Passion and the Skull (Hannibal Lecter)

6

Arabella found her mind regularly fixating on Hannibal as her week progressed. She found herself wondering his thoughts or his approaches to her patients or what he would think of the meals she had for breakfast or lunch each day. He would certainly grimace at a few. Arabella often found herself too tired to cook after work and made very simple sandwiches or pasta meals for her dinners.

She thought about what she would have for breakfast as her stomach rumbled and cramped in her office. The leftovers in the office fridge from a few days prior had demonstrated it had gone off and Arabella had not planned to go out until lunch time.

"Matt, I'm super hungry. Are you heading out for coffees this morning?" Arabella stuck her head out of her office door and called down the hall to her colleague, "I'd be grateful for a slice of banana bread or a pain au chocolat."

There was an office kitchen and coffee pot but sometimes people went out to get a fancier coffee or store-bought food. Often the older therapists would put that task on the interns or newbies. Matt had been around for almost a year, so Arabella knew she'd have to stop 'picking' on him soon enough.

There was no response from Matt, so Arabella peeled herself away from her desk and walked down the hall to the shared office space.

Matt was there with headphones in.

She walked up to him and leaned down, so her face was close to his.

He jumped in surprise, and she chuckled at his reaction.

"Banana bread or a pain au chocolat please with my coffee." Arabella repeated. "I'm hungry and I deserve to be fed."

"Then what a perfect timing this is." Hannibal's voice sounded from behind her.
She jolted in surprise and cursed. She turned to Hannibal and gave him a smile and nod. Her stomach kept her focused on the conversation at hand and the adrenaline from Hannibal's unexpected appearance was making her feel more in need of a sugary pick-me-up.

It was Matt's turn to chuckle after watching her jump in surprise. "Not as fun when it's you, huh?"

"All dependant on one's cognitive perception of the situation." Arabella smiled and wiggled her finger at him. "Excitement versus fear. You can pick."

"Yes. I'm so excited by you sending me out to get pastries and coffee. If I get you something and then Allison arrives, she will be really salty towards me for the rest of the day. You can call her and see if she can pick up something on the way."

Arabella crossed her arms, "Hmm, you have a point."

"Might I interrupt. I had a feeling that this may be a regular occurrence for you, so I brought breakfast and coffee." Hannibal spoke. When Arabella looked back at him, she realised his hands were full.

"Oh!" Arabella mouthed a 'sorry' to Matt and almost dragged Hannibal back to her office. She shut the door and took the items from him and placed them on her desk. Then she turned to him, finally properly acknowledging him. He was dressed in his signature three-piece suit. Ready for a day of being a therapist for the elite.

"Hello. What a lovely surprise." Arabella leaned in a kissed him. Their kiss was soft and with meaning. Arabella took it a step further and gently bit onto his bottom lip.
When they pulled apart Hannibal looked at her, amused.

"My, perhaps you are quite hungry."

"Yes. I could eat you right now." Arabella joked, looking to his lips and back to his eyes. Hannibal seemed to enjoy her saying that. His eyes shone for a moment.

"It felt improper to wait until Friday to see you next. Especially after our intimacy. I would seem impolite and uncaring."

"Well, I'd understand you were busy." Arabella perched on the edge of her desk. "You are a highly recommended psychiatrist and I'm sure your client books are constantly full."