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Title: The Game Has Begun
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1drabble
Prompt: 4, Letter
Author's Note: Sequel to "Shadow on His Soul."
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 the paper in his shaking hand, blue eyes wide.

He was almost unable to believe what he was reading. Hannibal had actually written him a letter. A long letter, one that explained a lot of things.

He now knew why Hannibal had framed him for murdering Abigail, and why he'd literally kept the girl a prisoner in his home. And he also knew why Hannibal had killed her. None of the answers to those questions made him feel less hatred towards the other man.

Instead, those answers had only heightened his hatred of Hannibal. He wasn't a man, he was a monster. He had no claim whatsoever to humanity.

More than ever, Will wanted to put him behind bars.

That was the only place he belonged, Will told himself, anger seething through his veins. he had committed atrocities, and he should be made to pay for them.

He turned the letter over in his hands, not wanting to read it again, but knowing that he would at some point. He would probably read it obsessively before he turned it over to Jack, and let the FBI pore over it. He had no choice in that matter; he had to let them see it.

Will doubted that anything about the letter would help them catch Hannibal. There was no clue as to where he was; even the postmark wouldn't mean much.

After all, he had probably already left wherever he'd been when it was mailed. Hannibal was no fool; it wasn't going to be so simple to catch him.

What surprised Will the most was that Bedelia was with him; he hadn't expected that at all. So, it seemed that Bedelia was Hannibal's accomplice -- and more than likely, his lover, though there was no way to prove that. It was mere speculation, and he didn't really care.

All he cared about was finding them, and bringing Hannibal to justice. He wanted to see that monster caged for the rest of his life, to see him suffer as Will had suffered.

He wanted to see Hannibal lose his freedom, to be incarcerated for life.

That would be worse for Hannibal than death. Losing his freedom, losing his reputation, would cut into him more than a blade or a bullet.

And that was the revenge he wanted, Will thought as he tried not crumple the letter in his hand. He wanted Hannibal to be reduced to nothingness, to see all of that arrogance and hubris collapse under the weight of utter despair. He wanted Hannibal to feel the same way he had felt.

Somehow, he would make that happen. And maybe, if he was lucky, this letter would be a place to start. Maybe more would come, and give him clues to Hannibal's whereabouts.

The game had begun. And this time, he was going to win.

***