Title: The Birth of Venus
Summary: Clarice Starling has been put on forced temporary leave by the Bureau. When she goes to Florence to track down Lecter, she's put on Il Monstro's hit list. What will happen when the good Doctor finds out?
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, the ownership is not mine of anything in this story but the plotline.
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At the outdoors after-party, Clarice chatted with some of the singers, complimenting them on their fine voices and impeccable ranges.
To the far left she saw the doctor waiting for her, two drinks in hand. She excused herself and made her way over to him, accepting the flute of champagne he offered her and leaning against the wooden fence behind him.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visiting me in Italy, Clarice?" he asked, turning to face her. "And without arresting me, no less."
She shrugged. "I'm on leave from the Bureau and thought I might see if I could track down your whereabouts." She delicately sipped her champagne.
Hannibal watched her throat bob in fascination before continuing.
"It's not just that, Clarice. You 'thought you might try to find me'?" he asked, mimicking her voice with a childishly contemptuous undertone to it. "You mean, you thought you might try to trap me with your immaculate new wardrobe, don't you? What possessed you to go on your shopping spree?"
She smiled. "Well, trapping you was, of course, the main thing." She grimaced. "And the other is the fact that Paul Krendler will never, ever, get a glimpse of me in any of these outfits."
"But you don't mind if I catch a glimpse or two."
"Not at all. In fact, I'd prefer you to stare."
She calmly drained her champagne flute under his full stare.
"How unexpected of you, Clarice. I admit, I have seen you around. I did think you came to find me with justice for the good folk in mind."
She shrugged again. "Who's to say we aren't the good folk, Doctor…?" She looked at him questioningly for his alias.
"Doctor Fell."
"Dottore Fell," she said, pronouncing the Italian with a passable accent.
He nodded. "And why, Clarice, have you all of a sudden decided to give up on the Bureau? It's your life."
She shook her head, her ponytail whipping back and forth. "No. For a while my sole goal has been just to track you down. Now that I've accomplished that, I don't really have a purpose. Might as well stay in Florence until I figure a new one out."
"Might as well stay in Florence with your guns until you figure out your new purpose?" he asked expectantly.
She pursed her lips. "I only brought three."
"Why did you bring guns at all if you weren't going to arrest me?" He finished his champagne.
She raised her eyebrows. "I've met criminals who have gone mad and needed to be put down before, Doctor. I'm not about to not do my job just because the criminal intrigues me."
He waved his hand in dismissal. "Disregarding the fact you are now of the opinion that I'm not mad - I intrigue you?"
She met his gaze. "Of course. Don't I intrigue you too?"
Smiling as she made him think, Clarice stood up and took the doctor's arm. "I'm thirsty. Ready for another drink?"
Hannibal chuckled and led her to the bar.
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A/N: I apologize very deeply for not updating sooner.
Graven Lament: Honestly, I have extremely limited experience when it comes to opera, so I figured someone singing falsetto might be a safe bet. But you caught me. Thank you for educating me on the finer points of opera, haha.
Anonymous: Aw, don't be anonymous on me, haha. Don't you worry, Hannibal had several well-planned escape methods. Whether he will ever use them or not is what you'll have to find out… XD