Hannibal's house, Tuesday

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal scowled at the still-unfinished floor in his study and brought his tablet into the salon instead. The contractors had hit some sort of snag, and there were still several rooms now with the floors torn up. Hannibal was almost as displeased as Beethoven; the cat was refusing to even come downstairs.

"How many more days?"

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[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal chuckled and went into the kitchen to get the ingredients. He set them out on a tray and moved it back to the porch, then got started setting up the grill.

[furnaceface]

It was a few minutes later that Jono made his way out, with Joni peering out of his jacket pocket, and Beethoven sort of unceremoniously draped over the opposite shoulder, old man cat claws dug deep into the leather of his jacket.

//Beethoven was under the bed.//

In case that was even remotely in doubt.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course." Hannibal left the grill warming and came to Jono's rescue, coaxing Beethoven off.

[furnaceface]

Jono stayed patiently still while Hannibal extracted the cat from his shoulder, and then took a moment to get Joni out of his pocket to set her down by his feet once that was over with.

She pretty immediately spotted a bug, and started stalking after that.

//So, tell me,// he asked, once he was certain she wasn't going to just tear off down the street, //how exactly does one grill a shortcake?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Very carefully," Hannibal said, smiling. "Also, it helps to make the cake very dense. Which I have." In case there was doubt.

[furnaceface]

The day Jono doubted Hannibal's ability to cook would be the day he lost touch with reality, really.

//Well, this'll be a treat to witness, then,// he decided with a wink. //And to taste once it's done. Strawberries... my secret weakness.//

Well, fruit in general, really. But especially strawberries.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Or not so secret," Hannibal said, grinning wider. "And I hope you enjoy caramel, too."

[furnaceface]

//If this is an attempt to see how many bites it takes to make my knees stop working, you're definitely on the right track,// Jono shared. //The question then is, are you prepared to peel me up off the ground again when you're through?//

[sharp_as_knives]

"If necessary," Hannibal answered. He came to sit by Jono while the grill heated, and watched Beethoven stretch out on a bench and keep a watchful (if wary) eye on Joni.

[furnaceface]

//It'll probably be necessary,// Jono decided, leaning sideways to bump his shoulder against Hannibal's. //I can barely walk in a straight line after your coffee. Dessert is always a bit of a challenge.//

A welcome one, though, definitely.

[sharp_as_knives]

"All the more reason to taste it for yourself," Hannibal pointed out. "Although I should hope my food never becomes too dull." He smiled at Jono and slipped his arm around his waist. "But I do think we should work on it. Particularly if you're inclined to throw yourself at people prone to taking bits."

There was no judgement there, though perhaps a hint of exasperation. But Hannibal would really be happier if Jono were working to develop himself more fully.

[furnaceface]

Hey, Jono wouldn't be Jono if he wasn't taking two steps back for every step forward he made, right?

//All the more reason for me to figure out that healing thing,// Jono replied, slipping his own arm around Hannibal's waist in turn. //One of the students was kind enough to heal up my hand for me, and I realize that's cheating, but I really don't want to have to rely on other people to put me back together again all the time, either.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I had wondered," Hannibal said. "And I would hardly call it cheating. But yes, since you have the capability, it seems it would be more productive to do it yourself. To which student do I owe a lovely meal?"

[furnaceface]

//One of the good ones,// Jono replied, leaning against him. //I'd say, but they requested I not talk about it. One of the ones who isn't meant to use their gifts freely, and I don't want to betray that confidence. It's a bloody sin, how many students fear for their lives because of their powers.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Yourself included, when you were one of them." Hannibal leaned his head against Jono's. "And the ones that aren't, are often in danger for other reasons. Like Karla."

[furnaceface]

//I was more afraid for other people's lives, when I was a student,// Jono admitted, turning his head to nuzzle his face into Hannibal's hair. //But it seems to be a pretty commonplace thing around here. Everyone's got someone out to get them, it feels like.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"And yet when they come here, they get acceptance. They're judged on who, not what, they are. For some of them, I imagine it's the first such time. For all its...unique quirks, shall we say?...Fandom is a very special place."

[furnaceface]

//Of course it is. Imagine all the things that would never have happened if not for here being what it is.//

Jono tightened his arm around Hannibal's waist for a moment. See? Like this.

//Helps, I suppose, that those people doing the judging generally know full well what it's like to be judged for what they are, too. I imagine half the acceptance that people find here is because we're all kindred spirits in one way or another, and nobody really wants to be alone.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course," Hannibal agreed. And he returned that hug, because this was definitely one of those things. And then he stood, because that cake wasn't going to grill itself, after all.

[furnaceface]

//Of course,// Jono echoed, and now his knee was bouncing as he sat there. Joni had, by now, managed to catch the bug, and she was proceeding to torment the poor thing to death.

For a brief moment, he was tempted to either rescue it, or put it out of its misery.

//Still wish it wasn't the students who had to be afraid, though. I can handle when it's... us. Other teachers. But the students? They find understanding and kindred spirits here, of course, but I'd feel... better... if those were things they never found themselves lacking.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Too few of them have had the opportunity to be children," Hannibal noted. He fixed a plate while the cake grilled. He looked back at Jono. "Something we both can relate to, as can most of the teachers, I imagine. All we can do is try to give them the peace and time to discover who they want to be."

[furnaceface]

//I want t'do more, dammit,// Jono mumbled, ever so casually sticking his foot out to put between Joni and the bug so that the little thing could try to crawl away on whatever legs it had left. //I want to... I don't know. Wrap them in blankets and feed them cake and give them teddy bears. Bloody hell, I know I can't give them their childhoods back any more than I can get back yours or mine, but they're our students. We're all they have, in some cases. It feels like we should be able to.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I know it does." Hannibal turned the cake and came back to kiss the top of Jono's head. "Well, while the teddy bears might not be a good idea for most of them, I'm certain we can find blankets to spare, and I'm always willing to cook. Should we have more periodic gatherings, do you think?"

[furnaceface]

//... Actually, that wouldn't be a bad idea,// Jono mused. //Give people a chance to get to know one another. People around the island aren't as close-knit as they were back when I was in school here.//

... Oh god, he was getting old. That was the reminiscing of a man who was getting old.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal correctly interpreted that look and chuckled. "Parties it is, then." He ran his hands through Jono's hair. "Do you think those group therapy sessions were useful when Sam was here? I could start those again."