So did anyone else find this week's episode entirely too short? I felt like it was over in ten minutes! And with so little Hannibal too. Hannibal, to which I do not own. Just the enigmatic Anna. The next chapter will hopefully pick up speed on the plot. I am so thankful for anyone who takes time to read my story. I truly love reviews to see if people are liking the way it's going, and any grammatical catches or Lithuanian mishaps. Thank you to the stars and back for all readers.
"Do you promise?"
"I just swore to it, didn't I?"
"It means nothing. How can I know for sure?"
"You can't."
A shiver ran down Anna's spine at the memory. From habit her fingers massaged the curved bones outside her eyes, inhaling a deep breath.
The way he had looked at her that night, the way he spoke. After their meal he checked the time and asked if she wanted to leave, noting work the next day.
He walked her out, opening her car door, and with a smile, bid her a good night. No pressure, no force. It was thing Anna Astor was not used to.
She knew what he did, what he was capable of. He had sworn to never kill her, to take her organs and serve them as entrees. The same oath normal men would take to never be unfaithful, or eat your leftovers.
Anna noted the irony of that last part, only leading fingers to dig into her temples further.
"So, you are taking my advice? I cannot vouch that anything from a vending machine will be nutritious, but it is an upgrade nonetheless," His quaint voice echoed through the empty space, to her ears. Anna watched his reflection in the glass. A gentle smile was on his face; one that had been newly added to the few expressions of Dr. Hannibal Lector.
Startling blue orbs finally met his own face to face, pink lips puckered. Hannibal felt his fingers curl in naturally, squeezed into fists before lightly releasing. "Do you have enough change for what you desire?"
"I sincerely doubt it," Anna grudgingly complained. Hannibal's smile grew as he stepped closer. She was leaning back against the glass now, only a foot away.
"Chips, or chocolate?"
"šokoladas. Chocolate," His answer came, sending another tremor down the woman's spine. His accent was enough to drive her crazy; those soft-spoken, delicately accented words of a foreign language only made it worse. Her mouth fell open for a quick breath and Hannibal struck, moving until his body pressed close to hers. A hand caught the hair over her ear, weaving down to the nape of her neck. His face was so close; all she would have to do is lean up, glide her waist over his, and then…
"I will kill you, Hannibal." The words hardly sounded her own: baleful, deadly. A quiver ran through Hannibal's chest, fingers clenching the roots of her silken hair. His breath warmed her face, taunting her eyes to close. "I know, maža Anna, I know."
Hannibal Lecter's eyes did not waver from hers as his head lowered, hand catching the bone of her jaw.
His pursuit stopped when cold fingers pressed against his lips, blue orbs smirking. The same hand swept across his face and to his ear, teasing the lobe before pulling him down. Anna rose to the tips of her feet and pressed her warm mouth against the sensitive skin between Hannibal's cheek and ear, right hand holding onto the front of his belt for balance. "Did you really think it would be that easy, handsome little Hannibal?"
Hannibal instantly jerked, body tensing as her wet breath licked his skin. Hands caught her waist and Anna chuckled, being drawn closer to the man. A low groan escaped Dr. Lecter's lips when she suddenly pulled away, sliding coins into the vending machine.
Anna Astor had stolen the exact amount of change needed right out of his pants' pocket.
Hannibal muttered to himself in Lithuanian and Anna smirked, careful to bend just the right way. A few sharp words grew in volume at her new tactic, tumbling into her thoughts.
That was too close.
"Lecter, Astor! Here you are."
Agent Jack Crawford stood in the lounge doorway, eyeing the two individually. Anna stood from her bent form, a chocolate bar in hand. Both she and Hannibal smiled lightly, pleasantly. Of all the agents and doctors Agent Crawford had worked with, these two were the most unsettling.
In many ways they were the exact twin of one another, minus certain characteristics. Dr. Lecter was a tall, broad man, with a sharply-shaped face and brown, crinkled eyes. He always appeared almost-smiling, with the sort of charm only European men seemed to possess. Everything about him spoke a reserved sort of intelligence, the type who could be standing in a room for an hour before you noticed.
When you did, however, he became the main focus of anyone and everyone.
In ways, Dr. Anna Astor was the exact opposite.
Though only less than half a foot shorter than Hannibal, even lesser with heels, Anna was slight, narrow. Her body seemed to naturally curve between her chest and hips, gifted with an ample behind and long, shining hair. The bones of Anna's face weren't quite as sharp as her counterpart's, but unique with the features of piercing, cat-like eyes and puckering lips. The bottom of her mouth was full, with a gently curving, thinner upper lip. She was a woman of many expressions, though not as quick to genuinely smile. Every look was thought out and deliberate, from the way she raised arched eyebrows to the sexual way she smirked, riling the agent rookies always coming to ogle her. The only time she seemed at ease, with a carefree smile or laugh, happened near Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham.
And when Hannibal, Graham, and Anna were together, no one was completely comfortable.
"Katz found metal shavings in the body. Graham's idea is to locate nearby steel mills and investigate for suspects. The plan was to head out today, but upon calling we found most mills closed on Mondays. I have business to attend to tomorrow, so you three will be on your own."
"Aww! How disappointing," Anna cooed with a pout. Crawford grinned, waving a hand.
"Like you'll miss me. You hate when I go."
"That isn't true! I simply hate when you ride with us."
"Oh?"
"You always get the front seat, and that is where I sit. When there's only three of us, Graham usually drives. Hannibal is too much of a gentlemen to steal it from me. If he drives instead, I can just flirt with Graham until he submits. Or, I can sit in the middle and have either man on each side of me. With you, however, I'm afraid my charm won't work."
Crawford's head tilted slightly. "And why would that be?"
A wicked smile broke across Astor's face, pearly whites gleaming.
"Because you are not interested in cannibals."
It was silent as shock colored Jack Crawford's face. The brunette laughed, shaking her head. Even Hannibal was looking at her, eyebrows raised.
"You two are so serious! Let's be honest, Jack. You chose me partly for my intelligence, partly for my medical degree, and eighty percent because of what I did in my past, didn't you."
It wasn't a question. Crawford swallowed, stalling. There was no point as the two agents watched him, noting every move he made.
Blue eyes ultimately averted, smile edging away. The woman looked up to Hannibal. "We should probably get going. There's no point in sticking around when tomorrow will be the day of action." The doctor nodded in agreement before politely smiling a goodbye in Crawford's direction.
Hannibal Lecter led his pretty counterpart to the door, hand on the small of her back as they walked. She busily pulled the body of her hair over one shoulder, brushing a strand out of her vision.
Two cold, cutting eyes ascended on an indifferent face as Anna Astor passed Crawford, freezing his blood. In an instant the moment passed, leaving only the resonated sound of the door shutting behind them.
Jack Crawford let loose a breath he hadn't been aware of holding.
"Do you think Crawford is afraid of me, handsome Hannibal?" Anna questioned. Her car was currently in the shop and Hannibal offered to drive her home, ever the chivalrous knight as he held the passenger door open.
He had first unlocked the door and held up the front passenger chair, offering a backseat. The pouting, annoyed shock upon her little face made Hannibal smirk, quickly returning the seat's position. She smacked his chest lightly.
"I think he is certainly wary of you, gana Anna," He mused. An unexpected chuckle fell from the woman curled next to him. Hannibal glanced to find her smiling out the window, lost in thought.
Lecter wondered how this one woman could be so different in his eyes compared to the others. What it was that drew him in, feel such a desperate longing for her. Anna Astor is nothing special, nothing unique, his conscious willed.
A bright, unrestrained smile turned to him then, lighting the car as she gently tilted her head.
"Hannibal, what is the Lithuanian word for 'handsome?'"