Hannibal's blood was already singing with revenge, beating in his ears the closeness of Neph to himself. As they walk across the courtyard, he feels so alive and so warm that he can hardly believe the snow that dusts past them doesn't steam right off of his skin.
The chain of them gets some stares, something Hannibal neither relishes nor hates. He ignores the outside world completely, intent only on looking out for threats - something he can mostly relegate off to his sense of smell. He won't forget the musk-scratched kettle-car backfire scent of that boy. It would wake him out of a dead sleep, the scalp-itching awareness of the danger behind that scent is already so strong in his mind.
Whether or not the boy is dangerous - and Hannibal is aware that, no matter how dangerous he is, Neph simply must be more physically dangerous - he has some other hold over Neph. Or did. Still does, in the sense that she collapsed after he left and her heart is still clearly thud-thudding somewhere high in her throat. An emotional tangle is snarled in their shared past, one that he counted on Neph tripping over when they met up again. That's a barrier. That's...a mine, hidden from view, one Hannibal hadn't even known was in Neph's field.
How many other secrets does she have? Does she even think of them daily, or are they buried from everyone, even her? Does Neph consciously hide them from him? Would she continue to if he asked to learn about her?
He doesn't want to scare her away. As they press through the chilly January air and walk a familiar path towards the bus stop they got off at - even though Hannibal knows they'll be waiting at least twenty minutes for it, assuming it isn't late - Hannibal presses through his options like paging through a notebook.
It's jarring, then, that it's not his own meticulous sketching of the situation that breaks the silence.
"Neph." It's so soft but immediately shatters the silence between them. Once broken, Hannibal finds that even when he tilts just enough to glance across Neph and then Will, it's as if some manner of veil has been lifted.
It's difficult to see both of them at the same time, but Will isn't trying to drag behind. He's level enough that Hannibal can still see his face. His eyebrows are furrowed down, but his mouth softens the frown. There's movement at their hips, and Hannibal realizes that Will is experimentally shifting their joined hands - tilting them up a bit higher, as if reminding them that they're there. "You don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to. In public. Or so soon after." Will's mouth twitches, like he's willing to keep spilling out possible excuses for her, but the tide is kept at bay until he presses his mouth thin and earnest and keeps going.
Will's gaze keeps seeking the side of Neph's chin and cheek and, unless Hannibal's mistaken, her eyes. "But there was something there. If you want to talk about it-- I'll listen."
Will's eyes blink, almost sleepily, like he's coming out of a trance. His gaze catches Hannibal's for just a moment, and Hannibal feels as though he's being judged for worthiness. And then, in another first, Will speaks for Hannibal. "Both of us would, if that's what you wanted."
Hannibal's fingers curl protectively in around Neph's, and he finds with surprise that it's nice, to know that someone he cares about cares about the other. To know that Neph is cushioned on her other side by someone perhaps even better at reading her than Hannibal himself is - Hannibal feels no flash of jealousy, but like his own reach has been augmented. This isn't a contest, it's a-- a team effort.
The word 'family' echoes, turns to smoke, and that veil keeps him from speaking. All Hannibal can do is look at Neph and Will and nod.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-01-25 03:31 am (UTC)The chain of them gets some stares, something Hannibal neither relishes nor hates. He ignores the outside world completely, intent only on looking out for threats - something he can mostly relegate off to his sense of smell. He won't forget the musk-scratched kettle-car backfire scent of that boy. It would wake him out of a dead sleep, the scalp-itching awareness of the danger behind that scent is already so strong in his mind.
Whether or not the boy is dangerous - and Hannibal is aware that, no matter how dangerous he is, Neph simply must be more physically dangerous - he has some other hold over Neph. Or did. Still does, in the sense that she collapsed after he left and her heart is still clearly thud-thudding somewhere high in her throat. An emotional tangle is snarled in their shared past, one that he counted on Neph tripping over when they met up again. That's a barrier. That's...a mine, hidden from view, one Hannibal hadn't even known was in Neph's field.
How many other secrets does she have? Does she even think of them daily, or are they buried from everyone, even her? Does Neph consciously hide them from him? Would she continue to if he asked to learn about her?
He doesn't want to scare her away. As they press through the chilly January air and walk a familiar path towards the bus stop they got off at - even though Hannibal knows they'll be waiting at least twenty minutes for it, assuming it isn't late - Hannibal presses through his options like paging through a notebook.
It's jarring, then, that it's not his own meticulous sketching of the situation that breaks the silence.
"Neph." It's so soft but immediately shatters the silence between them. Once broken, Hannibal finds that even when he tilts just enough to glance across Neph and then Will, it's as if some manner of veil has been lifted.
It's difficult to see both of them at the same time, but Will isn't trying to drag behind. He's level enough that Hannibal can still see his face. His eyebrows are furrowed down, but his mouth softens the frown. There's movement at their hips, and Hannibal realizes that Will is experimentally shifting their joined hands - tilting them up a bit higher, as if reminding them that they're there. "You don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to. In public. Or so soon after." Will's mouth twitches, like he's willing to keep spilling out possible excuses for her, but the tide is kept at bay until he presses his mouth thin and earnest and keeps going.
Will's gaze keeps seeking the side of Neph's chin and cheek and, unless Hannibal's mistaken, her eyes. "But there was something there. If you want to talk about it-- I'll listen."
Will's eyes blink, almost sleepily, like he's coming out of a trance. His gaze catches Hannibal's for just a moment, and Hannibal feels as though he's being judged for worthiness. And then, in another first, Will speaks for Hannibal. "Both of us would, if that's what you wanted."
Hannibal's fingers curl protectively in around Neph's, and he finds with surprise that it's nice, to know that someone he cares about cares about the other. To know that Neph is cushioned on her other side by someone perhaps even better at reading her than Hannibal himself is - Hannibal feels no flash of jealousy, but like his own reach has been augmented. This isn't a contest, it's a-- a team effort.
The word 'family' echoes, turns to smoke, and that veil keeps him from speaking. All Hannibal can do is look at Neph and Will and nod.