Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews, favs, and follows! I will gladly continue this for you lovely people. I've never properly maintained and completed a series before (I won't lie haha), but I'm gonna do it this time. Thanks again for the support and hope you like this next chapter! - M
Her body is paralyzed, mind is lost far away into a cloudy haze. There's no pain, only feelings of pressure on her head, it feels like it weighs a ton. She's laying down on a flat, smooth surface. Her body is stationary, but she feels like she's floating on top of a body of water. Swooshing in her ears, muffled noises of movement. A figure is present around her. She can almost see a silhouette in her mind's eye.
Her thoughts are all jumbled up, no form of coherent or logical order is present. There's shielded panic in her induced state of relaxation. She can feel the warm breath of sheer danger on her neck.
She knows she's not safe.
She acknowledges her lack of control- and it scares her more than the bluntness of death.
Valerie wakes up to the vibration of her phone, feeling sluggish and sore all over. She picks up her phone to check the time and what notification kept it buzzing for so damn long. It was a Wednesday and it was 8:00 AM. Yawning and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she realized that the bed felt much softer than usual, and it was darker than the bright colored sheets she owned.
"Hannibal," she fondly guessed with a smile.
She stretched and got up to face the day, starting with fixing herself up of course. She had killer morning breath going on right now. Not acceptable. The instant she left the guest room her nostrils were hit with the aroma of pancakes and what she guessed were scrambled eggs. Anyone who knew Valerie enough was aware of her love of breakfast food. She harbored a Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope level of obsession for it. So needless to say, words could not possibly describe how appreciative of Hannibal she was at the moment. Plus she felt like she hadn't eaten for days! Her stomach growled like the lead singer of a screamo band- all in all not very charming and around Hannibal Lecter, she always wanted to be charming.
Walking into the kitchen she was blessed with the sight of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in his fluffy, black with white lining robe decorating the pancakes and scrambled eggs set on the bar. His side parted blonde hair falling into his eyes as he looked up and greeted her with his signature "Hello Val" that crinkled his eyes.
"Just in time for breakfast," his accent and lisp always managed to paint a genuine smile on her face that lightened her soul.
He gestures to the seat at the bar and she follows his instructions, unable to resist animatedly shutting her eyes and reveling in the delectable aroma of the heavenly food that was placed before her, which endlessly amused the chef as he sipped on his coffee.
"What did I ever do to deserve your friendship, Hannibal?" she asked as dramatically as she could with her right hand resting on her heart.
"Being your honest, compassionate, and charming self is all that was needed," he playfully responded as he poured her some tea.
Accepting it with a thanks she continued the fun banter, "To be honest, I'm surprised you didn't say petty and weird."
"That too," he quips which makes her chuckle and jokingly protest with a "Hey!"
"Finish your breakfast," he orders trying to appear stern. Val thinks he enjoys watching her eat, as he doesn't join her. He chooses to lean against the counter top behind him instead.
"Yes, Ma'am" she retorts with a devilish glint in her eye as she mock salutes before sipping on her tea, which was perfect of course. Hannibal you culinary genius.
"Careful Miss. Carter, you don't want to add rude to your list of personality traits."
Switching gears real quick she gushed, "Did you know you have killer cheekbones? You could cut up a bitch with those if you're not careful."
Smiling at the blatant flattery, Hannibal mockingly chided, "Language, Val."
She widened her eyes and sheepishly smiled as if to say "Opps!"
"So about last night," she started as she cut up a piece out of the fluffy pancakes, "Did I crash at your couch again?"
Hannibal nodded as he took another sip of his coffee, "I was quite surprised to find you lost in deep sleep in my living room."
"I'm so sorry! I wanted to surprise you."
"Well you certainly did."
She chuckled at the sass the psychiatrist always had in spades, she found it endearing. When she lifted up her teacup to drink some more, she noticed the movement stung a little. There were scratches on her other hand as well. Confused she pondered out loud while the doctor intently heard, "How did I get these?"
"You don't remember?" Hannibal inquired, his therapist mode was in operation.
"Last thing I remember is going to the kitchen to make cheesecake," she explains brushing her hair back as she continues to bite into the pancakes.
Author's note: I'm going to add more to this chapter after finals x