The candle had been burning for hours now, the wax making a puddle on the wooden table top. The letter was laid out, shadows licking over the writing from the dancing flame. A half-drunk bottle of mead was open beside a partly filled cup.
Hannibal sat with his head in his hands, eyes shut tightly, lost in thought. He racked his brain for any sort of answer, any sort of way out of this. Anything that didn't involve the kingdom losing their lands and going broke over a mistake that hadn't even been theirs. So far, he had nothing. He had hoped that possibly he could change what the trade would be, but he couldn't pinpoint any sort of resources that England had that Germany did not already contain.
There was no trade they could cut off that would hurt Mason. There was no way to hold a public admission and twist it into their favor. Traditions and precedence held the world in a death grip and it would take more than just one king to make a substantial enough difference that birthright didn't matter. The entirety of their governmental structure would collapse if that were the case, as would any standing with the church.
There was no rallying the nobles. They had seen Will's cruelty first hand when he succeeded the throne. They were afraid of him, just as the duke had been, but that was their only meaning of loyalty. They were far too old and far too stubborn to do anything more than the barest adaptation. From the whispers in the kitchens, where Hannibal had holed himself up, they were Sanford sympathizers.
He would have to keep an eye and ear out, but as far as Hannibal was concerned, they were too afraid to stand against Will and their children stood with Will, having grown up at his side. It was only a matter of the roles being passed down for things to lean in a better direction, but they didn't have time to wait another decade or so.
And so, there he still sat, hours spent at this table hidden in the kitchens, pouring over this god damned letter and begging for an answer to come to him. Any enlightenment from his father would have been helpful. He pleaded that any forgotten lesson taught to him would appear in crystal clarity, but his mind was only repeating: I am not my father. I cannot compete with his memory, and I don't want to attempt such an action.
A door slamming open at the top of the stairs startled him. Footsteps and laughter clamored down them and Hannibal folded up the letter and shoved it into the breast of his shirt to hide it from whoever's wandering eyes were about to interrupt him.
Hannibal picked up his cup and finished off the honeyed liquor before stretching out his stiff muscles. When he turned in his chair, he spotted the king's guard, laughing as they hit the landing. Both fell quiet when they saw Hannibal, their smiles faltering slightly.
"Did you get the night off?" Hannibal questioned, turning back around to pour himself another cup.
"This is where you've been?" James demanded, appearing at Hannibal's side in an instant. "This whole time?"
"Everyone has been searching for you all afternoon," Brian accused, though he didn't follow James. Hannibal glanced over his shoulder to find Brain at the foot of the stairs, arms folded over his chest.
"There's food, drink and gossip," Hannibal answered numbly, toasting to the two men before he gulped down the sum of his drink. "Would either of you care for some?"
"You're a son of a bitch, you know that, don't you?" Brian's voice caused one of Hannibal's brows to raise in curiosity. "You could have at least let someone know you were down here."
"That would defeat the point of being down here." Hannibal poured a new cup and held it out to James who slowly accepted the offer. "Is it safe to assume that I am wanted in the king's bed chambers?"
"A few hours ago, maybe." James took a drink and his wince made Hannibal chuckle. "Fuck."
"It's not that strong," Hannibal teased, reaching out and pushing the cup back to James' mouth. James didn't fight and Hannibal's grin hurt as James finished off the cup and it was banged loudly on the table. James' face screwed up and he coughed, hands taking the table top to keep his balance.
"You're a child Jimmy," Brian chastised with a snort, finally relaxing enough to approach the table as well. "Pour me some too and then you're going to explain why the hell you've been down here."
Hannibal obeyed and passed the filled cup to Brian, setting aside the now empty bottle. Brian smelled the cup and Hannibal laughed again at James' sing-song mocking at Brian's slowness.
"You're a child."
"Fuck you," Brian mumbled before he downed the cup. Hannibal's tongue traced his teeth in an attempt to hold back more of his laughter as he watched streams of the mead escape down Brian's chin. Brian breathed deeply, setting the cup aside and James shot the man a dirty look when Brian didn't react. "Now, why the fuck were was the entire palace on a man hunt for you today?"
"It was that substantial, was it?" Hannibal hummed thoughtfully.
"I thought that Bev was going to lose her head with how upset she was with your absence." James turned and grabbed a bench that was under the dirty window and pulled it closer to the table. It scraped angrily against the stones and Hannibal grimaced at the loud sound. James took a seat, looking satisfied at his ingenuity and patted the wood beside him for Brian to join. "She's been looking more tired every day."
"Well, our only job is to stand around unless someone decides to attack the king. I'm sure that her running around to take care of everything is tiring." Hannibal's head tipped to the side as he watched the way Brian wrapped his arms around James and James leaned into him, receiving a kiss against his temple. "Perhaps we should hide down here too." The words were meant to be strictly for the two of them and Hannibal could feel the blush rise to his cheeks at being privy to something not belonging to him.
James smiled and turned, stealing a kiss from Brian, his hand going to Brian's cheek to keep him close when the kiss ended. A few more were shared before Hannibal finally looked away, his knuckles knocking against the table. The sound made the two break apart and they untangled themselves.
"Out with it," Brian said, motioning for Hannibal to finally explain.
Hannibal sighed and reached for the letter hidden in his shirt. He passed it over to the two men and Brian was the one who took it, unfolding it and leaning closer to the candle light to read the words.
The room fell to silence until Brian let out a long breath and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Is this what you two were whispering about over lunch?"
Hannibal nodded in answer.
Brian clicked his tongue a few times and held the letter over to James who stared at it like it was a snare. Hannibal didn't miss the embarrassment that flooded James' face and he looked to the floor sheepishly.
"I can't read," he admitted under his breath and Hannibal felt his eyes widen as he traded a shocked look with Brian.
"You're jesting," Brain exclaimed in astonishment. "What do you mean you can't read? Weren't you forced to study?"
"I…" James trailed off with a shrug, foot kicking back and forth against the floor. "I never really had any formal schooling. I worked on my father's merchant ships, learning the trade. I didn't need to know how to read to sail."
"You would have needed to read to take care of the records." Brian was exasperated and his hand shot to his forehead. "I know you weren't around the courts much, but I just figured you were kept at your estate. I didn't realize that you were at sea with him."
"He thought it more important that I learn from experience rather than books." James' eyes stayed on the floor while his foot continued to swing and his fingers twiddled in his lap. "I'm really sorry. Can you tell me what it says?"
"Sorry?" Brian reached out his free hand and cupped James' cheek, thumb caressing his face gently. It stilled James. "There's no reason to be sorry. A lot of people can't read."
"Though it does explain a lot about your personality," Hannibal announced, causing James to grin and Brian to laugh.
"It does explain a lot," Brian agreed with a nod.
"Shut up and tell me what it says," James urged, reaching up and bringing Brian's palm to his lips to press a kiss into it.
"I can't do both, my joy. You have to pick one."
James shoved Brian away and Brian chuckled, handing the letter back to Hannibal who folded it up once more to return it to the breast of his shirt. Hannibal settled back in his chair and waited for the good humor to die down slightly before he spoke.
"That was the list of demands from King Mason in exchange for his silence about Will's illegitimacy." Any cheeriness in the room died and James' smile dropped. He looked expectantly at Hannibal and Hannibal leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees and face hid in his hands again. "Among the want of money, he also wants us to turn over our territories in France as well as the Americas and I have no idea what to do to get out of it."
"Bluff." The suggestion was so swift it caught Hannibal off guard. He looked up from his hands, fingers steepled at the bridge of his nose as he looked at James. Brian also stared at James curiously. James shrugged. "My father would do it in his travels constantly. He had to get funding for the larger trips somehow," James explained.
"He lied to the king to get funding?" Brian asked.
"Yes." It was as if it were the simplest solution and James was looking between Hannibal and Brian as if they were stupid for not understanding. "Look, unless he has undeniable proof of Will's illegitimacy, then there is nothing he can do. He could spread rumors, but Will was ordained in the church with the Divine Right of Kings and I would assume all the records here prove that he is legitimate, even if they were written with bribes behind them."
Hannibal lowered his hands, the gears in his head finally turning. He wasn't sure what other type of proof Mason held, but Hannibal was more than ready to take care of any remaining proof they had here, including anyone who had been there for Will's birth. The first step would be making sure that everything they had found at the Lecter's estate was finally fully destroyed and then Hannibal could look for people like Bedelia du Maurier and silence them once and for all.
"Will can't be the only one with secrets either," Brian said, calling Hannibal's attention to him. "Mason has to have his own that would sour his standing with his kingdom. If we could hold anything against him, that might provide further leverage."
"And if all else fails and Will does not want to submit to the demands, his men will fight to defend him." James said the words slowly and the gravity of the situation settled a bit harder in Hannibal's chest. "If you are there to lead us, we will follow you to battle."
"Let's hope that this issue is resolved before that." Hannibal rubbed at his jaw, ignoring the scratchiness of the beard beginning to grow back in. "You both have given me a lot to think about. Thank you both."
"You're welcome," the two chanted.
Hannibal stood and bid them both a good night before heading for the stairs and heading up them.
The castle stood mostly quiet now, Hannibal having not realized how late into the night it actually was. He did his best to mitigate the sound of his shoes on the floor as he walked the familiar halls in search of the bed chambers.
He hadn't perceived just how tired he was until this moment and his body ached to be stretched out in bed next to Will. He wanted to close his eyes and listen to Will's light snores while Will clutched to him as if he would disappear like a cloud of smoke at dawn's first light.
When Hannibal reached the door, Jack was standing there looking rather bored, but far more aware than either Brian or James had been the last few days. Granted there had been a lot of high running emotions, but Hannibal was relieved that he could rest soundly tonight without having to be on high alert.
Jack nodded him past and Hannibal stepped into the bedroom, the only light being the moonlight coming in from the open curtains on the balcony. The bed looked like an oasis of comfort in a desert of exhaustion, beckoning him with the promise of rest. The pillows sat plump and inviting and the sheets looked cool and comforting.
The simple act of undressing felt like shedding layers of stress and fatigue, each article of clothing falling away with a soft whisper. With the letter safely hidden in the bedside drawer, Hannibal pulled back the covers, the scent of castile soap wafting up to greet him.
Sliding between the sheets, he felt an immediate sense of relief, as though the bed itself was embracing him, welcoming him home. The mattress conformed to his body, every ache and pain soothed by its gentle support. He nestled into the pillows, their softness cradling his head, and let out a long, contented sigh.
He reached out an arm and circled it around the other body that was in the bed, pulling Will into his chest. Will inhaled deeply, rising to the surface of sleep just enough to resettle himself comfortably against Hannibal.
Hannibal nuzzled his face into the crook of Will's neck, pressing faint kisses to his bare shoulders. Will hummed pleasantly and hid his face into the pillow he was clutching in his arms.
"I missed you," Will slurred out, voice muffled by the pillow.
"I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I had a lot to think about."
"I love you."
"I love you too, meilė." Hannibal yawned.
The events of the day began to fade, their edges blurring into the background. The room was filled with a peaceful stillness, broken only by the soft sounds of Will once again snoring. Hannibal's eyelids grew heavy, the pull of sleep irresistible.
In that moment, the world outside ceased to exist, and all that mattered was this comforting cocoon. Hannibal closed his eyes, letting the darkness envelop him, and surrendered to the sweet embrace of rest.
Hannibal's grip around Will tightened and he groaned, hiding his face into Will's sweaty curls as he came. Will's pants and gasps were muffled by the pillow he hid his face in. Hannibal's hands trailed down Will's arms from where he had been holding the king's hands above his head. He traced the length of Will's glistening body, shoulders to blades and down his ribs and to his hips.
Hannibal pressed kisses down Will's spine, enjoying the shivers and whimpers the touches coaxed from him. He rolled over to his side of the bed, still tangled in sheets damp from exertion. Will lay entrapped in the bedding, body intertwined with fabric in a tableau of a blissful haze.
The air was heavy with the lingering scent of intimacy, a blend of musk and the freshness of spent passion. The room was a canvas of morning light, softly filtering through the open curtains.
Hannibal stretched languidly, fingers reaching out to trace lazy patterns in Will's back who laid with his dark hair tousled and eyes half-closed in contentment. He could feel the steady rise and fall of Will's breathing, a soothing rhythm that lulled him into a state of peaceful contentment.
"So," Will mumbled almost inaudibly, his voice rough with sleep and the lingering traces of their shared pleasure. Hannibal shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to get a better look at his partner. "Did you happen to come up with a solution to Mason's letter?"
"God, Will," Hannibal scolded, falling back onto the bed. His arm flopped over his eyes to hide from the sun and he let out a low whine. "We're not moments from bliss and you already want to start extortion negotiations? No good morning? Nothing?"
Hannibal glanced over at a snort and found Will's lips curled into a lazy grin.
"Morning," he replied, the words a low rumble that sent a shiver down Hannibal's spine.
Hannibal bit his bottom lip, trying his hardest to push a new wave of arousal down. They didn't have the time for anything more this morning, but Hannibal wished they could lay in bed all day, exploring each other.
For a moment, they simply lay there, Hannibal savoring the closeness. Eventually, Hannibal shifted, reluctantly pulling himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the slight tug of tangles. The room around them was a comfortable mess – clothes strewn haphazardly and bedding half on the floor.
"We should get up," Hannibal said, though his tone lacked any real urgency. He glanced back at Will, who was now stretching listlessly, his arms reaching above his head, the sheet slipping to reveal the taut lines of his back and the curve of his ass.
Will sighed dramatically, flopping onto his back with a pout. "Do we have to?" he groaned, but there was a playful glint in his eye. Hannibal chuckled, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to Will's lips, tasting the sweetness there.
"Weren't you the one who wanted me to immediately get to work not two minutes ago?" Hannibal teased. He stood up, giving his muscles a satisfying stretch, feeling Will's eyes following his movements.
"I've changed my mind." Hannibal turned back to the bed with brows raised, waiting for the rest of what Will was going to say. "I am king and I order you to stay in bed with me all day."
"You order me?" Hannibal hummed and knelt back onto the bed, crawling his way back over Will's body, hands on either side of Will's head. Blue eyes stared up at him, and there was a hitch in Will's breath, the small sound making Hannibal's knees weak. Will nodded and Hannibal leaned in closer. "All day?"
"All day," Will whispered in agreement. Hannibal's eyes slid shut as Will's fingers brushed over his left cheek. "Beverly can be Queen for a day."
"She practically already is."
"Then the kingdom will be fine." The weight of Will's arms circling Hannibal's neck was comforting and he allowed himself to be pulled further down until he was being kissed deeply. Hannibal sighed against Will's mouth and he lowered his body until it was flush with Will. Will's legs intertwined with Hannibal's as if they were attempting to lock Hannibal in place. "Stay." It was whispered between kisses. "Stay."
"Noriu priversti jus apgailestauti, kad to manęs paklausėte. (I want to make you regret asking me that)," Hannibal growled, a hand taking a fistfull of Will's hair and pulling Will's head back. Will gasped, and Hannibal's chest clenched as he watched Will's eyes roll back. "Tiesiog noriu, kad prisimintumėte, kad tai, kas atsitiko su jumis, buvo jūsų aplaidumas. (I just want you to remember that what happens to you was your negligence)."
"You're making it hard to concentrate," Will teased through a weak laugh, tilting his head to the side as Hannibal's teeth brushed against his neck. Hannibal inhaled deeply of Will's intoxicating scent.
"That would be the point, meilė."
Hannibal bit down on Will's fluttering pulse and reveled at how tightly Will's grip went around his body. Hannibal continued his nips down Will's neck and to his collar, making sure to leave blossoming red and purples behind.
His fingers grazed over Will's nipples. Hannibal watched as Will arched into his touch. The way Will's body reacted was beautiful. It was as if it had been made specifically with Hannibal in mind and only Hannibal knew all the little secrets to make Will react.
The gasp that left Will sent flames through Hannibal's heart when he took one of the sensitive buds into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before sucking gently. Will's hands found their way into his hair, tangling with the strands as Hannibal moved lower, more bites trailed down Will's torso. Hannibal's teeth grazed over his hip bone, inciting another moan from Will. Hannibal could feel Will's need radiating around them and it only fueled his own desire.
Hannibal leaned back on his knees and couldn't help but admire the sight of Will, laid bare before him, hard and ready and wanting. Hannibal's eyes followed the bruisings down Will's body, satisfaction flooding through him.
Hannibal wrapped his hand around Will's length, stroking slowly, teasingly. Will groaned, hips lifting off the bed, seeking more friction. Hannibal grinned, tightening his grip slightly. He increased the pace, watching as Will's face contorted with pleasure.
Leaning down, Hannibal flicked his tongue over the tip, tasting the saltiness of Will there. A strangled cry escaped Will's throat and Hannibal's eyes flickered back up to find pleading blue staring back at him.
"Please," Will begged, his voice rough with need. Hannibal chuckled lowly at the sense of power Will gave him. Will might be king and could do as he pleased, but in these moments of intimacy, Hannibal was the crown. His tongue slowly traced Will's slit and Will's head tipped back as his back arched. "Han-Hannibal, please."
Hannibal took him into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the head before sliding down, taking Will as deeply as He could. Hannibal loved the way Will's hands tightened in his hair and how ragged Will's breathing became as he set a rhythm, mouth working with practiced ease. He could feel the tension building in Will's body, the way Will's muscles tightened, the way his moans grew louder and more desperate.
Hannibal pulled back, releasing Will and looked up to meet Will's gaze. His eyes were dark with lust, his lips parted as he panted for breath. Hannibal ached as he climbed back up Will's body, capturing the boy's mouth in a searing kiss, tongues tangling together.
"Turn over," Hannibal whispered against his mouth, and Will complied without hesitation. Hannibal kissed his way down Will's spine, his hands spreading Will's cheeks. The anticipation was loud in the way that Will's body tensed in Hannibal's grip, waiting for the next move.
Hannibal dipped his head, his tongue teasing at Will's entrance. The taste of the two of them together from their earlier tussle made something clench painfully in Hannibal's gut and he couldn't help but reach down to stroke himself in an attempt to release some of the built up tension.
Will relaxed into a moaning puddle, pushing back against Hannibal's tongue, silently asking for more. Hannibal licked and played, thoroughly enjoying the frustration that was building up in Will.
"Fuck, Hannibal," Will hissed. "I need you."
Hannibal didn't need to hear the plea again. He kissed the dimples in the small of Will's back before sitting up and positioning himself. He pushed into Will slowly, feeling the tight heat envelope him. Hannibal watched as a shiver rippled up Will's back and the boy's hands turned to fists in the sheets. Hannibal's hand splayed over Will's spine, giving him the balance he needed to pull out almost completely before thrusting back in. The groans tumbled from Will's lips and he met Hannibal thrust for thrust. Hannibal's own moans mingled with Will's, the sounds of their bodies coming together filling the room.
Hannibal reached around, wrapping his hand around Will's length, stroking in time with his thrusts. Will cried out and Hannibal could feel Will's body trembling beneath him, teetering on the edge. Hannibal could feel his own release building, the tight coil of pleasure in his gut ready to snap.
"Come for me," Hannibal whispered in his ear and that was all it took. Will broke, shuddering around Hannibal, his release spilling over Hannibal's hand. Hannibal followed him over the edge, his climax crashing through him, leaving him breathless and trembling.
Hannibal collapsed onto Will, their bodies slick with sweat, breaths matching rhythm as they lied there. Hannibal's hands searched out Will's and he caressed Will's hands from the sheets, tangling their fingers together. He pressed tired kisses to Will's neck and could make out a weak smile playing on Will's lips.
Hannibal nuzzled his nose into Will's curl and let out a deep sigh. "What happened to all of the papers I left you? It has to do with Mason's letter," he said silkily, teeth catching Will's ear in a gentle bite. It must have taken Will a moment to register the words because the annoyed groan was delayed, though it did come with an elbow to the ribs that made Hannibal grin.
"Hannibal!"