serves to further muddle his thoughts and before he can force his mouth to open Mick is asking:

"Are you okay?"

And suddenly he can breathe again.

He knows how to answer this question.

"Mhm," he hums with a smile because he is okay now. Mick is talking again which means he's doing a good job and the fun time doesn't have to end.

Mick frowns, then, and Ashton wants to frown too.

It's clear now that he's made his boyfriend sad and that's very not good.

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm," he repeats with a nod, because he feels okay, he just really wants to be talking to Mick.

But as soon as he says that he feels like a liar.

Maybe he isn't okay.

Mick looks worried and that makes him worried.

He supposes he has felt a little off.

Maybe he's sleepy?

That's no good, though, either. If he's tired then he has to go to bed and the fun time has to end and Mick will be so mad...

All of this thinking is making him anxious. Or was he already anxious?

That leads him down a whole new line of thought.

If he was already anxious does that mean he lied to Mick? Lying is a very bad thing to do. He doesn't want to be a liar.

Maybe he should tell Mick he's feeling anxious. If he tells him now then technically he didn't lie and technically—