Work Text:
Will often struggled with sleepless nights, taunted by nightmares that relentlessly attacked his mind. There were many times when he woke up drenched in sweat, so drenched that he had to change his shirt several times.
The lack of sleep left him exhausted, dark circles beneath his eyes, and his energy nearly depleted. But today, the fatigue felt heavier. The day had been long, and it was only evening. Will had yawned countless times, rubbing his eyes, his glasses slipping down his nose as he tried to focus.
He sat at his desk in the lecture hall, taking a sip from his third cup of coffee. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his arm over his head, letting out a heavy sigh. His eyelids were heavy, begging to close, but he tried to distract himself, thinking back to a recent case Jack had assigned him.
Despite his best efforts, his body betrayed him. Slowly, without realizing it, he drifted into sleep, his head coming to rest on his arms, his breathing slow and steady. For a while, his breath was the only sound filling the empty room.
Hannibal, who had just arrived from Baltimore, stood silently in the doorway. He observed the agent, taking in the sight with a quiet satisfaction. Will, vulnerable and unaware—an extremely rare sight. For a moment, Hannibal felt something like pleasure stir within him. It was almost surreal to witness Will in such a state.
He stepped closer, careful not to disturb him, a strange smile curving his lips.His eyes lingered on Will’s sleeping face, his mind racing with curiosity and a hint of something darker. Will was still wearing his glasses. With a slight smirk, Hannibal carefully took them off and placed them gently on the desk, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
He studied Will’s face, the rawness of it, the trust in the vulnerability of sleep. The urge to reach out, to touch, flickered, but Hannibal suppressed it. Regaining his composure, he turned and left the lecture hall, a faint smile lingering on his lips, only for it to be quickly masked by his usual calm demeanor.