Hannibal handed Will a cup of tea before returning to his own chair directly opposite.
"Thank you, Doctor."
He undid the button of his jacket before sitting back and crossing his legs. "How long have you been coming to see me now, Will?"
Hannibal observed as Will looked up from the steam-swirling contents of his cup and over glass rims to meet his psychiatrist's penetrating gaze. "Six months, I believe, Doctor Lecter."
It had been exactly three months since Hannibal's dream. He was still unsure of the complete ramifications of such a wanton invasion into his own psyche, unsure if he had allowed it or Will had, with his soft words completely at odds with the flashes of darkness Hannibal could occasionally coax from him, unwittingly pursued it. He did know that he had to exercise patience with one as fragile as Will Graham if he were to unlock the truth of it, for both their sakes.
Hannibal sipped his tea. "And in that time, what have you discovered?," he asked as he placed the cup precisely on its saucer.
"About you? Or me?," Will countered.
Hannibal briefly smiled. "I thought we had agreed deflections were a waste of both our time, Will." He rose and walked to the window. "Most especially when you are in no mood for my questions. That is the time when the most important answers may be given."
Hannibal walked behind Will's chair. Should he risk touch? He placed a hand for a few seconds on Will's shoulder. Will gave the briefest of shudders. Whether it was from trepidation, pleasure or dislike, Hannibal could not tell without seeing his face.
"It is probably not a good idea to extend touch, Doctor. The gesture could be… misinterpreted in so many ways. Particularly by someone as unbalanced as myself."
"Of course. Though sometimes touch can provide a grounding we did not know we needed and, to address your other comment, you most certainly are not unbalanced, Will."
"Then why am I here? Why are you spending your valuable time on me?"
Hannibal sat down again and retrieved his tea from the side table. "Would you consider it inappropriate if I told you I found you a source of fascination?"
Will raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.
"A person in my position, Will, needs to constantly remain one step ahead if they are to help their patients come to terms with their demons. I believe these sessions with you help me do just that. And while I know you have your own demons - as do we all - I believe you love them as much as they love you. A symbiosis, if you will."
"I beg to differ, Doctor. I do not love or care for these demons in the slightest. Short of taking my own life, I would do anything to banish them…"
"You fear them consuming you…"
Hannibal wondered how long it would take for Will to acknowledge and embrace them. No matter. He was a patient man.
Will looked at him directly, that flash of darkness graced Hannibal with another appearance, mirroring his own.
"I fear," Will said softly, "they already have."