"You told me you liked to go back to work. Senior Diaz from the town's dockyard has no children and expressed the wish to retire. He will show you around tomorrow. Think about it. Daily, you would have seaworthy boats at your disposal, just in case."

"That would indeed be convenient. Just in case."

"I opened for you a secure bank account that I don't have access to."

Perplexed, Will looked at the documents handed to him.

"I can contribute to our subsistence as well."

"Did I not prove to you that I am able to provide?" The older man smiled mildly. "Will, you once said I foster codependency. I intend for you to be here because you want to, not because you have no other choice. We will say our goodbyes in the morning, and at the end of the day, when you will come home, I want to know for sure that you chose to come back home to me."

"So if I don't, if I leave, you would let me go?"

The hand on Will's shoulder was warm as it wandered to his neck.

"I don't know if I could. You might have to kill me first.", the voice deep and quiet, closer than before.

"If you leave, Hannibal, I - even if I have to cross oceans - I will hunt you down."

"I hope so."

"We're conjoined. I'm curious whether either of us can survive separation."

Will to Hannibal 3.06