He's glad he offered. He's glad she accepted, took that offer and used it right away. Hannibal wants to use the word challenged, instinctively thinks of someone seeing a new widened boundary and rushing into that portion as testing the resolve of whoever moved the fence, but as his heart climbs back out of his throat and feeling returns to the tips of his fingers, he can see that isn't it. That's not the entire picture.
Because Neph always could have just leapt over that fence. But she'd waited until Hannibal - said it was okay? He knows it's pretense, them staying together. It could be shattered by either of them at any moment, just like anything else in life, and now that it's been tested safely it's oddly comforting to know that she can run off and...
And come back home.
Will is watching the two of them, so relaxed that it's nearly suspicious - until Hannibal realizes it's his mirroring. Hannibal is relaxed, and Neph is beaming, and Will is seeing all of this and instead of turning tail and hiding himself away from all the emotions bleeding across the room, he's calmly stepping through that mess and - if appearances can be believed - enjoying himself.
Hannibal tilts in towards Neph, then, confident in that thank you in her smile, relieved at the fact that she looks uncomplicated in her own relief. For the moment, he can leave thoughts of revenge to the side.
Will is the one holding the coffee pot, and he pours out some for Neph next, leaving his own mug steaming on the counter. When he leans further across to pour some into Hannibal's mug - although Hannibal isn't holding it, seeing as Will and Neph are both arranged on the mug-portion of the counter - Will's mouth opens and his eyebrows meet. He watches Neph with confusion for a moment before his attention flickers to Hannibal and back again.
"Are you--" Will clears his throat, eyebrows raising back up as if he'd just startled himself. "You use the same shampoo." He says with forced calm, as if that, of all the things he's seen between Hannibal and Neph, is the one that doesn't make sense.
Or is he just surprised that he recognizes what Hannibal's shampoo smells like, when another person is wearing it? Hannibal now has to decide which one of those options he likes best, whether it feels nicer to be amused or flattered. "Sometimes." Hannibal had noticed Neph was wearing his - it's its own sort of flattery, but in a deliberate and kind way. They've discussed his aversion to certain strengths of scents often enough that he thinks he knows what that choice means, and he smiles as he reaches between Will and Neph to get to his coffee.
And then slots himself directly between them fully, leaning back against the counter despite the lack of room to do so. It's Will who moves, with a little sound of surprise, although he gets very far out of the way, under pretense of getting the half and half for his coffee.
Hannibal gives a small sigh, hip just barely touching the extra fabric of Neph's shirt. "Having it plain allows you to appreciate the flavors much better, Will."
"I'll take my chances." Said flatly while Will pours in enough cream than his coffee turns only a few shades darker than his own skin. And then, pointedly, no eye contact until the heartbeat afterwards, "Hannibal."
He hadn't said it on the bus ride back, as per Hannibal's request. Now, hearing his real name for the first time, Hannibal feels something warm rush down through the rest of him that has nothing to do with his coffee.
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Because Neph always could have just leapt over that fence. But she'd waited until Hannibal - said it was okay? He knows it's pretense, them staying together. It could be shattered by either of them at any moment, just like anything else in life, and now that it's been tested safely it's oddly comforting to know that she can run off and...
And come back home.
Will is watching the two of them, so relaxed that it's nearly suspicious - until Hannibal realizes it's his mirroring. Hannibal is relaxed, and Neph is beaming, and Will is seeing all of this and instead of turning tail and hiding himself away from all the emotions bleeding across the room, he's calmly stepping through that mess and - if appearances can be believed - enjoying himself.
Hannibal tilts in towards Neph, then, confident in that thank you in her smile, relieved at the fact that she looks uncomplicated in her own relief. For the moment, he can leave thoughts of revenge to the side.
Will is the one holding the coffee pot, and he pours out some for Neph next, leaving his own mug steaming on the counter. When he leans further across to pour some into Hannibal's mug - although Hannibal isn't holding it, seeing as Will and Neph are both arranged on the mug-portion of the counter - Will's mouth opens and his eyebrows meet. He watches Neph with confusion for a moment before his attention flickers to Hannibal and back again.
"Are you--" Will clears his throat, eyebrows raising back up as if he'd just startled himself. "You use the same shampoo." He says with forced calm, as if that, of all the things he's seen between Hannibal and Neph, is the one that doesn't make sense.
Or is he just surprised that he recognizes what Hannibal's shampoo smells like, when another person is wearing it? Hannibal now has to decide which one of those options he likes best, whether it feels nicer to be amused or flattered. "Sometimes." Hannibal had noticed Neph was wearing his - it's its own sort of flattery, but in a deliberate and kind way. They've discussed his aversion to certain strengths of scents often enough that he thinks he knows what that choice means, and he smiles as he reaches between Will and Neph to get to his coffee.
And then slots himself directly between them fully, leaning back against the counter despite the lack of room to do so. It's Will who moves, with a little sound of surprise, although he gets very far out of the way, under pretense of getting the half and half for his coffee.
Hannibal gives a small sigh, hip just barely touching the extra fabric of Neph's shirt. "Having it plain allows you to appreciate the flavors much better, Will."
"I'll take my chances." Said flatly while Will pours in enough cream than his coffee turns only a few shades darker than his own skin. And then, pointedly, no eye contact until the heartbeat afterwards, "Hannibal."
He hadn't said it on the bus ride back, as per Hannibal's request. Now, hearing his real name for the first time, Hannibal feels something warm rush down through the rest of him that has nothing to do with his coffee.