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Title: In His Arms
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 8, 50ficlets
Prompt: 19, Sleep
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.

***

"Which side of the bed do you usually sleep on?" Will asked as he slowly removed the robe he was wearing. He was thankful that Hannibal had given him a t-shirt to wear over his boxers, as he didn't particularly want to sleep in the robe.

He hated to admit that he was more nervous than he'd ever been in his life; he shouldn't feel such trepidation about sleeping in the same bed with the man he loved.

But he did, and he couldn't deny it. For some reason, it was scary to think of being in bed with Hannibal all night, to be in this man's arms, to give himself over to sleep while someone else held him. No one had ever done that before. He'd never let them.

So many barriers were crumbling to the ground, so quickly that it frightened him.

He had no reason to be afraid of Hannibal, or of anything that might happen tonight. He wasn't going to let himself be afraid, he told himself firmly. He was going to welcome anything that might happen between them with open arms.

After all, this was what he wanted. To get closer to Hannibal, both in the physical and emotional senses. Their relationship had to keep moving forward.

But at the moment, it was moving forward so quickly that he felt unsettled, off-balance. He wasn't ready for anything more than what they'd already done; just sleeping in the same bed was going to be a big step forward for him, given his issues with intimacy.

He knew that Hannibal understood. There was nothing to be afraid of.

"I generally sleep on the side nearest the window," Hannibal told him, taking off his robe to reveal pajamas underneath. Will almost sighed in relief at that sight. It was a good thing that Hannibal intended to be fully clothed, otherwise there might be problems.

He didn't know if he was worried about what Hannibal might want to do if they were more bared to each other -- or what he might want to do.

A part of him wanted to throw all caution to the winds and put himself entirely in Hannibal's hands, to tell his lover that he wanted their relationship to be consummated tonight. Even though he knew in his heart that he wasn't ready, his body clamored for more.

His body could be very misleading sometimes.

Will slipped beneath the covers, his heart seeming to beat in triple time. He knew that at any moment, Hannibal would slide beneath the covers, turn out the light, and take him into those strong arms. After that, anything could happen.

He had no idea what might take place between them tonight, and really, it didn't matter. Whatever they might do with each other, their feelings wouldn't change.

They might be closer physically by the time the sun rose in the morning, or things might be exactly the same between them in that sense. But their hearts would remain the same; they would still be in love, and that love would only keep growing stronger.

He had no reason to be so nervous, or to feel that this night would change everything.

He closed his eyes as he felt the bed dip behind him with Hannibal's weight; the other man lay down beside him, then reached for the light on the bedside table to turn it off. "Can you sleep in my arms?" he asked, his voice very soft. "I want to hold you, Will."

Will almost didn't trust himself to speak; he wanted to spend the night snuggled into Hannibal's embrace more than he'd ever wanted anything.

"I don't think that'll be a problem at all," he murmured, trying to keep his tone light. "I've dreamed about this, you know. Being able to fall asleep in your bed, in your arms, and wake up next to you in the morning. It's something I've wanted ever since I first met you."

The smile on Hannibal's features when he turned his to look at his lover lifted his heart.

Will knew that he would sleep soundly in his lover's arms tonight; whatever else might happen between them, whether it was simply kissing and caressing or much more, he would be ready for it. He wanted to give himself over to Hannibal completely, in every possible way.

He had thought that he'd be scared of this, but he wasn't. He was simply ready, with a conviction that came directly from his heart.

"I have wanted to fall asleep with you in my arms ever since the first time I looked into your beautiful blue eyes," Hannibal said softly, reaching out to caress Will's cheek. "Rest assured, my love, that tonight we will merely sleep. There is plenty of time for everything else."

Will nodded, feeling a little disappointed, but relieved at the same time.

"Good night," he whispered, closing his eyes and settling down into the comfortable pillows. He smiled as he felt Hannibal's arms slide around his waist to pull him close."

"Good night, sweet William," Hannibal whispered, his breath warm against Will's neck. The feeling of being safe and secure, held gently in his lover's strong embrace, worked like a magic elixir to lull Will into sleep, a smile on his face as he drifted off into pleasant dreams.

***