AN-Hannibal and Will go to the opera, and chat with interesting people.
Not Beta Read

oOo

Hannibal would always make the effort to invite Will to a night out. Though he retained hope, Hannibal didn't expect Will to agree to go with him. Not that it mattered most of the time. With Will safely away in Wolf Trap, Hannibal was free to kill and bring his fresh meat home without being questioned or discovered. Though it was usually in his best interests for Will to not accept the invite, Hannibal found it unexpectedly grating. He didn't like being dismiss by the Omega, his company rejected in favor of some stray dogs.

It was then when that hurt was pinned like a butterfly to a board to be studied that the offers started to become more real, Hannibal wanting Will to join him at least once. On his part, the empathic Omega could see the disappoint starting to seep in around the edges of the mask Hannibal wore. Will knew he was looking at something beautifully crafted over a lifetime to be appreciated and admired by others, but he was beginning to tell that something other lay beneath its veneer surface, hidden well behind walls. Like a blind man beginning to truly master Braille, Will was picking up on the subtleties that were Hannibal's expressions. It was only a matter of time before he would be able to read them like an open book.

"Are you available this evening, Will?" Hannibal asked over breakfast, putting the finishing touches of crepes filled with soft vanilla blueberry goat cheese, and accompanied by scrambled eggs made fluffy with cream and seasoned with just enough sea salt to bring out the flavors of everything.

"Maybe." Will grumbled into his coffee, dark and sweet , just the way he liked it. "I have some papers to grade but nothing I can't put off if it's important." God, it was his least favorite part of his job, having to read through all those damn papers. The amount of typos alone made his eyes bleed and other parts of his brain hurt. One would think an FBI trainee would at least know how to use the damn spell check button. More mistakes meant more interaction as well, Will having to question the trainee or ridicule them later on after wasting his time trying to make sense of their word vomit. He was starting to wonder if they were doing it intentionally to get back at him for not answering questions in class, or ever really.

"I was given a pair of tickets by a colleague of mine for a very private event at the Baltimore opera. They are unable to attend but didn't wish them to go to waste, seeing that the seats are very good. The Baltimore opera shall be performing 'Vide Cor Meum'." Hannibal sounded very pleased about it. Will was aware only enough about opera to recognize the spoken title. He also knew that 'Vide Cor Meum' happened to be one of Hannibal's favorite pieces of music. The attentive stillness he acquired while listening to it was a dead giveaway. It was a strange piece of music for an equally strange man, the song title meaning 'Behold My Heart'.

"Will I have to wear a suit?" Will asked, watching as Hannibal's shoulders dropping a few centimeters, the Alpha already expecting a refusal on his part and preparing himself for the imminent rejection.

"It is a black tie affair." Hannibal confirmed, all but sighing as he already made ready to accept what he thought was the inevitable. Part of Will couldn't really blame him. He had flat out refused every offer of socialization, usually choosing to return to Wolf Trap over spending his free time with Hannibal. For the most part, weekends were spent with his dogs, fly fishing, and puttering around his house, though this was slowly becoming a less common occurrence. Even someone as emotionally and socially stunted as Will could realize how much it must hurt to know that he preferred his dogs to people, even that of his own mate.

Another part of Will grew angry with everything. For Hannibal making him feel like the bad guy, for Hannibal coming to expect disappointment from Will like it was his lot in life, that Will couldn't do something as simple as spend an evening together with the man he lived with and had shown him more kindness than any other person in his life. Sometimes Will wished Hannibal was more assertive or aggressive like most other Alphas were. It would give Will a better reason to hate him. Instead of feeling right, more often than naught Will just felt like a dick or some petulant child kicking his feet at a doting parent.

"What time do you want me ready by?" Will made himself say before his resolve failed him as he watched the Alpha's reaction. That was enough to make even Hannibal blink, the stoic man freezing mid-action of plating the delicate crepes to stare back at him before remembering himself.

"You are aware of what you are agreeing to, correct?" Hannibal said after a moment, and wasn't it horrible to hear how hopeful he sounded while trying not to.

"An evening of wearing a penguin suit and listening to music I don't understand." Will shrugged. "And I know you have a tux in my size somewhere. I ran across it a week ago I think."

"One should always be prepared for the unexpected." Hannibal said lightly, setting one of the plates in front of Will. The bacon looked and smelled particularly good today, Will giving into the urge to eat the meat first, licking the grease off of his fingertips before answering. Hannibal couldn't blame him really, and was in too good of a mood to scold him about poor manners. The snotty valet who had mishandled the Bentley was doing a finer job at being breakfast than carelessly parking cars.

"Yes, because nothing says excitement like the opera. I don't even want to know how you got my measurements for it." Will was willing to bet every penny he had that the tux would fit perfectly, like it were made for him specifically in mind. Knowing Hannibal, it probably was.

Despite everything, Will found that he liked surprising Hannibal. He could tell it didn't happen often. Turnabout was fair it would seem, Hannibal surprising Will in return, for once the expression he wore appearing real. The Alpha smiled at Will, the expression soft yet cool as new snow, almost timid in nature which was a word Will would never normally use to describe Hannibal.

"Thank you, Will." Hannibal said softly and Will couldn't make himself regret his decision though he did feel like a complete bastard now. All he did was say yes to one measly evening out and he could make someone like Hannibal look that happy, like Will had just hung the moon and stars for him.

After getting the short end of the stick, it was hard for Will to remember that while someone else had gotten the long end, they were still holding a damn stick. That wasn't exactly a prize for either person in that sort of situation. Will's life had changed but he needed to remind himself to remember that Hannibal's own had too. Biology had dealt the Alpha a Joker, or perhaps more fitting all things considered, the Ace of Spades for a mate card. If given the option, Will wouldn't have been his own first choice by a long shot, being very well aware of his shortcomings. He just didn't understand why Hannibal put up with them, even seemed to go out of his way to accommodate Will's prickly nature and erratic sleep patterns.

Which was why much later on that evening, Will was staring at himself in a foggy bathroom mirror, the inner debate within churning on itself about whether or not to shave off his short beard. In complete disregard to personal fashion, Will grew it out mostly because he was lazy and just couldn't be bothered. That and once upon a time, facial hair had helped him slide by as a Beta. Male Omegas tended to look androgynous being naturally hairless with softer angles and curves to their physique, something Will always strove to avoid. A diet of stress, caffeine, insomnia, and cardio with the dogs kept Will lean and muscularly sharp enough to avoid suspicion. The perpetual short beard on his face finished off the illusion he had maintained for so long.

"Fuck it." Will muttered, picking up his razor. He wasn't in hiding anymore so there was really no point to it. He would have to wear a collar anyway so it wasn't like he could hide his gender. Besides, this night was about Hannibal and seeing if he could get the Alpha to smile again. Such an expression was rarely worn by Hannibal, his smiles tight lipped controlled things that never showed his teeth.

When he was done, Will considered himself, having not seen that much clean skin on his face in a long while. He looked like he had just shaved off a decade along with all his hair. Will rolled his eyes at his reflection as he patted the still tingling skin dry, wincing at the sting of the aftershave. He looked ridiculous but there was nothing to be done about it now. Hannibal and everyone else would just have to get over it.

"Oh…." was the reaction Will was met with when he stepped out of the bathroom in his boxer briefs. He knew Hannibal would set out all the clothing he was going to wearing this evening. Honestly, Will had no idea what one wore under a tux, if an undershirt was required or not, but he was sure he was about to find out.

"I know, I know. It grows back. Just give it day or two." Will snapped, focusing on getting dressed. As personally predicted, Hannibal had set out his clothing, the normal expected white shirt replaced with a bright cobalt blue one with no tie to impede the line of its collar. Being met with silence made Will look up in curiosity to find Hannibal staring at him. No, more accurately, staring him down. Will distinctly knew what meat felt like now, the Alpha looking at him like he were a meal.

" 'Oh' as in 'Oh, you like it'." Will licked his lips nervously, crossing his arms over his bare chest and wishing he had more clothing on. His state of undress reflected how much he had come to trust Hannibal. For someone who wore multiple layers of complicated clothing on a daily basis, nudity didn't bothered the doctor who always seemed to regard it with a professional eye of neutrality.

Until now.

"Very much." Hannibal physically shaking himself to make himself stop staring Will down. Impossibly, the Omega was made lovelier to him. Will's actions more than the actual event were charming Hannibal, earning his full attention, a thing that was so rarely given to others except for the rude dead.

"You can tell me if you like something. I'm an empath, not a psychic." Will could feel himself reacting to the attention from his Alpha, his skin flushing and his scent growing sweeter. He was hugging himself again, but he didn't know if it were a defensive reflex on his part to comfort and calm himself, or his way of imagining Hannibal doing it for him.

"We both know why I can not." Hannibal said quietly, moving to stand in front of him. Will knew Hannibal wouldn't risk such a thing because he presumed that more than likely Will would take it away. A few weeks ago, it would have been an accurate assumption, Will realized. He wasn't going to apologize for his past behavior or the decisions made during that time though. The most Will could bring himself to do was lean up to rub his cheek against Hannibal's own, an Omega's version of scent marking.

Hannibal helped the Omega with his clothing and Will let him, it being his right if he wanted it, but mostly because Will hated dealing with the style of cufflinks Hannibal seemed to live for, was more than willing to accept help in this endeavor. The cufflinks were in the double paneled style and made of blackened silver accented with dark sapphires that Will just knew would be real. Hannibal's own were different in construction and style, his tuxedo more traditional in the sense that it was entirely black and white. His coordinating cufflinks were a more plain silver and pearl with a swivel backing.

Will's collar was left open, the top two button left conspicuously undone, the Omega knowing he would not be wearing a tie, accepted that. So he was surprised when Hannibal stayed his hand as he reached for his usual public accessory from the nightstand where it had been thrown earlier.

"If you would be willing to further accommodate me…" Hannibal almost made it sound like a suggestion, one that Will had the option of passing up.

"In for penny and all that." Will said instead of arguing while trying not to dwell on the thought of Hannibal buying him even more collars. At this point if Will wanted to, he could wear a different collar everyday and not repeat a look once in a month's time, each collar a crafted thing of beauty. Hannibal loved the rarefied, Will's accessories unique in some way as well. The latest addition to the collection was a collar made of carved petrified wood, the growth rings within having turned to opal. It made the complex Celtic knot work pattern the collar was shaped into gleam surreal in starlight shades of greens, blues, and gold.

Hannibal nodded, looking satisfied as he left momentarily departed to the depths of his closet, a place Will never ventured far into. All those suits were intimidating enough on their own. An entire wall dedicated alone to shoes, that wouldn't be able to speak a word of English between them their leather was so international, was enough to keep Will out.

Returning soon enough, Hannibal reappeared with a case in hand, one normally used to present jewelry than a collar. Its contents did nothing to dissuade this sentiment, Will mistaking the collar for a necklace at first. The lock was a dead giveaway to its true nature though. The metal was the same blackened silver of his cufflinks, the metal twisted in and over itself in Rococo style flowery loops. The curvature in the dark metal were accented by sprays of dark sapphires that followed flowing lines so that the collar glittered madly even in the sparest light.

Sighing, Will could even admit that it was beautiful as he carefully tilted his neck to the side to give Hannibal better access without offering up his neck to Alpha in submission. As per usual though, Hannibal made no move to place the collar around his neck, merely holding the box out to him. "How come you never want to put it on me?" Will asked, doing it for Alpha as per usual.

"It is not an issue of wanting to Will. It is more of a matter that we have a performance to attend, and I do not want to be tempt into missing it." Hannibal said in a steady enough voice, though Will could pick up notes of strain along its edges. Will risked a direct look to find that Hannibal's eyes were diluted, his distinctive iris a thin strip of color that was more red with lust than brown with calm.

"Am I tempting you?" Will found himself saying, wondering wildly if he was actually flirting with the Alpha. Hannibal's immediate answer was him crowding Will, trapping the Omega in his arms, his fingers digging into Will's flesh through all the layer of clothing. The Alpha's teeth were at his neck, the tips of porcelain grazing the skin framing the collar. Will held himself very still, not knowing what he wanted anymore. The part of him that wanted Hannibal to back the hell off and give him space was getting quieter all the time.

In the end, Hannibal didn't bite him, instead letting his lips linger across Will's throat to find the finer points of Will's jaw to molest. The disappointment that filled Will was depressing. He was losing a battle with himself and he couldn't bring himself to really care anymore. Before pulling away, Hannibal rubbed his cheek against Will's own, the skin of both freshly shaven and so smooth, returning the scent marking. Will didn't take the Alpha's departure as well as he should have, the Omega suddenly leaning in to press his lips to Hannibal's thinner own, making the Alpha freeze. Will took it as a sign to continue, his hands raising up to cup Hannibal's face, keeping it in place as Will deepened the kiss, the Omega licking his way inside the Alpha's mouth.

Their scents were mingling in a tantalizing way, baking spices of cinnamon and nutmeg accentuating the peaches and bourbon smell that seemed to linger over Will's skin since he stopped taking the heat suppressants. Spicy and sweet, together they were becoming something new and unique, something Will wanted to bathe himself in to keep with him always.

His lips followed Hannibal's as the Alpha retreated from him, abruptly breaking the kiss, even going so far to cover his lips by touching the tips of his fingers to them. If Will had to label an emotion to the Alpha, he would have to say Hannibal looked startled. It was not an emotion he appeared used to wearing, but recovered beautifully from, his hand lowering as his eyes grew half lidded and heavy with lust. He leaned into Will's space again to brush his lips against Will's kiss swollen own.

"Later, beloved." Hannibal whispered into the Omega's reddened flesh before withdrawing entirely from the room, leaving Will to stand there like he had been struck. If asked, Will wouldn't be able to say what stunned him more- their kiss, Hannibal's open desire for him, his own need for Hannibal, or that he had just been named 'beloved', the word sounding natural coming from the Alpha, like he had been calling Will that their entire life.

Feeling unstable but in control enough to fake normalcy if he needed to, Will found himself following after his Alpha.

oOo

Though the performance had been lovely, stirred enough to make even Hannibal shed a tear, the opera ended up being a mixed bag for Will. He like all the performances well enough, probably more so than anyone else sitting in the audience. Being what he was, the empath tended to lose himself to the true nature of the music more completely than other people could. He had wept openly at the crescendo of the sonnet, relating to the emotions conveyed in words he didn't understand, yet knew so well.

Upon reflection, Will thought the opera would be a great place if it weren't for all the damn people. He sighed into his glass of surprisingly decent champagne, glancing over the rim at Hannibal who was holding court with Baltimore's elite. The Alpha looked resplendent in his tuxedo, his manner so regal yet charming in nature it was making small parts of Will's brain hurt. The whole thing though made Will think of pigs lining up to a butcher, and all but slitting their own throats for just the chance to speak with and fawn over their murderer.

The thoughts were uncharitable. Will knew this, wondering why his mind kept taking yellow brick roads of thinking when it came to Hannibal sometimes. He chalked it up to looking at killers and sadists for far too long, his roads of reasoning rotted out by the horror he had been made to witness.

Reminding himself not to be bitter about whatever was really bothering him, the thing he was very carefully not thinking about or trying to define, Will turned his attention back to the sculpture he had been pretending to study. Natural talents of empathy aside, it was obvious that the artist was motivated by rage that was bordering more on petulant than righteous.

Feigning contemplation let him ignore all the staring that was going on around him, Will the focus of it. This was one of the reasons he had never gone out with Hannibal. He knew the good doctor was a social butterfly with many, many acquaintances, colleagues, and admirers, all of which would be curious about Will and their unusual relationship. Will was sure there were more than a few bitter hearts about a pure Alpha like Hannibal being suddenly taken off the market by an male Omega bought at Auction. Will found himself wondering just how vindictive they would be about it. He wondered if he should have brought his gun with him. He had seen people kill for less.

Though Will had no allusions about his personality or the lack of fairer points about it, the Omega was well enough aware of his appearance. He had to be, having to adjust and hide it for so long under messy hair, scruff, layers of clothing, and a general air of unfriendly discontent. A key mark of an Omega was a certain high level of attractiveness, though it tended to run more neutral in the males. Female's facial features were usually well defined and doll like, their bodies slender with wide hips, full breasts, and plush lips. Males mirrored those tendencies minus the breasts of course, with softer curves and natural hairlessness. Will had been lucky in the regard that he was taller than most of his gender, and had the rare ability to grow facial hair. He assumed it had something to due with him being a pure though he couldn't be sure. He'd honestly never given it much thought.

With his face shaved with shaggy hair trimmed back, and in an outfit that showed off his lean, muscular figure, Will was definitely feeling exposed. The new collar wasn't helping either. For all its artful dark metal, the many sapphires embedded in the metal made the damn thing glitter like a blue flare every time he turned his head. It stood out like a fresh wound against his neck.

At least he looked the part, more than a few looks of admiration were mixed in among the open stares and icy glares affixed in his direction as he pretended to enjoy the ridiculous sculpture of mixed media. Emotions varied from mildly curious to near murderous contempt, Will amusing himself by mapping out the why behind it. Once again, Will wished for the presence of his firearm. He would just have to rely on social graces to protect him, the thought of which made Will grimace. Because that had worked out so well for him in the past.

Snorting into his champagne, Will resisted the childish urge to stick his tongue out at all of them. He was not here to embarrass Hannibal or piss off the Alpha's admirers. From the looks of it, one such broken heart was trying to get Hannibal's attention right now from the sidelines, edging closer and closer to where Hannibal was chatting with an extremely slender, dark haired women and her entourage. Will vaguely remembered being introduced to her, the Omega recalling that her name was Mrs. Komeda. She was an older female Alpha who was a famous novelist from Boston, and appeared to be on very friendly terms with Hannibal, her status made obvious by her constant positioning by Hannibal's side, a queen of the social circles to Hannibal's king. They made a formidable pair, her stunning red couture evening gown standing out starkly against Hannibal's accenting neutrals as they traded wit and remark.

Watching the rotund interloper with amused interest was much like observing a fish daring to swim among sharks. Will noted that the man was practically vibrating out of his skin with excitement and the possibility of gaining attention from the object of his desire. As far as Will could tell, the man was a Beta though his companion was obviously an Alpha, one whose constant gaze was starting to make Will's skin crawl. Taking a real look at him, Will wondered what his design was and how soon he would have to look at it. The thought was enough to make Will start wandering closer to the little gathering, though he paused here and there to look at other art pieces. He didn't want to come off as worried, and tip off the other Alpha. He really should have brought his damn gun.

"He used to throw such exquisite dinner parties." Will could hear Mrs. Komeda chiding Hannibal. She was probably only one of the few that could, something that made Will smile despite the present danger, especially when Hannibal stared back at her. "You heard me. Used to."

"And I will again." Hannibal defended himself with a smile, gesturing wide with his champagne glass. "Once inspiration strikes."

Mrs. Komeda remained looking unimpressed, wearing an elegant but obvious 'don't bullshit a bullshitter' face.

"You can not force a feast. It must present itself." Hannibal said in justification.

"It's a dinner, not a unicorn." Mrs. Komeda said witheringly.

"Ah but the feast is life. You put that life in your belly and you live." Hannibal countered to answering light applause. Will couldn't resist the overwhelming urge to roll his eyes anymore. He had no idea how Hannibal put up with this sort of pandering or why he seemed to enjoy it. It was like being the smartest kid on the short bus in Will's opinion.

"I think this young man is trying to get your attention." Mrs. Komeda deigned to acknowledge the Beta's presence, but only because he was almost standing right on top of them. Her tone suggested that his intrusion was more of a hindrance than an open invitation to speak, but the Beta took it as the latter and ran with it.

"Hello, Franklin." Hannibal said with a polite smile that didn't touch his eyes.

"Hi. So good to see you. This is my friend Tobias. " Franklin said, grinning like he had just won a prize. He was so enamored with Hannibal he didn't even turn to properly introduce the other Alpha. Will was fine with that, memorizing the name and Tobias's facial features for the first sketch artist he tackled at the academy.

"Good evening." Hannibal tipped his head to Tobias who returned the greeting with a near constant stare. It wasn't from admiration though. If Will had to guess, he would have to say that Tobias was sizing Hannibal up for something.

"How do you two know each other?" Mrs. Komeda asked, though her words clearly stated how unlikely that was. That she doubted it was anything to due with pleasure or willingness on Hannibal's part. Will found himself understanding why Hannibal enjoyed speaking with her. The woman was a delight of inflected speech, disarmingly charming while still retaining a wit and biting insult within the spaces between her words.

"There should remain some mystery to my life outside the opera." Hannibal zigged the conversation away from that undesirable topic. Too bad for him that Franklin had every intention of zagging it back, subtlety much like finer social graces lost on him.

"I'm one of his patients." Franklin announced to the room, making Will want to face palm at the obvious man's faux pas. And here Will had thought his maladroit etiquette was bad.

"Oh." Mrs. Komeda offered up an unimpressed sound, like it was obvious, just like it should have been obvious to Franklin to drop this line of conversation and fuck off. Will was finding it hard not to laugh, the entire situation was just too funny. He found himself liking Mrs. Komeda though. She was elegant but still retained an unique edge to herself, one that her shallow company failed to dull. All the things she left unspoken were apparent to him though the words she did utter were sincere. Will liked sincerity.

"Did you enjoy the performance?" was Hannibal's way of trying to regain control of the conversation.

"I did. I loved it, ever minute." Franklin said, greedily lapping up the attention.

"His eyes kept wandering." Tobias spoke and Will's attention was rapt. If he had any doubts about Tobias being a killer, they were dismissed by that sonorous voice. "More interesting in you than what was happening on stage."

"Don't say too much. You must leave something for us to talk about next week." Hannibal smoothed out the awkwardness that could have come with that sort of statement with a smile and tilt of head, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Tobias responded in kind, his stare a special kind of eerie.

The Alpha's designs had shifted onto Hannibal. Tobias was planning something. His gaze was too direct, too confident without being sexual. Hannibal was something new to him, a toy he had happened upon to play with. Will had the bad feeling that felt like truth to him that Tobias broke his toys, broke them bloody. Without a body or evidence to go along with the killer though, it was all supposition on Will's part and he knew it. Even with his reputation, he just couldn't go up to Jack and demand he arrest someone on the basis that the man make Will's skin crawl. Then again, Will also didn't think Jack would find it funny if Will's lied and told him that this Tobias was the Chesapeake Ripper just to get what he wanted.

What should have ended a while ago if Franklin had been born with even the limited sense of a gnat, now continued on with no seeable end in sight. Franklin was currently rambling on about cheese and divination, leaving his audience miffed and bored. It was possibly one the most hilarious things Will had witnessed in a long while. Hannibal was caught under the trappings of proper etiquette and social status. Though he was remaining cordial, it was obvious, at least to Will, that he wanted Franklin to leave. Or break his neck perhaps.

As amusing as this all was to see Hannibal so annoyed and put out, it was starting to irk Will. The Alpha was here with his mate and Franklin, this nothing Beta, was making advances on him, clumsy attempts but obvious to anyone with eyes and a basic sense of smell. Betas didn't give off a lot of scent. What little they did emit was usually equated to mild and earthen. The strong smell of wet dirt was making Will's upper lip curl in disgust. There were two different kind of dangers here that he would have to meet head on if he wanted to save Hannibal.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Will gave his near empty flute to a passing waiter, sidling himself up beside Hannibal right into his personal space, even going so far as to rest his arm around the Alpha's waist, the touch light but the meaning of it obvious.

Mine.

Hannibal stiffened but out of surprise than offense. This was a night for small miracles it would seem. First the kiss and now this very public display of affection. Will almost never outright touched the Alpha of his own volition, and never while around other people. This gesture was the equivalent of pissing on Hannibal's leg, to mark him, to keep him safe from other's attention. Will was obviously not pleased about Franklin, though Hannibal doubted Will actually felt threatened by Beta. The Omega was even going so far as to turn his neck, practically baring it to show off his collar to Franklin. The open display caused the Beta to trail off, his dismal attempts at conversation dying on his tongue where they should have stayed from the get-go.

"Ah Will, there you are. Are you enjoying the exhibition?" Hannibal asked, turning his attention to Will as he returned the gesture by placing the palm of his hand to the small of Will's back. In a true Omega reaction, Will arched his spine, leaning into the touch as he pressed himself up against Hannibal, Franklin looking livid about the public display of affection.

"More or less." Will said rather coyly with a shrug. "The Van Gogh was a lovely surprise, exceptional really. The man had such a lovely soul."

"He was insane and committed suicide." Franklin snorted rudely in disgust.

"Hardly." Will aimed to sound uninterested, like it wasn't worth his time to explain further, but was doing so purely out of courtesy. "That's a common misconception. Van Gogh suffered from bouts of depression and social anxiety but he wasn't insane. Grievously misunderstood and underappreciated in his own lifetime is far more accurate. The mistaken belief that he committed suicide is also a common misconception by the uneducated."

"We haven't had the pleasure, Mr…." Franklin seethed through gritted teeth that Will supposed was his attempt at a smile.

"My apologizes. I have been terribly rude with introductions. This is my mate, Will Graham. He is a teacher for the FBI as well as one of their most talented profilers." Hannibal said loftily, his voice swelling with pride. Will bit the inside of his cheek to keep from blushing from the unexpected praise. He was only willingly to play the sweet, mincing Omega card so far.

"You're an Omega." Franklin stated the obvious, making it sound like an insult instead the evident information it was.

"And a very special one at that." Mrs. Komeda intervened, looking as done as the rest of them of this. "Only Hannibal would be able to find one so gifted and accomplished. You probably recognized dear Will's name from the news. He has worked on some very high profile cases."

Mrs. Komeda was quickly becoming one of the few people in Will's life he liked as he watched Franklin grow sourly sullen. "And there is your unicorn, Hannibal. Throw a dinner in Will's honor. Even you can't find a better source of inspiration than that."

"I bow to your wisdom. That is an excellent idea." Hannibal grinned, still showing no teeth but looking more relaxed as things fell once again in his favor, turning back toward the Beta. "I'll bid you good evening, Franklin, seeing that I have much to discuss and plan out now. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Publicly dismissed, even Franklin had enough common sense to realize that his opportunity to speak with Hannibal was over and done with. The Beta left glaring open hate at Will with Tobias trailing after him, the Alpha looking too calm and pleased with himself. Little did Tobias know, he was going to be on the top of Will's to-do list tomorrow morning. That man was hiding the kind of secrets Will moved through like a shade, trading bits of his soul and sanity for passage through the dark waters of humanity.

"Is everything alright, Will?" was the question that snapped Will out his moment of deep thought and personal promise, the Omega looking up to see feigned concern on Hannibal's face. Curiosity was the real emotion here behind the mask. Will wondered if he should point that out, but reminded himself that they were in public.

"Yes. Just tired." Will smiled apologetically, keeping with their theme of intimate normalcy. He was well aware of his arm still heavy around Hannibal's waist, and Hannibal's hand was like a heated brand on his back.

"Then I will bid everyone 'Adieu'." Hannibal rose his voice to address his court. "And until next time."

Before Will had a chance to protest, though he had no real want to stay here, the Omega found himself being led toward the exit, the pair only pausing long enough in their escape to claim their coats.

"We could have stayed." Will offered as they waited for the valet, the night air pleasant enough while it still retaining a sharp chill in its dark.

"I prefer to end engagements on a high note." Hannibal shook his head. The evening had been full of delights for all the senses, despite Franklin's disruption though the Beta's misguided affections had provoked an unexpected reaction out of Will. He wanted to see more of the Omega's possessive side, and experience that casual affection from his mate on a regular basis. "Always leave them wanting more."

"I didn't like that man." Will commented out of nowhere, his eyes growing unfocused as the empath looked inward to review the incident.

"Franklin? I promise you, he is completely harmless…" Hannibal chuckled though his mirth was brought up short by the sharp look Will gave him.

"No. The other one. Tobias." Will clarified, watching as Hannibal's face took that mask like quality again. For something whose purpose was to hide, its presence gave away to Will that Hannibal already knew or at least suspected what Will had picked up.

"Do you think he's dangerous?" Hannibal asked, pleased that Will had noticed that too. Tobias was a killer, a concept that the both of them were very familiar with for different reasons.

"I don't think. I know he is." Will said. "And so do you."

Hannibal was saved from responded by the car pulling up and having to deal with valet. The silence in the car on the return home was heavy and thick but not uncomfortably so. It held an air of too many thoughts and not enough words to convey them.

"This would go better if you were honest with me." Will shattered the silence first with his own particular brand of blunt candor. Though most found it offensive or off-putting, Hannibal found it refreshing, even now.

"I'm honest." Hannibal said, because half truths were still real things, having a strong base even if the branches were malleable with lies.

"No, not perfectly." Will cut Hannibal's forest down.

"As honest as anyone." Hannibal revised.

"No, not really." Will corrected him. "I talk at you more often than I talk to you, the real you. I raise forts, but you wear masks and hide behind walls."

"How does that make you feel?" Hannibal asked, feeling pride in his mate. First recognizing on sight alone what Tobias was, and now rushing at his walls instead of trying to scale them.

"How doest that make you feel?" Will threw the question back at Hannibal, though it sounded more thoughtful than disrespectful. "I would imagine that it would feel lonely. No, I know it would. Like a dull constant ache you live with, grow used to being there…."

Will trailed off becoming lost in thought again as he studied Hannibal's profile which was surprisingly becoming easier for him to do. He saw that thoughtfulness was being reflected back at him, Hannibal considering the Omega's words with the utmost care.

"It can."

oOo

TBC