Chapter Text
Sitting in the garden with his back to the forest was meant to be a calming experience, but for the FBI agent it was the beginning of a headache. " No, Jack, listen. That isn't an option for a theory," Will and Jack had been going around in circles on the matter of a murder. Will should have been resting on his holiday and as he had refused to go to the crime scene he had to share is knowledge through a zoom meeting.
Looking over at his house he noticed a figure walking towards him in a red jumper and joggers holding a spoon. "Give me a minuet Jack," standing up Will muted himself and walked towards his lover, " Hey, everything okay?" Will asked softly.
Hannibal was taller than Will and that meant he had easy access to his forehead, " Other than the fact that you are clearly aggravated, no. I only need you to try this." Hannibal loved to surprise his lover with meals but tonight it was what he considered 'vegetarian' as nobody was being used. Will wasn't a picky eater but after his dislike of Hannibal's soup, Han did it just to be sure.
" I'm in a meeting, Hanni," Will looked over his shoulder at his computer, where Jack would be waiting waiting. Looking back at his boyfriend, he saw Hannibal had lifted the spoon to his face.
" It will only take a second, il mio amato," Hannibal knew that the one way to undo Will was to speak in Italian.
Will rolled his eyes and opened his mouth. It was an explosion of flavour and Will fought to hold back a moan of satisfaction.
" Excellent as always,"
" Glad you think so," Hannibal lowered his head and kissed the younger man on the mouth, even through a kiss he could taste his cooking and even he was satisfied with the results, " Want me to stay?" His voice was muffled against Will's lips. Will nodded.
They both sat down but Hannibal sat opposite Will. The table was a small one so Will put his feet on Hannibal's lap after taking off his slippers and unmuted before he could complain. Jack's voice came through the speaker as he turned his audio back on, " Where did you go, Will? Everything okay?"
Will had worked with Jack for years and knowing how he worked this was likely a way to get Will to give away what he does alone, " One of the dogs wanted to get outside so I had to let him out before he got bitchy," Looking over the computer he saw Hannibal mouth 'language' at him with a fake shocked expression.
After his move, Will had decided to give away most of his dogs to his trusted friends. He had kept two, Winston and Buster. The two mentioned were at the groomer having their hair cut upon Will's request which had surprised Hannibal as he had learnt to accept the hair in everywhere but the it kitchen and the bedroom.
Jack seemed to believe this as he knew that Will's dogs liked the outside as much as Will himself, " Where are you? That forest doesn't look like yours."
" I'm on a small holiday with a good friend," Will answered quickly and added the end so that Jack didn't think that Will was unsupervised. Jack didn't like his least stable agent being alone for long periods of time. Hannibal had lightly hit Will's foot at the word 'friend'.
During his conversation with Jack, Hannibal had lifted his jumper over Will's feet and was caressing the sliver of skin that was visible around Will's ankles. It was the winter but Will insisted on sitting outside so that he had open air. Hannibal didn't like him being outside for too long so Will was wearing thick joggers, a hoodie and another jacket over the top.
" Anyways, the body was found outside of either of the killer's territory. In the way that these killing are working, the other wouldn't know it was them and then the conversation would end. From the point of view as the-" Will was trying his best to explain how it wasn't possible without loosing his temper at Jack but he was cut off.
" Will, as much as your input is great. I would like Dr Lecter's opinion. Can you call him? He hasn't been answering my texts or calls," When Jack mentioned his name, Hannibal had moved Will's feet of of his lap and put his slippers on them.
" No need Jack," Hannibal sat down next to Will and shifted the camera every so slightly so the other half of his face was in frame. His hand found Will's thigh and he squeezed it reassuringly below the table.
" This is the friend?" Jack asked having not expected them to be friends after Will had changed therapist, " Well Dr Lecter, if you have space I would love to stay around one weekend."
Hannibal loved to throw elegant nights of dining and fun but looking after people after dinner wasn't his strong suit. " Unfortunately, William here is the only guest I can cater for at the moment," This wasn't true. Hannibal's home had two guest rooms but he was a selfish man and didn't want to share Will. The meeting had been seen as necessary so he had left Will to his work and had started cooking to pass the time.
" How unfortunate for me. Do we need to catch you up doctor?" Jack asked assuming that Hannibal had just joined them.
" Only a description of the scene. I have been here since Will muted and I already know about the 'conversation' between the other two killers," Hannibal had started rubbing small circles on Will's thigh and Will's hand had moved on top of Hannibal's. There was a noticed difference between the two hands. Where Will's were smoother, Hannibal's had calluses from his hobby and work.
Will quickly added, " He made me try his food,"
" Lucky you," Jack's voice came quickly as he knew that Will loved Hannibal's food like everyone else.
Getting back on topic, Will began explaining his theory in more depth, " We know that these killers work as a conversation and it is moving towards a centre point. They are both killing in two lines that will meet. Some bodies aren't as centred on the line as others but this one is too far away from the line to be part of the conversation. Adding onto this is the fact that the body wasn't done in the same style, it is careful and neat unlike the others. It is respectful where the others are for shock value." Will had been able to remain calm and display his evidence in an organised manner. Hannibal was smiling at Will, he loved it when Will explained his thought process as it all seemed obvious afterwards.
Jack was silent for a minuet before saying, "So you are suggesting a new killer." It wasn't a question. He knew that Will was.
" I must side with Will on this. It is unlikely for killers to break out of pattern when they are succeeding and have an end goal. It wouldn't make sense to stop before they finish," Jack had been looking for Hannibal to support him but he understood where they were coming from.
" Fine, a new killer then. I will contact you if I have any other problems that require assistance with," Jack promptly hung up.
" Rude," Hannibal said closing the computer.
" Don't even think about it," Will said standing up. They walked inside quickly to avoid a further attack upon their already frozen skin.