𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐘 | 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬

002 | thoughts & traumas

AFTER HASTILY SIGNING SOME PAPERS, (F/N) rushed up to her brother's hospital ward. the hospital air was well...hospital air. it smelt strange, as if it couldn't decide between smelling like life or death. (F/N) particularly disliked them, feeling as though they held too many secrets. empty promises, false oaths, too many what-ifs. the list goes on.

outside her brother's ward sat a pretty redhead, looking slightly glum and thoughtful, big eyes staring up as her face was held by her hands.

(F/N) panted, having to run prior to this. "you're-carrie-right? the, one who found him?"

the redhead was timid, nodding slightly. for whatever reason, (F/N) intimidated her. upon confirmation, (F/N)'s gaze softened, making Carrie less frightened. psychiatrist power, I guess. she stretched out a hand to the younger female. a groan was heard from inside the ward, and (F/N) grinned.

"come, he's awake."

they opened the door, and lo and behold, in all his glory, was Leon Kennedy. dirty blonde hair and unwavering gaze, there sat (F/N)'s older brother, atop the hospital bed. seeing his sister, his eyes visibly brightened. of course, like a gentleman should, he acknowledged Carrie, the person who found him.

"he was taking a night hike," Carrie explained, recalling the events of last night.

"he must have been unaware of the bear traps the hunters left out and his leg..." the redhead trailed off. if (F/N) was an amateur at masking emotions, she would've furrowed her brows. didn't he say he got shot?

"Carrie. thanks so much for saving this deadbeat. is there any way we can pay you back?" she said sincerely. said girl looked stunned, and waved her hands in protest. "it's really fine, I was having a pretty bad night yesterday, and while I waited for his ambulance, he sort of calmed me down."

(F/N) smiled. "Carrie, I'm so sorry to have to ask you this, but could you get me a cup of coffee?" her brother asked.

Carrie nodded hurriedly, and left the room. (F/N)'s expression morphed, and her hands were on her hips. "what's this I hear about you getting shot?" her brother sighed, looking out of the window, watching as the snow lightly landed on the sill.

"I was chasing him down. there were rumours, whispers, that he was camping in those woods, so I brought my stuff and went searching." (F/N)'s eyes widened and she pressed the left temple of her head, looking down as she started to speak.

"why would you do that? let's just...leave him in the past?"

Leon's gaze looked serious. "you know we can't. he'll find us eventually, so we might as well chase him down before we get caught."

(F/N) sighed, knowing she couldn't change his mind. she waited for him to continue.

"Carrie found me, in well. a bear trap. (he admitted that rather embarrassingly) I think he mistook me for a wild animal before that, so he shot me in the leg, and I fell onto the trap.

I'm not too sure why Carrie was there, but boy, she was a mess too. a pretty one, of course, but still. there was blood all over her dress, and she'd been crying.

so, we helped each other as much as two strangers could. I comforted her, asked her what was wrong, and asked her to help patch up my bullet wound. I didn't want the doctors here treating that. then, upon her insistence, I was brought here. got some stitches, some cocoa, the works.

she didn't squeal, and I didn't question the blood."

(F/N) hummed, processing the information she had just received. Carrie came back, bringing two cups of coffee for both of the siblings.

"thanks sugar," Leon greeted her (effectively turning her ears pink), and this time, (F/N) raised a brow at her brother's attitude. interesting. looks like old boy Leon had developed a crush.

suddenly, (F/N)'s ringtone went off. ah yes, work. "Leon, I have to go. you'll be alright, yeah?"

"don't worry, I have Carrie to count on." (F/N) smiled at the two, politely excusing herself from the room, already knowing she would be late.

HANNIBAL WAS WAITING FOR HER. if he had a watch, then, why out of habit, he'd have looked at it 30 times already. even though she was only late by around a quarter of an hour. patience, he repeated in his head. could she be seeing another patient? he asked himself, before shaking his head.

patient. he just had to be patient.

"Hannibal, I'm so sorry-this is very unprofessional of me to be late, I understand-" (F/N) rambled, apologising for her lack of punctuality. the man was slightly awed. Hannibal. she called him by his name.

"no worries, Dr. Kennedy." (F/N) let out a sigh of relief.

"however, why were you caught up?"

(F/N) debated on whether she should tell him the truth. perhaps learning about her would cause him to open up. "a family member of mine was admitted into the hospital."

Hannibal smiled, glad to be able to learn about her. she cleared her throat, gettimg the questions she wanted to ask him from out of her bag.

"now, Mr Lecter-" she was abruptly interrupted when he reached forward. "Hannibal, call me Hannibal." (F/N) scribbled something in her notes, which the cannibal desperately tried to read. she seemed rather unphased by his interruption, promptly carrying on. "how are you feeling today?"

to her surprise, the male looked up towards the ceiling and let out a sigh. "not very good I suppose,"

to this, she leaned forward, wanting him to continue. "and why might that be?"

"well, I was rudely woken up from my sleep this morning by the guards, only for my psychiatrist to be rather...late."

(F/N) nodded along, thinking of the best way to react.

"well, I'm very sorry to disappoint you, Mr Lecter. I thought that you could, just this once, overlook my punctuality. perhaps I was mistaken. as your psychiatrist, it is in my best interest that you can trust me to turn up for every session, regardless of time. however, if I am unsuitable for you, so be it. I will ask Mr Bateman for a change," (F/N) stood up, ready to leave (all this to see his reaction of course).

Hannibal's reaction was rather violent. he too, had shot up, though faster and with less grace. the guards stiffened, ready to lift their weapons. though shackled, he was strong, and was trying his best to trail after the girl. "Dr Kennedy, please-don't leave." the words were whispered, as though they were a sacred oath.

everyone in the room-except the cannibal himself-seemed surprised at his sudden gentleness. abandonment issues? (F/N) noted mentally. cautiously, she walked towards him, his dark gaze locked on her, eyes unmoving from the subject of his desires. she looked up at the man, who she realised might have had a more complicated history than what others might have thought.

she hummed. "you sure?"

"yes." he said, slightly breathless, realising that she didn't have the intention to leave, and was merely testing his sanity. he repeated once more, "yes."

she returned to her seat, continuing with her questions. "now, Mr Lecter, why do you think me leaving caused you to be so.... upset?"

Hannibal didn't reply at first. silence ensued. a lightbulb lit up in her head, and she repeated her question. "sorry, Hannibal. why was the idea of me leaving so upsetting for you?"

the room remained silent, only the light sound of their breaths being heard. the man mumbled something, prompting the girl to lean forward. he was like a child, loosely giving up perhaps what they thought to be their deepest secret.

for her benefit, and only hers, Hannibal Lecter repeated his answer once more. "childhood."