Cerulean [Hannibal] ✓

discovered

It had been close to their second year anniversary when he had asked her to marry him. Maybe to others it would appear to be too early. But he didn't plan on letting the beautiful woman slip through his fingertips. She had said yes without even a moments hesitation. A great push to his ego and confidence.
In some way shape or form he loved her. To the extent he could love. He cherished her. That he most definitely did. Fiercely.

It was the day when she had walked into his office. Miriam Lass. From the FBI academy, although she practically stenched like a not yet graduated student. He found her looking at one of the portraits he had drawn. "These are incredible. She is beautiful.", she says, glancing at a portrait of Saturn on his table. He smiles and nods. "My lovely fiancé." "You are engaged, Doctor? Congratulations." "Indeed I am. Thank you." He grabs his old diary when he notices that she has spotted his inspirational art. The work he had published under his artist name. The Chesapeake Ripper. Quickly he wraps his hands around her throat, and although she struggles, quite fiercely so, he gets her to finally pass out. Was this the starting line? Did the FBI know? He quickly searches her, only to find.. Her student identification. Not even on her phone there is any indication of his identity having been blown. Without hesitation he takes her to the side, injecting her with some things, then moves her into his car. Dialing her saved number on his phone he listens to it ring twice before being picked up." "Hanni. What can I do for you?" "It'll be a bit later. I've been struck by inspiration. I apologize if you've had anything planned." "It's fine. I'm just going to bathe a bit longer. What would you like to eat when you get here? Should I make something or do you want to cook for yourself?" "If you could make that lovely Lasagna I'd be glad." "It'll be waiting for you in the oven. Take care, handsome." "I'll see you later, my love." "Charmer.." With that she hangs up. In his mind he is already playing a game with the FBI. Miriam Lass had been set onto his trail by someone. And that someone would find a surprise by him at the Academy. Then he'd change his pattern. The woman in his trunk he wouldn't eat. He needed her for later.

Placing her into a barrel and drugging her up was a solution that was good enough to him. He'd work with it. Then he drives back to his office, cleaning out car and the entire room, including her identification.
He puts it inside an envelope that, itself he puts into a little box that he places bits of hair and some syringes of her blood into, then puts the necessary shipping details on it, where to send it and such, then, with gloves, throws it into an unmonitored postbox.
After he is done with that he takes off any protective outer layers, then drives home. Fridays they'd always spent at his home. Arriving he is greeted with the scent of Saturns lasagna. And in the kitchen awaits him the dish he had asked for, nice and warm in the already turned off oven. He takes it out and serves himself, enjoying a glass of red along with it. Done with it, he puts the rest of it away to eat another time and cleans up behind him. Then he goes on the hunt for which bathroom his fiancé had chosen for her bath.
Not a hard quest, because she has the habit of softly humming or singing along to the music she always played. He knocks at the door. "Hannibal?" "I'm home." "The door is unlocked." He opens it and finds her wrapped in a towel brushing her hair as it dries. She gives him a smile. "Welcome home. Have you eaten?" "I have." He leans down and kisses her, a gesture she quickly responds to with her own. They share a smile, then he takes a seat behind her on the edge of the bathtub, the brush and blowdryer in hand. As he dries her hair and tells her about his day after she asks him, her body completely relaxed. After that she tells him about hers, until he releases her, handing her back the tools. She slides them in her own little drawer she had in his bathroom, where her personal belongings are, then takes a fresh, oversized sweater that falls off her shoulders and some yoga pants, his greatest enemy when it came to self restriction, as well as some underwear before getting dressed, placing the towel into the laundry basket. They practically lived in each others homes at that point. Their things distributed over both houses. And Saturn more often than not took his laundry to hers for a wash, returning it clean. His suits needed special treatment, therefore would go to a specialist.
But over all she had taken over a lot of the things he'd normally do himself. Not that he minded. Nor did she. Seeing as the cleaning Lady came twice a week sometimes it just didn't fit her standard, making her clean it all quickly.
He looks at her as she holds out her arms for him. Taking her hands he gets up, then quickly pulls her into his arms. She just chuckles and embraces him back.
"Hannibal. I wanted to show you something. Come on..", she tells him. "What may that be?" "It's a surprise. Come on."
He does and they enter his bedroom where a wrapped package lays on the bed. "Go ahead." He opens it and finds himself gasping softy. It's a sword. A katana. The back is slightly arched. The steel is sharp. But the leather and the sheat look worn. "It's actually a museum worthy piece so we'll have to take care of it very well but I remembered that you said you loved Japanese history. This is a piece of that. A Tao Chi sword. Those have been around for at least 2500 years. It has a pointed, sharp tip, making it a male sword. This particular blade is around 1700 years old. So its a real treasure. I hope you like it. Happy birthday, handsome." Birthday. Indeed. It was his birthday. He had forgotten himself. He didn't even truly remember his last celebration. But there he was. But.. last year she didn't know. Then how.. "How did you know it is my birthday?" "I may or may not have stumbled across your wallet and checked so that I could get a present this year. It just happened that I checked just in time.. four months prior so that I coul actually get you this." "You actually went through my wallet?" "Nope. Your drivers license and car papers layed next to it. That was sufficient." If her curiosity brought her to actually find out about his birthday.. how long would it take her to find out about his habits. "Did it now..?" "Are you annoyed with me?" "I'm not. I'm just speechless to what lengths you went just to give me a present." "Honestly I was just looking for an excuse to buy it for you." There it was. The confession. Her nervous laugh perfectly summons up how she feels. He places the sword down onto a dresser. "Come here." She does. Grabbing her waist he practically throws her onto the bed, while her arms immediately wrap around his neck. He is hunched over her. Her slowly growing hair spread around her lovely face like a dark halo. Hannibal simply kisses her, knowing it'll leave her senseless and completely vulnerable to him. He wanted her that way. Because he wanted to forget the threat he had avoided that day. Wanted to bury himself and the memory deep inside of her. Never to be rediscovered.