The alarm went off on Will's phone and he jumped at the sudden sound that filled the quiet house. He had been pacing the bedroom for hours, unable to keep still even if his eyes were burning and begging for sleep. Hannibal's condition had deteriorated during the night, and Will watched numbly as Hannibal continued to sweat and shiver, praying to every deity he could name.
Will turned off the alarm that Hannibal had slept through and sighed, rubbing at his eyes. He went to the bathroom and picked up everything he was going to need to tend to Hannibal and returned to the bedroom, setting it all on the bedside table. He sat down and gently shook Hannibal's shoulder before he went to work, mixing things and using the rest of other bottles. He got the first syringe filled and glanced back down at Hannibal as he muttered something in his fevered sleep, face once more covered in a sweat sheen.
Will couldn't exactly make out what Hannibal said, it was far too soft. Will reached out and took Hannibal's shoulder again.
"Wake up," Will said in a soft voice that felt too loud for the room.
"Mischa."
Will's eyes flickered over Hannibal's face, that was scrunched up with whatever delirium his mind was sending him through. His sister's name fell from his lips several more times, and Will frowned, a sense of jealousness filling his body. Not because it was her name he was saying and not his own, but because if he was calling out to her, then Will was losing him. And she did not get to take him.
"Hannibal," Will said, stronger now. "Wake up."
Hannibal didn't budge, just continued to speak incoherently. Will inhaled deeply, a burning in his tired eyes at tears. He took Hannibal's arm and began his doses. At least Hannibal didn't have to be awake to take his medicine.
"I hate you," Will hissed through his teeth as he grabbed another needle and ripped the package open with his teeth. "I fucking hate you and you better not fucking leave me. Not now. Not like this." Will got the next dose ready and pushed the needle into Hannibal's skin. Will let a sob leave his mouth and his head fell forward as the tears poured down his cheeks. "Mischa, you better not take him. You better let him go. He's not done here. I need him. Do you hear me, Mischa? He's mine, not yours. You can have him after he's older and greyer and wrinkled and can't walk. Until then, you keep your hands off of him."
Will wiped at the hot tears on his cheeks and reached for the next bottle and needle. Once finished, Will threw everything away and set the next alarm, before he sat on the edge of the bed again, using the wet cloth to dab at Hannibal's skin again. Hannibal shivered and his face screwed up at the cold, but Will didn't care. He cleaned Hannibal down and found himself back at Hannibal's side, leaning his head onto Hannibal's chest, listening to Hannibal's heart and feeling the rise and fall of his chest.
"Mischa." Hannibal's body tremored through a violent shiver and Will closed his eyes tightly as more tears lined them, a lump in his throat. "Mischa." And a slew of Lithuanian that Will couldn't follow.
"You don't get to fucking go to her, Hannibal," Will choked out, hands clutching at the fabric of Hannibal's shirt. "You're mine. No one else can have you." Will sat up and leaned over, kissing Hannibal's forehead, skin salty and hot. "You tell her to wait for you, damn it. You do not get to leave if I have a say in it." He placed a kiss to Hannibal's lips, a sob tearing from his throat. "Please, wake up Hannibal. Please."
Tears fell to Hannibal's flushed skin as Will continued to lean over him, foreheads together. Hannibal didn't stir. Nothing other than his breathing was a sign to Will that he was still alive, but it did nothing to comfort the panic in Will's chest.
Will pushed himself up and looked over Hannibal through blurry eyes. His skin was soaked in a sheen of sweat once more, the shivers still ever present. Will went back to the bathroom and wet the cloth again before returning to the bedside and once more completing the ritual of cleaning Hannibal's skin.
He soothed the washcloth over Hannibal's face and neck, the man jolting awake at the cold. His eyes snapped open, hazed and uncomprehending as they flickered over Will. Hannibal didn't seem lucid, but the relief that washed over Will was enough that he pressed a kiss to Hannibal's mouth anyway.
"Hannibal, can you drink some water for me, please?" Will asked swiftly, a hand brushing through Hannibal's sweat damp hair. "Try for me, please."
He snatched up the glass of water on the bedside table and moved to help support Hannibal's head, tipping the glass against Hannibal's lips. Hannibal's eyes rolled back and Will supported his head as he slowly swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Will placed the cup back down and by the time Hannibal was placed against the pillow, he was asleep again.
Will's chest clenched back up as exhaustion washed over him, making him cry once more. He wasn't sure what else to do. He wasn't sure what else Hannibal needed. He wasn't a fucking doctor for crying out loud. Maybe he should take Hannibal to the doctors. They would be able to do much more than Will could. They could save this man. But what kind of life would Will be chaining Hannibal to if anyone recognized him? And they would be recognized. Chilton's book made sure that everyone knew his face.
"Tell me what to do," Will pleaded, even though he knew that Hannibal couldn't hear him. "I need you... Hannibal... Please tell me what else I need to do." He shakily reached for the cloth and once more began to dab it to Hannibal's skin. He had to bring down this fever. He had to do something. Anything to keep himself busy. Anything to help this man. "I don't know how else to help you, Hannibal. Please stay with me."
Will repeated the actions, rewetting the cloth and cleaning Hannibal's skin the moment that it dried. And soon, the violent shivers came to a stop and Hannibal was sleeping soundly, breath normal and no more mentions of his sister's name.
Will slumped forward in exhaustion, fatigue pulling at his bones, making him feel weighed down like he was an anchor for a boat, keeping Hannibal in one place and faithfully afloat.
He watched Hannibal breathe for hours, the rise and fall of his chest in the bathroom light. His stomach growled and he winced at the sound in the room. With newfound anxiety, Will left the bedside and went back out into the main room that was still messy from dinner. Will swiftly cleaned everything, eating leftovers as he went, trying to get the edge of hunger to leave.
He almost nearly poured himself a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves, but decided it against it, needing to be perfectly aware for Hannibal's sake. Will finished cleaning and raced back to the bedroom, anxiety creeping through his system the entire time.
Hannibal was still breathing when he returned and Will let out a sigh, glancing at his phone to check the time. He still has two hours before Hannibal's next dose.
Will moved back to the beside, sitting next to Hannibal's hip, watching Hannibal's chest rise and fall again. Will didn't want to sleep and he didn't, but his depleted body sent him forward and he rested his head back against Hannibal's chest, a palm pressed into Hannibal's heart to feel it beat. Will hoped that if he fell asleep that a lack in beating would wake Will up to help.
Would Will notice if Hannibal's heart stopped beating? Would he notice Hannibal's chest not raising his head anymore? He hoped that there would be some force in the universe that would allow him to. There would. He would feel Hannibal slip away. Even if they were worlds apart, Will would know.
The alarm went off sooner than Will thought it would and he jumped upright, fishing his phone from his pocket, turning off the alarm and setting another one before inhaling deeply and rubbing at his eyes. He hovered a hand over Hannibal's nose and could feel the fevered breath against his skin, the knot in his stomach easing slightly.
Will went to the bathroom and fetched the medicine before returning to his spot at Hannibal's hip. His eyes wandered over Hannibal's body that was once more covered in a layer of sweat and despite how tired Will was, he resolved to clean Hannibal again once his medicine was taken.
"Hannibal," Will whispered, a hand gently caressing Hannibal's face. "Please wake up." Hannibal's eyes opened groggily and he swallowed dryly. Will gave a small smile and ran his fingers through Hannibal's hair. "Thank god," he breathed out, something broken in his voice. "Can you drink some water for me?" Will helped Hannibal sit up and grabbed the nearly empty glass from the bedside table, pressing it to Hannibal's lips. He tipped it back and Hannibal slowly drank until he turned his head away from Will and Will rested Hannibal back down. "I'm going to give you your medicine now. Can you stay awake for me?"
Will set to work, eyes continuously flickering up to Hannibal's face to see distant eyes watching him carefully. He could see the want of sleep over Hannibal's features, but he was grateful the man was trying to stay awake for him. Even if just for a moment. It gave Will some strength back. They weren't out of the woods yet, but they were making progress. This was a step in the right direction.
Will finished the medicine and looked over Hannibal's arm. He would need to move over to the other arm for the next round. He couldn't keep abusing this one. Will knew better than to rely on one arm completely. And there were other veins he could use if he needed to. He almost wished that he could have found an IV drip so that he only had to stick Hannibal once, but the man could live being pricked. After a while, he wouldn't notice the pain of the needle anymore. Will had stopped noticing anyways.
Will threw everything away and grabbed a new rag from the bathroom, wetting it down and going back for the bed. He took his time wiping down Hannibal's skin, kissing the dampness with every swipe of the rag.
He could see Hannibal's dislike as the cold was pressed into his neck, but Will didn't care that Hannibal didn't like the cold, he was more happy that Hannibal was still hovering on the edge of consciousness.
Will's lips continued to follow the rag, down Hannibal's arm until Will pulled Hannibal's hand to him, kissing at each of the man's knuckles and then into Hannibal's palm. Hannibal's shivers were letting up once more, but he still didn't seem lucid and that quickly pushed the happiness from Will and sent worry through him and to the bottom of his stomach that maybe he shouldn't have filled with food.
Will needed to sleep, but the thought was honestly revolting. It was six in the morning and he hadn't closed his eyes once. He was going to make himself sick if he didn't take care of himself and then where would they be? He couldn't care for Hannibal if he was ill.
And how could he sleep when every touch of Hannibal's skin, ever kiss placed to the man could be Will's last? And so he kept touching, kept memorizing every part of Hannibal he could as a just in case. A just in case that made Will want to throw up. Just in case Hannibal did leave. Just in case Mischa was not the kind little girl Will had pictured her to be. Just in case...
He kissed every inch of Hannibal, every piece of skin that the urges pushed Will to. Calloused fingers from drawing, scars at his forearms from Will's own sins, the strength of muscles in his biceps. The small bit of chest that was uncovered by the collar of the t-shirt, a chest that held a still beating heart. A neck with a still steady pulse, though it was weak. A jawline that needed a shave, sharp cheekbones, the sunken purple under his eyes, his forehead and then his lips.
Will let himself rest back against Hannibal's chest, an ear over the man's heart to listen to it beating. He let his fingertips trace over Hannibal's chest and collar, resting against his neck to keep his pulse under his fingertips.
He wasn't quite sure what he would do if Hannibal died. He knew it wouldn't be fair on Walter or Alana and Margot, but Will was positive that he could lie here and let himself die with Hannibal. And it was wrong and unhealthy and so fucked up, but he couldn't imagine a world without this man in it. Even when Hannibal had been behind a glass wall, he had been alive. He was still pulling strings in the world, but if he died the string that was connecting him to Hannibal would be severed and Will was very certain that he would be lost. He was far too tangled up, far too trapped in the spider's web to make it out of this alive even if the spider was dead.
His eyes met Hannibal's, the amber dull. Will gave a faint smile and his fingers caressed over Hannibal's neck.
"Go back to sleep Hannibal," Will instructed softly. "Please rest." Will tilted his head and placed a kiss against Hannibal's heart. "I'll be here when you wake. I promise."
Will watched as Hannibal's eyes slid shut and his breathing immediately relaxed into something much slower. Will's finger's continued to rub circled into Hannibal's neck. He tried to push sleep off as long as he could, but the gentle rise and fall of Hannibal's chest and the rhythm of his heart lull Will to much needed sleep.
"Will?"
The word yanked Will from his rest and he blinked his eyes open, before slowly sitting up, cheek damp from Hannibal's sweat. The room was brighter now, the sun up and pouring through the curtains in the windows. Will checked his phone. It was only 7:32. He must have fallen asleep without realizing, but the hour and a half did nothing to ease the grogginess in his muscles. His eyes met Hannibal's, red open, but tired.
Will snapped sober abruptly, his heart pounding against his rib cage. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes and a lump formed in his throat. The relief was nearly painful as it flooded his body. He leaned over and placed kisses to Hannibal's face, every inch he could reach before he captured up Hannibal's lips, tears falling down his cheeks.
"Hannibal," he sobbed out, the name nearly a strangled cry from Will's throat.
There was a weak touch to Will's cheek, a finger or two wiping at the trail of tears against his skin. "It's ok, Will," Hannibal assured in a feeble voice. "Everything's alright."
Will cried as he hid his head into Hannibal's neck, placing kisses to the heated skin there. Will's arms circled around Hannibal as best they could.
"I thought you were going to die," Will whispered, unable to hold back the whimper in his words.
"I feel like I did," Hannibal rasped out, voice rough from disuse. "You kept me alive."
Will sat up, fingers tracing over Hannibal's cheeks and jaw. "I might be a little possessive," Will muttered, causing Hannibal to chuckle slightly before it turned into a cough. The act was enough to make Will feel a little lighter, a little better. "Is the worst over now? I don't know if-if I can..." Will trailed off, biting his bottom lip to keep from crying again.
"My fever's mostly broken. Just keep giving me the antibiotics and I should be fine," Hannibal explained, a weak arm reaching out for fingers to brush knotted curls behind Will's ear. "I should probably eat and drink something though."
"Alright," Will said, a little faster than he needed to. "What-What would you like?"
"Soup would probably be the best thing," Hannibal answered. "Canned is fine."
Will gave a small laugh. "Are you sure you didn't die? Who are you?"
Hannibal gave a dim smile. "You look like you just fought a war. I don't want to burden you anymore than I already have."
"I'll be right back," Will assured, placing a kiss on Hannibal's lips, lingering there a little longer than necessary.
He left the bedroom and wandered through the kitchen, digging through the pantry and dumping a can of chicken noodle soup into a bowl before throwing it into the microwave. The minute and a half nearly made Will go mad, the timer seeming to go slower the more Will stared at it, so he made himself busy with getting a glass of ice water for Hannibal to replace the empty glass that was in the bedroom. With soup and water in hand, Will made his way back to the bedroom, setting everything down on the bedside table before taking a seat.
He helped Hannibal sit up against the headboard and took the soup into his hands, blowing on a spoonful of it, before holding it out to Hannibal. Hannibal chuckled, eyes closing tiredly.
"I can feed myself Will," he muttered.
"I'd rather do it," Will admitted softly. "Please eat."
Hannibal gave a tiny nod before opening his eyes and letting Will give him the spoonful of soup. After a few more bites, Hannibal stopped Will with a shake of his head. "No more, please," he whispered. "Water?" Will exchanged the bowl for the glass and placed it to Hannibal's lips who gulped the water down greedily with a groan.
"Careful," Will warned, hand brushing back Hannibal's silver hair. "I don't want you getting sick." Will placed the cup aside after it was nearly empty and looked over Hannibal for a moment. "Do you need to use the bathroom before you go back to sleep? We have two more hours before your next round of medicine."
Hannibal nodded and Will helped him from the bed and to the bathroom door, Hannibal stopping with a hand to the door frame. "I can do this Will."
"Alright," Will whispered, letting the door close between them. It took everything in him to not let the distance bother him and he put himself to work changing the bedding that was damp with sweat. It took him sometime to find the linen closet, but once found, the bed was put back together. He could hear the water running in the bathroom as he fluffed the pillows with new pillow cases on them. The door opened and Will glanced up to see a fond look on Hannibal's face. "You doing alright?' Will asked worriedly and Hannibal gave a nod.
"Can I change?"
Will gave a nod and immediately went to the dresser to find Hannibal new clothes. Will helped Hannibal change in silence and then helped Hannibal back into bed, pulling the blankets over Hannibal.
"Do you need anything else?" Will asked, fighting back a yawn. His hand covered his mouth and when he opened his eyes again, he was met with a concerned look from Hannibal. "What?"
"Have you slept?"
"A bit," Will replied and at an incredulous look from Hannibal, Will sighed. "About an hour."
"Come here, my love."
Will closed his eyes and covered his mouth with his hand, an arm wrapping around his middle as a new wave of tears washed over him. He leaned over, feeling like his chest would cave in if he didn't hold onto himself. He didn't think the term of endearment would mean that much to him, never thought that it would bring him to tears and he realized just how badly he would have missed the kind words Hannibal used to call Will his.
"You've over exerted yourself, Will. Come here, please," Hannibal instructed, distress in his voice. Will forced himself forward and collapsed onto the bed beside Hannibal, curling into Hannibal's side, head back on the man's chest so he could hear Hannibal's heartbeat. Arms wrapped around him and Will let himself be dragged into their warmth. "You were awake all night?"
"I-I didn't want to lose you," Will explained through heavy breaths that boarded on hyperventilating. Fingers tangled into his head, grounding him with their surprising strength. "I didn't want you to stop brea-to stop breathing."
"Will, look at me," Hannibal ordered gently, tugging lightly at Will's hair. Will looked up and moved to be a little closer to Hannibal's face and Hannibal pulled him into a kiss. "I didn't mean to scare you, beautiful boy."
"Again," Will whispered, voice choked. "Don't stop calling me those names. God, please don't stop telling me how much you love me. I couldn't bear going a day without hearing them."
Hannibal tipped his head to the side, kissing Will's forehead. "I love you, brangiausias berniukas." Will whimpered as he rested back against Hannibal's chest, being greedy, letting Hannibal care for him when Will should have been letting Hannibal rest. "Tu toks ypatingas man, rūpestingas berniukas."
"You spoke Lithuanian when you were asleep," Will muttered, shifting enough to get under the blankets with Hannibal, taking in Hannibal's warmth as he settled back against Hannibal. "You kept calling your sister's name." Hannibal was silent and Will glanced up to see a thoughtful expression on Hannibal.
"Anything in English?"
Will shook his head. "No. Her name was all I understood. I thought she was..." Will trailed off, dismissing the idea by hiding his face in Hannibal's chest. "Never mind."
"You thought she was going to take me," Hannibal finished for him. Will gave a nod, but didn't say anything. "I don't think she would have done that. I think she would be happy that I have you," Hannibal mused, fingers working deeper into Will's hair. "You remind me of her in some ways."
"I do?" Will asked curiously, looking back up at a very tired expression, with half lidded eyes.
Hannibal hummed, head resting back against the headboard, the arm around Will's waist tightening, fingers slowing in their wandering of Will's curls. "Very empathetic, very unlike me in every way. I was a better person around her, the darkness in me not so uncontrolled. She kept me in check and it makes me curious who I would be if she were still alive."
"I'm sorry," Will whispered and received a shake of a head in answer.
"I found you in the end. You're all I could ever ask for, Will. I'm afraid I wouldn't have you if she stayed. We wouldn't have found ourselves in each other's lives, or at least not like this and this... is what I want," Hannibal said, voice going softer while he spoke as sleep pulled at him once more. Will sat up, calling Hannibal's eyes to open and look over at him.
"Lay down," Will instructed softly. Hannibal did as he was told in slow movements and Will rested back down beside him, placing a kiss to Hannibal's lips. "You have no idea how relieved I am you're alright, Hannibal."
"I seem to recall that you hate me," Hannibal teased, breathing slowing to a more relaxed stage.
"With every inch of my being," Will replied with a choked laugh as he kissed Hannibal again, hand caressing the man's cheek. "Please don't do this to me again, Hannibal." The plea made Hannibal's eyes open once more and Will could see the sleep pulling at the man, dragging him back under and Will was certain the moment he lied down he would be asleep too. "Please don't lie to me, please don't hide things from me. I couldn't stand to live in a world without you in it. Promise me you won't lie to me ever again. Please. Losing you terrifies me."
"I promise, my darling boy," Hannibal muttered, eyes sliding shut again. "I'm sorry. It will never happen again."
"Sleep, Hannibal," Will whispered, kissing Hannibal once more before he lied down himself, eyes closing. Will's eyes opened abruptly at a weight against his chest and he glanced down at Hannibal with an adoring smile.
It wasn't often that Hannibal let himself be held by Will and Will had just accepted it, thinking that Hannibal preferred to be the one more in control, more protective, and it was nice. Will enjoyed that he had somewhere safe to hide when everything became too much, but this was perfect in its own little way. It let Will see Hannibal in a more vulnerable light. Let Will know that he was just as needed as he was.
His arm circled around Hannibal's waist, carefully of the wound in his side that would need to be cleaned again when the alarm went off. His other hand rested over Hannibal's that was on his collar and he let his eyes close, drifting off immediately.
"Go away," Walter grumbled as something jumped on the bed, waking him up from a night that was riddled with nightmares and not much sleep.
"I'm bored. Come play with me and Applesauce."
Walter rolled over, pulling the blanket up and over his head, kicking at where Morgan was bouncing. His foot connected with something and there was a crash to the floor and Walter snickered under the blanket at an ouch.
"Leave me alone," Walter said again, stronger than before. "I didn't sleep last night."
"Are you having nightmares?" Morgan asked curiously, not at all bothered by the fall to the ground. He was quickly back on the bed and bouncing again. "Get up."
"What the hell is your problem kid?" Walter demanded, sitting up and facing the small boy with more anger than was probably needed, more anger than he had felt in the last few days. Morgan stopped bouncing, but he didn't look at all offended by the outrage, more so curious. "Of course I'm having nightmares. I watched my mom get shot in front of me. Why wouldn't I have nightmares? I've been through a lot of shit."
"Hanni wouldn't approve of your-"
"I don't really care what Hannibal Lecter approves of," Walter hissed. "Go away."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Morgan asked, head tipped to the side.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Walter threw his hands up in the air and fell back onto the bed. "Yeah, sure. You want to know every horrible detail of what it feels like to have your mom ripped away from you, I'll tell you."
His words were biting, hoping that if the kid took the bait then maybe it would scare him off enough to leave Walter alone. It was annoying enough to have Alana hovering over his shoulder nearly every second of the day and now her son was doing the same. The only one that Walter enjoyed spending time with was Margot because she was more than happy to sit in silence if silence was what needed to be said.
"I have nightmares too," Morgan said kindly, causing Walter to glanced at the boy who had stopped moving unnecessarily and was sitting with blue eyes on Walter. "I keep having nightmares about drowning."
"Drowning?" Walter asked softly.
"Water scares me now." Morgan shifted so he was no longer on his knees, legs folded and hands on his knees. "I don't like being near it."
"Because of the dreams?" Walter slowly sat up, curious. Morgan shook his head. "Then why?"
"Please don't tell my moms that I remember. They will send me to the doctors again and I don't like the doctors," Morgan muttered, looking down at the bed spread, fingers playing with a crease in it. "I was kidnapped. They put me in a pond and someone held me under the water. It was weird. I could feel my lungs screaming for air, but I couldn't let myself breathe." Morgan tipped his head to the side in thought and Walter looked over the kid curiously, trying to see if he was telling the truth. "It was like my brain was saying, Holding our breath is killing us, and breathing in might not kill us, so we might as well breathe in. And it burned. I remember it burning and then it went dark. I woke up in the hospital."
"How did you get out."
"Hanni saved me." Morgan's voice was light and he wore a smile.
Walter's brows furrowed and he gave a curt huff of air with a roll of his eyes. "He didn't save you."
"My mom said he did," Morgan argued, definitely. "Hanni isn't mean like everyone says he is."
"He held a knife to my throat," Walter shot back, once more annoyed and wanting the kid to disappear.
"I'm sure you deserved it." Morgan stuck out his tongue at Walter and Walter glared back. "What happened to your mom?"
"Why do you want to know?" Walter grumbled, falling back onto his pillow to look up at the ceiling with a yawn. His eyes burned with lack of sleep, but he wasn't sure if he could fall back to sleep now. His mind was far too busy. "What's wrong with you?" Morgan gave a small hum that sounded like he was shrugging and Walter frowned as the boy lied down beside him, head on the same pillow. "Get away from me." Walter sat up and snatched at the pillow, sending Morgan's head dropping to the mattress and Walter turned away from the kid, covering his face with the pillow. Maybe he could suffocate himself. That would get him out of this.
"It's not like I'm going to tell my mother if you do tell me. I know she likes to pick at people and their problems," Morgan's now muffled voice said and Walter scrunched up his eyes, teeth clenched tightly. "Your secret is safe with me."
"It's not a secret," Walter said, unsure if he could be heard from under the pillow that encased him in darkness. The fabric closest to his face was beginning to grow hot and damp with his breath, but he didn't dare leave the small safety he had created.
"Then tell me what happened," Morgan challenged, obviously not leaving until Walter did.
Walter pushed the pillow from his face with an agitated sigh and sat up, leaning against the wooden headboard of the bed, looking over the kid. Morgan's face was calm and waiting and Walter frowned more.
"Hannibal was living with my dad in my house. My mom and dad were going through a divorce, so I was living with my grandparents. We went home to grab some of our things and Hannibal was there," Walter explained, not sure if he was giving away far too many details. "One of my dad's coworkers showed up and tried to get my mom and I out. My dad took us out to the car and there were some gunshots from the house. Both Hannibal and Jack raced out of the house and Jack tried to shoot Hannibal and the bullet hit my mom." Walter gave a small shrug and Morgan looked over him oddly.
"And you're ok?"
"No, but no one needs to know that," Walter grumbled. "They'll just try to get me to talk about how I feel and I don't think I need to explain how much that sucks."
"No," Morgan agreed softly. "But you can always talk to me. It's not like I have anyone but the dog to tell anyways. And Applesauce won't tell a soul."
Walter gave a small smile. "Do you not have classes today?"
"It's Saturday. Usually I just play with Applesauce in the yard unless my moms have something planned. They usually end up dragging me along with them. They won't let me stay home alone and they probably won't ever again after what happened." Morgan gave a bright smile that made Walter's fall. "I can let you sleep if you need though. I'm sorry I woke you. I don't have many friends. None that I like anyways." Morgan pushed himself from the bed and headed for the door. "Bye Wally."
"Let me get dressed and I'll come meet Applesauce," Walter offered, trying to be kind.
"Ok," Morgan said excitedly, racing from the room.
"Shit," Will hissed, going back to a TV channel that he had flipped past. He set the remote down and templed his hands at his chin as he looked over spotty security footage of him breaking into the animal shelter. He had been so concerned with Hannibal that he hadn't even considered the fact that the street would have cameras. He couldn't see his face in the grainy footage, the camera angle thankfully in his favor, but the truck would be recognizable.
He turned off the TV and went for the bedroom, stepping into it and looking over a sleeping Hannibal. A guilt washed through him at waking up the man, but it was nearly time for his next dose of medicine anyway. Will might as well get it ready.
Will gathered the items from the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out a hand and brushed Hannibal's silver locks from his face and maroon eyes flickered open tiredly.
"Time for your medicine," Will said with a gentle smile. Hannibal gave a nod and slowly sat up, a hand pressing into his side as he rested back against the headboard of the bed with a deep breath that bordered on a sigh. "Hannibal," Will said as he opened and began mixing the first of the medicine. "There's something else."
"What?" Hannibal asked softly as he reached out for his water.
"There were cameras outside of the animal shelter. They're showing the footage on the news." Hannibal's movements stilled and he looked over at Will before fetching the glass of water and taking a sip of it. "They didn't get my face, but the truck will be noticeable. We need to get rid of it."
"I'll take care of it," Hannibal stated, sitting up determinately. Will reached out and easily pushed Hannibal's weakened body back and Hannibal closed his eyes tightly, licking at his lips. "I know Vermont. I can-"
"You said you weren't supposed to be out of bed for the next two or three days," Will reminded sternly. "You are not going anywhere."
"Will," Hannibal argued, though his eyes were still shut and his head was tipped back against the headboard, sweat gathering on his brow. "You're going to get lost."
"I think I did a fair enough job last night," Will grumbled. "I'm not a child."
"That is not what I was implying in the slightest," Hannibal mumbled with a bit of ice in his words. He set his cup aside and held out his arm to Will to give him his first round of the medications.
"I'll ditch the truck," Will assured, placing the used needle aside to get the next medication ready. "I'm sure I can find my way to a junkyard or something. I'm not inept as much as you think I am. I'm not some fragile little teacup. The finest china, used only for special guests."
"No," Hannibal agreed. "You're the mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by."
"Then let me be the mongoose, Hannibal," Will grumbled, feeling the edge of a restless night bite further into his words. He really needed to sleep, but the nervous energy of the night before made it entirely impossible for him to settle and he had to deal with this issue sooner or later. "I've already gone this far. Might as well finish this off."
"Am I chore to you?" Hannibal asked as he lowered his bruised arm back to the bed with closed eyes. "I'm sorry if I have-"
"Stop," Will ordered with a deep sigh, throwing the used syringe angrily onto the bedside table. "God, shut up Hannibal. I am so tired of you." Hannibal's eyes flickered open and Will lowered his head into his hands with a small sob. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "There's still so much swirling through my head. I can't get them to be quiet. I didn't mean to silence yours. Yours is the voice that I want to hear, the voice that makes the storm go calm."
"You need more sleep, Will," Hannibal's voice said cautiously as if he didn't want to overstep. "You're running on empty."
Will gave a strangled laugh and rubbed at his face before he looked up at Hannibal through his fingers. "I'm too wired. Nearly wish I had something else to use with these needles." Will got to his feet and began cleaning up the mess of boxes and needles, taking them to the bathroom to throw them away.
"Sometimes self-medication isn't a bad thing," Hannibal offered.
Will stared into the mirror at his bloodshot eyes, face that needed to be shaved, hair that needed to be cut. It was bugging him at the moment, the way it brushed against his ears and neck. He probably could have pulled it back with an elastic if he had one. Curiously, his hands reached up and he pushed his hair back and out of his face, gathering it behind him, looking over his reflection for a moment before letting the hair go and fall back into his face.
"Are you suggesting that I get high?" Will asked as Hannibal's words finally processed into his mind.
"Would it help?"
Will thought about it for a moment, the same sentiment from the night before coming to mind when he had wanted a glass of whiskey. It was better to stay aware and alert. Especially if he was all over the news. They couldn't relax. Not now. Not yet. Not until they were far away under aliases and where no one knew them.
"Not in the current situation," Will replied, leaving the bathroom with a small exhale. "I'll be back in time for your next dose. Get some sleep." Will went for the door and had to force himself to stop at the voice that called him back.
"Will?" Will slowly turned back to the bed. "I love you. I hope that you understand that."
Will gave a small nod. "I love you too, Hannibal. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"It seems that we could both use a moment." Hannibal gave a faint smile that looked a little more on the fake side. "Take as long as you need. I'm not going anywhere. But please come back to me when you return so I can kiss you."
Will felt something sharp twist in his chest and he found himself moving forward and toward the bed. He placed himself back at Hannibal's side and placed his hands on either side of Hannibal, leaning over.
He pressed a kiss to Hannibal's lips, holding it, but not deepening it. And his mind was pleasantly blank for a moment, the way it always went blank when Hannibal kissed him. The silencing god that controlled the storm in Will's mind. He pulled back, the voices slamming painfully back into their home. He closed his eyes, feeling nearly in tears.
"I love you," he whispered before placing another silencing kiss to the man's lips. "As soon as you're better, I want to be married to you, alright?"
"Will."
"I'm not going through life without being married to you, even if we only last days after I do, I want to be tied to you. Forever tied to you."
"Hurry home to me, my love."
brangiausias berniukas: dearest boy
Tu toks ypatingas man, rūpestingas berniukas: You are so special to me, caring boy