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Paris Bordone
1525-1530
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After Katia's Death, flashback

"ALRIGHT." She nodded. "I'll reveal you everything."

Opening up about her scars wasn't easy for Alice Mallory, specially when it was about her biggest, bloodiest and ugliest one we talk about.

But when Hannibal Lecter cornered her with the possibility of leaving her, she realized she would be willing to hurt herself just to keep him.

It was set. Once the sun rised the next day, she would do it. She barely told him where they were going. Only revealed that this was the end of the secrets. That her soul would now be exposed completely to him.

Even though he didn't do the same to her.

"What are we doing at a hospital?" Hannibal Lecter asked confused as he parked the car at the location she desired. "Are you okay-"

"It is here." She told him serious. "Come on" Alice walked forward, still leaving him confused as he quickly unbuckled the seatbelt and followed her inside.

She guided him quiet, awfully quiet and serious as never before, greeting nurses as she arrived in front of a room at the end of a hallway. Stopped before opening the door, finally turning to him.

"Whatever you see here, it is our secret now." She said in a somber tone that caused him chills.

"And what would that be, Alice?" He asked dying to know.

"You'll see it with your own eyes." She turned around and opened the door, as the cold air from the air conditioned habitat embraced them. Closing the door behind him, Hannibal's glance lifted towards his fiancé walking gracefully until the elderly man with wide eyes staring at him. "Hannibal, I'd like to introduce you to my father, Edgar Mallory."

Now

"Hello, father." Her freezing blue eyes matched with his, but their meanings scaringly different. "How are you doing today?" The wrinkled man who was stuck to that bed for nearly 10 years couldn't reply. "I told the nurses to change your pillows. Maybe it's far more comfortable now." She muttered. "Even if you don't deserve them, of course."

Alice glanced fastly at her phone, a text from Hannibal, the only one who actually still communicated with her now. "Where are you?" The text was exhibited on the screen. "With him. I'll be back soon." She replied, turning back to her parent. "I'm sorry, just my fiancé. By the way, did you like him? He was so surprised to meet you."

Flashback

"You took care of him...all this time." He spoke, the eyes wide open at the man standing at the bed. "Even after Will's attack-"

Hannibal was surprised indeed, never in this time he used to read her mind or control her wishes, he expected to find out such a dark secret.

"He only breathes through the machines." Alice explained calmly, adjusting the sheets above her elderly father. "It just takes one wire out of its' place...and he's gone."

'"Something about that statement makes me question why you keep him surviving then"

She glanced at him a bit surprised. She could hate Edgar, hate more than anything else in this world, but..."He's my father."

"The same who threatned you and your family." Hannibal apporached her, as they both stared at the scared fragile man on the bed. "Don't tell me..." her eyes glistened against his. "You feel in debt with him."

"It is my fault he is stuck in this bed."

"You never imagined Will's attack would lead to this-"

"And yet it did." She sighed, he could feel how stressed she was about that matter. "He's even under a fake ID in here, Katia at the time managed to get it with a friend for me, the 'real' Edgar Mallory is chilling at a beach house in Bahamas."

Her mind. My goodness... her mind. It could be kind but also despicable. How she mastered that plan all those years...it was formidable, almost incredibly scarying.

He thought it was impossible to fall even moren in love with her. Just now, he was proved wrong.

"So if he died here.."

"No one would miss him." She completed in a dark tone. "No one would mourn, or even remember about him ever again. Neither Will or I would be charged for his murder. He'd only die as a nobody."

"Does anyone else know about this?"

"As I've said, besides Katia, the only other person is also dead." She said with sadness.

"Bree." He suggested, she nodded in agreement. "And Will?"

"He won't know about this." She looked at her fiancé deadly serious. "Now, the only person who knows it's you, Hanni." Something in her tone was threatning yet caring. "And I expect this to remain as a secret."

Now

Alice Mallory continued looking at the man she despised on that bed. Yes, she hated herself for being kind. For taking care of that evil father as she had all those years. But she couldn't help but feel guilty. After all, if it wasn't for Will's courage to beat the shit out of Edgar Mallory, he wouldn't be there, helpless to his daughter's carings.

Maybe she wanted to believe there was good in him, to have a sparkle of hope into that figure, those wrinkles and flacid pale skin. But the man couldn't even speak, he became a plant, stuck to a bed, with wires and devices making it impossible to for him to talk or move. His necessities were made on a bucket that was cleaned by nurses, the body was washed by a team as well. All the hype, the life that he once had, now was gone.

That wasn't life, that was torture.

And deep inside, Alice knew that.

Hannibal noticed that. This hidden sadic desire in his lover to take revenge, even with the best intentions, there it was, the darkness of her soul.

And it was mesmerizing

No, the secret being revealed didn't divide them, it united them instead. Like a secret, a confidency only they shared. An oath between lovers until the end of their lives.

"So, you wanted the whole truth, there it is." Alice said once they were back in the car, taking a deep breath. "Now I leave to you the choice." She tried to appear calm, but would breakdown if he left her.

Hannibal glanced at his lover,  who was now completely vulnerable under his sight. "I'll never leave you, Lissy." She looked up at his words, a sparkle of hope in her eyes. "You were honest with me, and that's what matters. Mistakes were made, but we can leave that to the past." He spoke as if he was a saint. "I love you too much to let you go."

Alice chuckled, and fastly pulled him close, sealing that oath with a kiss.

Indeed, he loved her too much to let her go, and she would realize that in the worst way possible.

Their love, in his eyes, was the greatest thing to ever exist.

▫️

Will Graham didn't forgive Hannibal Lecter, no, he had that killing rage hidden beneath his fragile pupils, that hitched and dangerous thought inside his mind, and that twisted desire beneath his soul. Will wanted to kill him. But killing him wouldn't be easy, he needed to be careful, charming, regain his trust as a wise, slow and careful snake cornering its' prey. And by that, he'd be an honest patient who Hannibal would be amused by, as the therapist leaned him even further to the madness of his mind, to expose his full potential.

The ex agent would wake up often in the middle of the night covered in sweat, breathing heavily, as his heart beated nonstop, trying to dissipate the murder fantasies he had, so, on the next day, he could face his so desired victim.

In one of those days he was there, at the waiting room outside the office, in one of those chairs many patients have sat before. How many has Hannibal manipulated? Bella, Franklyn, and a soon upcoming patient he would meet, the ilustreous Margot Verger...but for now, he'd just wait for his therapist to arrive.

If only she didn't show up instead.

Those tender yet betrayed eyes that were conflicted inside, that strong but now shy stance in front of him, the brown strands that framed perfectly her delicate features. "What are you doing here?" Her voice contained a defensive tone.

"I could ask you the same thing." Will Graham replied to Alice Mallory, his eyes lingered at her clothes, there was something different about them recently, they were more...normal, average and greyscale like. As if she didn't put enough effort in them as before, or, just didn't find interest anymore. Something that seemed quite concerning in his opinion.

"Where's Hannibal?"

"Thought he was always glued to you now." He teased, watching her roll her eyes at him. "Looking for him?"He got up from his chair, Alice gave one step back in response.

"What else would I be here for?" Something in her voice trembled by smelling that afterhsave she loved on him.

Silence came after her sentence. She could leave, could turn her back to him and simply leave him there, but her feet was stuck to the ground, her heart sunk as an anchor, and just by staring at those perfect but messy shaped curls and that thin tickling beard made her freeze.

"It's been a while since we've been alone like this..." He purred as he took one step foward, God, she hated that, hated that flirty Will with all her strentgh because he just knew her too well, he knew her weaknesses, his charms, knew how to make her surrender and how to make her fight. He knew all the ways to her heart but never put them in action, until now.

Inches away, bodies close, hearts beating as one, loud as drums inside that quiet waiting room. "Stop it." She muttered. He pretended to be numb.

"Stop what?"He mocked, his hand reached for a strand of her hair, playing with it softly against his fingertips. Alice held her breath.

"You know what." Her voice came even weaker, as if she was in a fight or die duel. His face leaned a bit towards her, Alice was about to melt. "Will, please..."

"Are you really happy with him?"He whispered, the eyes closed, the breaths mixing.

"I am." She replied in an instinct.

"Do you... love him?" He suddenly opened those green-ish eyes to meet hers, helpless, lusty, passionate, it was just breathtaking and unable to contain it.

"I do." She whispered, as he cupped her cheeks softly, as if she was a precious teacup about to shatter. "I do, I love Hannibal."

His finger lightly stroke her cheek. "Then why do you tremble in my hands?" He whispered, Alice was about to loose it. "Don't tell me you don't feel this...annoying..." He exhaled heavily, the lips brushing against hers for a tormenting and spicy second, his eyes closed. "...tempting....tension... between us..."

"There's nothing between us anymore..."She swallowed dry. "You tried to kill my fiancé"

"He forgave me." He smirked like the devil, God, that was irresistible.

"I know you're not truly sorry."

"And I know you still love me." His words echoed inside that waiting room, if anyone walked into that scene...what a mess would it be. What a mess Alice was, high by his touch, his words. "Your heartbeat is so loud." He teased.

"You're imagining things."

"No, I'm not..."His sight stopped at her red  lips. "What I imagine is much more...pleasant" He whispeed, as that heated feeling grew even more inside Alice's guts, taking control of her whole being. "Wanna know what it is?"

He pulled her face close, crashing her lips against hers in a hungry, delicious, and longing kiss that made Alice completely crumble but not reciprocate. Hannibal came back into her mind, she couldn't do that. She pulled his chest strongly ""Enough!" She shouted, stepping away from his arms. "Enough, enough, I can't deal with this...I...I just want to live a normal life...why do you have to ruin it for me? Why not let me be happy?"She almost cried. "I love Hannibal, Will."

"Ali.." Will stepped foward. She standed her arms in the air for him not to come closer.

"You are right...I do love you, I've always did." Her eyes filled with tears, Will didn't know if he should be happy or sad, he waited for that moment for so long, and now, she was leaving him again. "But I can't have my heart broken by you again. Not when I found someone who I truly feel complete with, who mend me together after all that happened."

"He will break it." Will warned her serious. "Hannibal will break your heart much worse than me."

"Maybe." She nodded in a whisper. "But I'll gladly let him do it." She spoke determined as never before. "Because even if I don't want to, it'll always beat for him."

That killed him inside. As if she had shot him once again, chose Hannibal over him again. "I can't let you bring this to yourself-"

"It is my choice, not yours." Alice responded sharply. "You want me to forgive you? Then forget me. Bury down deep whatever you feel and don't speak about this ever again. I'll do the same."

"We did that once." He recalled, Alice realized that this time, with different reasons, she was acting just like he did in the past. "Look at where we are."

"Let's hope this time works then"

"And what if it doesn't?"

The silence consumed them mercilessly. That hurt, hurt them both so much, like a knife inside their chests, it was almost impossible to breathe. History repeated itself.

"Goodbye, Will." She turned her back to him, walking away.

When she left, Will realized that there was only one way to heal that cursed cycle they always eneded up in, just one chance to end it for once and for all:

Getting rid of Hannibal.

▫️

There's nothing as intriguing as a woman's mystery. And when the subject were Alice's secrets, Hannibal Lecter would be extremely curious to discover all of them. With his soon to be father-in-law in coma, Hannibal became more attentive to each of Alice's details, to her expressions, her humor, he was attentive before, but now...now he wouldn't let anything pass by.

And even if he was caught in his reminisces of Alice and her father's future that affected her deeply, he couldn't help but notice her troubled eyes when she entered the house.

"You're back." He muttered.

"I looked for you at your office." She told him. She seemed...haunted. "Why weren't you there?"

"It is my day off, remember?"

It indeed was his day off. Alice forgot about that. But Will remembered it. That evil mastermind...he knew it all the time, there was no session, he just waited for her to show up...He saw it coming in advance. Her body shivered, but she tried to disguise it.

"So..."Hannibal walked and wrapped his arms around her, about to inhale her sweet candy aroma when his lungs stopped. The eyed widened. Tried to believe his mind deceived him.

That same unfortunate, musky, ship-in-a-bottle afterhsave.

She was with Will Graham.

It is hard to determine how Hannibal felt at that moment, perphaps he expected Alice to confess it, but she didn't seem like she would do it. He looked at her. No lipstick on her lips as she used to have, the hair a bit messed.

"Did you see Will Graham?" Hannibal couldn't keep in the question. She widened her eyes at him. "Be honest with me. No secrets, remember?"

Alice took a deep breath. "I did. Accidentally."

"And what did he do?"

She hesitated to answer, and that minute in silence killed Hannibal inside. She couldn't have done that. Cheating? It just didn't seem like her.

"He...He kissed me." She confessed. He felt a blade through his chest. "I pushed him away. I swear. It was just a kiss."

He looked dow giving a sour half smile. "Just a kiss..." He sniffed completely mad, she could feel how angry he was. "Then tell me, did you reply?" He looked up.

"What?"

"Did you reply to his kiss?" Alice parted her lips as he asked that. "Speak the truth." He demanded.

"No, I'd never do that." She said, feeling almost a bit offended that he thought she would do such a thing. "I love you, why would I do that?"

"I know you do." He replied serious. "I never doubted that." She reached for his arm, holding it. "But I don't want people taking what's mine, do you understand?" She nodded shy, as he caressed her face with the back of his hand, a soft expression on his face.

"Are you...mad at me?" Her lips quivered at his sight.

Hannibal grinned showing his teeth in an almost inaudible chortle. "Not at you." She stopped breathing terrified. Deep inside his blood boiled as a vulcan about to enter eruptions. "But we can fix that, can't we?"

"How....?"

Hannibal suddenly guided her until their shared room, he locked the door once they were in, hiding it from her sight.

"Hanni-"

"Quiet." He ordered, she immediatly shut down. "You'll do what I ask you to, when I want you to. Do you understand?" He said in an authoritary tone. "Reply."

"Yes..."

The dark atmosphere surrounded them both. The windows closed, he lightned up some candles, in a haunting yet sensual tension. Something in Hannibal's body was awaken as an animal. A deadly jealous feeling that just intoxicated him. Will Graham tried, after all, to take what was his. And he wouldn't allow Alice to even think about that possibility. 

He sat down at the edge of the bed, watching his lover confused, vulnerable. "Strip it down for me."

TW// (HEAVY) SMUT IF YOU'RE UNDERAGE (BELOW 18) OR FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, PLEASE SKIP UNTIL THE NEXT WARNING!

Alice was surprised at first, but he seemed impassive this time. "You heard me, I told you to take iff your clothes." He repeated serious. Alice felt her heart speed, still unsure of what was happening, she lowered down the pants, and took off the shirt, mow fully in underwear in front of him. "The rest as well." Hannibal added, noticing she wasn't fully exposed yet. Her hands reached the back of the bra. "Slowly." He commanded as she obeyed, carefully freeing the cases and letting down the piece, removed the panties afterwards. "Be a doll and spin for me." She spinned as he asked. "You just look adorable..."

He licked his lips, in a mix of lust and anger, a deadly desire that rised into his soul. That night she would be his, and his only, in a way she would never forget it.

"Come here." He tapped his lap as Alice walked forward shy,  beathing heavily watching his eyes stuck on her delightful anatomy. His hand softly rubbed her arms, holding them. "Where were you when Will Graham kissed you?"

He wouldn't forget about it. The matter burned inside his mind with intensity, he wanted to know everything so she could forget about his rival completely.

"Hanni..."

"Aren't you going to answer me?"

"You won't like it..." She swallowed dry, as the grip on her arm became stronger.

"One way or another I'll discover it, Lissy." He said. "Do you prefer for us to do this the easy or the hard way?" She didn't reply, avoiding his eyes. "Remember that you asked for this." He pulled her suddenly  making her drop on his lap, the belly down, the butt lifted up. "Where were you with Will Graham?"

She didn't reply, and, in responsed, received a harsh slap on her skin, making her gasp. "What are y-"

"Say it." He spanked her ass once again, Alice's toes curlrd up by the pain. He leaned on her ear. "Be a good girl and answer me, Lissy. I don't want to hurt you." He whispered in a hot breath that gave her chills. She shaked her head in negative, another slap sound echoed through the room. The red on her skin was now exposed by his large hands, rubbing softly her surface. "Are you prortecting him? Is that it?"

"No, I-I'm not!"

"Then just answer me." He slapped again, Alice this time couldn't hold it, letting out a moan escape her quivering lips. "I believe this isn't going to work..." He pulled her chin so she could look properly at him, revealing a small, attempting to be hidden, smile peakibg through her rosy lips. "...since I'm starting to think you're enjoying this." Alice blushed. He chortled. How could she be so adorable yet so filthy at the same time? He loved that. "You like this...?" He slapped again, she shut down her eyes and whimpered in a painful grin "Look at you...so cute." He caressed her cheek, her blue eyes meeting his intensely. "Let's try it this way: if you answer correctely, I'll do what you want, what about that?" He let his hand go from her ass. "Until then, you'll receive nothing." She widened her eyes, Hannibal smirked. "Where did this affair with Will Graham happen?"

Alice hesited just for a second. "At the waiting room of your office when I was looking for you." His eyes sparkled with a hidden anger, the statement made his blood boil again. Spanked her stronger, her moan was louder.

"My office..." He exhaled furious, just the thought made him want to yell. "...Besides the kiss, what else did he do?" But his voice continued serene and serious.

"He...he told me you'd break my heart-" Her sentence was cut by another attack at her back side. Alice groaned with pleasure. That was new to her, she never realized to enjoy this type of punishment, Hannibal was always gentle, dominant but delicate all the time not to hurt her, but now he couldn't help it. His voice, his strentgh, his authority, it just turned her on as never before.

"Do you think that'll happen?"

"No." This time Hannibal did nothing.
Stared at the red marks of his fingers across her pale skin, as a signature in an art piece, satistified with his work.

"Why?"

She sighed. "Because I trust you." He stopped, looking down at her softly. What did he do to deserve her? Alice looked over her shoulder a bit confused. "What...are you going to do now...?"

"Do you want to know?" He asked insolently, touching his lips against her ear. "Would you like for me to continue, darling?" Of course he'd ask her first, even filled with rage, he'd always ask her first for consent.

Alice nodded shy. "Yes-"

"Never knew you could be such a dirty girl." He kissed her temple sweetly before continuing. "On your knees, for me." She was surprised, of course, but did as he asked, as Hannibal got up, unbuckling his social and classy dark pants, exposing the large bulge on his waist. "Do not hush darling, I plan to use you for quite a while tonight." Her whole body jittered in pleasure, as he took off the underwear. "You know what to do." She wrapped her hands around his cock delivering gentle kisses and sucking on it. "Good girl..."He spoke in a low hoarse tone, with fingers buried into her hair, the palms postioned above her head. His moans were contained but filled the room along with the wet noises of her lips against his skin. It was a hot and salty sensation touching the back of her throat, as he pulled her head against him, thrusting deeper and deeper into her mouth. "That's it...just like that, darling..." He praised as a tear rolled down her cheek. She could feel his heated skin pulsing, knew it was coming soon. "Open up wide. Swallow it all in." He responded fastly as he released that warm liquid inside he mouth, finishing pleasing her fiancé.

Alice breathed heavily, as Hannibal recovered himself for a moment, she always managed to bring him to climax no matter how. But at that night, he wanted to claim her completely.

"On the bed, now." He demanded as she looked at him surprised. "I'm not done with you yet."

While she lied on the bed, he grabbed enough fabric to create knots around her wrists and the bed, as hancuffs that stopped her from moving legs and arms.

"How did he kiss you?" He leaned above her, taking off his shirt, now both of them with naked chests pressed against each other, as he brushed his lips against hers. "Did you want more?" He whispered, Alice trembled, she was completely surrended to him. "Did you think he's better than me?" His hands slided through her body, slightly rubbing her nipples.

"Hanni..."She yearned as he continued teasing, she closed her eyes waiting. "No  he could never be like you." She begged, as he finally smiled, letting his lips crash into hers, wet, needy, claiming her sweetness as his own.

"It's good, isn't it?" He mumbled betwern kisses, his hand lowered down her core. "Does he make you feel like this?" His fingers flickered her sensitive skin, her back arched in enjoyment. "Just as I thought." He broke the kiss, staring into that flushed face and messed up brown hair. "Look at me, darling." She opened up her icy eyes to meet his warm ones in a trance. Her mouth slowly opened into an "O" as he touched her flesh in lustful movements. "Do you like this?" She almost couldn't reply, her face twitched, her legs tried to helplessly move. "Do you want more?" She nodded desperate. "Use your words, love."

"..yes...please, Hanni...."She begged. Seeing her so helpless, he removed his hand. Got up from the bed and watched her confusion, satisfied. "Hannibal?"

"Guess I should be cautious and set up a warning so this issue won't happen again." He advised dangerously as he leaned towards her neck. "A warning so they'll know who owns you." He sniffed as he bit and sucked her skin, leaving red, teeth marked circled spots everywhere in her body. Alice groaned loudly in pain, the sensation almost cutting her skin, so red that it almost bleeded. "Scream how much you want, nobody will save you." He whispered as he explored other parts of her body, leaving love bites everywhere as stamps in paper.

Once done, he admired that wonderful mess. Alice almost couldn't breath from how much she screamed. Her body was filled with sharp marks, a sign of "Hannibal's property."

She was sweaty, exhausted and aroused, still there, open and exposed to him. What a beautiful vision, he thought again. Hannibal adoredbtaht woman so much, he wanted, she had no idea of how much yet. He'd never wish for her to suffer, he'd wish for her to have pleasure instead, to find joy and satisfaction in his touch.

He positioned himselfbetween her legs, the large veiny hands firmly gripping her skin. Alice gulped in antecipation. "Feeling nervous, love?" He looked into her eyes tenderly. "Is this okay? Tell me if you wish for me to stop."

"It's okay." She responded in a whisper. "Please, go on."

He sniffed at his vulnerable prey. "I guess you're liking this a little too much, aren't you?" She chuckled adorably. His hands caressed her tighs, greedy for her screams. "Let's see if you'll think about any other man after this." She could feel him slowly sliding into her, teasing, her walls clenching anxiously, ready to devour him. "Nobody will ever touch you like this..." She shut down her eyes letting him enter her deliciously. "I love it when you do that expression...so helpless and needy for me." He smiled, taking off his cock from her entrance as she almost begged for him to put it back. "You can run and hide, but in the end, we both know you'll always come back to me, darling. After all..." She looked into those hazel maddening eyes. A sparkle of love, insanity, possessivness "...you're mine."

She screamed as he thrusted all at once, with an immense amount of strentgh and speed she has never experienced before. Her voice filled the room, followed by Hannibal's praises and orders. "Can he fuck you like this?" He growled beteeen his teeth, rocking his hips against hers into a delightful pagan feeling. "...what pretty noises you're making...does it feel good?" He pulled harder and harder, almost as if he would tear her apart. Alice tried to move but the hanfcuffs blocked any movement. A wave of pleasure took over her body. "Good girl—that's my good fucking girl." He groaned, adoring the tight sensation while inside of her, watching as Alice brokedown beneath him and the sweat from their bodies mixed bittersweetly. Her sight wa sjust so hot, blurry, as she could see his eyes glued on her, the hir falling wet above his face as a wild and insatiable animal, she could feel the desire in his eyes hust by staring at him. "Remember how I'm fucking you, how good I'm fucking you. You're with me, remember that." He asssured as her head spinned around, focused only on him and that feeling growing pointy, explosive inside her more and more.

"Hanni...I...I-think..."

"Not yet." He hissed as her body shaked by the strong slams of his movement inside hers. Nobody made him feel that way besides her. She was a goddess in human form, had to be. "Only when I ask you to...did you hear me...?" He puffedd, lifting up his head in an overdose of oxcytocin, licking his narrowed lips.

Alice struggled to keep it in. He fucked her so good, so right, better than anything before. She wouldn't be able to hold it for much longer. Her body collapsed and twitched, her head sunk into the pillow. "Hannibal please..."She begged "Hannibal-I-"

"Now, darling, now..." He allowed as her whole body relaxed beneath him, releasing her juices all over the place. The expression on her face, how she was completely into him, how he made her satisfied like nobody else...he knew it.

She was his.

The thoughts drived him crazy along with her wet walls against him. Good thing she was on the pill, because tonight he wanted to finish it all, to give her a souvenir dripping from her beautiful thighs that he could wash later in their bath. A loud moan of his echoed into the room as he filled her completely, lying on her chest, pressing a soft kiss on her lips, exhausted.

Even after it all, through the wet fallen hair strands that covered his face, he could spot her sweet smile towards him. He exhaled heavily, tired, as she pet his head, calmly, and most of all: in love.

TW//END OF SMUT

She lied by his side, the body now freed and washed, hidden beneath the sheets, exhausted, asleep. The hair scattered across the pillow, the skin still warm. Even after all the sweat that dropped from her temples and the unholy acts they comitted, she still smelled sweetly and innocently.

He let his fingers trail around her exposed back, carefully touching her skin to reassure himself that she was still there. He could appear strong, dangerous and dominant in front of her for a while, but inside he feared. Feared that she could leave him. Feared that the sunshine in his life would illuminate another's. He couldn't stand that thought.

Hannibal adored Alice, lived for her as if she was the air he breathed, the blood inside his veins. With her gone, it would be the end of him.

Glanced at one of the marks in her body, this one at her neck, now even more purple and exposed. Must've hurt her. He carefully pet her hair and delivered gentle kisses at her nape, as Alice slowly woke up, blinking as she recognized the shape of his lips tickling her skin.

"I'm sorry." He whispered warmly at her ear. "I didn't want to hurt you." He caressed her shoulders slowly. The dangerous structure was gone, now assumed by the soft, tender and caring Hannibal she knew. "I was just...upset."

"And you were right about being." She mumbled "But you need to trust me-"

"I love you." He vulnerably let it go. Alice stopped, surprised. He wasn't one to show ths side of his so often."I love you more than anything else...wich is why it..." he analyzed his own emotions. "...scares me the possibility to loose you." He confessed as in a therapy session. "That perphaps you might choose someone else over me."

Alice rolled around to face him, cupping his cheeks and staring into those fagile little boy's eyes, almost irrecognizable from the hungry beast from moments ago. "Hanni..."She sighed. "That'll never happen, darling...I love you, and that'll never change."

"Never it's a very strong world." He was pessimist.

"And so is forever. And I'll love you forever. No matter what happens." She stroked his cheek lightly with her finger.

"Promise?" He asked, his eyes lit up by the moonlight, revealing his messed dark strands, he was gorgeous, deadly gorgeous. She couldn't deny it, she was crazy about that man, blindly focused on him, and she couldn't wait to finally become his wife.

Alice let one of her hands go from him and suggested a pinky promise. "I promise." They united their fingers innocently, vowing to the danger of the future and the chaos they'd rise together. "Can I tell you something?" He nodded. "What happened there...what you did..."Alice giggled, snuggling into his warm chest "...that was so awesome."

He chuckled delivering kisses across her cheeks. "My little minx." He caressed her face, grinning at that sweet girl who captured his heart. "Well, if you ever want to repeat this again, I'll be at your service."

"Oh really?" She lifted one of her eyebrows, a devilish smile crossed her puritan face. "The night's still young...what about a round 2? Can you handle it?" She mocked his advanced age.

Hannibal sighed helpless "You'll be the death of me." She chortled as he quickly pushed the sheets to the side, gripping her waist and staying on top of her, Alice smirked. "But I gladly accept your challenge, my dear."

▫️

"I understand your hankering for ending my life." He muttered, crossing elegantly his legs, stabilizing his hidden annoyance. "Which I can accept, since you're finally embracing your true nature impulsed by it." Hannibal Lecter established, letting a small silent pause of his calm office consume then both for an instant. "But that does not apply to damage you're causing to my belongings."

A blaze crossed in ther glances. Passive agressive speeches covered by fancy vocabulary and fake smiles, when in fact they wanted to choke each other until death.

A charming yet sassy smirk appeared into the thin bearded patient, numb to the hatred the therapist preserved into his soul. "I see Alice told you about our meeting." Will Graham said fearless.

"An improper and outrageous one if I may say." Hannibal rest his arms on the chair's ones. "I let you become my patient, but that doesn't apply to your romantic overtures at Alice."

"That's not for you to decide, is it?"

"That's where you mistake yourself." He mocked creepily. "You're wasting your time, Will. Maybe you should focus in what really matters."

"Like killing you."

"That may seem to be your top priority after all."

"Once I get rid of you, Alice will be freed from this torment."

"Alice won't be freed. She doesn't wish to." He responded sharply. "The connection we have is beyond your comprehension. Beyond your so called morals, when in fact, you're just like me."

"I am nothing like you." Will replied disgusted, speaking through his teeth.

Hannibal gave a short chuckle, low enough to give someone chills. "Oh, but you are." He nodded. "Because we know that if you were in my position, you'd do the same." He looked into his eyes. "Just as me, Will, if you had the opportunity again... you'd never let her go."