Will stood awkwardly in the kitchen while Hannibal continued to work his culinary delight on the liver he was currently chopping into fine pieces.
"I really should be going," the professor stated, voice too loud for the small space, "I have a date with the Ripper."
Hannibal grinned a secret smile at him, dark eyes glancing up and into Will's own; "the Ripper can wait, as he has done for quite some time. Stay. Have dinner with me. Just the two of us."
He knew the offer was more appealing without the rest of his group of "friends" present, Will wasn't comfortable around groups of people, barely comfortable enough around the doctor yet.
Will shifted his weight, "well…maybe for a little while. But then I have to go back to my office, to do more research, or Jack will kill me." The humor was a little rusty, but Hannibal smiled gently despite it.
"It shall be a treat then," he said as he placed the liver pieces in a sizzling pan.
Will grinned hesitantly back at him, his hands clenching tighter in their place in his pockets…
The delicious wine and food, tasteful background music, and good company put Hannibal in a relaxed mood; his dark eyes never leaving Will, who sat ravenously gulping his food.
The man was much to thin, Hannibal would have to change that.
Sadly, the younger man seemed to notice Hannibal's staring and gripped his napkin up and smudged at his mouth, "sorry," he said, eyes moving down to stop at his plate, "I haven't eaten all day."
Hannibal could believe it, Will was always so busy, and seemed to zone out and think to much about certain things…nonetheless, Hannibal nodded at him, lips twitching.
"You are fine," he announced, "I am glad that you enjoy my cooking so much."
Will blushed, eyes still down, his fork fiddling with the uneaten parts now, "yeah…I just forget to eat sometimes, and good food always reminds me of that." A shy grin was given at that, and Hannibal's inner demons surged forth.
"You should be more careful Will," he said, lifting his glass and swirling the wine, though never taking a sip, "you need to take better care of yourself. Neglect is not what you need."
Will snorted, "hah, wish someone had told me that a long time ago." His voice was bitter and Hannibal wanted to pry, but all good hunters waited, so he simply watched the other man with fathomless eyes, his inviting mask in place.
Will continued on, the subject changing, "I should really go, I need to work on the case."
Hannibal was quick to challenge that, "that is a cause of the neglect," his voice was textured now, "you worry too much about Jack and his feelings toward this Ripper than your own feelings and consciousness."
Will looked up at him, his own eyes dark and questioning, "what do you mean?" He sounded so young then, like he was lost and confused.
Hannibal struggled for words, "you must consider things from all aspects," he simply said, his fingers itching like they always did when dangerous territory was approached.
The teacher's lips were parted, "you think that the Ripper's not all that bad of a guy."
Hannibal let his lips quirk into a betrayed smirk, "if that is how you would like to put it, then yes."
Will was up then, his chair pushed far away from the table, those long fingers clenched tight into a fist, "you know nothing of the Ripper Doctor Lecter!" The usage of his title cut Hannibal, they were friends after all, but Will's words made him want to laugh.
"I can see beyond feelings in this matter," the doctor said coldly, standing up now himself, gently pressing his own cloth napkin into the tablecloth.
Will's eyes were big and wild, "you…you…" He seemed at a loss for words, his tongue reaching out to lick at his chapped lips, his glasses askew and shirt untucked. He looked beautiful.
All of a sudden, just like that, Hannibal's thoughts went from murderous to lustful, his new design on Will most likely reflected in the pupils of his dark eyes, his thoughts no longer concealed.
Will was staring straight back at him, "I should go," his lips still parted, moist and plump now, eyes blinking rapidly and pulse most likely elevated.
Oh, how Hannibal wished to find out.
Instead, he merely stepped away from the table, "if you must. But, take some of the leftovers, I could not possibly finish them off alone." Not like I did their owners.
Will's head did a jerky movement, and Hannibal walked off to the kitchen, his own hands clenched now, he realized…
