Digitus Cibum
Hannibal knows how easily his influence is affecting her. He can see the shift in her eyes when he speaks (choosing his words carefully and letting them roll off his cultured tongue with perfect conviction) and how at ease she is around him (her shoulders always slump so comfortably, as if the strings finally pulling her upright are being loosened). He enjoys toying with people, because it is just so easy. But with her, with little Abigail Hobbs, it's almost more satisfying. It's not manipulation; it's grooming, which is far more a noble pursuit.
"Doctor Le- um, Hannibal?" She asks one day as they sit together at his dinner table, dining upon the liver of a particulary irritating winery saleswoman ("Find it yourself, I'm underpaid as it is."). His eyes, dark as he dines, only slightly avert towards her. She isn't wearing one of those wretched scarves and her hair is pulled back. Her scar is there, glorious as ever now that she no longer fears it (his hard work has paid off).
"Yes, Abigail?" He dabs the corners of his mouth with his crisp, white hankerchief, and she swallows a visible lump in her throat (pale, beautiful skin that he sometimes imagines putting his hands on and not letting go, no matter how much she kicks and cries). Her eyes, doe-like and the brightest blue he's ever seen, peer down at her plate before catching his gaze once more.
"You're feeding me people, aren't you? Just like my Dad did."
A muscle in his face twitches (it's actually a smile). Such a smart, little thing. "I am, and have been for quite some time. Are you upset with me?"
She looks at him, her lips a tight line on her face as she looks back down at her plate. It's almost completely empty, save for the dressings on her plate that he had so elegantly layed out. She blinked, her eyelids heavy with realization.
"No. I was going to ask for seconds."
x-x
I may add some more various, Hannibal-related drabbles to this. My sweet Hannigail heart was pitter-pattering today. The title translation is "Finger Food", by the way. Please review!