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Chapter Text

“I am Will Graham and I am erasing Hannibal Lecter.” 

Will sat across from Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, head of Mundare Memoria, a memory-wiping agency. His eyes were vacant despite their brilliant blue. Will held the bag he had brought close to his chest, reluctant and pained to let it go. It contained every scoured item from his house relating to Hannibal, as instructed by the agency:  cutlery, his Rolodex, a red knit sweater, some silk underwear, and several drawings of Will in various positions—you name it, Will had made sure to bring it all.

‘I don’t want to be here… but this has gotten out of hand. I’ve been through enough with Hannibal… I just want peace of mind… I need to forget him.’

“Excellent. Follow me, we need to map your brain for the parts associated with Dr. Lecter. There’s an emotional core to memories and, when you eradicate that core, it starts the degradation process,” Dr. Du Maurier explained as she led Will to a hallway and then into a cramped room with a weird contraption: a chair with a huge circular donut attached to it.

“Mr. Graham, this is Tobias Budge, one of our memory-wiping specialists. He’s great at what he does, please follow their instructions.” 

The doctor left as Budge eyed Will suspiciously and motioned for him to sit.

Will swallowed the lump in his throat as he obliged.

‘Crying in front of a stranger is not an option,’ Will reminded himself as he laid his head inside the mind-mapping apparatus. It reminded him of the MRI he needed to get for his encephalitis.

‘Hannibal let you cook in that autoimmune disease.’ Will glared at the tray in front of him, reeling from the thought.

“I’ll be taking these items and putting them in front of you. No need to speak, just think really hard of the memory you most associate with it.”

Will nodded, understanding the instructions as Budge laid the first item on the tray.

A fountain pen Hannibal often used to write his patient’s notes. Will squirmed in his seat, fighting to remain impassive. He remembered the smile plastered on his ex-partner's face when he had gifted it to him. Instead, Will bit the inside of his cheek so he’d focus on that pain rather than Hannibal’s memory. “Thank you, Will. I will treasure this.” Hannibal’s voice whispered in Will’s ear. Will frowned as he let his eyes roam the small room.

‘Even apart, I still hear you,’ Will indignantly mused and reminded himself that Hannibal wasn’t in the room; only ghosts of the past were here.

Next, it was a santoku knife. It triggered the memories of Will’s time with Hannibal in his kitchen while they cooked Lomo saltado. The meat he had harvested was from the late Randall Tier, only he claimed it to be Freddie Lounds.

“It tastes acidic,” Hannibal had identified, with a proud smile playing on his lips.

Various other items followed, but the last one was a sketch of Will as Patrolocus. It prompted him to remember the warm fireplace in Hannibal’s office. The topic was how hiding and revealing was a common theme in the Greek epics, the ‘Iliad’ especially. 

“Achilles wished all Greeks would die so that he and Patrolocus could conquer Troy alone. It took divine intervention to bring them down.” Hannibal had proudly showed him his sketch of the both of them.

‘I’d burn the world for you, my love.’

Upon leaving, Will bumped into and glared at a curly-haired man who had to pack up his things to be filed away, never to be seen again. The drive home was tedious, with Will feeling incredibly exhausted. As he crossed the threshold, he had to lean on the doorframe to prevent himself from collapsing. The process of mapping took a lot from him. Will had to relive the sour memories and feel each excruciating emotion they came with. The one session they did for memory mapping reminded Will that each item held a special place in his heart and mind, no matter how much he wanted to deny it. 

Will’s phone buzzed in his coat pocket. He frowned, reaching for it.

Alana is calling…

Swiping the phone icon up, Will lifted his phone to his right ear. 

“Will! Thank God, I got worried. Hannibal was acting weird telling me he didn’t know you when I asked about you. Where were you? It’s been a month of no communication.”

Will felt a chill akin to a cold knife run through him as he released a heavy sigh. ‘Can this day get any slower?’

“I’m fine, Alana. You don’t have to worry about me. You have your proof of life. May I go now?” Will snapped as he massaged his temples with his free hand.

Alana huffed, undeterred. “I was only worried, Will. I’ll check on you again soon. Goodnight.”

Will closed his eyes tightly, feeling regret for snapping at her. “I’m… sorry for snapping at you. Goodnight, Alana.”

The call ended and Will breathed out, relieved from the exchange. When Alana mentioned Hannibal didn’t remember him, it hit home too hard.

‘I'm not going to miss you. I'm not going to find you. I'm not going to look for you. I don't want to know where you are or what you do. I don't want to think about you anymore.’

Will rummaged through his closet to find something comfortable to wear for the actual memory wiping. He found green silk nightwear. He rapidly wore it, curious as to where it came from; a shirt and boxers were his go-to. He popped the sleeping pill into his mouth and swallowed it dry before slipping under the covers to embark into a deep sleep.

***

“I am Will Graham and I am erasing Hannibal Lecter.”

Will frowned, feeling a tad bit of déjà vu. He glanced down at his hands to see the green nightwear he wore before going to bed. Like a mirror, Will saw himself on the apparatus that recounted memories.

‘The process must be starting.’

Will studied the room, it was as he remembered: bare aside from himself, the staff, and the computers. Budge laid out the items in front of him as the mapping started.

“An anatomical heart origami he gave as a representation of Hannibal’s heart on Valen-” The memory wiper cut his memory self off.

“Mr. Graham, as I have said. Avoid speaking and focus on the memories associated with the item.”

Will’s brow quirked, appalled.

‘How rude,’ he thought then frowned. Hannibal still permeated his mind in ways he hated.

After the mapping, Will sat across from Dr. Du Maurier to hear the remaining details of the process.

“We will be erasing Dr. Lecter from your memories, starting from your most recent to your oldest. I’m not going to lie, Mr. Graham. The process may be taxing, but it will all be worth it in the end. Thank you for your time. You are in good hands with Tobias.”

Will blinked, the pendulum swung and his surroundings changed.

Dim lights and howling wind surround the man’s senses… the house was empty, much like how Hannibal made him feel. Looking down, Will was still wearing the nightwear he slept in and he was leaning on the doorframe for support.

Will vaguely remembered his phone vibrating and picking it up then hearing Alana’s muffled voice.

“Will! Thank god, I got worried. Hannibal was acting weird telling me he didn’t know you when I asked about you. Where were you? It’s been a month of no communication.”

After that question, everything started to blur. Will closed his eyes, feeling faint. The emotional roller coaster he went through with the items was getting to him and he’ll have to go through that again… mentally, emotionally, and physically.

“Focus, Franklyn. We can’t be distracted. This is an intricate process.” An unfamiliar voice echoed through Will’s mind causing him to look around.

‘Who is that?’

“I am trying. Have I told you? I am courting someone. He’s incredibly smart and powerful and we have similar tastes,” another voice, much more high-pitched, spoke.

Eyes fluttering open, Will attempted to look around. As he turned, he felt a gush of wind knock him back.

The pendulum swung and Will fell on his bum in a brightly lit opera house.

‘Shit… I’m going to kill him,’ Will thought as he pushed himself up and searched his pockets for a black velvet box. As he touched the soft fabric, he felt somewhat grounded, but his blood started to boil as he remembered what had happened here. As he looked down, he noticed his knuckle was bloodied.

‘Am I in my memory palace right now?’

Hannibal and a curly-haired man stood side by side, waiting in line to watch the ballad. Tonight, they had Ophelia Reynolds, a prominent opera singer performing ‘Piangerò La Sorte Mia’.

“Hello Mrs. Komeda, may I introduce you to Franklyn, my partner.” Hannibal fondly took Franklyn’s hand in his.

Will’s eyes turned dark as he gritted his teeth, seeing the forget-me-not handkerchief in Franklyn’s pocket.

They sat across each other in Hannibal’s home, by a wide window, watching the snowfall. Will had brought out a white handkerchief with a small embroidered forget-me-not in the middle. The pair were deep in talk about family and Hannibal wanted to show him something his mother had made, an intimate act. Hannibal considered Will family, hence his being comfortable speaking about his past.

“This was one of the last remaining items I have of my mother. It holds a very dear place in my heart as my mother, Simonetta, made it herself a few weeks before the attack in our home...” Hannibal turned pensive as his eyes glazed over and his lips quivered slightly.

Will’s heart yearned to comfort the man. Hence, he reached for both Hannibal’s hands and wrapped his around them, giving it a peck. The gesture implied: ‘I am here with you, don’t retreat into your mind.’

Hannibal blinked, staring curiously at Will. The latter merely smirked. “As I was saying, she prided herself in not doing haphazardous things. Hence, she told me: Hannibal, give this to your more cherished person as a sign of intention. Never do things with half the effort. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.”

Franklyn sniffed, took out the handkerchief, and sneezed into it. Hannibal looked unfazed to the untrained eye, but his eyes looked dismayed to Will.

‘He sullied something precious to him,’ Will thought and that was the last straw for him before he stomped toward the pair.

Hannibal watched him approach, no glimmer in his eyes.

“Hannibal, do you know him?” Will hissed, making him tilt his head in confusion.

“It is terribly rude to barge into a conversation you are not a part of. May I ask who you are?” Hannibal asked.

“Whatever manipulative ploy you’re doing has to stop,” Will growled, as his anger was just about to burst through the surface.

“I assure you I am not in any way manipulating you. Please, introduce yourself so I may know who I am speaking to.” Hannibal’s voice was soft yet stern—one he always used to de-escalate situations.

“Yeah, who are you? I don’t think you’re appropriately dressed for the occasion.” Franklyn snickered. Unfortunately, this irked Will more as balled his fist, reeled back, and connected his fist with the man’s nose.

Everyone watched as Franklyn gasped holding his nose. Hannibal sprung into action, tilting his partner’s head.

‘That felt liberating. How dare he think I’d stand by while he sullied Hannibal’s prized possession.’

“We have to call security,” the fancy woman stated as Hannibal and Will caught each other’s eye—a silent understanding of ‘thank you’ was shared.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll leave.” Will turned in the opposite direction and walked away.

The pendulum swung again.

Will’s surroundings melded into the front of Beverly’s home. Blinking in disbelief, Will’s gaze went to his knuckles. There was still faint blood, but it started to dissipate before his eyes.

“Anything to do with Hannibal gets you riled up. Sit down. I’ll get you two licks of whiskey to calm down.” Beverly’s voice echoed as Will took a seat and scanned his surroundings.

White snow enveloped the ground and trees. The night sky was barren of stars, the only semblance of light was coming from the porch lanterns’ warm orange glow—the direct opposite of what he was feeling: cold and void. Across him, Roy, Beverly’s husband, was petting Russel, their beagle. The silence was deafening, it left too much room for Will to think.

Breaking the silence, Roy stood up, letting Russel jump on Will. “At some point, you’ll have to let him go.”

Will bit his cheek to stop himself from saying something rude.

“Don’t mind him, he’s wrapped up in our shit and dumping it on you.” Beverly came back, handing Will his whiskey. Will smiled gratefully, reaching for the glass while balancing Russel on his lap.

“I don’t understand how he could replace me that quickly…” Will trailed off as he took a sip of his whiskey.

“Will, you know Hannibal isn’t that temperamental. There has to be a reason. We interpret the evidence, not make speculations.” Beverly grounded him.

Will looked up with a sad smile, as there was barely any evidence except the fact that he had told him to leave.

“Here’s the evidence you’re looking for,” Roy interrupted, handing Will a small card just as Beverly was about to snatch it away. Will had faster reflexes, so he grabbed the card and examined it.

Dear Mr & Mrs Katz:

Hannibal Lecter has had Will Graham erased from his memory. Please, never mention their relationship again.

Thank you.

Mundare Memoria

Will froze as he stared at the card. It was physical truth, undeniable and tangible.

“Roy!” Beverly scolded her husband as Will downed the remaining whiskey and stood, slamming the glass on the small round table. Russel jumped off Will, whimpering as he ran toward Beverly for comfort.

“Were you ever going to tell me, Beverly?” Will sneered. His best friend sighed, picking up the dog.

“Yes… but after you’ve said your deductions. Roy just speeded up the process,” Beverly admitted, stroking Russel for comfort.

Will took a deep breath before retaking his seat. He reached behind his coat jacket and took out a black velvet box. Opening it, a gold band with engravings inside shined because of the porch lantern. The weight felt heavier, much like a ship’s anchor dragging itself at the bottom of the sea.

“Will, you weren’t…” the man in question stared at the box's contents. Will was planning on proposing to Hanni— because the month they were apart made him realize he couldn’t live without him.

“We're conjoined. I'm curious whether either of us can survive separation,” Will softly spoke as they were in the Uffizi gallery. Hannibal smiled brightly at him, only him.

“What are you going to do now?” the couple seemed to be tag-teaming Will’s current dilemma.

“Bev, it might be time for him to move on too,” Roy stated, patting Will on the shoulder. 

Will frowned, conflicted.

“Roy, stop. He needs someone to listen right now, not give advice.” Beverly cautioned.

“He’s a big boy. He can handle the pain.”

A loud thump got Will on high alert. He stood from his position, searching for the source of the voices, but as he stepped on the ground, a series of memories rapidly played in front of him. The room started spinning and nausea was starting to build.

“Franklyn, stop! We’re not here to turn Mr. Graham into soup. Be gentle.” 

The spinning stopped as droplets of water pelleted Will’s head. When he looked down, he saw Alana was below him, bleeding, bundled up in his coat.

‘Oh God, no…no, no, no!’ 

The brown door to Hannibal’s home looked much more haunting now that Will knew what had happened behind it. Will trudged into the house, only the glow of the moonlight guiding his way. He breathed in, preparing himself for what was to come. Putting one foot in front of the other, Will reached the kitchen. Abigail was across him with a distressed look on her face.

“Abigail… where is he?” Will enquired softly. Abigail’s mouth moved. Will couldn’t decipher much of what she said, but he caught her gaze looking past him. He turned to see a blood-soaked Hannibal, his lover.

“You were supposed… to leave,” Will croaked as Hannibal reached for him, cupping his face.

‘I wanted to run away with you. I wanted everything with you.’

“We couldn’t leave without you.”

‘This feels different, much more agonizing than when I first went through it. Knowing what I know now… I should’ve come clean. We’d have avoided this moment.’

Will gasped as he felt the cold knife penetrate his abdomen. Slowly, Hannibal slashed it across his torso as he wrapped his hand around Will’s nape, pulling him close.

“Time did reverse. The teacup that I shattered dared to come back together.”

‘I can feel his heartbeat. Lub dub, lub dub, it was the only proof I had that he had one during this… encounter. What I felt for him was true but… I betrayed him.’

This time, Will grabbed onto Hannibal closer than humanly possible rather than let himself crumple to the floor. He buried his head in the crook of Hannibal’s neck, inhaling him. Blood and sweat combine to create a coppery, sweet fragrance; one distinctly Hannibal’s—one that I loved.

“I wanted to surprise you. And you… you wanted to surprise me.” The blood loss got to Will as his hand loosened its grip. Contrary to how things went, Hannibal held him, his arm snaked under Will’s arm and supported him; their faces inches apart.

‘I warned you… wasn’t that enough proof that I wanted you alive? I wanted to see you as you are and accept you,’ Will resentfully thought as he leaned on his assailant.

“I let you know me, see me. I gave you a rare gift. But you didn’t want it,” Hannibal said, just as he had said the first time around.

Seeing Hannibal’s face up close made Will feel his lover’s pain tenfold. The slight contort of his face, and his sunken eyes radiated sorrow from what was about to happen—it was overwhelming for Will. He had to, no, needed to close his eyes and avoid Hannibal’s gaze.

‘I wanted it, I just didn’t know I did until later. I was ready to run because I loved you. Please, Hannibal, don’t… don’t do this. I don’t want to live through this again.’

“You would deny me my life?”

‘Never your life nor freedom, my love.’

Will felt his eyes well with tears, prompting him to open his eyes and express his unfiltered aggrievement from this whole process. He was hurting and his Hannibal wasn’t there.

“You did this to me first! I can’t-I can’t believe you did this to me, Hannibal!” Will’s voice broke as he wheezed feeling the blood leak from his gash.

A lone tear cascaded down Hannibal's face. Will felt guilty, so he reached out and cupped Hannibal’s cheek, his thumb catching the tear.

“Oh no… no, no. You don’t get to look at me like that… you erased me from your memory after everything we’ve been through,” Will weakly bleated.

“I forgive you… will you forgive me?” Will felt the cold permeate his being like a body discarded in a raging blizzard; left for dead. “Fate and circumstance did bring us to this moment… when the teacup shattered.”

Will swallowed another lump forming in his throat.

‘I can’t watch her die again. The guilt will devour me.’

Hannibal raised his bloodied hand to his face, hovering over it. Will watched in confusion and morbid fascination as Hannibal’s tongue escaped his mouth, licking the blood off his own hand. Arousal erupted from Will’s chest, as he felt his pants tighten.

Hannibal smiled sadly at him as he pulled him in for a kiss with the same blood-soaked hand. It was soft yet with fervor, a goodbye kiss before abandonment. Hannibal pulled away, gently laying Will on the ground and reaching his hand out for Abigail.

Will shut his eyes, refusing to watch this all over again.

“A place was made for her in your world, for all of us… I love you.” Hannibal stated.

Will’s eyes fluttered in disbelief at the last words uttered.

‘He didn’t say those words the first time. He never said them out loud. Did my mind decide to make up things now?’

Time stopped in the memory and the color dulled to a muted black and white. Hannibal was the only exception, he moved in slow motion as he slit Abigail’s neck.

However, Abigail’s choking forced Will to come back from his reverie and color returned to the memory. Dark green walls and bright red blood painted everything. Will watched their daughter drain of blood and Hannibal gave him one last pained look before disappearing into the shadows.

Will reached for Abigail as he weakly gripped her incision to stop the bleeding. Only their labored breath filled the room, a last grasp at life. Their eyes connected, blue on blue, yet the other was gradually losing its light.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Abigail. I wish I had done this differently,” Will whispered as memory Abigail smiled sadly at him, acknowledging his apology and gasping her final breath.

‘Damn you, Hannibal. I abhor you for leaving me to deal with this all by myself again. You were supposed to be my paddle… where are you?’

Will let the tears pooling in his eyes fall. His heart was heavy with realization and grief. His surroundings started to blur again as the usual orange glow of the pendulum swung.

The familiar sound of Bach’s Goldberg Variation played in the background. Instead of lying on the floor, he was now seated across Hannibal. His nightwear changed to the black formal-casual ensemble he wore that night. They were having a peaceful dinner at home, and the table was set with a pair of matching fine tableware. Lomo saltado was the dish they were eating, made from the long pig Will had carved out and provided.

“You can’t reduce me to a set of influences,” Will declared as he sniffed the red wine. Hannibal merely stared at him, smug. 

‘This was one of the rare nights we shared proclivities, no violence, just food, and company. A normal date, if you will. He broadened my palette… it was intimate. I… I don’t want to forget this.’

“I don’t believe I am, Will. You chose to be with me,” Hannibal argued.

Will quirked a brow, amused.

“Did I? You manipulated Margot into making a Verger heir.”

Hannibal took a sip of his wine. “Yes, however, I corrected that, didn’t I?” He referred to inciting Mason to harm his sister for having Will’s baby.

“You don’t want me to have anything in my life that’s not you,” Will commented, observing Hannibal’s reaction. He was livid at what his partner did and he wanted to see him squirm for his transgression.

“Is that so bad? Do you see me as evil for what I did, mylimasis?”

“You’re destructive. Same thing,” Will spat as he started to hear voices from outside his memory palace again.

“And yet, you accept me for who I am,” Hannibal grinned proudly.

Will smirked as he took a bite of his meal.

“I stole an embroidered handkerchief from him while we did his wipe. It was pretty. When he saw it, he assumed I was his lover or something.”

Will gripped the knife he was holding. ‘I knew Hannibal would never give something precious to someone willy-nilly.’

“Then, why do you continue pretending, Franklyn?” the voice was almost like a growl, jealous.

‘It’s good to have a name to the face. You’re dead when I find you for touching what’s mine.’

“Is something on your mind, Will?” Hannibal’s voice pulled Will back to the present.

Will blinked, confused for a second before catching Hannibal’s pyropes eyes.

Hannibal avoided Will’s gaze shyly.

Will’s chest boomed with satisfaction. ‘Of course, I have that effect on you, whore.’

“He has power and privilege. I want those, Tobias. It also helps he’s attractive.”

Will paused, feeling his empathy get the better of him. ‘This man is desperate for connection. The end justifies the means, no matter the cost.’

“I can give you that and more,” the voice echoed as the pendulum swung once again.

Red walls replaced the darkness of Hannibal’s office. Now, he was wearing a blue button-down shirt and slacks. They were seated across each other by Hannibal’s table, a bottle of expensive wine beside them. A date guised as a therapy session, the pair didn’t want to let Uncle Jack know that they were actually dating. The boundary that Alana once called attention to was labeled on this night. 

“How quickly we form attachments to something that does not yet exist.” Hannibal sipped his wine as Will watched him.

“Were you ever a father, Dr. Lecter?”

‘I felt quite jealous during this conversation and curious if he’s had any other partners.’

“Perhaps I was to my sister, Mischa. Before we were attacked at our manor… I took care of her. We’d spend days lounging in the garden, basking in the warmth of the sun. I’d teach her the harpsichord on the weekend despite her qualms…” Hannibal turned pensive, a look Will didn’t often associate with him and he felt a strong urge to comfort him.

‘This man has killed so many people. Yet, as he talks about his sister, affection overtakes him… I adore him for that,’ Will mused as a pang of guilt also accompanied his thoughts. He had a baby on the way as per that night with Margot.

“You never told me you had a sister.” Will's words seemed to capture Hannibal's attention again and a subtle twitch of Hannibal’s lip told Will that he was irked.

“And you didn’t tell me about your child, Will… I gave you a child if you remember. Have you decided to replace the shattered teacup?”

Will’s eyes narrowed, filled with spite. “If you remember, Dr. Lecter, you killed her. You took away our teacup and now you ask me if I have replaced her?”

The psychiatrist’s expression cracked, his gaze matching Will’s fury. “Have you not? You now have a child with one of my patients.”

“On your prompting… you embedded in her the idea that she could liberate herself with a child. She turned to me and I made sure I wore protection. You know my view on passing on my traits and yet here you are, suddenly expressing disdain. Tell me what are you really angry about, doctor?”

‘I felt like I had to explain myself to him despite how wrong he was and I’m thankful I did because this night changed my life forever.’

Hannibal sighed as he took a whiff of his wine as if the scent would calm his nerves. As Will waited for his reply, much like the actual event, he studied Hannibal a little closer. Now that he was drifting through the memories, it made him rethink how he saw them. They were precious treasures he was discarding so easily and the regret was going to eat him whole.

Hannibal’s shoulders slumped just a bit, unseen to the untrained eye. Will’s eyes followed his psychiatrist’s tongue as it peeked between his plump lips and moistened them. Hannibal then took a sip of his wine and gulped, Will still following the movement.

Hannibal raised his gaze, a determined look crossed his facial features as he spoke, “I… I did encourage Margot to create her heir to help her survival. I, however, did not anticipate that she would go after you, and… that makes me furious, as I was supposed to be the only one who connected with you intimately. I've always wanted your needs to be met.”

‘I like that look on you, Hannibal. Nervous and shy, with a sprinkle of expressed jealousy become you.’

“You admit to being jealous of my current predicament as a father despite your hand in it?” Will enquired, treading water. Again, this was one of the rare occurrences in which Hannibal had been vulnerable with him.

“Yes. I am jealous, Will. You had a child with me and I do not appreciate the feeling of being replaced.” 

A smirk made its way to Will’s lips, a direct contrary to how things unfolded. “Am I replacing you and our teacup? You killed he—” Will was interrupted as Hannibal rose from his seat and rushed towards him. He pulled on his collar and yanked him upward. They were face to face, only a few inches separating them.

“I restate my case: I was not aware that you would be Margot’s chosen breeder. Do not test me, William.”

The way his name rolled off the psychiatrist’s had Will’s cock twitching in delight.

“Or what?” Will defied him.

Hannibal glared at the younger man before he crashed their lips together, making Will gasp and wrap his hands around Hannibal’s torso. The smacking of lips and panting were the only sounds in the room.

The couple pulled away, staring into each other’s eyes.

“What now?” Will’s memory-self enquired.

“A future filled with spontaneity and sex, I imagine, you petulant boy.” Hannibal watched as a grin formed on Will’s lips as the pendulum appeared once again.

‘No! Stop, let me stay in this moment.’

The scene changed, Will was lying in bed, naked. Hannibal was across him, caressing his bum. “Happy Valentine’s Day. Did you like your present?”

Will giddily smiled at his lover, enjoying their time together. It was still dark outside, so the only source of heat they had was each other.

“Yes, very much so, Will replied. “Have you been waiting long to give it to me?” Will fidgeted with the golden locket around his neck. Inside the jewel, there was a photo of Abigail and Hannibal and also another one of Will’s dogs—everything Will treasured dearly.

“Since you came through the doors of my office after Budge’s attack. I wanted you to have something to remember us by,” Hannibal replied with a genuine smile plastered on his face.

Will’s heart skipped a beat. The moonlight sneaked into the room, shining over Hannibal. His silver hair glowed and his skin glistened from the sweat of their earlier activities. He looked like a stoic sculpture, only his breathing indicating life. In Will’s memories, this specific moment was silent as the couple enjoyed their peace together and, despite the current events that had led to this bittersweet event, Will had a realization.

“I… I still want everything with you, but I’m currently in the memory-wiping process and I can’t stop it and I regret it. Hannibal… what do I do?”

The older man tilted his head in confusion. “What do you mean, darling?”

Will reached for Hannibal’s cheek and caressed it gently. He said, “I… I’m erasing you from my memories because you removed me from yours and I…” tears started to form around Will’s lower eyelids. “I was so hurt and I just realized that I’d rather have those memories than none at all. Everything’s been mapped out in relation to you and I don’t know how to stop it.” He cried as he closed his eyes and memory Hannibal pulled him towards his chest.

“You know your mind best. It’s one of the reasons I fell for you,” Hannibal assured him.

Will lifted his head in disbelief, again.

‘This can’t be real, my mind is making up these confessions.’

“Do you remember what I told you in my office during your second visit?” Hannibal asked after a beat.

Will reminisced about it, searching deep into his memory palace.

“‘The mirrors of your mind can reflect the best of yourself. Not the worst of someone else…’ Are you telling me to look for our best memories? Even your memory self in my mind wants us to separate?”

Will was seething, eyes in a firm glare as he tried to pull away from Hannibal. Hannibal merely chuckled. He firmly wrapped his arms around Will, pulling him close, and nuzzling him.

“You worry too much, Will. I am merely reminding you that you have a beautiful mind and that, if anyone is going to figure out a way to keep us safe, it’s you.”

Heat bloomed from the base of Will’s neck to his cheeks. “I don’t know how much longer we have in this memory…” Will trailed off, laying a warm hand on Hannibal’s neck.

“I imagine we have many more together. For now, enjoy this moment and discuss your next steps with me in the next memory.”

A grateful smile etched on Will’s face as he leaned up and pecked Hannibal’s soft lips. “You always know what to say to calm me.”

Hannibal ran his hand through his lover’s locks. “I am merely stating facts. Everything else is your doing.”

The orange rays of the pendulum reappeared, erasing this memory and pushing Will into the next one.

Will coughed and gasped at the speed of the shift. He felt a warmth on his side as he realized Hannibal had an arm around his torso while they were standing in front of the ‘Primavera.’

“Hello, my love. You found me,” Hannibal cooed, poking Will’s side. Gasping, Will gripped Hannibal’s wrist, stopping him.

“Don’t. You know I have a tickle spot there.” Will warned as Hannibal quirked a brow, amused.

“I believe we have matters to discuss.” Hannibal opted to caress his side instead.

“I know we had a conversation here about being conjoined… how do you even remember what we agreed upon in an earlier memory?” Will asked, confused at the exchange.

“Your mind is a problem solver, hence why the FBI got you as a consultant in the first place. It may be unconsciously connecting your memories to the goal you have at hand: saving us.”

Will sighed leaning his head on the crook of Hannibal’s neck. He said, “Tell me where to hide you. I don’t want you to disappear from me like you did in the real world.”

Hannibal kissed the top of his lover’s head and laid his cheek atop it. “Think of memories you rarely associate with me. You said there was a map, yes? They’d have a harder time pinpointing our location if you go to a memory far deeper into your psyche.”

Will let the words sink in as he started to strategize a plan. “I don’t think I want you in those memories, Hannibal.”

“Do you have any other choice? Desperate times require desperate measures, William.” An exasperated sigh escaped Will’s lips as he thought of other ways to escape this nightmare.

‘Wait… have I tried waking myself up?’

“Before I try another method to save us… I want to experience this moment again. Care to indulge me?” Will lifted his head, staring into his counterpart’s loving eyes. Hannibal proudly smiled at him, cupping his face.

“If I saw you every day, I would remember this time.” The older man leaned in, capturing Will’s lips in his.

Will moaned as he wrapped his hands around Hannibal’s neck to pull him closer, like an anchor rooting him in place despite being in a perilous sea. Will gradually pulled away, nipping at Hannibal’s lips before closing his eyes and forcing himself to wake up.

***

Will’s eyes fluttered open. He was feeling disoriented as he heard voices.

“Tobias, what are you doing? I’m in a happy relationship with Dr. Lecter.” Will fumed at the mention of his lover. 

‘It must be Franklyn speaking,’ Will thought as he heard shuffling and the blurry outline of Budge and Franklyn came into view.

“Your relationship is a fabrication, Franklyn. You admitted to stealing an item that is important to him, which prompted his affection.”

A huff of annoyance was heard from Franklyn.

“You’re missing the point. I like him and I am a better fit than this guy… Why are you so adamant about breaking apart something that is clearly making me happy?”

Tobias cupped Franklyn’s face and leaned in, close enough that their noses were touching.

“Because I am in love with you and I know I am the better fit for you. Stop seeing that doctor and we can elope together. Dr. Du Maurier wouldn’t suspect a thing.”

‘I am going to kill them. How dare they do this behind Hannibal’s back. They’re dead meat when I get myself out of this,’ Will promised as he tried to move, but his consciousness was sucked back into the memory wipe.

“Tobias… I’ve been waiting for you to admit your feelings for me. I love you too.”

A familiar pull yanked Will back into the memory-wiping process.

***

Will gasped collapsing on the floors of the Uffizi Gallery.

“Will!” Hannibal kneeled beside him, cradling his face in both his hands.

“Are you alright? You were gone for a minute and then collapsed before me.” Will gratefully smiled, leaning into Hannibal’s touch.

“Yes… but my attempt to save us failed. Remind me that we’re killing a couple of memory-wiping specialists when all this is done,” Will mumbled as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Hannibal’s broad shoulders.

“If you still remember by that time,” Hannibal replied, letting his hands run through Will’s chiseled chest and wrapping his arms around his neck, slotting them together like perfect puzzle pieces.

“Don’t… don’t say that. I can’t… I can’t lose you,” Will admitted, his lip quivering. He was gasping as he tried to hold his tears back

“May I suggest some memories you can hide us in?”

Will lifted his gaze as Hannibal shot him a reassuring smile. “Go on.”

Hannibal ran his hand through Will’s locks—a gesture he often did to soothe Will during their time together.

“Think of events you would not share with anyone but me. Humiliation, maybe, or a childhood memory you would rather not revisit.”

Will quirked a brow at Hannibal’s suggestion. “Even in my mind, you want no one but yourself to know me fully.”

“Of course, my love. You are mine and mine alone.” Hannibal kissed the top of Will’s head.

They stayed enveloped in each other’s arms before Will untangled himself from Hannibal and stood up. He offered him a hand, helping him up and lacing their fingers together.

“I’m not especially proud of the memory you’re about to see, but I bet you’ll love it.”

Will gently pulled Hannibal out of the doors of the gallery as the surroundings changed into Will’s childhood home. 

Will looked down, he was wearing his favorite nightwear that had dogs on it and they were both lying on his childhood bed. They both looked around 18 years old.

“Fuck! Where’d he go?” Tobias' voice echoed.

“Calm down, we’ll find him, Tobias,” Franklyn comforted him.

Will rolled his eyes as he tried to concentrate on his lover instead.

“What am I to witness here, Will?” Hannibal teased as Will blushed covering his face with one hand and reaching for Playboy magazine with the other. “Ah, would you like me to help you?”

Heat blossomed from Will’s face as he felt himself grow hard from the implication.

Hannibal chuckled as he reached under the covers and cupped and felt up Will’s erection.

Will gasped as he swatted Hannibal’s hand away.

“Stop, my memory didn’t go that way,” Will mumbled as he flicked the magazine to a random page where a brown-haired woman was wearing only a black bra, a choker, and some silk underwear. She was lying down on a fancy couch with a sultry look on her face.

“And yet I didn’t get an explicit ‘no’,” Hannibal smirked as he pecked Will’s cheek.

Pink tinted Will’s cheeks as he looked away and reached for the length under his nightwear. His warm hand rubbed up and down his shaft, remembering how good it felt to touch himself. A low moan escaped his lips as he felt Hannibal tilt his towards his direction.

Blue met red in a haze of arousal. Hannibal smirked at him as he took the magazine from him and studied it.

“I see you have a thing for brunettes. She has plump breasts as well. Must be why you kissed Alana back then,” Hannibal noted as turned back to look at Will.

Will groaned as he withered under his own hand. His dick twitched, just about ready for release. Will looked back at the page he opened and watched it morph into Hannibal wearing a choker, only in his black boxers, and lying on the fancy couch with a serene look on his face. It was reminiscent of that time in Florence right after they visited the Uffizi Gallery.

Will gasped, feeling his eyes dilate. Pre-cum oozed from his dick, making it easy for him to pump himself.

“Missing me, mylimasis? If you’ll allow me, I can make this feel so good, you won’t ever forget me,” Hannibal whispered, nibbling on Will’s ear and wrapping his hand around Will’s as they pumped him. 

Will’s dick twitched again at the added weight and he was about to climax. 

His father, Reed, opened the door.

Will frantically shook off Hannibal’s hand and released his length before hiding under the covers.

“Oh, I apologize, son. I didn’t realize-I just wanted to check on you and… uhm, carry on. I guess I don’t have to give you the talk, after all, huh?” Reed teased as Will quickly grabbed a pillow, tossed it at his dad, and ducked under his blanket in one swift move.

“Get out!” Will shrieked, embarrassed. 

His father chuckled, catching the pillow and tossing it back at Will, hitting his bum.

“Alright, alright, I’m going. Uh, have fun with your… yeah. Goodnight, son.”

Reed paused, contemplating what to do next before gently closing the door behind him.

Will waited until he couldn’t hear the pattern of footsteps before removing the covers and seeing Hannibal smiling fondly at him.

“Shut up,” Will mumbled as he turned on his side, facing away from Hannibal.

“I was merely admiring your courage to bring me to such a memory,” Hannibal replied, wrapping an arm around Will and pulling him close.

Warmth filled WIll’s chest as he felt Hannibal breathing, almost lulling him to sleep. They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms, peacefully lounging. Will was about to fall asleep.

“Will,” Hannibal cooed.

“Hmmm?” Will sleepily faced Hannibal as he fought to stay awake.

“I apologize for interrupting your nap with bad news. But I’m gradually disappearing. I think they’ve found us. What do we do?”

Blinking, Will peers down at the translucent arm wrapped around him. With an exasperated sigh, he unwrapped himself from the blanket and climbed over Hannibal to get off the bed.

“I’m sure you’ll like what you’ll see next. Come with me.” Will offered him his hand.

Hannibal smiles, intertwining their fingers together and letting Will lead him out of his bedroom.

Their surroundings shifted to a playground. The sun was high up, making Will squint at its brightness. Children laughing caught his attention as he glanced up to see his childhood bullies, taunting him to harm the bird. Tears were brimming in his eyes as he quivered, holding the hammer above an injured bird.

“You’re a coward if you don’t kill it,” the boy goaded smugly as Will bit his lip, gripping the hammer tight.

“Kill it. Kill it. Kill it,” the boys chanted, urging young Will to put the bird out of its misery.

“I see what you mean earlier. I am curious as to how you responded,” young Hannibal mused out loud as Will glared at him.

Young Will addressed the other boys with a growl before taking a deep breath and slamming the hammer into the box.

Silence lapsed momentarily.

“Coward! You didn’t even hit the thing,” one of the kids taunted, earning a disdainful look from both Will and Hannibal. He remembered this memory vividly because his heart was pounding in his ears, he could barely hear anyone—and no one was there to help him deal with the bullies who were adamant about bullying him for being different. Will was drowning in embarrassment.

The sound of a loud bang and frightened gasps brought Will back to the present. In front of him was young Hannibal, dressed in his red vest, brown trousers, and cute cowboy hat. He was holding a bloodied hammer. Even from behind, the boy looked massive, like a bear towering over its prey.

“It’s done. We’re leaving,” Hannibal stated as he gently placed the hammer in the box, and brought out a white handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the blood off his hand. He reached for Will’s hand and pulled him away from the gaping boys.

They walked in comfortable silence before reaching the outside of Will’s home.

“You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve handled it myself,” Will mumbled, letting go of Hannibal’s hand and squatting on the ground.

“William, you were allowing them to taunt you until you cried. Is that what you mean by handling yourself?”

Will let out an exasperated sigh, refusing to look at Hannibal.

Young Hannibal squatted in front of him, laying a hand on his leg as the tip of his thumb traced soothing circles on it.

“I know you could’ve handled that, Will. I just… I did not like the way they were treating you. You're worth more than these children.”

Will chuckled at Hannibal’s pettiness.

“They were children, Hannibal. It’s not like they really got violent with me or anything,” Will assured as he reached out for Hannibal.

Hannibal merely quirked a brow as he helped Will up and dusted his pants.

“Do you think they’ll find us here?”

Jinxing it, Will watched as his childhood home disappeared right before his eyes. He gripped Hannibal’s little hand, refusing to let go.

“Oh god, they found us. They fucking found us. Hanni—”

The sound of redacted tape rang in Will’s ears as he tried saying his partner’s name out loud. He tried again, but it was the same thing. Will couldn’t remember his full name.

‘Why can’t I remember it anymore?’

“Tobias, you found them! You’re amazing, but what was he doing there far back into his memories?” Franklyn’s voice irritated Will.

“Interesting… Dr. Du Maurier mentioned that certain individuals can cheat the process if they know their mind well enough. This is the first time I’ve encountered such an individual, how fascinating.”

Hanni— was ripped away from Will as if he had been sucked into an unforeseeable void. 

Will squinted his eyes shut, hoping to ease himself into the process better.

The pendulum swung, indicating the process was back on track.

Will opened his eyes to see himself lying in bed, smelling the aroma of chicken and spices.

“You’re awake. How are you?”

Will propped himself on the bed, blinking himself awake.

“Better I guess. Did you make me chicken soup?”

The slight twitch on Hannibal’s lips told Will he was annoyed at the downgrading of a fancy dish. He smiled remembering how soft and caring Hannibal was during his hospitalization. It was before he knew that Hannibal was testing the waters of his autoimmune disease.

“It’s silkie chicken in a broth, Will.”

The annoyed tone in the comment only made Will smile. Hannibal had always fed him hearty meals, ones he’d never make for himself, by himself. 

Will studied Hannibal with a bittersweet smile playing on his lips.

“Is there something on your mind?” Hannibal inquired, setting the table for them to eat.

Will noticed how well-dressed Hannibal always was. With his hair slicked back, his long coat covering his three-piece suit underneath, as well as his bold neckties… Will was savoring this time despite the bittersweet implication of the scene.

“Have you decided what to do next?”

Hannibal finished setting the table before walking around the bed to help Will up and lead him to their makeshift dining table.

“I… I’m not sure anymore, Hanni— I’ve tried waking up. I even hid you in two of my deepest memories. I don’t know what to do. I’m at my wit’s end,” Will admitted in defeat.

He stirred his soup aimlessly, he wasn’t sure how to deal with all this. A warm hand reached for him across the table, making him look up.

“Enjoy the moments we have together. Relive them the best you can. Maybe you’ll be able to keep a part of me,” Hannibal comforted, kissing the top of his knuckles.

“I never got to say it to you in person, but… I love you. I wanted to marry you.”

Will gripped Hannibal’s hand tighter, tears threatened to fall.

“I love you too, Will. We’ll get through this together. Now finish your soup before it gets cold,” Hannibal declared with a smile.

Will returned the smile, as he sipped a spoonful of soup.

They sat like that, talking about anything and everything just before the familiar orange rays of the pendulum swung in front of him. First, the wall disappeared then the bed and table they were dining on.

Will balled his fingers into a fist before hitting his thigh in frustration as the pendulum swung in front of him, erasing Hanni— from this memory. He sniffed, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Cold sea breeze stung Will’s cheeks as he wheezed gripping on Hannibal’s arm.

“Are you alright, Will?” 

Hanni— leans back a bit, placing his index finger beneath Will’s chin and gently tilting his head to look at him.

The moon shone brightly on them, like a spotlight during a curtain call of a play. 

“Mmm, he dares harm your beautiful face. I’ll make sure to stitch this carefully to avoid any scarring.”

‘This was the pinnacle of our relationship. The Red Dragon was our first joint kill. I’m still amazed Jack didn’t suspect us when they came and saw what we did.’

Hanni— snaked his arm around Will’s torso and tried to lead him back into the house, but Will wrapped his tighter around Hannibal, refusing to move.

‘I don’t want to go anywhere, please. Just stay with me.’

“Will, we need to get you inside. I promise you’ll feel better after I treat you.” Hanni— assured, rubbing circles on Will’s hip.

Will conceded as he let his hand fall to his side and he let himself be led into the house.

Upon entering, Hanni— let Will slips onto the couch comfortably before trudging towards his room to get a first aid kit.

Will caught Hanni—’s wrist, holding it tightly and rooting him in place.

“My love?”

“Sit with me,” Will tiredly whispered.

“Will, you are bleeding. I need to attend to you before any infection starts to form.”

Will chuckled, leaning his head back and keeping his hold.

“We’re in a memory. I can bleed out as much as I can and I won’t die.” Will explained as Hannibal quirked a brow at him.

“Here, I thought you wanted me to take care of you,” Hannibal cooed.

“Yes, but I’ve been defeated by the process, and as you said, ‘All I can do now is savor the time I have with you.’”

Hanni— grinned at Will’s reply and took his place beside him. He stretched his arm at the back of the couch, letting Will scoot nearer to him and nuzzle his neck.

“Thank you for responding to my request for help,” Will muttered against the expanse of Hanni—’s neck.

“You know I’d do anything for you. Who am I to deny you an opportunity to kill?” Hanni— replied, planting a gentle kiss on the top of Will’s curls.

“You’re admitting to helping me because you wanted the opportunity to slay the dragon within the confines of the law?” Will mused.

“Of course, I would. Jack wouldn’t be able to prosecute me.”

Delight bubbled in Will’s chest as he laughed, wrapping his arm snuggly around Hanni—’s waist.

“If he checked the blood in your mouth, I believe he’d be able to convict you,” Will pointed out, eliciting a roar of laughter from Hannibal.

“And yet he didn’t, did he, my precious consultant?”

Will preened at the compliment as he pecked Hanni—’s chin and pushed him to lie on his back. Will shifted his position so his head was lying on Hanni—’s chest. He could hear the beating of his heart against himself. 

It gradually slowed at a steady pace, the same pattern Will was used to sleeping to—it was the only proof he had that his memory was still here. He let out a satisfied sigh as he felt Hannibal’s fingers running through his hair, lulling him to sleep.

The light from behind Will’s eyelids swung back and forth then the familiar sound of buzzing fluorescents told Will that they were now in Jack Crawford’s office. He refused to open his eyes, knowing full well that this was the last memory he had of Hannibal.

‘Fuck. I can’t do this. I’m not ready to lose him forever.’

“Will? Are you with us?” Jack’s voice inquired, forcing Will to face the inevitable. His eyes fluttered open as he stared at Jack.

“Sorry, did you say something?”

“I said, ‘Meet Dr. Hannibal Lecter.’ He’s a psychiatrist I invited over to help me,” Jack repeated.

Will could feel Hannibal’s piercing eyes studying him.

‘I deliberately avoided him in fear of being judged.’

“Not fond of eye contact, are you?”

Will deeply inhaled, trying to calm himself and remember the sound of the doctor’s voice. The amused inflection in his voice, his distinct accent he loved so much, he needed to try and retain what he could before he opened his eyes and stared at him.

The room started to dim and the walls started to crumble.

“Eyes are distracting. You see too much, you don't see enough. It's hard to focus when you're thinking ‘Oh, those whites are really white, or he must have hepatitis, or is that a burst vein?’" Will retorted as he watched Hanni—’s plump lips form into a smirk.

Hanni— tilted his head, brows furrowed as he pulled his white handkerchief with the embroidered forget-me-nots from his coat.

“Why have you burst into tears, Will?”

Will didn’t even notice the streaks of liquid cascading down his face as he swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

“I’m so sorry… I-I shouldn't have left the way I did. I should’ve stayed and we could’ve talked about why you impulsively tried to saw my head open. I bet the idea wasn’t your own.”

Hanni— stood from his seat and kneeled in front of Will. He cupped his face with his soft hand while wiping the tears as they fell.

“You’ve been crying a lot, William. Have I caused you so much agony?”

Will chuckled bitterly at his representation of his lover as Jack faded and the only light left in the room was a spotlight on the both of them.

“Yes, you insufferable jerk, but you were worth it. Everything was worth it, but you’ve erased me, and now… I’ve erased you and I’ll… I’ll have nothing left of you,” Will wailed, leaning into Hanni—’s touch. He wrapped his calloused hands around Hanni—’s warm ones and inhaled his musk, memorizing it the best he could.

“My sweet boy, you deserve a bouquet of a thousand forget-me-nots for everything you’ve put up with for me. I’ll see you in the real world. Meet me in Maryland. Try not to forget about me, mano meilė.”

Tears blurred Will’s vision as he felt Hanni—’s warmth disappear from his grasp.

“I love you,” Will called out.

The echo of an I love you was the last thing he heard before his eyes rolled back and everything faded to black.

***

Will woke from what seemed like the best sleep of his life. Stretching like a cat, proceeded to prepare for his day. He frowned when he passed by his smashed mirror; he wasn’t sure how it broke.

Fully changed and ready to go, Will grabbed his keys, ambled out of his home, and drove to Baltimore to meet Jack, but he had the sudden urge to go to Maryland.

“Hello. Have you booked an appointment?”

Will blinked, confused as to how he had ended up in a waiting room. He must’ve driven on autopilot to even get here. Clearing his throat, he turned to address the person who called him. Will merely glanced, seeing a man wearing a three-piece suit with a necktie that was too flashy to pair with the outfit.

Will didn’t look the man in the eye, rather, he looked at his shoulder. It always gave him anxiety directly peering at someone else’s eyes, his empathy didn’t allow him any filters. He was scared to find out what he would see.

“Not fond of eye contact, are you?”

Chapter Text

“I am Hannibal Lecter and I am erasing Will Graham.”

Hannibal gripped the box he was holding. He was rethinking his choice to get his memory wiped without Will’s knowledge, but he couldn’t back down. Not when Jack was already speculating about their relationship.

Three days ago, Jack came to Hannibal’s home while Will was soundly asleep in their now-shared bedroom. 

“Hannibal, good morning. Do you have a moment?” Jack said.

Hannibal feigned grogginess as he covered his mouth and yawned. 

“Good morning to you too, Jack. What brings you to my doorstep at eight in the morning?”

Jack exhaled and rubbed his hand over his face. “It’s best if we discuss it inside. May I come in?”

Hannibal had to stop himself from making any quips and stepped aside to let the detective into his home, then led him toward the kitchen.

“Before I prepare anything, what’s on your mind, Jack?”

“Will Graham and the recent string of grotesque murders.”

Hannibal stopped by the entryway to his kitchen.

“What do you mean, Jack?” Hannibal turned around to address Jack better. He needed to see his features to be able to cover for his beloved. They had been going on kill night dates ever since that confession about jealousy and Will’s night with Margot.

“I just find it odd that Alana has been mentioning that Will spends most of his time here for a patient-psychiatrist relationship. Whenever he isn’t available to work and you’re unreachable, a tableau is found. Tell me, Dr. Lecter, is there something going on between you two?”

Hannibal’s jaw clenched as he felt his rage bubbling on the surface, ready to break. Jack had figured them out.

‘Have we left evidence behind?’ Hannibal wondered.

“Will and I have been having regular meetings due to the nature of the work you let him do. I required it to help keep him stable,” Hannibal explained as he hid his hands in his pockets to stop him from grabbing onto the antler on the wall. If Jack didn’t stop his questioning soon, he’d be forced to stab him with them.

Jack hummed and laced his fingers under his chin. 

“It’s just that you were hard to contact and Will isn’t answering his phone either. I find it interesting that there’s another body found this morning. Two bodies inside a combined ribcage to create a heart. And both of you could not be contacted. I just find it too coincidental.”

Hannibal’s features contorted perfectly in place, impassive. He seethed at Jack.

“Where were you last night?” Jack’s tone was accusative at this point and it irked Hannibal. “I just wanted to check on you. Where were both of you at 10 PM last night?” 

“I was with a patient.” It was an obvious lie, but for the sake of his and Will’s safety, Hannibal had to play along.

”Do you have an alibi?”

“You can check the CCTV if you want, but you’ll need a warrant for that, since there are laws for patient confidentiality, Jack,” Hannibal expertly justified.

Jack narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized Hannibal. Hannibal hated how it made him feel like an insect being burned under a magnifying glass.

“Last question, I understand it was self-defense. But why were you with Will when we found the Red Dragon?”

It’d be a miracle if Hannibal’s mask didn’t fall right there and then, but it stayed intact nonetheless, with only a glare indicating his true feelings.

‘He’s catching on, I can’t have that.’

“I believe Will has told you that we had just finished our therapy session and he noticed the Dragon’s presence, hence he asked me to accompany him. Or was there something else you wanted to inquire about?”

Jack nodded. Hannibal’s statement was similar to what Will had said. Hannibal internally sighed in relief as he watched Jack stand from his seat.

“I apologize for barging in and asking these abrupt questions. I just want this killer caught.”

Hannibal gave Jack a curt nod, acknowledging the apology.

A slight creak of the floorboard was heard above them. Hannibal watched Jack in anticipation, but he either didn’t seem to notice or chose not to comment.

“It’s awfully rude of me not to invite you for breakfast. Did you want anything to eat or drink? Coffee, perhaps?” Hannibal offered.

Jack shook his head. “I won’t take up much more of your time. If you know where Will is, please tell him to report to me ASAP. Have a great day, Hannibal.”

Relief encapsulated Hannibal as Crawford closed the door behind him.

That encounter prompted his abrupt decision for the memory-wiping process. 

‘I have to protect us if it’s the last thing I do. Jack can ask for a warrant and pry my memories or Will’s and I can’t have any of us compromised.’

Hannibal inhaled as he sat in the memory-wiping apparatus, the first item laid out in front of him: his notebook of drawings he never got to show Will. It was a compilation of every time they had fallen asleep together.

Tobias opened it on a particular page where Will was lying on their carpet near the fireplace. It was their anniversary and the light from the fire illuminated Will’s physique, which even Adonis himself would be jealous of.

‘My beautiful boy, I wish I could keep this in my memory palace.’

The next item was a ravenstag teacup that had forget-me-nots printed on it like an emblem. Hannibal bit the inside of his cheek as hard as he could to prevent himself from tearing up.

“Hannibal, I got this for you. You gave me a locket to remember us by, but I want to give you this. It reminded me of that story you told me about your mother and what these flowers symbolize. Since you are my ravenstag, I don’t ever want you to forget me,” Will explained as he handed him the box that contained the teacup and a matching baby blue saucer.

Various items were put in front of Hannibal. Each one of them made Hannibal want to kill everyone in the facility and leave with the items he brought. If they were dead, no one would know that he had been here in the first place.

The last item finally broke Hannibal: a karambit knife. Regret and sorrow filled Hannibal’s core. He pushed the plate away as he staggered out of the room and hurled forward. He vomited the contents of his stomach. It was undignified, yes, but he was getting his memory wiped, meaning he could allow himself this embarrassment.

“Hannibal, are you alright?” Bedelia's voice echoed through the hall, but Hannibal’s world was spinning so severely he couldn’t come up with a quick answer. This was an active choice that he needed to make and no matter the results, he vowed to stick by it.

“Yes, I am quite alright,” he managed to say after a beat. “I apologize for the mess. I’ll pay for the cleaning service,” Hannibal replied weakly as he reached for the offered napkin and wiped his mouth.

After that, everything went by in a blur. Hannibal barely remembered when he arrived home and left his door unlocked for the memory-wiping specialists so they could come in and do their job whilst he was asleep.

The once dignified psychiatrist was now reduced to a zombie-like state. Unkempt hair, slight stubble above his Cupid’s bow and lower chin; thankfully, he still had the wits to wear a matching pair of silk green nightwear. It was the same set he had bought for Will and tucked away in his closet. He hoped that one day, he would see his lover wear it, but alas, fate did not allow it.

Hannibal’s phone vibrated, which interrupted his thoughts. He reached for his dresser, took one look at the caller ID, and his resolve almost crumbled.

Will Graham is calling…

He let his phone ring for a while in hopes that Will would take the hint. 

However, after the first attempt, Will didn’t relent. Hannibal's phone rang again. He stared at the screen and contemplated whether he should just put the phone on silent mode.

‘He deserves better than that. However… I’d be blowing my whole plan to keep us safe if I let him in.’

With that last thought, Hannibal finally answered Will’s call on the third attempt.

“Why the fuck aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been worried sick about you, thinking that Jack may have found out about us and your proclivities and locked you up somewhere I could never reach you,” Will’s voice slightly trembled. 

It made Hannibal feel a tad bit of self-loathing for what he was about to do.

“I apologize… I had matters to attend to. Did you need something from me?” Hannibal’s tone was unaffected, the same one he used whenever Will got on his nerves.

“Do I need— “ Will groaned and Hannibal could imagine he was rubbing his temples to soothe himself. “Did I do something wrong? You sound detached.”

Hannibal sucked in a deep breath as he closed his eyes. He refused to cry at a time like this.

“Our relationship isn’t sustainable, Will. I need to get my affairs in order and I can’t have you distracting me.”

Will scoffed and Hannibal could imagine the cute frown on his lover’s-ex-lover’s face.

“Hannibal… are you breaking up with me over the phone?”

Hannibal had to swallow the lump forming in his throat.

“Yes, I am. I am relinquishing my duties to you as a partner and psychiatrist. Before you say anything, I can handle Jack on my end, so handle him on yours.” 

The lie was growing quickly and Hannibal wasn’t sure he was able to stop.

“What? Hannibal, I know we’ve been on rocky waters as of late, but we can talk about this in person. Where are you?”

“Enough. I have said what I needed to say. I never want to see you again… Goodbye, William.”

Hannibal tapped the red button, blocked Will’s numbers and put his phone away in the drawer of his dresser. With a heavy heart, Hannibal slid under his comforter and tried to get comfortable.

‘I can only hope he also erases his memories of me. It’s the only course of action to be taken after this. I can’t live without him and he without me… I hope.’

He finally closed his eyes as he tried to wade into the quietness of his memory palace.

***

“I am Hannibal Lecter and I am erasing Will Graham.”

Hannibal frowned as he felt the uncushioned chair in Dr. Du Maurier’s office.

“I’ve explained the process to you… Are you sure you want to push through with this?” Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier asked.

“Yes, I am quite certain,” Hannibal confirmed as he was led into the room with the memory-wiping apparatus.

‘These items are my pride and joy, an amalgamation of who I am today because of Will and here I am, erasing it all… How foolish can I be?’

Hannibal shifted between consciously remembering the mind mapping in relation to Will and retreating further into his own mind.

But his memory-self lingered on the teacup. An unshattered symbol of love from Will. Hannibal stared at the intricate art and held it. His fingertips caressed the emblem on the smooth ceramic.

The memory of physical touch gradually faded, like a phantom whisking away his happiness.

The soft whooshing of a curtain broke Hannibal’s trance. He watched his surroundings crumble and reappear as the walls of his bluff house.

‘The phone call… I should’ve done it in person. But my resolve would waver… I never wanted our relationship to end. Not like this, never like this.’

Will Graham is calling…

Hannibal answered his phone and held it up to his ear. He focused on Will’s voice rather than on the contents of their exchange.

Relief was the first tone he noticed. Will sniffled, indicating he may have been crying or woken up with a cold.

‘The former seems more plausible.’

A small smile made its way to Hannibal’s lips, but it was short-lived.

“Hannibal… are you breaking up with me over the phone?”

Accusation and resentment was next. Hannibal squinted, imagining how Will looked. Disheveled hair, blood-shot eyes, a blanket over his shoulder as he called him. 

It had been a week since they had properly talked and met up in person.

‘Even without seeing him, I can clearly picture his current state. I love him so much.’

“Yes, I am. I am relinquishing my duties to you as a partner and psychiatrist. Before you say anything, I can handle Jack on my end, so handle him on yours.”

‘A lie I concocted on the spot to get him off my case. The longer I let this play out, the higher the risk we are in.’

Hannibal’s eyes fluttered open as the maroon curtains closed. He watched intently as the light finally peaked under and it suddenly parted. It revealed Hannibal’s home just as Jack closed his front door.

Loud footsteps were heard from the stairs. Hannibal quickly turned around in panic as Will appeared on the top and made his way down, wearing his signature white shirt and boxers.

Will yawned and lunged at Hannibal. Hannibal grinned as he caught him and pinned him to the door. He peeked through the eyehole to see Jack frowning at the door.

“Hannibal, what are—-” Will began.

Hannibal laid his hand over Will’s lips to silence him.

“Jack is still outside. Keep quiet, please.”

He continued to watch as Jack finally retreated to his car and drove off. Hannibal felt a slight dampness to his hand and he retracted it as if he had been scalded. He quirked a brow at Will, who had a smirk plastered on his plump lips.

“That is quite childish, Will.”

“You still have me pinned against the door, Dr. Lecter. I’m not sure which of us is being childish.”

Hannibal proudly grinned at Will’s teasing before he released his hold on his lover and pulled away.

Will stopped him and wrapped his muscular arms around his waist, keeping him in place.

“Now, where are you going?”

Will’s sapphire eyes sparkled with mischief.

‘If only I wasn’t too distracted with what transpired earlier, I would’ve loved this. Instead, I am about to do something quite stupid.’

“I don’t have time for this. Jack just came by to inquire where you are. You need to leave. I’ll pack you breakfast and a coffee canister, but you need to prepare to meet him. Do you remember what we discussed?”

Hannibal wrapped his hands around Will’s wrists and pried them apart so he could slip away. He watched the mischief fade from Will’s stunning eyes as they turned sour.

With a heavy sigh, Will pulled his hands away from Hannibal’s grasp and stepped to the side.

‘A senseless argument that could’ve been avoided. Yet here I am, instigating it.’

“Will, you know full well what Jack’s visit entails for the both of us. This was the second time.”

“I do and I just wanted a peaceful morning, but I can’t have that. Not when I’m with you,” Will deadpanned.

‘His reply was like a searing knife, twisted into my being.’

Hannibal held his tongue, avoiding any more conflict. In an attempt to lessen the tension, he asked, “Would you like to prepare breakfast with me… before you leave?”

Will stared at him momentarily before he nodded and reached for Hannibal’s hand. He laced their fingers together and placed a gentle kiss on the back of his hand.

“I want bacon and eggs,” Will mumbled as he pulled them towards the kitchen.

Hannibal’s heart filled with warmth. Despite the contempt Will had for him, he still chose to stay with him.

The gentle swoosh of the curtain cut through the memory, right in the middle of their laced hands, shutting it off forever.

He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as the yellow light shifted to a dimmer one, a familiar one.

‘The betrayal before we made up by slaying the Dragon.’

The curtains opened and Hannibal inspected his surroundings. He was now leaning on his office desk with Will opposite him.

Will was wearing a blue polo that made his eyes pop. The first button was undone, revealing a delicious expanse of skin that Hannibal wanted to sink his teeth into. Sadly, he didn’t because of the betrayal he found out that day.

“I’m dismantling who I was and rebuilding it brick by brick.”

‘Rebuilding it all for you because I love you and… I never got to say it.’

They were looking through Hannibal’s notes and burning them as precaution since Jack got too close when he came unannounced and ambushed Hannibal—it had been the first time Jack visited. The second was what prompted Hannibal to have his memory wiped.

“If I am ever apprehended, my memory palace will serve more than a mnemonic system. I will live there.”

Hannibal sauntered back to his table to put away the notes that needed to be burned. 

Will joined him. His scent caressed Hannibal’s nose, but something wasn’t right. He sniffed Will better, pinpointing the smell of ink from a cheap click pen. The clear image of a certain red head popped into his mind.

“Have you been consorting with anyone, Will?”

Will froze as he tossed one of the notes he was holding into the fire.

“What makes you say that?” Will didn’t turn to address him.

‘Why did he have to speak with that woman? She’s a nuisance and I should’ve ended her when I asked for her recordings last year.’

“Do not lie to me. I can smell it from miles away.”

“You assume I’m lying to you because of my scent alone? What are you, a dog?”

Hannibal ignored the jibe and instead headed for the door. It could be seen as a tantrum, but he knew Will would come by for dinner anyway. The best way to calm himself was cooking, so why not start early while trying to erase the feeling of betrayal?

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you and your lies. See you at home.”

Hannibal grabbed his coat on the chair and calmly closed the door behind him, as slamming it would’ve been rude.

As Hannibal walked through his waiting room, the sound of curtains indicated another shift as the dim lit room changed into warm rays of the sun that protruded through his dining room.

“It was self-defense, Jack. What do you expect?” Will argued.

All three men seated in the dining room as they ate eggs Benedict and quiche that Hannibal cooked that same morning. Jack sat to Hannibal’s left while Will sat on his right.

‘Ah, Jack’s first visit… The room filled with tension since we became each other’s alibi. We came back to my home after killing the Red Dragon, our baptism as a couple.’

“I got that, Will. But you mutilated the body, I don’t know if I can prove that. And why is it that I often find you two in the company of the other when a murder happens?” Jack pointed out.

Will and Hannibal shared a brief look before Hannibal replied.

“We had to defend ourselves from the Red Dragon last night, Jack. Will is here because he’s often disturbed by the job you force him to do and needs a debriefing session after. As I told you a year ago, he has a high level of empathy, a rare gift and yet, a taxing one. ”

Hannibal felt Will’s ankle lock with his under the table, a gentle gesture of gratitude, since Will didn’t feel like talking.

Jack contemplated the explanation.

He said, “I see… I apologize for questioning both of you, then. I think I’ll take my cue and leave.”

“No, please stay. Finish your breakfast,” Hannibal insisted.

Breakfast went on peacefully. Jack and Hannibal conversed while Will chimed in occasionally.

Eventually, Jack left the duo on their own.

“I’ll see you at work, Will. We’re about to complete the autopsy on Francis. If both of you are amenable, I want you there to recount the injuries you inflicted and give us additional statements. See you both later.”

Hannibal and Will nodded as Jack closed the door behind them.

“That was too close, Hannibal. He knows something is up,” Will mumbled anxiously.

Hannibal wrapped his arms around Will as an attempt to ground him. 

“He won’t know anything unless we tell him. We’ve corroborated our stories. All that’s left to do is to stick to them. Or as the famous saying goes, ‘Are you going to throw me under the bus’, Will?” 

‘That may have been a misstep on my part. He would never do it, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to probe him.’

Will squirmed out of Hannibal’s hold and glared at him.

“After everything we’ve been through, you throw that line at me?”

“I am merely making sure, Will. You are still their agent, after all.”

Hannibal’s eyes misted as Will stormed toward their room after the exchange and left for Quantico without a word.

“And yet, I’m not the one erasing my memories. You are.”

Hannibal blinked, confused at what he heard. He stared at Will’s memory self. 

Will was staring back at him rather than leaving.

“You left… what are you still doing here?” Hannibal asked dumbfoundedly.

Will sniggered as he took a step forward, backing Hannibal to the post.

“Torturing you with my spite, dear. You can’t possibly think I’ll just allow myself to leave you peacefully?”

Hannibal scoffed, a scornful smile perched on his lips. Will slammed his hands on either side of Hannibal’s head, encasing him.

“So, this is how my unconscious mind decides to fight the memory-wiping process?” Hannibal was in disbelief.

A mischievous smirk appeared on Will’s lips, one that seduced Hannibal immediately.

“I believe you yourself know that you deserve to be berated for everything you’ve done to me,” Will replied.

The colors of their surroundings began to fade. Will and Hannibal blurred together as the curtain closed in on them once more.

“You’ll love the next one. I hope you agonize over it,” Will taunted as the curtain abruptly closed and Hannibal exhaled as a heaviness permeated his being.

The patter of rain behind the drapes made Hannibal freeze in place.

‘Dear Lord, did it have to be this one so early on?’

The drapes parted and Hannibal found himself in his dimly lit kitchen. 

“They know,” Will warned him through the phone, followed by a beep.

Hannibal’s altercation with Jack went by with a blur and now, he stood in front of his pantry as he felt his muscles ache. He had instructed Abigail to deal with Alana and now he was standing by himself.

‘Will is coming soon. I need to hide.’

But Hannibal’s feet refused to move. He was stuck in place, unlike the real memory. A pull inside him wanted to stay put, wanted for Will to see the mess of a man he made him into.

“Hannibal,” Abigail whispered from the hallway.

Hannibal glanced at her before tilting his head. She was to take her place at the corner of the room as intended.

“Is he coming?” she inquired.

Hannibal nodded and gave her a mournful look as the creaking floor caught his attention. He looked at the hallway as Will approached him with a cocked gun.

“Hannibal?” Will asked with a shaky voice.

Hannibal’s eyes were tearful once again. Regret seemed to be the theme of his memory wiping process.

“You were supposed to leave,” Will whispered as he lowered his gun.

The weight of the materialized karambit knife grounded Hannibal in his disarrayed memory.

“We couldn’t leave without you,” Hannibal replied as he reached out his free hand for Abigail.

The poor girl shook as she took Hannibal’s hand.

‘Everything from this point on is going to be different. Despite my spite and feelings of betrayal, I want to recreate this by communicating better,’ Hannibal reasoned.

“Hannibal, what are you doing?” Will frowned as Hannibal wrapped his arm around Abigail’s torso.

“A life for a life, William. You forfeit mine, I take another’s in my stead.”

Will pointed his gun at him again.

“Lower the gun, Will. We both know you wouldn’t shoot me.”

Hannibal watched as Will’s mind waged a war within him.

“I’d rather do it with my hands. You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Will goaded.

Hannibal felt the vein in his temple pulsate. “I know of your betrayal… Why call me when you’ve already decided to sacrifice me to Jack?”

Will lowered the gun with a sigh before leaning on the counter beside him for support.

“I wanted you to leave when I heard your voice. Just leave me behind and be free. Wherever that may take you.”

Will’s honesty in his memory palace took Hannibal aback. He expected manipulation, but not tenderness.

“I… You expected me to just leave you behind, after everything we’ve been through?” Hannibal asked in disbelief.

Will quirked a brow with a judgemental look. “Yes, after everything we’ve been through, I’m the one wiping my memory first.”

It made Hannibal’s skin crawl.

“It’s for our safety. I expect you to do the same after this encounter. I’m curious what you’d do when you realize I’d be a version of myself that never met you,” Hannibal mused and released Abigail.

Hannibal walked around the counter and started to prepare the ingredients he wanted for their supposed last meal: a carrot ginger soup to warm them up before they left.

Abigail gulped and walked across the counter to stand beside Will. Pride welled in Hannibal’s chest at the sight of their surrogate daughter and Will standing together side-by-side.

‘My perfect family, but I was too blinded by spite.’

“I imagine I’d also want to erase my memories because, as much as you changed me, I changed you too,” Will pointed out as he pressed the safety lock and hid his gun in the back of his trousers.

“I regret what I did on this night… It pushed you to find connection in someone else’s arms.”

Will hummed, laced his fingers over the counter, and laid his chin on it.

“What’s done is done. You made your choice, I made mine. The teacup shattered. What’s to be done about that?”

Upon that last word, both men watched as an invisible knife slit through Abigail’s throat. She gripped her neck as spurts of blood flowed out.

Will reached for Abigail’s neck and tried to stop the bleeding, but both collapsed to the floor as the abdominal incision that Hannibal did create finally appeared in the memory.

Hannibal stopped chopping the carrots, leaned over the counter, and watched as Will and Abigail wheezed and painted his floor red.

“You would deny me my freedom.”

“N-No, never your freedom or your life, my love.”

Hannibal is stunned. The last line was never said, they never used ‘love’ as an endearment term.

Hannibal sauntered around the counter and kneeled in front of Will. He cupped Will’s cheek as a lone tear escaped Will’s pleading eyes.

“I wanted to leave with you, but you never gave me a chance and now… You’ve even killed our daughter. May the next memory cut through you like you’ve done to us,” Will rasped as Hannibal stood from his position and gave his family one last parting look before leaving the vicinity.

Echoes of Abigail’s gurgling filled Hannibal’s ears just as he stepped outside. Rain was pouring just as he grabbed Will’s jacket that lay over Alana and wore it.

Hannibal lifted his gaze to look at the sky. The dark expanse and downpour was a reflection of how he felt: wet, cold, and alone. Not even Will’s jacket and atrocious aftershave scent could anchor him in the memory as the curtain abruptly closed and separated Hannibal from the scene.

The wetness of his clothes gradually dried and the curtain opened to reveal his office again. Will sat across from him.

Hannibal peered down to see the suit he wore during the first time they got together. He frowned and realized just how his memories were starting to play out.

‘Instead of my most recent interactions with Will, my process seems to be going for the most emotionally charged. This memory in particular is of incredible importance, a crux to our relationship.’

Hannibal watched as Will’s eyes narrowed. “If you remember, Dr. Lecter, you killed her. You took away our teacup and now you ask me if I have replaced her?”

The accusation made Hannibal’s insides churn.

‘You betrayed me and wanted to forfeit my life. It’s only fair you hurt as much as I did… I didn’t expect you to run to the arms of another person, one of my patients no less.’

“Have you not? You now have a child with one of my patients,” Hannibal sneered.

Will’s retort was a defense of himself rather than the act. Hannibal schooled his features to appear stoic once again.

‘I can’t let him see that he still has control over me. I love him, yes, but this… I didn’t expect Margot to touch him.’

Hannibal could feel a slight pain starting behind his eyes and he took a whiff of his wine to calm his nerves. Hannibal let his shoulder sag; it was the best he could do to show how disappointed he was.

‘I wanted you for myself, to be the one to introduce you to the sins of the flesh, not that patient of mine. I thankfully made sure she was dealt with. No one touches you but myself.’

Hannibal breezed through what he said: “ —that makes me furious, as I was supposed to be the only one who connected with you intimately. I've always wanted your needs to be met.”

‘I hoped my vulnerability didn’t go unnoticed. Will needs to understand that he is my future, no one else’s. I am not allowing Margot to continue using my Will as an end for her means. I am a jealous man, after all. ’

Will’s face contorted in confusion and Hannibal found it endearing.

“Are you admitting to jealousy for my current predicament as a father, despite your hand in it?” Will asked amusedly.

“Yes. I am jealous, Will. You had a child with me and I do not appreciate the feeling of being replaced,” Hannibal replied as he felt rage well in him and his own gaze turned murderous.

“Am I replacing you and our teacup? You killed he—” Will was cut off by Hannibal standing up and rushing toward him, like a lion pouncing on its prey.

Hannibal grabbed Will by the collar and yanked him upward. He mapped Will’s face: the way his nose flared from breathing heavily, his icy gaze from the argument they were having, and his kissable chapped lips.

‘He needs to moisturize his lips moist more often, just licking them isn’t enough.’’

“I restate my case: I was not aware that you would be Margot’s chosen breeder. Do not test me, William,” Hannibal snarled as he felt heat travel to his pants; the argument and tension was making him hard—a physical reaction to Will’s overall demeanor and low tone of voice.

“Or what?”

‘You are playing with fire, dear boy,’ Hannibal thought as lust and love engulfed him like a raging fire: uncontrollable, unpredictable.

Hannibal glared at Will and crashed their lips together. Will’s slightly chapped lips on Hannibal’s spurred him as he pulled Will closer. 

Hannibal trailed his hands down to Will’s ass and gave it a squeeze.

Will moaned as Hannibal sucked on his lip, eliciting more sinful sounds from his lover.

Hannibal pecked Will’s lips one last time before he pulled away and gazed into Will’s charming blue eyes.

“What now?” Will inquired.

“A future filled with spontaneity and sex, I imagine, you petulant boy.” 

A grin formed on Will’s lips. Hannibal mirrored him as he cupped his cheek, and caressed it lovingly.

At the corner of his eye, Hannibal noticed the curtains closing in. A pained look crossed his face and Will frowned as he laid both hands on both of Hannibal’s cheeks.

“Seeing you distressed is quite a rare treat, but it’s been happening too often. What’s bothering you, Hannibal?” Will’s tone was soft, a welcome comfort amidst the crisis Hannibal decided to subject himself to.

‘What is my brain trying to concoct here? Will rarely asks these questions without hostility in his tone.’

“The cogs in your head are churning again. Indulge me with an answer before I disappear.”

Hannibal inhaled deeply before replying: “Jack was getting too close to finding out about the romantic inclinations of our relationship, as well as our connection to the murders. I had to devise a plan that would protect you and I… I’m quite regretting that at the moment. You’ve changed me, Will. You showed me a future I’ve never envisioned before.”

Warm fingers drifted to his nape, pressed on his skin, and grounded Hannibal.

“You’ve royally fucked us over, haven’t you?” Will teased, as Hannibal caught his gaze and glared at him.

“I don’t appreciate being demeaned during a dire situation, William.”

“Well, you deserve it. Stop being a baby and deal with your decisions as they are. Take your own advice, Dr. ‘I always have my way’ Lecter,” Will advised before he planted a wet peck on Hannibal’s nose.

Hannibal scrunched his nose and tried to wipe off the dampness, but Will caught his hand and gave his palm a kiss.

“Hannibal, you have control over your memory palace more than anyone I’ve ever known. You’ll figure something out. I bet the next memory is going to be fun this time.” Will winked before he was whisked away from his arms and the curtains shut in front of him and it hit the tip of his nose.

Hannibal rubbed his nose before he buried his face in his palms. It muffled the incessant sobbing that followed the encounter.

The curtains swooshed open and Hannibal felt blood cascade down his abdomen. He peeked down, and saw he was wearing a gray shirt that was soaked in his own blood. Hannibal coughed as he felt winded from being slammed against the pile of firewood.

‘Ah, my beloved wasn’t kidding when he said I’d enjoy this memory.’

Adrenaline pumped through Hannibal’s veins as propped himself on his arm and rose from the ground. He watched the dragon kick Will’s head.

‘You savage. You’ve marked what’s mine. I will devour you.’

Hannibal stalked Dolarhyde from behind and peeked at Will to make sure he could still move. 

Will caught his gaze, a mutual understanding of attack was made before they both pounced on their prey.

Hannibal jumped on Dolarhyde’s back and pulled his head back to reveal his neck. Hannibal bit down, severing Dolarhyde’s vocal cords.

Hannibal took a peek below him and saw Will aggressively stab their prey and pull the knife across Dolarhyde’s abdomen, a replication of what Hannibal did to Will before they got together.

Hannibal released his hold on Dolarhyde and jumped down. He backed away a few steps from the now bleeding body before he turned to look at Will.

“It is black in the moonlight.”

Hannibal reached out his hand to help Will up.

Will accepted it. He leaned on Hannibal, their chests touching.

Hannibal slipped an arm around Will’s torso to support him and to hold him close as humanly possible.

“I’m sorry about what I said about our teacup and making you feel replaced,” Will confessed.

Hannibal’s eyes widened.

‘He never apologized for this. My memory palace is playing tricks on me again.’

“That’s quite alright, I may have not made my point clear enough and for that, I apologize as well,” Hannibal cupped Will’s cheek.

“We constantly talked, but we didn’t necessarily communicate. We’ve only danced around the idea of love, you especially, and once it hit you, you were afraid.”

“I express my feelings through action. I killed the judge for you. Have I not proved my regret enough, mylimasis?”

Will replied with a sad smile as the hand on Hannibal’s shoulder trailed up to wrap around his nape.  “Possibly, but did you say or show it enough?” he said.

Hannibal bit his lip and stopped himself from reacting.

“Are you determined to sully each of our memories together, Will?”

Hannibal sustained their gaze despite the strong urge to look away and let the tears fall.

“Maybe, but like you deduced earlier, the memory you have of me is trying its best to stay in your memory palace. Hurting you is the best way to do that, is it not?”

Determined to keep the memory of their first joint kill as precious as it was, Hannibal exhaled heavily.

“This is all I ever wanted for you… for the both of us,” Hannibal echoed from the real event.

Will’s sad smile turned to glee, a sparkle of warmth reflected in his eyes.

“It’s beautiful,” Will breathed as he tilted his head to the side and captured Hannibal’s lips.

The kiss was tender compared to the one they shared in his office.

Hannibal enjoyed the taste of copper and wine that mingled in his mouth. Their blood now mixed in one wet kiss, a baptism and rebirth of their relationship; from friends to lovers.

Their lips parted, a thin streak of saliva and blood connected them. It was the beginning of their love-infused murder affair and both of them were getting quite aroused by their current situation.

Hannibal put his desire in the backseat and went with the flow of the memory.

“Let’s get inside, we can’t have Jack finding you this way,” Hannibal encouraged as he shifted their position.

Hannibal supported Will from the side before they walked towards his house.

They walked inside with ease and silence before Hannibal let Will slip into the couch.

“If Jack asked for a mouth swab after this whole endeavor, would you allow him to do it?” Will grunted and shifted. He laid in a supine position on the couch.

“I’ll deflect his inquiry and point out that I may have a concussion and need rest. He’d have to listen to my professional opinion. I’m bringing you back to Baltimore with me. You need a more comfortable bed.”

Will chuckled and closed his eyes.

“And what of my dogs?”

“Call Alana. I’m sure she’s willing to care for them. For now, please rest. I’ll dress your wounds while you nap,” Hannibal whispered and placed a soft kiss on Will’s head.

The same satisfied smile from the actual event was plastered on Will’s lips. Hannibal kneeled and tilted his head to lean on his knee.

‘I’ve missed seeing him sleeping like this… by my side.’

Hannibal smiled fondly and attempted to kiss Will’s forehead, but the curtains shut in front of him and pushed him back.

An exasperated growl escaped Hannibal’s lips as he landed on his bum.

“He is incredibly beautiful. Oh and look, Tobias, a pretty handkerchief. I think I’ll keep it. What are these flowers anyway?” A voice rang in Hannibal’s head.

Hannibal frowned and scanned his surroundings: nothing but the dark expanse enveloped him.

‘Whoever dares to sully the sanctity of my wardrobe will will face severe consequences. That handkerchief is my prized possession and it was strategically placed in the suit for Will.’

As if on cue, the curtains opened and revealed Hannibal’s backyard coated with snow. Hannibal looked down to see he was wearing his red knit sweater beside Will who was wearing a similar fit, but in blue.

“Hannibal? Are you alright?”

Hannibal rubbed a hand over his face and turned to the right to address Will.

“Yes, I’m fine, Will. Thank you for asking. I was merely deep in my thoughts.”

‘One of the rare occasions where Will slept over. It was the first time after we put a label on our relationship.’

Hannibal studied Will. He caressed the small embroidered forget-me-not in the middle of the handkerchief Hannibal handed to him earlier. Their session induced some tears. It was quite late, too, so Hannibal invited Will to stay over and provided him with clothes.

“I noticed you’ve been mindlessly touching the embroidery.”

Will blinked as if Hannibal’s words brought him out of a trance.

“Oh. I think this is the only time I’ve seen you bring this out and it’s… unusual for you, with your dark color palette.”

Hannibal chuckled.

“We spoke about your family in our session today. I wanted to share an intimate detail of my life with you too, if you’ll allow me.”

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

‘We’re in my memory palace, after all. I could easily show him rather than just tell him about it.’

Hannibal rose from his seat and offered his hand to Will.

Will hesitated.

“Are we going somewhere?”

Hannibal nodded.

Will wrapped his hand around Hannibal’s and laced their fingers together. Hannibal smiled and kissed the top of Will’s hand before he led him toward the many doors of the Norman Chapel.

The dark, dreary scene turned to gold as they walked through the archway of Hannibal’s living room. An array of white Victorian doors greeted them. One glowed amongst the rest.

“Where are you taking me?” Will curiously asked.

“To my family. You’re my family now and I want to share this intimate act with you,” Hannibal replied as they reached the glowing door and he twisted the knob to reveal a garden a few meters away from the castle.

“Fascinating. He’s off the grid. Franklyn, stop looking through his wardrobe and help me find him.” A frantic voice boomed in Hannibal’s memory palace, but he chose to ignore it as he was showing Will an important memory.

“You lived in a castle?” Will asked, bewildered at the tall architecture that greeted them.

“I am a Count after all. A castle fits the title, don’t you think?”

“Of course you lived in one,” Will mumbled as they approached a family of three.

A woman and two children were sprawled on a blanket. The young girl was reading a book while the woman, most likely in her forties, was talking to the young boy.

“Is that you? Look at how prim and proper you are. I now know where you got your good looks from,” Will teased.

Hannibal smirked and pecked Will’s cheek before they sat down across Simonetta, young Hannibal, and Mischa.

“Your sister is pretty,” Will commented as he stared at the petite, blonde girl beside Young Hannibal.

“Hannibal,” Simonetta called as Hannibal stopped reading to Mischa. “I wanted to give you this.”

Simonetta handed Hannibal a small parcel wrapped in kraft paper and a twine bow.

Young Hannibal took the item and curiously examined it.

“What’s inside, mama?”

“Open it. I want you to have it to remember me by.”

Young Hannibal pulled on the twine to release the paper’s contents. It revealed a white handkerchief with an embroidered forget-me-not at the edge.

Hannibal tightened his hold on Will. It’s been a while since he visited this memory. The weeks that followed this exchange sullied it until today. Will’s vulnerability and loving touch on the item prompted this action.

“It’s beautiful, mama. Thank you!” Hannibal’s ecstatic voice took both older men by surprise.

“Huh, who knew you could be so cute,” Will cooed.

“Will,” Hannibal warned as his partner heartily laughed.

“You’re most welcome, sūnelis. When you find a person who you cherish more than anything in this world, give them this. It is a symbol of your devotion to them,” Simonetta imparted.

“But what if I never find mano meilė?” Young Hannibal frowned as he stared at the handkerchief.

“You will. It takes time and a great effort to make the relationship work. In life, it’s best to never do things with half the effort. Let your yes be yes and your no be no,” Simenotta smiled and kissed the top of Young Hannibal’s head.

Mischa giggled beside Young Hannibal, which made him smile.

“We’ve basked in the sun for quite some time. Let’s go back inside and see if we can make Tinginys.”

Both children cheered as they helped Simonetta to her feet and dusted the blanket before they retreated into the castle.

Hannibal watched them fondly. He remembered the mess they made in the kitchen that day, the condensed milk stuck to his hair until night time, when he would be able to take a bath.

The memory turned sour as he closed his eyes. Hannibal could hear the screams of his mama and father when the assailants came.

The soft touch of chapped lips on his hands made Hannibal open his eyes. Their surroundings gradually shifted from the bright garden to the dark living room of Hannibal’s home.

“You were gone for a minute there, I know that was hard for you to share… Thank you for letting me in,” Will whispered from his crouched position.

Hannibal stared into his brilliant blue eyes. “The handkerchief is one of the last remaining items I have of my mother. It holds a very dear place in my heart as she made it herself a few weeks before the attack in our home...” Hannibal's lips quivered slightly as a hazy afterimage of Simonetta, his father, and Mischa beamed at him from his peripheral vision.

“Hannibal, stay with me. Don’t retreat into your mind,” Will requested softly.

It made Hannibal’s heart flutter.

Hannibal pulled a hand away from Will’s grasp and ran his hand through his curls.

“Where else would I go?” Hannibal replied with a satisfied smile.

The pair shared a quiet smile before Will’s expression shifted to a downcasted look.

“The next memory may drive you mad for choosing this process,” Will warned as Hannibal watched him slowly disappear.

“Please, let me keep this memory. Don’t take him away from me,” Hannibal begged.

Hannibal leaned forward and tried to reach for Will, but only his silhouette remained and the curtains shut.

‘How much more agonizing can this get?’

With sullen eyes and a slightly gaped mouth, Hannibal leered into the black abyss and waited for what was in store.

The curtains parted and revealed the Uffizi Gallery.

Hannibal’s heart immediately sank.

“These paintings are breathtaking. I can see why you brought me here,” Wi—-

The sound of a redacted tape replaced Will’s name, tarnishing the memory further.

Hannibal shut his eyes and refused to move. Everything was disappearing too quickly.

Callous hands pulled Hannibal’s palms apart and slotted fingers between the gaps of his pinky and thumb. Hannibal started to feel tiny pricks on his skin. It forced him to open his eyes and see Wi— pressing his fingers on his palm in an act to ground him.

“Darling, you’re right here. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere just yet,” Wi— soothed as he changed tactics and rubbed small circles on his palm before laying a kiss on it.

Hannibal beamed at the gesture and allowed himself to forget for the time being that this memory was being erased. He observed Wi—’s expressions intently in an attempt to keep him.

Every sparkle of wonder, every quirk of a brow, the very beam of his smile made Hannibal weak to his knees.

The last stop of the memory was the room where the Primavera hung. They sat side-by-side: Hannibal with his arm draped over Wi—’s shoulder while Will encased Hannibal around his torso. Tranquil was the word to describe their current state. Enjoying each other’s company in the presence of art.

Hannibal patted Wi—’s head and savored the calm he was feeling at this precise moment. 

“If I saw you every day, I would remember this time,” Hannibal declared and he planted a kiss on the top of Wi—'s forehead.

“We're conjoined. I'm curious whether either of us can survive separation.”

Wi—’s words, despite it being an honest question at the time, hit Hannibal like a truck. 

“Wi—… I…” Hannibal couldn’t finish the sentence as he saw the walls of the gallery, start to cave in.

“Gut-wrenching, isn’t it? How easy it is to twist words when they’re said in a different succession. You taught me that,” Wi— remarked bitterly.

Hannibal was misty eyed. He was currently experiencing whiplash from the shift of sweet to bitter moments.

“I would appreciate it if you stuck to a theme, Wi—,” Hannibal stated with exasperation.

“Now, where would be the fun in that? I need to keep you on your toes, darling. You can’t expect to box me with a set of influences.”

Hannibal smirked at Wi—’s witty reply.

“What a cunning boy you are,” Hannibal complimented before he captured Wi—’s lips in his.

Wi—’s fingers burrowed in Hannibal’s hair. He pulled Hannibal closer and kissed him deeply. Hannibal sucked on Wi—’s tongue. He made sure to taste everything.

Without warning, Wi— disappeared from right in front of him. Hannibal tried to reach out, but nothing, only a faint scent of mint and pine was left and the curtains shut. 

Hannibal let out an anguished wail as he collapsed on his knees. The regret was slowly eating him from inside.

‘What was I thinking? Wi— has an incredible mind. He’d cover for us for as long as he could before our escape.’

Hannibal decided to let all decorum go as he laid on his back, staring at the void above him.

‘I don’t want to endure this any longer. My memory palace is empty without Wi—, I need him. I love him. I beg of you, let me keep him.’

The curtains opened once again; the only source of light being the fireplace in Wi—’s home.

The pair laid on the black wool carpet Hannibal had gifted Wi— for his birthday a month before this whole fiasco.

Hannibal closed his eyes and tuned in with his five senses.

‘If I am to lose any more memories of my precious Wi–‐, I might as well go out with a bang.’

Hannibal inhaled the scent of the room: Wi—’s atrocious aftershave, their mingled orgasm, and Wi—’s newly bathed dogs.

Next, Hannibal clutched at the first thing he can get his hands on: Wi—’s length. It was soft as he ghosted his fingers around the shaft and down his cock then cupped his balls which made Wi— moan and softly thrust towards him. Hannibal gently squeezed again and elicited another moan; it was music to his ears.

Hannibal opened his eyes to see Wi— watching him like a hawk, a smirk playing on his lips as he reached out and gripped Hannibal’s bicep.

“What are you doing?” Wi— rasped as Hannibal released his hold and glided his fingers on Wi—’s thigh then up his hip.

“Enjoying my last moments with you,” Hannibal replied as he traced small circles on the top of Wi—’s Adonis belt.

“Mmm hmm, where exactly are you going for you to say that?” Wi— whispered as he pulled himself closer to Hannibal so they were chest to chest.

“Gone forever, I’m afraid. I’ve impulsively doomed the both of us,” Hannibal replied and licked Wi—’s earlobe.

‘Salty,’ Hannibal commented.

“Hmmm, I bet you can hide me somewhere, though,” Wi— hinted.

“They’d… notice.”

Wi— laughed and kissed the gap between Hannibal’s eyebrows.

“For being the smartest man I know, you sure are dumb when it comes to me,” Wi— teased.

Hannibal shot Wi— a look of disdain before the latter ran his hand through Hannibal’s silver hair.

“Your mind is your dominion. You have power over it as much as you want to. What if, in the nick of time, you hide me in one of your locked rooms?” Wi— suggested like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Hannibal is astonished at the idea his lover had.

“You are a marvel, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Wi— gasped as Hannibal planted a firm kiss on his lips.

“Yes I know, you’ve often told me so except for the explicit I love you,” Wi— replied proudly.

“Then I shall repeat it over and over again until it’s ingrained into your bones, into your very soul. I love you, Wi— and I will marry you,” Hannibal proclaimed with renewed strength.

“If you remember me, that is,” Wi— informed.

Hannibal’s high went down a few notches.

“The ever present thorn in my side,” Hannibal mumbled as he wrapped his arm around Wi—’s waist and pulled him close.

“And yet, your love and devotion are mine alone,” Wi— commented as he gradually dematerialized.

Hannibal gripped tighter in an attempt to keep Wi— grounded.

“Find me in the next memory. We’ll run away together, my love,” Wi— whispered as the curtain surrounded Hannibal.

Hannibal huffed and scowled at the velvet curtains that covered his next memory.

A few moments of waiting and the curtains parted to reveal daybreak.

Confused, Hannibal squinted and scanned the vicinity. He seemed to be at Wi—’s house and the snow blanketed his property. He was holding a bouquet and a heart-shaped package.

‘It’s our second anniversary as a couple.’

The faint sound of barking dogs interrupted Hannibal’s train of thought.

“Hannibal? What are you doing here?” Wi— called from behind.

Hannibal turned around to address Wi—.

Wi—’s pack snarled at Hannibal which made Wi— tsk for them to heel.

“Wi—, I wanted to—” Wi— raised his hand.

Hannibal bit his inner cheek to stop himself from speaking.

“Save it. Don’t lie to me, Dr. Lecter. Whatever speech you have concocted, I don’t want to hear it.”

Wi—’s icy daggers made Hannibal flinch on the spot.

‘Oh… It was the day after I sicced Randall on him. We ate Lomo Saltado and he declined my offer to sleep over. If I remember correctly, I left and gave the bouquet and chocolates to Alana; she didn’t like the dark chocolates, though.’

Hannibal frowned as he realized a vital aspect of himself he never admitted: ‘I was a coward and chose to retreat and be petty rather than face my feelings for you.’

“I’m sorry, Wi—.”

Hannibal paused and watched his lover’s reaction.

Wi— still had a hooded expression, but the frown softened.

‘I’m making progress. He wants me to expound.’

“As you said, we’re even now. I want us to start afresh. Do you remember our talk on forget-me-nots?”

Wi— nodded slowly, eyeing the bouquet and box of chocolates.

“I offer you these as proof of my sincerity. You deserve a bouquet of a thousand forget-me-nots for the love and patience you show me each day you choose me. Happy anniversary.”

Wi— seemed tongue tied as he stared at the bouquet and heart-shaped box.

Hannibal waited a few moments before Wi— approached him and kneeled in front of him.

“You’re actually being sincere, aren’t you?”

Hannibal nodded with bated breath. He was sure his voice would crack if he spoke.

“If you actually did this, I think we would’ve made love sooner,” Wi— pointed out as he took the bouquet and box of chocolates.

Hannibal laughed, truly elated at the outcome.

“Memories are easy to tamper with, aren’t they? Much like how you messed with mine two years ago. Tell me, does it make you feel better that you actually changed this particular memory to your liking?”

Again, the triumph Hannibal felt was snuffed with just a few words.

“Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate this gesture. Just had to hurt you a bit for the potency of the memory-wiping process,” Wi— whispered as he smelled the flowers and smiled brightly.

Hannibal grinned. 

“These better be dark chocolate. I refuse to eat anything else and I blame you,” Wi— mumbled as he laid the bouquet on his porch and opened the box.

Hannibal’s cheeks hurt from the affectionate smile plastered on his face.

“Of course it is, mano meilė. I only provide the best for you,” Hannibal responded and pecked Wi—’s cheek.

Wi—’s smile lines appeared as he bit into the anatomically accurate heart.

Hannibal watched as Wi— positioned the chocolate between his teeth and leaned forward. Hannibal tilted his head to the side, confused at what Wi— wanted him to do.

Wi— peeked down and back at Hannibal.

“You want me to bite into the heart with you?”

Wi— nodded and leaned in closer.

Hannibal obliged as he leaned against the wall and stretched his legs.

Wi— knee-walked toward Hannibal, positioned his legs on either side, and straddled him.

Hannibal wrapped an arm around Wi—’s waist to steady him and cupped his neck. Hannibal tilted his head up to capture the chocolate between his teeth.

They shared a look and bit down at the same time.

Wi— pressed his lips against Hannibal’s tenderly before he chewed on his portion of the chocolate.

“The next memory is our last. I wonder if you’ll cope,” Wi— whispered against Hannibal’s lips before everything was wiped and the curtains returned.

Hannibal closed his eyes and savored the taste of Wi— and chocolates before they too dissipated into the void.

The sound of familiar fluorescent lights pulled Hannibal back into the present and he heard the sound of the curtains opening.

Hannibal opened his eyes to see — wearing his glasses.

Hannibal’s breath hitched at the realization that — has been redacted completely.

‘My curious little thing, I get to see you again before your becoming… before you’re fully erased from my mind.’

“I imagine what you see and learn touches everything else in your mind. Your values and decency are present yet shocked at your associations, appalled at your dreams. No forts in the bone arena of your skull for things you love.”

Hannibal took a sip from his cup as he admired his lover: his curls, the glasses that shielded his eyes and himself. Lastly, the cute little frown that appeared after the statement.

“Whose profile are you working on? Whose profile is he working on?”

—’s anger was delicious; the pitch of his voice heightened a bit and Hannibal felt a heat pool in his pants.

“I’m not quite sorry about poking you during our first meeting.” Hannibal stated as he watched — turn toward him and removed his glasses.

“You kick-started our relationship. You were technically courting me the first time you stepped into my hotel room with that protein scramble of yours.” — recounted fondly.

Hannibal bit his lip to stop it from quivering.

“Feeling like crying, Hannibal? Let your tears fall, I want to see you like this even if not in person… You deprived me of that experience as well as the opportunity to comfort you,” — expressed with sadness reflected in his eyes.

Tears cascaded down Hannibal’s face as he reached out and cupped —’s cheek.

— leaned into Hannibal’s touch, however, the action prompted their surroundings to darken, only a spotlight directed on the pair; it sped up the memory-wiping process.

“Yes, you’re quite right and for that, I deeply apologize… Will you ever forgive me?”

Grief took over Hannibal as a wave of tears fell from his eyes and clouded his vision.

— took Hannibal’s face in his hands to ground him.

“Hannibal,” — called. “Darling, I’m still here. I know you want to wallow in your misery right now, but your window is closing. Control your palace and save us.”

Hannibal forced his breathing to even out as he let — kiss his tears away.

“Salty, but it’s yours so I don’t mind. Feeling better, love?” — cooed just as he started to dematerialize.

Hannibal nodded before he kissed —’s palm and wrapped his hands around them.

“Yes, very much,” Hannibal whispered as he rose from his seat just as the light started to dim.

With a new determination, Hannibal gripped Will’s wrist since his hands had dissipated.

‘I suddenly remembered his name again. This is a good sign.’

“I do not permit you to leave me, as we’re conjoined, Will. No one on this plane or the next will ever rip me from you,” Hannibal declared just as the last glimmer of light darkened.

Hannibal pulled Will to his chest and hugged him tightly as he visualized the dark, abandoned door at the end of his memory palace.

“Where are you taking me?” Will mumbled against Hannibal’s neck.

“A memory I never wanted you to see. However, we’re experiencing drastic times… Open your eyes, Will. See the destruction that led to my becoming,” Hannibal breathed as he saw the door materialize in front of him and he pushed them inside.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Will lifted his head from the comfortable position and peeked at their surroundings. It was dark, only a small fire to their left being the source of light.

“No… Hannibal…” Will rasped as he saw the silhouette of a young boy hovering over a small body of the same blonde girl they saw in an earlier memory.

They walked in unison toward the pair and the sight horrified both men. Young Hannibal was hunched over Mischa’s cold body. Her eyes were lifeless, but her stomach was open, blood dry, and organs missing. The cold had frozen her body and preserved her.

“They… they fed you with her,” Will muttered in indignation.

“Though your rage may be appreciated, now is not the time for it. I imagine they may notice that you are gone, hence I want… I need…” Hannibal paused as he felt bile rise to his throat.

“Tell me, Hannibal. If it means saving us, I’ll do it,” Will encouraged.

Hannibal swallowed and inhaled deeply.

“I want you to make yourself as small as you can and hide inside Mischa’s body,” Hannibal breathed and avoided Will’s gaze.

Laughter echoed in the room.

Hannibal frowned and turned to look at Will.

“Of course you’d think of something so messed up, you freak!” Will exclaimed affectionately.

“Tobias, are you sure the process is finished? The machine isn’t pinging like it’s supposed to when everything is done,” the same voice from the handkerchief memory pointed out.

Will leaned forward and pecked Hannibal’s cheek before composing himself.

“Looks like you have to leave now or they’ll find me,” Will whispered.

“You’re right. Let me recalibrate the machine. He must have jumped again,” Tobias replied as the pair heard beeping sounds.

Hannibal attempted to memorize everything about Will’s features, but the man was gradually turning transparent.

“That’s my cue to make myself scarce… You may see me in Maryland, who knows? But… Find me in the real world, Hannibal.”

Hannibal eyed Will as he started to shrink and the dark expanse closed in on them.

The tips of the curtain were starting to move towards the center.

Hannibal didn’t wait to find out if his memory of Will was able to hide. He proceeded to reach for the handle of the dilapidated door and shut it behind him with a loud bang.

Tears pooled in Hannibal’s eyes once again as he leaned on the slab of wood and sunk to the floor.

Hannibal’s whimpers resounded in his mind as he faintly saw the curtains close and heard a soft ‘I love you’ whispered in his ear.

Everything turned pitch black.

***

Rays of sunlight peeked through Hannibal’s curtains and prompted him to wake. He stretched like a cat and covered his mouth as he yawned.

Hannibal touched his chest. He felt oddly devastated and heavy; he scanned his room and noticed a slight disturbance to how his suits were usually hung on the wardrobe, but thought nothing of it.

Hannibal got out of bed and went about his day: meeting patients for their sessions, cooking his meals, murdering the rude.

A few days after waking up with such a heavy heart, a man approached Hannibal and introduced himself as Franklyn Froideveaux. He claimed to be Hannibal’s lover.

The only proof of this is the forget-me-not handkerchief in his possession.

Hannibal had doubts, of course, but he remembered what his mother said about giving the item to the one he cherished most.

‘I must have intended to marry him if I gave him that handkerchief.’

A month later, Hannibal and Franklyn visited the opera.

Franklyn seemed to have a cold and used Hannibal’s prized handkerchief as something akin to tissue.

Hannibal schooled his expression to show concern for Franklyn, but anger was threatening to surface.

‘He knows how important that handkerchief is to me, but he dares to sully it. This man may have been fooling me and I allowed him to, all because of so-called love. He’s going into my planned meal this week,’ Hannibal thought as he looked up to see a fuming man approach them.

“Hannibal, do you know him?” the beautiful curly-haired man hissed, making Hannibal tilt his head in confusion.

‘I have a partner and yet this man is quite appealing to me… and familiar.’

“It is terribly rude to barge into a conversation you are not a part of. May I ask who you are?” Hannibal asked.

“Whatever manipulative ploy you’re doing has to stop,” the man growled.

But Hannibal didn’t care, if anything, he found it arousing and ultimately, the nail on the coffin to ensure he cooked Franklyn for lying to him.

The gorgeous man seemed to have gained reason and left without a word, but Hannibal was yearning for him.

In the next few days, Hannibal relieved Franklyn of his handkerchief and avoided him with a passion while also making plans to search for the man who had come to the opera.

In a twist of fate, though, Hannibal had the urge to stay behind at his office on a Thursday night. He glanced at the clock to see it was 6:50pm.

‘What could possibly compel me to stay this late? I have no other patients coming.’

Hannibal gathered his belongings and tidied his desk before walking towards the door and opening it to reveal the same curly-haired beauty standing in front of him.

The man had a salmon shirt tucked in his pants and his hair appeared to be gelled a bit for a more fixed look. But what got Hannibal was his mesmerizing blue eyes that hid behind a pair of glasses.

“Hello. Have you booked an appointment?”

Hannibal watched the man blink and clear his throat in an attempt to cover up that he was distracted. The man turned toward Hannibal and glanced at him.

Hannibal noted that he vehemently avoided eye contact and a strange flutter in his chest made Hannibal ask:

“Not fond of eye contact, are you?”