A/N: TW: Mentions of sexual content. If you wish to read more explicit scenes, you can read this story on AO3 under the same name. There is a link on my profile or you can simply Google the name of this story on AO3. I'm very aware of the rating restrictions on this website, so I have increased the rating of this story to an M rating. Enjoy the chapter!
Krissy tapped her fingers against the oak chair in Hannibal's office, lost in her thoughts. Clark Ingram's murder had been ruled as a case of self-defence after a hammer was found in his hand, and her father's refusal to accept anything otherwise. Whether he truly believed that was another matter entirely. Jack had told her to do whatever she had to do to keep sway with Hannibal, and that was exactly what she was doing. She had a purpose.
"Don't go inside, Krissy" Hannibal exclaimed, from where he was sitting opposite, his own chair pulled close so it was only metres away.
"Makes it harder for you to get into my mind?" Krissy replied, closing her eyes and leaning back against the chair.
"Do you still question whether I have your best interests at heart?" Hannibal inquired, causing a smirk to grow on Krissy's lips.
"You have your best interests at heart, Hannibal. Always" Krissy pointed out, as her eyes snapped up to his.
"True as that may be, I do take yours into consideration. It is a strange notion, thinking of another. It has been some time since I have seen reason to protect and care for someone" Hannibal explained.
"I would have liked to meet your sister" Krissy stated, knowing already who Hannibal spoke of.
A strange emotion flashed over Hannibal's features, a mixture of pain and loss. He allowed the feelings to wash over him, leaving him vulnerable under Krissy's gaze, before shying away again. It was oddly comforting to see such human emotion from him. It reminded Krissy that he was just a man, after all. Almost consumed with pain.
"Perhaps in another life" Hannibal murmured.
"...Do you regret what you did in the stables?" Hannibal asked, after a few moments of silence.
"No. I...I find I feel less and less every time I kill" Krissy admitted, as Hannibal tilted his head.
"Does that scare you?" Hannibal pushed, as she pursed her lips.
"It concerns me. As grey as my moral compass is, I don't want to lose it completely" Krissy confessed.
"Perhaps it is time your moral compass shifted" Hannibal suggested, as she let out a soft huff.
"My whole sense of self has shifted since I met you. I used to be so afraid of becoming like my brother, my parents..." Krissy trailed off, her brow furrowing.
"And now?" Hannibal asked.
"I realise I've always been like them" She mumbled, tensely.
"Your family lost themselves to their deeper instincts. They had no one to pull them back. You do" Hannibal insisted, as she let out a small sigh.
"Do you have any regrets?" She questioned, wishing to change the subject quickly.
"With every choice lies the possibility of regret. However, if I choose not to do something, it's usually for a good reason" Hannibal went on.
"You could have told me who you were. You could have trusted me earlier" Krissy stated.
"I find trust difficult. It is a two-edged sword, after all" Hannibal exclaimed, as Krissy nodded slowly.
"Mutually assured destruction...is that all we have, Hannibal?" Krissy inquired, as Hannibal pushed himself up from his chair.
She watched as he made his way towards her, a predator stalking their prey, his eyes never leaving hers. Instead of the fear she knew she should have felt as he loomed over her, it was excitement that coursed through her veins. He leant down, his hands resting on the arms of the chair, crowding her in, his hazel eyes boring into hers.
"I would happily spend the rest of my life with you" Hannibal told her, watching as her lips twitched into a smile.
"Tu turėtum" She replied, the Lithuanian language rolling off her tongue as if it was always meant to, as desire grew behind Hannibal's eyes.
"Graži" He spoke, reaching out to hook his fingers under her chin, leaning closer so their lips were almost touching.
"Will you teach me more when we leave here?" Krissy asked, eyes flickering down to his lips.
Hannibal nodded in response, the first to close the gap between them, pressing his lips to hers, his words having already left him. He moved his hand up to pull at the nape of her neck, pulling her closer, wanting to feel her body against his. Krissy could practically feel the desire rolling off him, as his other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her upright. No one had ever touched Hannibal underneath his person suit, he had never trusted anyone enough to feel under the stitching, but this was different. He craved Krissy's touch despite his better judgement. Their kisses turned more heated, as Hannibal nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth, almost enough to draw blood, as a low moan escaped her. A moment later, Krissy was pulling his suit jacket over his shoulders, desperate to touch his bare skin. She wasted no time in removing his shirt, as buttons from the expensive shirt clattered to the floor before the rest of it was thrown across the room. She ran her hands down his chest, feeling how his usually steady heart hammered in his chest, down to the trail of hair that led down past the waistband of his trousers. Her mind was pleasantly empty apart from her desire for him. It had never been so quiet in her head. Palming him through his trousers, she could already feel how he hardened, a smirk playing at her lips. Yet another reminder, that Hannibal was still just a man. Even he could be lost in a lustful haze.
Hannibal let out a grunt when she was suddenly shoving him towards his desk, before her hands were back on his belt, fingers making quick work of his trousers. Once they were removed, she pressed her lips back against his, while her hand dipped underneath his underwear, something akin to a moan leaving his lips as she wrapped her hand around him. She could tell he wasn't used to relinquishing control, but she didn't let his mind wander, continuing her pleasurable ministrations, using what little experience she had. She leant down to press a kiss to his neck, her tongue running over the stubble there. She felt the groan that came from his throat, rather than hearing it, as her hand grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling back to allow her to trail her kisses further down his neck. She could tell he was beginning to lose himself as she nipped at his neck, causing him to twitch. She repeated the motion again, feeling how his hand tightened in her hair, his breathing growing louder. Krissy allowed her gaze to drift up to his face for a moment, taking in the sight of his parted lips, eyes shut in pure pleasure, his features somehow appearing softer. She wondered how many had seen him in such a vulnerable state. She caught him by surprise as she sunk her teeth deep into the fragile skin of his neck, teetering on the painful side of pleasure. His climax hit him soon after, as she leant up to press a kiss to his lips, capturing his moans. Having the usually composed man all but collapsed against her, called out to something inside her, something animalistic. Krissy was pleasantly surprised by how long he had lasted, having heard far too many stories of men lasting no more than thirty seconds. As Hannibal was still coming down from his high, an arm wrapped around her shoulders to keep him upright, panic slowly started to set in as she realised what she had done. Jerking off a serial killer definitely hadn't been in her five-year plan.
The panic only grew the longer Hannibal stayed silent, as she wondered whether she had done something wrong. He knew of her inexperience, but had he been expecting more? Or worse, was he disgusted by her touch? She couldn't imagine anyone else wanting her—
Suddenly, Hannibal grabbed her by her hips and twisted them around, hauling her up onto his desk. There was something different in his eyes now, more than just desire. He was hungry. Krissy gasped as he reached behind to pull the zip of her dress down, ripping at the fabric when it didn't give him access to her skin quick enough. A moment later, he was dragging her dress down her hips and throwing it to the floor. Now, only in her bra and panties, Krissy found herself blushing under his intense gaze, her skin flushed red. His desire didn't seem to relent at the sight of her scarred skin, the cuts and burns clear against her pale complexion. She bit her lip in anticipation, as Hannibal took a few moments to take in her appearance as if to commit it to memory. Her brow furrowed when he dropped to his knees a moment later, his hands gripping onto her hips again as he brought her to the edge of the desk. Krissy's gulp was audible as he made quick work of dragging her panties down her thighs before they too dropped to the floor. Her mouth became impossibly dry as he began trailing kisses up her inner thigh, his eyes flickering up to meet hers. Krissy couldn't stop the cry that left her lips when his mouth found her core, her whole body igniting, as she clutched at the oak desk to stop her from falling backwards. He played her body like an instrument, as her moans grew louder and more desperate. Hannibal twitched in excitement at the sound of her begging, deciding to end her delicious torment. Her climax hit her suddenly, as she let out a sharp cry before collapsing backwards against his desk. Hannibal stayed where he was on his knees, cleaning up the mess he had made with vigour.
"Remarkable girl" Hannibal mumbled, closing his own eyes in pleasure for a moment.
"You've done that before" Krissy panted, as her words slowly returned to her.
"Yes. But not to that level of enjoyment" Hannibal replied, pressing a soft kiss to her inner thigh, as Krissy pushed herself up into a sitting position.
"I've never...was it okay?" Krissy asked, in a nervous tone.
"Tu buvai šlovingas" Hannibal murmured, his hands staying where they were on her hips.
"Šlovinga?" She questioned, having not heard him say the word before.
"Glorious" He clarified, leaning forward to press small kisses up her abdomen.
"When's your next appointment?" Krissy asked, as his eyes snapped up to hers.
"Not for another hour" He stated, in a husky tone.
Her only reply was a mischievous smirk, before pulling him to his feet, connecting their lips. An hour was plenty of time...
Krissy stood by the site of the latest crime scene, her nose wrinkled in disgust as she looked at the body parts that littered the snow in front of her. Footprints had been found near the corpse, suggesting that someone held the leash of the animal that had killed the victim. Will and her father stood beside her, tension filling the spaces between them, all three of them trying to portray a disturbing sense of normalcy despite what they were planning. Krissy's gaze stayed firmly on the victim, noting he had been all but eaten alive, his organs being thrown left and right, but everything was accounted for.
"Whatever the animal was that killed him, it wasn't interested in eating him. Something else drove it...a different need" Krissy pointed out, as she heard footsteps crunching into the snow behind her.
"The creature is evolving" Hannibal spoke up, coming to stand beside her.
"It's blood sport" Jack murmured, as Krissy turned to Hannibal, a look of amusement growing behind her eyes.
"What are you wearing?" Krissy giggled, gesturing to the large fur hat that covered Hannibal's head and ears.
It seemed like such an odd thing for the serial killer to wear, only emphasised by the serious expression Hannibal wore. She couldn't stop the laughter that left her lips, which only appeared to captivate Hannibal, his lips pulling back into a toothy grin.
"You are not fond of it?" Hannibal questioned, as she reached up to touch the hat.
"I'm very fond of it" She teased, linking her hands behind his neck.
She could hear Jack grumble something beneath his breath before he stormed away. It was his plan in the first place to entice Hannibal with her presence, but it was another thing altogether, to be forced to watch them together. Hannibal surprised her a moment later when he leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her lips, despite their public setting. It was as if he couldn't resist. The thought of it caused a beaming smile to grow on her face, as she pushed herself up onto her tiptoes to chase his lips.
"Krissy. Can I speak with you for a moment?" Will's voice interjected, just as their lips brushed together.
"Of course" She replied, turning to face Will, whose jaw was visibly clenched.
"In private" Will insisted, as she heard Hannibal make a sound of irritation, before taking a step away from her.
With a begrudging nod, the pair quickly made their way over towards Will's car, as Krissy felt Hannibal's gaze remaining on them. She prayed that Will wasn't about to make a scene, not when she had made so much progress the day before. They stopped beside the passenger door, as Will appeared lost in a trance for a moment, his face flushed red.
"What?" She asked.
"The term out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind" Will told her, as she quirked an eyebrow.
"Will, we're at a crime scene, what is this about—" Krissy began, but Will was quick to cut her off.
"How long have you been sleeping with him?" Will spat out, watching as Krissy stilled under his gaze.
"...How'd you know?" Krissy frowned, wondering who else could have figured it out.
"It's not only crime scenes I can re-enact, Krissy" Will pointed out, as her cheeks reddened.
"What do you want me to say, Will? Apologise?" Krissy mumbled.
"He's a sadist. And a dangerous one at that. He'll chew you up and spit you back out" Will warned her.
"He hasn't so far. I'm just doing what you wanted me to. Ensnare him into our trap" Krissy retorted, as Will shook his head in disbelief.
"You think I wanted this?! Why? Why would you take this risk—" Will started, his voice raised, as Krissy suddenly cut him off.
"Because I wanted to feel something!" She cried, in an almost pleading tone, leaving Will taken aback.
Hannibal may have been using her, but the truth was, she was using him just as much. She never felt as alive as she did now with him.
"So, go ahead. Judge me all you fucking want. But anything is better than this numbness that I can't get away from...anything is" Krissy explained, through gritted teeth.
"...Did it work?" Will questioned, after a few moments.
"Does it matter anymore?" Krissy replied, watching as Will's eyes softened.
"I meant what I said. This was never what I wanted. I want you...safe" Will told her, reaching out to take her hand in his own.
"I think we both know it's too late for that" Krissy sighed, pulling her hand away from Will's.
"Is it easier? Giving yourself over to Hannibal?" Will asked.
"It's...simpler" She stated, not being able to think of a better phrase.
Her life with Hannibal had become so complex and convoluted, but sex seemed to help clear that fog. It was human instinct to reach out when lost in the darkness. She was just giving into her darker nature. That's all she was doing, Krissy insisted to herself.
That evening she received a jumbled text from Margot, asking her to meet her at one of the hotels on the edge of the city. She informed Hannibal that she was meeting with her new friend, but didn't disclose the location, fearing that he would follow her there. If he was as possessive a lover as he was a friend, she knew he would not let her far out of his grasp. She was surprised by the rundown hotel, finding a few of the windows smashed in, and broken needles laying on the steps by the front desk. She soon came to the room Margot had mentioned in the text, watching as the door opened before she even reached the doorstep. Margot was wearing a sleek green blouse, her usually pristinely curled hair appearing windswept, and her makeup smudged. Krissy could smell the alcohol on her breath before she even entered the room.
"I wasn't sure if you'd come" Margot murmured, letting her through the doorway.
"That's what friends are for, right?" Krissy replied, giving her a small smile.
"I can't say I'd know" Margot stated, shutting the door behind her and immediately picking up a glass of whiskey.
She downed the contents of the drink in a matter of seconds, before going to pour herself yet another glass. Krissy was beside her in an instant, taking the bottle away from her, a look of concern in her eyes.
"What did he do?" Krissy questioned, not needing to elaborate.
"Nothing that will scar" Margot mumbled, as Krissy let out a long sigh.
"Not visibly" Krissy pointed out.
"...I'll show you mine if you show me yours" Margot exclaimed, a few seconds later, as Krissy's brow furrowed.
"Are we still talking about scars?" Krissy replied, causing a smirk to grow on Margot's lips.
Before Krissy could say anything, the older woman was pulling at the buttons of her shirt, and dragging the green fabric down her shoulders. She blushed at Margot's state of undress, allowing her gaze to wander over her womanly form for a moment. Krissy's eyes soon landed on the dark purple bruises across her stomach, her chest tightening at the sight. She could see a scar running over the top of her shoulder, almost white in appearance. An old scar then. How long had Margot's brother been abusing her?
"Your turn" Margot announced, raising a delicate eyebrow.
"It's not a pretty sight" Krissy warned, a small amount of disgust visible in her tone.
In response, Margot twisted around, pulling her hair over to cover her chest, giving Krissy a view of her back. Her eyes widened when she saw the extent of scarring on the woman's back, mostly through cuts, running up and down the expanse of her skin. Most of them were new, most likely having been cut in the past six months.
"He never cuts me anywhere visible" Margot informed her, hearing the ruffling of fabric from behind her.
"My mother never shared that sentiment" Krissy exclaimed, as Margot twisted around to see her pulling her shirt over her head.
A soft gasp left Margot's lips as her eyes drifted over Krissy, taking in the scars that covered her, both old and new. She had two large circular scars just above her hip, the skin puckered and red still. She had numerous scars from cuts covering her upper arms, appearing to be defensive wounds. Krissy then brushed her hair over her shoulder and turned to reveal rows of tiny burn marks covering her shoulder blades, as Margot realised what they were.
"Cigarette burns?" Margot questioned, approaching her, her fingers brushing over the tiny white wounds there.
"My mum liked to use me as an ashtray from time to time" Krissy muttered, with a forced smile.
Margot had expected her to be scarred but not to the intense degree she saw before her. It was hard to find more than a few patches of her pale skin that were left clear. Most of them were old wounds too. Healing for decades.
"This is new...who burnt you?" Margot inquired, running her fingers along the raised tissue of her forearm, a lighter red than the other scars.
"A friend" Krissy replied, in a sullen tone.
"Did you make him pay for it?" Margot asked, as Krissy pulled her arm away from the older woman's touch.
"You know better than most it's not that easy" Krissy retorted.
"You're right. I still love my brother, in some twisted way" Margot nodded.
"...Do you still love Doctor Lecter after everything he's done to you?" Margot pushed, watching as Krissy's eyes widened a fraction.
"Which is what exactly—" Krissy began, but Margot stopped her before she could say anything else.
"He's the Chesapeake Ripper, is he not?" Margot announced, finding it amusing how Krissy froze under her watchful gaze.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. It's not hard to figure out" Margot scoffed, walking back over to the dresser where the bottle of whiskey still was.
"I really don't know what you're talking about" Krissy stated.
"Any woman kidnapped by a man for over a year would not just jump into bed with another. Not unless it was the man who had taken her in the first place, who had already got into her head" Margot explained, pouring herself another drink.
"Margot, you don't know me, okay? Don't try acting like you do" Krissy huffed, reaching for her shirt.
"I'm guessing you figured out who he was, right? That's why he took you?" Margot went on, taking a sip of her whiskey.
"I'm going" Krissy muttered, pulling her shirt over her head.
"I suppose it's difficult, isn't it? Speaking to someone about the truth when you've spent so long lying" Margot suggested.
"Just leave it" Krissy insisted, as Margot came to stand in front of her, blocking her exit.
"He's using you—" Margot told her.
"No, he's not!" Krissy cried, lunging forward to shove Margot roughly in the chest.
"I'm just trying to help you" Margot exclaimed, as a harsh scoff left Krissy's lips.
"You can't! You can't fucking help me" Krissy shook her head, running a hand over her face.
"Why not?" Margot sighed.
"Because I don't deserve it! I'm just like him. No...no, I'm worse. At least he admits what he is. Me? I just pretend. To be a daughter, a friend, a good fucking person. And I'm tired of it, Margot. I just...I want this to end!" Krissy stuttered over her words.
"And that's why you go back to him? To punish yourself?" Margot questioned.
"Because I..." Krissy trailed off, scrunching her eyes shut, placing her hands over her face.
She didn't want to face the truth. She couldn't tell her father, or Will, no one who she was truly close to. She knew it would hurt them too much. But maybe, just this once, she could be honest. At least with herself.
"I want him to kill me" Krissy confessed, shakily.
Margot's mouth went slack at the revelation, not sure what she could possibly say to that. Krissy looked away from her, cursing the tears that had already begun to well in her eyes. It hurt but...it was a relief. Now, all she had to do was wait for her wish to come true.
Krissy returned to Hannibal's home with a new sense of clarity. Part of her had always been suicidal, ever since the abuse of her childhood. Death beckoned her with a blanket of safety and security. Where no one could hurt her again. Then she met her father, and wanted to live for him. He needed her. Meeting Will had caused a similar feeling to bloom in her chest. And now, in some twisted way she felt Hannibal needed her. She would live for him until he decided otherwise. She let herself into his house, running a hand over her cheeks, trying to make sure there was no evidence of her tears. She had a feeling Hannibal would not appreciate her opening up to someone who wasn't him. The shock was evident on her face when she arrived in the dining room to find Hannibal had not one, but two guests. Only one was still alive. Krissy's eyes grew wide as her gaze fell on the corpse on the dining table, the man's face beaten and bloody. His body appeared stiff, rigor mortis already starting. Her eyes flickered to where Hannibal and Will were sitting on the opposite side of the table, with Hannibal bandaging Will's bruised knuckles, in what appeared to be an intimate gesture.
"You found the killer?" Krissy asked, staying where she stood in the doorway.
"He found me" Will muttered.
"...You sent his man after Will?" Krissy questioned, earning a curt nod from Hannibal.
"You don't seem surprised" Will accused, with narrowed eyes.
"It wouldn't be the first time Hannibal has sent a killer after a friend" Krissy pointed out, remembering all too well when Abel Gideon had been led to her.
"I find it results in a rather pleasing outcome" Hannibal smirked, continuing to gently bandage Will's knuckles.
"And more bodies lying by your feet" Krissy replied, as she pulled out the chair next to him, taking her place by his side.
"How was Margot?" Hannibal asked, his hands still on Will's knuckles.
"Drunk" Krissy told him, making it clear she did not wish to divulge more, as Hannibal hummed in response.
Taping the bandage carefully, he returned Will's hand, who appeared to have entered an almost comatose state. It was difficult for the human mind to wrap around murder. She knew that better than most. She flinched a little when Hannibal's hand reached out to touch the nape of her neck, bringing her closer to him. His lips were brushing over hers a moment later, as he inhaled deeply, his jaw clenching.
"Margot's scent clings to you. Were you intimate?" Hannibal inquired, pulling away a few inches.
Krissy let out a huff of disbelief, her eyes flickering over to Will's for a moment, feeling his gaze on the pair. Perhaps he was more alert than Krissy realised. Only playing the part of a deer in the headlights.
"No...were you?" Krissy accused, quirking an eyebrow towards Will.
Hannibal kissed his teeth, as he rose from his chair, an expression on his face that Krissy was yet to decipher. He was then taking her hand and pulling her up to stand beside him, leaving her to wonder how deeply his jealousy ran. Or her own. Had he already grown tired of her so quickly?
"Our relationship has become labyrinthine. Too many doors opened, but still unwillingly to step through..." Hannibal trailed off, as he turned to Will, holding his hand out to the younger man.
Will came to stand on Hannibal's other side without complaint, a submissive expression on his face. He was interested to find where Hannibal was leading them with his words.
"What are we to do about that?" Hannibal asked his companions, in a seductive tone.
It was Will who took the first step in the direction Hannibal wanted, reaching out to brush the back of his fingers against Krissy's cheek, as the younger girl followed his touch with her eyes. She did not anticipate the way he leant forward, his lips suddenly pressing against her own, an action she remembered far too well. He swallowed the soft gasp that left her lips, using his free hand to slide down to her waist, pulling her towards him. He kept his hand grasped there with almost bruising strength, intoxicated by the taste of her lips. Krissy's eyes fluttered open when he pulled away, allowing her to catch her breath for a moment. Something primal grew in her chest as Will turned his head, leaning up to kiss Hannibal, biting down on the older man's lips, just hard enough to draw blood. Krissy's breath caught in her throat, as she felt Hannibal's hand suddenly gripping onto her hair, tugging her closer. She could taste the coppery flavour of blood on his lips, as he claimed her mouth with his own, his fingers tightening in her hair, as Will kept his own hand firmly on her waist.
"Ar pasiliksi su mumis?" Hannibal whispered against her lips, as Krissy's heart beat faster in her chest.
"Taip" She replied, her eyes shining with emotion.
Maybe they could both keep her alive.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Hannibal and Krissy's relationship has evolved yet again, and she's now in more danger than ever. With the Season 2 final drawing closer, we'll have to wait and see who makes it to the end! Please leave a review:)
sleepinglionzz32: It's great to hear you're re-reading the story, hopefully everything still adds up! You reviewed before I'd even finished making my edits, haha. Thank you as always:)
acetwolf94: Thank you for reviewing:)
BrittStar1199: It's definitely getting intense, and like you said, Krissy has a terrible decision coming. It's looking like it'll be a very bloody end to this season! Thanks for reviewing:)
FeliciaMartinez: Haha, Margot is such a great character. We'll definitely be seeing more of her!