A/N: Hello! This chapter makes references to characters and locations from Silence of the Lambs. By the way, everyone who was involved in the #eattherude campaign, we did a great job! Here's to hoping the show doesn't get cancelled. If it does, #eattherude we will.
Enjoy!
|Deadlock|
Will stood before the squat grey building; the letters "Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane" sprawled over the entrance. A strange feeling stirred inside him as he stood there, a hidden protest. Hannibal Lecter did not-could not-belong to a place like this. The monster inside him was a beautiful, elegant monster. Will felt like this building had devoured this beautiful monster, restrained him to a substandard environment. It was insulting.
Dr. Chilton cleared his throat.
"Shall we?"
Will Graham didn't answer him. Instead, he took a step forward and ran his hand over the dusted nameplate. Criminally insane, the exposed portion read. He entered the building.
They walked through dark, winding corridors. Dr. Chilton's heeled shoes clicked vexingly behind him. Cell bars rattled as the prisoners thrust themselves forward, intrigued by the newcomer.
"Hey, doc," called one of them. "Doc, can you come here a second? Look, look! I think I've grown a third nipple!" Prisoners around him snickered, while a sly smile spread over the prisoner's face. "Who's this puppet? Can I take a shot?"
Dr. Chilton ignored the prisoner as they walked towards a partition that led to the next block.
"Ooh," the prisoner called, desperately now. "You're taking him to see your precious Dr. Lecter. Tell me, is he some psychoanalyst, or are you bringing the doctor his next meal?" More snickers.
Will froze.
"What's wrong, doll? Did I push a button there?" The prisoner inquired.
"Shut it, Miggs," Frederick Chilton snapped. "Shut it, or else I know how to shut you."
Miggs produced a low laugh that resembled a snarl. "Toodle-oo," he said, with a little wave.
They crossed the partition.
The hallway suddenly became darker, all the lights dimmed in this area. The prisoners looked subdued, minding their own business or staring blankly into space.
"This is where we keep the more complex creatures in our reservation," Chilton whispered. They walked quietly, albeit Chilton's heels clicking in the hallway. Finally, they reached the last cell.
The cells around his were vacant, and inside the cell itself, pitch dark. Will could barely make out a silhouette of a man seated in the center, his head bent forward, his fringe falling before his eyes. For a moment he imagined he saw a crimson glint in those eyes, but the next, it was gone.
Loud classical music blared in the speakers. Adagio in G minor, Will recognized.
"Hannibal," Will called in a tender whisper. He thought he saw Dr. Lecter wince. Chilton, of course, hadn't noticed.
"Lecter!" He shouted, banging his fist against the glass that separated them. It was Will who winced this time.
The lights switched on, and Will could finally see the monster in his true glory. He could not hear the music anymore, and Chilton had also disappeared. Only when Hannibal finally met his eyes did he realize that he'd been standing there for hours.
"Hannibal," he repeated in a whisper. The corner of the monster's mouth quirked, resembling a smile Will once knew too well.
"Will."
His eyes looked hollow, will noticed. His wrists were bruised. In addition, grey overalls didn't suit him.
"So I thought," Hannibal confirmed. Will had spoken aloud.
They can't do this to you, he wanted to say. They can't lock you up here! You don't belong in the bilge. Not with these people. You belong with—
Stop.
His thoughts overwhelmed him, and he felt like his mind would burnout. Desperately, he shut his eyes and leaned his forehead against the glass, his left fist raised for support.
Gradually, gracefully, Hannibal walked up to the glass. His eyes never left Will Graham, who had now regained his posture and watched Hannibal with steady eyes. His lips were set in a firm line. His body shook almost imperceptibly. He needed to be with Hannibal.
Hannibal caught Will's struggle, nonetheless vulnerability unveiled in his eyes. The mere sight of Will astounded him. He feared that Will hated him. He feared for Will. At the same time, he felt relieved that Will had come. Will's heart was broken.
Both men did not know what to say.
"It's a nice, sunny day outside," Will ventured. "Reminds me of the day we found the Minnesota Shrike's third victim… except it wasn't the Minnesota Shrike, it was you."
Hannibal smiled.
Will awaited his reply.
"Yes, it was."
Will's first instinct was to punch the glass that separated them, but he didn't. Instead, he stared into Hannibal's soulful eyes, wondering how? His own stinging eyes were a nuisance.
Hannibal wanted to brush Will's tears away, but he couldn't. Instead, he leaned against the glass and closed his eyes. Will mimicked him; the only thing between them was the bulletproof glass.
"I miss you," Hannibal whispered.
"I miss you," Will replied.
Will opened his eyes and silently started walking towards the door. Hannibal opened his eyes when he heard the door shut.
Will was gone.