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Harry turned the page of his book that he was reading when an unfamiliar man walked through the door to his husband’s psychiatric office.
“Can I help you, sir?” Harry put his bookmark in his book and closed it. It was a book on blood runes but charmed to look like a Stephen King novel. Since being with his soulmate, Harry’s morals were looser when it came to so-called ‘dark magic’. He had found though that the British stance on types of magic was rather skewed compared to the rest of the world. Especially when it came to blood magic, which Harry had found to be something he was rather good at.
“Ah,” For some reason the man looked surprised to see Harry at the welcome desk. “I’m Jack Crawford from the FBI.” He pulled out his badge to show him. “Is this the office of Dr Hannibal Lecter?”
“Yes,” Harry felt the urge to go for his wand but patiently held back. If this man was a threat, he could wait until he turned his back to head into his husband’s office. “Can I ask what you need to see him about?”
“I need his help with a consultation,” Crawford explained, and Harry relaxed. He was here for Hannibal’s help, not to arrest him. That was a relief! “Alana Bloom recommended him.” Ugh Alana. Harry did not like that woman! She always made big cow eyes at his husband despite knowing that he was happily married. Unfortunately, his husband was too close to her, so she couldn’t just ‘disappear’, although he was sure that if Harry asked Hannibal would serve her for dinner anyway.
“Dr Lecter is currently with a patient.” Harry told him. “If you would take a seat, I will make sure that he sees you next.”
“Thank you.” Crawford looked a little annoyed at having to wait but he at least didn’t argue with Harry about it and took a seat in the waiting area. Harry watched amused as the FBI agent picked up one of the magazines from the table and started to flip through it. It was Vogue.
Harry returned to his book and continued to read until the little red light that showed the patient’s exit door had been opened. He shut his book and stood. Crawford looked up from the vogue magazine at his movement. Harry gave him the stereotypical white person; pursed lips smile before knocking on Hannibal’s door and heading in. He shut the door behind himself so that the FBI agent couldn’t sneak in behind him.
“Couldn’t wait for me to finish cleaning up after my last appointment?” Hannibal teased as he glanced over his shoulder from where he was cleaning up some dirty tissues.
Harry took a moment to appreciate how his husband’s arse looks in his tailored trousers before he remembered the FBI agent sitting in the waiting room.
“Ah, I wish.” He gave him a pointed look. “But you have a surprise guest.”
“Oh?” Hannibal stood up straight and walked over to his desk to use his hand sanitizer.
“An FBI agent by the name of Jack Crawford is here to ask for a consultation. Alana recommended you.” Harry couldn’t help but curl his lip in distaste at even saying her name.
“Oh, m ano sielos draugas.” Hannibal crossed the room in a few quick strides. He cupped Harry’s face. “I adore how possessive you get.”
“You can show me how much you adore it later.” Harry grinned at his husband who was all but leering at him. “You have an FBI agent to see first.”
His husband pouted and Harry couldn’t help but dart forward and kiss that expression from his face. He adored how expressive Hannibal was around him. Maybe it was because they both knew all of each other’s secrets? Or because Harry was completely and utterly his? They were soulmates and there was nothing on earth that could make Harry leave him.
Hannibal bit at Harry’s lips, pulling them into his mouth and sucking hard. Harry moaned, merlin, his husband knew exactly how to get him hot. After a few moments more, Hannibal pulled back with a satisfied look on his face and Harry knew that his lips were swollen from their kisses.
“Didn’t you say I had another appointment.”
Harry glowered at his tease of a husband, “You’re going to make this up to me.” He jabbed a finger at his firm chest.
“Of course, darling.”
Harry huffed at the amusement on his face and turned to open the office door. Crawford stood at his reappearance and his eyes widened slightly at the state of his lips, and his messy hair.
“Dr Lecter will see you now.” Harry told him and stepped out of the way.
“Thank you.” His voice sounded slightly choked and Harry wondered if he was homophobic...if he was it was then Harry would make sure that he got added to his husband’s card catalogue.
Oh well, he would find out later, Harry shrugged to himself and went back to his desk. He would continue reading his book until his husband was ready to go home or needed help with the body.
*************
Hannibal was fortunate that his darling, his love, his soulmate, had told him why this FBI Agent was here otherwise he might have made a rash decision.
“Please, come in.” Hannibal stood to the side to let the man walk in, and if he took a moment to watch his husband walk away...well that was no one’s business but his own. “My partner said your name was Jack Crawford?” Hannibal’s hackles rose at the uncomfortable look on the agent’s face. If he was homophobic, then well, he may need his warrior’s aid in covering up his disappearance.
“Yes, I’m Special Agent Jack Crawford with the F.B.I.” He moved to look over at some of Hannibal’s framed meticulous pencil drawings of Florentine landscapes. He had drawn most of them before he had Harry more permanently in his life. After Harry had come back to him, and found a way to stay with him, his art work took a more personal and anatomical turn.
“Well, what can I help you with, Special Agent?” Hannibal straightened his pencils and scalpel on his desk.
“Can I ask you a few questions first?” Crawford turned to face him, this time his expression was more neutral. “Are you expecting more patients?”
“No, I am finished for the day.” Hannibal told him simply.
“And your secretary...you said he was your partner?” The question was posed cautiously.
“Yes, Harry is my husband and a partner in my practice. He prefers to secretary.” Harry actually saw their magical clients in the morning before playing as his secretary for the rest of the day. Oh, he wasn’t seeing them for mind healing or whatever it was called by magicals but curse breaking with a focus on blood based curses. And if his husband sometimes cursed things for his clients...well no one needed to know.
“Huh.” A thoughtful look passed over Crawford’s face before it cleared again. “Did you draw these?” He pointed at the drawings.
“Yes, I spent a lot of time in my youth in Florence.” Hannibal saw no reason to lie.
“Incredible amount of detail.” Crawford peered closer at the drawings.
Hannibal picked up a pencil and cut a point with a scalpel, he blew the shavings off the tip to reveal its sharpness. “I learned very early on that a scalpel cuts better points than a pencil sharpener.” He placed both pencil and scalpel back on the desk but still within reach.
“I understand your drawing got you an internship at Johns Hopkins.” Crawford seemed to know rather a lot about him for a man that was here to ask for his help.
“I am beginning to suspect you are investigating me, Agent Crawford.” He leant against his desk, and eyed the agent who looked sheepishly back at him.
“You were referred to me by Alana Bloom in the psychology department at Georgetown.” It seemed like the special agent was finally getting down to business.
“Most psychology departments are filled with ham radio enthusiasts and other personality-deficients. Dr. Bloom would be the exception.” He paused and then added. “However, it is better if you do not mention her to my husband, he isn’t her biggest fan.”
“Oh? I wouldn’t have thought it was possible not to like Alana.” Crawford raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“She, misunderstood my actions while I was her mentor.” He visibly grimaced this time. “I thought I was being an approachable mentor, she took it as more.” It was unfortunate that she couldn’t take a hint and if she wasn’t careful, Harry would run out of patience and prettily beg for Hannibal to have her ‘for dinner’. He was looking forward to it.
“Well, she showed me your paper in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Evolutionary Origins of Social Exclusion.” Crawford seemed flustered by his answer and tried to bring the conversation back to where he wanted it to be.”
“And?” Hannibal wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
“It was very interesting, even to a layman.”
“A layman? So many learned fellows going about in the halls of Behavioural Science at the F.B.I. and you consider yourself a layman?” Modesty does not befit the man in front of him.
“I do when I’m in your company, Doctor.” Oh? How flattering. “I’d like you to help me
with a psychological profile.”
“You have a whole department, why do you need me?” Hannibal would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious.
“Ah,” Jack rubbed the back of his head. “The man I need you to profile is one of my profilers. He’s a professor that teaches profiling mainly, but I need his imagination on this but Dr Bloom is concerned about if he will be able to handle it.”
“Ah, hence the need for a psychological profile.” Hannibal hummed. This could definitely be interesting. And depending on what he finds, perhaps the Chesapeake Ripper will finally be caught…
“So will you do it?”
“Of course.” Hannibal confirmed. “When do you need me?”