Sorry about the long wait guys! A lot has been, and is still happening in my private life. I hope you can all be patient with me as I juggle life and my writing, I will update when I can.
The throbbing of a headache made him clench his eyes shut, as he let the so called hair dresser, pull his head around and snip at his hair with her scissors.
"I kind of liked the over-grown wild look on you, ya know," Bev said as she spun round in the seat next to him.
"I'd rather get it trimmed than have Hannibal looking at me with that displeased look of his," Will said, not bothering to open his eyes.
"I can't say I've ever seen that look… I haven't seen many expressions on that mans face at all, now I come to think of it. I just dress the guy, not that he needs help in the fashion department."
"It must just be me that displeases him." Frowning slightly, Will let the woman brush the hair off his shoulders and from around his neck, before removing the cape that protected his clothes.
Opening his eyes, he squinted as the light hurt his head more. "Where to next?" Will asked as he stood, only half looking at himself in the mirror, he didn't see any problems with his hair.
"We need to get you a new suit." Bev said as she paid for the hair cut.
"What's wrong with the one you gave me before?"
"You've already worn it to a party… A lot of the people that you met at that will most likely be at this too. Can't wear the same outfit."
Will rolled his eyes slightly, and begrudgingly followed Beverly out of the shop and down the street. If he had it his own way, he'd happily wear his jeans and sneakers.
The first shop they went into Beverly didn't like a single thing, and dragged him to another 4 before she found anything at all.
"Hmm… I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable." She said as she grabbed a number of jackets, shirts and trousers.
Will was exhausted when she finally decided on a suit for him. They'd both agreed on a navy blue three piece, with a white shirt and a pair of black shoes. Worst of all, he had to wear a tie.
Will didn't know how to stand or hold himself as he looked into the mirror; he wasn't used to wearing this kind of clothing.
Bev had placed a white handkerchief in the jacket pocket and styled his hair into an odd swept to the side look. He'd been forced to wear contacts again also, it had only taken him two attempts to get them in this time round though.
Sighing he grabbed a pot of pain killers and took a couple before putting the pot into his pocket. Taking a deep breath Will left the shelter of his room.
Hannibal was pulling on his coat when Will reached the bottom of the staircase, and had left Wills hanging on the bannister for him.
"It is still very shocking to see you in such clothes, I don't think I shall ever get used to it." Hannibal said as he looked Will over.
He didn't reply straight away as he pulled his coat on, and wrapped a scarf around his neck. "Probably because I won't give you enough time to get used to it...I'll be back to normal tomorrow."
Hannibal just smiled, as much as he'd prefer Will in these clothes; he had already grown accustomed to Will in his regular clothing.
"Shall we.." Hannibal said, opening the front door, allowing the other man to step out first.
Will shoved his hands into his pockets as he followed Hannibal up the drive and to the front door of Alana Blooms house.
Ringing the bell, they stood there for a minute until the door was opened.
"Hannibal, you made it." Alana said, reaching up to give him a peck on the cheek in greeting. "And Will, I'm glad you came." She gave him a grin before leaning in and also pecking his cheek.
Will felt a little odd being greeted in a such a way from a woman he'd only met once before, but he knew she meant well; and he like the smell of her perfume.
"Can I take your coats?" She asked, the two men removing them and passing them to her to hang up.
"Excuse me for a minute." Hannibal said as someone who had emerged from a room rose their hand in greeting to him, and headed over to them.
"Would you like a drink Will?" Alana asked, standing next to him, still smiling.
"...A whiskey would be nice." He allowed himself to smile back slightly, and followed her through to the kitchen.
"I hope you don't feel too uncomfortable, I heard from Hannibal that you're not used to these kind of gatherings." She poured him his drink and handed it to him.
"Let me share a little secret with you." She leant in and whispered slightly "I'd prefer to sit in front of the tv with a take out pizza."
Will couldn't help but laugh slightly, watching as Alana moved back and leant against the kitchen counter.
He hadn't noticed before, but Alana Bloom was an attractive woman. The knee length dress dress she wore, framed her curvaceous body perfectly; and in all the right places. Her smile, eyes and aura gave one a feeling of happiness and hope. He wondered what shade of red her blood ran.
Clearing his throat a little he looked away and took a large gulp from his glass. He was going to need a few of these.
"Would you like me to introduce you to some of my guests?" Alana asked, straightening herself and topping up her glass.
"I don't know if that would be wise… I've been trying to keep a low profile since a certain article…" Will frowned and downed the rest of his glass.
"I'm sure everyone's forgotten that by now." She tilted her head and looked at him for a second before taking his glass and refilling it.
"And if they do mention it, just smile and compliment them on something. I don't think anyone here could resist such a handsome face." She smiled at him, holding out the glass to him.
Hannibals hands clenched and unclenched on the wheel as he drove them home. Will had been quiet since he had gotten into the car, and it was agitating him quite a bit.
"Would you like me to come back to your apartment with you, tomorrow?" He asked the quiet male, hoping it would break the silence.
"Hm...Might be a good idea." Was all he replied with, keeping his head turned away from Hannibal, looking out of the passenger window in a kind of daze.
Hannibal pursed his lips, tightening his hands on the wheel once again, digging his nails into it slightly. He willed himself to calm, wanting nothing more than to throttle the brunette next to him.
When home, they hung their coats up, Will still in his daze.
"I think I'll turn in… Goodnight." Will managed a small smile in the others direction, before turning and rushing upstairs.
He hated this feeling. The feeling of one's sanity slipping away, slowly. Taking the painkillers out of his pocket he swallowed a couple and placed the pot on the side table.
Stripping out of the suit he threw it into a pile on the floor and slipped into bed and under the covers, trying to calm and clear his mind.
Hannibal took Wills funny turn as a chance to calm his inner rage, and stock his freezer. Grabbing his coat, he left the house quietly and jumped back into the car.
Night time was the best time to hunt.
Will awoke suddenly. Sitting up, panting; his eyes wide before relaxing them and squinting into the dark. Calming himself he stretched out his hand for his painkillers, his fumbling fingers knocking the pot onto the floor.
Swearing, he got out of bed and turned the light on, blinded for a minute from the brightness.
Adjusting his eyes, Will got down on his hands and knees, patting a hand under the bed to find the pot.
Pulling his hand back, it was grabbed; trying to pull him under the bed and into the dark.
Panicking, Will pulled his hand away, falling back. Looking up, he started to scramble back toward the door. His eyes widening as shadows stretched and melted out from under the bed.
Standing he opened the door, quickly slipping out into the hall before closing the door behind him.
Unsure which way to go, he rushed down the hall into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him.
The brunette stood looking at the door for a minute or two, before turning away; running some water and washing his face.
Looking into the mirror, his breath caught in his throat. The door behind him was leaking, being engulfed by shadowy wisps.
"Just… Leave me alone." He said, turning to look at the door, finding nothing there. Looking back at the mirror, the shadows were getting more and more intense. Like flames burning through the door.
His hand shook slightly, running one over his face. Without hesitation he punched the mirror, shattering it into pieces, the shards falling to the floor.
Hissing, he pulled his hand back sharply, some small shards of glass were sticking from it.
He swore loudly, stepping back, away from the glass on the bathroom floor.
"Will? Will are you ok?" An urgent knocking came from the door behind him, shaking the pain off he turned and unlocked the door; opening it.
Hannibal was welcomed by an unpleasant sight. Will had evidently been sweating profusely, his t-shirt soaked through and clinging to his body. The brunettes eyes had slight circles under them, and he was as white as a sheet.
"What happened, Will. Are you ok?" Hannibal asked, looking the younger male over; his eyes slowly wandering to the bathroom behind Will.
"Sorry… I'll pay for the mirror." Will said, lifting his hand and cupping his elbow, trying to prevent blood from dripping onto the floor.
Hannibal frowned seeing the wound and took Wills hand into his own.
"We'll worry about the mirror later. Let's worry about this wound of yours first. Come…" Hannibal nodded his head in the direction of his room, before leading the way, through the room and into his adjacent bathroom.
Will followed, seating himself on the edge of the bath in Hannibals' bathroom. Still cupping his elbow as he watched the other man take a first aid kit from his bathroom cabinet.
"I think we'll remove those shards and then you can get out of those wet clothes and shower before I disinfect your wound." Hannibal said as crouched down in front of Will, a pair of tweezers in hand and some tissue to place the glass on.
Will nodded, bracing himself as Hannibal started to pull the glass from his hand. The wound looked bad to him, but the older male didn't look so concerned.
"Would you like to talk about what happened?" Hannibal spoke up, continuing to carefully remove the small glass shards.
Hesitantly, the brunette answered; a small frown on his face. "It's nothing. Just my own imagination taunting me."
He scoffed slightly and ran his free hand over his face. "I don't think it likes that I kept it in confinement for so long. I suppressed it and now it's biting away at me, piece by piece."
Hannibal said nothing as he finished up. Wrapping the glass in the tissue and washing his hands at the sink. He wanted to know what was haunting the other male, his words sending a small jolt of excitement through the older mans body.
Smiling slightly he turned around and looked at Will. "The imagination can be a fearsome thing, but it's yours and only you can fight it back." He placed a hand on Wills' shoulder, sliding his fingers up and across his neck. "Or, you can use that imagination to your advantage and do wonderful things in life."
For a moment Will just sat there, his eyes and mind racing, trying to make sense of what was just said.
"Nothing 'wonderful' could possibly come from this imagination of mine." He finally replied, frowning yet again as he looked down at his hand. The place Hannibal had touched burning slightly.
"We'll see." The older man answered, his tone ending the conversation there. "Now" he said, carefully picking the tissue up. "Shower and cool yourself down, I'll be back to disinfect and wrap your hand after I clean up the glass from the bathroom floor."
Will watched as the older man walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He didn't move for a minute or two, his brows furrowed, the words the other had said still confusing him slightly.
Shaking his head he stood and started to run the bath, his hand was still throbbing but his mind was clearer now.
He wasn't going to let his imagination get the best of him, he didn't want to go down that dark path again.