"Let's get started" Hannibal says as he and Will heave the body from the dining table and transport it into the kitchen where it's finally placed on the counter. Hannibal draws a sharp knife from the wooden block, giving it to Will, handle first. As the knife changes hands, their fingers slightly brush against each other making Will feel a tingle. Hannibal places a large bucket below the counter. "First we'll have to drain the blood from him" he says as he stings needles with attached tubes into Randall Tier's arteries. The tubes are turning red instantaneously, guiding the fluid of life into the bucket. A peaceful sound like water running is filling the kitchen while Will Graham, knife in hand, eyes up the body. "He had a thing for prehistoric animals - cave bears. I want him to become a cave bear. This is my design." Will shapes his thoughts into words. "I want him displayed as a human-cave bear hybrid: Two species becoming one." "So you'll need a cave-bear skeleton. There are plenty at the Natural Museum of History. This is the place where his transformation started - and will complete." states Hannibal. "A transformation only fully reachable in death." finishes Will. He steps closer to the body, now severing the epidermis at the jaw, his movements a little clumsy as he's used to dissect much smaller corpses - those of fish. "Let me help you" says Hannibal as he steps up behind Will, clasping his apprentice's hand in his. He reaches around Will's back with his left, grabbing Randall Tier's head. They are standing in front of the body, chest to back, almost merged into one sculptor. "Guide the knife with your fingers, like this." The doctor eases Will's fingers into place. "Now use the pressure from your arm" he whispers into Will's ear. Will is letting himself being guided, smoothly, while he can feel Hannibal's warm chest pressed against his back, his arms around him in a sort of embrace. This isn't just Randall Tier's becoming, it is also his own. Under Hannibal's care and mentoring he is finally embracing his dark side that has always been part of him. He is no longer ashamed of admitting how good it feels to be free entirely. But there is another feeling increasing his complacency: being with Hannibal, being close to him stirs up a warmth within him. He can't deny the attraction like an electron can't escape a current. As they keep dissecting, Hannibal notices Will's increased blood pressure and quickening heartbeat. Finally, he has him in the right place, by his side, joined together in crime and savagery. Will is at his mercy, beyond the breaking point. He is finally becoming tonight. His Will.
In conjoined effort the butchers severe the head from the body, tearing through sinews and muscles. The arms and legs follow, their joints breaking under Hannibal's expertly wielded axe and bone saw. Regarding their work they sort the limbs, placing the ones for Will in plastic bags and moving the torso and drained blood into the large fridge in Hannibal's pantry for further processing. Under the moonlight they place the bags together with tools and wire into Will's trunk because it already contains the soiled plastic sheet. In the protection of darkness, wearing masks and clad in translucent protective suits they silently approach the back entrance of the museum, carefully considering every step in order to stay in the dead corners of any cctv camera. Making use of his FBI training, Will Graham picks the lock while Hannibal Lecter watches out for them.
Inside they stride through rows of ancient relics like dinosaur skeletons and other fossils before reaching the desired object: A cave bear, put together by Randall Tier. "Indeed a magnificent creature with the jaws to kill" says Hannibal admirably as they stand before the skeleton. "This one seems to be the proper framework" agrees Will. Hannibal smiles assuringly at Will. He is proud of him. Working swiftly they move the skeleton down a flight of stairs into a gothic atrium, overspanned by a vast ceiling supported by severe sandstone pillars. They replace the bear's limbs with Randall's, drilling holes into the bones and attaching them with wire. With every part the skeleton looks livelier, although the flesh is partly torn and bloody. Completing the ghostly display Will places Tier's head above the massive bear jaws. It looks as if the fangs were protruding from his human face. Satisfied with his creation, Will circumferes the tableau. "This is my design" he mutters, approaching Hannibal who places a hand on his shoulder and nods in congratulation over the completed transformation.
On the ride back to Hannibal's Will is soundly asleep as the psychiatrist calmly maneuvers the car across the roads, classical music playing quietly in the background.
Will awakes to a slight tugging at his shoulder and Hannibal saying his name: "Will. Will. We're back." Rubbing his eyes and yawning heartedly, he steps out of the car, the world around him still wrapped in nightly darkness. "We still have to clean up if you don't want to return to the Baltimore State Hospital" Hannibal reminds him jokingly, even if his words state the plain truth. They remove the now empty bags and the sheet from the trunk, wrapping them up together with the tools and the spare wire. Careful in order not to stain the floor in Hannibal's impeccably clean marble hallway, they move through the kitchen and the affiliated pantry into the basement. All plastic wrappings are cremated while the two of them meticulously scrub the tools clean. The protective suits are submerged in a tub filled with chemicals to remove any organic remains on them. The kitchen counter and floor are also smeared with blood. Hannibal hands Will a pair of gloves, a brush, and bleach. As he is on his knees scrubbing the floor, he can feel Hannibal's eyes on him, almost burning on his skin. Hannibal watches Will from above while removing the red-brown smear from the counter. He is fascinated by Will's movements, how he arches his back, on his knees…"Are you staring at me?" asks Will, now facing Hannibal from below. Entirely aware of his actions and confident, Hannibal leans back against the counter. "I'm admiring you. You have immense potential, Will." Reassured by these words, Will gets up and approaches Hannibal. He deeply looks into his eyes before placing his gloves and brush on the counter. As he spins around, he finds Hannibal standing directly in front of him, their faces just inches apart. "What you did tonight was beautiful, Will. I've anticipated this for so long." "I could have hardly done it without you, in any kind of way." Hannibal of course reads between Will's words, bringing his right hand to his cheek, caressing it with his thumb. Will closes his eyes and leans into Hannibal who gently but not without force pulls Will closer. His hands find Hannibal's strong shoulders as Hannibal wraps his left arm around Will's back, feeling the muscles tighten beneath his touch. Slowly, their lips make contact before moving apart again ever so slowly. Once more they look deeply into each other's eyes, pupils dilating before indulging in a passionate kiss. Eyes closed in pleasure their tongues encircling each other's they are locked in an embrace, holding on to the other, exploring bodies with their hands. When finally pulling apart, they are panting and gasping for air. "I never thought this would feel so good" says Will, still out of breath. "We're not done yet" are Hannibal's words as he lunges forward, sweeping Will off the floor into his arms. Carrying him bridal style Hannibal ascends the stairs towards his master bedroom. Passing by a samurai armor and katanas, Will is carried into the nobly furnished bedroom and lowered into sheets of white silk and blue velvet. He starts unbuttoning his shirt while Hannibal removes his tie and smoothes his vest over a chair. Will, now shirtless, gets up and walks up to Hannibal. The doctor runs his hands over the fisherman's bare skin now while having his shirt unbuttoned by him. The fine fabric slides to the floor as the two men indulge in another kiss unable to get enough of each other. Will's pants start feeling tight as he can feel something hard pressing into his abdomen. Hannibal eases Will back towards the bed. When Will is on his back, Hannibal pulls at his belt, opens the zipper and slides Will's pants off him. Quivering with excitement, Will struggles to get rid of his socks, watching Hannibal remove his socks, trousers, and underwear. Hannibal makes his way back towards the bed where his treasure is waiting for him. "You certainly won't be needing these" he says playfully, tugging at Will's boxers. The undergarment slides to the floor, just before Hannibal climbs on top of Will. They roll through the cushions, kissing and hugging each other tightly. In the blink of an eye, Hannibal turns Will over. He presses him into the mattress with his full body weight. Will is breathing hastily, overwhelmed by the situation he finds himself in. His heartbeat is overturning when Hannibal grabs his hips, slowly pushing his erection into him. He can't help letting out a groan, totally overcome with pleasure. Hannibal is looming over him, breathing into his neck, grunting at every thrust. Suddenly Will feels a sharp pain in his shoulder, followed by a warm tickling as blood starts oozing from the place Hannibal dug his sharp teeth into. He can feel him pulling out so slowly that it's excruciating. Will then shifts onto his back and Hannibal comes to meet Will's mouth, licking his bloody lips. Savoring it, Hannibal makes Will taste his own blood, thick, sweet, and salty at the same time, with a touch of iron. Will digs his fingernails into Hannibal's back as their members are touching, rubbing against one another. They linger in their savage kiss a little longer before Hannibal positions himself behind Will again. Moving against each other their pace quickens; Hannibal now massaging Will's cock with one hand and pulling at his hips with the other. They both reach their climax almost simultaneously.
After all the physical exhaustion they collapse into bed. Hannibal stretches his limbs, lying on his back. Will comes to rest his head on Hannibal's wiry chest; "This was beautiful", he whispers, hardly able to keep his eyes open much longer. Hannibal wraps an arm around him and pulls up the covers. "This is all I ever wanted for you, Will."