Imagine If Hannibal Had To Fight Back Tears In The Aftermath Of This Moment Because He’d Never Experienced

sobbing because that's truly how it went down in Hannibal's mind. babygirl was so so blindsided and drunk on love for the first time ever 💔 @hannibalbabygirlifier this post made me think of you. let's sob together 🤧

Sorry for pretending I was killing for you, I'm turning you into the FBI btw.

omg i'm so glad!! 🩵 i never imagined the rec list would become that long when i originally put it together lol. i plan to update it very soon and add some more vulnerable Hannibal fics!

Hannigram Short Fanfic Review List!

Hey, friends! It's official: I made it through the list of short fics I've been recommended!

As a reminder, the criteria that was voted on for short fanfictions was capped at anything less than 10k words. All works in this review can be found on AO3 and will be linked via the fic title!

Disclaimer: As always, mind the tags and use your best judgement as to whether you want to read the fic. Have fun!

Reviews under the cut. :)

Something Else

Author: HotMolasses ( @hotmolasses @snazzymolasses )

Word count: 2,137

Summary: “Why didn’t you pull away, Will?” he said, genuine curiosity in his voice. “When I was mere inches from you, with a deadly blade in my hand, you leaned toward me. Did you hope I would kill you?”

Will shut his eyes from pain as he was suddenly jerked back to that moment. He tilted his face away from Hannibal and tried to shove the memory away, the betrayal he had felt, even though he had rightly deserved it, after everything he had done.

He didn’t think about Abigail. Hannibal wasn’t talking about that part anyway.

He forced his eyes open but found himself unable to meet Hannibal’s gaze. He stared at the floor and steeled himself. He had promised honesty, and for once, Hannibal had earned it.

“Because I wasn’t thinking you were going to gut me.” he said. “When you put your hand on my face, stroked my cheek I thought…” the room blurred around the edges because Will had kept his eyes fixed to a single spot on the floor for so long. Now he forced them to look into Hannibal’s face. “I thought you were going to do something else.”

h e l p. This fic is short, but it manages to have just the right blend of angst and sweetness that really makes me crave more. I like everything I've read from HotMolasses, but this might have to be my favorite.

First of Many

Author: solarteacup

Word count: 2,204

Summary: a take on Will and Hannibal's first kiss for valentine's day

Short and sweet, very cute. Exchanging shy smiles always gets to me, and I love the first kiss trope!

Breathe

Author: solarteacup

Word count: 2,501

Summary: Will gives Hannibal a very enthusiastic blowjob

Wait. Wait. Asthmatic Hannibal?! I didn't know I needed this until reading this fic. As someone who has suffered from asthma attacks my entire life, I feel seen, but I was also completely thrown for a loop! It was well written, too, and it wasn't the entire focus, just a detail thrown in for the plot (effects of damage from the fall??) but I ended up really loving it! Bonus points for dominant Will. 🤭

Crave, then Succumb

Author: coffeeinrain ( @coffee-in-rain )

Word count: 2,521

Summary: Hannibal receives a second hug post-fall, while high as a kite on morphine, and ends up unraveling in Will's arms.

This is sweet and fluffy from the get-go, with some good old fashioned hurt-comfort thrown in. I love the domesticity in this fic, Will being gentle with Hannibal after the fall is one of my weaknesses. I adore the vulnerable Hannibal tag, it's another one of my weaknesses; I love to see that big man fall apart, only to be lovingly pieced back together. We love gentle Will Graham and post-fall domesticity!

Silk and Lace

Author: jonnimir

Word count: 3,105

Summary: Kinktober Day 9: Lingerie.

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

Okay, this was sweeter than I expected it to be! I really liked this fic, it has some warm fuzzy feelings, a lot of gentleness, and submissive Hannibal. I love the first-time-since-prison trope tbh, and this fic is actually quite cute despite being smut. It's not graphic, but it still does a good job at describing the scenes. I would read this again.

Fever

Author: solarteacup

Word count: 3,181

Summary: Will is sick and begs Hannibal to take care of him

Honestly, this one wasn't my favorite, but I promised to review every fic recommended to me. In the spirit of honesty, I don't particularly enjoy fics with needy bottom Will, but that's just me. Anyway, not my cup of tea, but it might be yours. Let me know what y'all think if you read it. :)

You May Be a Sinner But Your Innocence is Mine

Author: multifandom_fanfic_writer

Word count: 3,198

Summary: “Hello,” Will said. He wanted to say something else, something to convey his relief at Hannibal being alive, being okay, but he didn’t know what to say.

“Hello,” Hannibal responded. His eyes were bright. “You are very beautiful.”

I've read this one before, so this is a reread for me! I love amnesia fics, there's something about them that I just enjoy. It's another short and sweet one, nothing too plot driven, just a cute little "what if?" fic that ends on a good note.

Revved Up

Author: solarteacup

Word count: 4,814

Summary:Hannibal watches Will fix the car and gets turned on.

I liked this one! There's very few fics by solarteacup I don't enjoy, so it comes as no surprise to me that I did enjoy this one. I love a needy Hannibal and a dominant Will making him beg. One of my favorite tropes is strong characters not knowing how to ask for what they want because they've never had to.

Letter

Author: HotMolasses

Word count: 4,307

Summary: Hannibal,

"I long to be near you. To touch you, to taste you. Desperate, even. I burn with fire whenever you walk into the room...

...At no point in our relationship have you asked anything you wanted from me. You have only taken. And now you had better take the rest. Ask me for nothing. Do not attempt to have a conversation with me about this. I’ll deny even having written this letter. I don’t want to talk about it. I want you to take. Take what you want from me, Hannibal Lecter, or you will never get it." -Will.

This one was partly an attempt for me to branch out and explore the dubcon/cnc tag(s), and I did enjoy this fic. I think it captures Will's mentality around Hannibal taking from him and being put off when Hannibal actually asks instead of just taking more. That being said, I still prefer the sweet fics where both of them are treading lightly post fall, but this one was good for me! I like it.

To Be Seen

Author: solarteacup

Word count: 5,855

Summary: As he closed his eyes, he heard a sharp click of Hannibal’s tongue and a tight grip on his jaw. Hannibal brought Will’s face forward. “Eyes on me.” Hannibal rubbed a little faster and Will’s breath hitched low in his chest. “When you look away, you deny others the privilege of seeing all of you.”

Will goes to Hannibal in distress and gets relief he didn't expect.

While this does have a very dominant Hannibal and hot office sex, it was surprisingly tender! There's not much else I can say other than that I really enjoyed this one.

Compimento

Author: cervviidae ( @cervviidae )

Word count: 9,580

Summary: His day orbits around Will. Every thought, every action is steeped in him. Hannibal waits for him to return from work, the hours stretching long and thin in his absence. He folds Will’s flannels. He organizes Will’s books, running his fingers over their spines as though touching them might bring him closer to Will. He cleans and cooks, each moment filled with the quiet refrain of Will, Will, Will.

- or -

Hannibal learns what it's like to be Will's husband.

I absolutely love the exploration of Hannibal's feelings in this fic. His thoughts surrounding Will and their love are so poetic, yet heartachingly simple. This fic has one of my favorite tropes, which of course is "loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done." I don't see this trope enough in relation to the way Hannibal feels about Will. The simple softness of their relationship and Hannibal being truly content with domesticity instead of the violence and bloodshed he had expected to come of their union. Absolutely wonderful. And the smut? Perfection, exquisite. The ferality of their lovemaking still manages to be tender. I could read this a million times over. This might be my all time favorite as of writing this review.

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

*sees a mutual in my dash* i love you 🥺🫶 *sees a different mutual in my dash* i love you 🥺🫶 *sees yet another mutual in my dash* i love you 🥺🫶

vulnerable Hannibal fanfic idea rambles:

Post-Fall Hannibal and Will on a getaway boat. One day, Will coaxes Hannibal up deck to sunbathe because he's been deprived of the natural outside air and the sun's rays for so long. Hannibal curls up on the sofa and rests his head in Will's lap. He hasn't felt the touch of another in years and gasps when Will's fingers begin stroking through his hair. He doesn't know what to do in wake of the sudden onslaught of affection. Will's fingers trace over his temple, his clenched eyelids to wipe away the moisture, his dampening cheek. He doesn't anticipate the next moment: Will leaning down to kiss away a stray tear on his temple and whispering reassurance in his ear.

Hannibal being self-conscious when he first starts speaking again after becoming mute for a few weeks/months because his accent is thicker.

Hannibal getting an infection post-fall because his immune system is weak from being isolated for so long. When he has a fever and Will puts him into a cold bath to bring it down, he panics and Will has to reassure him and hold him down the entire time.

Hannibal's food issues resurfacing when he gets an infection and can't keep food down for nearly a week.

Hannibal and Will at a party (sometime post-fall when they're recovered) because Will's coworker invited them and Will agrees because it'll help them blend in. there's a little girl who made homemade ice cream and asks them to try it. Hannibal refuses because the temperature and texture of ice cream is too similar to snow. imagine if it's already angsty because they're in a small argument and Will says something like "open your mouth and eat the damn ice cream" (because the girl is watching to see if they like it) and Will shoves a spoonful of it into Hannibal's mouth. triggering Hannibal's cryophobia.

Hannibal being overwhelmed when Will asks if he wants a second helping of food for the first time when they're finally recovered from the fall. He's only ever been given three helpings of food and an occasional snack throughout the last 3 years. (turning into a bit of a ramble) but imagine if Hannibal is struck with a sudden familiar urge that he hasn't felt since living at his uncle's home: the urge to eat as much as he can now that there is unlimited access. Hannibal waits too long to answer and Will takes his silence as confirmation that he doesn't want seconds. He does. But it feels too late to answer; a missed opportunity. Cue Will's empathy kicking in and he's hit with every emotion Hannibal is feeling and sits back down at the table (right next to Hannibal instead of across the table) with a second serving, coaxing Hannibal to eat; that it's okay to still be hungry.

Hannibal forgetting certain English words when he's exhausted (or because of brain damage) post-fall. Will asks what he wants for breakfast and Hannibal mumbles "blynas" or "le crêpe" instead of pancake.

Hannibal being nervous to say "i love you" for the first time to Will because it's unpracticed; something he's not yet said in the English language.

Hannibal freezing up when Will asks what's the last thing he ever said in his native language.

Hannibal's gunshot wound becomes infected sometime post-fall. He regresses (involuntarily) because it's too much stress for his body to handle at the moment. It comes time for Will to lance the boil and normally, Hannibal's pain tolerance is very high (most things don't phase him), but right now, he's restless: writhing and sobbing as Will proceeds to drain the puss from the infected area.

Will gets a job post-fall to maintain appearances. He comes home one afternoon to an empty house until he reaches the backyard and finds Hannibal curled up on the outdoor sofa, napping beneath the sun.

this next one is a very old idea (from 2023) that i never explored: Hannibal and Will are at a restaurant for a dinner with a coworker, etc to blend in. Someone is a relative of one of the men who killed Hannibal's family. Hannibal makes the connection and doesn't want to cause a scene, but speaking becomes impossible. His speech starts to slur and he stumbles over every other word. He excuses himself and retreats into the bathroom and throws up. Will finds Hannibal hunched over the toilet and all Hannibal can do is cling to Will, begging to be taken home.

another old idea (i don't think i'll ever write it myself, but i would love to read it if anyone ever wrote it): Hannibal and Will are staying with Lady Murasaki while they recover. One night, Will asks Lady Murasaki what Hannibal was like when he came to live with her and his Uncle Robertos. Will learns of Hannibal's muteness, nightmares, issues with wetting the bed during night terrors, and his issues with food: how he was very malnourished and hesitant to eat in front of other people, how he would either gaurd his plate and eat as fast as he could or refuse to eat at all depending on the meal, how he panicked the first time they tried to serve him a bowl of soup, how he would sometimes raid the pantry or the fridge in the middle of the night when he thought everyone was asleep, how they would find food hidden in his room for safekeeping, how he cried the first time they gave him a birthday cake (because he hadn't experienced that in so long), how he refused to eat most cold foods (like ice cream, etc). Will also learns of Hannibal's progression from muteness leading to the ability to speak again. How Lady Murasaki and his Uncle Robertos noticed Hannibal was self-conscious during that first year (because vocal fatigue would often set in, making it even harder to pronounce words without it being hindered by his accent, while learning a new language. Especially because other children would tease Hannibal for having such a thick accent which he eventually trained himself to tone down). Cue Will's heart breaking because he wonders if Hannibal still does it: tones down his accent out of worry people would struggle to understand what he said. Then Will goes back upstairs, where Hannibal is asleep and writhing in bed because of a nightmare. He recognizes the stench of urine and wakes Hannibal (who's in distress), providing comfort and helping Hannibal get cleaned up and changed into a new set of pajamas. Will comforts Hannibal (knowing he's ashamed for wetting the bed) and calls him "sweetheart" for the first time.

Hannibal having lupophobia (fear of wolves) ever since he was a child and watched a pack of wolves eat the bodies of his tutor and parents and scratch at the cabin windows and door to get in. Also, imagine young Hannibal being chased by a rabid wolf when he finally escaped the cabin. He and Will are living in Canada post-fall and one day, they're either walking around town or in their backyard when a wolf appears, leading to Hannibal's distress.

Hannibal getting sick sometime after episode 2x10. Will finds Hannibal asleep on the chaise lounge in his office (or in the middle of retching in the bathroom). Vomiting always reminds Hannibal of the time he puked after realizing he'd eaten his sister or the time he'd eaten so fast (because of past starvation) that he ended up vomiting. Hannibal regresses (involuntarily) and Will decides he can't be left alone. They make it to Will's house and he cares for Hannibal the entire night. During dinner, Hannibal's food issues resurface (reluctance to eat something unknown) and in a regressed state, he mistakenly believes Will is taking the bowl of food away (though Will is only grasping it to hand feed Hannibal).

omega Hannibal being shy about building his first nest post-fall because he hasn't been able to make one in three years. imagine Hannibal getting emotional (burrowed underneath a mountain of blankets and one of Will's shirts cradled against his chest) because it's the first time in years that he's had a moment of privacy; a place to seek comfort.

omega Hannibal falling ill post-episode 2x10. Will comes over to check on him, and sees Hannibal curled up in his nest, shivering with a fever and whimpering in discomfort. it's the first time Will's ever heard Hannibal make such a distressed sound.

Hey I know this isn’t exactly along the guidelines but… Hannibal realizing he’s transfem after the fall. He and will could both have their becomings together!

omg that is so sweet "having both of their becomings together" 😭🩵 curling up in a ball and wailing (/positive). tysm for submitting a prompt!! i'm tucking it into my future fic folder <3

to anyone reading this: *begging on my hands and knees and batting my lashes at you*

please please please send me Hannigram prompts if you have any ideas you want written!!! vulnerable Hannibal is my niche at this point, but i'm also trying to branch out into more casual pwp or domestic bliss themes as well if those are of interest to you. btw there are no guidelines you have to stick to for submitting a prompt. i'm open to writing anything! smut prompts are perfectly fine too (and something i really, really want to practice writing more of as an ace author).

I can't stop thinking about how post-fall Will is definitely one of those "HEY. THAT'S MY WIFE" kind of husbands in Cuba or wherever they run away to. Jealous Will has my heart

obsessed with post-fall hannigram domesticity. cleaning blood from each others wounds. quiet naps next to each other. gentle hands in hair, loving and soft. gazes at each other just to marvel. strong winters where one comes back covered in snow, just to have the other pull their wet clothes off and tuck them in soft blankets, giving them tea to warm up. showering together after killing, not shower sex, but gentle touches, one holding the other to their chest. post-fall hannigram domesticity.