"She belongs in that white dress in the dining room of the hotel," Will nearly growled as they stayed out of sight of the girls, especially Nina. It wasn't hard with the teens in their own world, but if Nina saw them she'd definitely recognize them. She'd want to come over to them.
"What if she was here with us?" Hannibal asked as he sipped at the most expensive cognac this dismal little club had. It was bearable at least. He left his cane in the car knowing that it would stand out too much. His limp would be nearly invisibly among the drunk people stumbling about.
"She wouldn't be here with us," Will snapped against his glass of whiskey. His eyes followed her as she danced with her friend, Helen. She had been staying away from the bulk of the people, but Helen had brought her over and pulled her into a dance.
"You wouldn't bring her here if she asked?" Hannibal looked at Will before his eyes moved back to where Nina was. Will was silent for quite a while, so Hannibal answered for him, "You would, and you would bring her in that very same outfit, and you would be very proud to have her on your arm knowing you were the only one that would be allowed to touch her."
Will finished off his whiskey in one slug, before saying, "You wouldn't bring her here even if she asked as nicely as you pleased. You'd take her somewhere sure, but not here."
"I would not," Hannibal said with a slight sneer as he glanced balefully around the building once more. After a moment though, he added, "Perhaps it is to her benefit that we'll both be taking care of her. What one of us won't offer her the other surely will, within reason."
Will's eyes hardened as he witnessed what happened next, insisting, "She shouldn't be here without us."
Nina jolted when a man slid his hand along her back trying to get her to dance with him instead of Helen. She tried to move away, but Helen kept her in place, and with a well-executed nod got the man to slide behind Nina fully. His hands rested on her hips and she wanted to swat them away, but she didn't. She tried to push closer to Helen but the man just came in closer, seemingly unaware that there was a war raging in Nina's mind.
Fight or flight was a powerful instinct.
It didn't take very long before Nina was done and she pushed away from both of them. Helen called after her, but didn't put up much of a fight when the man decided to dance with her instead. Nina made it over to the bar just in time to watch Emily throw back a shot and giggle at something that a boy only a little older than them said. She brushed at her shorts and the end of her shirt like it would take away the feeling of that guy touching her as she moved further down the bar away from Emily who would try to pull her into the free drinks. Then her mind turned to Anya, and she quickly looked around.
When she couldn't find her Nina moved further down the bar, closer to the dancefloor, slipping by men who tried to entice her into dancing with them. Her eyes moved frantically over the crowd, only to stop when she saw Anya coming from a back corner. Probably from the bathroom. Her breathing came easier at least. Nina still didn't want to be here any longer, but she knew none of her friends were even close to being finished. It'd been a grand total of a half hour, but she was already done. It felt like she'd been here for hours.
Going back towards the bar Nina decided she just sit, and wait it out.
Nina pulled her phone from her back pocket at on one of the barstools with a frown. When asked by the bartender if she wanted something Nina asked for a water. The bartender nodded "designated driver" dropping from his lips. It wasn't particularly true, but Nina didn't dispute it. If it wasn't so late Nina would have at least flirted with the idea of texting Victor. She wouldn't have done it anyway though. A few moments later a different bartender behind the bar set a drink down in front of her with a grin.
"From the gentleman with the baseball cap over there," he said nodding towards the man.
"Wha- no th…" Nina didn't get to send it back as the bartender walked away from her.
Nina eyed it warily, before she glanced at the guy in his late twenties that sent it to her. After a moment he shrugged and moved away from the bar, but not towards her. It was red, the drink. Something with cranberry juice in it maybe… She looked around to see if she could see the guy, and when she couldn't, she decided it couldn't hurt to try some. It had the taste of alcohol, it wasn't completely disguised with cranberry juice, but it was bearable…
At least her friends wouldn't be able to accuse her of not trying anything new.
oOo
Will was practically crawling out of his skin, but Hannibal held him back. They'd seen that bartender spike her drink at the capped man's request. They could see the guy who ordered it lingering just out of Nina's view. Will knew they wouldn't let anything happen to her, but he couldn't stand just watching her drink that. He had to turn away, letting Hannibal watch her while she drank it, waiting for it to have some sort of affect. Hannibal's hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing slightly when he would tense, wanting to move.
Watch her Hannibal did. Nina took her time drinking it, and he kept an eye on the time so he'd have an idea of which drug he was looking for. When she finished off the glass she even sat there for a while more. Probably a good old fashioned roofie. He could see the confusion on her face as she got up, and he could tell her body wasn't doing exactly as she was telling it. She moved carefully around to where the bathroom was, and he watched the man who'd ordered her drugged drink trail after her. "Now, we can help," Hannibal said as he started in the same direction. Will followed after him as they moved through the crowd quickly.
They made it into the hall just as an exit out the back of the hall closed. Hannibal stopped Will from bursting through the door, and instead looked out himself. He could hear Nina struggling with her words just as she struggled with the man.
Slipping out they moved after them, and Will snarled out, "Mine."
The hunting knife Will had would do just as good of a job as the harpy that Hannibal had. He knew Will was being possessive, but Hannibal could take care of Nina too. He had plans to come back for the bartender, after all he'd had the time to imagine many an end to that man, but it would have to come second to taking care of Nina.
Hannibal let Will stalk after the man hurting their girl as he looked up and down the alley to make sure no one would catch them. No one was down the back of the buildings though, and looking back towards the ensuing sounds of a scuffle he found Will taking his time with it. Perhaps he'd pummel the man to death, but maybe the cutting would come with time.
Walking passed the squabble Hannibal moved over to Nina as she tried make it to her feet. She was upset and confused until she saw him, then her mood brightened considerably. He smiled indulgently when she beamed up at him from her knees and reached for him. He let her clumsily clutch at one of his arms as he finished helping her to her feet. Pulling her to him Hannibal looked into her eyes, and pushed his fingers through her hair checking for bumps. When she seemed okay, but sad noises bubbled up from her he crooned, "It's okay. Will is going to make sure there is no reason for nightmares."
"Wh-who?" Nina stammered against his chest grasping him harder. Somewhere in the back of her mind the thought that she was ruining his suit fluttered around, but she didn't know what to do.
"Right, Hector," Hannibal smiled against her as he turned so he could see Will, but she could not. "Hector is going to make it all better." She tumbled over her words, trying to apologize, but Hannibal hushed her, rubbing her back. He looked down the line of her body frowning at how her shorts were tugged low caught at the swell of her hips, the scratches there and on her thighs. Still they couldn't wait while Will beat a dead horse. "Will, it's time to go."
Will snarled realizing the man beneath him was dead. At some point he'd smashed his head against the pavement, blood was pooling around him. The man's head was sitting at an awkward angle. Maybe he'd done it more than once… "I'm not done," Will growled like one of his dogs might have when you attempted to take a steak bone from them. Hannibal of all people had to know that there was more that could be done to a body once it was dead.
"Nina tell Hector we need him to come with us," Hannibal told her as he carefully righted her shorts before tucking her against his side. Will looked at them very intently after he said that. She whimpered against him, and he hummed to her, "Say please Nina."
"Please… please come with us," Nina mumbled into Hannibal's side when it seemed like the whole world started to spin.
"Damn it!" Will swore as he kicked the corpse in the side. "Fine."
"Go get the car Will," Hannibal said as he pulled the keys from his pocket tossing them to the other man. "Pull it in front of the next building over, we're going to have to lay her in the backseat and come back for the body." It would draw too much attention for there to be a body. People would be suspicious if there was a murder and a missing teen at the same club.
oOo
Nina couldn't remember getting in a car, but she was being held by Hannibal now in the back seat. She didn't understand but Victor was Hannibal now, and Hector was Will… What they were talking about was so weird that she didn't know how to put words to it. Every now and then she'd move though, and Hannibal would whisper nice things to her. He kept brushing her hands from her legs even though they were bothering her.
"I don't think we're going to have to worry about her friends," Hannibal said as he finished listening to her voicemail. After that, with his arms around Nina he popped open the back of her phone, taking out the battery and the sim card. She kept trying to get at the wounds on her legs and hips, even though he'd cleaned them with supplies from his bailout bag, but this time when she moved it was to look up at him. She was frowning a bit, until he gave her a grin and said, "There's my girl."
She couldn't help but smile at that. At what he said, and the toothy smile he gave her.
"She blushes," Hannibal hummed, kissing the top of her head.
"How that must feed your ego," Will muttered looking at them in the review.
"Oh she blushes for you too," Hannibal scolded looking up at Will for a moment before he slipped the sim card into his pocket before putting the battery and the back of the phone in place. "We'll take care of the problem in the trunk, get a new hotel, and check out of our old one. As long as none of her friends end up on the news they won't notice those girls missing for days at least."
Nina furrowed her brows at that. Why would her friends be missing for days?
Hannibal noticed her look and leaned down kissing her forehead saying, "We'll be with you, and keep you safe. You won't be alone with us."
Nina pressed her face to his chest, not knowing what else to do other than to hide her embarrassment at how good that really did sound. She didn't want to be alone anymore.
oOo
Hannibal told Nina to stay laying down, and she did. The drug had made her pliable, and he had the feeling she'd lay there all night if he didn't tell her otherwise. Then he and Will set about doing what needed to be done. They couldn't do up the body like Hannibal would have liked, but throwing the man away would have to do. They didn't have the time, and some poor fool being thrown away in a back alley would only raise so many eyebrows. None of them important, none of them familiar with the Chesapeake Ripper or Il Monstro. They didn't even take a trophy. Couldn't chance another ripper popping up.
It would be far enough away that conclusions wouldn't be drawn, at least not immediately. After shifting around the garbage there was a chance the man wouldn't be noticed until trash collecting day. The bartender would know why this guy was in a dumpster, but they'd only have to worry if he didn't care about implicating himself in supplying date-rape drugs. If they were lucky this wouldn't make the news either. Just some other nameless nobody that got offed in a senseless act of violence.
"We should set him on fire," Will huffed after they shut the lid.
"I would say yes, but that's too flashy, let's just get our girl somewhere to sleep," Hannibal sighed turning and heading back to the car. The kill wasn't satisfying, but having Nina was.
oOo
Nina stood next to Will now, not entirely sure when or how she'd made it out of the car, and leaned into him heavily as Hannibal talked to the person at the front desk of the hotel. If possible, this one was even nicer than the one they were staying in. They were only a few feet back, and Nina could hear the conversation.
"We've had quite the night, between lost luggage and lost reservations, at least the party was good," Hannibal said conversationally as he stood at the counter
"Well, we'll be happy to have you, and your family, Dr. Faust," The concierge said as she set up their, from the sound of it, very expensive room.
She'd been instructed not to say anything unless someone was speaking to her directly so Nina just looked up at Will at that. He smiled at her sheepishly, keeping her under his arm. Somehow they both had duffel bags with them; Will had one, Hannibal the other. She didn't really know what to do but go along with this. She felt trapped in her own body.
"Your daughter looks so tired," the woman said, concern laced through her voice.
"I'm afraid Alice might have enjoyed herself a little too much at the party," Hannibal said with a conspiratorial smile to the woman as he signed the receipt she produced.
That wasn't her name.
Will pressed his lips to the top of her head hushing her quietly when she grumbled, though she made sure not to actually say anything. She must have seemed like she was indignant at being accused of being drunk, and Will must have just looked affectionate because the woman smiled and giggled a bit. Nina pressed her face to his side. She got the feeling that she was not to give them away under any circumstances… Nina really wanted to lay down, and that probably wouldn't be in her future if she contradicted them.
"Well, everything is all set. Here's your card and your I.D. I'll have an attendant lead you right up to your suite," the woman said with a smile as she handed Hannibal back his things.
oOo
This wasn't a suite… it was an apartment!
Nina felt ready to collapse, which might have been why Will was holding onto her so tightly. Was she standing on her own? Why wouldn't this over-titled bellhop leave? Nina gripped at Will's jacket, tugging, wanting her questions answered, but unsure how to ask them. In all reality she wasn't entirely sure anymore how they got here… or even where here was…
Was this their room?
Why had they checked back in to their own room?
Why wasn't she in her room?
Eventually, after what felt like both forever and a second, the man left. Once the door was shut Hannibal walked over, the tap of his cane capturing her attention, and looked her over. He seemed very focused and intent in his studying her, and she couldn't help but smile at him. He looked very serious. After a second, though, he seemed to notice her smile because he suddenly grinned back at her giving her a wink.
That got a giggle out of her even though Nina could not remember ever giggling like that.
"I think we better get our little one to bed," Hannibal chuckled up at Will who was even smiling a bit. Will's smile widened when Nina grinned up at him nodding in agreement. Hannibal led them towards the room Nina would sleep in for the night, and moved over to the bed setting down his duffel, and putting his cane against the bed. He produced a dark blue sweater, and motioned a bit to Will.
Will seemed hesitant at that, but after a moment moved behind Nina undoing the buttons that held her shirt closed behind her neck. He coaxed the shirt up over her head before she tried to back pedal. Then Hannibal came closer whispering sweet things to her as he handed Will the sweater, and unbuttoned the shorts she wore. One he pushed them from her hips, Will helped her into the shirt.
Nina looked down at the sweater her hands ghosting over the material covering her belly.
That hadn't been right, had it?
Nina tried to think about it, but she was instantly distracted as Hannibal leaned in kissing her cheek.
Time seemed to melt together after that. Them getting her into bed, and telling her goodnight. Them saying something about drugs, and hotels. She didn't know what to do anymore. She just wanted it all to go away. She just wanted to wake up and this all be over. They were supposed to have dinner together tomorrow…
This chapter, let me tell you, just this chapter! I tried writing it like three different ways only to go back and keep it basically the same as it had been when I wrote it the first time, just I had to do something about the friends, and it was just DIFFICULT.
Anyway I hope it paid off...
REVIEW REPLIES
LittleYautjaHunter: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!
snowangel: Thank you for reading! Sometimes the chapters will come super fast, but I'll try to get it updated at least once every two weeks, but I hope to do it once a week really.
city bookworm: Welp you were right, Hannibal definitely got his way. That guy didn't live to regret it in any case. I certainly don't want Hannibal to be any different either!
