Set two weeks after the first chapter.

Sorry about the length. The sole purpose of this chapter is to explain why Will hasn't gnawed on Hannibal yet. There's some back-story as a bonus.


Will has never had much respect for humans. His memories of his own humanity were practically nonexistent, washed away by time despite his body's resistance to its passage. It was the same for most of his kind. Sometimes, if he tried hard enough, he'd see glimpses of faces and lands; vague things for which he felt no residual affection. He doesn't really mourn its absence, not when he is so perfectly content with his monstrosity.

The woman who'd turned him- Molly- was much more sympathetic towards humans and the disparities in their natures caused them to part a mere century after Will's becoming.

Throughout the years, there were a handful of humans that garnered his attention only to end up dead at his feet when his interest waned and was replaced by hunger.

But Hannibal Lecter was different.

It's no longer simply about the scent though, because if that were the case, Lecter would be dead already. He doesn't know if it's the cannibalism or the psychopathy or the pure darkness in the man that calls to him so strongly, but every single session with him is a trial for Will; the temptation to just tear into the graceful curve of his neck and gorge himself on his blood great enough to be a troublesome distraction. Lecter's attitude doesn't quite help matter either. His fascination with Will's empathy and uncanny ability to delve into the most depraved minds humanity has to offer often results in their conversations being purposefully led to morbid waters that does little to shift Will's attention from how it would feel to have Lecter go cold and limp under his hands and teeth.

And yet, he finds himself reluctant to kill the man just yet, not when his company is so exceptional when compared to the men and women Will has endured before. His interactions with the human are highly stimulating; Lecter's mind a sharp, brilliant thing driven by a dangerous sort of curiosity that leads men to do either great or terrible things. It's obviously the latter with the doctor but despite his expertise with killers, Will can't quite figure out this one. There is a story behind him, he's sure. After all, cannibalism is not a choice one makes lightly, not in this era. But though he can read Lecter to an extent, enough to see the emotions and reactions he keeps hidden under that meticulous persona, it's not enough for him to truly see the monster in the man. It's equally frustrating and fascinating.

He's not used to being so… conflicted.

The last time someone invoked a reaction even half this intense in Will was nearly three hundred years ago. Abigail was a sweet girl on the outside, her father's pride and joy. Inside, she was as hard as steel, concerned about ensuring her survival with a single minded focus that was rare enough in adults let alone a mere child. Will was impressed by her when he met her, intrigued actually for some time. Even then, he'd come perilously close to killing her before changing his mind. The decision to turn Abigail was impulsive, born of a curiosity to see how that small seed of darkness in her would manifest with her humanity stripped away from her.

She was grateful to Will, relieved at being 'saved' from her father Garret when he finally decided that killing lookalikes of his only child were not enough and turned on her. Although she was much less thrilled about her new existence forcing her to actually kill instead of just assisting in murder. But her ruthless practicality saw her through that difficulty as well.

In Will's opinion, she adjusted rather well. Though he was- and still is- much less pleased about her decision to replace her dead human father with Will despite her fear of him.

But even that situation doesn't really compare to the present one. Of course, this will only ever end in Lecter's death one way or the other, but for once, Will is not sure how long it will be before that happens. His fascination only seems keep on increasing with every moment spent in the doctor's presence.

And so, as much as the most primitive part of him wants to just give in to his nature and just take, the rest of him wants to keep Lecter around for a while longer.

Frustrating and fascinating indeed.

Perhaps, he should simply wait and see where all this leads him, and enjoy the doctor's company while it lasts.