ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ “To The Truth, Then… And All Its Consequences.”

update: it's been five hours now and i'm only halfway through chapter 10 (i think it's because i write down my favorite quotes and moments in my notes app and rave my heart out to paste them into the comment section; as a reader, i really love leaving long comments because writers deserve to feel appreciated) and i've been ugly crying since the first few paragraphs 😭🩵 it is absolutely stunning and ripping my heart out in the best way. i recommend it if you loooove vulnerable Hannibal because every moment of vulnerability is so perfect and leaves me in shambles 😭🩵

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

It's only been a few months since the fall, and Hannibal and Will are still in the last dregs of their recovery. Will does something that really pisses Hannibal off and because it's *Will* and he's himself, he can't have a normal human reaction to it, can he? Hannibal kills someone, but he's sloppy. It's impulsive and violent and messy in a way that doesn't fit his usual M.O. of being careful and calculating. Will finds the kitchen and Hannibal completely soaked in blood. He'd accidentally strained his abdominal wound and is trying to stand straight to hide the pain. Will scoffs and asks, "done with your temper tantrum?" And that pisses Hannibal off way more than he was before (think of how telling a girl to calm down does NOT make her calm down) and immediately thinks 'temper tantrum? I'll give you a temper tantrum.' A nasty fight ensues but the wires of violence and sex are completely crossed over with these two so a night of violent love making unfolds, and neither worry about the disaster of the kitchen until the next morning. This incident is never brought up again.

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The way Hannibal's gaze is glued to Will in this moment (when he's about to give up everything) is making me sick because he was so desperate to have Will's attention on him one last time. My vulnerable little pumpkin just wanted to be loved 😭 He simply never learned how to express his emotions in a normal + healthy way and that is why I'll forever be a Hannibal Lecter apologist.

Hannibal could've stayed inside Will's shed and Jack eventually would've found him in there. But he decided to kneel down onto the snow which is monumental in itself because of his childhood trauma: the last time Hannibal was on his knees in the snow was when he was a child; directly after the death of his parents and sister; when he was on the verge of death from starvation. I think this action was a form of self-inflicted punishment because he felt that he was losing Will and resorted to this: something that would seep into his bones + rival the ache in his heart. Hannibal had no one to look for the last time he was knee deep in snow. He had no one to turn his gaze to; no one that would even remotely care. He did in Digestivo. He made sure Will saw him, so that he wouldn't be forgotten, because what he feared most was Will's apathy and disinterest.

I need need need a fic where Will learns Hannibal struggles with chionophobia (extreme fear of snow) + then links it back to the moment Hannibal surrendered and knelt in the snow in his backyard.

Imagine Hannibal being taken post-fall when it's the dead of winter. He fights back (but is sedated and severely wounded in the process) and collapses in the snow + it ends up triggering his chionophobia. He's out there for what feels like hours. Will is desperately searching for him the entire time. He's curled in on himself to stay warm and unresponsive (with a glassy-eyed gaze) until Will's hands come to cradle his wet, freezing cheeks.

Tėtis is a word Will's only ever heard in instances where Hannibal sleep-talks during fitful nightmares. He knows what it means now (after his curiosity had gotten the best of him one night + he ended up resorting to google translate; only for his heart to shatter in the process). Will's chosen to never tell Hannibal that he sleep-talks and instead cherishes the moments Hannibal unconsciously seeks out comfort + unknowingly lets his gaurd down once he's subsequently cradled against Will's chest + soothed with gentle touches and soft words of reassurance until he ultimately settles down + returns to a peaceful state of sleep.

Imagine Will bundling a shivering Hannibal into his arms + carrying him to the car + reassuring Hannibal that it'll be okay. That Daddy's here. That he's safe now. That he'll be warm soon. Imagine Will wondering throughout all of this: if Hannibal had been close to regressing that night in his backyard + if any more time had passed would he have found Hannibal in a similar position: curled up in the shed + shivering + begging for the comfort of his dead father in a language Will wouldn't have been able to understand.

Imagine Will taking notice of the large wet patch on the front of Hannibal's crotch + the acrid stench of urine clinging to the ruined garment. Imagine Hannibal whimpering and whining as it's quickly removed because he's far too cold + then Will comforting him with gentle words and wrapping a jacket or a blanket around his waist. Imagine Hannibal being in the backseat of the car (or even the loading trunk because it's easier for Will to strip him there and bundle him up in the blankets designated for their dogs, who occasionally reside in the trunk during car rides) + panicking because he lost sight of Will, who is now driving them to a getaway boat. Imagine Hannibal calling out for Tėtis in a frightened, tearful voice; so unlike the precise manner in which he usually speaks.

Imagine Will wondering what would've happened if more time had passed before Jack had arrived in Digestivo. If he would've had to witness Hannibal in a state such as this; being whisked away when he felt cold and frightened and in search of reassurance; in search of Will; in search of someone who loved him. It's at this moment where Will realizes Hannibal hasn't felt loved since he was a child.

Will gets Hannibal to the boat and changes him into a set of fresh clothes and attempts to feed him a bowl of soup to help warm him up, but Hannibal panics and refuses. It's the first time Will's ever seen Hannibal cry and consciously seek out physical and emotional comfort, burrowing into his chest to be held.

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Post-BSHCI Hannibal

He would be a trembling, over sensitive, touch-starved, sobbing, snot-nosed mess during their first time before they both even undressed.

it's time for top/bottom discourse to end. the only thing i want to hear about is which one is the sex crier.

*sniffling into my sleeve and wiping tears from my eyes* STOP ILYSM YOU ARE SO SWEET AND TALENTED AS WELL 🥹🩵

reblog if you have skilled writer friends and you're damn proud of them

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.

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Vulnerable Hannibal Fic Rec List

Updated 1/31/2025 with two 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.

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.

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Expanding on my last post to add a few more things about Mizumono and Digestivo:

Imagine young, mute Hannibal in the orphanage watching as other children get adopted—but no adults ever approach him or seem to want to get to know him because the other kids (and staff) are wary of him and warn the prospective adopters that he’s difficult—that sometimes he has violent outbursts, wets the bed, has night terrors, and can’t speak. His first experience of rejection.

Only, this present rejection from Will in Mizumono feels ten times more agonizing because he’s overcome those past struggles and society finally views him as normal and an acceptable, highly-respected presence. But even after overcoming all that—it isn’t enough—because Will doesn’t want him or the life he planned for them to have. A life he never imagined he would be able to have.

That’s why each of Will’s future rejections cut so deep. Hannibal turns himself in because he couldn’t handle the thought of Will losing him—of Will not knowing where he would be. Because he’s been lost before—stumbling through the snow, cold and starving—after losing everything that mattered to him. He’s known what it’s like to have no one care about his whereabouts—and nothing would sting more than having to live with the knowledge that Will didn’t give a rat’s ass about where he ended up. His reputation and freedom mean nothing in comparison to his need for Will. He kneels in the snow just as he had decades prior—waiting for a savior to come and find him—because it’s the only thing he knows to do.

For three years he waits in the BSHCI for Will, his savior, to hopefully come and find him.

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I fucking love when his traumatic past makes an appearance in fics. Especially when Will sees the traumatized child hidden beneath layers of poise and assurance. ✨I gobble those fics up✨ The moment I learned about Hannibal’s backstory in the show vs the books/movie I was foaming at the mouth like omg the whump potential 😌

I love how the fandom collectively decided that Hannibal's backstory in the show sucks and adopted the one he has in the original trilogy.

Literally nothing unique happened to show!Hannibal. His sister was sexually assaulted and murdered, but he didn't even kill the guy who did it. He ate her liver, lungs, and heart voluntarily, taking the time to prepare a fancy Italian meal in her honor. After his parents died, his aunt and uncle probably took him in immediately, so he was always a spoiled rich kid. He's just a freak by nature.

But everyone watched that and said, "Nah, he was actually forced to eat Mischa during unspecified famine blizzard times. He became mute from the trauma, was beaten in an orphanage, and now he can't eat soup and has nightmares when it snows." And I think that's beautiful. 😌

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