Chapter Two:

Clarice froze mid step, her heartbeat accelerating at such a rapid speed she thought she might faint. That was his voice, how had she not realised it was him? Now that she looked properly she could easily identify the man before her as Hannibal Lecter.

His height, build even his mannerisms were unchanged, she felt like an idiot and vowed never to drink again. As Dr Lecter pulled her back into the dance she looked up to see amusement dancing in the maroon depths of his eyes. Clarice had no idea what to do, he had never shown up completely out of the blue before; she was usually had to be in despair before he popped up to add his own unique view on the situation. She shivered involuntarily as his hand caressed the small of her back and she heard him chuckle.

"Are you planning on saying something; Agent Starling, or are you just going to stay silent?"

"I… Uh… Hi."

He laughed again and she found herself smiling into his chest.

"Hi." He replied into her hair.

As they danced Clarice found she had her eyes closed as she leant against his chest, she wasn't stupid and knew she couldn't stay like this forever but that didn't stop the traitorous part of her wishing things were different. As her rational side kicked in her mind started screaming at her to step out of his arms, but her body wasn't listening. She was reveling in the contact and hadn't realised the song had stopped; when she did she blushed furiously, Dr Lecter politely showed no sign of realising Clarice's mistake.

He led her away from the dance floor and toward the bar when the blonde approached.

"Would you like to dance? I don't bite." Clarice couldn't stop the laughter that escaped her, Dr Lecter raised his eyebrows at her and she dutifully swallowed said laughter and gave him an apologetic look.

"Well how perfectly ironic" he replied "because I do, ask Clarice."

"Who's Clarice?" the blonde asked venomously and Clarice held out her hand.

"Nice to meet you." She said sarcastically.

The blonde looked at her hand as if it had a highly contagious disease.

"Be quiet I was having a conversation." The blonde snapped at her.

Clarice laughed again involuntarily and covered it up, quite well in her opinion; by coughing.

Dr Lecter patted her back lightly, making sure her sudden coughing fit had subsided before his hand retook its previous position on the small of her back.

"So this Clarice, is she your wife?"

Clarice glared at Doctor Lecter in warning; he only smiled at her whilst rubbing small circles into her back.

"How perceptive of you, yes she is my wife." Clarice choked slightly whilst Dr Lecter smiled devilishly at her.

"Really so where's your wedding ring then? Are you looking for a good time while the wife's away?"

Dr Lecter's hand had moved steadily lower and was now tracing light circles on the very small amount of back he had left until his options were to move back up, or continue down.

"Oh no; she's not away, she's here tonight actually."

The blonde looked completely shocked and obviously had no idea what was good for her as she decided to continue questioning him.

"What does she look like? She can't be that good looking else I would have noticed her."

"I don't think you notice anything but yourself." Was the simple answer she received before they both walked away from her.

"Hey! She can't be that much of a catch or you'd be at home with her right? Why don't you come back to my place and I will show you what it's like having a real women."

Clarice could tell that Dr Lecter was keeping his face impassive to conceal his anger; so far this woman had managed to insult both his taste and his companion, Clarice decided she'd had enough of playing quiet.

"A real woman wouldn't be offering herself up like a common whore to the first stranger that she sees."

The blonde sneered at her. "What like you, you mean?"

Clarice gasped as she felt Dr Lecter's hand brush her rear, she looked up at him to see a challenge in his eyes.

"He's no stranger." Clarice replied before reaching up and placing her hand behind his neck and bringing his mouth down to meet hers. Dr Lecter's arms came round Clarice's waist as he kissed her deeply, the blonde stood there dumbstruck.

Cheers broke out from Ardelia's end of the bar and Clarice broke the kiss off laughing as the cheering continued. Dr Lecter brushed the hair back from her eyes and kissed her forehead, looking at her intently.

"Bye..." He whispered in her ear before kissing her neck and disappearing into the crowd.

"Y-You're Clarice?" the woman asked and Clarice only rolled her eyes and looked into the crowd for any sign of the Doctor, of which she knew she'd find none.

"Hey Claire, what was his name?" Delia asked as she pulled Clarice from the club.

"I don't know Dee, I forgot to ask." Clarice said, half truthfully.

"No, too busy eating the poor man." Clarice smirked at Delia's unintentional choice of words as she raised her hand to touch her lips.