They were out of this world, was the first thought of Will while he was looking at the house and its surroundings. There were trees and more trees, everywhere, there were so many he couldn't see anything but them. The road was the only thing that could link them to the society out there. It was very silent if we didn't count the singing birds and the young man welcomed that gratefully, his mind quieting thanks to it. Hannibal and this place made him know a rest he didn't know he was seeking, and it was a strange feeling, he didn't know if he could trust it. Be he didn't want it to go, so he didn't think much about that.
Apart from that, it was all very… savage. Wild. He somehow felt like he was a part of this environment, a complement more than an opposition, which he should be. By escaping his old life, he said goodbye to everything. His humanity, even. As if he wasn't real anymore, that was maybe why he loved this new place right away. He needed to only be with the wildness, him being a savage animal. He couldn't be tamed, he'd rather live by himself without being worried about anything and anyone. Oh man, he and Hannibal made such a good team.
He looked at Hannibal, not daring to walk to the house.
"When did you buy this? Is it even yours?" he asked, wondering how they could be there without anyone jumping on them.
"It is mine indeed," answered Hannibal calmly while looking at the house, before closing the door of his car. "I bought it years ago with a fake name, of course. In case I needed to hide, and I guess I wasn't wrong about this financing. We won't find us here; the nearest neighbor is miles away. It's only us, and the vegetation."
"I guess I could get used to that," he said, even if it clearly was an understatement. "Where are we?"
"In Minnesota, and in front of us is the Leech Lake, a perfect area for fishing."
Will smiled at that. Yes, Hannibal thought of everything.
"I bought it for you without even realizing," confessed the older man. "It was months before we met each other, but I never lived in it. I didn't find the purpose, or the appeal, until today. This house is perfect now, we don't need to worry about anything by living in here. Come and see it."
Will followed Hannibal, both walking to the house without saying anything. He cogitated on those words, trying to find their meanings. As if Hannibal knew they would come to this day, and even before they met. Was everything that happened until today his plan? Was he just a character to a story already ended? It all seemed this way, as if he didn't have any free will. Even if the older man treated him as an equal, he would never be. And he didn't know when he could finally decide for himself. Or even if he could, one day.
The house was way too big for two persons only, and yet, it was maybe too small to Hannibal's standards. It wasn't at all like both of their houses, but it had an elegance only the older man could give, as if all the décor had been decided and created by him. Once again, it surely was, Hannibal wasn't the kind of person to let someone do something he could do by himself. And what surprised Will was this sentiment of feeling at home, he could sense that living here wouldn't be too uncomfortable, quite the contrary even. He always liked Hannibal's house in Baltimore, but always felt welcomed only thanks to the owner. After he was gone and Will was left by himself, the habitation felt too cold. Only the memory of Hannibal made him feel like staying more than a few minutes. Here, it was different, the house looked more like he was the owner and not the older man. The sun was everywhere, in every room, and Will smiled to that. It made such a change with his old life, as if this new one was better than anything he had already lived. He hoped. The first room he entered was the living room in which, of course, there were books everywhere. It was still Hannibal's house indeed. The kitchen was at the left, the dining room close to it. But Will didn't look twice at it all, he preferred to look at the view in front of him.
He wondered if Hannibal had lied to him and bought this house for him, this property wasn't like him at all. By knowing him, Will knew that he could have. He wanted this new path so much he would be ready to do anything, he was sure of that. Maybe Hannibal was tired of living alone. They both were.
"I feel like you planned all this, everything that happened," admitted Will after a while, sensing that Hannibal was right behind him. Both hadn't said a word since they entered the house, but it hadn't been needed, not even now. It would take him a while to get used to this quietness.
"I knew that the day would come when you would stop lying to yourself," slowly replied Hannibal, standing beside him, and looked at the view too, pensive. "You were suffering all this time, from the day I first saw you and even before that. One can't live with that pain longer than this lifetime, not even you. And there were only two ends to all that: you would have needed to die or to escape. And you did both. No, I didn't plan all of this, it was just obvious that it would have ended this way. And I can sense a certain alleviation from you, am I wrong Will?"
"You're not, I'm just waiting for the outcome. This is too beautiful to be true."
"Can't you live in the instant, Will? Enjoy everything that is in front of you, you don't need to do anything else. If you don't do that, you will always suffer, no matter the place or the time. And I know you don't want that anymore."
"So, all that was to free me?" asked Will with a laugh, as if he couldn't believe what he was saying.
"Why can't you consider that, am I that evil to you?" he said while turning his head and looking inquisitively at Will. "It was to release you indeed, who would have given you that but me? Jack Crawford? Molly and your son? No, they didn't care enough about you to give you that. And you're important, Will."
"I've always wanted to run with you, and of course you know that. But is it just that? Only that?"
"No it isn't, of course, I thought about me quite selfishly all along too. I always dreamed of a companion to follow me, I'm quite of a nomade, you see? Living all of this alone was tiring, when there is so much to discover, especially for you. I know you will enjoy everything from now on, even if you're not so sure about that today. But all I'm asking of you is to trust me. You will finally be happy, I promise."
"Okay. Okay, I will. I don't know how, but I will," he conceded. "You know I was by myself all this time, and I knew you were the only companion I needed too. But I didn't want to admit that, and everything else. I still don't. I need time to think about all of this."
"I know, this is why we're here. Take this place as a pause, we both needed that."
"I will, but I'm not exactly sure how."
"You might need to rest after today, you can do that while I make dinner," offered Hannibal to end the conversation instead of arguing with him.
He wanted to ask him not to do anything too… problematic as a meal, but he didn't. Hannibal was smarter than that, he knew he wasn't at ease with anything right now. And from where would he bring the meat? The closest human being was miles away, he wouldn't have time to do that. Well, he hoped he didn't.
After those thoughts, he went upstairs, not surprised by the luxury of the floor and its rooms. When he entered to what will be his bedroom, he wondered about his baggage. He didn't think they brought anything with them, even if he had clothes on himself he didn't remember putting on. And how will they buy anything if most likely their faces will be everywhere? He knew Hannibal had the answers, but how? But, he stopped wondering about that when a shower felt most needed at the moment.
He undressed and, once he was naked in the bathroom, he made an inventory of his scars and new injuries in front of the mirror. He had many bandages everywhere, on the torso, his back, his cheek, but he didn't need to take them off to know what was underneath. He was too used to all of that, in fact he knew the pain by heart. He was in pain, but tried to ignore it, it was no use to focus on that, it would heal naturally and only scars would be left. People had tattoos to keep their memories: he had his scars. He smiled while looking at them: he survived all of this, for a reason, he was certain of that. In fact, few things scared them now, but Hannibal never did. He hurt him, left him to die – did he? -, abandoned him, but even after all those years, he never, ever scared him. Not even Dolarhyde during their fight, no one. He fought it all for a meaning, and while he was caressing the scar on his lower abdomen, he knew he would fight again, and again. That was what he was agreeing to. He only hoped Hannibal needed him as much as he did. All those years, to finally come to those conclusions. And he didn't regret it, not one bit. At least, not yet.
He took a long shower, not minding about the bandages, which appeared to be waterproof. He then put a towel around his hips, and thought about putting the clothes he had earlier, before looking at the room's closet. Wondering, he opened it… to find it filled with different clothes. Shirts, jackets, vests, pants, jeans. Even suits, that were all his size, as if tailored. He chuckled, not even impressed by Hannibal's preventions. Of course he planned all that.
Clothed with a new a new pair of grey pants and a dark shirt, he joined Hannibal in the kitchen. The scent of herbs and spices were filling the house with a delicious smell which made him remember of how actually hungry he was. Before joining the older man, he took the tablet left in the living room: he needed to see the news and to have an idea of what was going on while they were away.
"Do you need help?" he offered without actually offering it: he knew he wouldn't be of any assistance, especially to a cook like Hannibal.
"Thank you, but no, I almost finished," answered Hannibal while he put the meal in the oven. He then cut some vegetables, and Will didn't even try to wonder what he was cooking: all this was a foreign country to him. "So, you found something interesting with your researches?"
"Not yet, but guess what, nothing will surprise me. Should I start with Freddie Lounds or the news?"
"Freddie Lounds, please. I wonder what article she might have written about it all."
He didn't have to wait long for that. On the first page of the website was written in red, capital letters: "THE MURDER HUSBANDS MISSING, FINALLY DEAD… OR REUNITED?"
Well, he was waiting for worse from her, but he guessed she didn't have a lot to work on since the evidences were there. He turned the tablet to Hannibal so that he would see by himself. The older man stopped what he was doing to move closer to Will and the tablet, after cleaning his hands on a towel. What was first obvious was the number of comments that were left at the end of the article. They were numerous, but they both didn't care about them, they knew how people reacted about those articles and Will and Hannibal's relationships. Will did read them once, to finally regret it, commentators were always so… excited, he didn't know why. Apart from that, the article reflected the FBI's thoughts but in Lounds' way: they didn't know where they were, they suspected they were dead but weren't that convinced of that after finding no trace admitting it. They found Dolarhyde's body, of course, who was confirmed dead but nothing else. Their blood was found on the crime scene, even the coverall from Baltimore that Hannibal had put off. An ax, a knife, everything they used during their fight was found and investigated. But they both left no clues behind them, especially Hannibal, since he was the one who decided they would run away.
But they both knew Jack Crawford was perfectly aware they didn't die and were already far away from all of this. Together. Will thought it wasn't a surprise to him, he must have had noticed he always wanted to run away with Hannibal, he even said it clearly once. He wondered how he could have had fooled himself when it was always so evident.
And now, by seeing himself and Hannibal in this minute, he didn't care about what other people thought or if they wanted to see them dead and buried forever. At least now he didn't hurt himself anymore.
"Well, I guess it's time for the hunt, again," says Hannibal, which made him startle, already so deep in his thoughts. "And this time, not by myself."
"Yeah, you're right," he only adds, watching by the window to avoid Hannibal's gaze. He was still thinking if they were this alike. If two footsteps were finally only one.
"This is just a very long trip Will, and it isn't that inconvenient. In fact, I discovered more things by being chased than when I'm not. I always needed to move, so it was a good way to travel. You will enjoy that, it's very satisfying to know that many people are looking for you and are never able to have any sort of contentment."
"But you know they will never stop, right? Especially Jack, he's very stubborn, even more when he has some purpose. It was almost easy to find you in Florence: once we learn your tastes, we simply have to follow them."
"I wanted to be found when I was in Italy, and by you mostly," admitted Hannibal while taking off his apron and tidying it. "It was always my second home after Lithuania, this is why I kept certain things from the life I had there. Such as the food, the wines, the art, the tastes. It always brought me there, and I told you all that indirectly. This time we will not act this way, you don't have to question yourself about the FBI or Jack Crawford since they are not important anymore. They never were, actually."
"I know, it's just… I will need time to get used to all of that, it is still a foreign country to me."
"And it won't be in the near future. You think too much Will, you have to enjoy that we can sail away now."
He didn't answer to that; he didn't need to. Of course Hannibal knew he was always right. He didn't have doubts, to be honest, not when it all seemed so organized, even if he didn't know about the plans they were supposed to make, and he wasn't scared either, no. It didn't feel that way, but he knew deep inside him that all of this was just because of the thrill of running away. Knowing that the near future was full of surprises brought such a warm feeling it made him want to smile. But he didn't, or couldn't, this feeling was mixed with so many others.
He then helped Hannibal to set the table, always in a maneuvered way he was used to with the man. He sat next to Hannibal's sit when he was busy with the food in the kitchen; he didn't have to wait long to see him back with a platter, once again it looked so beautiful he wondered how he could have done it in such a short period of time while he was in the shower. He tried to enumerate the things the older man couldn't do: the list went very short too.
"Carré d'agneau accompagné de légumes de la ferme," presented Hannibal while putting the platter on the table, before sitting by his side.
"This looks delicious, as always, but you know I didn't understand a thing you said now, right?" he said, which brought a slight laugh from Hannibal.
"It's a rack of lamb with vegetables from a farm, not far from here. It's a French meal I learn there, which is very simple. I will tell you how to do it when we'll go there," he offered while serving a plate to Will.
The latter wasn't surprised to learn that Hannibal wanted to go to Europe after all; as if he couldn't prevent himself from going there. He understood the appeal, he just didn't share it, since his childhood he was used to simple, local things which didn't make him wish of searching for something else.
After dinner – and Hannibal promptly refusing him to wash the dishes, which was the oddest conversation he had with him –, Will decided that he wanted to try this lake by fishing. He already missed doing so even if it wasn't that long since he did it, but after all that happened it felt like it was decades ago. A smile grew on his lips when he discovered that the house was also filled with everything he needed. From his favorite fishing rods to the waders of his size and favorite label, everything was there, which was too good to be true: as if Hannibal took them before leaving Baltimore. He wished he didn't do that: imagining Molly and Hannibal in the same house was not a thought he wished to wander on. Or if they were in the same room, even. He put on the right clothes, because even the cap was here, and then went directing himself by the light of the stars.
At night the surroundings seemed almost magic, it was much more beautiful than what he was used to see in Baltimore. It all gave a sense of unreality to everything, as if he was still sleeping, without being able to wake up. The moon was bright, reflecting with the stars on the lake which was considerable, of a size he wasn't used to. Before he even penetrated the water he knew it was full of fishes, that making him enjoy fishing at night even more. He slowly penetrated the water as to not make a big fuss and startle the fishes already there, and threw his hook in an agile way, how he was accustomed to.
He was slowly reacquainting to his old habits, when quiet noises startled him, telling him he wasn't alone anymore. Indeed, Hannibal slowly stood beside him, in the same uniform he was. It made him open his eyes widely: he was not used of seeing him with waders and a fishing rod in hand. Only the cap was missing, which was too bad he thought.
"I'm assuming you already know how to fish?" he asked without making a comment about this.
"You're assuming right, I had the pleasure of doing so in my younger years," simply answered Hannibal.
And with this they both occupied themselves with this new activity, one he knew they would need to be familiar to do together. And he wasn't annoyed by that, at all. He only wished Abigail was with them, now, just as he dreamed of.
"You told me you never went here and yet I find the house filled with many surprises much to my liking," he added after a moment of silence, in which neither he nor Hannibal caught a fish.
"I told you, things went the way I wanted them to be, so of course I wanted you to be at ease here, to be at home. And you know Will, you're very easy to satisfy, only a look at your house to know that I needed to bring only a few things here. Just like your fishing rods."
"Just like my fishing rods," he admitted, before he decided to give a better interest at what he was doing without forgetting the person beside him, who felt like his shadow.
What Will didn't know, or wanted to deny, was that he didn't need more than a day to be in a complete harmony with Hannibal. He didn't want to know how much alike they really were, and not just about the killing. They shared the same passions, the same envies, the same thoughts. About practically everything. In fact, they shared the same brains, in two opposite bodies. He was meant to live this life with him, maybe he was predisposed to only stay and be happy with him. And he was ready to do all that.