"I Didn't Comment On A Fic I Liked Because I Don't Think The Author Would Care Or Remember My Comment

Vulnerable Hannibal in any form is my bread and butter. But traumatized Hannibal is my precious little pumpkin and I can never cease to ramble and theorize about how that would impact Will and Hannibal's relationship. I think it would be monumental if Hannibal wasn't even able to make it to the gates of the Lecter estate at all during a post-fall visit to Lithuania.

Imagine all the trauma that the simple act of walking through those woods would unearth for Hannibal. How it would revive his fear of succumbing to the elements.

My headcanon is Hannibal was in fact traumatized by everything he went through as a child. He just lives in denial and repression until it's brought to the forefront of his mind while in a situation he can't escape. I know it might seem ooc to many people, but Hannibal losing composure is my fave thing ever; epecially when it's in relation to his childhood trauma.

Will takes Hannibal to Lithuania. Before the next step of their relationship can develop any further, Will wants to learn every part of Hannibal. Both past and present. He's aware of Hannibal's persisting reluctance on the matter. He's aware Hannibal is doing this for him; but also for himself.

Hannibal's words have dwindled into monosyllabic responses the moment they stepped foot in Lithuania. It's late spring; so the weather shouldn't be a problem. He knows. It's only the slightest bit chilly; a bite laced in the wind that seeps into his bones and leaves his mouth and throat dry; parched with apprehension. He's one step behind Will. Two Steps. Three steps. Four...

Will's heart plummets the moment he turns around to glance at Hannibal. He's been periodically checking in throughout their journey toward the estate. Not rushing Hannibal along is imperative.

This isn't at all how Will envisioned it would turn out: Hannibal frozen in place, both eyes clenched shut against an onslaught of unspeakable memories, arms wrapped around his own torso in the form of a subconscious, self-soothing hug, while one hand creeps higher and higher towards his throat. He's sucking in shallow, whistling breaths and clawing at his neck with trembling fingers; skin itching and tingling from the phantom sensation of a chain-link collar he remembers all too well.

Will calls out his name, soft and cautious, because Hannibal is somewhere else entirely. Lost inside his mind. Will's hand clutches and stills Hannibal's frantic moving fingertips; the pressure gentle yet insistent. "Stop that," is what Will intends to say, but Hannibal's reaction leaves him speechless.

Hannibal flinches, releasing a frail, tearful whimper (the closest sound to a sob Will's ever heard Hannibal utter), and soon enough there's a visible wet patch staining the front of his pants. Will pulls Hannibal into an embrace, uncaring of the putrid stench of urine.

Imagine poor Will being blindsided by it all. Especially the act of Hannibal soiling himself in response to his re-emerging PTSD. Imagine if Hannibal clung to Will with the desperation of a scared child, head tucked underneath Will's chin so he wouldn't have to catch a glimpse of the woods that have haunted his dreams since he was eight years old. Imagine if he could only muster a rasped whisper of one word ("home" in his native tongue), begging for Will to take him far away from here.

Imagine if this moment was the first time Will ever used a term of endearment (darlin', sweetheart, or baby) in reference to Hannibal + the first time Will pressed a grounding kiss into Hannibal's hair + the first time Hannibal experienced any semblance of Will's affection post-fall.

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.

sobbing and nodding my head at every single word of this post.

another totally unhinged hannibal post coming at ya but lemme just sit on hanni's side of the table for a sec and just, like, gush for him

this man has been looking at will like this

both where he's bloodied and bruised and just like so happy will didn't die in the first one and then season three when will bites dude's cheek off and spits it onto a plate??? Hanni could not be more proud of what will has become are you kidding???? I'm being a teenage girl for him right now because how could you not be happy that the person you're in love with is as unhinged and feral as you are??? (feral is not a word I would use to describe hannibal but will definitely is)

and then, to put it in perspective, from hannibal's pov, working his ass off for years to get will to understand him, to see him for what he was and to accept him and even love him. he loves will. that was almost blatantly stated in the show.

but in wrath of the lamb, will finally reaches for hannibal instead of the other way around

will reached out so hannibal could help him up but there is no heterosexual explanation for what happens after that. will's grip on his shoulder? strong. will resting his head on his shoulder? g a y.

and hannibal looks so relieved. he looks so relaxed. because we finally got here. that light tug on his shirt? we got here and it's almost everything he's ever wanted and then will lays his head on his shoulder and it's almost too good to be true.

it's beautiful, he says

and hannibal closes his eyes and puts this moment in his memory palace, because yes, it is

all gifs by @bloodydancy

vulnerable Hannibal fic idea that's been cooking in my brain:

Hannibal and Will's post-fall relationship does not progress or develop in the manner Hannibal expected. He expected them to become closer, but Will is growing more distant each day. Hannibal has brain damage from a head injury, and it results in his emotional threshold being weaker, more fragile in a way he cannot control and struggles to explain. He misses Will, even from across the room. He gets anxious each time Will leaves the house. He's hidden one of Will's shirts underneath his pillow so he can fall asleep with Will's scent, even if Will is down the hall or out of the house for the night.

Will gets a job because it's a way to blend in. He knows Hannibal is behaving differently. He thinks what Hannibal needs is space and time to adjust. He starts a relationship with a woman he meets at a bar because it'll help them blend in even more. People won't ask questions or think it odd if Hannibal is rumored to be Will's relative (a distant uncle). He doesn't believe he could engage in an intimate (or even physical) relationship with Hannibal. Not yet.

They still have many past issues to discuss and resolve. But it's difficult to do so when Hannibal is mute. Trust between them is fragile and Will's new girlfriend puts a strain on their relationship. Will tells Hannibal there's no reason to be jealous. He tells Hannibal: "I'm not doing this to hurt you. I can't be what you need right now. I'm not there yet, and I don't know if I ever will be." He starts spending more and more time out of the house because the silence is suffocating. He never brings his girlfriend around. But she invites Will and Hannibal over to her house for Christmas day to exchange presents.

Will agrees for appearance's sake and asks Hannibal to make a list of things he would want for Christmas. He leaves a piece of paper (with written instructions to make a christmas list) and a pen on the counter for Hannibal before heading out to work. He comes back home hours later and opens the lid of the trashcan to toss something. There's a crumpled piece of paper balled up in the corner, buried in the pile, but only slightly visible if one were to look for it. He unfolds it and smooths out the creases to read the words written on the page.

It's Hannibal's christmas list and there are only three sentences written down: one hug. for at least thirty seconds, if you are willing. the lights can be off, if you wish.

Will's heart crumbles. He wonders why it was thrown in the trash until he sees a second christmas list on the counter in pristine condition. There are only two words written on that one: your company.

Oh my God can I first off just say how much I LOVE your writing, I’m so happy to have found someone else who likes to write and read about vulnerable Hannibal. I look forward to your fics so much, seriously they make my entire week (even if they make me really sad, I usually hope for some sort of a happy ending with your fics even with all the work it takes them to get there. Love vulnerable Hannibal, but also love even more seeing him get the care and love he deserves!!)

Anyways, I can’t stop thinking about Hannibal keeping himself covered up around Will post-fall, and Will doesn’t understand why until he one day walks in on Hannibal changing, and seeing he’s become so skinny from his time in the BSHCI. It makes Hannibal feel dysmorphic because it reminds him of when he starved as a child. Will misses when Hannibal had some softness on his stomach, and promises (either out loud or just to himself) that Hannibal will never want for anything when it comes to food.

oh my god!!! ILY WHOEVER YOU ARE!! first,

*wipes tears from my eyes*

omg thank you so much for your kind words!! you are so sweet and i am so glad you enjoy my fics, that is the sweetest compliment ever. <3 also omg if you write fics as well, i'd love to read yours, too!!

second, the prompt??

I AM AAAHHHHHCKTUALLY SCREAMING THIS IS EVERYTHING!! God, the thought of Hannibal feeling dysmorphic after becoming skinny in the BSHCI is making me weep and I haven't even written it yet. 😭 Then Will realizing Hannibal is feeling dysmorphic because of it?? I wail. I weep. You are on some genius-level-thinking for coming up with that prompt.

The only question I have is: do you want the reason for Hannibal's weight loss to be because he grew disinterested in eating because of depression or because he was deprived of food? 👀

this is the first fandom i've ever written fanfic for and i can't even express how grateful i am for the new friendships i've made on here since starting this blog. <3

would LOOVE to read your darker fics, your writing is so amazing and i just know they’re just as good as the stuff you post here. there would definitely be a market for it!

omg i am so grateful there are people like you in fandom who are supportive of writers exploring themes that exist in the show!! i feel i should preface with: these are very different from my regular fics on my main account so please be aware of that. i don't want anyone to read something they'll be uncomfortable with. these are like 'game-of-thrones-level-dark.'

disclaimer: i don't condone anything that happens in these fics! these are works of fiction. these fics explore some themes implied in the show, but on a much deeper and visceral level. be sure to read all the tags and warnings. i've listed them as thoroughly as possible. if you get to a point where you need to back out, please do for your own comfort and mental well-being. if you don't like dark fics, don't read these fics.

adding this important disclaimer / explanation about dark fics / dark content here for those who haven't read it yet.

my two fics are linked down below under the cut! i'll be locking these fics later tonight because of the recent AI scraping, so from then on, only registered users will be able to access my fics. i'm sorry to all my lovely guest readers. if you want to make an account, it shouldn't take long at all, only a few weeks to wait for the invitation. if anyone leaves a comment, i'll gobble it up like a chocolate chip cookie and would be so grateful because comments on darker fics are rare. <3

i agree with this 100%. my housewife hannibal sequel was scraped by that damn AI scraper / whatever the fuck you call it. i am so sad because i worked so hard on the newest chapter. i poured 3 months of dedication and love and joy into that new chapter, and to have it (and some of my other fics) be used for AI training (some soul-less machine) is not a good feeling at all. i'm sorry to all my lovely guest readers, but i will be locking all my fics so only registered users can access them, because fuck AI.

After the recent scrape of Ao3 I feel like now is a good time to say a few things

Authors: Limit your works to registered users only, you are going to see a drop in activity which is going to suck a lot but it's 10x better than having your work stolen and used to train AI. Please take care of your precious work

Readers: If you aren't registered, it's to get registered. You've probably been lurking on ao3 for at least a little while, and if you want to be able to properly interact with your favourite works then the best thing to do is get registered. This way authors can feel supported and you can still interact with your favourite works. It's important the authors and readers help each other out here

Registered Readers: It is important, now more than ever, that you comment and kudos on works that you enjoy. Even it was just one line. Hit that fucking kudos button. And never ever be afraid to comment on fics. You have no idea how overjoyed authors are to get even a single emoji for a comment. And if you have more to say, please say it. it means so much to the authors

AI "writers": Go fuck yourself

Good luck to the writers and thanks in advance to the unregistered readers

Imagine if during Will’s honey trap era, he dropped by unannounced and found Hannibal slumped on the floor of his kitchen—wearing his red sweater and matching pajama pants—too weak and fatigued from the flu to make it back to bed.

He’s fevered and shivering, barely holding onto a half-eaten piece of toast that’s dangling between his sleep-slackened fingers. His bangs are fanned out across his forehead, softening his features and two days’ growth of stubble dusts his jaw. Will manages to wake him and strips him down to his boxers to wrangle him into a cold bath in hopes of bringing down his fever. Hannibal panics and tries to climb out—away from the frigid water—but Will holds him down.

Cue Hannibal’s cryophobia emerging for the first time in decades and he regresses. In under a minute, he’s sobbing and on the verge of hyperventilating, clinging to Will and losing his footing as he makes another effort to escape, slipping back into the water and busting his chin on the edge of the tub.

Vulnerable Hannibal Fic Rec List

New addition (located @ the bottom of the page) as of 9/24/2024!

On my previous post, people were interested in finding fics where Hannibal is touch-starved and or dealing with separation anxiety post-fall. So here is a small list of some that may fit that theme! The first five 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. This list will be updated intermittently!

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. (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. (features crying, touch-starved Hannibal).

Shrike (To Your Sharp And Glorious Thorn): Hannibal feels anxious about the prospect of Will abandoning him one day because he isn’t at all capable of being like Molly. His anxiety only heightens when Will gets a job. (features crying housewife Hannibal speaking Lithuanian).

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. (features crying, vulnerable Hannibal).

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.