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Title: Beauty By Candlelight
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 8, 50ficlets
Prompt: 15, Candlelight
Author's Note: This is a 50-ficlet AU series for Will/Hannibal. In this universe, the two of them are deeply in love with each other, though neither knows quite how to bring that love out into the open.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Hannibal Lecter or Will Graham, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

This was how he always wanted to see Will. Relaxed and comfortable and happy, his handsome features aglow in the candlelight.

Hannibal smiled happily, glad that he had been able to arrange this little intimate dinner with Will tonight. He hadn't seen his boyfriend for nearly two days, and he had been craving Will -- not only his presence, but just the sight of him.

How could anyone look so utterly beautiful -- and desirable?

Somehow, the candlelight seemed to make Will's delicate features even more attractive; the way that the slightly wavering light played around the edges of his face, blurring and softening his features until he seemed to be surrounded by an ethereal glow.

Just looking at him made Hannibal's heart thump in his chest; such beauty shouldn't, by right, even exist in this world. He had long ago given up looking for beauty in people; he had the tendency to find it in things, in nature or in inanimate objects.

But true beauty had been captured in Will Graham; it was there in the intense blue of his eyes, the perfect curve of his lips, the porcelain smoothness of his skin

Hannibal would never get enough of looking at him. At the moment, he wanted to sit here across the table from his boyfriend now that they had finished dinner and gaze at Will all night. He just wanted to drink in the perfection of those features.

Just looking at him soothed Hannibal's soul.

It didn't seem possible that one person could bring him such unfettered joy, that one man could make him feel that all was right with the world.

But somehow, Will did. When they were together, any problems either of them might have seemed very far away and very small, as though they didn't matter at all. There was only the two of them, and the love and desire they shared.

Just knowing that Will was a part of his life, and always would be, made his heart swell. There was nothing he wanted more than to have this beautiful young man by his side, in his arms, in his bed, and in his heart for the rest of his days.

He was sure that Will felt the same. They both wanted to be together, no matter what the rest of the world might think, and no matter what barriers might be put in their way. No matter if anyone tried to stop them, they would find a way to spend their lives with each other.

But at the moment, nothing was standing in their way.

Maybe something -- or someone -- would in the future, Hannibal thought, a frown furrowing his brow. But at this moment, there was nothing of the sort to worry about. He should pull his mind away from such morbid thoughts and concentrate on Will.

"What are you thinking about?" Will's voice was soft and gentle -- and perhaps a touch worried. "You were just frowning like there's something wrong. What is it, Hannibal?"

Hannibal shook his head quickly, not wanting his young lover to feel anxious about anything. Not tonight, not when he looked so beautiful by candlelight, and not when all Hannibal wanted to do was to gaze upon that beauty and hold it in his arms.

"Nothing important," he murmured, not wanting Will to feel any kind of tension. "Only us, and of how much I love you, and of how beautiful you are."

"And?" Will's voice prompted him softly. "There has to be something more."

"Does there?" Hannibal tried to sound innocent, but he couldn't. "Yes, there is something more," he finally admitted with a soft sigh. "I was thinking of how others might try to put barriers between us -- and how they don't matter. We will be together, despite any efforts to keep us apart."

"Of course we will," Will told him, his voice soft and a little surprised. "You don't think I'm going to let you go, or let anything come between us, do you?"

How could anyone look so incredibly beautiful by candlelight? Will's gaze was intense, those blue eyes like glowing sapphires pinning him where he sat. He couldn't look away from that gaze -- and he didn't want to. He wanted to stare into those eyes forever.

Those eyes meeting with his own, over a candlelit table. Those eyes that promised so much, and were full of such love. Love that was directed at him.

Really, what more could a man want?

Smiling, Hannibal rose gracefully to his feet and moved to Will's chair, holding out a hand to help the young man to his feet. When Will stood up, Hannibal pulled his boyfriend into his arms, closing his eyes and sighing in contentment as he ran a hand down Will's back.

He needed nothing more than this to make him happy. Nothing at all. Just Will in his arms and in his heart. Will in his life for all of eternity.

The candlelight guttered, but didn't go out. Hannibal rather reluctantly released Will from his embrace, then picked up two of the candles, leading the way into the living room. He couldn't think of anything he wanted more right now than to cuddle with Will by candlelight.

***