Main Hannibal Fan Fiction page | new stories page | Will/Hannibal slash page | other pairings page | gen stories page

Title: Time To Get Romantic
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 8, 50ficlets
Prompt: 12, Romance
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. soar

***

Will's hands shook slightly as he sat down on the couch next to Hannibal. He wasn't good with this kind of intimacy; he never liked anyone being this close to him, not even Hannibal. He just wasn't comfortable with having anyone close to his personal space.

But he was going to have to let Hannibal get much closer if he wanted their relationship to continue, wasn't he? This was only the beginning.

He didn't know what he was doing. He'd have to let Hannibal take the lead.

Being romantic had never been one of Will's strong qualities. As much as he wanted to be loved, he didn't know how to open up and let it happen. But with Hannibal, he had the definite feeling that it would be easier than it would have been with anyone else.

"Will." Hannibal's voice was very soft, even a little hesitant. "If you aren't comfortable with having me here, I can go. I just ...." The other man shrugged, sighing softly. "I just wanted to see you. I didn't want to wait any longer until our next session."

Will wondered about those sessions. Would he be able to keep seeing Hannibal as a patient if they were dating? He didn't think that was ethical.

But he wasn't going to worry about it now. He was going to try to relax and enjoy the fact that Hannibal was here, and that the other man obviously wanted to be with him. After all, he wouldn't have come all the way out here to Wolf Trap if he didn't.

That thought gave Will a little glow, deep down inside.

Hannibal was the one who had come here. That proved that he wanted this to continue, that he wanted to be with Will. There was nothing for him to be nervous about; Hannibal was moving things along, taking the reins, just as Will had hoped he would.

"I think we should have a bit of a fire, don't you?" Hannibal, smiling and getting to his feet. He went to the fireplace, kneeling in front of it. "It looks as though you already have a few logs here -- I just need to get the fire started."

There was already a fire burning within him, Will thought, then almost gasped aloud. He had come so close to saying those words aloud.

He watched silently as Hannibal started the fire, then stoked it. It wasn't blazing high, but it was enough to make the room comfortably warm; Will had never realized before just how intimate a fireplace could make a room feel, how cozy it was to have a fire going.

Hannibal returned to the couch, sitting down and turning to face Will.

"There's something very romantic about a fireplace," he murmured, reaching out to run gentle fingertips along Will's stubbled jawline. "It makes the entire room feel more intimate. And I've always thought that a roaring fire was conducive to romance."

Will swallowed hard, not sure of what to say. He couldn't help but agree with Hannibal; a fire did seem romantic -- and also, to him, erotic. He had already formed a picture in his mind of the two of them naked on the rug in front of the fireplace ....

But he couldn't tell Hannibal that, not now. Sex wasn't romance. It might be an outcome of these romantic feelings, but it wasn't something to be jumped into too quickly.

He wanted the romance, as well as the sex. He wanted them both -- he wanted the safety and security of knowing that Hannibal cared for him, that the two of them were more than just a physical attraction, and he wanted the physical side of things, as well.

Will took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

He didn't need to get ahead of himself. He didn't need to rush into this; they could take their time, move slowly, and figure out what they both really wanted. There was no hurry; this wasn't a race. There was plenty of time for romance before they moved on to the physical.

Right now, it was time to get romantic. He wanted them to get closer, to explore the possibilities one step at a time, to savor the moment fully before they moved on.

"Will? Is something wrong?" Hannibal's voice sounded a little shaky; Will opened his eyes to see the other man looking at him with a worried gaze. "Have I said something wrong? For a moment, you looked a if you were far away. In another world."

Will smiled, shaking his head, feeling foolish.

"Maybe I was, just for a minute," he said softly, taking another deep breath. He had to gather his courage and say what he felt; this might be his only chance to do so. "I was just thinking about us, about what I want, and what I hope you want."

"And what would that be?" Hannibal asked, tilting his head to the side and giving Will a quizzical look. "I know what I want, but I'm not sure about you."

"Maybe I should just show you," Will said softly, a smile curving his lips. He hadn't expected to be the one in control of this situation, but apparently, he was. He knew exactly what he wanted to do; it was time to let Hannibal know how he felt in no uncertain terms.

He leaned forward, his lips parted, eyes closing, anticipating the contact.

***