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Title: Unprepared
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham
Fandom: Hannibal
Rating: PG-13
Table: 8, 50ficlets
Prompt: 46. Flowers
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 leaned his head back against the soft cushions of the couch, wishing that he could relax. He was more tense than he'd been in a while, waiting for the phone to ring, wishing that the sound would tear through the room and surprise him.

He was waiting for Hannibal to call, and wondering if it was ever going to happen. It had been two days now, and it felt like an eternity.

Of course, if Hannibal called too soon, then it would probably feel like he was only after one thing, Will told himself with a sigh. Hannibal wasn't the kind of man who would want to appear too eager; he would give it a few days before he suggested another date.

He knew that he would have to wait, that he should be patient and let Hannibal take the reins in this. He was the one who had approached Will, and he should be the one who initiated the second date. It was in his hands now; the ball was in his court.

But the waiting was absolute hell.

If he was a braver man, then he would take matters into his own hands and make the next move. But he wasn't that brave; he didn't want to run the risk of seeming too eager himself, and making Hannibal back away from him.

What should he do? Should he simply sit and wait, as he was doing now, or should he take his courage into his hands and risk being too straightforward?

Will glared at his cell phone, sitting there on the coffee table, wishing that it would ring. But it was silent, obstinately so. It was as though the thing had decided not to let any calls come through, just because Will wanted one particular call so desperately.

Just as that thought struck him, there was a knock on the door.

Will frowned, putting down the book that he'd been pretending to read for the past hour and getting to his feet. He rarely ever got visitors out here; Jack would have called if he was on his way over, and he didn't think anyone else would be here.

Not at this time of night, anyway. He frowned as he moved toward the door, wondering who would have come all the way out to Wolf Trap after dark.

When Will pulled the door open, his eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and a startled gasp came from his throat. Of all the people he might have expected to see standing on his front porch, this wasn't one of them; he was sure that he was hallucinating.

But he wasn't. Hannibal was standing there, his sandy hair tousled, dressed very casually in jeans and a button-down sleeveless shirt -- and holding a huge bouquet of flowers. Sweet williams, unless Will was very much mistaken.

His mouth went dry, his knees weak and watery with desire.

He had never seen anyone look so desirable. How could a mere mortal man make jeans and a sleeveless shirt look so good? Will couldn't stop himself from staring at Hannibal's muscular biceps -- and wishing that those strong arms were wrapped around hm.

"I hope you don't mind me stopping by," Hannibal said softly, holding out the flowers to Will. "I .... thought you might like these. They reminded me of you."

Will managed to close his mouth and take the flowers from Hannibal, wondering just where this romantic gesture had come from. "Th-thanks," he finally managed to stammer, standing back so Hannibal could come into the house. "Let me put these in some water."

He hurried into the kitchen, hoping Hannibal couldn't tell how flustered he was.

Well, this was something he hadn't expected -- either the visit, or the flowers. He hadn't realized that Hannibal had such a romantic bent; if he'd been asked about that, he would have sworn that there was nothing romantic at all about this man.

Obviously, he'd been mistaken about that. Will drew in a deep breath as a thought occurred to him, an idea that made him stop in his tracks.

Was he the reason Hannibal was being so romantic? Did he bring out this side of the other man, in a way that no one else did? Was it possible that Hannibal returned his feelings, and that the two of them just didn't know how to connect on that level?

If that was the case, then he felt more than ever like he was walking across a field that was littered with land mines. He was afraid that he would say or do the wrong thing and make Hannibal back away, send him fleeing out of Will's life forever.

If that happened, he would never forgive himself.

He had no idea what to say, what to do. It was astounding that Hannibal had come all the way out here just to give him flowers; the thought made his head spin. He had been totally unprepared for this, not thinking that anything along these lines could happen.

Will took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. Hannibal was here, and the two of them could talk. That was what he had wanted, wasn't it?

Picking up the jar that he'd put the flowers in, he turned to carry it to the living room, his footsteps slow and uncertain. He had no idea what he would say to Hannibal, but it seemed that they were going to talk now, whether he was prepared for it or not.

***