Chapter Text
Epilogue
Two years later
Will hears the other prisoners hooting and catcalling, but he doesn't pay any attention. He is lying back between Hannibal's legs, and Hannibal is murmuring a dark Spanish love poem in his ear.
Then he sees Alana.
He straightens up, and Hannibal moves back to the corner of the bed.
"Will, it's over. They know you weren't the Ripper now. They know it was Hannibal."
She twists her hands, and Will tries to smile encouragingly. Alana does not look encouraged.
"They've decided that you killed him in self-defense. You'll be moved to a psychiatric ward tomorrow."
He blinks at her.
"Is Hannibal coming with me?"
Alana looks floored. She hasn't been to see him at all since he's been here, and he doesn't remember much of the trial. She might not have been there, either.
"Will… Hannibal is dead. You, you killed him. He's not coming with you."
Will tilts his head and wrinkles his eyebrows.
"I know I killed him, but he's not dead. They put us in the same cell. Hannibal says that even the wardens know better than to get in the way of true love."
Now Alana looks as though her heart is breaking. Will glances over his shoulder and sees Hannibal smirking. He's become much less controlled during their incarceration. Now he always shows what he's thinking on his face.
"Will, honey, you know that's not true. Have you been seeing Hannibal all this time? Is he…haunting you?"
Will looks down at himself and smiles. He reaches back to take Hannibal's hand.
"He's not haunting me, Dr. Bloom. He's in love with me. We talk, and make love. Sometimes I sing to him. He was reciting Pablo Neruda when you arrived."
Alana looks like she might vomit.
"Look, Will, you know that's not real. I've talked to the doctors who are going to be overseeing your care. We'll make sure you get the medication you need to get back on track. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore, do you understand?"
Will nods, seriously. He understands. Hannibal will tell him what to do.
Hannibal whispers, This is our chance, dear one. You must pretend not to see me. That's the only way to get them to release you, so we can begin our new life together. I know you're hungry.
Will is so very hungry. So he allows himself to look sad and confused, and whispers,
"I know he's not really here, but I've been so lonely. Sometimes I like to pretend. And he did love me. I knew he'd let himself be caught eventually, so that I wouldn't have to stay here anymore."
He looks up at Alana with big, innocent eyes. She looks relieved.
"It's okay, Will. We're going to help you now. Everything's going to be okay."
He hears her heels click down the hallway, hears the other men shouting obscenities. He waits until she is gone, and then he rolls over to pin Hannibal to the bed.
Everything is going to be okay.