Chapter Text
It's was late at night, which was Hannibal preferred hunting time. The moon looked beautiful, so high in the sky. He always felt best under the cover of darkness, but there was something so poetic about moonlight. Murder wasn't what he was doing tonight, just as it hadn't been what he was doing for the last two weeks. No, there was a task much more important at the moment. Hannibal had elevated himself to guarding the most perfect being he'd ever met.
Will had been sleep walking every day that week and it was getting worse every time. It had come to Hannibal's attention fairly quickly. Jack had called and asked for him to speak to Will, after Will had been picked up in his underwear walking down the road in the early morning hours. Hannibal had grit his teeth while thinking about all the unsavory things that could have happened to his boy.
What was worse was that Will was thoroughly embarrassed about what had happened and didn't want to talk about it at all. The only thing that he'd mentioned is that one of the officers had given him an extra sweater they'd had which at the very least covered most of his indecency while they figured out what to do with him. He'd made a small joke about getting a new souvenir sweater out of the experience that Hannibal really hadn't found funny. Then to make matters worse, Will had rejected Hannibal offer to buy him a better, warmer and softer sweater.
The first night Hannibal had perhaps been momentarily bitter about the denial of buying his Will better things. Even Hannibal himself had been unsure of what the ultimate goal was. Or he had been until he'd had found Will out in his drive way. His beautiful Will had been completely naked. It had been like watching a witch dance in the moonlight. Entrancing, captivating and mouth watering.
It was freezing outside and Will had been stand still, just shivering like there was no solution to what was happening. An Angel in the cold dark night, just waiting out there for Hannibal to swoop in and rescue him. There's a good chance that Will would have died that night, if he hadn't received Hannibal's gracious help.
Hannibal looked respectfully because he was a gentleman. And then he touched a bit unrespectfully because he knew in his heart that Will wouldn't mind. He certainly didn't smack away or protest the hand that gripped his bottom. This was the first time that Hannibal had been able to see him completely naked after all and Hannibal knew he'd always remember the moment.
It had taken Hannibal hours to warm him back up properly and get him tucked back into his bed. Will had struggled against a warm wet cloth against his skin, managing to scratch his fingernails into Hannibal chest through his shirt hard enough that it still drew blood. Hannibal had simply licked those lovely redden fingers clean of his own blood, not caring that Will was struggling against him. The sickness that was getting worse everyday was beautiful on his Will.
During the night, Hannibal was delighted to discover that Will had taken off his clothing and put it in the washer, like doing laundry had been on a check list on his mind. Hannibal had of course taken over, done the laundry folded it and put it in all appropriate locations. Will didn't have much anyways, so it had only taken 3 loads. He'd dressed Will in warmed underpants before tucking him safely back into his own bed, having enjoyed their night together.
Though, he might have been pushing it as he left just after 5 am. He didn't want Will to know that he had been there after all. And if he'd stolen a rattier pair of underwear on his way out, it could only be for some sort of evidence plant he was planning and not because of other reasons. (There were other reasons.)
Hannibal tried not to let that he'd been up all night show on his face the next day, but it didn't entirely work. He tried not to think about how his mind needed sleep now that he was getting older. In his school days it hadn't seemed to matter at all and a twenty minute nap for a night made him perfectly fine. Yet that morning he regretfully drank 4 cups of coffee and huffed Will stolen underwear to keep himself sane and present. He had a full day ahead of him and it was always harder to control himself when overtired.
Hannibal sadly only got a question mark back from Will when he'd texted the man good morning.
The second night Hannibal had dared to arrive a little bit sooner, just planning on check in on Will as he had not slept the night before. It was barely 10pm, so it might have been pushing it. But Will had complained of how exhausted he'd been feeling that day and Hannibal had recommended going to bed early. He was probably just lucky that Will had decided to listen to him.
It was oddly comforting to see Will Graham safe in his bed. Hannibal had a hard time looking away once he saw it. Will looked younger in his sleep or just less stressed. It was hard not to sneak a picture of him, but Hannibal had to resist. That would be evidence that he was sneaking around at nights when he shouldn't be, should anyone ever look into it and could lead to a deeper investigation. So he must settle to memorizing the sight instead. His Will was beautiful.
The dogs rest in their beds with a exception of one head leaking out from under the blanket at Will's feet. Hannibal did not know the name of the mutt, but thought the sight looked cute. It gives him pause, for Hannibal Lecter hasn't thought anything cute for years. Decades even.
There had been a girl in law school while he was doing his placement in the emergency room. She'd needed 43 stitches after an inmate she'd been interviewing for a school paper had picked his handcuffs and tried to bash her head in. She been most upset about the blood on her notes making them hard to read. Hannibal had thought that to be the cutest thing. He'd been the one to stitch her up and then they'd dated for the better part of three years.
Hannibal can only hope that Will wouldn't mind that he'd had other relationships in the past. He'd been once so young and foolish, not realizing that he should be waiting patiently for better things. Not that he'd expect Will Graham to have been sexually chaste either, as his boy should take pleasure without denial in any way he can. They'd have to forgive each other and vow that now together, there would never be any others.
She'd been the fun and adventurous type. People had thought it weird she was dating someone like Hannibal and twice in the relationship he'd smelled someone else on her intimately. In the end it had been her that had broke it off, wanting to move out of state to spread her wings after completing her schooling. If she hadn't, Hannibal would have probably married her beucase of how unobtrusive she was into his life. She'd often worked hard enough to be exhausted and that worked as he hadn't been sexually motivated to touch her a lot of the time.
Hannibal hadn't been sad to see her finally leave his space, but used the heartbreak to be left alone about dating for the rest of his time working at the hospital. It was a lot of work to always have a face on for him and he much preferred lengths of time alone. That time alone would easily be sacrificed for time with Will, of course.
Hannibal felt more for Will Graham then he ever had with her and he hadn't even managed to sleep with him. Yet. Hannibal didn't think it was the far off to when Will would be willing to fall into his arms, but it also hadn't happened yet. He was beginning to grow impatient. He knew Will liked him and he knew Will had interest with anal sex. A bottle of lube and a dildo safely hidden at the back of a drawer near where he sleep is the most telling sign.
Hannibal left that night, set to get some rest himself. The image of Will resting peacefully would get him through until the next time they were together. He'd restrained himself greatly that night, not even so much as touching. It's regretful that he can't just slip into bed with Will and get his needed 4.5 hours of sleep here. Hannibal doesn't even see the appeal of his own bed anymore and the money that he spent on it seems pointless. Hannibal simply wanted Will by his side.
When Hannibal texted Will good morning, this time time he gets a good morning back. And for some reason a dog picture of one of Will's mutts standing on it hind legs, begging for a treat. That's probably the biggest leap of friendship that Will has ever made with someone and Hannibal can't help but be extremely proud of his boy. The picture is immediately his screen savor and not only because Will angled it weirdly to accidentally capture one of his own toes in the picture. (It takes much self reflection and discipline to not simply crop the picture to only show Will's toe.)
Hannibal was back the very next night just passed midnight, unable to keep himself away. He'd touched himself twice that day, unable to look away from the picture he now (legally) possesses of Will's toe. The underwear for previous adventures no longer held scent of Will, but he'd still wrapped them around his member to catch his spend. He'd planned to immediately tossed them into the wash pile when he'd arrived that evening.
Instead, Hannibal was greeted with a far better sight. It was quite jarring that Will was out at the end of his long driveway just waiting for him to show up. It takes Hannibal only seconds to get out of his car and capture Will into his arms. At the very least he isn't naked this time. Maybe Hannibal shouldn't have done all his laundry?
"Mr. Lecter..." Will mumbles in his dream. His eyes are open wide but he is aware of nothing. At least he is in warm pajamas and thick socks. His feet would have probably been taking some damage if not. It's a miracle that he hadn't the first time.
"I believe I have a title." Hannibal answers, mostly because it amuses him to do so. He'd prefer if Will would start calling him Hannibal at this time or any form of endearment.
Will puffs up hilariously, like this is a matter that he wants to argue about and then deflates completely so much so that it's up to Hannibal to hold him up. "Sorry, Count Lecter." And then he snuggles into Hannibal's neck with a giggle.
It takes Hannibal several minutes to gain the capacity to think again. When he does he physically picks Will up and delivers him back into his warm bed. Going to so far to aggressively tuck the blankets around him. There shouldn't be anymore adventuring tonight. Will is too adorable. If anyone else were to find him, he wouldn't stand a chance. He's lucky that Hannibal has been looking after him these days.
As it is, Hannibal Lecter allows himself to place just three sparse kisses to Will's forehead. It's not near enough to satisfy himself, but he know that he must hold back. That it s not fair to Will to be unable to remember their first experiences together of Hannibal just takes them while he's sleeping.
They have all the time in the world come together, for Hannibal plans on them spending the rest of their lives together. Will shifts in his bed once more, and Hannibal frowns. It continues to be not good that Will is all alone out here and sleep walking. Hannibal clicks his tongue and two of Will's bigger dogs settle on either side of him on the mattress. A smaller one settles in the space between his legs. Will doesn't usually let them on the bed with him, but they weight down the blanket enough that he can't move as much. He looks comfortable, because Will is always most comfortable surrounded by dogs.
Hannibal leaves that night, giving a final kiss to his beloved's forehead. He'd be back again tomorrow.