this vulnerable Hannibal ramble has a happy ending. i promise. ♡ this post is only meant for people ages 18+ because it does tread into nsfw territory.
don't think about Hannibal noticing cancer symptoms a few months post-fall. specifically, bladder cancer. don't think about Hannibal hiding this from Will because they're on the run after nearly being caught. don't think about Hannibal getting shot in his pelvis during their escape and collapsing to the ground. don't think about Will carrying Hannibal (who whimpers against Will's neck with each abrupt jostle of his body) to safety towards a getaway car. desperately trying to stop the bleeding. finding a small emergency clinic and holding the doctor at gunpoint until Hannibal's wound is tended to.
don't think about Will discovering the news of Hannibal's stage 3 bladder cancer because the doctor states there's no point in saving Hannibal, who only has a few months to live at most. don't think about Will's entire world crumbling in that instance. seeing Hannibal's limp body on the operating table. thinking back to all the times Hannibal winced upon sitting with a full belly after dinner (because it put more pressure on his bladder) and how he would discreetly leave to change into a more comfortable pair of pants or shift in discomfort. don't think about Will passing it off as simple weight gain. then thinking back to the moments when Hannibal would spend long periods of time in the bathroom (scrubbing down the bathroom to limit Will's chance of finding traces of blood in the toilet. or simply straining to urinate).
don't think about Will confronting Hannibal once he's conscious. don't think about Hannibal's face crumpling because he's scared this'll be Will's motivation to leave; to go back to his old life now that Hannibal's is coming to an end. don't think about Hannibal spending these last few months knowing something was wrong; having an inkling there was probably a tumor growing around the area of his groin. yet having no means to get a diagnosis. not without the risk of being caught. not without the risk of losing Will. don't think about Hannibal begging Will to leave; to do the complete opposite of what he truly wants during his last few months of living. because Hannibal doesn't want Will to witness his rapid decline.
don't think about Hannibal and Will crying in each other's arms. don't think about them both having to accept their fate. don't think about Hannibal still attempting to be intimate with Will even as the act of orgasming results in agony instead of pleasure; how it feels like the muscles in his bladder are about to rupture the very last time he's intimate with Will. how he cries out of fear of disappointing Will any further. because he wants it too (this emotional and physical connection) and is disappointed in himself. and he wants to feel a sense of normalcy that he'll never have again. don't think about Will reassuring Hannibal with tender kisses and gentle words. stating sex isn't necessary. not if it only serves to bring Hannibal more and more pain.
don't think about Hannibal being in the bathroom one night and Will waking to an empty bed. finding Hannibal sitting on the toilet instead of standing. exhausted and on the verge of tears (because he needs to relieve the pressure in his bladder and urinate, but the tumor has doubled in size and is causing a blockage). don't think about Hannibal finally breaking down upon seeing Will because the discomfort is rising and his bladder feels as if it's about to explode. don't think about Will rushing to lay Hannibal on the floor and inserting a catheter. whispering frantic apologies and words of reassurance when Hannibal sobs and whimpers from the pain. hugging Hannibal once it's inserted and the pressure eventually abates. rubbing Hannibal's distended abdomen and bladder in soothing circles. don't think about Hannibal having to wear a catheter 24/7 during his last month of life.
don't think about Hannibal waking Will up in the middle of the night. because he knows he doesn't have much time left. don't think about Will awakening to an unfamiliar shift in Hannibal's tone: frail and tinged with fear and desperation for Will. don't think about Will holding Hannibal until the very end. don't think about Will falling asleep with Hannibal's limp body cradled to his chest. don't think about Will living alone for months on end. don't think about Will one day falling asleep in their large bed and somehow time traveling in the past; ending up at the cliff house with this past version of Hannibal (who's just entered the house with Will frozen in place in the driveway because all he can see is the back of Hannibal's head).
don't think about Will's voice breaking when he chokes out a whisper of Hannibal's name. don't think about Hannibal stopping mid-step because hearing his name fall from Will's mouth still feels foreign and it's all he's ever wanted. don't think about all the emotions warring inside Will's mind. don't think about Will striding across the room, hands shaking as he pulls Hannibal into a fierce embrace. don't think about Will whispering the words: "i've missed you so damn much." or even: "hi, baby." because he's overcome with emotion at having a second chance.
(i'll admit that i did in fact type this all out while listening to 'I Bet On Losing Dogs' by Mitski lol. it is perfect inspiration though. because you guys... imagine Will blinking past tears and thinking "i've got my baby back" and being so happy to reunite with Hannibal).
don't think about Will kissing Hannibal with a frenzied desperation and picking Hannibal up to take him to bed. don't think about Hannibal gasping into Will's mouth and feeling nervous and excited all at once. because this is all he's wanted for the last three years. don't think about Will realizing he shouldn't rush this (no matter how overwhelming it feels to be blessed with a second chance) because this is technically Hannibal's first time (even though Will is now familiar with every inch of Hannibal's body and knows what makes him gasp and writhe and tremble with pleasure).
don't think about Will noticing the familiar pinched expression twisting Hannibal's features with visible worry and nervousness. the same expression Will witnessed months ago during their last intimate night together; when Hannibal worried he'd disappointed Will; when Hannibal's agony drowned out every trace of pleasure that Will was desperate to wring out from his weak and easily fatigued body; when it became apparent Hannibal had endured this discomfort for Will's satisfaction. don't think about Will realizing this time that Hannibal's discomfort and apprehension is due to being touch-starved and that he's nervous about climaxing too soon. that it'll disappoint Will.
Will feels the complete opposite of disappointment and wants to witness Hannibal succumb to every pleasurable sensation. even if it ends sooner than Hannibal wants.
imagine Will eating Hannibal out with sheer tenderness. relentless and fluid arcs of his swirling tongue and drawn out suckles. imagine Will's hand reaching between Hannibal's spread legs and wrapping around his throbbing cock. imagine Hannibal's flushed face buried in the bed sheets, fingers clawing at the comforter for stability because he never expected his first time with Will to be like this. imagine Hannibal on the verge of sobbing because it's too much; too foreign of a sensation; being touched and coaxed towards a rapidly approaching climax by a skilled mouth and a steady hand. being worshipped by Will after enduring years of forced celibacy.
imagine Will clutching one of Hannibal's trembling hands and reminding Hannibal it's okay to come; that he doesn't have to wait any longer; that he deserves this. imagine Will's thumb smoothing over Hannibal's twitching knuckles. Will's tongue diving back in between Hannibal's red and chafed cheeks. Hannibal's movements and whimpers bordering on frantic as he thrusts into the calloused cage of Will's fist until he's ultimately overcome by a breath-stealing climax.
imagine Will cherishing this moment with his entire heart. knowing he was once again able to bring Hannibal over the threshold of desperation and into the pleasure of release without any trace of pain. something he hasn't been able to do in a very long time.
imagine Will kissing every inch of Hannibal's sweaty skin. leading Hannibal (who's legs are shaking, rendering him off balance) into the shower. washing Hannibal's hair and body with gentle touches. kissing away Hannibal's silent tears of overwhelm. washing Hannibal's back. kissing Hannibal's nape and the Verger brand. wrapping his arms around Hannibal's waist. hands trailing over the thick hair curling over Hannibal's groin; right around the area of Hannibal's bladder; searching for any signs of discomfort. feeling his heart skip a beat when Hannibal's breath hitches; out of overwhelm or pain, he can't be sure and doesn't dare to ask. not wanting to break the peace of this moment. not wanting to alarm Hannibal (who finally seems to have everything he's ever wanted). it's a long-awaited moment Will can't bear to ruin for Hannibal. not right now.
it prompts Will to make a spur of the moment decision that they should leave as soon as possible; flee to another country where Hannibal can get screened for signs of bladder cancer or any other anomalies. when Hannibal eventually questions Will's motives for a finding nearby doctor, he makes an excuse that it's a simple precaution; that it's because Hannibal hasn't been to a doctor in three years. imagine if in this universe, Hannibal's bladder cancer is caught and treated early. imagine if in this universe, Will and Hannibal get their happily ever after. something Will never takes for granted. even during arguments or disagreements.
Hannibal's food trauma flaring up in the winter is always on my mind.
During season 2, post-episode naka-choko, Hannibal is in the middle of a binge (eating foods from his childhood because it helps him feel closer to Mischa, and because there is always a persistent and illogical, deep-rooted fear of running out of food) and regresses. He's wearing the red sweater and matching pajama pants. His hair is unstyled, laying soft across his forehead. He's alone in the dining room until someone else unexpectedly enters the room. Will (because they both gave the other a spare key), who is stunned when Hannibal startles for the first time ever and gasps and starts choking on a mouthful of food. And for a few moments, Will is frozen --waiting for Hannibal to settle. He doesn't. He's clawing at his throat and tears are pouring down each cheek. Then, Will rushes over and does the heimlich maneuver on Hannibal. The mouthful of food lands onto Hannibal's plate. He's gasping for breath, blinking wetly--and Will is unprepared for the next moment: the back of Hannibal's skull presses closer; a small, reversal nuzzle; seeking comfort. Will is still holding onto Hannibal's waist, holding him up, feeling how bloated and strained his abdomen is right now. Then, Hannibal's chest lurches and he starts gagging and ends up vomiting all over the table. His fists are curled around the table's edge and Will struggles to hold him up from how violently he's retching. Puking always distresses little Hannibal because puking reminds him of the moment he realized he ate the soup filled with Mischa's remains. He's a trembling wreck, tears and snot and saliva and bile coating his mouth and chin. He doesn't respond to Will's questions of concern. He disassociates, blinking blankly and reliving flashbacks of being trapped inside the cabin with Mischa and being so, so hungry and cold and scared, even if he didn't want to show the men he was afraid. He doesn't react until Will brings a napkin up to his mouth, wiping away the mess. He startles again, whimpering yet not able to move in such a cramped position. Will realizes something is wrong when Hannibal's rasped and ruined voice fills the air: something foreign and trembling, a half-formed cry. That's when Will realizes something is wrong. That Hannibal isn't drunk. There is food everywhere; multiple pans half-full. There is no cutlery, because Hannibal's been eating everything by hand-feeding himself. He's shivering and disheveled and reeking of vomit. Will knows leaving Hannibal like this is not an option. For the first few moments, consoling Hannibal does not come with a natural ease, but Will slowly begins to understand that touch and a gentle voice are comforting for little Hannibal. The mess is first on Will's list, and he makes Hannibal sit back down and drink some water, then begins cleaning up the table. Hannibal becomes distressed when he realizes what's happening; that food is being taken away. It takes a few moments for Will to calm Hannibal down. To remind Hannibal that he's already had enough. Soon, Will leads Hannibal upstairs to change into clean pajamas. Then, Hannibal asks Will to stay, in a voice so small that Will couldn't possibly refuse.
Later, when little Hannibal is asleep, curled up against Will's chest after explaining winter always makes him hungry and sharing stories of his childhood (maybe abuse at the orphanage), and sharing that he's never had a best friend after losing Mischa until now, Will begins to second guess everything and no longer wants to go through with the plan of entrapping Hannibal. Especially when little Hannibal admits to Will he didn't mean to eat the soup--he was just so hungry--and Will is left wondering what it means until everything clicks into place.
chapter 2 of Je Te Laisserai Des Mots (my housewife Hannibal sequel) is out. xoxo
Post-Fall Hannibal and Will are at a gathering (to blend in), and Hannibal's stomach is still sensitive. They've just finished dinner and Hannibal's stomach is gurgling and bloated. They're standing around, sipping on wine glasses. Hannibal sets a half-empty glass on the nearest table. He's desperate to find a bathroom yet doesn't want to cause a scene, mostly because it may upset Will. He excuses himself and scans the room in hopes of finding a bathroom; all the while barely able to breathe past the sharp pain burrowing beneath each rib. He knows something is bound to come out one way or another. Each step becomes less stable. His pulse is thrumming loud enough to drown out the rest of the world and Will's footsteps. He gasps when a set of fingers curl around one wrist.
"Where are you going?" Will asks. He notices rising panic wash over Hannibal's features--a foreign sight.
Hannibal's stomach clenches, wrenching free a whimper. "Bathroom, please." He won't be able to control it much longer. He knows and doesn't want to cause a scene, much less shit himself in front of Will. He blinks past a sting of fresh tears, accent thickening. "Will, I-I need a bathroom."
Then, Will softens in understanding and leads Hannibal away from the crowd (first, asking a waiter where the nearest bathroom is; unfortunately, upstairs). Hannibal is sweating now, palm sliding against Will's own and finger's trembling in their squeeze. He's gentle when the need arises; when Hannibal's footsteps begin to slow and whimpers become a constant background noise; when Hannibal needs to brace himself against the nearest concrete wall, and wrap an arm around a swollen and aching belly; when Hannibal's knees begin to shake.
"Will," Hannibal rasps, voice curling around an emerging sob. "I won't make it. Too far."
Truly!!
Like how this session must've ended, and how Hannibal must've been feeling during it, knowing he'd been betrayed? That keeps me up at night. This is just an old fic idea I had, but:
Imagine if Hannibal had to fight back tears in the aftermath of this moment because he’d never experienced a betrayal quite like this—because he hadn’t gotten this close to anyone since he was a child—and he had finally let Will see a part of himself he’d never imagined he could share with anyone. He believed he’d been accepted up until now. My headcanon is he was punished for not being able to speak at the orphanage: beaten when he would be forced to try and speak; but no words would come out; only a weak rasp. Imagine if he struggled to continue the their conversation because a lump was forming in his throat and it felt too much like the strain of trying to speak as a mute child.
So he panicked (because muteness is something he hadn't struggled with in decades) and all he could do was whimper as Will—
I really wanna know what happened in Mizumono moments after Hannibal smelt Freddie’s perfume on Will. How did he end the visit? How did Will not notice a shift in the atmosphere with his empathy? Like come on, Willy boy—put that over-empathetic brain to work. 😩
And the dinner scene when Hannibal suggests they run away together, feed Will’s dogs, and leave a note for Alana—but Will doesn’t want to. I bet Hannibal was fighting back a sniffle and a tearful hiccup with each bite. You know that sore, sandpaper sensation in your throat when you’re about to burst into tears, but holding it back?
Imagine if while Hannibal was eating, he choked because his throat felt so raw and Will had to do the Heimlich maneuver on him—and it only worsened his emotional state because Will has been playing him and just witnessed him gasping for his life over a small chunk of lamb. Tears are streaming down his cheeks, but Will believes it’s only a simple case of watery eyes. Then an ugly, voice-cracking sob bursts from Hannibal’s chest because Will is being so gentle with him—rubbing his back and asking if he’s all right (since he’s never nothing but elegance and grace 24/7)—and for the first time in decades his voice abandons him.
He hasn’t felt this off-kilter or this unlovable since he was in the orphanage—mute and alone—just waiting for someone to truly see him.
Will’s seen him—but he knows Will doesn’t want him as he is—who he’s always been. It’s a crushing blow. One he never thought he would have to experience because he never imagined meeting someone like Will.
Updated 4/14/2025 with one new addition located at the bottom of the page! A few of these fics are mine, but the rest are some of my favorite fics I've ever read that feature vulnerable Hannibal in various seasons, AUs, and post-canon.
shrike (to your sharp and glorious thorn):
Will begins to notice a change in Hannibal's behavior post-fall. He's become something akin to a fretting housewife.
The Ache Against The Wind (Rewritten):
3x13 AU: Will travels into an alternate dimension after plunging into the Atlantic and is confronted with the unexpected aftermath following the removal of Hannibal's toilet in the BSHCI.
Pareidolia:
Six weeks post-fall, Hannibal suffers from a seizure during dinner.
Je Te Laisserai Des Mots:
Six months have passed since Will pulled them over the cliff. Even in light of their progressing relationship, much of Hannibal still remains a mystery to Will. For reasons unknown, he’s begun to pull away. (A sequel to Shrike--my housewife Hannibal fic!)
Between The Hour Of Reprieve:
At the cliff house, Hannibal receives a much-needed-hug.
A Cabin In The Woods by KoolJack1:
Hannibal is thirteen and runs away from the orphanage when he feels that a fate of the elements will be better than the fate of abuse. He finds a small cabin in the woods, thinking warmth will be all he finds. He also finds Will. But who changes who?
this is absolutely amazing. i've never read an AU quite like this. a true masterpiece.
Recipricol Alchemy by Scifibabe:
In the silent echoes of his dreams, Will Graham treads a line blurred between control and chaos, each step drawing him inexorably towards claiming Hannibal as his own. It's a perilous dance on the edge of darkness, where the thrill of possession whispers of a transformation too profound to resist.
one of my faves. i can't even describe how perfect this explores their season 2 dynamic. such a unique trajectory and i am living for it.
Hold Me, Don’t Let Me Go by sourweather:
It's a few months after the Fall when it finally hits him. Hannibal has barely been touched in 3 years. And Will won't let it go on for another moment.
so precious omg. love it
Hosanna In The Highest by sainthannibal:
During the fall, Hannibal receives the brunt of the injuries, which leaves him unable to care for himself. Will discovers how much he enjoys taking care of him.
the post-fall whump is immaculate 🤧 love it
You Made Me Soup by itsybitsylemonsqueezy:
Hannibal comes down with pneumonia while incarcerated. Will decides to make him some soup. Absolutely no one thinks it's strange that Will comes to give his ex soup when he finds out he's sick. No one at all finds this suspicious. At. All.
god, i love this one so much. sick hannibal being hand-fed in the BSHCI? wailing my heart out
The Boy Under The Monster’s Bed by Wr4tttttthh:
There were deep wounds that needed healing, new and old, physical and otherwise.
one of my faves. Will finding Hannibal hiding under the table? a gut punch 😭
Delicate Ghost by hannigramcracker & TimmyJayBird:
She was different- not the ghost of his memories, but something about this bloodied child ripped right at Hannibal's chest, and left him drowning in a cold snow he thought he had left in his childhood, that he had locked away within his skull. Drowning, with only one hand to grasp at, one body to cling to. One man to work him through the trauma and remind him what life was.
so amazing. a unique perspective of how Will would deal with Hannibal becoming distressed while on a case together. one of the first vulnerable hannibal fics i've ever read 🥺
You With Those Nails, Me With This Cross by TheBitterKitten:
Will goes too far.
wailing into my pillow omg this had the perfect amount of angst.
The Distance Is Quite Simply Much Too Far For Me To Row by softhan:
Hannibal is having a rough time recovering from his injuries post-fall, and retreats into himself to avoid confrontation with Will while he's still weak and ill. Having to play happy husbands hardly helps.
my all time fave Hannibal whump fic. the way he's scared Will is disgusted by his accident? eternally sobbing. forever recommending this to anyone who is searching through this rec list.
Silk and Lace by jonnimir:
Bedelia leaves Hannibal and Will a gift at the house on the cliff.
crying because this was so tender and sweet. touch-starved hannibal at the cliff house. chef's kiss.
Not So Fast by scifibabe:
Hannibal wakes from a heated dream with a need that can’t be ignored—and Will, half-asleep but all too eager, is more than happy to help. What begins as a midnight indulgence quickly spirals into an overwhelming game of push and pull, as Will’s relentless appetite pushes Hannibal to the edge and beyond. Kinktober Day 10: Overstimulation + Face-Sitting
desperate and needy hannibal. need i say more? loved it 🤭
Hush Now by scifibabe:
What starts as Will stitching up Hannibal's latest hunting injury turns into something else entirely when a teasing "let Daddy take care of you" slips out. It's meant to be a joke--until Hannibal's reaction tells a different story. One playful push leads to another, and soon enough, they're both realizing they might be into this a little more than they expected. Kinktober Day 19: Fisting.
I truly cannot recommend Hush Now enough! It'll live rent free in my mind and heart for the rest of my life ♡
The Antidote To Grief by incidentsofunkownorigins:
On Will's idea, they visit Mischa's grave. What Will had hoped to be a healing moment of closure breaks something in Hannibal and he is the only one who can put the pieces back together.
this is such a beautiful take on Hannibal and Will visiting Lithuania together and how that would impact Hannibal. ♡
Pulse Point:
Post-Fall, an injured Hannibal awakes from an erotic dream, desperate and needy, aching for Will's touch.
Marveling at a Spoon by scifibabe:
After a gourmet dinner, Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter decide to indulge in something a little more... pedestrian—a joint. As the smoke settles and their usual control begins to loosen, Hannibal finds himself experiencing a sensation he never expected: a heightened sensitivity that unravels him under Will’s teasing touch. What starts as a curious experiment in relaxation quickly turns into a surprising discovery, one that leaves even the meticulous Hannibal completely undone. Will is all too eager to take advantage of his newfound knowledge, and Hannibal, for once, is too overwhelmed to resist.
god, i loved this so much.
We Are Now Among The Ruins by ADeedWithoutAName:
Hannibal survived the fall, but not unchanged. He intends to give Will the only gift he now can, and Will intends to honor him in the only way that matters.
i rarely read MCD, but this one is so worth the pain. i am eternally sobbing from this 😭 i also cannot recommend this one enough!!
Something Sacred by scifibabe:
In the quiet aftermath of their survival, silence has taken hold. Hannibal hasn't spoken since the night they washed ashore, his voice swallowed by their shared trauma. Will, haunted by the absence of words and the weight of unspoken things, has learned to reach Hannibal through touch, through the quiet rituals of care. When the strain of Hannibal’s pain becomes too much to hide, Will draws a bath—an unspoken offer of comfort. But today is different. Today, beneath the surface of familiar rituals, something stirs. As the warmth of the water surrounds them, walls begin to crack, and a fragile trust, once guarded so fiercely, blooms into something more intimate and vulnerable than either of them anticipated. In the quiet steam of the bath, two men find solace in each other’s arms, where tenderness can no longer be ignored.
this was so beautiful and soft omg. forever wailing about Hannibal asking Will to join him in the bath. ♡
A Pinch Of Salt In The Wound:
Renderered mute and bedbound post-fall, Hannibal begins to spiral.
You Believe Me Like A God:
Hannibal becomes severely injured post-episode 3x13.
compimento by cervviidae:
Hannibal learns what it's like to be Will's husband.
one of the most beautiful fics i've ever read that explore post-fall hannibal being loved with genuine tenderness and affection by Will. one i'll forever recommend.
Solace In Being Heard by air_of_the_Waterfall:
Hannibal is having terrible nightmares, and Will comes up with a rather unexpected method of helping him get a full night’s sleep.
i love that this offers such a unique look into Hannibal's childhood trauma and how it would impact his sleep. can't recommend it enough!
Bright Burn by Shotgun_sinner:
Hannibal suffers life-threatening injuries post-fall. Will makes decisions to save Hannibal, while trying to recover the life with him that he's only just realized he wanted. How far will he go to keep what's his?
the whump is immaculate in this post-fall fic too 🤧
crave, then succumb:
Hannibal receives a second hug post-fall, while high as a kite on morphine, and ends up unraveling in Will's arms.
chimera of the chapel by bleakmidwinter:
When Will Graham wakes up from a coma three months after the fall, Jack reveals that Hannibal Lecter didn't survive. Outside the realm of Hannibal's influence, Will decides to discover the full truth behind the world's sudden and seeming falsehood. Everybody seems to hold their own opinion on Hannibal's fate, but Will knows better than anyone that trust and honesty are as elusive as death.
incredible. i can't even express how much i loved this. the tender moments and development of their relationship is so beautiful 😭♥️
Keep Me Warm by nbcravenstag:
Will arrives home after walking through a blizzard, fully expecting an angry husband, but instead finds a traumatized little boy, terrified of the cold and haunted by what he's already lost.
the hurt/comfort in this was amazing. love it so much.
Beauty Not Needed Here by kralbellen:
“I know you are in love with me.”
It's not a question but not fully a statement either. A certain amount of doubt colores Will's tone, giving the sentence a nervous lilt.
Hannibal's first instinct is to deny it, in some half-hearted, last effort at self-preservation. He almost smiles – there is no self-preservation left for him when it comes to Will.
Hannibal is asexual. this was so tender and sweet. eternally wailing into my pillow. as someone who's ace this was like a breath of fresh air.
O Holy Night by memequeen1127:
Hannibal gazes at him right back, smiling as if he knows exactly what Will’s thinking. And considering how they know each other inside and out, he very well might.
“Merry Christmas, Will,” he says softly.
Will smiles. “Merry Christmas, Hannibal.”
the sweetest oneshot i've ever read. Hannibal regresses during Christmas and Will is so patient and caring. wailing about this until the end of time 😭🩵
The Perception Of Reality Through Language by Angelic_Disaster:
Hannibal can recognize the factors of trauma in others but not in himself. That's why he denies that there is a reason why he doesn't speak Lithuanian.
sobbing at this for eternity. Will speaking to Hannibal in Lithuanian and then Hannibal breaks down in his arms?? i couldn't ask for anything more beautiful than that in a fic.
Living With A Ghost Of Summer by itsbeautiful:
Based on a requested prompt. Where Will is an idiot, ahem, I mean Will loves Hannibal and tries to surprise him by making a home cooked meal using dishes from Lithuania. Fails spectacularly to lie his way out of it and everything goes horribly wrong. And then they cuddle. The end.
one of my favorites. Will cooks Lithuanian food for Hannibal, who ends up becoming an emotional mess.
Know Me See Me by incidentsofunknownorigins:
On the way to the cliff house, Will makes a decision for himself. Once they get there, he acts on it. But he finds Hannibal is much more deeply broken by his stay at the BSHCI than either of them realized. This time Will must put the teacup back together.
the premise of this fic is something i've been searching for and craving to read for so, so long (eternity, basically) because there can never be enough cliff house fics that explore Hannibal being touch-starved and vulnerable and dealing with the effects of being isolated for three long years. ♡
between here and there by hannigramized:
Will's name is the last word Hannibal spoke in his presence. That was two months ago, directly after the fall, and Hannibal has not said a single word since. Now Will has to navigate through their lives together without Hannibal's voice to guide him.
love this so much! it's the most amazing mute!Hannibal fic i've ever read.
Take Me The Way I Am by Thinminted:
Will didn’t miss Molly, not really, but he occasionally missed who he was when he was with her.
A story about learning to trust your partner with all of yourself.
a very beautiful exploration of Hannibal and Will's developing relationship post-fall.
èclair by cerviidae:
Hannibal touches dough instead of skin. Hannibal is kissed by the feeling of flour on his lips, accidental and impersonal, instead of by the mouth of the man he loves. Three years in confinement had starved him, and now, though his body is healed, his soul remains ravenous. He cleans most of what he can of the whipped cream, scooping it back into another piping bag as he wills himself not to be irrational about this. This mess, this imperfection—it means nothing at all.
amazing post-fall fic about Hannibal's insecurity about being enough to satisfy Will in everyday life and also explores their developing physical relationship and how Hannibal's touch-starved state would have an impact on that. so beautiful. genuinely left me speechless.
Home Is Not A Place by shotgun_sinner:
Post-Fall, Hannibal recovers from his injuries. Will takes care of him, and their relationship evolves much more easily than Hannibal thought it would. The only issue is that Will is a constant presence, and he hasn't had alone time in three years. It ends up not being an issue at all.
one of the first post-fall fics i remember reading years ago that touched on Hannibal's touch-starved state and i've been hooked on that trope ever since lol. always a fave to re-read from time to time.
and the first time that you kissed me, i drank dry the River Lethe by cerviidae:
“Would you like me to come over?”
Silence stretches between them, taut and trembling. Then, the faintest sound—a throat clicking, a breath stalling. Hannibal can already see the war in Will's mind, the reasons she is telling herself not to accept. The burden she is convincing herself she must not be. Hannibal does not give her the chance to refuse.
“I would not mind.” A pause. A breath.
Then, finally, “Yes.”
*this is not a fic focusing on Hannibal's vulnerability, but it is one of my new favorites i've come across.* it's a genderswap AU of an exploration into their physical relationship. Hannibal and Will are both desperate to satisfy the other and it is so tender. this may be hands down the most beautiful smut fic i've ever read?!
earl grey and honey by cerviidae:
Will’s tenderness is a constant. And what a gift it is. Will conjures summer itself through sheer will, as though he could pull Hannibal out of winter’s grasp and set him down in a field of green and gold. Hannibal knows nothing of the ache of bones any longer. His days are filled with cooking and cleaning, the motions of care and love. He kneads dough with his mother’s frantic energy, channels her restless hands into feeding Will, keeping him full. And Will, in turn, keeps him warm. It is love.
any time i read anything by this author, i know i'm about to be wailing my heart out. this is incredible and so lovely.
Verisimilitude by becks:
Will Graham can't believe it when they tell him Hannibal Lecter's dead.
Good. He shouldn't.
(Or: An experimental lobotomy and its unanticipated aftermath.)
i remember reading this years ago and it was so incredible! i've never read a fic with this plot and it was executed perfectly. the end of the last chapter? an absolute masterpiece. i was on the edge of my seat. it's incomplete, but i hope one day the author returns to this fic because it's one of my favorite ever and such a unique exploration of Hannibal and Will's relationship.
Saint Valentine by cerviidae:
Vampire Hannibal Lecter learns what it’s like to love and be loved.
Y'ALL I HAVE NEVER BEEN MOVED TO TEARS BY MORE THAN ONE OTHER FIC. BUT THIS ONE??? I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF READING THIS RIGHT NOW AND I'M GENUINELY ABOUT TO WEEP, BLINKING BACK TEARS BECAUSE THIS IS SO STUNNING AND TENDER AND EVOCATIVE. might also be the fact that i'm listening to Hozier at the same time lol. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH. VAMPIRE HANNIBAL BEING LOVED BY WILL SO THOROUGHLY THAT HE'S MOVED TO TEARS?? PERFECTION!! 😭🩷
i don't want to set the world on fire by cerviidae:
Will and Hannibal celebrate Valentine's Day stranded in a fire lookout tower
everyone, go read this asap because it is the most unique and beautiful and perfectly orchestrated exploration of their post-fall dynamic i've ever read. Hannibal's longing for Will in this is so palpable and the desperation he shows for Will when their relationship turns physical? ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE AND HEARTWRENCHING!! i quite literally just finished reading this and damn was it stunning. still wiping tears from my eyes 😭
i have loved you in a tame way & i have loved you wild by cerviidae:
Will tells himself it don’t matter that he’s got company for this job, tells himself he don’t mind having the kid around, even if it does feel off. He knows he can’t afford to be picky—not in this kind of work, where jobs are hard enough to come by. And maybe if the boy’s just gonna keep ignoring him, they won’t have to cross paths all that much. He’s fine with that. Easier to keep his head down, get through the summer without any trouble. They won’t see each other.
Out of sight, out of mind.
-or-
A Hannibal fic inspired by Brokeback Mountain
Y'ALL, GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW because it contains mute Hannibal and it is one of the most beautiful AU explorations of their relationship i've ever read. chapter 9 in particular made me ugly cry. Will helping Hannibal try to learn to speak again was so unexpected (and i've never seen that happen in a fic before??) also, the progression of Will's struggle with his sexuality and eventually accepting himself and his feelings for Hannibal is so, so beautiful and raw and real. Will treats Hannibal so lovingly in this fic and whenever Hannibal's vulnerability is at the forefront, it never fails to make me weep.
wring me of all the blood i shall bleed:
Post-Fall, Will is growing more and more distant by the day. Hannibal, on the other hand, is unwilling to speak—be it a result of brain damage or a self-imposed state of mutism. Life on the run is as peaceful as it can be. Until Will enters a new relationship in an effort to stem the curious glances and endless questions from the locals.
Lithuanian Words:
Will is trying to find Hannibal to consult with him on a case. He finds Hannibal drunk into an emotional stupor in his study, speaking in a language Will doesn't understand. Filled for a prompt on the Hannibal kinkmeme. Hurt/comfort.
omg this was the very first vulnerable Hannibal fic i read years ago and i can't believe i found it again?!! god i love this so much because Hannibal regresses to speaking Lithuanian when Will stops by (and it's so rare to see in season 1/season 2 fics).
Chiaroscuro by anhthr:
Will carefully adjusted the sling over Hannibal's shoulder, fingers lingering on his skin, sensing when that perfunctory touch transformed into something more profound. The source of this change was nearly impossible to discern. Feeling the genesis of something while being blind to its root was as relieving as it was destabilizing– much like faith.
Hannibal’s gaze fell to the gentle pressure of Will’s fingers as they glided down his arm, casting a wistful look.
"Will your care stem from the same thread as your forgiveness?” Hannibal murmured, his voice cracking from disuse.
omg this post-fall fic is so incredible and beautifully written.
it takes two to burn (it takes one match) by chaplinesque:
Achilles wanted all Greeks to die, for him and Patroclus. His Will wanted to take Patroclus and himself from the Greeks.
or
Hannibal and Will post-fall, where imprisonment affected Hannibal more than either of them thought.
omg the angst and whump in this is perfect, y'all
Guide Me Through Morass, My Love:
Post-Fall. Hannibal wakes up in the Republic of Ireland with amnesia, and is mentally 18 years-old. He finds himself stowed away in a cottage bordered by farmland with a man who knows him intimately—a man by the name of Will. Falling in love and losing one's virginity beneath the scorching sun is not at all intentional, but it feels akin to being revived and bound into new skin—a rebirth.
i was not expecting the parallels (or the matching bangs) please this is so funny 😭
"all i wanted" is Hannibal's anthem in the bshci
Hannibal would definitely be a paramore girly pop.
careful? all i wanted? monster? i caught myself? that's what you get? brick by boring brick? misery business? decode? the only exception? ignorance? ain't it fun?
all on repeat.
i’m crying and sniffling into my sleeve, rolling around my room like a bowling ball & gnawing on my pillow because this was absolute perfection !! tysm for writing this <3
y'all are getting a twofer today!! this is my first time writing in the omegaverse, so pls be kind! and please send @coffee-in-rain all the love for giving me the idea for this prompt <3
Hannibal wakes from a heated dream with a need that can’t be ignored—and Will, half-asleep but all too eager, is more than happy to help. What begins as a midnight indulgence quickly spirals into an overwhelming game of push and pull, as Will’s relentless appetite pushes Hannibal to the edge and beyond.
hope y'all enjoy, please let me know what you think!! <3
omg that is so, so cool you do voice overs for a living! if you ever want to create podfics for any of mine, i would welcome it with open ears and fall on my hands and knees in gratitude and awe and send a million kudos your way <3
This is maybe a shot in the dark, but I record voice overs for a living and have become so intrigued by podfics! I know it can be a sensitive topic—asking writers for permission to create them—but would any of my Hannibal moots want one made of their fic?? Lmk!
Just curious 😅
update: i finally finished chapter 11 and had to shower and wipe away my tears and snot because i've been ugly crying, but omg y'all go read this asap and please share your thoughts, even if they are small, with the author because this is the most phenomenal fic i've ever read and it's genuinely better than any movie i've seen in recent years. <3
@cervviidae i couldn't add gifs in my comments, so here are some of my reactions because i have to ramble!
this was me when the angst was angst-ing and my reaction any time i quoted something or raved in my comments
this was me when Hannibal laid his head in Will's lap, and when Hannibal cried during sex in the tent, and when they put flowers in each other's hair and felt pretty and then made love to each other, and when Hannibal dreamed about speaking out loud to Will and wanted to be a little song-bird to only sing of Will and build a nest out of the syllables of Will's name and his own hair and lay eggs of adoration as that little bird and become the nature surrounding it, and when Hannibal felt childlike fear at the thought of losing Will, and when Hannibal struggled with the tent, and when Will called Hannibal little darlin', and when i read the entirety of chapter 11.
i loved it so so much!! <3
i know this is on my vulnerable Hannibal fic rec list already, but i cannot recommend it enough because it is so beautiful and the last two chapters are finally up! everyone and their momma, go read i have loved you in a tame way & i have loved you wild by @cervviidae (and leave a comment for the author if you can, they deserve so much love) because it is such a beautiful Hannigram AU!! i rarely read AUs myself, but this has quickly become one of my favorite fics of all time <3 i'm about to read the last two chapters and i'm so excited to see how it ends <3
AO3: coffeeinrain. adult. they/he. 18+ only. minors DNI. pfp & header by @cedarxwing
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