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Title: A Very Pleasant Holiday
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: Holiday Non-Bingo, tv_universe
Prompt: 6, Food
Author's Note: Sequel to "Sorry About the Weather."
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.

***

"Wow." Will's eyes widened as he followed Hannibal into the dining room.

He had certainly gone out of his way to make the room look appealing, Will thought. There were candles, and everything was polished to a high gloss.

Even the food looked amazing. There were what looked to be steaks, portions of potatoes au gratin, and a light soup, as well as two glasses of white wine.

The table, with its two place settings of immaculate china, sparkling crystal, and gleaming silverware, almost looked lik a work of art in itself. Trust Hannibal to turn a simple dinner for two into a stately occasion, Will thought with a smile. "This is beautiful, Hannibal. Thank you."

Hannibal chuckled softly, shaking his head. "There is nothing to thank me for, Will. You haven't even tasted the food yet. I hope you enjoy the meal."

"I know I will," Will answered, his voice soft. "I always do when I'm here. You have exquisite taste, Hannibal. I could probably learn a lot from you."

There. That was an invitation to conversation.

He couldn't help looking appreciatively at the food in front of him. Hannibal always set a beautiful table, that was for sure. The food looked more like art.

He'd noticed that at every dinner party he'd been to at Hannibal's home. The man took cooking seriously. To him, it was just as much artistry as sustenance.

Will liked that about Hannibal. He liked that this man took things like good food seriously, and that when he did things, he made an art out of them. He wasn't someone who would just putter through life, doing a lot of things fairly well, but not being a master of any of them.

Like himself, Will thought, wincing. He knew how to do a lot of things decently, but the only thing he could say that he was a master of was .... fishing.

And catching criminals, he told himself. Though the way he did that was one of the most unorthodox methods on the books, that was for sure.

He was surprised when Hannibal pulled his chair out for him; that was a display of good manners that he never expected from anyone. Especially as he was a man, he thought with an inward laugh. But, after all, Hannibal was nothing if not mannerly; maybe he should have expected something like that.

Hannibal seated himself across the table from Will, smiling at him. "I have a gift to give you tonight, Will. Something that I took some time to pick out. I hope you don't mind."

"I .... I didn't bring any of the gifts I got for you," Will stammered, surprised by Hannibal's words. After a moment, what he'd let slip dawned on him, and he blushed fire-engine red.

Gifts. He'd told Hannibal that he'd gotten him gifts. In the plural.

He had meant for that information to stay quiet until Hannibal came to his home for dinner. He hadn't wanted to look like some obsessive fool.

"That's quite all right, Will," Hannibal said, his tone smooth and not at all disappointed. "I hadn't expected you to bring me anything. I simply wanted to give you one of your gifts tonight."

Hannibal had used the plural, as well. Will felt a wave of relief sweep over him. So, this man had gotten him more than one Christmas gift. Did that mean that Hannibal just might have some interest in him, other than friendship? That still remained to be seen.

"I was hoping that you'd come out to Wolf Trap for dinner one night, so I could give you most of your gifts then," he said, trying to sound casual. "But I'd like to save a couple for Christmas Day."

"I would enjoy that," Hannibal told him, raising his glass and inclining his head with a smile. "I'm sure that dinner at your home would be a delightful way to spend the evening."

"I hope it would be," Will said with a laugh, returning Hannibal's smile.

He felt as though he was flying. Exhilarated, and even a little breathless. Hannibal had agreed to come to his house for dinner, and there was no telling what could happen.

Smiling across the table at his host, Will cut into the first piece of steak and raised it to his lips. It looked as though this was going to be a very pleasant holiday season indeed.

***