"They Also Psychologically Torture Each Other But It’s Mainly Just For Enrichment In Their Cage. Will

my first vulnerable Hannibal ramble for the new year. let me set the scene.

Will left before Hannibal woke up to take care of something important. let's pretend Hannibal was halfway to brain dead or something and he hadn't awoken since falling into the ocean and banging his head on the corner of a rock. Hannibal wakes up and learns of Will's absence from Chiyoh. Hannibal's heart drops so fast it falls out of his ass and he becomes even more withdrawn and depressed and doesn't ever speak a word.

one evening, Hannibal drinks for the first time in three years (whiskey because it reminds him of Will) and is curled up on living room couch (alone because Chiyoh left long ago) when the front door creeks open. Hannibal is certain it's been locked all day (because he's become a hermit and only ever leaves the house when absolutely necessary) and yet he does not care if it's someone intending to end his life because there is no meaning to life without Will. the scent of soap fills the room as do quiet footsteps. then there's a gentle caress against his cheek and a pair of lips pressing warmth against his forehead. Hannibal believes it's a dream because the whiskey makes it difficult to open his eyes and he feels warm and boneless from the alcohol. it must be a dream.

"Hi, sweetheart." Will's voice is soft with affection.

cue Hannibal's eyes flying open and witnessing Will's fond smile and his brain short-circuits because no one's ever used that endearment in reference to him until now. also imagine if Hannibal had a brain injury from hitting his head on a rock or being in a medically induced coma and it ends up impairing his speech and he struggles to pronounce Will's name because it would be his first time speaking in months.

Will can't comprehend it at first. but it eventually sets in. that frail sound emerging from Hannibal's mouth. then Will whispers: "Yeah, darlin'. It's me."

Hannibal's heart is melting as he's gently guided into an embrace he can barely reciprocate because his arms feel so heavy from alcohol and the only other noise he can make is involuntary: a wordless whimper as reality sets in. Will hugs Hannibal for what feels like an eternity and yet it doesn't feel long enough. to be held in Will's arms as if his presence is something worth cherishing and reflecting on. then Hannibal hears the words he never thought he would hear.

"I've missed you."

fanfic idea set post-episode 3x10: Hannibal is sick on his birthday and regresses. Normally, he would try to resist the urge, but there are so many emotions swirling inside his head and Will's still angry with him after sending Dolarhyde after Molly.

Will debates visiting Hannibal today, uncertain whether or not to, until Alana calls to cancel his next visitation with Hannibal planned three days later as a precaution because Hannibal's fallen ill. Then Will does decide to visit today and becomes frustrated when Alana tries to explain Hannibal shouldn't be seeing anyone today. Will says: "He's sick, I know. I still want to see him. I brought cake." Then Alana explains Hannibal age-regressed and isn't responding to anyone.

Will steps into the room where Hannibal's cell is and sees Hannibal curled up in bed, facing the wall, wrists chained to the bed. He's carrying a small box with a slice of vanilla cake. Hannibal is gasping through a coughing fit and Will rushes over to pat him on the back. Then Hannibal's glassy eyed gaze meets Will's and Will knows instantly little Hannibal is the most endearing, heartbreaking thing in the world. Imagine little Hannibal being shy and timid because he still believes Will is angry with him. imagine Will having to reassure little Hannibal and coax him to eat bites of cake (which he handfeeds Hannibal). imagine little Hannibal wanting to be held (or at least touched) and Will holds him and runs gentle fingers through his hair and whispers "Happy Birthday" as little Hannibal falls asleep.

opening my AO3 inbox with a brand new (1) and finding out it's a scammer trying to commission fanart is so disheartening 😭💔

I am really happy Will mentions Hannibal's ass because that implies he really thought about Hannibal's ass and that is everything to me

youre so generous!! can u do domestic hannigram where hannibal is possessive and jealous because will isnt home all the time and when he spies on him he realizes will was surprising him. its up to u what that surprise is or what triggers the jealousy! i hope its fluffy slightly angsty and housewife hannibal ❤️

god i love this prompt so much 🥺 i would love to!

Imagine Hannibal losing control of his bowels and trembling and whimpering through the agony while clinging to Will and sinking down to the ground when both knees give out. Imagine Will trying to calm Hannibal and checking every now and then to make sure no one's spotted them. Imagine Will lowering himself down to Hannibal's level and cradling Hannibal by the waist to keep him up and rubbing over his cramping stomach. Imagine Hannibal's face, wet with tears of agony and shame, tucked under Will's chin and Hannibal's whimpers puffing against Will's neck. Imagine Hannibal regressing in response to the putrid scent of feces; remembering finding Mischa's milk teeth in the toilet. Imagine Will's palm cradling the back of Hannibal's skull and feeling unmoored when Hannibal utters a heart-stopping word.

"Tėvelis."

Will doesn't understand the meaning, but the tremble and vulnerability in Hannibal's voice is unfamiliar.

"What?" Will asks, voice gentle. "Tell me in English, darlin'."

A minute passes. Then, Hannibal's breath shudders around another sob. "Daddy."

@cedarxwing i just reread that little excerpt you showed me months ago about Hannibal's trauma with the scent of 💩 and came up with this. maybe i'll turn it into an actual fic one day!

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."

there is no better feeling than getting kudos from my tumblr moots & tumblr followers on my second AO3 account designated for my dark fics. i wanna wail "omg hi, guys, i'm so glad you enjoy my darker fics, too!"

unfortunately, some people are very much against dark fics to the point they harass writers of dark content, so i keep those fics separate from my main account, but please know ily and am kissing you all on the forehead whenever i see you've left a kudo or a comment. people who can enjoy very different flavors of writing are blessings in fandom. <3

maybe one day, i'll post the link here if y'all are interested in reading them! feels a bit daunting tbh. fandom spaces have changed so much since i was a kid and the rise in purity culture / want for censorship on fanfic (literal fiction; nothing real at all) is something i never thought was necessary even as a kid when i found ff.net and then AO3 years later as a young teenager. i remember reading my first dark fic on AO3 when i was like fifteen.

i never assumed or thought the author condoned what they'd written. (that is literal common sense); do authors of published books / screenwriters of movies or shows condone the dark things they write? most certainly not; it's written because every aspect of human life is interesting to explore; even the ugly / taboo parts of humanity; take, for example, horror movies where characters are murdered in brutal ways, like "sinister" (2012); or movies that portray someone being sexually assaulted; or movies / tv shows based on published books, like 'flowers in the attic' & 'game of thrones' / 'a song of ice and fire'; those contain dark fictional explorations, and mainstream media doesn't think those writers condone what they've created because we understand it's only a work of fiction and an exploration of how people have behaved all throughout history, even if it is uncomfortable to read or watch; taboo topics are interesting to write about because it is so far removed from what we're taught is an acceptable way to behave in society; writers of dark fanfic don't condone what we write about; it's a simple exploration of a topic, and if certain people cannot differentiate fanfiction from reality, then they probably shouldn't be reading fanfic at all; especially if they're going to harass writers who write about topics they don't agree with being written, because it is entirely fictional and not a condoning of those behaviors; there are tags and warnings on AO3 for a reason and people pushing for censorship are doing more harm than good. most young people nowadays weren't in the trenches on ff.net being blindsided by shocking turns of events like non-con, assault, etc. (which couldn't be tagged because there is simply not an ability to do that on ff.net), so they don't realize what a blessing AO3's tagging / warning system is. they just see content they don't like, which they can literally scroll past (and also exclude with filters), and scream "ew, censor it! because i don't like the fact that it was written, even though it is no different than movies or books or tv shows portraying the same themes."

when i read a dark fic for the first time at fifteen, i never thought the author was deserving of my judgement, hate, etc. because i knew it wasn't real at all. i was only reading words on a screen. when the content started making me feel uncomfortable, i simply stopped reading and i never considered leaving a disparaging comment because i'd willingly clicked on the fic after reading the tags and warnings. i really shouldn't have been reading that type of content at that age, but it'd piqued my curiosity. then i realized dark fics weren't for me at that time, but it was not the author's fault when i chose to read it. and i reminded myself it wasn't real and moved on with my life. i really wish that line of thinking returned in fandom spaces.

worrying you may have skin cancer because you've had a new weird spot on your body since february of last year (and it never goes away and is raised and definitely not a mole similar to other moles you've had your entire life) yet being scared to get it checked because medical debt is terrifying and the wait for an appointment is highkey long as hell is literally america core and i'm so tired of dumb out of touch bitches like conservatives and tr*mp and m*sk saying stuff like 'we're the land of the free and should be proud.' it's not free if you're not fucking rich. it's not free if you can't even go to a doctor when you really need it because insurance is fucking useless and not at all helpful in putting a dent in the insane medical bills you end up with. medical bills in america can be life ruining and that shit terrifies me. also if it is in fact skin cancer, i'd rather live in oblivion because treatment would be way too fucking expensive. so if i ever stop posting my fics one day out of the blue without announcing why its probably because i'm dead from possible skin cancer. god i wish i was born somewhere in europe or canada where healthcare is seen as a human right instead of viewed as a fucking privilege 😔

rebirth (explicit, 1.4k words)

Post-Fall, Hannibal needs Will's assistance to relearn how to perform even the most natural of tasks (such as reaching orgasm) after suffering from brain damage and amnesia.

y'all! i made some edits to my previous ramble and added some scrumptious additions about Hannibal's overactive cowper's glands 🤭 and made it into a more concise tiny little ficlet to have a home on AO3! might be my shortest one yet, but it was very fun <3

Updated 10/30/2024 with seven new additions.

Vulnerable Hannibal Fic Rec List

Updated 10/30/2024 with six new additions 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.

The Ache Against The Wind (Rewritten):

He’d sustained a substantial amount of brain damage throughout the last eleven days, Will had been told. Resulting in Post-Traumatic Amnesia.

Content Warning: Hannibal is tortured in the BSHCI via beatings, laxatives, enemas, starvation and the “water curing” method after his toilet is removed. Will saves him.

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.

Shrike (To Your Sharp And Glorious Thorn):

After the fall, Will begins to notice Hannibal’s behavior is becoming akin to a fretting housewife.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Boy Under The Monster’s Bed by Wr4tttttthh:

There were deep wounds that needed healing, new and old, physical and otherwise.

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.

You With Those Nails, Me With This Cross by TheBitterKitten:

Will goes too far.

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.

Silk and Lace by jonnimir:

Bedelia leaves Hannibal and Will a gift at the house on the cliff.

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

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.

btw i haven't finished this one by incidentsofunkownorigins yet. but i know it's gonna make me wail and sniffle into my sleeve. the cry i fucking crowed in the 3rd paragraph 😭

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.

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.

A Pinch Of Salt In The Wound

Renderered mute and bedbound post-fall, Hannibal begins to spiral.

Crystalline:

Hannibal becomes blind post-episode 3x13.