It had been a long time since anything had really, truly shocked Hannibal, but finding Will Graham at his crime scene did.

Finding Will Graham at a crime scene was usually expected and acceptable to Hannibal. He was often to be found there, a splash of colour muddled in the greys of the other investigators.

However, finding Will at a crime scene before Hannibal had actually committed the crime was slightly unusual, to say the least.

The insurance salesman he had been stalking was hulking over Will when Hannibal entered the barn. Will's eyes bulged as they saw Hannibal enter. The salesman didn't notice him. He was waving a knife around in an erratic fashion.

Will was bound and gagged. There was blood matted in his curls. It darkened what Hannibal could make out of his plaid shirt, already drying a dull crimson.

Hannibal took a few seconds to assess the situation. He thought the salesman was doing some wood work out here; he had been following him for some weeks and that seemed to be why he kept this barn. However, there was clearly more to him. He was a killer.

This had happened before. Hannibal didn't target killers usually- he wasn't concerned with the morality of others, apart from for his own entertainment. He had accidentally strayed across several in his time, though, particularly since his involvement with the FBI had increased. Normally, he would be tempted to let the killer complete his work before intervening.

Normally, the intended victim wasn't Will Graham.

Hannibal felt something dangerously huge and overwhelming as he wrestled the man away and brought down his knife. The familiar warm spray hit his face. He wasn't feeling his usual pleasure in this act. He was vaguely aware of the motions he was going through, vaguely aware of the fierceness and rawness of the movements.

He looked over at Will as the body fell to the floor. Will looked back. Hannibal half-expected to see him calculating, working out, realising. But those eyes were empty. Will might not even be there, not really.

Then Will quirked his head, ever so slightly, seeing him. He had worked it out before Hannibal had finished killing the man. Of course. Clever boy.

Hannibal wanted to move the body and remove his protective layer before he freed Will- after all, there were no other layers between them, now. However, it seemed exceptionally unwise to leave him alone with his thoughts.

Hannibal untied Will, half-expecting the younger man to dive for him and attack. Will remained still, looking steadily at Hannibal, until Hannibal removed the gag.

It would be easiest to kill Will now. He knew this, yet the thought caused more of that painful, overwhelming emotion to return. He decided against it.

Will said nothing. He stood up slowly, wincing slightly, then surprised Hannibal for the second time that evening by reaching out and wrapping his arms around him.

He was shaking. Hannibal found himself cradling him, vaguely aware of the bloodied knife still in his hand. Will's curls tickled his chin as he pressed his face in.

What was he thinking? The trembling could be from the terror of being abducted and nearly murdered, and some of it probably was. Some would be from figuring out Hannibal's true nature and watching him kill a man. Most would be from seeing Hannibal as he truly was and still caring for him; Will would be disgusted with himself.

Gently, Hannibal steered Will out to the car. He sat him in the passenger seat. Will clung to his hand, eyes locked on his.

"Wait here, please." Hannibal was pleased to hear that his voice was firm and steady.

He returned inside. No time to properly deal with the body; it was a mess anyway, butchered by his anger. He rarely lost control like that.

Taking what he wanted, he went back to the car, placing the packages in the boot. He stepped out of his overall and placed that inside, too.

Joining Will in the car, he started the engine without making eye contact. As the car crunched its way over dry leaves down to the main road, he chanced a glance at him in the mirror.

Will was still staring at him. Hannibal fought back a smile.

This was going to be interesting.