This Is My Design.

Part 3: In Which There Is A Lot Of Angst. And Hands.

This is our continuing Hannibal fanfic story, written via Twitter once a week whilst waiting for episodes of series 2 to air.

Will held Hannibal's hand close to his face. He studied its long fingers, neat nails, strong veins. He contemplated the actions he believed that this hand had performed. The delicate surgeries; the wanton butchery.

‘You seem hesitant, Will,’ Hannibal said. Has something changed between us? Perhaps you cannot fully see my perfect design?’

'I see everything,' said Will. 'I believe I understand it all. I see you exposed, Hannibal, like a butterfly on a pin.'

‘You don’t know how long I’ve waited for someone to know me, the way you do Will Graham. And now the moment is upon us…’

Deliberately, Will placed Hannibal's hand on his chest, above his heart. 'I know you, Hannibal. But do I fear you?'

‘You should fear me, Will.’ Hannibal covered Will’s hand with his. Blood pounded under his skin. ‘And I should fear you. For no two forces as powerful as our desire to be together can result in anything other than mutual perfect destruction.’

'I would do anything to take you down, Dr Lecter,' ground out Will. His heart was pounding so hard that his body swayed.

‘To love me is to defeat me.’ Hannibal gripped Will. ‘The only way to kill me is to take my heart, just as I will take yours.’

'And then what do we do?' grimaced Will. 'Eat each other? Drown in the taste of our mutual flesh?'

‘Why not?’ Hannibal pulled Will close, their lips brushing. ‘Why not surrender to that which you cannot escape. Consume me.’

Will closed his eyes. He gritted his teeth. He knew that to surrender was to be damned forever.

Hannibal released him. Cold air rushed between them. ‘You must choose to be mine, Will Graham. Admit your hunger for me.’

'I am…hungry,' said Will. 'With a need that nothing and no one seems to satisfy. I feel that you've crawled inside my mind.'

‘I am inside you, Will. And you are inside me.’ Hannibal held out his hand. 'We have become one another. In all but….body.’

Will clenched his fists. 'I am not you,' he gritted. 'I am not. But I desire everything that you do. What does that make me?'

‘What does that make you?’ Hannibal’s mouth twitched into something like a smile. ‘I think you’ll find that makes you mine.'