AN-Almost done with this episode, I swear. There will be some hurt Hannibal loving in the next chapter. ;)
OoOoO
"Refresh my memory. Why are we here without backup or any other form of law enforcement?"
Having just pulled up to Tobias's string shop, Hannibal turned off the Bentley to regard his irate mate with a faked look of professional concern. "This inquiry is based on the notions of a habitual attention seeker who is infatuated with me. To have the FBI officially look into the matter would border on the breach of doctor/patient confidentiality." he lied. Of course Franklin had been forthcoming with his permission, but Will didn't need to know that. "I would be remiss in my responsibility to the investigation though if I didn't bring this to your attention."
Satisfied with Hannibal's motivations, Will nodded with a sigh, much to Alpha's inner delight. "Plus I need my harpsichord maintained and he is supposed to be the best."
"I should have known." Will rolled his eyes. "Very nefarious of you, Doctor Lecter. Forcing me to be sociable by running errands with you."
"Not at all. Perhaps I just like having you at my side. Showing you off." Hannibal allowed a slight smile to show on his lips. It was one that had sincerity and pride in it though. It made Will's cheeks go red as the empath read the emotions loud and clear, the Omega ducking his head.
"People will start to question your sense of taste. I'm hardly the belle of the ball." Will grumbled.
"No. More like a diamond in the rough." Hannibal told his uncomfortable mate, pausing at the shop's entrance to press a quick kiss to Will's temple. It did nothing to alleviate the man's discomfiture. Hannibal's smirk was only seen by the door though as the two men entered the shop. A bell sounded lightly overhead, Hannibal silencing it instinctually out of habit, cursing himself as he did so. Will was looking at him with a strange expression. Luckily, inspiration and lies came quickly to Hannibal.
"I didn't want him to stop playing." Hannibal said easily, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the violin being played a room away. Will rolled his eyes at him, suspicions easing up for now.
Altered by their voices as low as they were, the violinist soon revealed himself. Both men went on their particular brand of guard, Will sliding on his glasses while Hannibal's mask moved to portray something approachable.
"You're Franklin's therapist, Doctor Lecter." Tobias Budge greeted. Will noticed that the Alpha pointedly ignored his presence. Atypical attitude of the ruling gender, but one that the Omega didn't mind. It allowed him to obverse Tobias without his notice. "Nice to see you again."
"Is it Tobias?" Will noted that Hannibal feigned ignorance well. He found it disconcerting to witness. Will shifted uneasily away from either Alpha, putting enough distance between them and himself to feel safe again, a ridiculous concept considering he could feel Hannibal moving around in the back of his mind, the Alpha's emotions muted but definitely there. The space placed between them had not gone unnoticed.
"Yes. We've met before." Tobias was not pleased. The Alphas were circled one another. Whether they meant to do so or not, Will moved in tandem with them to avoid getting in the middle.
"Ah, yes. The opera." Hannibal falsely recounted. "Let me reintroduce my mate then, Will Graham."
Will tried not to flinch and failed at that when the two Alphas turned to look at him at once. He was being appraised by Tobias and if his expression was anything to go by, he found Will lacking in any appeal. That much was clear, observation aided by empathy or not.
"A pleasure to see you again." Tobias said stiffly, dismissing Will with his next breath to turn his attention back to Hannibal.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire." Will mused, snorting softly to himself. He had been imitating a Beta for so long, too long, he had almost been able to forget how his gender was really treated. Heat and flame flickered on the edges of Will's perception. It took him a moment to realize that he was feeling anger but not his own. He studied his mate to find nothing but blank slate for an expression, Hannibal giving nothing away on his face to what he was really feeling. If Will had to label anything to his Alpha outward appearance, it would only be mild curiosity as Hannibal studied the array of instruments around them, reaching out to pluck the strings of a fine looking cello.
"Your strings are all gut." Hannibal observed, making the first move in this game of shadow and blades. For being such a careless fool, Tobias still managed to retain some sort of cleverness about him, the other killer picking up on the game.
"I also carry steel and polymer strings if you prefer." Tobias offered, looking faintly amused. Will failed to see what was so funny about the exchange, his eyes darting from Alpha to Alpha.
"I prefer gut." Hannibal said, studying the cello to pluck at its strings again. "Harps strung with gut still make music after two thousand years."
There was something going on here. It was bugging the hell out of Will. He wasn't sure if he liked Hannibal questioning a possible suspect, though the Alpha's extensive knowledge of psychology was probably being used to its fullest advantage. Chiding himself, Will told his empathy to focus on Tobias instead of both. He could trust Hannibal to use all the tricks of his trade to either put Tobias at ease or unbalanced enough to give himself away. Whatever worked.
"I didn't hear you ring the bell." Tobias smiled, slow and wicked. It made Will's skin crawl.
"I didn't want you to stop playing. We thought it was lovely." Hannibal shrugged like doing such a thing wasn't unusual as he wandered further into the shop, Will and Tobias trailing after him. This room displayed rather fine grand piano at its center, its glossy surface polished to a mirror like sheen. Serial killer or not, Tobias appeared to have tidy nature and a dislike for dust. "Was it an original composition?"
"Something I've been working on. Writing in my spare time." Tobias offered up in a manner that made Will border along anger, confusion, and shock as he read into it. This Alpha was flirting with his mate, right in front of him. "You compose?"
"I discover." Hannibal deflected. When he moved to touch Will lightly on the shoulder, the Omega knew that Alpha had picked up on it as well. "Will is the one with any actual talent for instruments."
"Really." Tobias said flatly, not even bothering to make it a question. His face was fighting with itself not to sneer openly in incredulous disbelief. Will bit back the childish urge to stick out his tongue at the Alpha. Apparently, Tobias was very old school in his thinking about Omegas. Disgust aside, he probably was affronted by the fact Will was allowed to wear clothing and wasn't chained to a bed somewhere to be used whenever his Alpha saw fit to do so.
"Yes. I can walk, talk, put on my shoes all by myself, and even play the piano." Will sassed, unable to resist the opening. That earned him looks from both Alphas in varying degrees. Hannibal's told him that they were here for a reason and to play along while Tobias looked like he wanted to gut Will on the spot for speaking back to him.
The Omega schooled himself to remain standing straight with his shoulders back even if he couldn't manage the eye contact. He couldn't afford to come off as weak in this Alpha's presence, even as his own nature was screaming at him to submit, to crouch down deafeningly and bare his neck. A warm hand placed to the back of his neck relieved some of the tension that had been building up there as Hannibal moved to stand beside him, his long fingers tracing the marks there. The skin was still raised and a vivid pink, the healed over flesh sensitive, unhidden by a collar for once. Will forced himself to keep breathing evenly and focus on what was being said as Hannibal's touch and power soothed him.
"One can't impose traditional composition on an instrument that's inherently freeform." Hannibal changed the subject with complete ease, like it was the most naturally thing in the world to do so. Will wondered if it came with being an Alpha, or if was just all Hannibal.
"What instrument would that be?" Tobias challenged, though his attention was being shifted away from Will back to Hannibal as his face lost its anger.
"The theremin." Hannibal answered lightly, like it was obvious. Will found that he wouldn't be surprised if one turned up at the house or that Hannibal could play it as well as he did everything else. "It can generate any pitch through its range."
"Even those between conventional notes." Hannibal made his move, drawing Tobias fully back into their verbal spar with double entendres.
"And so can a violin or a trombone." Tobias jabbed back, looking too amused with himself. Hannibal felt disgust roll through him. He knew Will felt it too on some level, his mate shifting uneasily beneath his grip. Hannibal let Will go, sensing it was safe enough for him to do so for the both of them. It was too early for him to reveal himself as the Chesapeake Ripper just yet, and he couldn't risk killing Tobias here, especially in front of Will, as tempting as it was to do so. Hannibal didn't take threats or disrespect toward his mate lightly.
"It seems we are both comfortable playing between conventional notes then." Hannibal mused aloud, going over to the piano to play a few notes. For some reason, that made Will amused, though Hannibal couldn't risk finding out why at this point in the conversation. "I hear the symphony is looking for a new trombonist."
"He just had to touch it." Will thought to himself. Whether Hannibal realized what he was doing or not, the Alpha had the odd habit of touching objects that bordered on an OCD compulsion. As if his kitchen wasn't evidence enough of that, Hannibal had the compulsion to evenly align papers, books, and other items on surfaces, or reach out an touch items if only for a second. Will labeled it the 'boop' compulsion, quietly adding the sound effect in his head whenever he witnessed it. He doubted that Hannibal would find that particular observation of his amusing.
"I heard about that. Horrible what happened to that poor man." Tobias said, feigning enough properly placed emotion to pass for normal if Will wasn't what he was. He saw pride shining behind those falsely spoken words.
"Not altogether. It's unfortunate way to leave the symphony, yes…" Hannibal said, Will not liking his gallows humor though it reminded him of why they were here. Hannibal was playing his part in determining if Tobias was under any suspicion, though Will was tempted to come back just so that he could kick in the Alpha's door with gun in hand. "…But I can't help thinking that the orchestra will be better for it."
"At least the brass section." and didn't Tobias look so pleased with himself. "So what brings you here looking for gut?"
"Gotcha." Will thought. Jack was going to get an earful as soon as they left the shop. Now they just had to get out of here without tipping Tobias off.
"My harpsichord needs new strings. It's making an awful sound." Hannibal said easily. "Perhaps you can help."
Will tried to remember if he had even seen one at the house. He knew there were a couple pianos of varying sizes that Hannibal seemed to use for decoration. The baby grand in the sunroom was Will's favorite to play. Always in secret and always while Hannibal was absent, the Alpha attending some sort of social event that kept him out all night, sometime until the early hours of the morning. Having little experience with such things and even less knowledge about the lifetimes of the rich, Will couldn't help up wonder what kind of party would keep one out until four or five o'clock in the morning. Will was only aware of the time because Hannibal would wake him in those odd hours by parting his legs open, his Alpha full of strange desire that felt more like hunger than lust. In those parts of night that were darkest before dawn, Will was fucked slow and sweet, his being languidly savored by his mate.
"But before I even consider employing your services, I would like Will to play." were the words that snapped Will out of his pleasant revelry. Hannibal ignored his glare though and Tobias's look of disbelief at such a suggestion. "I can't have a man working on my own instruments if he can't keep what he has on display in good repair."
"Of course." Tobias said rather grimly as if the very thought of an Omega touching his carefully cleaned displays was causing him physical pain. Will made no move to do so though. Being put on the spot was one thing but playing for other people was another matter entirely. Self taught, Will hoarded his skill to himself, his only other audience in the past his pack.
This was a rare gift he had given to himself, and one he did not share with other people. He had as of yet to perform for Hannibal though the Alpha had hinted heavily about it. For maneuvering him into a corner to get what he wanted, Will seriously considered leaving the shop, catching a cab, and letting Hannibal deal with the social fallout all by himself, even if it was rude. Volunteering him to perform was a worse offense in his mind.
The decision was made for Will when he saw Tobias's smug expression in answer to his hesitation, though the Alpha was misinterpreting his pause for fear and lack of talent instead of righteous anger and stubbornness. They were all playing parts here and even if Hannibal was angling to get something that he wanted, Will realized for them to succeed, he had to get with the program.
Pointedly ignoring Hannibal and Tobias, though for entirely different reasons, Will seated himself on the bench, his fingers falling effortlessly into place upon the grand piano's keys. A bittersweet Moonlight Sonata was drawn out of the instrument, the notes weeping sweetly from the loneliness and cold beauty of moonlight that resided in them.
If music could be seen as jewels, Will's playing would be diamonds at the moment, all fire and ice. Hannibal sighed with pleasure, wishing that he could fully relax to enjoy this performance. He doubted he would get an encore any time soon, Will's anger with him was felt in the back of his mind, their bond glowing faintly crimson from it.
Diamonds transformed into sapphire and ruby as Will switched songs, transitioning smoothly from one to the next to play some of Mozart's lesser known, harder pieces to show off his dexterity and reach. It made Hannibal realized he would have to come up with a proper apology. He needed to experience this again in the privacy of their own home. Talent such as this should be appreciated, and even more so, rewarded. Alas, some matters at hand still needed to be attended to, Hannibal moving closer to speak in private with Tobias while Will played.
"I apologize for being so blunt Tobias but did you kill that trambonist?" Hannibal asked, keeping his voice pleasant but cast low. A glance over at Will told Hannibal that the empath was far too involved with his music to notice the conversation going on behind him.
"Do you really have to ask?" Tobias answered smugly, his entire being beaming with misguided pride.
"No. Just curious." Hannibal said, keeping his own expression neutral. For having such talent, Tobias was not keen on enough subtlety for his liking.
"So you didn't come here to ask me if I could restring your harpsichord?" Tobias smirked, believing he had won a move.
"Do you really have to ask?" Hannibal shot back easily enough with just the right amount of distain.
"Franklyn gave you my message." Tobias said, looking proud about such an accomplishment, like he had actually done something clever. Hannibal gave the other Alpha a flat look back.
"The murder is being investigated by the FBI." Hannibal pointed out, unimpressed by his fellow serial killer. It was droll to see the man think he had some sort of finesse. "They're going to find you."
"Let me." Pride. Far too much of it for safety's sake. Tobias's sin was going to eat him alive and take anyone else within reach with it.
"You want to get caught?" Hannibal asked, already knowing the failing of his people. The problem with most serial killers is that they wanted some sort of recognition for their work. For all his precautions, Hannibal knew he even fell into this category as well, though what Tobias was doing was professional suicide.
"I want them to try." Tobias said, his eyes upon Will's back now. The Omega missed the look, too wrapped up in his playing. "They may investigate me because I own a string shop. They'll send men to investigate me and I'll kill them."
Hackles rising, Hannibal's face lost all of its faked warmth as his eyes turned cold and narrowed at the threat made to his mate. It was almost worth giving away the game to end Tobias right here and now. Hannibal reeled himself in enough to wait out Tobias's next turn in the game between them.
"Then I will find Franklyn and kill him. Then I will disappear." Tobias said with such assured confidence Hannibal wanted to flay the smug off of his face in little pieces.
"Are you planning on killing me as well?" Hannibal asked as casually as if they were talking about pricing for services.
"No." Tobias said, looking as if he knew something Hannibal did not and was bursting at the seams to tell him. "Not anymore."
"Why not? I'm lean and lean animals provide the toughest gut." Hannibal played along. He had a guess to what Tobias was talking about.
"I've decided not to kill you after I followed you one night. Out of town. To a lonely road. To a bus yard." Hannibal was not liking where this was going, feeling suddenly exposed. In his art, the act of creation was not meant for the viewing of others. It was for his pleasure alone. It was about as close to religion as he got and the only other convert he wanted in his own personal church was Will. Tobias's admission made the kill he was talking about feel tainted now. Hannibal made a mental note to dispose of the particular meat as soon as they returned home. It wasn't fit to eat now.
Hannibal did not let all his ire show, just enough to let the other Alpha guess that he was mildly displeased. This changed the game completely now though. He couldn't have Will talking to another killer who knew his secret. His mate wasn't ready for that kind of truth yet.
"I'm not going to tell anyone what I saw you do and do well." Tobias grinned, overconfident and over reaching. "But it does make me wonder if your pretty little Omega is aware of how talented you are?"
"You're reckless, Tobias." Hannibal shook his head, like this entire conversation was nothing to him, and Tobias's indirect threat meaningless.
"I'll take that as a 'no'. Shame. You deserve an audience. You have such a rare gift for it." Tobias said, wallowing in the power he thought he held over Hannibal who could wait for him to discover just how shallow it was. "So It's not my recklessness that concerns you."
"It concerns me because you won't be drawing attention just to yourself." Hannibal cursed Tobias's blatant peacocking now. Instead of playing his hand close to his chest, the fool was letting all the cards fall right out of his fingers.
"I could use a friend. Someone to help protect my interests…my hobbies, someone who can understand me, who thinks like I do, and who has the means to mislead the FBI." Tobias said, revealing what he truly wanted from Hannibal. "We see the world and the people in it the same way. We could be together."
"I know exactly how you feel." Hannibal making his answer clear as his gaze locked onto his mate's back for a moment before returning his full attention back to Tobias. "But I don't want to be your friend."
"This isn't about restringing your harpsichord, is it?" Tobias all but growled out. He hadn't been expected rejection, hadn't even considered it an option. He was smart enough though to realize that Hannibal was here for a reason.
"Consider this a warning. If any harm comes to my mate, I will find you and I will kill you. I can promise you that it will take you a very long time to die. I will ensure your suffering until you beg for death. You are already well aware of my skill set in that area" Hannibal told him with an eerie sort of calm, the kind spiders held within them. "I don't take threats or insults well, Tobias, and you are being quite rude. It would be in your best interests to simply disappear."
"Disappear?" Tobias swallowed hard, like he was tasting the word and found it bitter. Both Alphas were working to keep their power under control as to not tip off Will to the feud going on behind him as his empathy got him lost further into the music. There was a reason Asperger's had been mistakenly placed in the man's file, his intent focus akin to the traits the autism spectrum disorder.
"A friendly bit of advice. Fake your own death. Leave the country. Whatever it takes." Hannibal more commanded than suggested.
"And if I don't?" Tobias's face twisted as it fought to maintain a calm appearance.
Power played over Will's shoulders, reminding Will that he was not alone and couldn't not afford to wander in his own head, especially when something was going on right behind him. Glancing over his shoulder at his audience, Will enjoyed the look of shocked anger worn on Tobias's face, though it could have been from something Hannibal had said. The two were apparently having a conversation behind his back in very sense of the phrase. Or an argument, he reassessed. He made a mistake by turning his head to view Hannibal, almost faltering in his finger work for it. Looking back directly at him, his mate appeared ready to bend him over the piano and have his wicked way with Will.
The exchange, whatever it had been about, was interrupted by Will ceasing to play, the Alphas putting their masks back into place as Will rose off of the bench.
"Your E-flat is off," Will told Tobias in a dry tone, making it clear that he was unimpressed. "And your pedals need tightening."
"Thank you for letting me know. It would seem I have been remiss in my upkeep." Tobias managed out through clenched teeth, barely keeping up with a polite appearance.
"What a shame. We'll keep you in mind if we do not find anyone else better." Hannibal said, taking Will's arm to start leading them out of the shop. Tobias looked unstable enough to do something unfortunate. As entertaining as it might be to set the man off, Hannibal wanted Will safe and out of the line of fire.
"Thank you for your time."
OoOoO
"What was that all about?" Will asked as soon as they were safely in the car and on the road again.
"We were discussing prices for his sort of service. His fee was ridiculous high though. I was attempting to talk him down from it in the form of some friendly advice. Unfortunately by doing so, I insulted him." Hannibal simplified, keeping to a part of the truth. At the moment, Will was too focused on his answer to try for an all out lie.
"Well you know have to worry about that for long. He's our guy. I'm going to give Jack a call." Will snorted, already pulling out his phone to do so.
"Would you hold off for the time being?" Hannibal asked, his mind moving quickly in planning. He would have to eliminate Tobias by this evening.
"Why?" Will's answer was incredulous.
"I have one last patient to give a referral to." Hannibal said. It was almost funny that Franklin would be useful for once, and that he was being surprisingly honest about that part. He didn't need to add that he planned on stopping by Tobias's shop on the way home, and murdering the man.
"And why should that matter?" Will was being to get anxious as a hound before a hunt. He had caught wind of the fox. Now all he had to do was chase down his quarry.
"I wish to be present with you when you return to question Mr. Budge. I also want us to be sure that he is the right suspect." Hannibal said. "We have to have responsibility for what we presume."
"He all but admitted to the murder." Will snapped, giving his mate a hard look. "He's practically glowing with pride from it."
"Yes, but if we are wrong, the accusation would be a disservice to him and a blow upon his business if it got out. Tobias might not be the most polite individual, but if he is innocent he doesn't deserve to have his life ruined." Hannibal countered.
"That's not how this job works. To an extent, we can't worry about things like that, not when there is killer out there turning people into instruments. Not when we have someone fits the profile for the killer so perfectly. Concern for someone's feelings and polite overtures is not always an option." Will said, falling into his teacher voice like he was giving a lecture to some new meat trainees. "Sometimes it's better to take a risk and kick in doors. You can apologize for being wrong later."
"I realize I still have much to learn about what the FBI and you do, but could you please wait just a little while longer." Hannibal asked again, working to keep command and power out of his tone. Will would not react well to either. Hannibal decided emotional manipulation and guilt would far better serve his purposes.
"You don't trust me…" Will's expression darkened, getting ready for a fight.
"It's not about trust" Hannibal interrupted, heading off the issue before it could find its legs. "I want to be there with you. For you, beloved."
"You're worried about me." Will amended. He wasn't sure if that was any better. Hannibal's devotion to him was still a new thing to embrace, almost too surreal for Will to believe it actually existed all for him.
"Of course I am. What you do is dangerous, and not just mentally. You care for your body like you care for your mind." Hannibal pressed. "With very little regard for either."
"I've managed to survive this long without you." Will grumbled, but he could feel himself beginning to lose the war, at least outwardly. Omega tendencies aside, it was touching to have someone in his life that cared so much about his well being.
"Will…" Hannibal said softly, almost pleading.
"Fine. You have a day. Then I tell Jack. You better hope that Tobias doesn't kill anyone else while we sit on this." Will focused as keeping himself as even as possible, to keep from giving himself away. The growing guilt in his stomach soured it, making it twisted painfully, but was kept down there out of his head. As much as the bond gave him away, Will was getting good at keeping some parts of himself hidden within it.
"You will be free to do so by this evening. My appointment with Franklin is this afternoon. I'll drop you off at the house" Hannibal offered, feeling pleased with himself. He enjoyed it when a problem was resolved.
"The house. I have some grading to catch up on. Might as well get it done while I can." Will lied, hating himself for it even more so when Hannibal smiled over at him, the kind of smile that was only meant for him and him alone. The thing about emotions was that with no context, they could be read so many different ways. Will's guilt could easily be misconstrued for his own self loathing, his unease could be equated to having to read so many poorly written term papers. He felt nauseous when they pulled up to the house, and Hannibal kissed him good bye.
Will was on the phone with Jack as soon as the Bentley was out of sight.