I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter of Koi no Yokan! Unfortunately, the next update will take some time as I have a convention this weekend and then surgery, but I will try to write another chapter as soon as I can!
The concert was surprisingly enjoyable, Will found out on Friday evening. If he took the time to look past all the sumptuous people, he really did see that it was for hunger relief. He knew that Hannibal also chose the concert to continue his cannibal puns, but at least he was doing something good this time. The seats were a little crowded and Will was thankful that Hannibal had let him have the aisle seat.
"Has your mind already been overtaken by thoughts of vorfreude that are to come?" Hannibal asked, his breath tickling Will's ear.
"Right now I'm curious as to what that word even means," Will said, shifting in his chair again.
"Vorfreude is of German origin and refers to the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures," Hannibal raked his eyes across Will's body, "tell me Will, does that not hold some truth to you?"
Will scoffed softly and raised an eyebrow at Hannibal. "That depends, you and I are known for having very different opinions on pleasure."
"Not so, dear Will," Will watched as Hannibal's hand slowly drifted to his knee before giving it a gentle squeeze, "I find pleasure in a great deal of things, one of which is making you happy."
"Then I guess you could say that my thoughts are full of vorfreude." Will took a moment to look around at the other attendees. Each one more gaudy than the last until his gaze landed on a stout man. His hair was curly and looked like he'd tried to grease it flat and his suit, while of good quality, was ill-fitted. Will couldn't tell if the man had found his soulmate or not, but what he could tell was that his sights were set firmly on Hannibal.
Will's eyes narrowed and he shifted his eyes from Hannibal's oblivious form to the staring man. Taking liberty of the opportunity, he decided that he could have a closer look. Closing his eyes, he let himself sink into the consciousness of the man.
He's here, he's right over there and I know how excited he'll be when he sees me. He'll see how we're interested in the same things, and see how well I spruce up. Of course I'll have to make sure he doesn't get jealous of Tobias, but Dr. Lecter is the real shining star tonight. But he'll see that we're meant to be friends, probably even soulmates if he takes the time to actually look at me. But he's so shy-
"Will?" Hannibal asked, placing a hand on Will's shoulder.
Will took in a shuddering breath before shaking his head to clear his mind. "You didn't tell me you had a stalker," Will said.
Hannibal furrowed his brows before glancing around the room and spotting the other man who quickly ducked out of view. "That is one of my patients, Franklyn Froideveaux. He has terrible neurosis and it frustrates me to no end that I cannot help him." Will tried to hide his shock but Hannibal must have seen it for he continued speaking. "I am his tenth psychiatrist and not one of us has been able to help him. As much as his habits bother me, I still wish to help him."
"He's not rude?"
Hannibal quietly laughed beside him. "Actually, he's terribly rude though I do not believe he truly understands that he is being rude."
Will nodded his head. "That must irk you to no end."
Hannibal made a noncommittal noise before he quieted down when the spotlight came on the woman onstage. Will thought she was pretty if a bit plain, but he understood Hannibal's enraptured state when she opened her mouth. The notes bounced between being heady and dulcet and struck a chord in Will's chest. The woman's voice held such power over the audience, not unlike a siren. He closed his eyes to further immerse himself in the voice, letting it play out a story for him.
It wasn't until the woman sang her last song that Will opened his eyes again. The woman still looked as poised as she did when she started, but the perspiration on her brow gave away her exhaustion. He chanced a glance at Hannibal only to be enthralled by the moisture that was puddling in Hannibal's eyes. It made him appear softer, like underneath his cold exterior lay a man whose hardships outweighed the good, but still clung to a light at the end of the tunnel. It made him happy that Hannibal never hid who he was from Will.
As a tear fell from Hannibal's eye, Will reached out his hand to gently brush it away before he could stop himself. The moisture seeped between the groves of his thumbprint and Will felt himself flush delicately as Hannibal leaned into his hand.
And like that the soloist's song came to an end. Immediately Hannibal was on his feet clapping enthusiastically. Will clumsily stood up to join his clapping, his mind still preoccupied with what had just transpired.
Will kept forgetting that he hadn't met Hannibal that long ago, only a couple of months. They still had so much to learn about each other, so much to understand, so much to see. All that Will knew was that it'd be beautiful no matter what he learned, for even the thorns of roses are beautiful.
~.~.~.~.~
"Are we really expected to socialize? Can't we just go home?" Will asked, fiddling with his sleeves.
Hannibal hummed softly beside him. "Will, unfortunately I am expected to have small talk with at least half this room. Such is the more elite life of Baltimore."
Will snorted and rolled his eyes. "So basically it's just a lot of people trying to kiss your ass."
"More or less, but perhaps a bit less blunt than you put it."
Will would have been fine with continuing their verbal tennis match if they hadn't been approached by an older woman in a slinky, red dress.
"Ah, Mrs. Komeda, how nice to see you," Hannibal said with a smile. Will was surprised to see that it was genuine.
"Hannibal Lecter, why I haven't seen you in quite some time," Mrs. Komeda said, before reaching a hand up to place on Hannibal's check. "Don't tell me you found your soulmate?"
Hannibal winked at the woman before gesturing to Will who tried to straighten his posture. "This is my lovely soulmate, Special Agent William Graham."
Will waved off Hannibal's introduction before offering his hand to the woman. "Will is fine, Mrs. Komeda." The woman stared at his hand with raised eyebrows before giggling politely into her hand. Will furrowed his brows and turned to look questioningly at Hannibal who only gave him a soft smile.
"Oh I quite like him, Hannibal. I believe a congratulations is in order," she gave Hannibal a sly grin, "perhaps with a dinner party?"
Hannibal chuckled. "Of course Will would be my inspiration."
"Avoid dog food," Will said off-handedly, but the statement garnered a laugh from Mrs. Komeda.
Mrs. Komeda's laughter died off quickly and she cleared her throat and gestured behind them. "It seems someone desires your attention."
Hannibal and Will turned around as a unit only to see Franklyn and a dark skinned man standing there. Franklyn stuttered a few times before finally gathering his wits. "It's a surprise to see you here, Dr. Lecter. I wasn't aware we shared such eclectic taste in entertainment," Franklyn said, gesturing wildly with his arms.
"Yes well, I'm here with my soulmate Will," Hannibal said politely, wrapping an arm around Will's waste.
Franklyn gaped for a moment and Will felt bad for the man as a flash of angst entered his eyes. "Oh, that's- that's wonderful, truly, you know I'm still searching for my soulmate, I feel like if they actually looked at me, they'd see it. How perfect we'd be together."
The man beside him snorted quietly. "He could barely take his eyes off you, doctor," the man said.
"Tobias don't- oh yes I suppose I should introduce my friends to each other. Dr. Lecter, this is my friend Tobias Budge. Tobias, this is my good friend Dr. Hannibal Lecter."
Will saw Hannibal's lips pull down in a frown. "Franklyn, you are my patient, we are not friends," Hannibal said.
Franklyn shrank into himself more, but Tobias brought the conversation away from Franklyn. "I couldn't help but hear of a celebration that is to come," Tobias said.
Hannibal nodded his head once. "But of course, it would be ridiculous not to celebrate finding my soulmate, and I would love to show Will off."
Will grumbled quietly how he wasn't a show dog, but Mrs. Komeda talked over him, obviously tired of being silent. "And have you seen this man cook? It's an entire performance," she said excitedly.
Tobias quirked his lips and gazed between Will and Hannibal. "Well, we must be off, we wouldn't want to monopolize your time. Come along, Franklyn," Tobias said, before he started calmly walking away. Franklyn looked hesitant before nervously waving at the group and scurrying after Tobias.
Mrs. Komeda quickly filled the silence. "You will send an invitation soon for that dinner party, won't you Dr. Lecter?" she asked.
"I would hate to disappoint," Hannibal said with a wink.
Mrs. Komeda giggled before politely dismissing herself to go gossip with a group of woman that were standing near the wall. Will turned his attention back to Hannibal, who still had a firm hand wrapped around his waist.
"Did you feel something off about that man?" Will asked.
Hannibal disguised his nod as a kiss in Will's curls. "I believe we have a new playmate," Hannibal said.
Will narrowed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "Just remember to be careful, I don't want you to die because you choose to play with along a wire."
The haughty smile Will received from Hannibal told him all he needed to know. Hannibal was merely playing with potential food, and he always enjoyed understanding fellow beasts.
So much for a simple date.
Thank you all so much for reading! *gives you all plate of cookies and a glass of milk* PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW IF YOU HAVE TIME!
