It's been a long day. Hannibal had his fill of human emotions.
Hannibal checked his phone and gave out a sigh.
The name of Luna's aunt reflected on his screen, 3 missed calls it said.
What could she possibly want? He pressed "Call" it rang and a female voice greeted him.
"I was just calling to see if you can have dinner with me sometime this week?"
"That should not be a problem, I can adjust my sessions with Luna"
"No, just you… I would like to discuss Luna's progress"
"I see... Okay let's have dinner on Friday then"
Check on Luna's progress? It was expected of her he thought.
Dinner:
"What did you think of Luna the first time you saw her" Corina asked.
"Beautifully Fragile" he answered while actually thinking of the first time he saw her, right after Anton's death.
"Are you attracted to my niece doctor?"
"If attraction is your definition of appreciation then yes I am"
"That was straightforward, she's your patient, aren't you breaking some kind of rule?"
Hannibal shifted his gaze from her to the table "I apologize, I may have confused you" he said as he crossed a leg over his thigh.
"I am an honest man, I have a penchant for anything beautiful.
Your brother's plan at conceiving a daughter came into place perfectly and a phenomenon like that mystifies.
Luna is special because she's one of a kind and rarity is beauty in its own right"
Corina's demeanor changed, she let out a drunken chuckle, "You only say that because you haven't met our Anton."
She said while swirling wine in her glass, "He is used to getting everything he wants, even when he doesn't ask for it"
Hannibal took a sip of water. An awkward silence followed.
Corina shook her head slightly as if trying to shake a skeleton that got out of her closet.
"I hope I did not offend you doctor, I guess slips like that happen when you don't grieve properly"
"I understand, I'm in the field of psychiatry after all"
"Going back to Luna, I want to know what she's like, just a memory of when you found her would suffice"
Hannibal tried to drown out the conversations around them, should he go for the actual first memory?
The day he first laid eyes on his endearing Trophy; Then he decided that was private.
"Everyone was wondering who she was, she was seated on a chair blindfolded.
Her arms were tied to the armchair. She was Mystery of the day." Corina leaned over, intent on hearing the details.
"She was practically blind and numb to the world, or should I say anyone who's not her father" Hannibal summarized.
"You made great progress then? She was very engaging at lunch, very comfortable around people" Corina said remembering an observation.
"I think she feels safe when you're around, she trusts you, bringing you along was not a waste after all"
He didn't understand why, but her last words stung.
"Well it took a while before she warmed up to me. I hope she doesn't take too long with you" he insinuated in response.
"Well she doesn't have much of a choice, does she now?" Hannibal felt his face heat up, he was experiencing a predatory vibe from her.
"Well with me she does. You see Luna is naturally stubborn; her innocence or lack of memory makes her question everything.
Like a caged baby snake, they are guarded by nature, if you add separation from the specie that reared it to the mix, it equals fearful.
Whoever owns the snake needs to slowly build familiarity... and then trust.
Once trust is there it will permit the owner to hold it, the owner however needs to know how to do that accurately.
It can't be too tight because the snake will struggle out of fear.
The touch has to be firm and gentle at the same time, letting it surrender and wrap itself around a finger or a hand. After that just be consistent." Hannibal ended his metaphor,
"I see your observations led you to the conclusion that Snakes and our family have a genetic likeness." her comment made Hannibal chuckle; Corina sighed.
"Luna must be a very inexperienced baby snake, seeing that she hasn't wrapped herself around you at all yet" Corina leaned forward
"She paved a path for me. You are aware that you and I are very much alike right?" she asked…
"If I lay my cards on the table, will you do the same doctor?"
"Ms Luminosi?" Hannibal acted confused.
"I know what you are and I'm pretty sure you know what I am" Hannibal's eyes now exuded the same predatory essence she did.
"I prey on those who have what I want, anything i want. Having everything makes finding a prey kind of a challenge"
There was another wave of silence… "What do you prey on doctor?"
Hannibal gave a devilish smile, "I guess you'll have to figure it out for yourself" then he backed away from her.
"It's getting late; I have to check on Luna tonight".
As if nothing happened, Corina straightened in her chair and readied herself to leave.
Hannibal walked her to her car. He was opening the door when Corina caged him in her arms giving him a kind of kiss that would suck out a man's soul, if he had one.
Hannibal took a risk by kissing her back, trying to decode her.
She stopped, so Hannibal had to feign surprise.
"I can sense you're about to say No to me. I want you to know that I don't care.
I'm used to rejection; I'm a grown woman, I can take it.
I know what I want and that's you, as part of our family.
I assure you, I can change your mind, its a talent you see. My brother would have attested to that if he was alive.
But the thing is he killed himself, probably because he never really got over what I took from him" She patted his cheeks softly "Goodnight Doctor".
She went in, started her engine and drove away.
Hannibal felt weary, too much manipulative banter for a day, he needs to be invigorated.
He knew exactly how.
Luna heard knocks on the door, who could it be? she asked herself.
Then she remembered, she hasn't given key duplicates to Dr. Hannibal and Dr. Bloom yet.
She hasn't slept for two days and it's already taking a toll on her memory.
She walked like a zombie moving a cane side to side, headed for the door.
She imagined how funny she looked. God she didn't even have the strength to laugh at herself.
Hannibal's Impatience was growing. It must be the exhaustion; He's been feeling rather off lately.
It may also be due to the case Jack asked him to help with.
Copycats, he sighed aside from being thieves stealing someone else's glory, their kills are pointless.
The door opened and a relief washed through him. "Hi Doctor!" Luna managed to greet him.
She looked like she went through hell and back. He identified with her as he felt exactly the same.
"I didn't know you were coming doctor. Divina is here."
"Your nurse?" he confirmed. "Yes" she answered.
"I don't see how that would be a problem Luna"
"I asked her to use the guest room, so you can sleep in mine for the meantime"
How does she do it? He wondered. It's amazing how she wakes up his senses without the slightest notion that she's actually doing it.
"I stay in your room?" he had to ask to make sure. "Yes Doctor"
Luna walked towards the kitchen and started laying a comforter on the floor and started fluffing her pillows.
"You confuse me Luna" Hannibal said out loud thinking the arrangement was for him.
Is it because she can't see? Did she mix up the bedroom and the kitchen?
How tired is this woman anyway?
"This is for me doctor" she said; the questions in Hannibal's head stopped.
"You have a very comfortable sofa over there" pointing to the direction of the living room.
"You have a huge bedroom on the other end of that hall; can you help me understand your sleeping preference"
"I haven't slept since I've been here; this is the only place in the house where I feel safe. I have this feeling there are eyes looking at me in every corner"
Hannibal took the bedding off the floor and held her by the wrist leading her to the room.
She did not have the energy to question anything right now so she allowed herself to be dragged.
"Stay there" he instructed. She stopped and stood in front of the door. "Let me check the room first".
After a while Hannibal went out to get Luna. "There's no one here.
Your sleeplessness may have caused your imagination to go on over drive"
"You should put a bed as huge as this to good use… come here" he instructed as he pat the bed.
"Sleep here. I will stay with you until you fall asleep" he assured her.
He's staying so no one can hurt me she thought. She took one of the pillows from him, turned to her side with her back to Hannibal and embraced the pillow.
"It smells like you doctor" and just like that she was asleep.
Watching her invigorated his senses; his body however, was still dead tired. "Goodnight Luna". He fell asleep.
In the middle of the night:
Luna woke up to the sound of loud footsteps just outside the door.
She was about to sit up when she realized the doctor's arm was tightly around her waist.
"Doctor, someone's outside" she gently woke him instead.
Hannibal was absorbed by the sight of his arm around Luna that he did not understand what she was saying.
He realized it however when he heard it himself.
Hannibal went out to check what or who it was, Luna followed suit but stopped at the threshold of the room, as he instructed.
"I see you sleep together now?" Their heads turned to the direction of the voice.
Corina was seated in the plush sofa.
"I know nothing happened. But still aren't the two of you too comfortable with each other?"
Hannibal can't decide whether she was being possessive of Luna or of him.
Either way, he realized it's not a good idea for Luna to be around her right now.
He was still in his own thoughts when he realized Corina was already standing in front of Luna
"Luna honey, go back in your room (while patting Luna's cheeks) your doctor and I (she walked towards Hannibal) have unfinished business…"
She then showered Hannibal with kisses, making the sounds obvious for Luna to understand.
Once she recognized the sound Luna stepped back into her room, excused herself and closed the door.
"You should stop doing that" Hannibal said as he removed her arms around his neck.
"You told me, you had no feelings for my niece, but you were in her room"
"I cannot discuss Luna's therapy with you."
"I'm pretty sure whatever happened inside wasn't one of your therapy sessions" she stated as she took her bag, swirled around and walked towards the door.
"Anyway, I'll leave you two alone, Have a great night!"