Sleep pulled on Will's bones as lazy kisses were pressed to his back. He smiled as fingers followed the adoration.

"They don't hurt anymore," he muttered into the quiet room that had the last glimmering golden rays of the sunset coming in from the balcony windows. "You don't have to keep kissing them."

"I wasn't there to prevent them." The slight bitterness in Hannibal's tone pulled Will from his drowsiness and he blinked his eyes open to find Hannibal's form settling beside him in the bed. Hannibal's eyes wandered Will's face as he propped up his chin with his hand, elbow pressed into the mattress. "Why did he do it?"

"The same reason he did this." Will traced the mark across his cheek with a single finger. "The morning after you left, we got into a rather heated misunderstanding. I threw my breakfast on the floor, and he hit me."

"A misunderstanding over what?"

Will breathed out a chuckle, the smile light over his lips as he reached out, tracing the muscle in Hannibal's forearm that was supporting his head.

"You."

Guilt plastered itself across Hannibal's face and he sat up, a hand going to his head. Will's smile fell as Hannibal's back turned to him, battle scars just as prevalent as Will's own, though earned so exceedingly differently.

"And the others?"

"You," Will repeated as he sat up himself. He reached out a single hand, hesitating, but eventually pressing it to Hannibal's back and running the line of it. Hannibal tensed under his touch. "After my mother passed away, we had another misunderstanding."

"I'm sorry about your mother. She was a kind woman."

Will bit his tongue, nose scrunching up in discomfort. "It's alright. She was terribly sick near the end. I think it was a blessing in disguise, honestly. I just never realized how much of a shield she was between my father and me. After that particular incident I had to cut my own switch from the oak tree in the courtyard."

"What could you have possibly been arguing over to earn his wrath like that?" Hannibal glanced over his shoulder at the prince whose skin was as perfect as porcelain save for the nicks. Skin that never should have been touched in such an abhorrent way. "And if you say me again, I will-"

"It was you," Will interrupted. He shifted from where he was tangled in the sheets until he was on the edge of the bed beside Hannibal. Hannibal downturned his face, eyes hard on the floor. Will wanted nothing more than to take that guilt from Hannibal's countenance. "I wanted to know what happened that night and no one would tell me. I searched for answers for years and could never find any sort of information. I blamed my father for the atrocities, for what his men did to you, but he only claimed that they weren't his guards."

Hannibal's brows furrowed and he licked his lips, slowly repeating the words back to Will as if he were just now learning the truth. "They weren't your father's men."

"Yes," Will agreed. "But I do not know who they are, nor will he tell me. I've tried everything I can think of. Getting him drunk, going hunting with him, handling some of his business dealings, but nothing has ever gotten me on his good side. I've also considered that maybe my father either truly doesn't know who they were or he's lying about the whole thing. He has lied about a lot from then."

"And you inquired the same from Jack?"

Will nodded. "The very same."

Hannibal exhaled deeply, pushing the newly learned information aside to dissect at a later date. His hand slid into Will's and gave it a squeeze. "I'm sorry that I made such a disturbance in your life." His gaze finally met Will's and he was given a smile he did not deserve. A kiss was given to him, and he leaned into the fleeting touch.

"I don't need apologies," Will assured, a hand brushing a lock of hair from Hannibal's face. "I am just happy to have you back in my life." A laugh escaped Will and he received a curious look. "I think Mischa will be too." Will pulled his hands free and Hannibal could only watch as Will untired the ribbon from around his wrist before handing it out to Hannibal. "This belongs to you."

Hannibal's heart gave a painful tug in his chest as he plucked the silk from Will's fingers. The way it ran through his own fingers brought breath to his lungs and repressed memories to the surface. A strange mixture of peace and torture swirled around him, and a lump formed in his throat.

"Thank you for keeping it safe for me."

Will's lips ticked up. "It was the only piece of you I had left. That and the book. I must have read it a million times. It was the only thing that could help me sleep when the nightmares were there."

"Utopia." Hannibal let out a laugh. "You shocked me when you quoted it back to me earlier. I hadn't expected you to have read it. I thought that you would have fought tooth and nail against any form of studies."

Will shrugged, letting his body fall back onto the bed so he could stare up at the ceiling that was growing dim. He sighed. "Someone told me something that changed my mind. Something about stopping my complaining and trying to run and using my place in life to fix things."

"I just wanted you to stop talking." The admittance caused Will to burst out into laughter. "You were aggravating at best."

"And you liked to provoke!" Will argued back, grabbing Hannibal's arm and tugging on it hard enough that Hannibal collapsed into the bed beside Will. "I suppose I missed you after you left."

"You suppose?" Hannibal's head tipped to the side, eyes flickering over Will's face. It had grown stronger in the years since Hannibal had seen him last. His jaw was sharper, his cheeks not so full. His curls held notes of cinnamon among the chestnut and just seemed to fit him. And those eyes that held the entirety of the sea and sky in them were brighter than they had been. He had grown into himself rather beautifully, though he still provided the same annoyance as before.

"You never wrote," Will reminded pointedly, his fingers absently rubbing the sheets between them as he pulled them up to his chest. The words still struck Hannibal so keenly that he almost wondered if he truly hadn't written Will and misremembered everything. "Missing you stopped hurting after a while when I finally accepted that you had forgotten about me, and I stopped hoping that you would respond to my correspondence."

"But you wrote me?" Hannibal questioned in a soft tone, reaching out a finger to trace Will's jaw.

"It must have been daily for a week or two. My mother and Alana berated me for using all the storehouses of ink and parchment." Will bit his lip to hide his smile.

"I wrote you." Will slowly turned his head to look at Hannibal, his eyes calculating as they tried to find the lie in the words. "Many, many times I wrote you. I didn't have the money to send the post and my aunt and uncle refused to pay for me. I had to wait to find misplaced coins or run errands for the elders in the town. The first few I sent, but when no answer came, I stopped sending them."

"You never received my letters," Will finally decided and he thought back through his memories to see if maybe he had addressed them wrong or if possibly he had misspoken to whom they were meant to be sent to to the heralds. "And I, never any of yours."

"It would appear so." Hannibal didn't miss the anger that flashed in Will's eyes, and he hushed Will with a gentle kiss. "We found each other again. That's all that matters."

"You said you thought of me," Will prompted and Hannibal chuckled at the nudge for the words to be restated.

"Every day, Meilė." Hannibal's fingers brushed a curl behind Will's ear, and he closed the distance between them with soft touches of lips to lips. "I did not forget about you. You were the only thing that held me together. The entire reason I excelled in school and fought in those idiotic battles your father likes to play with."

"To protect me."

Hannibal nodded, letting his forehead rest against Will's and their breaths tangled together. "Even if I couldn't be there in person, I could be there at the front lines. I could be there to sign treaties and to wield my sword. I had hoped so often that I would find you at those meetings, find you working on plans or writing documents in tents near the battlefields. I had hoped that when I walked in it was you and not your father or Jack, but I was never so fortunate."

"Most princes apply themselves to the arts of war, in which I have neither ability nor interest." The brightness the quote brought to Hannibal's eyes caused Will to smile before he understood the reason behind the inflection. "You still don't believe I've read that book!"

"Can you blame me?" Hannibal shot back, catching Will's wrist as a hand came down to playfully hit Hannibal in the chest. "I left behind a prince who could hardly speak Spanish, let alone Latin. Forgive me for doubting you."

"Consider yourself blessed that I don't send for the executioner this very moment."

"You would wish me away so swiftly after we finally found each other once more?"

"Only if you continue to discount me."

"Forgive me, Your Highness. A lot can change in five years, and I have not fairly given you the benefit of the doubt." Will's hand was brought to Hannibal's mouth and Will sighed as each of his fingertips were kissed softly.

"I detest you," Will grumbled, only receiving a smirk against his fingers and a nip to his index. "Bastard."

"You do enjoy that word."

"It embodies you to perfection."

Hannibal laughed with a nod. "I suppose so."

He rolled onto his back, looking up at the ceiling and Will pushed himself onto his elbows, leaning over the soldier. He let his eyes drift down over Hannibal's bare chest, fingers absently finding one of the many scars to trace gently.

"Your aunt and uncle didn't hurt you, did they?"

There was a snort and Hannibal shook his head. "They were annoyingly stern, but they never laid a finger on me," Hannibal assured. He glanced down at where Will's fingers were, and Will could feel the breath that filled Hannibal's lungs. "That one was from a rather nasty tumble with a routier."

Will's eyes shot to Hannibal's face, and he frowned, brows knitting together. He received a half smile from Hannibal that didn't last long, and Will felt like the distance between them was so much larger than he first thought.

"Someone sent a routier after you?"

Hannibal shrugged and turned his face back to the ceiling. "I am not well liked among men outside of your country, Will. I have brought many of them to their knees and in return they have tried to do the same to me." Hannibal's breath was knocked from his lungs as the prince climbed over the top of him and blue eyes bore into his soul. Hannibal extended his hand, brushing curls from the boy's face, letting the smile tug at his lips once more. "I promise I'm alright."

"Why did you do it?" Those stormy eyes flickered over him as if the answer was written in Hannibal's skin.

"I have already told you, Meilė." Will's eyes slid shut and he nuzzled his cheek against Hannibal's fingers as Hannibal caressed him. "I did it for you."

"But why?"

"Inquisitive little thing, aren't you?" Hannibal teased. The daggers glared at him only made him laugh again. "I didn't speak when I left-"

"You didn't speak before you left," Will interrupted with a roll of his eyes.

Hannibal leaned up and kissed Will swiftly. "Do you want to know the story, or not?" Will's lips pursed and he let out a huff, resting his chin on folded hands across Hannibal's chest. Hannibal's fingers languidly played with Will's curls that were soft against his skin. "Speaking to anyone who wasn't you was nearly impossible. The words didn't exist and even if they had I feared that I would go unheard." Hannibal paused to allow Will to interject, but much to Hannibal's surprise, he found silence as the midwinter sky looked at him, waiting for more. "It upset my uncle to the point where he sent me away to study in an academy."

"He sent you to school?"

Hannibal nodded. "And I must confess that much like you I grappled with the idea. I fought for a long while. I wanted nothing more than to return to my estate and handle my father's duties. It wasn't until I was informed that your father was going to be going to war with Spain that I finally took my studies seriously."

"That wasn't long after you left. There have been some..." Will's head tipped side to side as he searched for the right word. "Disagreements about trading in the Americas. They seized our goods and sank some of our merchant ships."

"Disagreement is putting it lightly." Hannibal tugged sparingly on one of Will's curls, receiving a tongue stuck out at him in a horrendous childish fashion. He smiled as he breathed out laughter. "Surprisingly you father was allowed to set up some camps in France and I made sure that I was there. I trained hard and rose as quickly as I could through the ranks, seeing many battles as time went on."

"You didn't have to," Will muttered. "You could have left."

"I wanted to see you." Will sat up a bit more as Hannibal continued. "I knew that it was going to be one of my only chances at meeting you again."

"I don't understand." Will stared down at Hannibal, his mind running through all the information he was being given. Hannibal had means, had money, had opportunities. He didn't need to fight at all. He could have come back here at any moment he wished. His entire life was here and yet Hannibal kept himself from it.

"Perhaps that is a discussion for another night," Hannibal politely excused. "I would rather enjoy my moments here with you than think back over war. Is that alright?"

"Yes." Will didn't like the way that it felt like something was being kept from him, but a kiss helped ease the apprehension.

"One last thing," Hannibal muttered against Will's lips before Will was kissed again. "I need you to promise me something."

"Anything," Will agreed with a nod, enjoying the way Hannibal's hands splayed across his bare back, white hot.

"This is important, Will."

Will pulled back and gave a slow nod. "Alright."

"It would be preferable if my real title and name were kept between us. Just for the time being." Will's lips turned down and he once more gave a slow nod, not fully understanding the significance of the request, but the weight in the words was heavy as it rested on his shoulders. A finger slipped under his chin, and he was pulled forward, a kiss pressed to the tip of his nose. "That's something you can do for me, isn't it?"

"Yes, Hannibal."

"Cunning boy."

Will's stomach turned at the words, the meaning not sitting right in his body.

"Where is your new friend?" Beverly teased the next morning when Will greeted her in the main hall on the way to breakfast.

"Friend?" Will asked, seeming lost and Beverly tipped her head to the side as she regarded the prince. There was something different about him that she couldn't quite place, and she didn't like not knowing. "What friend?"

"Commander Shikibu?" she asked. She stepped closer and reached out. Her hand pressed to Will's forehead, and he tried to pull back. "Are you truly ill? You left so quickly last night that you worried me."

"Beverly, stop." Will laughed and pulled himself free from her attack. "I am not Shikibu's keeper. He's probably still asleep or something of the sort. The ride from Spain to here is not an easy one as far as I understand."

Beverly hummed, unconvinced. "I suppose it is not." She looked over him again, eyes stopping on his face. "What did you do to your lip?" Will's hand jumped to his face, covering his lips as fingers felt for the cut there, eyes wide and Beverly's gaze narrowed. "What happened?"

"Bit it," Will excused, waving his hand and pulling his bottom lip between his teeth as if he could hide it from her. "It's nothing."

"You bit it?" Beverly repeated back incredulously, folding her arms over her chest. She opened her mouth to continue, but Will found himself rescued by approaching footsteps and felt his heart leap at the sight of Hannibal joining them. "Morning," she muttered curtly, and Hannibal gave her a confused look.

"Morning," he answered slowly, a hand resting on the sword at his waist. He glanced between the two. "Am I interrupting something?"

Will shook his head. "Nothing. We're just on our way to breakfast if you would like to join us." Beverly's look grew more suspicious as he took in Will's change in tone and stance before the commander. She looked Will up and down carefully before she turned her attention to the soldier, giving him the same careful detailing. "Stop looking at him like that," Will ordered with a slight laugh. "You look as if you think him a thief."

"I would not be looking at him so if it weren't true." Beverly stepped over to Hannibal and stood tall in front of him. So much so that Hannibal straightened up and cast a look over her head towards Will who shrugged in uncertainty. "Why are you currently in possession of Prince William's ribbon and I demand to know exactly what happened last night after you both so frantically left the dining hall."

Hannibal opened his mouth to speak but found any answer he could give would be lacking. Will looked just as perplexed as Hannibal. He stepped up behind Beverly and took her arm, but she kept her focus fiercely on Hannibal.

"Why don't we let the commander get to breakfast and you and I can take a walk through the gardens. The irises should be in bloom," Will suggested, but he was swatted away.

"Your Highness, you would do well to answer my inquiries, or I will go get your father," Beverly hissed, though she still looked as calm and collected as ever. Her eyes though. Will would be dead in a moment.

Will gave a nervous chuckle. "You're going to tell my father on me? Tell him what?"

"I do not know, but I am sure that I can find something you have done lately that will get you into trouble." The threat didn't fall flat and Will once more traded looks with Hannibal, a plea in his eyes. Hannibal sighed heavily. "I know there are things you're not telling me, and never once have you kept a secret from me and it will not start now."

"Can we speak privately?" Hannibal asked in a hushed tone, only causing Beverly's eyes to widen in surprise.

"The library," Will suggested, taking Beverly's arm in a firm grip and tugging her along with him.

"Let go of me," Beverly ordered, staggering slightly as she tripped over her skirts.

"This is of the utmost importance," Will informed, not losing his grip or slowing his stride. Up the stairs they went, Hannibal following closely and although Beverly huffed out her dislike, she stayed silent, allowing herself to be pulled along.

They entered the library and Will closed the door, Hannibal stepping further into the room to check around to make sure they were truly alone. Will could feel the annoyance radiating off of Beverly and he turned to find her with her arms folded over her chest and Will swore he could hear her tapping one of her feet impatiently.

"Will, you better have a good explanation for-"

"I do," Will interrupted with a nod. "And I promise I'll answer everything, but I need you to promise that this stays between us."

"Between the three of us?" Beverly asked, watching Hannibal as he returned to them with a nod for Will to know they were truly alone. "This man is not nearly important enough to warrant us keeping a secret between the three of us."

"Beverly." Will sighed deeply, glancing around the room before his gaze landed on Hannibal who gave him a reassuring nod. "Do you remember attending that funeral when we were younger?"

"Your mothers?" Beverly looked over Hannibal carefully. "I don't recall his attendance."

"Before that."

There was a small pause before Beverly nodded. "Yes. One for that noble family."

"And do you remember the name of the family?"

"Lecter, if I am not misremembering. But I don't underst-"

"And the son? Do you remember the son?" Will pressed. "Do you remember his name? You met him once. You called him brave."

Beverly's brows knitted and she licked her lips. "Hannibal. Count Hannibal Lecter." Will motioned to Hannibal who was standing quietly, and Beverly followed the motion, turning to look over the knight. She seemed to be lost in thought for a long moment before her mouth fell open. "You're the count," she breathed out. "You're-you're Hannibal."

"Yes," Hannibal answered kindly. "It is wonderful to meet you again, Beverly." He bowed his head courteously before straightening with a smile. "It has been far too long, and I look forward to getting to know you better."

Beverly blinked, mouth opened and closing, and Will could see the multitude of questions that were whirling through her mind and he held back his laugh. He took her hand and pulled her attention back to him.

"Here is where we need your discretion, Beverly." Will stepped closer to the woman. "We need to keep his namesake quiet for now. My father mustn't know, none of the maids and absolutely not James or Brian. They will raise it on a banner from the north tower for the entire country to see."

The suspicion returned to the woman. "Why?"

"I need to keep that information to myself just a touch longer," Hannibal explained. "But I beg of you to give me the benefit of the doubt and allow me the time."

"And you're trusting him?" The question was directed at Will who nodded.

"With my life," he replied, and Beverly fell into a silent state that set Will's teeth on edge. He waited for the woman to argue, to say anything against what they were asking, but none came. Instead, the words caught Will far more off guard.

"Was he good?"

"What?" Will was too stunned to form any other sort of word.

"It is the only explanation." A smile was starting to take over Beverly's lips and she squeezed Will's hands. "You were so out of sorts last night and suddenly you're in improved spirits. I haven't heard a single complaint from you yet this morning. So, I ask again, was he good?"

There was a loud laugh from Hannibal and Will fought the flush that was coming to his face, hot and unescapable.

"You warned me that she wouldn't miss a detail," Hannibal muttered. He reached out, taking Beverly's chin in his hand and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You are far more brilliant than Will gave you credit for."

"I know I am." Beverly agreed, a hand bracing itself against Hannibal's chest and pushing the man back so she could meet his gaze. "And I must warn you that my father was an expert marksman and swordsman, and he has taught me well."

"Are you threatening me?" Hannibal's grin was bright as he took in the slight woman.

"I am promising that if you lay a hand on Will that is unwelcome by any means, I will slit you from nose," -Beverly tapped the tip of Hannibal's nose with her index finger and then placed it against the hollow of Hannibal's throat. Her finger slowly traced down his front- "to navel."

Hannibal's tongue traced one of his sharp canines as he continued to smile. "Duly noted, My Lady."

"And do not think that just because the crowned prince is too blind to see past his own hubris that I will not see through you."

"Beverly," Will warned and she waved him away before returning to Hannibal.

"Commander, count, or courtesan, I do not care which you prefer to go by, you are the same as everyone else when faced with the opportunity to meet God face to face."