Split souls

Motivating Hannibal to leave his home country wasn’t difficult. He had already more than outgrown his small home town and a good situated flyer about studying abroad was more than enough. Sadly he ignored the well-placed advertisement of the land of the free and moved to Italy instead.

Michael huffed. Did Hannibal believe his barely legal, dirt-poor student of a soulmate would have the money to move to Europe? Ludicrous!

At least he was getting some practice as the Monster of Florence – a few of the cases still so amateurish Will would have looked through them immediately even as young as he was.

So Michael waited patiently while giving small little pushes in the direction he wanted Hannibal. Finally he allowed Detective Pazzi to get bit closer to solving his case than even Hannibal would except in his arrogance. Amusingly Pazzi`s guardian angel helped Hannibal escaping because she knew what would happen to Pazzi if he ever caught up to the Monster.

Finally Michael had managed to push Hannibal towards America.

He turned to look only kilometer away where Will Graham resided…

Will Graham was just standing opposite a murderer still covered in the blood of her last victim and a butcher knife in her hand. The only thing keeping her at a distance was the gun in Will’s shaking hand. No other police men were insight – no one to safe him.

“Shoot!” Michael told his charge.

Will’s hands whitened as he put more pressure on the gun but he didn’t pull the trigger. The woman started inching closer.

“Shoot her!” Michael shouted.

Will took a step back.

Michael jumped in the air to look for the idiot who send a rooky out in the field by himself.

Seconds before Will died via knife in the throat Jack Crawford pushed his would-be-murderer of him.

Michael stood over them shaking his head. One part of his soul wouldn’t stop killing even if it put him in danger the other one didn’t value himself enough to kill even a murderer. It was high time to bring them together before one of them died through their unbalance.

He returned to Hannibal killing his first American victim and sighed. This would be a long few years.

After years of work Michael finally – FINALLY – managed to get Will into a workplace at the FBI College and Hannibal into opening his psychiatrist office nearby in Baltimore. You would think as a mentally unstable employee of the FBI Will would be send to a psychiatrist regularly. You would be wrong. Will Graham as always showed a horrible disregard to his own health and refused to go to therapy.

New plan then: Michael gave Jack Crawford a few pointers finally managing to make him introduce Will to Alana Bloom – a former student of Hannibal. This SURELY would lead to Will meeting Hannibal.

It did not.

Michael swore he never met a soul so determined to not find together. At least Will had started to find an interest in the Chesapeake Ripper’s work. Who needed flowers if you had your soulmates tableaus right in front of you?

In the end Will set the ball rolling by stopping to go to crime scenes. It might be the only decision for his own health he did and it made Michael growl in frustration. Why did Will start thinking about his mental health right when it got him FURTHER AWAY from his other half? If this went on like this he would have had more chances of stumbling over Hannibal in Florence.

So he whispered in Jack Crawford’s ear instead – made his obsession grow whenever his own guardian angel was looking after Bella. He didn’t need to do much for Jack to try getting Will back but Will held strong.

But he by now only needed a small push in the right direction, Micheal knew. He looked around for the right person and found them in the growing insanity of Garret Hobbs. His own guardian angel had already turned away from him as he saw the darkness drawing in - turning him against anyone and everyone and especially his own soulmate. Michael made a pact with Garret’s soulmate to sacrifice him while promising to protect his wife and daughter. At the same time he let Jack Crawford find Hanniball’s business card on his desk.

Only days later Will sat in the same office as Hannibal. Victory!

They didn’t recognize each other immediately of course – that was very rare in soulmates but Hannibal who had taken what he wanted since his sister was taken from him saw something in Will – leaning in closer to take even a breath of him. And Will who had avoided what he wanted since his inferiority complex started in childhood maybe saw even more – avoiding him as much as he could. Michael smiled knowing Hannibal would not accept.

It was unfortunate to interrupt Hannibal in his intricate plan to make Will recognize his true self but Michael had promised to let Garret’s soulmate life. As Hannibal tipped over the mountain of boxes to secretly call Garret Michael didn’t let the call go through. Luckily Will and Hannibal still got there late enough that Louise Hobbs was held at knifepoint and only Will shooting Hobbs got her in a coma instead of killed. Her guardian angel wasn’t happy with him but what was new.

Abigail Hobbs was shipped off to a mental institution and Michael couldn’t help but smile as he heard Hannibal tell Will. “We are her fathers now.”

Everything was working out so well.

Will was back as a consultant and with Hannibal at his side he was stronger than ever before. Unfortunately the encephalitis grew stronger as well and as much as Hannibal thought he had things under control and could watch what Will would do he was wrong.

After keeping Will from falling off the roof for the third time Michael was growing impatient. Apparently he had let his charges arrogance grow to strong by protecting him from ever getting caught. Well maybe it would do him some good to not safe him from the consequences of his own actions for once.

Abigail Hobbs was over for a visit to Hannibal – run off out of the hospital. Michael understood; souls like hers weren’t made to be trapped. Hers was similar to the one he was protecting. She would make a good daughter if her own arrogance and fear wouldn’t get her killed… but that wasn’t Michael’s responsibility.

Hannibal always interested in trying new research had served the young girl Molly sending her stumbling through the flat in a drug-induced giggling fit. She made it to the garden happily spinning circles, her dress forming beautiful circles around her.

Then Will Graham fell off the roof in front of her and she screamed.

Hannibal had held Will in his arms until the ambulance arrived. He was slowly rocking his soulmate, one hand brushing his locks away from his face. Abigail knelt next to them in the grass. They were framed by their guardian angels on each side.

Abigail’s eyes were still dreamy but getting clearer. “I’m not imagining this, do I?”

“No.” Hannibal agreed. “You are not.”

“Why did Will fell of the roof?”

“He is sick.” Hannibal answered.

“If you knew that…” Abigail started ripping grass strands out of the ground. “…then why did you let him walk around like that?”

“I didn’t think it was so bad already.” Hannibal answered, stroking one way and back over Will’s hair. “I planned to get him to a hospital before it got so bad.”

“You made a mistake.” Abigail sounded nearly happy about it. “Kind of comforting to know even you can make mistakes.” She turned to look at Will and let out a high-pitched little girl’s laugh. “What if you make a mistake with me as well?”

Hannibal didn’t answer.

“She is right you know.” Abigail’s guardian angel answered. Michael believed their name was Sam. “You’ve become overprotective, Michael, and if you don’t fix it soon your soul will never be united.”

“My soul needs a special hand.”

“Your souls always do.” Sam bowed their head. “I’m beginning to understand why you have become as you did.” They looked at Abigail who was stretching her head towards the sparkling stars.

“Why are you here?” Michael asked. “And not with your other charge?”

“They are not half as much trouble as dear Abi.” They cocked their head. “I propose a pact.”

“What can you offer me?”

“The older part of your soul has grown overconfident. His arrogance will throw him and his other half down an abyss if you don’t fix it. I can help you if…” Sam turned their gaze back to Abigail. “…you help me protect my charge.”

“People will die.” Michael answered. “Other angel’s charges.”

“Not the first sacrifices I did for her.” Sam replied. “And they won’t be the last.”

“You are beginning to understand.”

Maybe Michael should have been surprised Hannibal send the other half of his soul to PRISON but he was not. Sam had been right he had let Hannibal grow overconfident. That would stop now.

Will was still mentally unstable – still in need of Hannibal’s help even without the encephalitis. A few well-placed drugs here and there and Hannibal had no problem in convincing him and all his surroundings of the fact he murdered Abigail Hobbs.

But Will Graham had grown now he had touched the other half of his soul. Grown more confident it didn’t take him long to know who he had to thank for his imprisonment. As he send his jailor after Hannibal Michael did not step in. The Ripper needed to learn the consequences of sending half of his soul away – of denying part of himself.

Because as much as being with Hannibal was changing Will he himself needed to change himself or be ripped apart.

Sam had kept her part of the agreement and gave Abigail a push when she needed it.

“You feel betrayed.” Abigail told Hannibal.

“You shouldn’t be out of your room.” Hannibal sat on his sofa gazing in a glass of wine as if it was holding the secrets of the universe. “Someone might see you.”

“I doubt it.” Abigail forced a smile. “In the middle of nowhere as we are.” She sat down next to him. “You know Will probably feels betrayed as well.”

“I didn’t try to kill him.”

“You send him away.” Abigail answered. “Be honest would you like it more if Will tried to leave you forever or if he tried killing you.”

Hannibal’s expression said the answer for him.

Michael knew Beverly Katz would be the line drawn in the sand Hannibal would never be able to take back. Sometimes souls were ripped apart strangely. Most people feel empathy and compassion in similar ways but it seemed like while Hannibal was only able of a bad imitation of empathy Will had been cursed with far more than any human could ever keep completely sane with. And that meant that Hannibal didn’t understood what he would do to their soul if he killed Will’s best friend.

So as Will send Beverly after Hannibal her car was hit by a truck. She would be in a coma for a while but it would be better than the alternative.

“Why have you set me free?”

“I couldn’t bare another second away from you.” Hannibal played absentmindedly with a lock at the back of Will’s head as he held on to him. “Do you believe in soulmates Will?”

“Just as much as I believe in God.”

“God's terrific. He dropped a church roof on thirty-four of his worshippers last Wednesday night in Texas while they sang at him.”

“So he might be one to split souls in two, force us humans in an everlasting search for our other half.”

“He might.”

“Do you think you found what you were searching for?”

“I think so. Did you?”

“Maybe.”

Margot Verger was an interesting and not unwelcome addition to Will’s life.

Her guardian angel on the other hand wasn’t so happy to see Michael… again. “Did you not do enough damage already?”

“It seems to me like Alana Bloom is alive and well.” Michael answered. “Even with you so rarely at her side. It seems like the company of my wards is only good for her.”

The other angel - who Michael now remembered was called Evangeline – scoffed. “The company of your wards is rarely healthy for anyone except them.” She sighed. “And I fear my time was more than filled up by keeping this one alive. I honestly think I’m getting to the limit of my powers soon.”

They watched Margot and Will pulling off their clothes.

“What does she want?” Michael asked.

“A baby.” Evangeline answered. “A way away from her personal hell.“

“Mason Verger.”

“Yes.” Evangeline laughed. „A monster so great even you wouldn’t watch over him.”

“What happened to his guardian angel?”

“Quit after he tortured his own soulmate to death.” Evangeline answered. „The creator send the poor guy on holiday for a century.”

“And your charge survived him since birth? It seems like I underestimated you.” Michael looked at Margot curiously. “Maybe I am able to help you.”

Evangeline sighed and turned to him. “What do you want Michael?”

As Mason Verger tried to get his hands on his sister to abort the baby Evangeline used the last embers of her powers to help her charge escape. As the angel faintly sank into herself next to Michael he guided the incensed woman to Will. The last step of his becoming was upon him if he accepted it.

Margot was astonishingly collected as she explained as fast as she could what was happening. Will listened attentively as he ushered her in his car and drove.

If Hannibal Lecter was surprised upon greeting his soulmate in company of one of his patients he didn’t let it show.

“I need your help.” Will declared.

“Naturally.” Hannibal stood back to let them in the house.

“I need you to hide Margot.” Will explained without even taking his coat off.

“May I enquire into why?”

“She is carrying my child.” Will stepped close enough to Hannibal that they were sharing the same air as well as their soul. “And I want to keep it.”

An unspoken challenge. The moment Hannibal needed to prove to Will that he was not only demanding his soul to change for him but also ready to change himself. His own becoming.

“Whatever you want, beloved. Mrs. Verger is more than welcome to share my living quarters with me but…” He leaned his head slightly down speaking more quietly. “…that is hardly a permanent solution.”

“No, the permanent solution is to kill Mason Verger.” Will answered. “You just need to guarantee me that you will be able to hide Margot until we are ready to do so.”

“She can hide in my room.” A new voice suggested from the stairs leading to the cellar. “I was getting a bit lonely anyway.”

Will turned to her with wide eyes. “Ab… Abigail?”

Hannibal looked at him with a wide smile and said: “Did you like my surprise Will?”

Will took him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss. The last bit of pain Hannibal had put in between them had melted away.

The evidence the police found in Mason Verger’s burnt down barn was prove enough that he killed Nicholas Boyle and first framed then kidnapped poor Abigail to hide this fact. Heavens only knew what he did to the deeply traumatized child considering what he apparently did to his former lover and his sister who was in therapy by Alana Bloom.

“If you believe in God and Soulmates did you ever believe in guardian angels?”

“I don’t see why not, mylimasis. Fate has a way to lead us in the ways we least except but most need at certain times. Who says who is guiding us on our way? Why do you ask?”

“Looking at what we have right now: a happy family, friends, fulfilling jobs and hobbies despite everything… whoever our guardian angel is must have had one hell of a difficult job.