Hannibal's house, Friday evening (with hints of the past)

[sharp_as_knives]

The day had been decidedly long, and Hannibal was glad to finally make his way, avoiding any untoward encounters, back home. And, since Jono wasn't home yet, have a leisurely dinner of the sort he wasn't sharing with anyone these days.

[OOC: For the guy who can't duck a pitchfork!]

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[sharp_as_knives]

"Which student?" Hannibal asked. "Are they well?"

[furnaceface]

//Raven will be fine,// Jono replied, shrugging his shoulders a little, favouring one over the other. For pitchfork reasons. //Her attackers vanished as though they'd never been there, save for the injury I took from them, and I think at least now she's come to terms with the fact that whatever it is the island has been throwing at people, it's not all completely real. Dangerous, yes, but dangerous and real aren't necessarily the same.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"Something more than bad dreams and odd creatures." Hannibal frowned in thought. He tossed the bandages he held toward the corner of the bathroom and reached for the light -

- and a familiar face, a familiar smell, was there in the dimness. "You're not my friend. The...uh...light from friendship won't reach us for a million years, that's how far away from friendship we are."

"Will?" It was impossible, Hannibal knew it, but every sense said he was here.

[furnaceface]

Jono had been about to confirm that, yes, it was definitely something more. He'd been about to describe his own visitor, leaning against a park bench and taking joy in taunting him. But another voice broke in first, and Jono turned to look, eyebrows furrowed faintly.

Given everything else that had happened today, he didn't imagine that this was a good visit.

//He's not real,// Jono murmured, leaning up against the door frame. //He's a memory, or a figment, but he's not really here.//

There was a lot in the way that Hannibal had said that name.

It was a very loaded name.

Going by what he already knew of that name, this was a very loaded figment.

[sharp_as_knives]

"A memory?"

Will smirked. "You think you can get rid of me just like that? Lock me up, tie me in knots, then snap your fingers and I'm gone?"

Hannibal took a deep breath. "You left me. Betrayed yourself and rejected my friendship."

[furnaceface]

This one... this one seemed more engaged than the memories did. This one was one of the figments, then, like his Weapon X self, like a shadow sitting in the shadows, knowing exactly where to strike to make it hurt the most.

Jono reached for Hannibal's hand. Nothing more. He didn't know this Will, beyond what Hannibal had told him. But he could show his partner that he was there. That much, he could do.

He was there. He was listening.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal squeezed Jono's hand and nodded. Will had left him, yes; but he had someone else who did his best to understand him and who wanted to be with him.

He stepped forward, looking this memory squarely in the face. "I can forgive you for everything but your self-betrayal. You will have to forgive yourself for that." His hand came up, the scalpel that was rarely far from him these days burying itself in the vision's neck. Will choked, gagged, and disappeared, leaving only the blood on Hannibal's hand.

[furnaceface]

Perhaps it was because he was still so on edge after a day spent fighting anything and everything that moved out there, or maybe it was because Weapon X was still so fresh on his mind, but one of the first thoughts to cross Jono's mind was, 'Scalpel. I'll need to get myself one.'

One of his second thoughts, and the one he actually shared with Hannibal tinged with a note of concern, was, //That can't have been easy.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had any number of them; he'd be happy to gift Jono one.

He smiled back at Jono. Perhaps there was a touch of sadness in his eyes, but they were mostly calm. "Easy to kill memories when the present is so much improved." He shook his head. "Let's get you cleaned up."

[furnaceface]

That calm always astounded Jono. Always. Especially in moments like this, when he'd be halfway out of his own head. If the island made him dispose of somebody he'd actually cared about...

He wasn't going to let himself think about that. That direction would only invite another episode of 'the greatest regrets of Jonothon's life,' and he didn't much care for that show, thank you.

//Fine,// he allowed. //But if there's anything you need. At all. I'm here.//

[sharp_as_knives]

The fact he'd nearly killed Will once already hadn't hurt.

"I appreciate that," Hannibal answered sincerely. He reached for the light again with his clean hand, then rinsed his hand and scalpel off before turning to help Jono finish undressing.

[furnaceface]

The ugliest of Jono's injuries, not helped any by the fact that he'd been scuffling in the mud with it all afternoon, but at least slightly saved by the fact that his jacket had been covering the worst of it most of the time, was obviously the portion of his back where there were four still-bleeding holes, tongues of flame flickering through from time to time.

Jono wasn't too proud to admit, if nudged, that perhaps it had been stupid to keep going with that one instead of heading home. The constant action and strain on that particular injury had kept the holes from doing much more than bleed.

The rest were mostly just nasty bruises and fatigue at work. A few lacerations, but nothing that was going to need more than a stitch or a decent cleaning and some fresh bandages, pitchfork injury aside.

//... It's been a long day.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal shook his head. "So I see." He felt along the wounds carefully. "A shower would be easiest, but might hurt more. Are you up to a bath?"

[furnaceface]

//I can handle a bit of pain,// Jono pointed out, but relented a moment later. //Still... a bath doesn't sound like a terrible idea, at that. Anything to relax a little after a day like today, I won't start turning down now.//

Relaxing would be a great follow-up to such greatest hits as 'the boyfriend's ex just showed up to haunt him,' and 'Raven's angry mob.' Not to mention the 'managing to not yell at Karla because it is literally no problem of Jonothon's anymore,' and 'apparently some demons can't just be burned to death...'

A long soak didn't sound so terrible, after all that.

[sharp_as_knives]

"A bath it is." Hannibal started the water running, then turned back to Jono. "It's been some time since I've had to undress you for these reasons," he noted wryly.

[furnaceface]

//Well, the last time something seriously attacked the island, I was already undressed by the time we got home.//

Thanks for that, alien guys. Thanks loads.

//I have to say, I much prefer being undressed for practically any other reason. Ever.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"At least we've made some progress in your self-esteem, then." Hannibal knelt and started on Jono's boots. "Step out of these."

[furnaceface]

//Too sore and tired to be terribly self-conscious right now,// Jono replied, bracing himself with one hand on the counter before stepping out of the boots one at a time. The flicker of his flames in the nearby mirror caught his eye, but he resisted the urge to look up at today's damage. //Try me again once the invasion has finished, we'll see if future me is in agreement with now me at all.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'll do that," Hannibal said. He set the boots aside and stood, starting on what was left of the bandages around Jono's waist. "And apart from sore and tired?" he asked, leaning close.

[furnaceface]

Jono leaned back slightly, careful to not press any of his muddier, bloodier parts against Hannibal's clothes.

//Apart from that? Already well and truly finished with the island's nonsense, mostly. I'd be perfectly happy to not have to argue with some mocking representation of the worst I ever was, or throw down against the greatest hits of my ugliest nightmares.// There was a pause before he added, //Concerned for you. You've been taking a lot of this impressively in stride.//

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal freed the bandages and tossed them with the others before starting on Jono's trousers. "Even I have bad dreams occasionally." He shrugged. "And I've managed to avoid the things outside. Apart from Will just now, there has been little particularly unusual about my day."

[furnaceface]

//Well... then I hope Will doesn't make a habit of stopping by to visit,// Jono replied, indulging himself in just one moment to be thankful he'd worn a pair of underwear that Hannibal didn't hate today. Because of course his headspace was grabbing for distractions right about then. //In fact, I'd say any unannounced company of the 'not actually there' persuasion is perfectly welcome to find a short pier and go for a long stroll on it.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I agree." Hannibal nudged Jono toward the tub and starting shucking his own shirt.

[furnaceface]

Jono let himself be nudged along, climbing into the hot water with his head down and a slump to his shoulders that said far more about his current state of mind than he'd bothered to say, himself. He still had some pride left, apparently. But it was fading fast.

//... Oh. That's nice.//

The water. The water was just what he'd been hoping it would be, warm and soothing.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal undressed quickly and brought out the first aid kit, setting it by the tub. He put a hand on Jono's shoulder. "Shift forward."