Will and Hannibal talk at length about things.
Not Beta Read

Look at who updated like a total boss.

oOo

Will had to admit to himself that Hannibal's house was impressive, and this coming from a person who barely acknowledged such things. Places kind of lost their value after seeing so many backgrounds wet and ruined with blood, decorated little bits of people, painted with sorrow and terror.

Closer to being a small mansion in size and excess, the spaces within were echoes of the Alpha in everything around them, down to the finest details. Bold color schemes were cast in rich fabrics and expensive materials, but still somehow managed not to be too ostentatious. One saw and felt wealth but was not bludgeoned over the head with it. Everything was well made and meant to last, all the stonework marble or heavy slate and the furniture heavy dark wood, the rugs really hand-woven, and the art signed originals.

It appeared that Hannibal certainly liked his controlled clutter. All his walls, corners, nooks, shelves, and crannies seemed to be filled with an assortment of things, random but obviously expensive, wonderful knickknacks and things that Will didn't even knew existed. Most surprising was the amount of modern technology that was streamlined in with all the antique and ancient, which Will realized was ridiculous presumption on his part. Hannibal just didn't seem like the type to own an Ipad but there one was on a desk that looked like it was intricately carved from Madagascar Ebony which Will was pretty damn sure was illegal to own.

As varied as everything was, it all performed together in a harmonious manner. Passing through one room after the other, Will played a little game with himself of 'what don't I like about this room', the Omega finding some of the combinations and ornamentations profoundly ugly, off-putting to his own personal taste. His sense of aesthetics was keen though, telling him it all worked even if he didn't appreciate it, much like disliking Pollock while still acknowledging the artist as a master. Will found himself wondering what that said about Hannibal. He much preferred his own little house hidden deep out in the woods, with its rustic homey lived in feel. The home he probably never see again.

Clenching his jaw against the wash of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, Will wrapped his arms around himself tightly, fists clenching into the crimson silk robe that smelled distractingly like Hannibal. It made sense, it being his robe, but it still annoyed Will who was torn between losing himself to the pervasive scents of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or burning the damn thing just to spite the Alpha. As it was, fire might be unnecessary for he was already well on his way to ruining the material. Will was sure his filthy skin and half healed wounds had already stained the delicate silk. Curling his fingers into it to grip the robe like it was an anchor probably wasn't doing the material any favors either.

Feeling guilty about it while chiding himself not to, Will focused on following Hannibal, memorizing the lines of his back and broad shoulders that were accentuated by the tailored suit he wore. On anyone else, Will thought it would look almost vulgar, the dark teal plaid clearly not for everyone. Like his house though, the combination of color and patterns played with the eye pleasantly instead of offending it, the man wearing the suit and not vice versa. Will had the sneaking suspicion though Hannibal was one of those rare people who could wear a burlap sack and make it look good. The Alpha had a bearing that royalty trained a lifetime to achieve, and wielded courtesy and manners like they were weapons. Pretty appearances and well rehearsed social overtures aside, this was a very dangerous man. Though he was confused about quite a few things, Will knew that for a fact, remaining wary as he entered Hannibal's kitchen.

While impressive, the kitchen was unlike the rest of the house. Comparatively it was almost minimalist in nature, everything here serving a purpose and function, the Alpha obviously one who took cooking as a serious matter. Will could tell it was also the space Hannibal spent most of his time in other than the room he slept. Will was trying very hard to not think about that room, Hannibal's bedroom, as he studied the Alpha's kitchen. Will chose to lean against the counter to do this, the only chair in the kitchen being in a far corner near a staircase. It was a leather bound number and looked comfortable, but it had been purposely put out of the way. It gave the impression that Hannibal liked his guests away of this space so Will intentionally placed himself within it to off balance the Alpha.

It didn't appear to work to his advantage though, Hannibal too busy removing his suit's jacket, waistcoat, and tie, dressing himself in professional looking chef's apron to notice. Even stripped down to white on white, Hannibal remained impressive, moving with control and grace through his environment as he retrieved ingredients from various drawers and cupboards. Will shifted uneasily, reminded self consciously that he was still only wearing a robe that belonged to the man cooking for him.

But oddly enough no collar and wasn't that a small mercy and mystery all rolled into one. Will had half expected to be cast in one of the many hells he had only seen the aftermath of and lived again in the relative safety of his own head. This sort of situation had never even occurred to him as a possibility, but the night was still young. No reason to get ahead of himself. In his experience since birth, life didn't give Will nice things.

His sullen brooding was interrupted by a tall glass of water placed in front of him by Hannibal. Will regarded the clear liquid with an air of suspicion, glancing sideways at the Alpha, who for all intents and purposes, was ignoring him, more involved with preparing a meal for them than whether or not Will decided to drink the water.

Hannibal was working with a vividly red piece of meat in hand that Will could only presume was a steak of some kind, though he couldn't even begin to guess what kind of cut it was or from what animal. He ate more fish than anything, usually catching it fresh from the stream that ran near his house.

Wetting a finger to run it along the rim of the glass, Will carefully avoided thinking further about his former home, letting the clear sound the glass emitted to clear his head. Will told himself that he shouldn't have been surprised to discover that the glass was actually crystal. Of course, it was.

If Hannibal was bothered by the impromptu noise, he didn't show it, too busy expertly slivering the meat into thin pieces and getting out plates. Tasks completed, Hannibal then mixed the meat in a bowl with fresh lemon juice and shaving from a real block of parmesan. Will knew that good cheese came in blocks but had never seen anyone actually use one before. The mixture was placed delicately over greenery that looked fancier than anything Will had ever eaten before.

"This is something light?" Will mused to himself. It looked like something right out of a cooking show on the Food Channel as the plates were drizzled with a bit of a flourish on the chef's part by two different kinds of oils from unmarked bottles, one greenish and the other lightly golden to contrast beautifully against the red of the meat and the crisp green of the salad. It looked more like art than a meal in Will's opinion. He hoped Hannibal wasn't expecting applause, the Alpha finishing his performance by pouring two glasses of wine, something a bright clear red that smelled like tart cherries to Will, both plate and glass placed in front of Will.

"A typical Piedmont style Carpaccio. Chilled rare sirloin with Meyers lemon and shaved Reggiano parmesan served on a bed of baby arugula with just a touch of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil and white truffle oil. Paired with a young Valpolicella, light enough in body to not overpower the steak's delicate texture, but flavorful enough to compliment the cheese and arugula. Bon appétit." Hannibal said in way that struck Will as surprisingly informative. The man wasn't bragging about the food or even his skill in creating it, though there was definitely a whole lot of pride there. Hannibal was simply delighted with the concept and preparation of food in and of itself.

Will blinked, stuck between perplexed awe and disbelief, having never met anyone who got so happy about their meal. "Seriously?"

Whatever reaction Hannibal had been expecting, that wasn't it, that much Will was sure of. What he could dare to tell from Hannibal's non reaction was that the Alpha was a touch crestfallen. "I'm very careful about what I put into my body. Which means I end up preparing most meals myself." Hannibal said evenly enough to make Will think that the chef was miffed with him.

Dry swallowing hard enough that he could hear his throat click -he really should have quit being a stubborn ass long enough to drink the water instead of playing with it- Will tried the dish, all the while feeling like a horrible guest. He wasn't one for raw meat whether it was dressed up or not with oils and eloquent descriptions, but embarrassment spurred him into action.

"It's delicious. Thank you." Will admitted quietly, surprised into an honest confession by the meal. The flavors burst on his palette, fresh citrus cleaning his tongue to refresh it for with the succulent flavor of steak so tender it melted in his mouth, the need to chew more for the cheese and roughage. Tempted into experimenting, Will tried the food with the offered wine.

Even to a laymen of cuisine such as himself, Will could tell it all worked perfectly together, a small miracle of taste taking place in his mouth. Will found himself finishing his food more quickly than he would have liked and was little dizzy from the wine. Grimacing at himself for his carelessness, Will gulped down the water even though it chased the deliciousness out of his mouth.

Not entirely sated and sighing, Will risked looking over at Hannibal to find the Alpha watching him, wine glass still mostly full in hand and his plate basically untouched. Someone else might presume that the Alpha was simply being still, giving a guest space to eat without the interruption of conversation, but Will could tell that he was being studied by a very pleased predator. It made Will wonder what kind Hannibal was, even as he eyed the other man's plate.

"Aren't you hungry?" Will tried to distract himself by trying his hand at casual conversation, which frankly was not his forte in the best circumstances.

"No, but you may have mine if you still are." Hannibal not making it an option as he switched out their plates, taking Will's empty dish to the sink. He knew his momentary absence would prompt the Omega to eat, though he would miss Will's reaction to his food. Though Will's manners and dinner etiquette were borderline deplorable- Will hunkered over his food like someone was planning on stealing it from him, the omega eating it quick hurried bites- Hannibal had never seen anyone enjoy his food like him, like every bite was an epiphany and salvation all in one. Will also didn't seem to realize that he was groaning aloud while he ate. It entirely made up for his lackluster initial reaction to the presented dish, Will's honest responses delightful to watch as he devoured the meat which was Hannibal's most recent kill.

The steak had once been a rather persistent sommelier from one of the many wine venues Hannibal frequented. The man had made the unfortunate mistake of insulting Hannibal while he was still within earshot after the doctor had politely turned down the purchase of some rather sub par Pinot Noir the man had aggressively suggested. Instead of forcing his opinion and shoddy palette of other customers, the former sommelier now served a higher purpose by filling his mate's belly. He also went well with the Valpolicella Hannibal ended up purchasing that day, the same one that they were enjoying at this very moment, essentially making it one stop shopping for the Chesapeake Ripper.

Pride be damned, Will hardly hesitated after the plate was set before him, polishing the dish off with ease. "Not one to waste food?" Will heard Hannibal ask over the scraping of his plate.

"No, I grew up poor. We didn't have food to waste." Will said and instantly regretted it, the Omega glaring at his empty wine glass. A full stomach and good wine on top of it had loosened his tongue.

"The 'we' being?" Hannibal prompted as he retrieved the now empty plate and wine glass, purposely giving Will space again with feigned inattention.

"No, I'm not doing this." was the terse answer, Hannibal looking over his shoulder to find Will glaring at his kitchen appliances like their existence personally offended him .

"Doing what?" Hannibal feigned ignorance and earned a sour look for the attempt.

"Telling you about myself. A psychiatrist." Will was pulling up forts, the Omega sliding back into himself, his arms curling about his waist protectively in a physical show of it. "Someone who likes to play in other people's heads for fun."

Hannibal bought time by slowly drying his hands with a clothe. "I would like to know more about you on a personal level, not a professional one."

Will glared back in answer. "My name is Will Graham. It is 9:48pm where I am in Baltimore, Maryland, in your house, and I am a person, not your plaything. I have a life…..had a life." he amended stiffly at the end.

"You still have it." Hannibal chose to keep his distance for now, giving Will the counter space as he leaned up against the refrigerator, the stainless steel cool against his back.

"No." Will stated without any doubt held in his voice. "We both know that's not true. You say you want to know who I am. I say you haven't earned the right to. I know who I am, what I am. I am an Omega but I don't need an Alpha to function, to control me despite what everyone else thinks."

"I have no intention in doing so." Hannibal lied. "I see no appeal in it and have much better things to do with my time than look after someone constantly."

That seemed to throw Will for a loop, the Omega giving him strange looks in return. "Then why bother? Why buy me at all?" Will asked who realized he must of blinked because one moment Hannibal was by the refrigerator and the next he was in Will's personal space, his breathe hot upon Will's face and his eyes flashing more scarlet than brown.

"I realize that this is a overwhelming change in your existence, one that you have spent the majority of in your own company but do not play the fool with me. You are better than that. You know why." Looking up into earthen eyes tinged with pinpoints of blood, the edge of Hannibal's mask was lifted and all that was Alpha slipped out from underneath, overwhelming Will to make him drop to his knees and sway there. Power, strong enough to choke the air from him without exerting actual pressure, shrouded Will as he gasped and shuddered against the fine floor of Hannibal's kitchen to stay there. He felt need like never before. A need to obey, a need to please, a need do whatever Hannibal told him whether it was to stay there on the floor twitching or spread his legs for the Alpha, Will feeling slick begin to drip his thighs. It smelled sweet like white flowers.

Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the unseen power pulled in, tucking back in like Hannibal was origami, the Alpha folding and creasing sheets of himself to twist perception into believing he was benign crafted crane.

Ignoring the hand offered to him and freed from a need that left his innards feeling like soup, Will rose to his feet with a resolve that surprised Hannibal, the Omega centering himself as he faced the Alpha. Will had been ripped from his home, his life shredded, he had no idea where his dogs were or even if they were still alive, and now he was in a pissing contest of wills with the Alpha who had purchased him with slick cooling tacky between his thighs. Well two could play at that game. Will knew what he was.

Want smacking into Hannibal like a blow to the chest, enough so that it made him step back from Will as his instincts screamed at him to run. Run from this Omega whose grayish blue eyes met his own unflinching to watch the crimson dilate and his inner core temperature spike, his nose filling with sharp pheromones like peaches turned to floral nectar, enough so that his head began to feel lightly void. Hannibal bit the inside of his cheek until it bled to get some of himself back from the edge, recognizing what was happening to him, his body going into Rut.

While Omegas were physically slaves to their own bodies due to Heats, an Alpha was inflicted with Rut. Both were states of breeding for the genders that left them weak, impressionable to suggestion and bad decisions, and gullible enough to believe in the most obvious lies if the answer to everything was sex. Hannibal planned in advance for his own seasons, his Ruts a private matter, making arrangements and keeping himself locked away during the length of it. He had never had one forced upon him before, the true power of a pure Omega revealed. If Will desired it, he could have Hannibal crawling on the ground and licking his feet, and all that just from his scent. Gripping the counter to keep himself upright, Hannibal tried not think about what would happen if Will decided to touch him, though Hannibal wanted him to, was desperate for it.

Thankfully, Will was not cruel though, only making a point it would seem. The assault on Hannibal was over in an instant, leaving him heavily breathing as he tried to maintain his dignity with weak knees and a light head.

"You showed me yours, so I showed you mine." Will mocked, feeling uncomfortable as he tried to convince himself that he had been backed into a corner and he was allowed to defend himself and to stop being such a damn omega about everything. Even now his idiotic instincts made him want to grovel for Hannibal's forgiveness for being defiant, guilt chewing at his inner core for the show of force.

Focusing on redressing himself, Hannibal ignored the barb and his erection, willing the later to go away as he moved slowly to retrieve the outer shell of his suit, waistcoat, and tie. The Omega had no idea how dangerous that little stunt had been, seething parts of Hannibal's psyche fighting with him to lash out at Will, to see how many knives in the kitchen would fit themselves into the Omega's body before he could bleed out. Control and the fact that Will so damnable good stayed his hands, the scent akin to jasmine soothing the monster within him. Hannibal swallowed shakily, his mouth watering for something other than food for once in a long while.

"You have been very rude, Will. What is to be done about that?" Hannibal intoned levelly as he knotted his tie in the wider style he preferred.

"You'll have to forgive me while I come to terms with being bought and sold like a teacup for your kitchen." Will snapped. Hannibal's words had been softly spoken but there was an underlying threat there. He was sure of it.

"Hardly. I buy sets. Not individual items." Hannibal said in a dry tone. It took a moment for Will to realize that the Alpha was being sarcastic.

"Ok, so I'm more like an old chipped mug. Whatever. The point is that I'm fading, fading out of a life of my own making. I don't know what that means for me." Will sighed, rubbing his temples as a headache threatened to make its existence known to him. The wine and him letting go like that had probably only aided it in its arrival. "Or to you. If you even care…"

"It means you create forts and make assumptions too quickly. If you had only spoken with me in a civil manner, all this unpleasantness could have been avoided." Hannibal told him, back to looking unruffled and immaculate. Will sort of hated the Alpha for that. He had to get some proper clothing. He wished he was wearing pants, feeling sticky and disgusting. Will wished a lot of things. "You can have your life, Will. I have already stated that I do not want it." Which had deeper meaning that it really should.

Will's mind moved quickly, picking apart Hannibal's words. "You would let me keep teaching?" he made himself ask, even though it sounded too good to be true.

"Yes." Hannibal kept his answer short on this. Elaboration would only complicate matters at the moment and Hannibal liked to leave room in conversations to move around in. Simple answers could be dressed up into anything he wanted later on. That moment of victory over him had cost Will more than he knew though he didn't know it yet. By tipping his hand, Hannibal knew what to expect now from him and would be prepared for it next time. He could forgive such trespasses against him, but he would not forget what Will had done. Hannibal never forgot slights.

"Would I be back in the field?" Will was testing his luck, the situation surreal enough in his opinion for it. Caution was meant to ride on the wind after all.

"I wanted to have this conversation with you at a later date." Hannibal supposed it was inevitable though. Will didn't seem the type the let things lie where they may for any given length of time.

"Tough shit. We're having it now." Will said through gritted teeth. His life had been put on hold by other people for long enough. "Answer the question."

"Under supervision." Hannibal decided, already envisioning that phone call. The power play over Jack Crawford would be well worth the time spent negotiating it.

"I thought you said you didn't want to baby-sit me." Will pointed out, pressing his luck. He couldn't imagine Hannibal being in a generous mood at the moment.

"Alana has already stated to me that it is not good for you and I happen to respect her observations, deferring to her judgment." Hannibal dropped the name like chumming the waters of Will's mind, wanting to see how he reacted to the association.

"You know Alana? Alana Bloom?" Will took the bait beautifully, his face softening as he said the raven haired beta's name. It made the back of Hannibal's neck prickle oddly, the Alpha unfamiliar with the sensation.

"Yes. I had the pleasure of mentoring her. She is a colleague of mine, one I hold in high regard." Hannibal explained, becoming generous with his compliments. The better he spoke about Alana, the more Will appeared to relax. The Omega's reaction shouldn't have made his stomach sour so. Hannibal decided to blame it on too much wine and not enough solid food.

"Huh. Small world." and with that Will was set back on his heels, obviously reevaluating things in his head as this new information was processed. Hannibal knew he had been cast as the villain in Will's mind. He could change this perception though by keeping Will off balance with the unexpected. The Omega anticipated the worst from him, from any Alpha really, so Hannibal intended to present the opposite.

"Would you care for some port? I like to have something sweet after a meal." Hannibal continued to do just that, Will looking at him like he just asked something indecent of him.

"You didn't eat anything." Will pointed out though he was curious to see what Hannibal considered dessert. In Will's world, a 'light meal' would have been tuna straight out of the can or a cold cup of shitty coffee, not the five star fare he had just eaten. Dessert could be a revelation for all he knew.

"Perhaps I just like the excuse of one to have dessert." Hannibal offered a slight smile, another feint that made Will tilt the world inside his head. Hannibal liked that he had to do this. He was used to moving though realms made of smokes and mirrors, but he had never had to navigate one so carefully before. If he was not vigilant, Will would spot the illusion he was trying to create and shatter it. Hannibal liked that the Omega had that ability, one of the few who could. It gave meaning to the game and Hannibal a purpose to play it.

Will watching in fascination as small tulip shaped wine glasses were acquired and a dark bottle was produced from the depths of a small refrigerator that Will had mistook for a cabinet, one whose space seemed dedicated solely to fine alcohol and its proper cooling. Tawny fluid, clear and bright as smoky topaz, glittered in the crystal, smelling sweetly of raisins and nuts to Will. Little containers were also taken out of the proper refrigerator, small decadent pieces of what looked to be cake placed on flatware and garnished expertly with sauces and actual shavings of white chocolate.

"A baklava amaretto cheesecake with dulce de leche sauce, garnished with vanilla chocolate curls. Paired with the tawny brandy, it will be a delight on your tongue." Hannibal said as he presented Will with his version of dessert.

Will stared intently at the little bit of sugary perfection like it held the secrets to life and the universe within its creamy layers. Hannibal could only wonder about what the Omega was thinking about. As far as he was concerned, the dessert looked presentable. It was not his usual sort of fare but Hannibal liked to experiment, cheesecake making versatile and could be made in small batches. "Why are you being so nice?" Will asked the cheesecake, making Hannibal bite back a grin as he sipped his port after thoroughly scenting it. "You don't seem….nice…" The omega seemed to be searching for a better word to describe Hannibal but it alluded him.

"I'm not?" Hannibal toyed with his cheesecake and Will simultaneously.

"No. You're not." Will decided, avoiding the alcohol to focus on the sweet. The honey and cream cheesecake melting like food love and sweet ecstasy on his tongue. "You're polite. Polished. Calm, no….more stoic, but not nice. You don't do nice so why fake it with me? A little hypocritical, don't you think all things considered."

"I can because I want to, but only to you." Hannibal reasoned out for the both of them. "I do not want your fear." And least not at the moment, Hannibal added privately.

"Fear and I are constant companions. It's the price I pay for my 'gifts', what is demanded of me." Will said, giving up his resolve to slug down the port. It wasn't whiskey but he made do. "You overpaid for me. I fear my company is cluttered with a collection of neuroses that tend to make me ill in body and mind."

"Then it is a good thing that I am a doctor and psychiatrist." Hannibal said in an offhand manner, making a mental note to teach Will something about wine educate or at least appreciation of it. The port was really meant to be sipped and savored, not shot down like cheap swill. "I used to be a surgeon with a specialty for emergency trauma." He elaborated upon noticing Will's questioning look.

"Quick mind. Quicker decisions of who lives and who dies." Will was studying Hannibal back for what felt like the first time since their meeting. Hannibal found he didn't mind surprisingly enough. He knew the image he presented to the world, the well made person suit he wore to hide his truth from those not ready for it, but he wondered how well it would hold up under Will's scrutiny now that he had the Omega's attention. How much of what lay beneath he could accept before it broke him and Hannibal would have to kill him.

Or not.

Will wasn't all that he appeared to be either. He had already bared his fangs and flashed his claws at Hannibal. It made the Alpha wonder if he had ever used them on anyone or intended to. "Sadly the latter. I killed someone, or more accurately I couldn't save someone, but it felt like killing them. It was something that happened one time too many so I transferred my passion of anatomy into the culinary arts. I fix minds instead of bodies and so far no one has died as a result from my therapy."

"That's comforting to know, Doctor." Will said in a flat tone, not liking the idea of anyone inside his head, much less the man who was to be his Alpha.

"Hannibal, please. Call me Hannibal, William." the Alpha corrected in a chiding yet gentle manner, making Will wince.

"Fine but no promises. Just as long as you call me Will and not William. It makes me twitch. I feel like I'm back in school and about to be sent to the principal's office." Will said, before taking a deep breath to help strengthen his resolve before plowing forward again. "What about my house?" was like pulling teeth it was that painful to ask, but they had to get back to the uncomfortable topic that was Will's life on hiatus. The Omega studied his fingers that were ruining the silk woven between the digits.

"You may keep it though you will make my home your main residence. Your house would be ideal place for you to stay at when clients call me away for long periods of time." Hannibal told him. He had read the slender file that came with Will's purchase. His case was unique due to the fact that he owned property and had an entire household of things. "The same goes for your bank accounts. I will arrange for you to have full access to anything you may need."

Most Omegas were sold as an entirely blank sheet with no assets to speak of, taking only personal items with them, most of which could all fit in a suitcase, to their new homes that always belonged to other people. They were not expected to work so most had no income to claim, the money from their purchase going to the Auction and their families. Even most laws prohibited them from owning property like land, making even the purchase of a car difficult, if not impossible. Without the help and support of an Alpha or Beta in their life, Omegas were the adored pariah of society, apart but separate from it, coveted by all yet acknowledged by none.

Will was the unicorn of his gender, a functional middle aged Omega who was single and yet still relatively sane who held down two difficult jobs that paid a substantial income, and owned not only a vehicle, but property and a home as well. His outrage and even his continued defiance understandable. Will deserved more than being screwed over by some trick of fate and some bad heat suppressants, but Hannibal was not one to turn down a gift placed right into his lap. He was willing to make concessions though to bind Will to him. Hannibal found hooks of his own making in the mind were more effective than anything made of steel.

"And my dogs?" Will asked because he had to. He didn't even know if they were still alive. For all he knew, animal control could have already taken them. He didn't want to dwell on that thought, the outcome of it.

"You may visit them. I'll arrange something for their care at your house but I will not have them in my home." Hannibal was willing to make deals but he wasn't about to have animal hair embedding his furniture or the smell of dander permeating his clothing. The line in the sand had to be drawn somewhere. "Your papers stated that they were in the care of Alana. I'll will call her tomorrow about dropping them off in Wolf Trap after I contact a caretaker for them. You may see them tomorrow."

Swallowing back a wealth of relief, Will nodded. It wasn't perfect but it was better than he could have ever dared hoped for. His dogs were fine, his house was still his, and he could go back to work. He even still had money he could call his own and after a lifetime of growing up poor, that came with its own sweet sort of reprieve. Will felt weak from it as he leaned heavily against the counter to keep himself upright. He was willing to call this a win.

Even in victory, Will remained cautious. As previously stated and thoroughly believed by Will, life did not give him nice things, at least not for long. Hannibal wasn't a kind man either. Will knew he wasn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart. Just by looking around at his surrounding and even what little he had seen of Hannibal, Will knew the Alpha was wealthy, but it was the kind of rich a person was born into. Old money, Will thought, liking how the words settled in his head to fit. The casual manner Hannibal used and wore wealth told him old money, the Alpha's accent telling Will it was of European origin. Class, manner, and the annoying sense of entitlement spoke of nobility in the blood somewhere if not directly descended from a throne.

So Hannibal could give Will back his house, his car, and even his money because he could afford to. Will knew intrinsically that Hannibal's generosity toward him meant nothing to him, a means to an end. The Alpha was making these magnanimous gestures toward him because Hannibal wanted something from Will. What the something was though was still left up to conjecture. The man technically owned him now, owned his body. Hannibal could take whatever he wanted from Will, at least physically, whether he gave consent or not. Worse, he would be well within his rights to do so. There was something much larger and far more complex than just being a sexual outlet for an Alpha here.

"So Jack acts like I'm a fortune cookie and seer of murder. Alana treats me like a friend with special needs which is sadly not too far from the truth." Will said slowly, picking his words with care. "How do you see me, Doctor Lecter?"

Hazy blue touched with gray unflinchingly met sanguine earth, the Omega holding the Alpha's eyes with his own. "Like the mongoose I want under the house when the snakes slither by."

Deception was thoroughly looked for on Hannibal's face by Will who scowled at the Alpha. "That's not a real answer. You're confusing and I don't still know if you're trying to be my therapist or my support group."

"I can be whatever you need me to be but I would like to be your friend." Hannibal admitted, giving an inch to see how far in miles Will took it.

Staring back openly, Will worked the meaning of word through his mind and how it applied to him. "I don't have friends, at least not in the normal context of the word." he said tentatively. "And to be completely honest, I don't how to respond to that from the man who has purchased me."

"Then I ask you to consider your transaction serendipity and the unsavory means to a fortuitous end." Hannibal tried to watch Will's expression darken. He changed tactics accordingly. "I wasn't the one who supplied you with deficient heat suppressants, Will. I will also remind you that you could have ended up somewhere far worse than my company like underneath Jack Crawford's thumb or in Frederick's ham handed possession."

"Why are you trying to alienate me from Jack?" Will chose to pursue that line of questioning, not even wanting to touch upon the subject of Chilton and his agendas for Will. Part of Will wanted to feel grateful toward Hannibal for that alone but that was what the Alpha wanted, why Chilton had been brought up in the first place.

"He abandoned you. I would hardly consider that an ally." Hannibal pointed out.

"Abandonment requires expectations. I have none." Will said with a casualness that would have been heartbreaking if Hannibal were other people. As it was, the statement was noted for later use. "Are you jealous?" was said in near genuine amusement by Will, a tone Hannibal had yet to experience until now.

"Hardly." Hannibal snorted, contempt coloring it. "I simply have no desire for you to associate with someone who cares so little for your health and mental well being." Though in retrospect, Jack might be useful. The man was angry about something and anger could always be used as leverage toward a goal by someone who knew an opportunity when they saw one. Hannibal had every intention of letting Will return to work in the field with the FBI but with him by the Omega's side. The idea of being on the hunt for the Chesapeake Ripper held a certain appeal to him, and would bring a refreshing bit of insight and complexity to the game. It would be like the fox riding with the hunters after the hounds.

"You are jealous….no, not jealous." the empath's sudden insight reminding Hannibal how careful he needed to be as he could feel Will picking him apart in his head. "Possessive. You don't like him because he's an alpha I'm close with and work closely with."

"I treat what I consider to be mine well, with the respect it deserves even if it doesn't have the same sense to apply it to themselves." Hannibal said, gathering up the empty plates and glasses to rinse them off, placing them in the dishwasher along with the rest. Clean up was well practiced and quick, the stone counters gleaming soon enough under Hannibal's care.

"In regard to?" Will asked, tasting the flavor of Hannibal's sentiment in his mind. The Alpha kept trying to flirt with him, or at least compliment him. It was a little confusing to him. Most if not all did not make the effort.

"I will draw you a bath and then I think a good nights sleep is in order." Hannibal stated, his tone leaving no room for argument but Will was always game for one.

"I don't sleep." Will grumbled, the bath part of that statement perplexing. He couldn't remember the last time he had had a bath. He was more of a shower kind of guy. "And whose bed won't I be sleeping in?"

Hannibal leveled a look at Will as he drew near, careful to telegraph his movements to the Omega and the intention of his actions as he took Will by the hand to start leading him out of the kitchen. To his credit, Will only flinched a little bit but let himself be guided back through rooms he found both vulgar and splendiferous. The pair returned to the darkly tiled bathroom from before, Will's mask still on the floor where Hannibal had left it. Will stared down at it, leaning against the double sinks, trying to decide what Hannibal planned to do with it and him. He also wondered when and where the subject of his collar would make itself known. Will knew he would eventually had to wear one, his gender's lot in life and the law.

Off to the side, Hannibal was filling the giant bathtub with steaming hot water, salts, and oils that tinged the bath a bluish green, making it smell oddly enough like cucumber and aloe, scents that Will didn't normally associate with bathing. "Shower off before getting into the bath. I will find some nightwear for you to wear, leave it out on the counter for you." Hannibal told Will, picking up the mask on his way out.

Will wanted to ask Hannibal if he planned on keeping the damn thing but the idea of having a moment to himself, by himself, was too alluring at the moment to give up. Nodding, Will kept watch as Hannibal left him to his own devices, even going so far as to lock the door behind him to ensure Will of his privacy. Will wasn't sure why the clicking of that lock sounded so false and damning.
oOo

TBC