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

Title: Telling It All
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Will Graham/Everett Hobbs (Original Character)
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Everett's face is Benedict Cumberbatch.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Will Graham or Lee Fallon, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***


"He scares me," Will whispered, his voice low and husky. "More than he should."

Everett wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, holding Will close against him. "He's a terrifying man, Will. I find it hard to believe that you could have ever been friends with him."

If Will knew all that Hannibal had done to him, if Everett told him about his past knowledge of the man, he was sure that Will would be even more scared of his one-time friend. But he wasn't going to tell, not if he didn't have to. Will didn't need to know about that.

Or did he? Everett mused. Would it be best for Will to know everything about the man who had once been his friend, to know exactly what he was capable of?

Still, didn't Will already know that, from the Chesapeake Ripper crimes?

It was obvious that Hannibal was capable of horrors that would turn most people's stomachs. Will didn't need to be told that. He'd already seen the evidence for himself.

Will was all too aware of what Hannibal was capable of, but Everett had to wonder if he had ever imagined those many horrors turned upon himself.

Everett knew what it was like to see those horrors visited upon someone he loved. He didn't want Will to think about it, but how could he not? He had to realize that Hannibal would inevitably look at him as a victim. Everett was sure that their nemesis already saw Will in that light.

Everett felt that Hannibal had seen Will as a victim right from the start. Their friendship had been nothing but a farce to gain Will's trust so Hannibal could then move in for the kill.

He still hadn't told Will about his unpleasant encounter with Hannibal; he hadn't wanted to upset his boyfriend. But he knew that at some point, he would have to.

Will deserved to know about the oblique threats that Hannibal had made.

Everett couldn't help worrying that Will might try to take matters into his own hands and go after Hannibal himself, no matter how much the other man frightened him.

Will was that kind of man, he thought with a soft sigh. The kind of man who would sacrifice himself if he thought that it would keep those he cared about safe.

"What was that sigh for?" Will asked, his voice very soft. He wound his arms around Everett's neck, pressing his slender body against his boyfriend's under the covers. "I know what you're thinking about, Everett. You're worried about me. He made threats, didn't he?"

How was it possible that Will seemed to know just what he was thinking? It was amazing how their minds were always on the same wavelength.

Ah well, Everett thought with a smile, it was just more proof that he and WIll were perfect for each other. And all the more reason to share everything with the man he loved.

"I just ...." Everett took a deep breath, closing his eyes. It was time to tell Will that he'd had a confrontation with Hannibal, to see what Will thought about it. "Hannibal and I met. On the street. I don't think it was an accident, love. I believe that he was lying in wait for me, to threaten me."

Will sat up, looking alarmed. "What did he say?" His hands clenched into fists; Everett could see the anger flood into his face. "What did that bastard threaten you with?"

Everett took Will's hands in his own, holding them to his lips and kissing each palm in turn. "Relax, Will," he said, his voice very soft. "He didn't frighten me away. He never could."

He gathered Will into his arms, feeling the other man gradually relax in his embrace.

"He's the Chesapeake Ripper, you know," Will said after what felt like a very long silence. "I've known that for a while. I just don't have the evidence to prove it."

"I know he is," Everett said, his voice quiet. "I've known it from the beginning, too. I've never doubted that he's the real killer, Will. I knew that you were jailed for his crimes."

Will pulled back slightly, gazing into Everett's eyes as though he was searching for something there, the answer to a silent question that he hadn't yet been able to put into words. "You've dealt with him in the past, on a personal level," he finally said. "I should have guessed that, shouldn't I?"

Slowly, reluctantly, Everett nodded. "Yes, I have. That's one of the reasons why I took on your case, Will. I thought that I could possibly lose the case, but I didn't expect to lose my heart."

"You're not the only one," Will said softly, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against Everett's lips. "We'll beat him, Everett. I know we will. We have to."

Everett nodded, wishing that he could be as sure as Will seemed to be.

He was right about one thing. They had to beat Hannibal. If they didn't, then not only would the two of them very likely lose their lives, but hundreds of other people would, as well.

They couldn't let that happen. They couldn't let Hannibal keep clearing a path of destruction through people's lives as he'd been doing. He and Will had the tools to stop him; they simply had to put those tools to good use, and find evidence that would conclusively prove Hannibal's guilt.

It wouldn't be easy. But then, was anything worth doing ever easy? he asked himself. It might involve some sacrifice and hard choices, but those choices had to be made.

They were the only ones who could bring Hannibal down.

Right now, he had to tell Will about the past, to let him know everything. They couldn't hold any secrets back from each other. Not any longer. There was no reason to.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled Will closer against him, letting the other man settle into the loving circle of his arms and feeling Will's own strong arms wrap around his waist. Everett closed his eyes for a moment, reveling in the sensation of being held by the man he loved.

He was comfortable with Will, in a way that he'd never been with anyone else. They could build a future together, once Hannibal was no longer hanging over them like a black cloud.

They had to remove that cloud from their horizon.

"There are some things I need to tell you about my past," he began, whispering his next words into Will's hair. "I think you need to know them, to understand my obsession with catching Hannibal."

Everett began to talk, pouring his heart out, telling it all, wanting Will to know everything about the past. Once he did, the road would be clear for them to head towards their future.

A future that they would spend together.

A long and happy future, one that Hannibal Lecter couldn't rip into shreds.

***