Snared by the Ravenstag

7

Home of Dr Hannibal Lecter, Baltimore, Maryland

"Jack," Hannibal said pleasantly, a heavy book under one arm, "do you happen to know where Anna might be? I was hoping to give her this, and I realised I have never asked for her address."

He wanted to see where she lived, to know her as she would know him.

"The last I heard, she was sat reading to Frederick Chilton at his bedside at the hospital, per his request. I can call her-"

Hannibal shook his head and set the book down on a table. His mouth was a hard line, barely visible.

"No, there's no need. I merely wanted to give her this book she requested. I'd hoped she'd be at home. It's getting late."

Jack looked at Hannibal.

"You know what they say about assuming, Dr Lecter. It makes an ass out of u and me."

Hannibal's mouth twitched slightly and his eyes moved to the brandy decanter.

"Brandy?"

The two men sat discussing the case for a while when a small shadow passed by the glass.

Even from here, he could smell the salt of her tears. Jack said nothing at the doorway.

"Anna," Dr Lecter breathed without thinking, moving to go to her, "I'm sorry, Jack. Excuse me."

He barely heard his good night as he darted from the room, trying to see through the unnatural darkness.

Only when he heard her sobs did he know where she was, his heart thumping loudly. She was sat on the floor from the level of her voice, close to him.

He sat against the wall and put his arm over his knee. He reached out slowly until their hands brushed and she held on.

"Where's Pickles?"

Nothing.

"Are you injured?"

There was no sharp tang of blood, no smell of anything except the scent of her perfume and dog.

"Anna, did the lights go out? Talk to me, I'm here."

She took a shuddering breath and the darkness seemed to draw into her, sudden light blinding him for a moment when he realised the overhead lights had been on the whole time.

Oh, Anna.

Blotchy red eyes, sniffling and yet he pulled her into the safety of his arms, sacrificing his suit in the process to tears.

"It was...horrible. So horrible."

As he stroked the hair away from her face, he made a mental note to make a meal out of the one who'd caused her pain.

"So, you have umbrakinesis."

Anna blinked up at him in surprise and then saw the damage to his suit.

"I'm so sorry! I'll pay to get it dry cleaned! Your beautiful suit..."

"Umbrakinesis?" He repeated with an amused smile.

"I discovered I could control some darkness many years ago...but it was in large bursts. Not controlled. They bought me the ring to have a place to store it. Control it."

Hannibal's fingers caressed her cheek, moving to wrap around her wrist.

"I'm not afraid of you." He told her seriously, "This is a part of you and I want to see you, the real you."

Pickles yawned in the corner and stood up, eyes fixed on Hannibal.

"Oh no, no." Anna sighed, but it was too late. Pickles was led with his head in Hannibal's lap, fur falling everywhere.

"I may have to take up your earlier offer."

It was then he noticed that the dog was soaked...and so was Anna.

"You walked? In the snow in the middle of the night? Alone?"

He bit back his raw anger, trying to force the monster back between the stitching of the person suit he constructed for himself. Their hands were still grasping each other, something she noticed with a blush.

"It's-"

"Don't say fine, we need to get you out of those clothes and warm you up. I'll prepare some soup, the guest room is second on the right. I should have something you can wear."

***

Anna came back down the stairs wearing one of his old dress shirts and a pair of loose yoga pants, oddly in her size. Of course, Hannibal had made some preparations.

He gestured to the bowl of mushroom soup and bread he'd placed on the counter for her.

"How did you..."

"I pay attention, you order it most days." Her mouth tugged up into a shy smile, before fading.

"Where's my dog, Hannibal?"

Grimacing, Hannibal pointed to the corner of his immaculate kitchen, where the Labrador had eaten the bowl of leftovers Hannibal had offered and dripped the water from an old dish everywhere.

"Sorry, messy eater." Anna grinned as the dog looked towards the sound of her voice and wagged its tail, "Isn't that right?"

Hannibal finished boiling the kettle and made the hot chocolate, milky, not too sweet.

"Ok, you have been paying attention," she said dryly with some underlying tone, "thank you."

He leant against the counter and was content to just watch her.

As a loose strand of hair fell across her eyes, he moved it back, tucking it behind her ear and using the moment to drag his fingertip down the sensitive skin-

She moved away from his touch.

She ate quicker now, eager to get away from the monster that watched her.

It broke free of the person suit as she got to the door, taking her wrist and turning her to face him.

"Hannibal," she snapped, "please, let go of me."

He released her instantly.

"I-"

She opened the door and hesitated, her voice becoming softer,

"You have to decide, either you want to stay away from me or you don't."

He held the door.

"And you? What do you want?"

"If you have to ask me that, maybe you don't know me at all. Good night, Hannibal...and thank you."