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Jan van Eyck
1434
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"WATCH out, watch out!" He screamed as she laughed maniacally through the busy streets, shoving people out of the way with loud roaring engines. "We're going to die!" He held for his own life's sake to her waist as he watched the pacific Florence becoming agitated and hyped by the motorcycle's speed.

"WOOHOOO!!!"Alice shouted challenging herself to speed the black shiny vehicle through a narrowed old street. "Duck, fast!" She shouted. Hannibal failed in it though, taking an old lady's bra on his face as they passed by some clothes that were drying and hung by hooks on both extremes of the street. "Looks like you received a gift from and admiror!" She mocked as Hannibal threw the bra away from them, while the whole street could listen to the angry old lady's screams at them.

"Very funny, now lower this speed right now, young lady." He asked as she did a short curve almost making them crash into the floor. "ALICE-"

"No way! This is much faster than my old scooter!" She said thrilled. "Ah come on, I know you like to be put into a little danger."

Oh, he did. Actually, Hannibal could act tough, but he liked that cold sensation inside his stomach on the back of her bike, to hug her from behind as the wind shaked their hair and the sun blinded their sight. There was this fresh, summery air that filled their lungs and warmed their hearts. He could close his eyes for a moment and just enjoy the moment, well, if she didn't risk their lives by each second.

They had finally arrived home, and, in a sudden stop, she parked the bike, glancing behind her shoulder at the messy haired man holding tight to her body.

"You can let me go now." She smirked charmingly in that mix of adventurer and angel figure.

"I don't think I'll ever will." He mumbled in a small adorable smile that formed a kiss against her lips.

Alice scrunched her nose, giggling softly at his image. "Your hair looks like a wave, I need to take a picture of this."

"Nevermind, I'll let you go." He hopped off from the bike fastly as Alice laughed, following him into their home.

Once inside the luxurious mansion, he put away his jacket and walked around the room, taking off the layers of clothing as Alice gasped.

"What are you doing?" She chuckled.

"Heading to the shower. What about you?" He pretended to sound numb while exposing that large chest to her.

Alice licked her lips. "Just...uh..resting." She sat down at the brown sofa in front of him.

"No need to lie, love, enjoy the view as much as you want to." He winked. He winked. Alice threw her head back in a blush while laughing. "I'll be back soon."

"Sure, go ahead."

Hannibal entered the bathroom and Alice could listen to the water rolling down. She walked towards the balcony, where her large canvas standed with a half complete landscape of the city view from her position. It was filled with red to orange roofs, a clear blue sky and shiny oceans that surrounded a crowded and historical enchanting place.

There was this explosion of happiness and inspiration inside her as never before. It's like her artistical spirit became alive during that moment, and, as she finished the details, added some small aspects only recognizable by her sight to make it unique. The balcony, drawn in brown and grey tones, had a man sitting on it, holding a small leather sketchbook and a pencil, admiring the city. This was the same spot where Hannibal sat sometimes to watch the crowds and draw the landscape.

She was so immersed into the figure that barely noticed when he approached her from behind, the wet hair dripping water on her back as he kissed her nape gently, the large arms wrapping around her body.

"Lissy...that is fantastic." He commented amused. No matter how much time would pass, Hannibal would always be her number 1 fan, he simply adored her work. "Wait, is that...?"

She chuckled softly, as he spinned her around to face him by the waist. A shiny smile crossed his lips to the sunshine of his life, he filled her face with kisses to praise his favorite artist of all time.

"I feel honored." He smiled. "How can I compensate you for this remarkable tribute?"

"I'm glad you asked." She pursed her lips. "Since I might have bought a Chianti..."

"My favorite." He tilted his head holding a grin.

"I know..." Her eyes lingered as she touched the light olive shirt he wore with some buttons undone, showing a bit more of his skin. "And I have this...1,000 pieces Leonid Afremov's jigsaw..." He bit his lower lip. "...aromatic cinammon candles and warm blankets since the weather forecast predicted that it'll rain tonight." Her blue eyes met his hazel ones, already aware that she had seducted him. "So, what do you think?"

"It is an irrefutable offer."

"You didn't hear the best part yet, after all of this, I'll let you..."She came closer to his ear and whispered seductively. Hannibal's face became a bright, hot red that made him froze even after she finished speaking. "What is your answer?"

He sniffed, still trying to ease the temperature on his face. "How can I say no to this?"

▫️

Hannibal Lecter saw Will Graham that day. Well, not properly met him, but could see him at the Capella. The ex agent had found the heart he presented to Alice, he knew she was with him. And indirectely, gave the doctor a warning.

"It's time for Persephone to return to the surface." The words still echoed in his mind.

Just as Hades, Hannibal didn't want to let his lover go. After she had finally accepted him, they were finally living the dream they once thought and hoped so much for. He couldn't just let it all be ruined by Will's return.

But at the same time he was curious to meet that mind which was so much like his. Hannibal wasn't susprised by the news that he was alive. After all, deep inside, Will was his friend, someone similar to him, he didn't wish to kill him.

But he also knew that if Will continued there, close to Alice, he would be a threat to lose her again. Everything in her mind would return, all the crying, the grieving, the mourning, the feelings he had such a hard time to change in her, now, would all be erased by that storm called Will Graham's Return.

He tried not to think about the matter but it hammered inside his head, and Alice noticed it.

"This piece does not go in there." Alice commented as he tried to helplessly fit a puzzle's shape that was wrongly connected to another. "That's also the third time I told you that." He met her gaze, realizing now that she could scan his soul completely, as an X-Ray that showed all her emotions towards her. It was frightining but also so...amazing to him. Someone who understood him so much, it felt surreal. "You're distracted since you left earlier."

Hannibal landed the piece back on the floor. The cold but warm night was rainy just as she said, his wife sat by his side on the floor, as an incomplete colorful puzzle laid in front of them, waiting for Hannibal's distraction to be over so they could wrap up the game by the fireplace.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, analyzing the picture that the jigsaw was supposed to become. "Which part are we seeking for?"

"The part where you tell me what happened." She snapped back, turning him silent. "Are you okay?" He avoided her gaze. Alice held his large hand on hers, his cold skin in contrast with the warm one as he finally lingered his eyes to her face.

That face, that woman. How could he let her go?

"Hanni, what is wrong?" She asked softly.

'"Nothing, darling. Don't worry about that." He shaked his head. "Let's resume our game...I believe we searched for the umbrella at the right, isn't it?" He tried to avoid the subject, making up a fake smile, but unable to contain her curiosity.

"Hannibal." She grabbed both his hands at once before he could take a puzzle piece on his hands. Her eyes sunk into his, and this time, brought down all his defenses. "Remember what we promised? To be honest to each other?"

She caught him. Hannibal sighed heavily, realizing he couldn't lie to her any longer. One way or another she would find out.

"...What I'll say might change our current situation." He muttered in a sad tone.

"Hanni." She cupped his face with one of her hands making him stare at her. "Darling, whatever you'll say, you need to trust me. We need to trust each other." He nodded slowly. "Tell me, please."

Hannibal Lecter took a deep breath but could might as well take a whole bottle of that wine to gain courage to say it.

"It's Will." He suddenlg said it. Alice's lips parted in surprise, her eyes became frozen. "He's here."

"He's..."She failed to speak. "He's...alive...?"

"Yes."

Alice's sight fell down to the floor, taking in the information, unable to decipher what she felt. Relieved for him to be alive? Nervous to face him, or to wander what he was doing there? Or maybe burning again with that old sparkle she had inside her heart whenever someone mentioned his name.

It felt so weird, but so comforting, so warm and chilly at the same time, as strange hug from unknown arms.

"Did you...see him?" She asked with some hesitation. She could barely react to the news.

"We didn't meet face to face. But yes, he came here by the news of the Heart in the Cappella."

"He knew it was you." She guessed, Hannibal nodded in confirmation. "Is he here to catch you?"

"I am not sure." He responded. "Perphaps he is, or not, it is hard to understand whose side he's in." Alice agreed. "But I do know what he seeks for."

"What?"

"You."

Alice silenced herself. The word came out from his lips as blades across his chest. He knew that sentence would affect what they had. He knew that deep inside, Alice cared for her friend, which scared him.

Deep inside, he knew that her heart wasn't fully promised to him.

"Would you like to go with him?" He suddenly broke the pause. Alice widened her eyes, not believing in his words. "To return with him?"

"What? Hannibal, how can you say that?" She asked a bit surprised, trying to contain the nervous feeling inside her guts. "I am not leaving you. I chose to be with you."

"By all means I kidnapped you first. The news must be running that way back in Baltimore." He responded serious.

"Maybe it happened that way, but I forgave you, remember?" She reassured, holding tight his hands.

He looked down at their fingers intertwined, admiring each trace of her skin with a sad, almost melancholic expression, trying to hide it with a steady line across his lips. "That was before you knew he was alive." He glanced back to the woman he adored.

That glance could last ages of torture and aching, burning for one another but also comprehension of a forbidden passion that could never succeed.

That was Hannibal's love for Alice Mallory, a suffering, inevitable and endless passion that hurt and bleed.

"That won't change what I feel about you."

"But changes how you feel about him. Alice, there is no reason to deny it." He insisted, stroking delicately her cheek with a half broken smile. "You care about Will Graham, and I know you're happy to know that he has survived." He took a deep breath. "And I believe I should I understand if you regret your decision-"

His sentence was interrupted by the sweet touch of her lips against his, the best way to silence him forever, to reassure her promises and her love.

Or maybe, to reassure herself of the choice she had made.

Once she aparted, he sighed, still oblivious, admiring that angel in front of him.

"Don't doubt my love for you ever again." She whispered softly. "I'm staying by your side, Hannibal Lecter, you wanting it or not." Hannibak chuckled softly, hugging her tight into his arms, smelling her perfume and feeling the warmth of her body against his as the rain poured outside. "I'm not letting them catch you." She assured him. "We'll find a way out of this." But the future was much more cruel than their dreams. "Do you know where he might've gone to?"

Hannibal glanced down at the floor, sure of what he thought, of that connection he had with his friend. "Someplace I can never go." He muttered. "Home."

▫️

Will Graham visited the Lecter residence in Lithuania in order to understand his opponent, there, he met the mysterious Chyoh, who guarded one of the men responsible for the young Mischa's death, the dilemma of her life in weather to kill or not such a despciable creature.

While those episodes occured, Hannibal and Alice, the new members of the Palazzo Capponi, prepared a dinner for a special guest.

Alice, now impersonating Lydia Fell, sat at her chair dressed in a dark turquoise blouse and dark pants, her gaze followed her husband, who cut the meat he prepared with much dilligence to their invited colleague.

"I must congratulate you both for your new positions." Professor Sogliato said as he observed the host now hit many times an ice cube with a small pointy tool. "Specially you, Mrs.Fell, the board is still speaking much about your painting. They were fascinated."

"Thank you, professor." Alice faked a smile, watching as her husband hit the cube faster. It was impossible to deny Sogliato's clear admiration for his wife after her exposition of talents to the Capponi, and if the professor didn't watch his words, he'd perish by them soon.

"The Studiolo is a small, fierce group." Hannibal commented in his dark tuxedo filled with white stripes, one of Alice's favorite looks on him. "They've ruined a number of academic reputations."

"Appearing before them is a peril." Sogliato agreed taking one of the aperitives in his hands and eating with much satisfaction, Aloce tridd not to distort her face in disgust.

"You were very eager to see us discredited, Professor Sogliato." Hannibal established. "Especially my wife."

Alice remained silent, keeping her composure and trying not make the situation become ever more tense than it already was. Sogliato snorted, in a short laugh.

"Well, she sang for her supper before the dragons at the Studiolo" He responded to her.

"And sang very well." Hannibal supported discretely with a smile to his wife.

"First applause, and then by wet-eyed acclamation..." Sogliato continued in a passive agressive tone. He was surely envious to say the least. "...the memberships affirmed you as master of the Palazzo Capponi, and your wife as the Art Curator Director."

Hannibal didn't say anything. He just continued with that polite neutral expression but Alice could still see underneath his skin, that false peace sensation before the storm. He would explode by any second.

The host grabbed some large glasses to serve a desert filled with the ice he took before. He place ot first to Alice, then to the professor, walking as he observed Sogiato's subtle glances at his alluring wife, who was clearly uncomfortable by his presence. "Punch Romaine. A cocktail created by Escoffier. Served to first-class guests on the Titanic during their last dinner." Hannibal explained as Alice admired the dessert prepared with much effort in front of her.

"The committees have two new curators." Sogliato gave a fake smile to the two and cheeref with his glass. "They do not miss the old one."

"Don't say that, professor Sogliato, I'm sure-"

"You're being kind, Mrs.Fell." He smiled to the woman. "But that is the truth. Don't pity me though, after your display at the Studiolo I couldn't agree more with your position"

Alice accidentally caused that man's death by her next sentence. "What about my husband's position?"

Sogliato gave a mocking smile while staring at his icy dessert. Hannibal on the other way didn't let that pass by unoticed. "If my victory pleased the professore,
I could not tell." The doctor muttered while grabbing some tools at the large dining table.

"Then you weren't paying attention." The dark bearded man snapped back.

"I pay lots of attention." Hannibal passed by him to the other side by his shoulder. The moment was fast enough to didn't even see what was being taken into action until the final consequences. "But not in a wide-eyed, indiscriminate way."

Alice almost screamed frightened when she saw it. The sudden click by the blade inside the professor's skull, as Hannibal held the ice tool he used before now impaled into the man's head suddenly. She let the silverware rest down at the table fastly before she could drop it, but couldn't pace the speed of her heartbeat and the horror printed all over her face.

Sogliato remained there, in the same position, the eyes wide open staring at her, the jaw dropped, the body twitching but also rigid.

Hannibal on the other way, sat down calmly, as if that was the most normal thing in the world. He just then justified himself when he saw his wife's expression. "That may have been impulsive." He retorted as a boy who played a prank on his teacher now explaining it to his parents.

"Impulsive...?" Alice was still schocked, watching the man blink and gasp in front of her. "Oh my God...Hanni..."

"Don't tell me you couldn't predict the situation." He exchanged glances with her. Alice tilted her head to the side, he was right.

"You've been mulling that impulse ever since you decided to serve Punch Romaine." She explained.

Hannibal smiled sweetly in the middle of the chaos. "You know me so well."

"I...I...can't...see..."Sogliato chuckled maniacally with the last remaining forces on his body.

Alice was completely disturbed at the scene, she couldn't bare watching it any longer. And, when she looked at Hannibal, wondering if he would do something, she could only witness him continuing his dinner and eating while watching the show.

She got up from the chair, and carefully, with a fabric, wrapped her hand around the edge of the tool that was still hainging impaled on his head. With a deep breath and fear that consumed her soul, she took the blade at once, seeing the blood drip and roll through Sogliato's temper as his eyes stopped open, and the body fell down, the face into the shiny golden bowl in front of him, sunk into the dessert.

Her hands trembled as she still held the tool, the breath hitched, scared.

Hannibal smirked proudly instead, and with a teasing voice. "Technically, you killed him."

She glanced at him horrified, stuttering "No...no, I..." She watched the dead man in front of her.

"We can add that to your body count, your second kill. Third, If we count your father, but that is more on Will." Hannibal commented thrilled, as he took the tool from her hands and set it aside, indicating for her to sit down, since she was trembling. "Oh, don't worry love, I doubt someone will miss him."

"You shouldn't have dones this..."Her sense of marility almost awakened again, but she still tried to contain it in order to love her favorite villain. "It wasn't necessary, he...we shouldn't..."She tried to take deep breaths, the xhest moving up and down with anxiety. She didn't feel okay at all. Death was still new and horrifying to her, she could never feel the same way as Hannibal, she could never...get used to it. "...The Capponi will know."

"How would they know?" He held her hand wamingly into hers, noticing her clear fear reflected in her eyes. Sonething in that glance made him.feel uneasy, she didn't want to feel so...scared...and that caused something, some uncommon, maybe changing sensation inside his chest in reaction. He maintained a normal expression and calmed her."They won't catch us. Now go rest, I'll clean this up."

▫️

The red candles preserved the holiness of th etemple who was once corrupted with two murderous lovers. Between the chaos and the happiness, a man who lost everything tried to helplessly pray in one of those pews, watching the flames tremble by the wind, slong with his hope to find the daughter he thought was gone.

"As with his crimes in Florence, Il Mostro collected anatomical trophies, but left no evidence." The inspector Rinaldo Pizzi showed him the pictures of the Heart displayed a week before in that Cappella.

"Dr Lecter is careful." Jack Crawford muttered, hiding the frustration and determination inside his soul. "He will strike, but his needs don't force him
to strike often."

"There were long periods when Il Mostro didn't strike at all. This is the first in twenty years." The inspector explained to the tired agent.

"You have new evidence?"

"You know, the window of the Questura laboratory is garlanded with garlic to keep out the evil spirits." The man joked, making the sad Crawford chuckle for a moment in his mourning. "These are not people open to new ideas." Rinaldo told him. "My city mocks me. My hunt for Il Mostro has let the crows peck at my heart." He pondered, looking into the agent's chestnut but exhausted eyes. "How is your heart?"

Jack swallowed dry, feeling the bullets that crossed his memory about all the defeat, loss he has been through. Will, Alice, Bella. "Well pecked." He responded. "If he hasn't already, Il Mostro will return to Florence." The agent suggested, now with more knowledge about his enemy.

"Come back with me." The inspector encouraged him, trying to gain more allies in that battle. "We have a chance to regain our reputations, and enjoy the honours of our trade, by capturing the Monster."

Jack immediatly shaked his head, erasing any hopes in his mind of what he expected of him. "I'm not here for the Monster." He said in that hoarse negative tone of his. "Non è la mia casa. Not my house, not my fire." He looked back to the altar, admiring the sacred images that looked doen on him, almost sending him on a suicidal rescue. "I'm here for Alice Mallory."

▫️

"And these are the forms to count the current pieces in the storage." Elogio Valante explained to Alice Mallory, pointing to some lines in the page he showed filled with details. "So you put the date, the quantity, code, and your signature here..."

Alice was paying attention to his explanation...well, almost. It was hard to maintain her focus when she could see Hannibal across the room with 3 other staff, giving orders in such a charming authoritary stance that made her breathless. And it was even harder to focus when he would glance often to her and exchange smiles.

Actually, Hannibal couldn't take his eyes off his wife. It was like she dragged all his senses to her whenever she stepped into a room. He could keep watching her busy silhouette through those hallways for hours, admire her polite smiles and her intelligence as she worked dilligently without getting tired of it for hours.

"Mrs.Fell?" Just then she was brought back to reality, Alice blinked twice. "Did you understand?"

"Oh, sure, yes, yes, I did, thank you." She nodded as he handled her the papers "Thank you, Mr.Valiante."

"No problem, we are very glad you accepted the job Mrs.Fell, it is an honor to work with you and your husband. If you have any doubts you can call men my office, even though I'm sure you are more than capable to solve it all by yourself. Ciao!" He responded kindly and walked away.

"Ciao!" She replied back as she took a deep breath and admired the environment.

The Palazzo Capponi was a huge, HUGE, palace filled with ancient artifacts and golden scultpted walls. The place itself was historical, and the pieces displayed around never failed to amuse her.

Alice was cataloguing a Renoir collection, her eyes lingering through the soft traces until the code number identification on the back on the canvas. She walked around elegantly in dark brown loose pants and a white shirt that just drived Hannibal insane.

And it didn't take long until she could feel a warm hand on her shoulder and his lips brushing against her cheek. "Busy, Mrs.Lecter?" He whispered.

She knew that no one else besides Hannibal would call her that way, but being able to be called by that title was thrilling to her. The heart speeded, the smile formed instantenously. She was finally his wife.

"Yes...shouldn't you be working as well, Mr.Lecter?" She lifted an eyebrows at his direction.

"And I am." He smirked while turning her around and lifting her chin towards him with one of his hands. "I'm currently analyzing the most beautiful art in this palace."

Alice chuckled. He could be a very serious man sometimes, a deadly assassin and cold blooded person, but next to her, that was him. That goofy, adorable and considerate man she fell for.

How could she ever stop loving him? Maybe if she died...still, maybe they'd still love each other afterlife, endlessly.

"You shouldn't do these things you know...I have a husband." She joked, Hannibal sniffed.

"Oh yeah?" He leaned foward, gazing at her invitating rose lips. "I'm not afraid of him."

"But you should be." The tips of their noses touched, the breaths mixed.

"I'll take my chances then." He chuckled and kissed her just there. In the middle of that place stuck in time, surrounded by sculptures of tragedies and loves that marked humanity forever.

Just as theirs.

▫️

The large desk displayed was fully decorated and elegantly established to enlighten the food's image in display, spreading its' smell towards the whole dining room and the guests' noses.

Unfortunetely, not a good smell to Alice Mallory, who couldn't help but feel disgusted at the meat being cut and delivered by her husband to the couple in front of them.

It was one of the members of the Capponi and his wife, both middle aged, kind, and suckers to admire someone in power.

"In Roman times, each carcass was divided." Hanninal explained calmly as he served the couple. "Prime cuts went to nobility, second to the clergy, third to the bourgeoisie and fourth to the army. The quinto quarto, the offal, went to the poor."

"The fifth quarter?" Alice asked her husband, she looked rather adorable that night, with her hair tied into a fluffy bun and wearing long sleeved black dress that adorned her shoulders.

"The innards of a carcass constitute
roughly a quarter of its weight." He explained with patience.

"Il quinto quarto evolved from necessity
to become high tradition." Signore Albizi, the middle aged man, kindly explained to her. Alice smiled in return, but couldn't help but want to leave that place at once.

"Sibilo caratteristico." Hannibal spoke with that impeccable italian pronunciation, as he pressed the meat against the grill, watching the meat burn and make sounds. "When the lungs whistle, the dish is done." Alice looked away, attempting to forget the human lungs that would be served for dinner. "Coratella con carciofi." Her husband displayed another dish in the table. "Purple artichokes served with spring lamb's liver, lungs and heart."

"Professor Sogliato doesn't know what he's missing." Signora Albizi, the short haired middle aged woman, spoke, showing the empty seat and dish by her side. "So rude of him to ignore your invitation."

Alice reminded herself once again at the man who was brutally murdered without anyone's knowledge at that very same table. Hid her emotions, and replied "He sends his regrets."

The couple admired the food, still thrilling to taste the host's cooking. "Oh, Madonna, it smells divine." Signora Albizi exclaimed, while Alice wanted to yeet the dishes out of the table and throw them across the window.

"It is. I say that without ego." Hannibal joked as the couple laughed. He was an impeccable social buttery when with that type of society people. It never failed to amuse Alice in that. "I don't require conventional reinforcement."

"You would agree, Signora Fell?" Mrs.Albizi chuckled.

Alice smiled, glancing at Hannibal's gaze at her. It helped ease a bit her tension. "My husband's ego is not measured by conventional means." She joked and the couple laughed again.

Hannibal sat by his lover's side, before allowing the guests to start eating. "I first prepared this dish in honour of my sister when I was very young." He confessed, Alice looked at him, she knew that it always hurt him to speak about Mischa, that's why she tried to don't talk about that subject.

Alice discretely grabbed his hand beneath the dinibg table, squeezing it softly for confort as he gave a gentle and discrete smile that the other couple didn't notice.

The guests started eating, and while Alice limited herself to eating salads, the couple groaned in pleasure and delight by the meat. Their mouths moved with friction and eager to eat the remaining parts of professor Sogliato's body without awareness, while Hannibal admired his evil act in execution.

Her guts twisted inside, and for a moment she felt like throwing up. The sounds, the reactions, the information that crept up in that horrifying silence in the air, it all brought into a sour, bitter sensation that grew up more and more inside her stomach.

"Mhmmm...The meat...!" Signora Albizi exclaimed to her husband, savoring the flesh.

That's it, she couldn't handle it for much longer. Alice got up from the table and muttered a "Please, excuse me" while hushing to the bathroom fastly, without their notice except her husband's. She didn't touch the meat, but certainlu vomitted all her salad away just by watching that scene.

He is her husband, she tried to remind herself, she should accept it. She should embrace his nature, even as wicked as it was. She promised that to him, she told him, she told her own self that this was enough, that loving him would be enough.

But no promises could prepare her for those cruel desires that were hidden beneath his skin, deep inside the maniac consciouness that lied underneath his thoughts and scared her so much.

And maybe, not even their love could ever prepare her to that.

"You have a very good butcher." Signor Albizi complimented the host.

"I do indeed." Hannibal nodded, but wondered when his wife would return, maybe he should check up on her later, she wasn't very...used to his habits yet. Maybe it scared her. "The lamb must be newly slaughtered, the organs cooked the same day." He watched with satisfaction as Alice returned, recomposed herself with a smile and sat by his side, like a royalty a member following her duties. "I always oversee this process personally."

▫️

"Are you a believer, Signor Crawford?" The inspector Rinaldo Pazzi whispered at the black man's ear.

Jack Crawfoed lifted his eyes to the top of the Cappella, tryinh to see the sky. "Aren't we all?" The red candles gave a somber, melancholic aspect yo the scenario, as his eyes lit up to the trembling flames in front of him. "Belief comes with imagination. We also imagine the possibility that we all live on after death." He reflected. "Will Graham died. Lui era morto. Lo ero morto. He was dead. I was dead." He made a pause for a moment. "We thought Alice was dead." He glanced around the capella, wondering how far the situation reached. "We didn't imagine that."

"What does Will Graham imagine now?" Rinaldo whispered, watching that broken man's figure next to him.

"I borrowed his imagination. And I broke it." Jack lamented with regret. "She tried to warn me. And I broke it." He thought for a moment. "But I don't know how he managed to piece it back together again."

"People come here to be closer to their god." Rinaldo watched the Capella wuth attention, while trying to obtain a piece of the agent's mind. "Isn't that what Will Graham was doing?"

"Maybe." He muttered. "But he is mostly here for the same reason as I am."

"And what is it?"

"Alice."

"She seems important." Rinald tried to understand "But I wonder for who."

"For everyone." He gave a half smile with sadness. "Alice managed to be lovely and kind to all. She would invade your heart without any warning." He chuckled remembering that annoying girl he used to hate. "And she could invade even the coldet of the hearts." He commented.

"Like Il Monstro's." The inspector suggested. Jack nodded.

"Alice Mallory understands Hannibal." He looked down. "She accepts him." He looked at the altar at the church where the holy figures stared back at him. "Now, who among us doesn't want understanding and acceptance?"

▫️

The grey sweather adorned his large and tense shoulders as he leaned foward, with his long fingers working on the white tiles of the piano in a profund melody as the bright Florence could be seen at the window by his side.

She knew Hannibal wasn't so relaxed as he tried to be. Since Will's arrival he was stressed, worrying about an unknown future, and even if she tried to calm him, sometimes he just didn't believe in her. And she wouldn't say it, but that hurt her.

Hurt her because it felt like he didn't trust Alice enough. She gave up on everything else for him, ignored the death and the pain, walked through fire for him, and yet he couldn't trust her.

She knew that was somehow related to his past. He imagined that growing up alone wasn't easy for him. It was rare for Hannibal to speak about his childhood, specially about his sister. She wanted him to olen up though, she wanted to get to know the man she married with, to heal his scars just as he did to her before.

If only he let her in.

"What are you playing now?" She asked softly as the hair strands fell above his eyes as he finished the song.

He looked at her tenderly, opening up a smile and tapping the seat next to him. "Come here." He asked. Alice walked towards him and did as he asked, sitting by his side and rubbing her shoulder against his. "I was thinking that maybe we could make a duet together, what do you think?"

If that was a way to distract his troubled mind, then she would gladly help him in that. "I can try. Even though I am terrible, you know that."

"I taught you the basics, let's see if you remember it." He smirked showing her the partiture in front of them in the paper. "I'll play these tiles, and you play those. Okay?" She nodded. "And...we begin."

The melody was simple, delicate, with pitxhed sounds that formed a heartfelt ballad. She followed him slowly but meticulusly, as sometimes he would give some praises like "Very well..." or "You're doing great."

When they were already immersed into the song, Alice couldn't handle it. "You're still worried." She let it out, Hannibal didn't pause. "About Will."

"I am not." He denied and continued playing.

"Hanni." He ignored. Alice curved her lips. "Hanni, please." She touched him hand and made him stop. He exhaled heavily, clenching his jaw. She could see through him, wanting him it or not. "Look at me." He turned around slowly, unable to look away from those blue comforting eyes. "You can tell me everything."

"There is nothing for you to be concerned about, Lissy, I-"

"No, don't say that." She shaked her head. "Your problems are mine too. I want to know." She carressed softly his cheek as he almost crumbled to pieces. "What is the matter?"

He sighed, holding her hand delivering a gentle, long minute lasting kiss. "You're right, I am concerned about Will Graham."

"Why? Do you think the cops are here?" She lifted her eyebrows. "If they are we can just leave this place, we can start again." She encouragdd him as a perfect partner in crime. Hannibal smiled softly. "Point to somewhere in the map, we can leave tonight."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere."

"You'd do that for me?"

She stroked his cheek with her thumb and smiled warmly. "I'd remain paralyzed into the void between life and death for you, Hannibal"

He held her gaze at her for a moment. That sweet, devoted angel that he dedicated his existence without her. What would be of him if he let her go? What would be of him if she left him? He'd rather die.

But was it really true? From all he has seen, from how she felt recently...their promise seemed more and more fragile, and something in the promise they kept changed, at least from his point of view.

"Don't you want to see Will?" He asked in a hesiting whisper.

"I want to be with you more than anything else." She replied determined. "No one will change my mind, Hanni, if that's what you're worried about, please don't be." She reassured him. "I chose to stay, and I will stay."

Hannibal took a deep breath. He wanted to believe in that, he really wanted to, but deep inside he couldn't help but be...scared.

"Life doesn't always work the way we want it to." He commented. "You may wish to stay, but we don't know what the future holds."

"But we have to believe in it, love." She showed thst faithful side of hers. "Even if the past hurt us, we need to keep moving foward, and hope for the best..." she watched those deep sad eyes reflecting a hidden story of their own. "Can I ask you sonething?"

"Of course."

She took a moment before gaining courage to ask. "I know you hold scars just as me." She whispered. "You've told me that before...and I know it is hard to speak of it...but I think that maybe if you open up with me...maybe just a bit, you can feel better." She looked into those hazel eyes. "Hannibal..." She finally was about to do it. "....what happened to Mischa?"