Hannibal wanted Will to choose, and that astounded him.
He enjoyed his games, enjoyed manipulating people. Will had been one of the greatest games. The idea of manipulating Will into having feelings for him was beyond tempting. However, the idea of Will choosing to have feelings for him was even better.
Will had a dark side, but he was good- a lot better than he gave himself credit for. He muddled through life trying to do the right thing. The thought of someone like that coming to him anyway, choosing to be loved by a monster, was delicious, and more interesting than he could have imagined.
Six days after the last time he had seen Will, he walked into Will's classroom. He had his hands tucked into his pockets, a calculated display of relaxation. He paused when he saw Will. He was alone in the room, working on some papers at his desk. He was still in the wheelchair.
He didn't notice Hannibal straight away. He was chewing the end of a pen, one hand raking through his hair. His eyes were intense, his brow creased slightly. From the outside, it was virtually impossible to tell that anything had changed in Will at all.
Hannibal was reminded very much of the other reason why he had left, the reason that was a lot more than wanting Will to make a choice because it would be amusing.
He sensed Hannibal's eyes on him, and looked up. He didn't seem surprised. Calmly, he placed the pen down and leaned back in the chair, facing Hannibal with an unwavering stare.
Hannibal was pleased. He would enjoy the challenge of breaking Will down again.
"How many?" Will asked.
"I beg your pardon?" He knew what Will was getting at, of course, but he wanted to make him say it.
Will didn't even fake a smile. "How many did you kill while you were gone?"
"Does it matter? Wouldn't you rather not know?" He could tell from the twist of Will's mouth at that comment that it was a particularly sore spot for the boy. Good.
"I need to know." Will's eyes closed briefly.
The two men faced each other.
Hannibal thought of his trip away. He had tried, several times, to stir up his desire to kill. It hadn't happened because he couldn't focus properly, and not focusing meant that mistakes would happen. He didn't make mistakes, so he had returned home no less innocent than he had left it.
"Would you believe me if I said I had killed nobody?"
"No."
He forced a smile. He deserved that. "Then you have made your mind up without my input."
"You keep saying that you want me to make my mind up. You gave me no choice when you called Alana and gave me to her."
"I don't recall you putting up much of a fight."
There was actual anger in Will's words. It tasted so sweet to Hannibal. "There wasn't an awful lot I could do without getting you into quite a lot of trouble."
"And you don't want that."
"I should want that."
Hannibal's smile was genuine. "I have missed you a great deal."
Will didn't respond. Hannibal usually found him easy to read, but it was as though Will had drawn down a shutter, sealing himself away. That was upsetting. Hannibal had revealed himself to Will more completely than he had to anyone. Will was retreating back inside his shell.
Hannibal thought back to him sitting on his bed, crying, no longer a person but a creature ruined by his behaviour, and he considered the notion that Will's anger was justified.
"Have dinner with me tonight," he offered.
"Aren't you going to ask if I've made my decision?"
"No. I can see that you are still considering your position on the matter." Hannibal turned to leave. He was afraid that if he didn't, he would grab Will and either kiss him or choke him until he agreed to be his. "I shall expect you at eight. Please do invite Alana."
That hadn't gone quite as he had expected. The Will he had taken in his bed had been eager and willing. The memories of those perfect minutes were a stark contrast to the almost clinical, cold man who had faced him in that classroom.
He quite liked not knowing how this would play out, if he was honest. He trusted that Will would not betray his secret, so he could allow him to make his decision for as long as he pleased.
In theory.
It was hard to admit, but Hannibal was disappointed that Will hadn't been soft and pliant and eager again.
Back home, he opened the curtains to allow the dim grey light to illuminate the rooms. He looked at the bed where he had been with Will, and resisted the urge to lie down in the sheets. Really, he was becoming unacceptably sentimental.
His emotions were still unusually erratic when he answered the door just before eight. Alana looked beautiful, and she gave Hannibal a warm smile and a kiss on the cheek, which he returned. He made a great show of clapping Will in a friendly manner on the shoulder.
Will swallowed visibly at the contact.
In the dining room, they sipped on beer, in accordance with Alana's preferences.
"I must apologise again for having to rush out of town. I had urgent business. Will and I are lucky that you were available to look after him."
Alana smiled again. "Nonsense. Will's an excellent guest."
"She was looking after my dogs anyway. I'm just one more stray."
Hannibal brought them elaborately prepared plates of food. He was delighted with the vaguely disbelieving expression on Will's face when he saw the explosion of green and purple before him.
"A salad? Hannibal, this is very unlike you," Alana said. "We normally consider you the most passionate carnivore we know."
"He considers himself in the same way," Will offered, still staring at the leaves, staring the words from Hannibal's own mouth before he could say them.
Alana took a large mouthful. "This is delicious."
Will helped Hannibal carry the plates into the kitchen after dinner. Hannibal took them from him gently, placing them in the sink to deal with after dessert. He was very aware of Will's eyes staring at him.
"Why have you suddenly grown a conscience?" Will hissed.
Hannibal couldn't resist leaning down to speak the words against Will's ear, delighting in the scent of him. "Please do not mistake what I have 'suddenly grown' for a conscience, Will. I assure you it is not."
"I don't understand you," Will said quietly, surprising them both by taking Hannibal's chin firmly in his hand and forcing him to make eye contact. "You rejected me- you made me think you didn't want me. Now you're serving salads and acting really politely and- and normally-"
"I could have you so easily if I wanted to take you." Hannibal could see the arousal that sparked within Will at the words. "Not just physically. I could have every aspect of you. I am trying to resist the temptation and give you a choice because, as we previously discussed, you are important to me." He took Will's earlobe in his teeth and tugged it, just hard enough to hurt, hard enough to make Will hiss. "But please be aware that it is a temptation, Will, and one that I cannot guarantee I will not give into."
Hannibal wanted to kiss Will's face then; his expression was a beautiful mixture of fear, arousal and annoyance. However, he forced himself to move away and serve the final course.
He made an effort during dessert to be as charming as possible to Alana. Although she still sometimes glanced wistfully at Will when he wasn't looking, he was quite sure that she had decided to release the possibility of a relationship between them.
She went to the bathroom before they left, and Hannibal found himself alone at the dining table with Will.
"I know you didn't kill anyone while you were away."
Hannibal raised an eyebrow at Will's sudden comment, but Will just shrugged. He reached across and took Hannibal's hand.
"It would be easier if I knew you would never do it again."
"I will do it again."
"You don't feel any guilt at all." Will's eyes were closed. He was trying to empathise with Hannibal, trying to understand his motives.
"You know me better than anyone, Will. You need to make your decision based on all the facts." Hannibal squeezed his fingers, and he wasn't sure if he intended the gesture to be comforting or not. "How does that make you feel?"
Will's eyes blazed at him. "Not as conflicted as it should."
Hannibal hadn't planned it, but somehow they were leaning across the table, kissing. Will's hands tangled in Hannibal's hair in a way that was delightfully painful; his lips were fierce and Hannibal could taste Will's anger and despair.
"You amaze me," Hannibal said honestly, murmuring the words as they drew apart at the sound of Alana's heels.
Her smile was lovely and oblivious. "We should be going," she said. "Thank you so much for dinner."
"Yes, thanks." Will gave him a shaky smile. "I'm glad you're home."
Notes: I am back at work tomorrow and it's exam season (I have the dubious honour of being a teacher) so updates may slow down slightly, although I will do my best. Thanks for the support with this- I'm clearly out of practice when it comes to this sort of thing and the support is really lovely!