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Title: Endearing
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1drabble
Prompt: 27, Animal
Author's Note: Sequel to "Changes in Attitudes."
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.

***

Will looked down at Max sitting at his feet, frowning at the dog.

"Okay, Max," he said, leaning down to snap the leash onto the dog's collar. "We're going to be on trial today, you know. You'd better be on your best behavior."

The dog looked up at him, barked once, and thumped his tail on the floor -- but he showed no inclination to get up and go anywhere with Will. Usually, when he snapped a leash onto one of the dogs, they were already up and at the door before he could get back on his feet.

But Max was different from any of his other dogs. He didn't have the stoic acceptance that all of the others did, even Winston. He still hated Hannibal.

Will couldn't figure out why, and it still bothered him.

He hoped that the idea he'd had for Max and Hannibal to spend some time together would work, and that would break the dog of his unreasoning antagonism.

But what if it didn't? he asked himself, biting his lip. What if Max still hated Hannibal and growled at him -- or worse, actually got aggressive and bit him? Then he'd have worse than just the antipathy of one of his pets to deal with -- he'd have to cope with Hannibal's anger.

And besides that, if Max bit him, or did him some kind of physical harm, Hannibal would probably insist on having the dog put down. Will wanted to avoid that scenario at all costs.

He wasn't going to get rid of Max, Will told himself firmly. He had promised the dog a forever home, and that was what Max had with him.

He wouldn't break that promise. It didn't matter to him that the vow had been made to an animal; he liked dogs better than people, anyway, he told himself with a smile. And when he made a vow, he kept it. He would keep his promise to Max, and smooth things over with Hannibal.

He just hoped that he could do that. He hoped that Hannibal would give Max a change, even though he had only agreed to do with the utmost reluctance.

How could Hannibal resist Max? The dog was endearing.

Just the way the animal was sitting there now, his pink tongue lolling out, his head tilted to the side, made Will laugh. He really was a sweet, loving pet.

Somehow, he was sure that Max could win Hannibal over. There was no reason to think that he couldn't. And he knew that Max was a loving dog; he couldn't understand Max's animosity towards Hannibal. But a day spent in each other's company might fix things.

"Here we go, Max," he said, tugging at the leash. Max got to his feet, giving Will an inquiring look, head still tilted. "We're going to visit Hannibal. Be a good dog, now."

So much depended on what happened today. He just hoped that Max would pass the test.

***