Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cold stone walls loomed above the men as they filed out. Here, where the breath of the world had grown molded and musty, the long-held silence was crushed under the soldier’s boots as they arrived.
The building sat around 12 miles north-east of the Baltimore North outpost, lost in a barren sea of dead fields.

It had been a long time since the bell tower had chimed for the last time, calling believers to find solace and shelter. But now the ghostly relic was standing quiet, the once white walls turned gray over time, and grime had seeped between the wooden planks.
The arriving troops had been briefed about the area, with almost twenty years of history.

In the first days of the pandemic many locals had found shelter between the church walls.

When it all started the news were at first contradictory, then fear mongering. The reaction from the government was often too late and ineffective. It was not hard to imagine how uncertainty around the infection and its casualties had pushed people towards God. Desperate prayers pushed to their savior for hope and humanity. But as the corpses piled up, soldiers found themselves as the new idols of worship, a position they were only too glad to fill. It was only when the dead started walking the street in higher numbers than the living that the population had agreed God was not going to save them.

A tall metal fence surrounded the entire church in an attempt to keep people outside rather than inside. Although most of it still stood, sections had succumbed to the decades. A mix of rust, decay and human intervention had slashed open the net, allowing everyone in.

“Very inviting, isn’t it?” Someone laughed, taking a long puff of the cigarette they were holding between their fingers. “I guess they realized praying wouldn’t keep the dead outside.”

“Where is their God now?” Came the chuckled reply.

It was not just a lack of faith. It was hard to feel empathy when the gun on their side was more effective than believing in a higher entity.

Stacked against the walls sat an array of military equipment in boxes, weathered by the elements - at first glance it seemed hardly anything would be worth saving. A few boxes had been pushed to cover part of the front door of the church, but had fallen, spilling their items across the ground. They could spot some broken medical equipment in the sand, maybe construction tools or even clothes, nature was already taking them back. Greenery had begun to creep across the doors, but behind the leaves the soldiers could still distinguish letters, the yellow paint flaking and dulled with time:

Isaiah 26:19

“What was that again?” One of them asked. At the beginning of the spread of the infection, the passage had become popular among believers, repeated over and over like a mantra. But after decades, even that figure of speech had died.

“Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.” Another repeated in a monotone voice. “You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”

“Noah, I didn’t make you an apostle!”

“I’m not. But my mom got into that stuff when I was a kid.” The beta explained slightly ashamed. “She always took me and my brother to Sunday's meet ups. They used to repeat that shit non stop.” He pushed with his shoulder against the wood and let himself in, without further commenting.

The situation inside was similar.

All of the church pews had been pushed against the walls, leaving space in the middle of the nave for beds (or what looked like it). Rows and rows of sleeping bags covered the entirety of the room, but none of them seemed to have been used in a long time. Dust was covering them like a blanket.

“Anything here?” Noah asked, pushing a backpack aside with his foot and peering in. He pressed forward, his hand tightly gripping the gun at his waist.

“Uhm…” Another soldier, an alpha, had made his way up to the altar. What once was considered a sacred space had been stripped of symbolism and transformed into something more useful: the marble table was now covered in medical equipment. A figure of Jesus on the wall behind, in the act of being christened by John the Baptist, appeared to look down upon the room with a mix of sorrow and pity. Quite fitting.

“I don’t get why we’re here. What’s the point of checking this place if we’re leaving Baltimore in a few days anyway.” Someone scoffed.

“As if Crawford would leave us to get drunk till we have the okay to leave.”

“I’m just saying this is a waste of time, and resources. Either we stay at the base or we leave already for Seattle… instead of driving all the way here just for some ammo and to kill a few infected.”

“You just want to stay with that omega of yours before being sent on your way. Don’t think we don’t know that, James.” the alpha laughed. “What’s her name? Cristina, or something. Is she in heat again?”

“Shut the fuck up, Jackson!”

The sergeant did a final sweep before calling everyone around.

“The sooner we clear the place the sooner we go home.” He sighed. “Sean, James, you go to the back office that way. Noah, Alex and Jackson, you go upstairs. You two come with me downstairs.”

—

The hallway leading to the back office was dark. The windows had been shut and covered in thick layers of fabric hoping to shut out the world outside but through holes in the covers a little light was shining in. The pattern of the carpet was almost unrecognizable, the design worn down by years of walking, and as they walked towards the door, their boots creaked with broken glasses and rubble. But the more they got closer, a new scratching sound joined their steps, more and more distinct.

It was slow but continuous. Couldn’t be the building settling in.

“Do you hear that?” James whispered, the hold on his gun getting stronger.
Sean nodded, raising his own weapon higher.

It couldn’t be an animal, nor the sounds of the light breeze seeping in through the cracks in the walls. It was clearly a human noise, pushing the nails against the door from the other side. As they stood in front of the closed office, James pointed at a note that had been stapled to the wood. The paper had aged, yellowed and curled around the edges.

Let Sarah sleep.

“Wanna leave her there?” James already knew the answer. This was the reason they had been sent there in the first place, not for the chance of useful supplies, but to clear the area of any infected before they had to leave for good. It was an exercise in futility, really. What was one single dead, against the millions that walked the country?

“Let’s do it quickly.” As on command the creature started slamming harder against the door, accompanied by a growl the soldiers had become too familiar with. The wood shook at each hit.

“On the count of three.” James crossed himself quickly, more for good luck, than as an actual prayer before closing his hand around the handle. “One… two… three!”

Before the creature even had the time to react to the door slamming open and attack them, two calibrated shots hit her in the head, sending her to the ground. She only had time to look at their faces for a second.
The woman hit the floor with a wheeze and soon her body stopped moving.
She must have been in her late 30s, and all and all she looked like she had been well taken care of till her last breath. Her dark hair was gathered on her shoulder in a nice tight braid. Her clothes were old, but clean and neat. A nasty wound covered her left forearm: while the rest of the skin was white and bluish, the arm was a deep purple color, with yellow and green fluid still oozing out of the old injury. In the same manner, her bloody hands sat contracted and tense, the nails almost non-existent, jagged and torn. She was now staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes and mouth open as if about to call for someone.

She had clearly been loved by someone and they had taken care of her the best they could, locking her in the office instead of killing her. The room was small, just enough for a desk and a small couch where a pile of blankets and pillows had been pushed aside. Her shoes were still tucked neatly in a corner.

“Now she sleeps for good.” Sean laughed, kicking her feet to make sure she was indeed dead.

“What do you think was her designation? I don’t see a mating bite.”

“Who cares. You cannot tell anymore once they are dead.”

Definitely the scent was not going to help. The room was drenched in the stench of rotting flesh. Ironically the disease had been a great equalizer.

A scream tore the quietness and the two alphas looked at each other for a second before rushing out towards the main room. The voice was clearly human, and one alive too.

“What’s going on?” They heard the sergeant yell before Jackson emerged from the stairs, dragging a young woman in a chokehold. She was fighting with all her strength to escape the hold, but the size difference made it impossible for her to have a fair chance.
“I found her upstairs hiding in the… in the vicarage… Stop fucking moving!” She didn’t listen, and only started trashing harder. She was unarmed, or at least seemed like it, so she was trying her best with teeth and nails.

“Let me go! Let me fucking go!!” She kept screaming, wiggling in his hold like a mad animal. A fist managed to reach the alpha on the temple and he pushed her to the ground with a thud.

“Fucking bitch!” A kick to her ribs stopped her fight enough for the other men to immobilize her.

“The fuck is she doing here?” Noah leaned in on her and took a deep breath. “She is an alpha.” He informed the rest of the group. The scent was a mix of cacao and smoke.

“Is she infected?” Someone asked keeping his weapon in the direction of the woman.
“The fuck do I know. She just fucking attacked me.” Jackson rubbed his head where the fist caught him. She had merely scratched him, but his behavior was betraying a bruised ego. “Bitch!” He kicked her again.

“Jackson, enough!” The sergeant roared, pushing him a few steps back.

The confessional door slammed open and a young man dashed out running towards him. His hand was tight around a small butterfly knife. He reached for Jackson, but his attack was stopped before he even had a chance to reach the target. Two soldiers grabbed him just in time for the knife to graze the uniform and they pushed him to the ground, cheek slammed against the dirty floor, just like his companion.

In the chaos of the altercation, no one had seemed to notice the young omega hiding in the main room, but now that he was in the open, his scent was clear, sweet vanilla only barely covered by fear and anger.

“Enough now!” The sergeant yelled. “Do you see any bite marks?”
“I don’t know. I cannot see.” Someone replied checking any inch of skin they could without touching them directly. Their behavior was erratic, and it could have many explanations. It was impossible to rule out the infection just yet.

The alpha woman had calmed down now, possibly in an attempt to save her companion from being harmed and her pleading look was only focused towards the omega, who was still trying as hard as he could against the alphas’ strong hold.

“Get the scanner.” One of the soldiers sprinted towards the front door to collect the device.

“Let me fucking go! Let me go! Bev!” The omega wouldn’t stop fighting, forcing his captors to press harder on his shoulders. He could barely lift his head from the dust.
“You tried stabbing me, you cunt?” The knife had fallen a few feet away. The only hope they had of escaping was now gone. “Jackson kneeled down, grabbing the young man by the hair and slammed his face against the floor, eliciting a whine from the boy. It didn’t take long for blood to start running down his lips from the bruised nose.

“Don’t touch him!” She tried pushing against her captors to no avail.

As much as the sergeant was focused on de-escalating the situation, the mix of alphan hormones was pushing everyone to the edge. They had a procedure to follow in case of raiders. The orders were clear: eliminate any infected, apprehend any non infected raider until the captain would decide what to do with them.

But it was not working.

“And what if I do? Are you going to stop me?” Jackson stepped in her direction, boots stopping mere inches away from her face.

“No! Leave her alone!” The screech of the omega was getting more desperate, forcing the alpha to turn for a second. In that fraction, the woman tried pushing herself up and the grunt escaping her lips was enough for the soldier to turn towards her again and pull the trigger.

The bullet passed her nape and lodged itself in the hardwood floor of the nave, causing her head to recoil twice before crushing to the ground. The two alphas that were keeping her down let her go immediately and fell backwards, the spray of blood so unexpected they didn't react for a couple of seconds.

At the sight of her dead body, a wail erupted from the omega, his frame shaking calling her name between sobs.

“No!! Bev!”

The sergeant rushed in front of Jackson, pushing the man away.

“I didn’t give any order! Now step back.” The command seemed to finally get to him and the alpha stumbled back, looking at the other men in the room hoping to find support. He found none.

After a few seconds of panic, the man responded “She was aggressive, sir. I had to…”

“She was restrained and unarmed. This is not the procedure.” The sergeant yelled back, shutting everyone down.

Now only the omega’s cry could be heard in the room, echoing within those walls with the scent of his desperation.

Captain Crawford was clear in regards to any outsider found during the patrolling. They needed to be escorted to the outpost and evaluated before doing anything. But now they had a dead alpha in their hands and no valid justification for it. Even if partially covered by the nest of brown curls, it was easy to spot the mating bite on the omega’s neck. Breaking any mated pair was still considered extremely out of order.

“What should we do with him?” Noah asked. Everyone there knew the repercussions of their actions were going to be severe.

The alpha leader scratched his head, sighing deeply. His options were limited if he wanted to avoid paperwork just days away from the closure of the outpost.
“You said they were both aggressive. Is that correct, Jackson?” It was the only choice they had to escape punishment: erasing any proof of it.

Jackson raised the gun again, looking for a positive sign from the sergeant and loaded the weapon reading to shoot.

“Wait! “ Alex, the beta holding onto the boy’s arm leaned in on him for a second, filling up his lungs in his scent. “Do you smell it?” He had turned pale.

The sergeant stepped closer, confused. Deep down, under the typical sweet omega scent, and his intoxicating sadness, there was a hint of milk and blood. They all knew what that meant.

“Is he fucking pregnant?”

Chapter Text

He heard him coming from the end of the hallway.

Jack always had the power to show his feeling just in the way he walked, from the slow pensive pace while reflecting on a tough decision, to the rapid and silent steps when exploring a new uncleared location. Most people at the Baltimore North outpost could tell ahead of time if the Captain was coming with good or bad news just in the way his boots echoed in the hallways, and often even predict how many casualties he was going to announce. This time the stride was heavy and purposeful, annoyed and slightly angry before stopping in front of Hannibal’s office door. The knock on the wood came before the bottom of his shoes even landed one last time.

“Come on in, Jack.” The man didn’t need the doctor’s permission. Anything within those metal walls was under Crawford’s authority, power given to him but the government itself, or whatever resemblance of law was still intact in those scarce quarantined cities across the States. But asking for permission to enter private rooms was still considered an indicator of a good leader, even in a broken world where freedom was no longer a given right.

“Good afternoon, Hannibal. I’m sorry to interrupt you while you are packing.”

The alpha stopped on the threshold, his hand squeezing the handle nervously while briefly inspecting the desk from a distance. Every staff member had been notified not a week before that the outpost was about to close down and every worker would be moved to the other side of the country, where the QZs were still large and mostly unfazed. Over the past couple of days the Baltimore North outpost had been slowly emptied, with more and more vehicles leaving each day with precious records, weapons and supplies. Most sections were now barren and empty, ready to be sealed forever until the day the government had enough forces to repopulate them or they had a better use for the space. Just like Captain Crawford, Dr Lecter was among the last to leave the station, still filing away years of practice and records of the patients he had taken care of. Looking back at his notes he had to take notice of the high number of those who didn't make it.

“Not at all. How can I help you?” He sealed the folder before putting it in the box sitting on his chair.

“We had an unexpected development during last night's patrol. I need your medical assistance with something.” Even without Hannibal’s fine sense of smell, he could clearly detect the worry in the alpha’s demeanor. Jack was always very transparent with his feelings.

“Is this related to that bonded pair you captured?”

“News travels fast.” He chuckled lightly, scratching his beard.

“Not much is happening lately, soldiers like to talk.” Since the patrol had returned the night before, rumors had started circulating about some raiders they had come across, but whoever was involved had been behind locked doors and strict secrecy. Without an official announcement from Crawford himself, all the information he had received had been confusing at best. “Did we lose any man in the attack?”

Jack sighed. “No, no... A few were injured but Frederick already took a look at them. They will survive.”

“I’m glad to hear.” Hannibal held back a scoff behind a thin smile. He really had no idea why the beta doctor was still at the outpost, when he should have been evacuated days before with the lower ranking personnel but somehow he was still behind, running around like a madman just to make himself look important.

Jack pointed with his head to follow him outside as Hannibal was already making his way towards the door.

“The team was clearing a former refuge just outside town when they were attacked by an alpha. Or at least… That’s what Jackson said. I’m not sure she would have been big enough to harm any of them in any way.” He scoffed. “Regardless, they put her down in self defense but she was traveling with an omega. And a pregnant one as well, we suspect.”

He was not surprised the soldiers had acted before reflecting. Many valuable members of the outpost had died over the course of the last few months, either from the infected or raiders and everyone was always very tense while out of the safety of the QZ. But protocol required that a bonded pregnant pair had to be restrained and evaluated by the leadership before any action.

“Was she infected?” Hannibal enquired trying to find a valid answer that could exonerate the soldier’s behavior.

“No. Alana is examining the body but so far it has resulted negative to any sign of infection.”

“What about the omega?”

“That’s what I need your help with. I need you to examine him, confirm the pregnancy and determine if he is healthy enough before we decide what to do with him. We really don’t have the resources at the moment to waste on a sickly omega, let alone an outsider. Would be different if we were in any of the western settlements… “ He didn't finish the sentence, he didn't have time for alternative scenarios where he didn't have to make an uncomfortable decision.

The omega was likely to be put down if any sign of illness was to be detected. They would be unlikely to offer him the decency to fight for his own life outside, as his secondary gender was considered unable to fend for itself without the protection of a mate. A superficial rule Hannibal didn’t particularly agree with, but unfortunately a universally shared one. The pup in his body was giving him more value than if he was barren.

Hannibal knew it was quite a touchy subject for the captain. Bella had died the year before after a long battle with cancer. The lack of technology and drugs had taken away the only chance she had of recovery. Their long, strong relationship had bore no pups and Jack had always seemed to suffer it.
Even now that his bond was broken he didn’t seem interested in bonding again, the sickness connected to its breakage still affecting him.

“Absolutely. Where is he now? In the medical unit?”

“Yes, although I have to warn you. He is pretty combative.”

“I would be too if I had a pup to protect.”

They turned the corner of the medical unit, just in time to see Dr Chilton storming out of the examination room. A bright red scratch decorated his face and he was clutching his own right hand against his belly in a shaky fist.
“Bloody omega! He won’t even let me do my job.” He lifted his hands enough to show the two alphas his bitten fingers, index and middle were profusely bleeding with the clear marks of omegan canines. “He almost bit my fucking fingers off!”

From behind the closed door of the examination room one of the soldiers was having a go at someone, muffled grunts lost in the fight.

“Frederick, I thought you were busy with Sergeant Asher’s troop?” Jack seemed disinterested in Dr Chilton’s sufferings, his eyes going back and forth from him to the blurred glass of the door.

“I was but then I heard you wanted someone to take a look at that omega you brought in last night… ugh… it needs a muzzle!” He showed his fingers again in Jack’s direction. His lab coat was stained with blood, some specks as high as his collar. No one really used lab coats anymore, they were too hard to find and brought no benefit to the job, but the beta still seemed attached to the idea of the uniform and the authority it gave to his position.

“Quite feisty, uh?” Laughing at the beta’s distress, Jack continued with his conversation. “So, as I was saying, Hannibal, I need you to take a look at him, make sure everything is in order. Don’t worry, I’ll send another alpha in with you if you think you need help.”

“I don’t think it will be necessary, but I appreciate the offer.” Hannibal started rolling up his sleeves, ready to enter the examination room and Jack led him in, without any additional word to the injured doctor. Before walking in, the older alpha stopped a second to look at his colleague. “I would suggest cleaning that hand before you develop an infection. We cannot be sure what outsiders are bringing in, can we?”

He closed the door behind before Chilton had a chance to respond.

–

In the corner of the room, handcuffed to a pipe was a young looking omega. A mop of dark curly hair partially covered a ferocious stare. Most omegas would be quiet, shy, too terrified of their own shadow to rebel. Hannibal expected to hear the meek whine of the designation, the typical low plea when begging to not be hurt but as soon as he was in the room he couldn’t ignore the poisonous rage coming from him. No matter the presence of three large alphas in the room with him, he was staring at them with an anger Hannibal had never seen before in someone of his secondary gender. Splashes of red, Dr Chilton’s blood, decorated his lips like war paint.

“You’ll have to be careful with this one, Doctor.” The soldier standing next didn’t seem particularly intimidated, more like waiting for an excuse to use brutal force again. Whatever enforcement he had needed to restrain the captive, had barely ruffled his uniform, while the younger man sat on the floor with a broken lip and bruised wrists. His right cheek was also swollen and red, but more likely from the altercation of the previous night.

“Thank you, Desi. Now, if you don’t mind moving him on the table.”

The omega immediately started thrashing, pulling at his already livid wrists.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” He attempted to stand up, but before he could turn and get a better angle, the soldier was already on him, unlocking the cuffs so he could move the young one where the doctor needed him. Hannibal stared at the scene distractingly, too busy collecting a pair of gloves and getting himself ready. He turned just in time to hear the handcuffs being locked again around the metal frame of the examination table, same for his legs. As he realized any struggle would be pointless, the man let himself lay down with a deep sigh.

“Make it quick, Hannibal. The sooner you are done, I can make a decision.” Crawford had not stepped any closer, and the doctor couldn’t avoid noticing how he was deliberately avoiding looking at the omega. No matter how hard he was keeping his stern facade, it was easy to spot how partial he was to the kid.

Now closer to him, Hannibal could smell what the men had felt on him the night before. His scent was not as sweet as other omegas he has visited before, notes of wood and leather mixed with jasmine, but deep down burned the taste of blood and milk, another life growing. That was what had unsettled the troop and made it impossible for them to kill him. It was not a definite proof of pregnancy but it was still pretty significant, so much that anyone around had refused to take his life with the same lightness with which they had killed his mate.

Before attempting to touch him, Hannibal quickly scanned his body.

New bruises and scratches appeared where the fabric was not covering him. Some definitely looked older than 24 hours old, but nothing particularly concerning. At a first glance he couldn’t really see any sign of bite or infection. Under a evident layer of dirt, his skin looked tanned, blushing in all the right places. All injuries appeared superficial, nothing that time won't heal by itself. The boy had likely been tested already, but procedure required that it was confirmed again at any medical intervention.

He grabbed the infection scanner and pressed it without any warning to the boy’s neck, making him flinch. As Hannibal applied pressure to the device, he couldn’t avoid staring at his Adam's apple, bobbing up and down as the boy clenched his jaw.

The machine bipped a couple of times, pinching the skin quickly and the screen finally turned green.

“Negative.” He simply announced putting the machine away.

It was not an unexpected result. Considering the omega had been under their care for over 18 hours, if he had been positive he would have already shown signs of mutation.
It didn’t take long for the contagion to develop. In most cases Hannibal had witnessed, the infected person had only a few hours before showing symptoms. The longest someone had survived a bite was 33 hours.

As soon as he laid his hands on the omega, his entire body tensed. Hannibal was not sure if it was his alphan authority that convinced the man to subdue or the fight had finally left him, but it was sure going to make the visit quicker.

The body was slender but strong. In normal circumstances for the omegas living under the government regime, a more supple form was preferred if not encouraged to make sure the body was in the best conditions to carry out a pregnancy, but given the circumstances he appeared healthy enough.
Life outside of the QZ was tough. Hannibal remembered it all too well. It had been decades since he had been out of the walls, but he still remembered the fear, the hunger, the desperation.

He reached for his face, making the omega flinch involuntarily. An interesting reaction given the viciousness with which he had attacked his colleague not 10 minutes before. Nevertheless, Hannibal continued.

On the small of his neck, where the gentle slope met the shoulder, was the bonding mark. The skin was slightly risen, pink, and the scar left behind from the bite was jagged, looking off, likely already showing signs of a broken bond. That was tragic. Even in this forgotten world where nothing mattered but pure survival, killing the bonded mate of a pregnant omega was largely frowned upon. The symptoms that this would bring to the omega were at best unpleasant and at worst debilitating.

“The killing of his mate was really not ideal. The mating mark already shows signs of a broken bond.”

Jack didn’t respond, keeping his eyes to the floor.

“Overall he is quite healthy. More than you would expect for someone living outside of the QZ.” He noted out loud, feeling the scent glands on his collar.

The omega’s eyes were deliberating avoiding his own, lost somewhere far away from than the room they were in. No matter the intrusiveness of the visit and the unfamiliar place, Hannibal couldn’t detect any fear in his stare. He had seen plenty of omegas in the past on the verge of tears, especially without the reassuring presence of their alphas, but not this one. Even in his scent he could only detect burning anger.

“Very well.” He abruptly stepped aside to pull the ultrasound machine closer.

They had managed to find one a few years before, when the outpost was busy and in need of more medical equipment, but over time the machine had gathered more dust as most of the mated couples had moved to the central locations in the west side of the country.

They were lucky that whoever had arranged to pack the medical ward, had left the scanner behind.

He lifted the man’s shirt without as much as looking in his direction and immediately the clash of the cuffs scratched against the metal of the table. The coolness of the lube elicited another soft grunt.

As he pressed the wand on the flat stomach, the room seemed to fall into silence. Jack had finally turned towards the table, staring at the screen hoping to hear an answer that would make his job easier. Sliding the instrument around he watched the monitor as the shape of the womb quickly developed. Soon, in the black circle of amniotic fluid emerged the clear image of a fetus. The icon moved on the screen to point at the slightly larger head, tiny arms and legs, no sign of any malformation or abnormality.

“There it is.” A whooshing rhythmic sound filled the silence, steady, fast. Alive. “Congratulations are in order.” He meant it to come out sarcastic, but turned in the direction of the omega he was surprised to see his expression had totally changed. He stared at that small mass on the screen with a slightly open mouth and wet eyes. For the first time since entering the room, his scent had switched to something sweeter, and ever so slightly more melancholic. The small creature on the monitor was no bigger than a couple of centimeters, a raspberry gently cuddled by its own mother’s heartbeat.

So small, such a threat.

Chapter Text

The atmosphere in the room had changed completely.

What little lightheartedness was still hiding within those walls had disappeared in a second. That little creature on the monitor, no bigger than a bean or a grape, had exploded like a grenade and made its presence known.

“Desi, take him back to the kennels. Hannibal, when you are done here come see me in my office.” The captain left the room quickly, without sparing the omega of another glance.

On the other hand, the young man didn’t seem to pay attention anymore to anything that was happening around him. As the screen was turned off, his eyes appeared unfocused, lost somewhere down towards his lap. His scent was getting more and more dull by the second, the rage that was animating him till that point lost in favor of something much more bitter.

As a base surgeon Hannibal had specialized mainly in the more difficult cases but the limited number of medics available at each outpost, especially the smaller one on the east of the country, meant he had performed his fair share of omegan care. He had visited many couples over the years and helped deliver their pups. He had seen happy tears, both from mated omegas and alphas, but he had also seen sad faces of those who were concerned about the idea of bringing up a child in such a hostile world. Life could be particularly difficult even for babies born within the safety of the QZ, let alone outside of it, without medical care and a secure environment. So he could just imagine what was going on inside the boy’s mind, especially knowing his alpha wouldn't be around to support him. In many cases the lack of a sire during the omega’s pregnancy had both psychological and physical repercussions, that a healthy habitat and modern medicine could only help with to a certain degree. The death of that woman was tragic and unwarranted, but Hannibal knew deep down the baby was going to have a better chance in this life now that the mother was in the hands of the government. The pregnancy likely meant a better life for the omega himself too.

The boy tried reaching for his belly, almost unconsciously, but the handcuffs only allowed him to brush it with the tip of his fingers. The slope of his abdomen, still flat and not showing any sign of precious cargo, glistened in lube under the fluorescent lights.

“Here.” The doctor grabbed some paper from the closer shelves and handed it to him.

He didn’t answer, scooching slightly to one side to give himself easier access but before he even had time to properly clean himself the soldier snatched it from his hand and threw it to the ground, missing the waste bin just nearby.

“Let’s go.” He announced unlocking the cuffs and pushing the boy off the table. “Thank you, doctor.” The omega didn’t react, still keeping his eyes to the ground while making his way outside. Hannibal saw him pull the shirt down, to quickly cover himself and started at his back as he walked out of the room.

Such a sorry sight.

The boy was young. He likely had never even witnessed the world before the pandemic had started and in another universe he would have had a better life. Born at the wrong time, in the wrong place. He was maybe too thin compared to the omegan beauty standard, but the conditions he had been living in could easily explain it. Under the layer of dirt and scruff he could imagine fine features and a sweet scent that any alpha would fight for. In another life he would likely be mated, happy and supple, surrounded by gaggle of pups. But instead he was alone, pushed down a corridor by unfriendly alphas that didn’t care for his wellbeing and not enough meat on his bones to keep him warm at night. Best case scenario now, he would spend the rest of his days during omega approved labor while his pup was raised by a military school.

Once all the machineries were off, he discarded his gloves and left the room, heading towards Captain Crawford office as requested. Just as he made it to the commander’s wing, he recognized the silhouette of her colleague fast walking in his same direction.

“Alana.” The woman turned to welcome her friends with a warm smile.

“Hannibal.” She slowed down enough to allow the other to catch up. “Are you going to see Jack too?”

He had been working side by side with Alana for a few years now, ever since she had joined the outpost as a trainee. Since then, under Hannibal’s teachings, she had grown confident in her own skills and quickly she had been promoted to lead medic. She was a remarkably smart, beautiful alpha, and the older doctor had found in her a great colleague and friend. At some point their relationship had developed to a romantic one and Hannibal had even considered her as a possible companion. (In his life he had experimented with people of any designation) but after a short adventure they agreed they were better suited as friends. Ultimately he appreciated her friendship more than her affection.

“Yes. He mentioned you visited the alpha raider they encountered last night?”

She shook her head. “You should have seen her, Hannibal. She was so small, she could have never harmed any of the soldiers. It’s insane to even suggest she could threaten them in any way.” Her hands were twitching, playing with the fabric of her shirt nervously, like she always did when she was upset. “I have told Jack before that the officers are using too much strength with the outsiders. They are clearly abusing their powers and there is no justification for their behavior.”

It was not the first time she had expressed outrage on the matter. She was the one examining the raiders brought in and it was hard for her to be neutral. Many of these people were scared, alone, often in difficult conditions, but the government guidelines were extremely strict on what kind of assistance could be provided. He still remembered that time she had stormed in Jack’s office, demanding a single beta was released with enough provisions and medications to be able to survive till he was able to find his own community again. She didn’t consider the government’s supplies like a limited resource, but like a communal stock meant to be shared with anyone in need.
However, Alana had never really been outside long enough to really know what it felt like to fight for your own survival. As the daughter of a military official, she grew up inside an army base. When the infection had started, it changed little to nothing for her lifestyle.

“Did you see the omega?” She looked towards his colleague with a sense of pity. “I saw him rapidly while they were taking him to the visitation room. How is he?”

“He is in good health, all things considered.”

“Is… did you confirm if he is pregnant or not?”

He nodded.

“Oh… “ She seemed to reflect for a few seconds before responding. “It’s really unfortunate.

He must be so scared, here by himself.”

Somehow, Hannibal was not sure that was the correct word to use to describe what was going on in that boy’s mind but he thought better than to correct her. Ultimately, it didn’t really matter. He was just like any raider they brought in, just another name to add to his records, to end up inside a box.

Before they even reached Captain Crawford's office, they heard his voice thunder. The doctors stopped in front of the closed door, listening to the man explaining the situation on the radio. The alpha was direct, unfolding the events of the previous day with a surprising lack of passion, unbiased, but it was hard to discern the response coming from the other side of the transmission. Behind the closed door, muffled by the old appliance, the voice was an unclear buzz. Whatever he was being told however, Jack didn’t seem particularly happy.

“Come on in.” He sounded more tired than he was just a few minutes before.

Years of running the North outpost had accumulated in piles of reports, documents and junk, stacked in every corner and shelf available. It was nowhere near to being ready to be evacuated in a couple of days, and everything had just been pulled out to be then abandoned somewhere waiting to be stored away again. Jack was an alpha of impressive size, as tall as Hannibal, but way more muscular, and yet he looked tiny surrounded by the weight of his role.

“Please, sit down.” He moved some papers out of the way so he could look at his subordinates better. “Alana, what’s the report on the deceased alpha?”

“I did an external assessment and I didn’t see any old or recent injury that could be connected to a bite. I have also performed a neural and blood analysis and both have resulted negative to any sign of infection.” She paused, annoyed at the disinterested reaction from her superior. “But I have also found several injuries connected to an use of excessive force from the unit. Even as an alpha, her size alone couldn’t justify the measures used to restrain her. Even the weakest of the betas in the group would have been strong enough to control her.”

“Frederick said the injuries he has treated on the men confirm she was aggressive.”

“Please… Frederick would declare he has found the cure for the infection if it meant he can get a promotion.” She was hardly restraining her annoyance. “But even if that was true, and her behavior was erratic, may I remind you the protocol establishes that any raider with no clear sign of infection, needs to be incapacitated and brought back to the base ALIVE for further investigation?”

Jack scratched his beard without contradicting her. He knew she was right and if he had been part of the group the outcome would have been likely different. But as the outpost was getting emptier, the ego and tension of those left behind was getting larger, which meant nervous soldiers and sensitive triggers.

“What can you tell me about the omega, Hannibal?”

“He appears in good health overall. He presents some superficial injuries that are likely connected with the altercation with the troop but nothing concerning. No bite mark or sign of infection and any superficial infection test came up negative. As you saw yourself the pregnancy is very much confirmed. Based on the size of the fetus, I think it’s around 8 to 9 weeks, but it’s hard to know with certainty without knowing previous medical history and his previous environment.”

“Anything that would suggest the pregnancy might be non viable?”

“There is some possibility that the effect of the broken bond might lead to complications for the mother and the baby. The mating bite already shows some signs of it. But the fetus doesn’t show any malformation or anything that might suggest the pregnancy cannot be carried out to term. Additional tests might be useful to exclude any congenital malformation, but we don’t have the facilities to do them here.”

The captain sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a second. What in different circumstances would have been great news, it didn’t elicit the right response from the man.

“I spoke with Seattle. We cannot afford to postpone the closure of the outpost and the orders are still to leave this place within the week. Obviously we cannot release the omega, especially not in his conditions.”

That was to be expected. Usually if the alpha was still alive, they would have let them go together, hoping they would be able to survive the outside world alone. But a single omega… and a pregnant one as well… that changed everything. Hannibal didn’t necessarily share the outdated theory that omegas were too fragile to be able to survive without the protection of a mate, but he couldn’t deny the precarious condition of a childbearing one, which would make it extremely cruel to just abandon them to their own destiny. There were rules there to protect them for this very reason.

“The orders are to bring the omega with us to Seattle.”

There was a pause. Sure, the journey was going to be difficult, miles and miles across the country were demanding even for a trained soldier, but the pregnancy was still at an early stage and they had the means to make it as easy as possible for him. Once in Seattle he would be in the hands of professionals, under supervision and assistance.

And yet Jack didn’t seem to share the relief. Something was not adding up.

“Well, that’s good news.” Alana finally broke the silence, looking back and forth between the two men.

“I thought the guidelines at the moment prohibited any new individual to join the quarantined population.” Hannibal enquired without breaking his stare.

Years before the government had been keeping its doors open for any newcomers looking for safety and shelter. Anyone was welcome to join and help repopulate the QZ and to balance the effects of the infection. As long as they could work or they had a purpose, anyone was welcome. But after two decades of harsh living and smaller rations, the doors had been sealed to any stranger. With certain exceptions.

“That is correct. We cannot accept adults. But we cannot refute any abandoned pup.”

Alana opened her mouth but no words came out at first. She didn’t want Jack to confirm her suspicions.

“What are you trying to say, Jack? That pup is not abandoned. The mother is right there.”

The captain was playing with his hands, mentally repeating the orders he had received over and over, hoping the sequence of words would eventually offer a different outcome. But unfortunately his superiors had been extremely clear about it.

“The orders are to take him to Seattle and there he will stay until the end of the pregnancy. Once the pup is born, it will be enrolled in the military orphanage, but the mother is going to be terminated.”

Hannibal had rarely seen Alana so upset. The woman stood up before the sentence was completed, her face red and her eyes wet. She had always been particularly emotional for an alpha, but that’s what made her so special.

“This is unacceptable! That omega is currently alone because of your men! He shouldn’t be punished for their lack of control.” She slammed her hands on the table and a pile of papers rattled.

“Alana…” Fighting that battle was a waste of energy. Hannibal could already tell looking at Jack that he was not the one to blame for such a cruel order but no matter the imposing size, even Captain Crawford was but an ant in the eyes of the capital.

“No! I won’t stand by this. You cannot treat that boy like an incubator and then put him down as soon as you get what you want from him.” Another slam on the table and the pile crumbled, breaking Jack’s patience.

“Dr Bloom. The orders are final.” And it was the tone he would use with his troops, final. “You will leave with troop N in two days. Hannibal, you will come with me, the omega and troop K in three days. I suggest both of you finish packing your belongings.”

Hannibal was sure he saw her crying by the time they left the room.

Chapter Text

Everyone had gone back to their normal routine.

Quickly the staff had lost interest in the pregnant raider that had been brought in, focusing more on their last days spent at the outpost, packing their belongings, saying goodbye to colleagues already on the way to Seattle, and the more exciting life that was waiting for them. A few soldiers had never been there in the first place, always moved from one small outpost to another, and they were genuinely looking forward to the long ride to the other side of the country.

Just like them, Hannibal had been too busy boxing years of medical practice to think of the newcomer. Less than 36 hours away from leaving Baltimore, most of the content of his office was sitting inside bins, all the precious medical equipment ready to be loaded into trucks. He had now been turning his attention towards his private accommodation.

The private lodgings were located on the upper levels, allowing the staff a chance to unplug after a difficult day at work.

Hannibal, as a higher level official, occupied one of the better spaces on the east side of the base. The room itself was not particularly big, nothing compared to the mansion he grew up in, but it was still way superior to what any regular officer or civilian could wish for in a government facility. For once, he didn’t have to share the space with anyone, which meant in the past few years he had been able to decorate the studio to his liking.

The big window on one side of the room filled the room with lots of natural light. Often, in his spare time, he would spend time drawing, a passion he had been cultivating since he was a young man and piles of sketches lived on every surface, with subjects ranging from replicas of paintings, memories of his past or real life medical replicas of patiences he had visited. The gentle and soft pencil clashed with some of the most brutal reconstructions.

As much as that space had been Hannibal’s home for the best part of 3 years and the room reflected his mind, everything was quickly being packed with the same detachment he had used for his office. The alpha wasn’t feeling particularly nostalgic about leaving the outpost behind. Reality was, no place had felt like home in a very long time. He was genuinely more sentimental about the books he would have to leave behind. It had taken him some time to find some of those titles but, unfortunately, each staff member had been assigned on the trucks very limited space for personal items.

One single crate was all he had to store his belongings in.

The man was in the middle of sorting out his desk, when a gentle knocking interrupted him.

It was Alana.

“Good evening, Hannibal. I hope it’s a good moment.” She smiled, nodding at the boxes piled up on one side of the room.

“Of course not. Please, come on in.”

There used to be a time Alana was a regular guest in his room, spending as much time there as he did at her place. Since they had decided to remain friends, they had stopped visiting each other at their private rooms as much, but it was lovely seeing her in his space again. Somewhere Hannibal still had a few of the drawings he had done of her and he was unlikely to get rid of them.

“You are leaving tomorrow at dawn if I’m not wrong.”

“Yes, I’m taking my time to say goodbye to this place before leaving it behind.” She sighed “But it’s going to be a good change. We can do so much more in Seattle than we can here.”

Alana’s ambitions had always been bigger than the Baltimore outpost, and Hannibal knew, given the chances, she would do so much better with better resources. The larger city was going to be a great location for her skills and spirit to shine.

Her hands lingered on a stash of drawings still resting on top of the desk, waiting to be stored away. Her slender fingers gently flipped a few pages before she finally had the courage to look at the other alpha.

“I… I didn’t just come here to say goodbye, Hannibal. I need your help.”

“What can I do for you?” He already had an idea of what this was about. He had not seen her since the day before, when she had stormed out of Captain Crawford’s office with wet eyes. He knew her too well to believe she would have forgotten the discussion by then.

“I have been thinking about our conversation with Jack and I cannot stand by the decision they have taken regarding the omega. You know this is not fair and he should be allowed to join the capital as a regular citizen.”

“You know I’ve never shared the law’s outdated theories regarding the designation. Unfortunately I don’t think we can do much about it from here.” He didn’t particularly care, really. It was a sad situation but he refused to take responsibility for the young man.

“That’s why I need your help, Hannibal. I want to speak with the omega and get to know him a little bit more. If we find a reason for them to keep him, I can bring it up with the capital’s leadership and make a case for him.”

“That’s ambitious.”

“I know. But that’s the best chance we have to actually do something for him. He should be able to see his pup growing up and the pup deserves to have its mother.”

Sweet sweet Alana. 20 years of the virus and she had not yet lost hope.

But Hannibal knew it was likely all wasted energy. He has seen better cases in his career that still received no mercy. But how could he break her spirit?

“How can I help?”

“I don’t have the authorization to go to the kennels, but you do since you are his doctor. I really have limited time so I cannot try and ask Jack for it. He would just refuse me to avoid any additional paperwork. Please Hannibal, take me to him.”

—

“Kennels” was really a euphemism.

Prison would be more correct, but it carried a negative connotation the leadership was not particularly keen on.

The area was hidden deep down in the basement of the outpost and it was the unglorified location any dangerous outsider was kept in while under military authority. Kept out of sight from the main personnel, Alana had never been there before. Even Hannibal had been called to the area only a limited number of times to visit some captives that were in no condition to be taken to the medical ward on the upper floors. The lack of other human interaction and look towards the outside, had always the interesting effect of stripping the soldiers of the last level of self control. It was not unlikely that the people detained there wouldn’t come out alive.

As they reached the lower levels and got closer to where the kennels were located, Alana grew more nervous, her hands twitching around her military ID. The hallways appeared less kept. Clearly someone had decided to not waste any resources in maintaining the area to the same standards as the main facility. At the end of a long corridor, just before the section opened up again, a bulky alpha soldier guarded the main door.

“We are here to see the omega.” Alana simply announced. Hannibal noticed how she had straightened her back just before stepping in front of her colleague.

The soldier didn’t answer immediately, looking at both of them with the hand resting against his gun, bored.

“No one is allowed to enter the kennels without authorization.” He explained with a monotone voice. “You’ll have to discuss it with Captain Crawford.”

Just as Alana had predicted. Hannibal stepped ahead and took the lead. Everyone at the base knew the alpha doctor so he didn’t need to introduce himself.

“As the doctor assigned to the omega I can access the room if I deem it necessary. He is scheduled to leave the base in a couple of days and I want to make sure he is fit to start the journey. Dr. Bloom is here to assist me.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, it was just maybe overly scrupulous, beyond the captain’s orders. But his medical opinion was still above Jack’s disposition.

The soldier scoffed, reflecting a few seconds if it was worth inconveniencing his superiors before opening the door for them.

“Just be quick.”

Inside the situation wasn’t any better.

The room was small and the lack of ventilation accentuated the stench of mold. One side of the room was occupied by several cages, not too dissimilar to what in another life would have been used for dogs. Most of them appeared empty, the rusty doors slightly ajar revealed the limited and unwelcoming space of each enclosure. For some of them, the occupant had clearly not left the room alive. The traces, black and old, still soaked the floor and no one had bothered cleaning them properly for the next tenant. And there, at the far end of the room, the omega occupied one of the pens, laying on the filthy floor with his back facing the front door. He didn’t seem to react to the sound of the main entrance opening.

Even after preparing her for what she was going to see, Alana seemed shocked by the conditions the prisoner was been kept in. It went against all of her beliefs that a similar treatment was forced to someone under the government’s care, regardless of why they had been captured, let alone someone she considered blameless and fragile like the omega in front of them.

She took a couple of seconds to compose herself and she slowly made her way to the occupied cage, careful not to move too quickly and scare him.

The crate was bare inside, nothing to comfort its prisoner with anything that would provide him a little comfort. Considering his expectant state, any nesting material would have benefited the boy who was probably afraid and anxious, but he had been given nothing to even protect him from the cold tiles. Next to him someone had pushed a tray with food, nothing but gray-looking bread and what Hannibal recognized as leftovers from the previous day’s stew. It had been ignored.

The boy was wearing the same outfit as the day before, the same flannel covering the lean figure, he still had not moved even with Alana gently calling for him while kneeling on the ground. But from the way he was breathing, Hannibal could tell he was awake, his scent alone, sour and dull, was betraying his feelings.

“My name is Alana. We briefly saw each other in the hallway yesterday. Do you remember?”

Her voice was so much sweeter than usual, slow and with a high pitch like someone would with a child, but she equally got no answer back. The omega stayed curled up, facing the bare wall.

“I’m very glad to see you.” She continued no matter the silence. “Hannibal and I wanted to talk to you and make sure you are feeling well.”

The alpha didn’t necessarily share the same worry or actually care for the captive but didn’t correct his colleague, simply standing a couple of steps away, closer to the main door.

Maybe it was Alana’s tone, maybe the calming pheromones she had started releasing, but the boy finally reacted and turned his head a little, just enough to look at the others from above his shoulder.

“Hi.” She smiled, leaning closer to the fence. “We understand your arrival has been… challenging…” That was un understatement, even borderline offensive, to describe the events of his capture. “I’m really sorry about your mate and I can only apologize for what happened to her.”

Quite a strategic choice of words, but they seemed to hit the boy in the right place as he pushed himself up, pressing his back against the wall.

“What do you want?” His scent was only growing stronger, like burning fire.

Now that Hannibal could see him properly, he noticed a fresh bruise under his right eye socket that was definitely not there the day before. The skin appeared swollen and sore, the shade of purple and red standing up on the lightly tanned complexion. His shirt’s collar was also falling a bit low, revealing a similar color around his neck. Sure, Hannibal had not spent extensive time cataloging every injury the boy was sporting, but he was sure those looked more recent than 24 hours. Alana didn’t react at the sight of them, but she had not seen him up close before that moment.

The older man turned around quickly, just in time to see the soldier looking away from the group with a hint of a smile on his face.

“Well, I was informed about your pregnancy. I wanted to congratulate you. You must be so happy!”

The omega was definitely not happy. The same burning smell of anger was coming from him just like when he had bitten Frederick the day before. No matter how much Alana liked to imagine him as a fragile little creature that needed to be gentled constantly, that was clearly not the person sitting in front of them. For once, Hannibal figured the metal fence benefitted the alphas as well.

“If there is anything you might need, any particular food you might like better, or maybe nesting material… I want to make sure you are well taken care of. You understand me?”

The omega took a few seconds to reply. “I don’t want anything from you.”

“Of course! Of course…” She was starting to realize her gentle approach was not getting the expected results. The woman turned to look at Hannibal, hoping for any assistance, but the man stood there without talking. “I have great news for you. We… We have spoken with the captain and we would like to take you with us to live in Seattle.”

The omega’s expression changed quickly. Clearly no one had told him about the move.

“Have you ever been there? It’s such a beautiful place, so much safer. We have already informed our superiors you will be coming with us in a few days and they will take care of you and your baby.”

“Are we… are we going to stay there… Inside the QZ?” He repeated as if to make sure he understood correctly.

“Of course. Think of this, your baby will be able to grow up there and you won’t have to worry about anything anymore.”

There was something entirely sinister in the way she had omitted mentioning he might not be there to see the pup growing. Just a few months of rest before his pup was taken away from his arms to be likely assigned to an orphanage and the mother put down.

But why break his spirit with this death sentence when for the first time in days, Hannibal had seemed to notice a glimpse of hope on the boy’s face. His hand went involuntarily down to caress his belly, the same way he had done at the sound of its heartbeat.

“What’s your name?”

No one had bothered before that moment to put a name to the person. Even talking about his life and death, in every report he had been addressed simply as “the omega”. Just his designation, no identity.

The boy stared at them for a few seconds before answering.

“Will.”

“Nice to meet you, Will.”

-

The first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of soft pinks and golds as the troop was getting ready to leave the base forever. The approaching of summer was being announced by the warmer temperature. They were likely to experience a few really hot months and most of the soldiers there were happy to start the journey sooner than later. Hannibal approached the group outside just in time to see Alana loading her backpack on the truck that would soon take her to the other side of the country.

“You didn’t need to come this early.” Her smile told a different story as she rushed towards him.

“Not at all. I wanted to see you one last time before you left.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.” She looked back at the rest of the group before lowering her voice. “I’m not ready to spend the next two weeks on a truck with Frederick. The journey is hard enough as it is.” She giggled lightly.

“You can always feed him to the infected at the first chance.” He joked. Mostly.

“Don’t give me ideas.”

Behind them, they could detect Dr. Chilton’s voice, giving orders to anyone in sight but being mostly ignored.

“You are leaving tomorrow with the om… with Will, right?”

He nodded.

“I will try and talk to the authorities as soon as I reach Seattle. In the meantime please take care of him. I don’t think he had anyone else looking after him right now. Let alone Jack.”

“I will do my best.”

As the troops called for everyone to jump on board, she wrapped her arms around the alpha, pressing her body against his.

“Please, be safe out there, Hannibal.”

“Same goes for you. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

“Promise.”

Soon the shape of the trucks disappeared on the horizon accompanied by the rising sun. The base was still quiet, but soon all operations would start again for one last day before locking their doors forever.

Chapter Text

Hannibal still remembered what it was like to spend the summer season at their holiday home in Klaipeda. In the morning his mom would wake him gently to the sweet smell of fresh apple pancakes and hot coco. The villa would be buzzing with the house staff setting everything ready for the day, bringing his dad the latest newspaper to read while he sipped coffee. Then they would set off to go to the beach. The Lecter family owned a lovely slice of sand on the outskirts of town, and the view of the Baltic sea was particularly beautiful as the sun reflected on the water. Since Mischa was born, Hannibal would look forward each year to spend the summer months there, away from the Lithuanian nobility his family was constantly surrounded by.

He learned how to swim on that coastal town, under the proud look of his dad.

He watched his younger sister take her first steps on the sand, her little feet kicking for dear life as their mother would hold her hands.

Ice cream had never tasted as good as the one they would buy there.

So when his parents suggested going to Klaipeda over winter he took it as an unexpected new adventure. He ignored the worried face of his mother as she packed their belongings, not realizing that was the last night he would spend in his childhood home.

“You are a big brother, Hannibal. You have to take care of your sister.”

And he loved doing it.

She was too young to notice how everything had changed and Hannibal loved her too much to point out the differences. How their parents would spend their days listening to the news on the radio and fight behind closed doors. How the summer house was now empty and cold and the house staff had left. How they had stopped going into town and were wary of every person they encountered. How worried their dad was every time they adventured alone in the garden.

But he was the older brother, it was his duty to lighten up Mischa’s day with silly games so she wouldn’t notice how little food they had on the table at night.

So sometimes, when their parents were in a slightly better mood, he would take the little one to the beach where they had gone every summer since she was born.

But the weather was anything but welcoming during winter. Harsh wind would hit the coast with unique cruelty, the gray of the sky would mix with the waves to create a somber palette. Even the sand, usually fine and soft, would be covered by a thin layer of snow that would cut their young fingers. Ultimately they often spent long days watching the world crumble from behind a closed window, waiting for spring to give them back the sun.

It was only after weeks of reclusion, Hannibal decided to adventure out again.

As many other days before, he had woken up to the voice of his parents fighting in the next room. Tension had increased in the past few days, with their parents locking themselves in their room more often than not. The radio was constantly on, but kept away from the children’s ears. From the little Hannibal could hear, he could sense something awful was coming, it had been coming for months now, like a fine mist no one seemed to have a solution for. From the tone of their voices, it sounded like everyone had lost faith something could be done about it at all.

Mischa was still sleeping by his side, her pretty face barely peeking out from the pile of blankets and the creases of the pillow decorated her pink cheeks. It was cold, but outside of the window he could see the crisp blue line of the sky.

“There is no point in waiting any longer! Vilnius is a cemetery now.”

“We still have family there… I can speak to some of our friends…”

“What friends, Simonetta? They are all gone!”

Hannibal shook Mischa lightly and she scrunched her little face with a soft whine.

“Wake up, mazylis !” He giggled, brushing away the golden locks from her face. “Do you want to go to the beach?”

The girl looked at him with a questioning look before turning towards the window, expecting the same cloudy sky she had seen every day for the past few weeks. She sat up immediately at the sight of the sun.

“Come on, grab your coat!”

They snuck out before anyone would notice their empty beds.

The closer they got to the beach, the colder and stronger the wind was but neither of them seemed to mind. As soon as they arrived in sight of the sea, Mischa pulled his hand running towards the shore, pointing out at the gray waves shattering against the rocks.

While in summer the area used to be busy with families and locals. It was now completely deserted. Only cuttlefish bones seemed to still live there.

“Hanni, look!” The little one had picked up a pair of gloves, semi buried in the sand. “Ew… it’s wet!” She laughed before dropping them where she found them and continued her scavenger hunt.

“Be careful. Don’t go too far.” He was only a few years older than her, but he took his role of older brother very seriously.

He started wondering if he should have told their parents before leaving, but they had been stuck inside for so long that he really didn't reflect much about it. Not when Mischa seemed finally so happy, running along the shore and enjoying the outside again. So he told himself he would apologize once they got back, promising not to do it again.

He would take the punishment just to see her happy again.

His eyes traveled away from the coast, towards the houses. Most of them seemed abandoned now. Some of the windows and doors had been barricaded and the area lived in silence.

But as he scanned the road he noticed someone was standing between the houses, simply staring at them. Immobile. That far away it was hard for Hannibal to distinguish any feature or their intentions. Maybe they were just surprised to see children play there again, considering how much the area had emptied out. But for some reason their presence was unsettling, like their distance stare was judging them just for being too happy.

“Hanni! Hanni! Look!” She called him again, but the boy kept looking at the still figure, trying to understand their body language better, as if he could read their face so far away.

“Hanni!” She sang his name, like she always did, in that distinctive sing-songy quality she used when he was not paying attending to her.

“Yes… I see, mazylis …” He lied, squinting at that person’s direction. He told himself he should have told his mom, he should have left a note before leaving home. Maybe they would have joined them, spent the day at the beach like they used to do in summer and that person wouldn’t have felt inclined to monitor them like this.

“Sir, are you sleeping?”

He turned immediately towards his sister. The girl was hunched over some rocks, looking at something hidden behind a tilted boat. Hannibal found himself rushing towards her, closing the distance in a few seconds before she had a chance to get any closer. He pulled her closer and she giggled in her older brother’s embrace.

Behind the boat a man was lying in the shallow water. His skin had an unnatural blue tint and the skin was swollen, tense. Both hands and feet, deprived of any covering, appeared discolored, almost greenish. The head, tilted back, in the shallow water, revealed a deep wound on the neck, and the injury, old and infected, was almost black. Even for a child like he was, it was clear it had not been inflicted by an animal. His expression was nothing but serene, and his eyes stared at the clear sky, the semi open mouth almost as if ready to scream.

“Hanni…?”

The beach had stopped being a place he remembered fondly. Now he could only think of that dead body, how close Mischa had gotten to it and being hurt.

“It’s time to go home.” He just announced turning around on their steps, towards home. As he briefly looked towards the houses again, he realized the figure was no longer there.

Mischa didn’t ask why they had to leave so soon, but she just trusted her brother and followed him home, her little hand holding his own as tight as she could. Luckily they didn’t meet anyone else on the road and soon they found themselves at the front door.

The radio was off, for the first time in weeks, and somehow the silence was even more alarming.

“Kids!” Their dad walked on them as they entered the living room and Hannibal was ready for him to scold them for leaving without letting them know, but the man instead kneeled on the ground in front of them. He was pale and the deep circles under his eyes confirmed it had been anything but a winter vacation for him.

“Mischa, love, can you go play in your room? I need to speak with your brother.” He attempted a smile as the little one left without thinking anything of it.

“Dad…?”

The man took his hands in his own, rubbing his fingers gently.

“Hannibal, I need you to go in your room and pack yours and your sister’s bags. Ok?”

“Are we going home?” He missed their mansion in Vilnius, he missed his books and his friends. He didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to them before leaving for Klaipeda.

“No… We are not going back home, Hannibal.” He paused, looking at the floor. Only then Hannibal realized he could hear his mom crying, from their bedroom. “It’s not safe here anymore, you understand? There is a boat leaving for America today and we will leave with it.” It might have been the only choice they had, but it was not an easy one to take.

“America…?”

“You are a big brother, Hannibal. Promise you will always take care of your sister. Promise you will always look after her, uh?”

“Yes, dad.”

“Good boy.”

—

Hannibal woke up with a start. His room was still drenched in darkness but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep anymore. Not with the memory of that last day in Klaipeda so fresh in his mind. He dreamt of Mischa often, her image still lived bright in his mind even many years after her death. He had thought many times of that day in particular, how it was probably the last time he had seen her so happy… at least before everything went down the drain and they were forced to face reality. Neither of them was old enough at the time to present their secondary gender, not fully, but he couldn’t ignore how the premature instinct to protect her was already there, even before knowing he would present as an alpha. The weight of having failed her was still heavy on his shoulders.

As the images in his mind slowly faded and his body fully woke up, he grabbed some water from the near bedside table, gulping it down to quench the dry feeling left in his mouth. He wished he could just focus on the feeling of her warm cheeks under his fingers, how soft her hair was on the pillow, but all kept being pushed away by the stench of rotting body, abandoned on the beach. That was the first corpse he had ever seen. The first time he had to grasp the mortality of human life. But it certainly had not been the last time. Growing up in a decaying world had forced him to get familiar with the sight. And yet none of those he had seen, outside of the quarantine zone, during those long years he had been fighting for his life, or inside of it under the government’s eye, had impacted him as much as that single corpse in Klaipeda. He was almost certain he didn’t know the man, but for a long time he kept recognizing the face in the crowd.

Once he had composed himself enough, he put on his uniform and peaked outside. The sky was starting to change colors to a lighter shade of blue and pink. Somewhere in the front courtyard the trucks were ready to leave Baltimore forever. One last glance at the room he had called home for the best part of three years, and he pulled the backpack on his shoulder ready to leave. There was nothing in that space that he found familiar, as most of his belongings had been loaded in the trucks the night before.

He closed the door without looking behind.

Before he even arrived outside he recognized Jack’s voice directing the operations.

“Good morning, Jack. Seems like the weather is going to be in our favor for the departure.” He announced looking at the lack of clouds above them. Summer was about to start and nice warm weather was going to be appreciated as they made their way across the country.

“Yes. Hopefully it won’t get too hot before we reach Seattle. I don’t want to deal with a bunch of men complaining about the temperature.”

Though it was still very early, most of the men appeared very excited to start the journey. Of the hundreds of soldiers that usually lived at the base, only about a dozen were left for this last trip. Life on the west coast was going to be much more interesting for them there, offering new chances to be promoted and find a mate. Baltimore had given all it could.

“We are ready to go, Sir.” A beta announced locking the front gate for the last time. A thick chain was pulled to block the entrance, and it was likely to last long enough for it to still be intact when the government decided to repopulate the center again. However everyone knew, if raiders wanted to get in and find shelter, supplies, anything… they would find a way in. Twenty years of the infection had shown how much humans could achieve to survive, no matter how dire their situation was.

Desperation and fear were always stronger than steel.

As Hannibal turned to say goodbye to the outpost, he spotted the omega, Will, walking side by side with a soldier twice his size. His hands, handcuffed together, were connected to his keeper who was pushing him towards one of the trucks with not much care.

The flannel shirt was gone, for the first time since he had been taken captive apparently, and he was sporting a uniform top, a couple sizes too big for him. The clothing was thought with big betas and alphas in mind, certainly not a malnourished omega, but hopefully, with time, his belly bump would grow to fill up the extra fabric.

“Get in.” The man pushed him, pressing the gun to his back, enough to remind him it was not a good idea to test fate and try to run. The boy stumbled a bit, the short chain making it harder for him to balance correctly.

Climbing up into one of the vehicles, Will looked up for a moment and his eyes crossed Hannibal’s. The doctor had not tried visiting him again since Alana had left, but for someone that had spent the past few days locked in a cage, he didn’t look particularly rested. His cheeks were gaunt, and the healing bruises on his face gave him a sickly complexion. Surely the effects of the broken bond must have been affecting him. He remembered seeing the first signs of it in his mating mark when he first visited him a few days earlier, but certainly the conditions he had been kept in since were not helping.

The older man made a mental note to talk to Jack and suggest he ordered the soldiers to go easier on the boy. The journey was going to be difficult enough as it was and if they wanted the omega to make it to Seattle alive he was going to need more assistance than what the men seem to offer him. Two weeks of driving across the country was definitely not what a doctor would recommend to ensure the safe progression of the pregnancy, especially at these early stages.

“This way, Hannibal.” Jack called him to join his truck, and quickly the omega disappeared from his view, covered by a few muscly alphas.

As soon as he was up, the captain gave the order to leave and the vehicles started moving, slowly making their way out of the base courtyard towards uncharted territory. The sun was now fully rising and the light behind them drew long dark shadows on the ground, like a guide. For a moment everyone quieted, allowing the dull roar of the engine to soothe their thoughts.

By then the image of Mischa had faded enough for him to store it again in the most remote part of his mind, where she would be safe again, happy and alive.

Chapter Text

The vehicles had not been built with long distances or comfort in mind, so after a few hours on and off bumpy roads, most of the men were feeling far less excited about the next weeks of travel. Some were constantly moving on their narrow seats, trying to find a more comfortable position or stretching their legs, without directly telling their captain they wanted a break. Sure, they were all trained alphas and betas, used to the difficult conditions they lived in, but two decades of infection had allowed nature to reclaim most of the tarmac. What in the past would have been at most an uncomfortable trip, had made it now a treacherous endeavor. Where the highways were not completely destroyed, the roads presented extreme damages, with deep holes in the ground and landscape reclaiming the space. In some areas the roots of nearby trees were so thick it could take hours to complete what normally would only take minutes. For the moment, they could still continue on the cars, albeit rather slowly, but Hannibal suspected they would eventually encounter areas so uncharted, it would require them to continue by foot. But Captain Crawford didn’t appear particularly worried just yet, staring at the road ahead in silence.

It was only when the truck made a particularly loud noise, after a bigger rock had hit the underbelly, that the alpha yelled at the driver to slow down and stop.

“Kennedy, stop the car.” The walkie talkie made a static buzz before the voice of the second driver came in.

“Roger, Captain.” Seconds later, the other car pulled to the side and stopped a few meters in front of them.

The area seemed fairly quiet, with a few houses scattered around a small square overrun by vegetation. In the middle of the street sat a few cars, but it looked like they had not been touched for a very long time, likely abandoned at the start of the pandemic, the windows so dirty it was impossible to see inside. The trucks parked in the shadow of one of the larger trees dominating the views. The overgrown branches, after years of human neglect, had broken into the window of the nearby buildings.

Crawford quieted, waiting for the loud noise of the engines to attract attention but as soon as those were off, the neighborhood turned silent again. No growl came from the houses, no sound of steps crossing dusty floors. It was safe to assume the area was safe enough for them to get some rest.

“Noah, Alex, Oliver. Sweep the area and report if you find any sign of infected or raiders. Liam, Jackson, with me.” Jack jumped off the track first, ready to start settling. They needed to make sure the vehicles were still in condition to continue and possibly plan a different strategy to complete the rest of their journey. The men seemed just happy to stretch their legs, even if only for a few minutes.

Hannibal didn’t really mind the break himself. The temperature was starting to rise and he was looking forward to fresh air and some shade.

As he climbed off the car with the group, he noticed the omega slowly making his way out on shaky legs. He looked positively green and he was helping himself to the side of the vehicle while the guard assigned to monitoring him was pushing him to move faster.

“Hurry up. I don’t have all day.” The alpha on his side was barely paying attention to his sick expression. His eyelids fluttered without focusing on his steps as he stumbled on the uneven ground.

“Can I… Just over there…” But the soldier ignored his request, too busy chatting with his colleagues to take notice. “P-please…” He pleaded again, weakly, before bending over and retching to a loud reaction from the group.

“What the fuck… gives us a warning first!” Someone laughed as the poor creature barely held himself up while he emptied the content of his stomach. His shoulders were shaking with how forceful the gagging was.

“He is not gonna make it to Seattle like this. ah” Someone scoffed, stepping away to avoid the smell. “Should have thought about it before whoring around…”

“Captain! Just kill him already. It’s more merciful.” But Jack deliberately didn’t pay any attention to the joke, too busy retrieving a map from the truck to inspect with his subordinates.

The omega was not listening, slumped against the car trying to catch a breath. Even from a distance Hannibal could notice how pale he looked, but that didn’t seem to faze his guardian, who was still standing a couple of feet away, stretching how far the handcuffs that connected him to the boy would allow him.

“Hannibal.” Jack called for him with a soft voice just peeking about the map. His eyes traveled to the doctor to the omega and there was a clear displeasure in his face that he wouldn't directly vocalize. “Check on him, please.”

The captain seemed genuinely worried for the young man, either because of his alphan instinct or his own feelings towards the boy, but his position wouldn’t allow him to show actual concern. He still had a duty towards his troop, and he feared showing any favoritism toward the captive would damage his leadership. Many already didn’t appreciate how the outsider had been allowed to join the trip to Seattle, as his presence was seen as a waste of supplies and manpower. He was not sure any of them had heard of the ultimate ending planned for the young man, but probably it wouldn’t have made any difference.

So the only thing Jack could do was use the doctor as a means to canalize his feelings.

Hannibal didn’t particularly share the same sense of obligation, but he still found the soldiers’ behavior rather distasteful. A poorly omega would make their journey more difficult, and that would worsen the troop’s mood as well. Last thing he wanted was to listen to the men complain for the next two weeks while the boy withered away.

As he got closer the boy didn’t even raise his head, too focused on not vomiting again to bother with any of the alphas roaming around. Without touching him yet, the doctor leaned a bit closer and smelled his distinct scent of distress, like woodworm and almonds, bitter.

“Let’s move you to a more shaded area. Can you walk?”

The boy didn’t answer, nor did he look at Hannibal, but took a deeper breath and pushed himself off the car, making his way under one of the trees. The soldier scoffed at the words, displeased of having to abandon his conversation to follow the two.

“Good, sit here.” He didn’t have to repeat it for the boy to sag to the ground, his back pressed against a trunk. He was pale and clammy with a thin layer of sweat covering his face. The temperature had risen since they had left the base, but not to this extent. His hands, locked together and pulled at an uncomfortable angle due to the cuffs, were trembling lightly against his belly.

“Can you uncuff him?” It wasn’t really a question, but more like a request, but the man didn’t move.

“Captain’s orders are to keep him under surveillance 24/7.” Hannibal doubted the reason behind the refusal was just to follow orders.

“He definitely looks like he will sprint off as soon as you set him free.” He couldn’t hide the sarcastic tone in his words. The boy could barely stand, let alone fight, and he would unlikely move from his spot even if all the soldiers left the area. Escape was the least of his concerns. “It is my medical opinion that he should be unrestrained right now. I will take responsibility if he escapes.” He was not afraid to use his voice to remind the soldiers he didn’t follow the same line of command as everyone else.

The man grumbled annoyed, but a quick look in the captain’s direction put him back in line.

“Listen to the doctor, Isaac.”

Hannibal noticed the jaw clenching as he grabbed for the keys from his pocket and leaned over to uncuff the boy. The omega, just like before, didn’t react to the gesture and simply brought the hands closer to his chest, massaging the sore wrists.

“Here. Drink slowly.” The doctor pressed a bottle to his hands and gently guided it to his mouth. The omega sipped slowly, with his eyes closed and a little at a time his breathing settled. It wasn’t hard to imagine what was the cause of his nausea, being that a common symptom at this stage of his pregnancy. Additionally the distance from his alpha, during such a stressful time must have certainly worsened his condition. The mating mark on his neck had not changed since he had visited him a few days before, but still presented the same signs of a broken bond, like the rough edges, dull color and raised skin. It was going to get worse and eventually fade in the following weeks. The difficult journey was the cherry on top.

“Did you eat anything before leaving this morning?”

He shook his head. “Whatever they gave me last night, I threw it ages ago.” He wiped his mouth trying to cancel the taste of bile. “The menu didn’t help.”

“I apologize if our cuisine didn’t measure up to your standards.”

He only got a mean look in reply.

“Unfortunately I don’t have any medication I can give, since they are locked in case of emergency.” He didn’t need to add how his wellbeing was not included in the emergencies. Unfortunately he would have to wait for it to pass on its own. “I can see if there is any simple food you can have and it should help with the nausea.”

“Lucky me.” The words seemed to refer to more than just the refusal of medication and Hannibal didn’t feel in the mood to correct him. He had plenty of reasons to hate every single alpha around.

The three soldiers came back to confirm they had completed the sweep. No infected had been found in the area and it could be considered safe. That seemed to cause the captain an instant sense of relief.

“Listen up. We are settling here for the day and regroup tomorrow at dawn. Prepare to set camp for the night.” The news was welcomed with a cheer by the entire group. They had not completed as many miles as they had planned, but anyone could appreciate a shorter day of work.

“Looks like it’s your lucky day indeed.” Hannibal remarked with a smirk.

“Oh yeah. I’m looking forward to spend the night surrounded by alphas that only look at me like a hole to sink their knot in.” Hannibal didn’t respond, simply looking at the boy in front of him. His eyes were burning with the same fire he had seen in them when he first met him, tied to a pipe and with blood on his lips. Definitely not the hopeless omega everyone else seemed to see.

—

By the time the sun set, everyone had gathered around the campfire. The temperature had dropped, just enough to give them a chill and they would appreciate a nice warm meal around the fire. Rations had been prepared before they left the base, so there was plenty for them to eat for the next weeks without them needing to hunt or rely on exploring. Coffee was already brewing for those that would need to do the first shift of the night watch.

“Hannibal, I don’t know how you manage. You could make even army slop taste good.”

It was not unusual for the doctor to cook his own meals at the base, when he had the ingredients, and the years he had spent outside of the QZ as a young man had taught him to be very resourceful. Certainly that was a quality that many at the base had come to appreciate, especially considering what limited ingredients they would have access to.

“It was not a hard job with the rations we have. The cooks have done most of the work for me.” The meal was not particularly exciting, a simple plate of rice and preserved meat with some crackers, but this sort of food would last very long and support them well on their journey. With a little intervention from the alphan doctor, he had managed to make the plain meal much more tasteful. The clacking of the spoons in the plates definitely confirmed the troop’s appreciation.

“I’ll tell you what.” Someone said, chewing loudly on a piece of meat. “I cannot wait to get to Seattle and eat something different from the base porridge.”

“Don't tell me about it! Every single day!” One shouted covering his mouth with the back of his hand. “If I see it one more time I will kill the chef.”

“Yeah well… You cannot blame the beta now, he had to do what he could.” Jack added and his deep laughter made a couple of soldiers join in as well. “I bet you will finally find something for your gourmet cooking, Hannibal.”

The man smiled at the thought, not that he was particularly optimistic about it. “I hope I will. Of course. You’ll be the first I will have for dinner, Captain.”

“I’m counting on it!”

“I don't care about the food.” An older beta said. “I have friends and family there and I cannot wait to see them.” Family was such a rare commodity in that world it was not surprising.

“You’ll finally be able to find yourself a nice omega, Oliver, and tie the knot.” A bigger man chuckled, slapping another on the back.

“Shut up, Isaac!” The younger man answered back, pushing his friend away.

“Do you have family, doctor?” Someone changed subject, taking advantage of a moment of quiet.

Hannibal paused, choosing his answer accurately “No, no…” He didn’t expand beyond the simple response, but the conversation moved quickly.

“I wanna check the omega offer there.” A familiar voice slithered in. “I almost had to fuck you in the shower, Alex, to find some relief.” The man smirked, rolling a cigarette between his fingers.

“Fuck off, Jackson, you perv.”

After taking a long puff, not happy with the reaction he received, Jack continued. “At least we have something to unload in for this trip. Shouldn't put up much of a fight.” He snarled pointing in the direction of the omega, curled up by the side of the truck. Jack was the only soldier who didn’t participate in the joke and Hannibal noticed how he ducked his head on the food without saying a word.

Taking advantage of the antic, the doctor grabbed an extra portion and turned away from the fire, making his way towards the omega. He had been handcuffed to the heavy structure of the vehicle, too far away from the fire to get any warmth from it, so that he was shivering slightly under the small blanket that someone had thrown his way. His current guardian was nowhere to be seen.

“Here.” He placed the plate on the ground, by his feet, and pushed it in his direction, but the boy didn’t move, ignoring the gesture like he had done many times before.

“Are you still experiencing any discomfort?” He had not been sick since earlier that day, but it was difficult to predict how the omega was really feeling. He had proved already he would hide his condition so as to avoid any unnecessary attention.

“No.” He finally mumbled, hugging the blanket a little tighter around his shoulders. He looked incredibly small.

“Then I’d recommend you to eat something if you can or you might feel worse tomorrow. The crackers and rice are simple enough that it shouldn’t upset your stomach.”

The boy remained quiet, without acknowledging the offer.

“Rest well.” Hannibal simply concluded turning his back to return to the fire. If the boy wanted to continue with this attitude he was welcome to. Soon he would realize stubbornness wouldn’t help him and only make the following weeks far more difficult. The staff in Seattle was going to be less patient with him and force him to follow rules one way or another. Hannibal just needed to remind himself the omega was not his responsibility.

He was just cargo.

As he sat down around the fire, he turned one last time towards the boy.

Slowly, Will sat up and reached for the plate, looking around to make sure no one had noticed him. Under the safety of the blanket, slim fingers picked at the meat and brought to his nose. Small nibs quickly became big bites, sucking at his fingers as if he had not eaten in days.

Looking down at his own plate, now empty apart from a few spoonfuls of rice, Hannibal couldn’t avoid finding some pleasure in the image of that poor creature getting nourishment from the fruit of his labor.

Chapter Text

At first there were rumors.

Some said weird trails had been spotted in the skies above Europe, how the rain had started to taste different, changing the color of water and affecting the crops.

Others mentioned a new type of drug that supposedly had been circulating in the north that would drive people insane. Some newspapers even mentioned the case of a young omega found delirious, eating his own pups. The media had gone wild with the details, even saying it had taken three alphas to put him down, leaving behind a trail of blood and many destroyed families.

Others, on the opposite, talked about a botched batch of painkillers that had been distributed to fog people’s minds. It was just a matter of weeks before panic and anger had taken over the entire population, pushing neighbors against each other, destroying families, and driving entire cities to complete anarchy.

By the time the virus had extended to the United States, military intervention was almost welcomed with open arms. Trucks filled the streets forcing the population to evacuate and move to safer quarantine zones, leaving most of their belongings behind. Most of the time the order would arrive only hours before the scheduled evacuation time, giving little to no option to those that were not in the conditions to leave on their own. Pets were left behind, families split, and most held on the house keys without knowing they would never return. Those who refused to join would often be threatened by the army as if they were already infected.

Twenty years later there was nothing left in those areas but traces of those terrible days when life as everyone knew it came to an end. The mandatory evacuation notices still stood in the middle of the roads, but time and the weather had eroded most of the instructions.

It didn’t matter anyway, like it hadn’t twenty years before. Even those “safe havens” surrounded by thick walls had not been enough to save people.

Driving away from the base in Baltimore, it didn’t take long for them to find signs of life.

Or, more correctly, death.

The journey had pushed them far closer to DC than Jack had hoped, mostly due to the damages to the roadways and the lack of agility of their vehicles.

The Captain had every reason to want to avoid the territory as much as possible. At the first signs of the infection, the capital had become one of the main safe zones on the East Coast, and the principal destination for all those who were looking for shelter. But no one was prepared for the size of the catastrophe waiting to crash. Fear and lack of knowledge took the city down in just a year and the greater city was inevitably labeled as an Exclusion zone.

Jack was only a young alpha when he had watched the capital collapse under the weight of its dead.

Infected began appearing on their journey in larger numbers, forcing them to stall and clear the areas before continuing. While at first the men seemed happy with the regular breaks, the continuous stops had started to affect the troop’s mood. But no amount of complaints ever was enough to convince Captain Crawford to ignore the threat to continue their drive and a single stare from him would be enough to force the soldier to their duty. The trucks would stop and they would not be allowed to continue until every trace of infection was eradicated from the perimeter.

It was going to add some time to their schedule, for sure. If Hannibal’s calculation was correct they were already a couple of days behind on Jack’s first estimations. But there was no reason to fear just yet, they had plenty of resources to last them weeks, if not months if properly rationed.

As a medic, not much was asked of Hannibal if not being ready for any emergency, and maybe assisting with cooking at the end of each day. The alphas and betas in the troop were strong and well trained, no amount of infected had yet been enough to shake them.

That gave the doctor plenty of time to reflect and observe the dynamics surrounding him.

The omega seemed to feel better compared to the first few days on the road and he had only shown few signs of uneasiness. Likely the better food and frequent stops had allowed him to settle, which was definitely a promising sign. Hannibal had not interacted with him since that first night when he had brought him dinner, and on rotation every soldier in the troop had been assigned to his round-the-clock surveillance. From the few sporadic occasions they had shared the same car or the doctor had been close to him, he had observed his more relaxed demeanor, the boy often lost in thoughts and quiet, very rarely vocalizing any discomfort or request he might have. The men still didn’t seem to pay him much attention, more often than not ignoring any of his pleas for water or rest.

Whatever sign of personality however seemed to disappear completely any time Jackson was assigned to his supervision.

All of a sudden the omega would turn completely silent and much more aware of his surroundings, barely able to conceal the slight scent of discomfort caused but the close proximity with the alpha responsible for killing his mate. No one else around appeared to notice it, but it was inescapable for Hannibal’s fine sense of smell: it was faint but visceral, bitter and antiseptic with notes of metal, leaving an aftertaste of iron on his tongue.

And it seemed to be more than just a smell. His entire body language betrayed his anxiety.

Next to his captor, in the car, his slim figure leaned away from him, his shoulders were tense and his head low, almost as if trying to make himself disappear. His hands, cuffed and resting on his lap, wouldn’t relax the entire ride, so much that the nervous scratching of his fingers had caused his nails to bleed.

While any other soldier ignored those signs, the doctor doubted those had escaped Jack completely. Hannibal had noticed how the older alpha would glance at the boy every now and then, taking in the captive with a hint of apprehension, like a father looking at his son.

However, like everyone else, Jack had actively decided not to raise attention to Will’s discomfort, either for his own sake, or the boy’s. Hannibal could only hope for him that the trip was quick and uneventful so that the forced proximity would come to an end as soon as possible.

He kept repeating to himself it was not his problem, the omega was not his burden and he wouldn’t waste energy for his own mental peace.

A derailed semi-trailer truck forced them to another break.

The abandoned carcass was laying on one side, crumpled and broken, like hit by an invisible hand. The vehicle stood sideways at the entrance of a long dark tunnel and the metal frame was black with the signs of a long extinguished fire. Many other cars, caught in the same disaster, filled the rest of the road and disappeared in the darkness.

Their military vehicles had stopped without getting too close to the entrance, but even at a distance they could hear the growls of the creatures stuck in the pit.

Jack had instructed the men to explore the area in small groups, moving slowly in the depth of the tunnel and to return if the danger was too big, but the soldiers took the challenge with great pleasure. As they took their time to explore the underpass and clear the way for their journey to continue, those left behind were resting by their vehicles, listening to the gunfire and screams as one by one the infected were wiped-out.

Every now and then, messages would come in through Jack’s walkie talkie informing him of the progress. The alpha stood on top of one of the trucks, staring at the entrance almost as if able to scan the darkness.

“Excellent. Proceed slowly.”

Hannibal moved a little to the side of the truck, looking for some breeze, and his eyes slowly moved to the men that had been left outside. Some were just smoking, waiting to be called into action, some had taken advantage of the moment to chat between one another.

Only then he noticed he couldn’t spot Will anywhere. He knew he had seen him for a moment when they had first stopped, and he was sure he had noticed him leaving his vehicle accompanied by his guard. But now neither of them were in view as Jack was too busy to care for them with the immediate danger ahead.

They couldn’t have gone too far, so they must have likely been close enough for them to be able to hear if the captain had called them back to the cars.

Hannibal closed his eyes and inhaled. As the only omega in the group, the doctor had grown familiar with the boy’s scent. It was not hard for his fine nose to be able to identify Will’s particular mix of pheromones and he could still detect some traces of him in the air.

The notes of wood and amber guided him to an area covered by trees by the side of the rail bridge. As he got closer he noticed how Will’s distinctive scent grew spoiled, sour with fear and anxiety, the strong notes of smoke impossible to ignore.

It was not the only scent he was capturing: alpha pheromones were pumping into the air in dominance, the same unnatural way he had smelled before in the men that had tried to calm the omega down when they had first taken him in. It was an appalling technique used by lesser alphas to subjugate an omega when the partner was non consenting to comply.

“You think you can just show around that little cunt of yours like this and not expect me to get a taste for it?” He recognized that voice immediately. Jackson kept his tone low, clearly trying to avoid attention.

Hidden behind the foliage, the alpha was pushing the boy against a wall, the smaller figure pressed so hard against the bricks he could barely lift his head to breathe. With one hand, the soldier was forcing the cuffs in the small of his back, and the poor creature was trying with all his strength to set himself free without making any sound.

“You are already used anyway… Not the precious trophy you think you are.”

The younger man squirmed, as the other pulled his hands higher, painfully forcing the boy to curve his back. The form of his bottom rubbed involuntarily against the soldier’s trousers making him grin. As the man leaned closer, he rubbed his face to the omega’s nape where his scent was stronger and took his perfume in. Will shivered.

“You fucking omega… you would do anything for a knot, won’t you?” He chuckled. His free hand went down without a second thought and started working the boy’s trousers, pulling down the fabric without a care. The smaller one immediately started squirming, pure panic plastered on his face.

“Close your eyes and think I’m that bitch you liked so much.”

Hannibal finally stepped in the light and the noise made Jackson recoil immediately. As soon as the weight of the other body lifted, Will crumbled on the ground and his shaking fingers pulled the trousers back in place.

“Doctor.” The soldier chuckled like nothing happened, but the alpha didn’t respond.

No matter the world they lived in, a similar behavior couldn't be accepted. Nothing was more abhorrent in Hannibal’s eyes.

“Ah. These dumb omegas. Am I right? Always getting lost.” The man reached for the boy and lifted him off the ground harshly, grabbing his shirt without a warning. “No brain whatsoever, uh?” He ruffled his hair but the boy didn’t react, keeping his eyes to the ground.

He was pale like a sheet but he had still not uttered a word.

Hannibal inspected his face, to the lips pressed so hard they had lost any color, the fading bruises that would eventually be replaced by newer ones, the wet eyes shamefully focused on the ground, before going back to the taller man. He wouldn’t play his game or pretend like he had not seen what he was trying to do. He wouldn’t give him the same camaraderie energy he would have probably gotten from any other colleague.

As clearly his tactic was not working, Jackson scoffed before slowly making his way back to the rest of the group, the boy still cuffed to him and walking silently a couple of feet ahead.

Once the man was standing just next to the doctor, he stopped, lowering his voice so that no one else would hear him.

“I would keep these between us, Lecter.” He snarled, leaning with his head closer to the doctor. Definitely too close for Hannibal’s liking. The alpha stanched of pheromones and smoke and faintly of Will’s panic. “Captain wouldn’t like to know the men are unhappy, would he?”

“Maybe Captain Crawford would like to know what you do when he is not looking.” He couldn’t stop himself from responding with the same energy, reminding him what was his place. “That would be an interesting report once we reach our destination.”

Ironic how the leadership would probably punish Jackson’s behavior but still not consider saving the omega’s life in the long run.

Jackson paused for a second, certainly surprised by the threat but then he licked his lips. “It can be a long trip from here to Seattle, Hannibal. You better keep your eyes open.”

He pushed Will once again towards the group without waiting for an answer. Hannibal stood there, in that corner that smelled so much like the omega’s fear, watching the boy leave with his own executioner. The size difference was so big, the omega would just disappear in the alpha’s shadow.

–

He had decided not to tell Jack what he had witnessed. As much as he found the behavior abhorrent, he wouldn’t risk ruining the trip or making his life harder just for the omega. The last thing he needed was for every man in the troop to see him as a threat or a point of dissonance.

Regardless, it seemed like the fear that Hannibal might actually inform the captain of the incident had affected Jackson, so much that as soon as he was back with the group he had asked someone to take his place in the boy’s surveillance, at least for the rest of the day.

He had not come any closer to the omega and the doctor was sure he had not even seen him around the fire at dinner time.

But the event had shaken Hannibal in a way he didn’t think was possible. He found himself glancing in the omega’s direction every so often, analyzing his demeanor and body language for any sign of frustration. The boy was just silent, seemingly unaffected by what had happened if not just more lost in his thoughts than usual. He gladly took the plate of food offered, like he had every night, but he didn’t touch it, leaving the lean dinner to cool down by his bed. And Hannibal didn’t address the situation either, choosing to give him the option to bring it up if he felt like it. But just as the doctor, the boy had kept the secret with him, letting the troop and the captain focus on the bigger enemy ahead.

It was deep into the night when he woke up with an acrid taste in his mouth and the fresh memories of his sister in his mind.

It was not an unusual occurrence, as she always seemed to push herself to his front cortex anytime he found it difficult to elaborate his own feelings.

The camp was quiet and, save for the soldier currently smoking by the edge of the fire, everyone else was fast asleep. The flames were starting to die down, drawing long shadows on the ground. It would be still a few hours before the troop would get up and leave west.

A soft whimper called for his attention in the direction of the trucks.

Cuffed to the vehicle, as they had got used to, laid Will, so far away from the heat he was likely getting no benefit from it. Under the thin blanket he was clutching, his body shivered a little, but as the weather was getting warmer with the approaching summer, Hannibal doubted it was because of the cold.

He was not sure who was in charge of his surveillance, but as the previous nights had taught him something, his guardian had likely chained him to his bed and left. He was alone.

Sleep now gone, the doctor approached him quietly, watching as the younger man trembled, his body tense and curled up. He was fast asleep, his breathing quick and shallow.

“Omega?” He called him softly.

Behind closed lids his eyes were moving erratically, his brows furrowed and his forehead covered by a thin layer of sweat.

“Pl.. please…” He peeped, almost sobbing.

“Will.” The alpha kneeled, smelling the same burn scent of fear as earlier that day.

“Please… no…” He sobbed again, and at the sight of the first tear, Hannibal decided to touch him.

“Will. Wake up.” The doctor shook him lightly, but that was enough to cause the boy to wake up with a start, sitting up immediately and pushing his body as far away from Hannibal as possible, against the tire of the truck.

“Wha…”

“It’s me, Will. It’s me.” He was not sure why he thought that information would reassure him, but it escaped his lips before he had time to reflect. “You were dreaming.”

The boy stared at him without speaking, forcing that fear down where no one else would be able to see it. A few tears escaped his control, but he wiped them away quickly.

“I… sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” He could only imagine the type of monsters that lived in his dreams. He had seen one of them with his eyes. “Are you alright?”

He nodded immediately, clutching the blanket to his chest. “I’m used to it.”

It was not unusual to experience vivid dreams in pregnancy, and the boy had plenty of reasons to struggle sleeping.

“It’s still early. You should go back to sleep.” Hannibal suggested in a calm, soft tone. They likely had a long day ahead and the boy needed all the rest he could get.

“I don’t know if I can fall asleep again.” He admitted, rubbing his face with a bitter smile.

“Just lay down. I’ll be here if you need me.”

There was a moment of silence and Will looked at him, likely debating with himself if he could trust the alpha in front of him. Without another word, the omega laid back down and pulled the blanket over his shoulder. He glanced one last time at the other as Hannibal made himself comfortable, sitting on the ground just a couple of feet away. Enough to guard over him without invading his privacy.

Eventually his lids fell closed, and Hannibal waited patiently for his breathing to slow down a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Unfortunately their journey didn’t improve the more they drove south.

The larger numbers of infects was driving them closer and closer to Washington forcing them to longer breaks while they cleared their path. They had left the base less than a week before and they still had a long way to Seattle so that they couldn’t afford to waste so much resources so early in their journey. It was starting to become clear to Jack they needed to change plans if they wanted to leave the area safely and quickly. The closer they drove to Washington, the more dead people they would find on their path, the more ammo they would inevitably waste. A change of direction and different strategy was becoming necessary.

The captain called for a break as they reached the outskirts of a small industrial complex.

The area was relatively calm. Since the area was removed enough from the residential neighborhoods, it had been mostly avoided since the beginning of the infection, with only small groups visiting hoping to find some supplies.

A group of soldiers had been sent to investigate suspicious noises coming from the inside of the main building, as Crawford and a couple of alphas discussed how to proceed in their journey. Most of the troop had taken the day as a mini vacation from their duties, and were enjoying the time off in the main courtyard.

The overgrown grass covered the concrete in patches, seeping between the large tiles and sand and in places it had gone so tall that it would cover almost completely the barriers placed to block the passage to the main door.

At some point some people must have looked for shelter within the thick walls of the building. The front door still showed signs of barricades, with random boxes and sandbags piled up against the frame, but for whatever reason they had left in a rush leaving most of their supplies behind. Backpacks, sleeping bags, even food, had been abandoned to rot in the dust. The building was structurally sound, removed enough from the busiest part of the city to provide a safe shelter, but also meant there was a certain lack of supplies available in the immediate surroundings. It would do nicely for a bit, but not in the long run.

Looking at the abandoned resources left behind, Hannibal suspected whoever had taken shelter there, had gone out to gather more inventory and never came back. It was unfortunately a common scenario he had seen plenty of times. Unfortunately any step taken in the outside world, away from the security of the QZ, had the potential to be the last one, no matter how trained and prepared.

The alpha still remembered what it felt like to walk the planet alone, no more than a boy, constantly scared of what would wait for him behind closed doors. How long it had taken him to trust people again even after joining the base.

He had learned very quickly, the dead were not the biggest danger.

Since the incident, a couple of days before, Jackson had kept distance with both Will and Hannibal, keeping to himself and avoiding being assigned to the omega’s surveillance. Although the doctor had decided not to mention it with his superior, he had not been able to shake away the disgusting feeling. He found himself checking on the soldier, almost distractingly, every time the alpha had appeared in his vicinity.

As for Will, he seemed to appreciate the new change, and, as far as Hannibal had noticed, he had been able to sleep a little better, so much that his scent was revealing a more relaxed demeanor.

Now, sitting by one of the big trucks, like he did every time they would take a break from driving, he was resting in the gentle breeze of late morning, head leaning back against the tire almost half asleep. Either due to the harsh journey, lack of proper rest or as a consequence of the pregnancy, the omega was often tired and he would take advantage of any moment to rest his eyes.

“Look at that thing!” Someone called towards the side of the building.

Climbing along the wall, sat the metal scaffolding of an external elevator. In a tangle of wires and rusted steel, the cabin had collapsed to the ground, and behind the bent grating of the door they would see a body twisting unnaturally in the rumbles.

“Fuck, that’s gross.” The same soldier commented, pointing at the poor creature trying its best to push through the metal to reach for the first sign of “food” it had seen in probably years. But, luckily for the troop, the box was so damaged, it could only push partially out of a small gap with one arm and the head. The rest of its body was stuck in the crack.

The passage of time and the constantly changing weather conditions had left a mark on the critter. It barely resembled a human, but any other gender specific feature had rotted away, making it no more than a moving skeleton covered in grayish flash.

“Not smart enough not to use an elevator in a fucking apocalypse? Use the stairs next time!” Noah laughed, stepping closer for a second, just enough for the creature to get more animated. A deep growl escaped the dead throat, as the infected tried reaching for its prey.

“Put it out of its misery already…” Another scoffed. It’s not like they didn’t see this type of scenario all the time. “It’s gonna call more of them if it gets louder.” It was unlikely but it was always better to act safer.

Hannibal looked around, but there was still no trace of Jack anywhere, too busy arranging a new plan to be bothered with the soldier’s behavior. He knew if he had been present, the creature would have been put down already.

“We are just having fun, Isaac. It’s not like we got better things to do, do we?” Jackson emerged from behind the corner, the usual cigarette hanging from his bottom lip. “Are you hungry, uh? Wouldn’t you like a nice piece of ass to sink your teeth in?” He chuckled, blowing smoke in the monster’s face. The creature didn’t react to it, pushing itself more in the soldier’s direction. Its teeth bit down a couple of times already savoring the tasty meal, as its body pressed so hard against the metal frame to shake the entire structure.

“Do you want something nice to eat? Do I have the thing for you!” He flicked the cigarette bud to the infected’s face and started marching towards the trucks. Instinctually Hannibal stood up just in time to see Jackson get closer to Will. Since he was snoozing away, the boy only had a few seconds to react before he was uncuffed and forced on his feet.

“What..?” He peeped, looking back at the doctor for a second.

“It’s time to play a game, little shit.” The omega could barely keep up with his pace while he was dragged closer to the creature, his smaller fingers trying to lift the soldier’s hold. “The game is called What’s for lunch?.”

As they got closer to the creature, Jackson moved one hand to the boy’s neck while the other locked around his brown curls, forcing him to look straight into the monster’s mouth.
Yellow teeth clacked repeatedly with the continuous deep growl.

Will’s pathetic pleading for help went completely covered by the troop's laughter, and with each cheer the alpha would push him a little bit closer, enough that the stretched hand would be able to scratch his chest.

“Come on now. Put it out already.” Someone commented. The half joke went completely ignored.

Before he could think of his actions, the doctor made one step towards the spectacle, anger boiling under the skin, but he stopped as soon as the soldier looked back at him with a challenging look. Hannibal knew all too well what the consequences would be if he stopped the game. As much as he found the behavior detestable, any intervention would bring the entire troop against him.

“Do you think it could still knot you? I bet it still has the instinct.” He lowered his volume as he pressed his face against Will’s nape, smelling the sour scent of the boy’s fear. “Things like you are all the same… I could hold you down and watch as that thing eats your face, knot so buried in your ass we won’t pull you apart even when you are dead.”

In a last desperate attempt to freedom, the omega forced Jackson’s hand away from his jugular and sank his teeth in the soft flesh of his palm. The bite was painful enough to break the hold so he could push the soldier towards that extended hand. As the omega curled to the ground, the panic attack still shaking his frame, the other was pulled against the grating, in a tangle of limbs and rotten meat, the scream coming out of him anything but alphan. Everyone had stopped laughing at the sight, but after a few short seconds of sheer panic, Jackson managed to peeled himself away from the creature and he immediately reached for the gun on his side, wasting an entire cartridge on the critter.

One after the other, the empty shells fell to the ground till the only thing breaking the silence was the fast breathing of the two men.

“Ah… I guess Jackson was almost for lunch!” Someone finally chuckled, eliciting the same reaction in the other presents.

The alpha looked at his colleague for a brief second, before turning towards the omega again in sheer anger. The boy was shaking, eyes glued to the ground and pale face, a trembling hand pressed against his belly, so that he didn’t even see the other charging in his direction with crazy eyes.

“You fucking bitch!” he screamed at the top of his lungs as he grabbed Will with full force. Hannibal finally sprinted in their direction just in time to see the man punch the younger one so hard his head whipped back full force. From the opposite side of the courtyard the other soldiers rushed to stop him, restraining him before his fist could connect to the boy's cheek a second time.

“Step back, soldier!” Hannibal howled, stepping between the two. Jackson was trying to wiggle out of the chokehold, but, now surrounded by men of the same size, he was starting to look way less intimidating.

“Come on, man. That’s enough.” Noah coughed. The air was filled with the burning anger of a bruised ego.

“Let me fucking go, Alex!” The alpha yelled, finally pushing the others off. He didn’t move, didn’t try reaching for the omega again, just fixed his clothes staring directly at the doctor.

“Keep that fucking bitch away from me or I’m gonna fucking kill him.” He finally roared, before spitting to the ground, next to the crumbled figure of Will.

With no further comment, he pushed the men out of his way and disappeared, already reaching for the cigarettes in his pocket with trembling hands.

Hannibal stared at his back, disappearing in the distance, as he tried his best to control his scent. He knew his pheromones were out of control, pushing for dominance while he should have shown restraint, but he was finding surprisingly difficult to placate his instinct to stop an abusing alpha. The behavior was unacceptable, regardless of the situation.

“Take him away, Doc.” Isaac pointed at the omega, who was struggling to push himself off the concrete. Uninterested in his conditions, most had already left, head tucked down in an effort to ignore the injured boy.

“Slowly.” Hannibal kneeled down quickly, helping him with a hand on his arm. “Did you hit your head?” He asked, gently moving his chin so as to observe his wounds better.

The fist had connected with his left cheek, he could already see the red print swallowing up just under his cheekbone. His nose was bleeding profusely, covering his mouth and running down his neck. The bottom lip appeared damaged as well, likely cut by the alpha’s knuckles.

But even in his current condition, he was not making any sound, apart from a few pained whines.

“I… don’t know…” He squinted, reaching for the back of his head, a bit dazed.

Hannibal slowly helped him up, supporting him as he stumbled every few steps. Will kept his eyes closed, trying to find his pace and the doctor guided him to a more shaded area.

“Sit here. Don’t move.” The alpha immediately went to collect his first air kit and some water before joining him back and sitting in front of him. “Keep still, it might burn a little.”

He held his chin in place, gentle enough that the boy could move away if he wanted to avoid his touch, and started washing the blood in small increments with a wet cloth. The nose had almost stopped bleeding already, but under the red a few bruises were already blooming to mix with the older ones. He was surprised to feel a hint of a beard on his jaw, slightly rough under his fingertips. It was uncommon in the designation, but it suited him.

“It’s not as bad as it looks.” The doctor reassured him once the blood had been completely washed away. The lip was going to be sore for a while, but the rest would heal with no issue.

“I’m used to it. I’ll be ok.” Will mumbled. He was finally getting back to being himself. “I had my fair share of heavy-handed alphas.” He didn’t look at Hannibal, keeping his eyes to the ground, in an apparently submissive demeanor, but the doctor knew better than to ignore the fire burning inside of him.

It was not hard to imagine. Life had always been harder for omegas and the spread of the virus had only made things worse for them. Many alphas believed their designation gave them a sense of superiority over any other secondary gender and for many this translated to ownerships over their companions. Some even considered violence a good trait for any alpha mate, just as much as submissive attitude was a valuable attribute for any omega.

Hannibal had never agreed with that philosophy. If anything, no good alpha should need cruelty to be respected.

He had not seen Will’s late companion and from Alana’s description she didn’t appear to fit the profile of the aggressive alpha, but it was hard to predict in the current condition the world was in.

“She didn’t strike me as the violent type.” He scoffed, inspecting the boy’s face one last time.

Will grabbed his hand staring straight at him with no shame. “Beverly was not like that. She was a good alpha. Caring.” His voice broke a little. “Kind.”

Hannibal couldn’t do anything but stare in those blue eyes and for once he found himself with no defenses. The omega was burning right through him, with such intensity he took away his words. There was no fear, no submission and even his ferocious scent revealed no apprehension of a possible punishment.

“Well…” He finally managed, putting the first aid kit away. “I’m glad to see Jackson has not broken your spirit.”

Licking his bottom lip, Will answered back with a wide smile, revealing blood covered teeth and prideful joy.

Jackson didn’t show for the rest of the evening. Someone had informed Crawford of the events of that day and all men had been scolded at length for how their reckless behavior could have led to disastrous consequences. They could have attracted unwanted attention, someone could have gotten hurt. Additionally, as much as the omega was a raider and an outsider, they still had the responsibility to bring him alive to Seattle.
Certainly this had affected the general mood and everyone had found it particularly difficult to act as nonchalantly as they usually would. Dinner had become a quiet affair, with all men eating in silence as Jack announced the new plan that would take them the next day more inland and away from Washington.

As everyone retired for the night, the doctor decided to see Will one last time.
He was surprised to see him already asleep, more at peace than he had ever seen him before.

Curled up on his side, he was snoozing gently, one hand tight around the blanket and the other resting on his belly. In the dying light of the fire, Hannibal observed how the red bruises had evolved since earlier that day and they would probably get darker overnight.

He left the food by his side for him to find the next day, but even getting closer the boy didn’t wake, breathing slowly and peacefully like nothing had happened. It must have been the weird light, but Hannibal was almost sure he was smiling in his sleep.

Chapter Text

Hannibal woke up at the first lights of the day just as the soldiers were starting to load the trucks. As he poured himself a cup of coffee, he observed the group moving around the vehicles, packing up camp and loading supplies.

The men appeared in a much better mood than the night before. Jackson’s outburst had been left in the past, forgotten as something that wouldn’t deserve being remembered and the soldiers seemed excited about the new change of path that the captain had announced the night before.

Earlier that week, some had expressed concerns that the multiple delays they were experiencing would prolong their journey and that their inventory might not be sufficient to cover additional weeks of traveling across the country. Additionally, summer would soon reach them, making every effort more uncomfortable. They all hoped to join the rest of the base in Seattle before the sun would start burning the ground.

”Quick with the stock! I want to leave within the next fifteen minutes!” Jack's voice, already so loud, dissolved any trace of sleep that was left in him.

The search of the main building had given them some ammo, food and some engine parts that would be very appreciated in Seattle, so they would need to fit those with the rest of their supplies. They had plenty of space for it anyway.

He had spent many years living outside of the QZ, finding shelter anywhere available, and he still remembered what it felt like to spend the night on a raggedy couch or directly on the floor, but he was starting to miss the comfort of his bed at the base. After a few nights on the road, his back was starting to struggle. He was not the young man he used to be and he had grown used to the commodities and privileges of his role.

He quickly collected his belongings, his sleeping bag and notebook, and he got ready to get into one of the cars. Several hours on those uncomfortable seats were not going to do any good to his sore shoulders, but he was not in a position to complain.

Just as he was handing his backpack to one of the soldiers so they would store away with the rest of their supplies, he spotted an alpha heading in the same direction. He pulled behind the young omega like a dog on a leash.

The bruises he had received the previous day had blossomed into a rainbow of purples and yellows, so that it was hard to decider what was old and what more recent. His cheek was slightly swollen, giving him a wonky grin and he was licking his bottom lip absentmindedly, where the metallic flavor was likely stronger.

All and all though he looked rested, barely bothered by his certainly sore face. Over the course of the night Hannibal had woken up a few times, like he usually did, and he had instinctually checked in his direction, but he had always found him fast asleep.

”Doctor.” The soldier greeted him, likely thinking Hannibal’s attention was directed at his colleague.

”Morning, Isaac.” He replied politely, with a single nod. “How are you feeling today, Will?” Both the soldier and the omega seemed surprised by the direct question.

”Mmm… I’m okay.” He simply said, stopping the repetitive gesture, as if caught off guard.

”Good.” He wanted to offer more support, but Isaac quickly pushed the boy to climb on the car, cutting the conversation short.

Clearly the previous day’s incident had not changed the perception that the men had of the intruder. He didn’t deserve anymore compassion.

“Are we all ready to go? Hurry up with that ammo!” Captain Crawford roared while the last few men climbed on each truck.

As he was about to get in himself, completing the headcount, he spotted Jackson, rushing into the passenger seat next to the driver, clearly trying to avoid any interaction with the rest of the group. He was keeping his head low, with his cap pushed down to cover most of his face. For the little Hannibal was able to see, he looked run-down, almost pale. It didn’t take much to imagine how he had likely spent the entire night up, ruminating over his own bruised ego. Thinking about it, the doctor remembered seeing his cot empty when he finally went to bed and it still appeared untouched by the morning.

He would have to deal with his own mistakes.

Hannibal quickly climbed in the car, sharing the vehicle with a few soldiers and Will, and soon Jack gave the order to leave the premises.
While the truck turned around to head for the main road, he glanced back at the mangled shape of the infected, limp against the metal structure of the elevator where it had been left, silent and finally at peace.

An unexpected sense of jealousy crossed his mind for a brief second.

—

Jack had studied a new plan that would guide them away from the hot point of Washington, and hopefully that would allow them to travel faster and put some miles behind them while they got further away from the coast.

The strategy seemed to work and finally they managed to drive for hours uninterrupted towards Leesburg. The area had mostly escaped the bulk of the infection of the first few years and people had moved away from it, making it a safe road south. Jack had predicted that once they would arrive in Virginia, their journey would become easier and they would be able to cross the country faster.

Ideally, traveling north would mean a shorter journey, but the more dense infected population made it a much more dangerous path. The group was too large and too loud to travel undetected, so it was safer to take the longer route south, where they would find fewer obstacles along their way.

Sure the next few weeks of summer weather were going to be quite challenging, but the trip would get to an end before it became too unbearable.

The unexpected damaged road, unfortunately, caused them to slow their pace once again. The vehicles had to move slowly, avoiding the multiple cars abandoned along the way. In places the grass had grown so tall to obscure most of their metal frames and making it nearly impossible for the drivers to have a clear understanding of the full damage to the tarmac.

As the car shook trying to cover a particularly difficult section, Hannibal glanced towards the omega in front of him, quiet as he held the railing as hard as he could. It was not the most comfortable chair, and it took all his straight to keep himself up. The movements were clearly upsetting his stomach again, Hannibal certainly didn’t need confirmation in his sour scent or pale face, and the boy was keeping his eyes low, breathing slowly to push the nausea away.

The soldier by his side was not really providing any support, too busy staring ahead to the cracked road.

As the tires hit a particularly deep pothole, a single whine escaped from Will’s lips before he had a chance to stop himself. None of the soldiers even looked in his direction.

Hannibal forced himself to look away as well, as he couldn’t really do much to support him without attracting more hostility on the boy and he looked at the glass separating them from the driver seats.

The beta behind the wheel kept repeatedly glancing at Jackson, sitting next to him, with a confused expression. He couldn’t really hear if there was a conversation happening between the two, covered by the roar of the engine overworking to compensate for the difficult tarmac. Jackson was simply slouched on his side, against the window, arms crossed tight against his chest. The sleepless night had finally caught up with him, the doctor decided.

The street soon got narrower and the car entered the town’s shopping street.

Most shops had been closed shut, with the portcullis still sporting the notes left by the owner announcing the unexpected closure till further notice. But some were wide open, abandoned by their owners in a rush, the windows more often than not shuttered, the inside vandalized and emptied of anything people might have found useful.

Food first, weapons next, clothes last.

He still remembered those terrible days, when the population had finally realised the government was not going to be able to save them. First in Lithuania, and then in the States. Twenty years later and it was still hard to shake that deep terror.

”Jackson! What the fuck is up with you?” He heard the driver yell, loud enough for the voice to reach them in the back above the engine’s noise.

The soldier was no longer resting against the window. Holding his head in his hands, his back was moving unnaturally, shaken by continuous spasms while his colleague kept turning in his direction, pale and terrified as he was trying to keep a steady drive.

Before anyone had time to react, Jackson threw himself on the driver, sinking his teeth in the beta’s shoulder.

The screaming that followed was guttural, deep followed but a gush of blood splashing the separation glass.

One of the soldiers reached for his gun, but the car shook aggressively over the uneven ground while speeding up through the town centre.

Unable to do more than just holding onto their seats, Hannibal looked ahead as the shape of the second car quickly came into view.

”Brace yourself!” He managed to say, before their vehicle crashed into the second one. No matter how hard he was holding onto the metal structure, the hard impact broke his balance and as soon as his head hit the floor, everything went black.

—-

He woke up to the smell of smoke.

His senses came back to him slowly, starting from that burning smell of gasoline and melted plastic. Then it was the taste of metal, as he realized he had bitten his cheek during the fall. Then his body began protesting. The impact had been hard, enough to throw him out of the vehicle and on the tarmac when his hand had lost hold of the rail. He now layed on the ground, head rolling uncomfortably, pulsating, while his limbs slowly came back to life, bruised, scratched by the unforgiving asfalt.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, the blurry image of the cars materialized in front of him. One of the trucks was laying on the side, one of the tires still turning, more and more slowly, while the second had been pushed so hard that the vehicle had broken through the window of a nearby shop. The wreck was surrounded by leaked fuel and broken glass from what Hannibal eventually recognised as a petrol station. The inside of the shop was too dark, something inside was burning and slowly releasing black smoke, but he could still spot the flashy letters of the gasoline prices, almost completely eroded by the passage of time.

He tried pulling himself up, trying to ignore the pain of his cut skin, but his ears were ringing, playing with his balance.

That’s when he noticed, under the pungent smell of gasoline, he could detect blood, lots of it.

Just a few feet away, tangled in the structure of the dead car was one of the men. He was not moving, and his already dark uniform was drenched in crimson. It was covering him all over, from his head, to his neck and then fading with the fabric. His mouth was slightly open but completely silent.

And then another. Close enough that Hannibal could hear the weak wheeze escaping his perforated lungs while he died. Or maybe he had already died. He was not sure.

One by one, his eyes found the bodies of most of the soldiers, alphas and betas alike, unresponsive, some pushed off the cars like the doctor had, some stuck in the crumpled skeletons of the trucks.

It had been a massacre.

In just one second the entire troop had come to an end.

A scream tore the silence.

His eyes quickly moved to the source of that voice. He had almost missed him entirely, but there he was, from under the still corpse of an alpha, Will was struggling to set himself free, the weight on top of him forcing him to the ground. He looked terrified, but as much as he tried the body would not budge. He watched him scratch, looking for a way to safety, while his breathing was getting progressively faster, panic setting in.

A guttural sound emerged from the tilted figure of the car they had just been thrown out of. It was deep, nowhere human, something Hannibal was so familiar with, so much that it gave him a shiver. One mangled finger at a time, he watched Jackson stumbled from the smoke slowly, uneven movements that didn’t belong to a living being. The entire front of his uniform was covered in blood, still dripping, and from his open mouth Hannibal could see shreds of human meat hanging.

At the sight Will screamed again, and immediately started fighting even harder to set himself free but no matter what, the corpse wouldn’t budge. He was trapped.

Another alpha holding him down allowing others to turn him to pieces.

Attracted by the pleading sound, Jackson was now marching towards his prey faster, seemingly already tasting the poor creature.

Mind now clear, Hannibal forced his body to react and pushed himself as fast as he could towards one of the corpses laying in front of him. The gun was still strapped to the dead man’s chest and the doctor reached for it, dislodging it from his casing.

No matter how unfamiliar he was with the weapon, the alpha rushed to his feet and ran towards the omega, just in time to see Jackson throwing himself on Will, blurry eyes and rotten teeth.

The gunshot covered every other noise for a second and he watched the alpha fall to the ground with a wheeze. The bullet had hit him with precision on his forehead, killing him instantly.

The creature shook for a few moments, spasms contracting his limbs, before stopping forever. While falling his uniform had come undone and he noticed immediately the clear sign of an infected bite that he had been hiding under his collar.

The man was pale, but around the injury the skin had turned a nasty shade of black, and less than 24 hours after the incident it had already turned sour, oozing pus and expanding to the nearby area.

Negligence and cowardice had led to the destruction of the entire troop.

The panic breathing of the omega called for his attention again.

It took all his strength to pull the dead alpha from on top of him but once free the boy got up quickly.

“Fuck… fuck… “ Some of the blood had splashed on his face and he was trying to clean himself with shaky hands.

”Have you been bitten?” Hannibal asked directly, inspecting his body from any injury.

“Oh god… They are all… are they all…?” He looked around at the devastation surrounding them, pale as a ghost.

”I said, have you been bitten, omega?!” The alphan tone, stern and powerful, managed to calm Will down for him to focus.

”N-no.” He had started tapping repeatedly on his belly, an involuntary stim.

For now he would need to trust him. He had no other option.

The area at the moment was quiet and he couldn’t see any trace of dead or living in the immediate vicinity, but he knew the impact had been loud, so it was just a matter of time before someone would come and he had no intention to wait for them.

”We cannot stay here.” He announced. He could just leave him there but he knew he had a better chance if adequately prepared.
He reached for his bag that he had spotted among the supplies that had fallen out of the car and pulled it on his shoulder.

From inside the petrol station, the black smoke had filled the space and it was starting to spread out. They didn’t have time to waste.

”We have to go. Now!” If necessary they could come back later, once he had time to calculate a plan and the area had settled, but now he only cared to find a safe place to hide.

Will didn’t fight the other and simply nodded, ready to follow.

Just as they were about to set off, they heard some steps coming from inside the shop, followed by a wheezy voice. Something was coming out and Hannibal waited no time to raise the gun towards the open door.

Will, unarmed, stepped behind him quickly and the doctor was washed by a wave of omegan fear.

”Ha… Han… “ Neither of them was expecting to see the shape of Captain Crawford stumbling outside in the dust, so much that they didn’t immediately register who he was. There was blood on his uniform and he had wrapped a strip of fabric tight around his neck trying to stop the bleeding. “Han…”

He called for the doctor again before his knees failed him.

“Jack!” Hannibal rushed to his side, as his medical training took control.

He crossed the few feet separating them just in time to catch him and he helped him gently against a nearby wall. Jack’s fingers still clutched the makeshift tourniquet tight, and from the folds of the fabric Hannibal noticed what seemed like a broken piece of glass.

He had no way to treat him there.

He was not sure he could treat him at all.

“We are going to have to move you, Captain.” But the alpha seemed too focused on not losing consciousness to reply. “Will, come here. Help me lift him.”

The trip to Seattle had turned in an instance into a terrible nightmare.

Chapter Text

They had been very lucky to find shelter quickly.

The guesthouse they had found refuge in was just a yard away from the petrol station and the single entrance had been partially barricaded behind piles of waste.

They had managed to squeeze inside just as the screams of the infected had started rising, called in flocks by the noise of the accident and gunshot.

The structure had likely been used as shelter on the very first days of the pandemic, but since then it had been abandoned in relatively good conditions.

Here and there suitcases had been left behind, neatly tidy, personal items appeared in the bathrooms, notes on the bedroom desks, sometimes family pictures, but aside of those the bedrooms were still tidy, ready to welcome any newcomer.

The windows had been covered in newspapers and fabric to avoid any attention from the outside. Only a layer of dust confirmed no one had been around in a long time.

It was a rather small building, which was an advantage, as it gave them more security while checking that all exits had been sealed shut.

They were safe.

At least for now.

Until they had a chance to count their losses and decide what to do.

He had Will helping him lay Jack on the bed in one of the rooms before sending him to look for anything useful. He trusted the boy wouldn’t try escaping anyway: he didn’t have any weapon and had no supply to support himself with. He had no chance to make more than a few feet outside of the door before getting attacked by an infected. As much as he probably didn’t like to admit it, he needed Hannibal, and Hannibal could still find him useful.

But even if he did try and leave, the alpha wouldn’t have wasted another second thinking about him. He never truly did.

Right now he needed to focus on Jack.

The doctor could only rely on the few first aid supplies he had in his backpack and some fresh linen the omega had found in a cupboard, but unfortunately nothing was good enough to completely treat the type of injury Jack had received.

Since they had been forced to escape the scene of the crush quickly, he had to leave behind his medical supplies, all the things he had spent days packing for any type of emergency, from the simplest bruise to surgery tools, they now sat abandoned in a tangle of metal and melted plastic.

But even having access to those, he doubted it would have made a difference. Jack’s conditions were dire, he needed blood, he needed tools, medications…

Maybe, if they had been at the base, with a sterile environment and another pair of hands…

He had cleaned the wound as best as he could and secured the glass piece so it wouldn’t move and aggravate the slash. Removing it was not an option: the captain would hemorrhage quickly, but even if, by some sort of miracle, he would manage to stitch the cut, it would be a matter of time before the infection started festering.

The location was relatively clean all things considered, but it was not an operating theatre.

Right now he could only help him get comfortable while the shard slowed the bleeding down.

The older alpha had been drifting in and out of consciousness ever since he had stumbled out of the petrol station and Hannibal had not left his side from the moment they had gotten to the hotel. He watched the sun move across the sky and the clouds turn a deep shade of red. By then the captain’s conditions had stabilised marginally and he opened his eyes again.

“Jack.” The doctor got up quickly from the chair he had been resting on for the past hour or so and he leaned in so that his patient could see him. The older man blinked a few times, clearly trying to put the pieces together. Hannibal watched him tense as the simple act of swallowing caused his pain to rise.

“I suggest you not to move too much. I was able to secure the injury for now but it’s only temporary.” He kept his voice low and calm. A couple of deep breaths later Jack seemed to settle down again. “Here, let me help you.” The doctor grabbed a water bottle and he gently helped it to the man’s lips, just enough for him to take a few sips while he supported his head. He didn’t really have any painkillers in his first aid kit, or at least nothing strong enough, those unfortunately had been forgotten in the trucks.

He could only offer him mild comfort.

”T-thank you.” Jack finally whispered with a rough voice. His eyes were scanning the room, clearly trying to find some familiarity in the space he was now occupying. “What’s the situation, doctor?” No matter the injuries he had sustained, the leader in him was always taking precedence.

“I was able to stop the bleeding, but I am unable to remove the foreign body currently blocking the haemorrhage. We had to leave most of my tools on the trucks, but the location we are in right now is safe, at least for now.”

Jack remained quiet, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds as he processed the new informations. Then he turned slowly to stare at his colleague and friend.

”Did anyone else… make it?” His voice cracked, and Hannibal was sure it was not exclusively because of his injury.

The doctor shook his head. “We had to leave the scene quickly so I cannot be sure but I was not able to detect any sign of life. I’m sorry.” Truth was, if anyone had been still alive but stuck under the wreckage, it would have been a matter of time before the storm of infected would take them. Maybe it was better for everyone to die quickly than be torn apart by rotten teeth and unnatural hunger.

Something in Jack‘s scent changed. Alphas couldn’t decipher scents of members of the same designation with as much clarity as they could with omegas, but there was something bitter and sad in the air. It was guilt. The man in front of him was dying and yet he seemed to care more about the lost lives of his soldiers. No matter how hard he had tried to keep them safe, he had failed them all so tragically.

”Has the omega…?” He didn’t finish the sentence.

”He is alive.” Hannibal simply stated but at the surprised look in Jack’s face he continued. “He is in the other room. He helped me carry you here.”

”But… how?” The older man simply asked.

“I guess he is more resilient than he looks.” How a fragile little omega had been able to survive what a troop of trained alphas and betas had not, he was not sure. Clearly destiny had other plans for him.

The news brought a smile on the man’s lips, and as he laid back down on the bed, Jack muttered a few words that sounded like a thank you.

”Try and get some rest now.” Hannibal whispered, tucking the blankets back in place. “I will check on you later.” And with that he closed the door behind and headed towards the living room.

Will was sitting on one of the soft chairs, closer to the window, looking outside from a small gap in the newspapers that the glass had been covered with. Outside the lights were shifting to a darker orange and soon the world outside would be in complete darkness. Legs up, pressed against his chest, his fingers were picking at loose thread, nervously.

As soon as he heard the other walk in, the omega stood up quickly, almost ashamed to have been caught not ready. Hannibal had not really been paying attention to him since they had arrived at the guesthouse, too busy caring for his dying colleague, but now he noticed how his left shoulder and front of his shirt were covered in blood, Jack’s blood. The man had been laying on him for a few minutes as Hannibal was trying to find a way into the building. Same was for his hands. He had tried scrubbing them on his trousers, based on the stains covering his thighs, but Hannibal could still see rusty shadows on his nails and knuckles.

It was Will to finally break the silence.

”Is he alive?” He asked directly, maintaining the distance.

”For now.”

For the first time Hannibal found himself sharing the space with the boy without anyone observing them. No Alana, no Frederick, no Jackson or any other soldier. Even Jack’s presence was hanging by a thread.

Will seemed to notice the difference in demeanour, a new side of Hannibal he had only seen a glimpse of. The alpha didn’t care anymore to keep it secret, to maintain the polite façade he had kept up for so long.

”The voices outside are getting louder.” He finally added to break the silence. “I think there are still infected roaming around. Maybe they are moving this way, I don’t know, but it’s getting too dark to see clearly.” The room was getting progressively darker as they spoke. Will’s features, at first burning in the sunset, were quickly being drowned in shadows. Soon they would be completely lost in the darkness. In his backpack, luckily, Hannibal had found a flashlight but he was not going to share it with the omega. He needed it for Jack. And for himself. Moreover, it would be wiser to avoid any attention from the outside till they had a better plan.

He ignored the omega to focus on more urgent matters.“Do you have any injuries I should know of?” He was clinical. Unsimpathetic.

His loose clothes, dirt and blood made it impossible for Hannibal to have a clear picture of his state. He could see a few scraps on his arms, where he had fallen on the tarmac, maybe a few bruises he was not sure had been there before, but nothing more specific. He had limited resources and he didn’t want to waste them on the boy, but he also didn’t want to deal with a broken traveller.

He shook his head. “I’m okay.” As he often did, the omega’s hand went to stroke his belly, his slim fingers tapping gently at his unborn child. As if on command his scent changed again, nervous and stale and Hannibal found himself turning back so he wouldn’t have to endure that.

”Don’t go outside.” He closed the door behind before the boy had a chance to respond.

—-

He had not predicted the journey to end up this way.

In his great mind he had anticipated the loss of a few men, that was to be expected considering the long and difficult journey. But as Jack’s conditions slowly deteriorated, he had to think about what his future was going to look like. He still had hundreds of miles ahead of him before Seattle, no military support, limited supplies and likely no vehicles.

It would take months for him to reach his destination… He was a skilled alpha and he had spent most of his growing years outside of the qz, but there was still a chance the journey would take his life as well.

And that was without even taking into consideration the young omega waiting in the other room.

He had to admit with himself that spending the last hours watching after Jack Had been nothing but an excuse to avoid Will entirely. He could choose to bring the boy with him, force that collaboration till he could find him useful, but that would make the journey likely longer and more difficult, or he could leave him to fend for himself and gift him the freedom he so desired. However, that would likely turn into a death sentence for the omega, either at the hands of an infected or by the cruelty of other humans.

Either way it was not his responsibility, but his alphas instinct, usually fully under control, made it harder to conceive abandoning him to such a bitter fate.

If only he had avoided getting involved with him in the first place, if only he had avoided showing him any kindness…

Maybe the boy would be now with another troop, on another truck, dead in a ditch while the rest of the group still prospered.

With each passing hour he watched the captain’s face getting paler and paler. And yet the impending doom didn’t seem to affect his mood.

”How are you feeling?” He had changed the bandage around his neck a few times. It would help keep the bleeding contained, but it was not going to save him and they both knew that.

The alpha chuckled a bit. His voice had gotten weaker and rougher. ”As well as you can imagine“.

Hannibal moved a bit closer to the bed, so the other wouldn’t have to strain his energies too much. Jack’s breathing had gotten shallow.

“I still remember the day you arrived at the QZ. You barely looked like the man you are now.”

He smiled, dabbing his forehead with a clean cloth. “I could say the same for you. I believe you were only a sergeant at the time.“

”I was still smart enough to see you were going to be a great soldier.” He had to take a second to take a deeper breath. “God knows how many lives you have saved since you joined the base”. He paused again. “I remember after you arrived it took you ages to start talking again.”

”The safety of the QZ definitely helped.” Almost one year of complete silence since walking through the front gate, that’s how long it had taken him to regain the humanity that had been stripped from him. “The world had left an impression on me.”

He had never opened up to anyone regarding his experience in the outside world.
Or, to be more precise, he had spent years crafting an image of himself and shared fragments of his life so that he would get from others exactly what he wanted. He sprinkled in conversations stories of a young boy crossing the Atlantic with his family looking for safety, a second wave of infection destroying the States, losing his family and spending years alone.

Nothing but vague details that only remotely corresponded to reality, but even in this limited knowledge Jack could imagine what Hannibal referred to.

At the end of the day, in two decades of annihilation everyone shared the same nightmares.

“Life is not entirely bad. If it wasn’t for this world I would have never met my Bella.” Hannibal didn’t comment, allowing the man to linger on positive memories. ”I‘ll get to see her soon.” He announced with a smile on his face. “I guess fate had this planned for me since the beginning of this journey.”

Bella had passed away over a year before and as much as Jack had worked hard to be professional in the eyes of his troop, the loss had always peaked through the cracks of his armour. It was more than just biology.

”The connection you still have with your omega is truly admirable, Captain.”

”I knew we were true mates the first time I saw her. And I am happy to go back to her.” One single tear escaped his control. “It has been long overdue.”

Something in Jack changed and for the first time since knowing him, Hannibal recognised fear in his eyes. He reached for his wrist forcing the friend to look at him.

“There is still hope, Hannibal. I know you can make it to Seattle, just as I believed that mute boy that walked into the QZ that day.” His hold was remarkably strong considering the blood loss. “Promise me… Promise me you’ll keep that omega safe.”

They both knew it was not an easy request to make. And sure Hannibal wished he didn’t have to take that responsibility.

“That pup deserves a life, Hannibal…” Jack pleaded one last time.

They had spent days on the road sharing the same space with the boy. And yet the last thoughts were not directed towards him, his safety, his survival.

He still didn’t matter.

The only value he had was connected to the creature he carried in his belly.

“I promise. You know I always keep my promises.”

By the time the sun had risen on the horizon, Jack had stopped breathing.

The doctor allowed the light to get in the room, filling up the space in a cold unwelcoming glow, as he observed the man, leader and friend finally rejoin the companion he had long been separated from.

He looked serene, almost smiling, as he stared at the ceiling with foggy eyes, a gift not many were lucky enough to receive on that side of the world.

Hannibal stood closer and pressed his fingers to the alpha’s neck to check his pulse one last time. While he pulled up the blanket over his face in a ritual that had been long abandoned, he felt the last of his masks fall, that well crafted suit he had been wearing since the day he joined the QZ.

He left the room, closing the door behind softly and he walked into the living room.

Will was still sitting by the same armchair by the window, his head resting on his forearm and he was softly snoozing. The light coming in from the small tear in the newspaper caressed his features with surprising clarity. The wood creaked under Hannibal’s feet and the noise was enough to wake the boy from his slumber.

His eyes blinked a couple of times, landing eventually on the alpha.

He stood quickly, but neither of them said a word.

They didn’t need to.

They stared at each other in silence, drenched in sunrise, alone for the first time.

Chapter Text

Will stood quickly.

He kept one hand on the armrest of the chair, more for moral support than anything but his fingers were fidgeting nervously with the loose threads. His movements were calculated, slow and deliberate and his eyes wouldn’t leave the alpha. Just like a prey animal, he was staring at his predator waiting for any sign of change in his demeanor that would indicate he was ready to lounge and attack. Even if as little as a switch in his breathing pattern, or a little spasm in his muscles. And Hannibal could tell by his body language the omega was aware he was not facing the usual type of monster had grown used to. He was not the type of alpha that screams and uses his pheromones to control, nor would he take advantage of the size difference to induce fear. He was much more dangerous than that.

Somehow Hannibal had a feeling Will had always been able to see through his person-suit, behind the intricate well constructed layers of politeness he used at the base and now the doctor certainly didn’t care anymore to pretend. He had nothing to get from Will, so why bother?

The younger one attempted one small step, brushing the dusty carpet with the sole of his boots, before he finally was brave enough to break the silence. “Is… is he…?” He didn’t finish the sentence, maybe afraid that any additional word would rupture that delicate equilibrium. But they both knew what he meant.

“He is dead.” The alpha confirmed without mincing his words. There was no need. They all knew it would be a matter of time ever since they stepped into the guesthouse. It was more surprising it had taken this long considering the wounds.

Will nodded silently without offering any condolences.

In a way Hannibal appreciated the lack of fake empathy. Likely if it had not been for Jack, the boy would still be running free with his mate. But instead her body was laying abandoned on the floor of an abandoned church, miles away, and Will was now stuck with an alpha stranger, forced to share the same space, stripped of his freedom and autonomy. Forced on a journey he didn’t want to be part of.

Up until that point Hannibal had generally enjoyed playing the part of the generous doctor, professional in the eyes of his colleague and slightly more benevolent than any soldier would be with a raider. He passed as a sensible barrier between the two words, keeping the equilibrium intact for the troops sake. But now that the last member of that group had gone, who would protect Will from Hannibal?

The omega looked down for a second, nervously playing with a scuff in the chair before staring back at the alpha again.

“Are you going to kill me?” there was no trace of uncertainty in his voice anymore. They both knew the option now was on the table.

He mentally applauded the bravery it took to ask the question. ”I have not decided yet.”

The journey ahead was going to be nothing but challenging. Hannibal certainly didn’t need the extra weight of pulling behind an omega he was not even bonded with and that would require constant surveillance and protection. Eventually the pregnancy would make everything even harder. The boy would struggle to keep pace and he would become an easier prey both for infected and humans. the doctor would be much faster alone. He had done it before, he could do it again.

However, travelling alone had its disadvantages. Nights could be very long without support, some areas were impossible to cross without a second.

He also couldn’t completely ignore the promise he had made to Jack… But “keeping someone safe” had different meanings depending on the situation. Someone could argue putting the boy out of his misery now was a better outcome than forcing him on a journey that would take his life in a much more gruesome way.

Hannibal made a few steps into the living room and reached for a second armchair sitting right in front of the boy and let himself sink in the dusty fabric.

“You can always let me go.” Will backed and sat across the other, mirroring his position. “Turn the other way and I’ll disappear. Lie about it if you need to.”

Wouldn’t it be just so much easier? He had contemplated the option a few times. It would be so much simpler to tore that connection now, while it still didn’t bother him. He would just need to find an excuse, retreat to Jack’s room to collect his supplies or rest for a moment and by the time he would be back, Will would be gone, already too far away for him to chase him. No one would blame him if he returned to Seattle without the boy (either blaming an escape or a tragic encounter with infecteds) and he wouldn’t have to live with the burden of his existence.

However deep down he could feel his alphan instinct make this option completely unacceptable. The destiny the boy would be facing was not one of success. Without weapons, supplies, protection it would be a matter of time before he encountered someone on his path that didn’t show him as much kindness. If he was lucky, he would survive days, maybe weeks before an infected tore him to pieces. Or worse… A lone omega out of the QZ? Humans could be much more cruel than any monster. He would be turned into a slave, tortured, abused and ultimately left to die.

Killing him right now would be a kinder option.

The mere idea that he could come across his corpse later on his path made him nauseous. His alphan instinct wouldn’t let him.

”I cannot do that. There is something in me that won’t allow me to leave you to your own destiny.” Sometimes he hated his own biology, no matter how hard he tried to restrain his impulses, deep down his alphan side always prevailed. He took a deep breath and straightened his back. Jack’s last words kept repeating in his brain like a curse, making it impossible for him to act any different.

“I made a promise to bring you to Seattle, to keep you safe. And I always keep my promises.” That didn’t mean he wouldn’t allow himself to change his mind at the first inconvenience. But for the moment, keeping him alive was the easier option.

His captive didn’t seem to like hearing that. His brows furrowed instantly, and he struggled to keep his anger at bay. Hannibal could smell the scent of smoke and fire coming from him as his nails tore in the fabric of the chair once again.

On one side a ticket to Seattle would signify a safer life for him and his child, a secure shelter and regular food. But it would also strip away Will of any semblance of freedom, he would just become someone’s property, either another alpha or the government itself.

Especially for omegas, life was not particularly rewarding within the safety of the QZ. It was just a different type of hell.

”You didn’t promise me anything.” Once again someone had made a decision for him and he had no control over his own future. “I am not your responsibility.” A couple of tears collected on his bottom lashline.

”That’s quite right. And that’s not going to change.”

The room immediately was flooded by the burning scent of anger coming from the omega. Smoke and heat filled his nostrils as the boy folded on himself trying to constrain his feelings and Hannibal had to fight with his own nature that was telling him to subdue and placate the other. Other alphas would have just launched on the younger one without a second thought but not him. He still wouldn’t rely on such lesser techniques.

“I will take you to Seattle, but let’s be clear. I’m not your alpha and you are not my omega. You are just cattle.” And like in the olden days, you shoot a difficult pet.

By then the boy’s back was shaking and when he finally lifted his head, the brown curls parted enough for Hannibal to notice that tears had finally broken the seal, leaving red marks on his face. Still not defeated, Will’s burning stare felt almost tangible, piercing his skin even through layers of clothing.

”You cannot control me. As soon as you give me the chance, I will run away from you.” His voice trembled but Hannibal knew it was true. Although admitting it openly proved how little the omega cared for his own well-being. Any of the other soldiers would have taken the confession as a valid reason to kill him instantly. Easier. Faster. No second thought.

”You are welcome to try.” The doctor got up with a sigh, slowly making his way towards the other room where Jack’s body was slowly getting colder. “Sleep. We are leaving at dawn.”

He closed the door behind just in time to hear a frustrated sob escaping the boy’s chest.

—-

They didn’t speak to each other for the rest of the day.

Locked in separate rooms, he focused on outlining a plan for the upcoming months of travel, pretending not to hear the omega’s sobbing through the thin walls.

It was in his rights to express disappointment but still the alpha wouldn’t change his mind. As the hours went by, eventually the whines quieted and Hannibal allowed himself to lay down as well. They both needed rest before leaving and he was not going to allow the other any slack just for having spent the night mourning something he could not change.

He slept for a few hours keeping his ears open in case the younger one attempted an escape like he had promised. With the way the location had been secured it would be hard for him to try without making too much noise anyway. At the faintest crack of the main door or a window and the alpha would be on him before Will even had the chance to step outside. Still, Hannibal acted carefully, focusing on each creaking of the wooden floor and changes in the boy’s scent coming in from the crevices in the walls.

But by the first lights of the day, the omega was still sitting by the soft chair he had been nesting on. When he stepped into the room, Hannibal found him with his legs up, tucked under his body and his head laying on the armrest. His face was now dry, but the splotchy cheeks and red eyAs soon as he saw his captor coming in from the next room, he slowly picked himself up without saying a word or even crossing his eyes.

Outside the world was eerily quiet.

They peered out for a few minutes, scanning the road through rips in the newspaper the windows had been covered with but when they saw nothing suspicious, they left the security of the guesthouse and made their way back to the crash site.

In the rush to get into safety they had to leave so much behind that they would need later on their journey, so it was a priority to check and take as much as possible.

A small fire had started inside the petrol station since they had left and the sickly smell of burnt plastic filled the entire area causing the omega to cover his face for a moment. Somewhere it was still burning, slowly, based on the crackling sound they could hear in the background, but at least it seemed rather contained. A big smoke halo hugged most of the surface of the building, rising from the broken windows and the open doors.

A first inspection confirmed that neither vehicle was fit to drive anymore. Unfortunately Hannibal suspected that was going to be the case. A working truck would have been a great tool and it would have saved them many days of march.

That said, the alpha had never worked that type of vehicle so there was a chance it would have been for nothing anyway. Hannibal had gone through some military training during the first years at the base, but since joining the medical ward he had been exempt from most of the heavy machinery training. Sure he could work a gun, as much as he didn’t particularly enjoy it, but that type of heavy truck was something completely different. Luckily they could still access most of the cargo and retrieve food, ammo and useful tools. Only part of their supply had been damaged in the accident so they would be able to recover quite a lot.

“Here.” He pulled a backpack from the tangled mess and passed it to the boy with little to no care. They had to be careful with the things they brought with them: they had limited space available and he had to be careful and avoid travelling with too much weight on them. “Focus on rations and essentials.” He instructed him to a different area. Even while keeping busy, he made sure to keep an eye on Will but, based on his quiet demeanor and slow walk he seemed to have lost the fight he had the night before.

Since running away from the scene, a few infected had come to feast on the bodies of his late colleagues. Teeth marks marred their flesh and muscles had been torn, spreading blood across the wet tarmac in somewhat of a floral-like pattern. If he needed additional confirmation that the men had been dead by the time the wave of monsters had come, there it was. At least none of them had to turn into those same creatures.

He crouched by the corpse of a young beta he had had the pleasure to talk with a few times. Just days before leaving the base he was excitedly talking about the family waiting for him in Seattle, people he had not seen in years, friends he had to part ways with. As Hannibal observed his terrified face, pressed against the tarmac, he reflected how none of them would ever even know the man was not going to join them.

He reached for the guy’s vest. His gun was still tucked away in the holster and Hannibal added it to his backpack. In reality, the doctor had never been particularly fond of firearms, but he couldn’t unfortunately rely exclusively on his knives to keep him alive for long. Sooner or later he would have to use them and he certainly didn’t trust the omega enough to protect them both.

As he was about to recall the other so they could leave, he noticed Will was staring at a mangled body on the ground, just a few feet away.

Jackson was laying on his back, staring at the sky, well, he would if part of his face and brain weren’t splattered all around like a repulsive firework. Will wasn’t making a sound, taking in the sight with a surprising detached expression. Hannibal had to wonder what it felt like to observe his enemy defeated, dead, if the boy felt the punishment had been enough for the crimes the man had committed.

Did he feel vindicated or had revenge been ripped away from his hands? The few feet of distance and the intense smell of fire unfortunately made it impossible for the alpha to detect a change of scent in the omega’s demeanour so he could only guess.

Jackson had taken away from him his mate, his freedom, his dignity and self preservation.

Hannibal had been in the same position years before, alone, scared, bruised. Ultimately he had been able to get his revenge, but it had only given him a momentary sense of justice. But Will had lost that privilege.

Still without the smallest change of expression, Will lifted his foot and observed the bottom of his boot slowly stepping onto the gray matter with a gruesome squish. He then lifted his foot again and cleaned it on the man’s uniform like the most insignificant critter.

The doctor could barely contain a smile.

”Let’s go.” He waited for the younger one to join him and they headed North.

Chapter Text

It had taken Jack weeks to come up with a journey plan.

Ever since receiving the news that the Baltimore base was going to get shut and the entire team was going to be transferred West, he started working on a strategy to move everyone safely across the country. Based on the information he had received from the new capital and the continuous updates that his soldiers fed him while patrolling, he had been able to make an educated guess on what scenarios awaited him outside of Maryland. Ultimately, he had decided to follow the long path towards Atlanta, then crossing Dallas and Phoenix before moving up along the west coast.

Travelling South added days to their already long trip, but he had made that decision for a very good reason.

At the beginning of the pandemic most of the population had moved North. Rumours had started circulating that Canada was experiencing lower levels of infected and that had been enough to convince millions of people to abandon their houses. By the time they had realized no place was safe it was too late, and the high concentration of people had turned the areas in hotbeds of violence, death, and fear. Decades later, although the number of infected had reduced because of the natural process of decay, it was considered a suicide mission to step foot there, and even the government itself had lost hope to reclaim the territory. They could only hope mankind was strong enough to survive long enough to watch the dead falling.

This mass migration had rendered most towns South of Denver deserted, but also much easier to pass through. As much as the troop travelled well equipped with weapons and supplies, the heavy trucks and large group attracted too much attention. Sure, a longer journey had its risks, but it was preferable than cutting though more densely populated areas. The lower risk was worth the precious gas.

After a night of thinking of all the possible options they had, however, Hannibal had decided to act differently. With no reliable vehicle to help them, any additional mile added to their schedule raised the chances of failure considerably. It would take them months before arriving in Seattle, which meant crossing the country though summer and winter weather, and they only had limited time before Will’s pregnancy made it impossible for him to continue altogether.

And he needed to make sure to reach destination before the baby was born. He didn’t even want to consider the possibility to deal with childbirth outside of the safety of the new capital. The chance of surviving would be basically zero, not only for the baby, but for Hannibal as well. As for Will… It was not as fundamental.

If his calculation was correct, they only had just enough time to make it to Washington. Sure, the cities up North were more populated and dangerous, but they also provided more supplies, and they sure needed them now that most of their cargo had gone lost.

Infected and raiders were a certain danger but now that their group had been reduced to just two people, they could easily travel unnoticed avoiding the more affected areas. In this case nothing was more precious than time.

But even with all his precautions the journey was already anything but simple.

It didn’t take long for Hannibal to start regretting his decision to bring the omega with him. Ever since leaving the guesthouse almost a week before they had been travelling mostly in silence, limiting their exchange of words to the absolute necessary, which, in all honesty, the alpha didn’t necessarily mind. They didn’t like each other, so much it was clear, but this forced proximity pulled at their nerves.

As they crossed town after town, taking with them what they could that would help them along the line, Will would keep to a few feet behind the alpha. Every now and then Hannibal would check on him, making sure he was not looking for an escape route, but every time the boy would be there, slowly following, his bitter and unhappy scent confirming his presence more than the sound of his feet on uneven ground.

Unfortunately he had also underestimated how the change in pace was going to affect him and after a couple of days of non stop walking all the symptoms of the first trimester came back in full force.

His energy levels would run out quickly, forcing them to multiple breaks just so he could catch his breath. By the time the sun was high in the sky and the temperatures were higher, Will would be begging to stop, panting as if trying to endure a marathon. And if they were not stopping because of his lack of energies, it was the nausea interrupting their journey. Anything seemed enough to upset his weak stomach and he was barely able to keep any water or food down, which ultimately, of course, affected how much he could endure. When finally by sunset Hannibal relented to stop for the night and find shelter in any abandoned building, it would take no time for the omega to fall asleep, but it would be an unforgiving and restless night spent tossing around tormented by intense nightmares.

All and all it was not the trip he had envisioned.

”Enough now. Get up.” Hannibal repeated for what felt like the hundredth time that day. A few feet away, Will was leaning against a wall, his cheeks flushed and a thin layer of sweat covering his forehead, trying to catch his breath.

”I need more time, please.” His knees were shaking and he pressed a hand to the bricks to balance himself. The alpha had heard those words so many times they had completely lost meaning. Some part of him deep down even questioned his suffering altogether. It could easily just be a face to waste their time, his time.

”You have been resting enough. We still have many miles ahead of us today. We will stop again when the sun starts setting. He was hoping to reach the next town by the end of the day but with this pace it would be a miracle if they left the neightbouhood altogether.

At least his calculations had been correct on certain aspects. For the past week they had barely come across any infected at all, managing to avoid any difficult encounter and travel quietly. But still, it didn’t mean they would be completely safe. It was impossible to predict what hid between the walls of the buildings surrounding them.

“I just need a few more minutes!” Wills snapped, rubbing his face with the back of the hand.

That day had been particularly difficult. Shortly after leaving their shelter for the night, they had started fighting, Will complaining non stop about needing to rest and the tension had slowly escalated. Each of his laboured breaths caused his nerves to tick. He wasn’t sure if he should blame the lack of sleep (Will had spent most of the night up, whining over the poor choice of food available and keeping the alpha awake with him) or maybe the torrid temperature as the days slowly shifted to a more summer weather.

Whatever the reason, tension had kept growing and Hannibal could feel his patience running thin. While usually he had great control over his emotions, unlike other members of his second gender, he could feel his irritation grow and anger taking control over him.

”I said now, omega.” His alphan voice thundered, forcing the other to lift his eyes from the ground but the boy didn’t move. He stared at the other defiantly, licking his chapped lips before continuing.

”You can use that tone as much as you want. You are wasting your breath, fucking runt.” He muttered the last few words quietly, biting down much harsher insults. But before he even had time to realise the other had heard him, Hannibal marched on him with all the rage of his designation.

A big hand closed around Will’s neck, just strong enough to show him he could break his windpipe if he wanted. The omega struggled for air a little at the sudden attack and his fingers quickly rushed to the alpha’s hold trying to pry him away. Hannibal could feel his heartbeat flutter, quick and light like a small sparrow fighting against the claws of its predator.

“The only reason you are still alive and not reduced to ashes in some military incinerator is because of that mutt that is currently growing inside of you. The only reason I choose not to put an end to your miserable life is because I made a promise to a much more compassionate alpha.”

He paused, watching the boy squirm and whine trying to set himself free. “He lost his life so you could go to the other side of the country. But please, don’t make the mistake of thinking it was about you. I didn’t promise to keep you alive. I only promised to take that baby to Seattle.“ He buried his hand in his pocket to retrieve his knife but Will seemed too focused on filling up his lungs to notice the weapon until Hannibal raised it closer to his face.

“I could just avoid the bother of your existence and take that pup now, here…” Slowly the doctor lowered the scalpel just under Will’s bellybutton, and the boy sucked in a quick shallow breath, his eyes now wide open in the blades direction. “You would watch me walk away with it as you slowly bleed to death on this very square of concrete.“ He paused again, allowing his threat to sink in. “I can still do it… No one would even question it if I arrived in the new capital without you… No one would even care.”

It would take just a few minutes. Hannibal already could imagine the layers of skin and fat giving way under his tools, how the omega would be too in shock to react in the face of pain and fear. How warm the inside of his womb would be against his ungloved hands as he searches for that pathetic excuse of a baby, no bigger than a strawberry.

As soon as the blade pressed to the soft skin of his belly, one of Will’s hands moved to push the alpha’s forearm, but it could barely stop him. The fabric of his shirt lifted lightly over the sharp edge and a high omegan whine escaped the boy’s lips. His own nature was begging for mercy.

”It would be actually very generous of me to let you die here at my hands instead of waiting for an infected to tore you to pieces. And even your pup… it would cease to exist before it even takes one breath.” He pressed the blade more, enough to feel resistance and immediately Will’s nails dug into his forearm, scratching him but unable to push him away.

“N… Stop!” He begged with a broken voice.

“Do you even have any idea of what would happen if I left you here alone? How long before a group of alphas found you? They would just make you their property, take away everything from you till nothing is left… But I bet you already know that kind of love, don’t you?” The skin was hot under his palm and Hannibal could feel the jagged edges of the boy’s mating mark, raised and irritated. “And what about that alpha you were travelling with? Such a shame she had to die for someone like you.“

Will finally met Hannibal’s stare for a second, a glimpse of burning blue before his attention fully turned to his unborn child. Abandoned any concept of self preservation, he brought his other hand as well to stop the knife, giving the alpha total freedom to squeeze his throat if he wished to. His slim fingers wrapped around the older man’s fist, shaking in an effort to protect the creature living inside his womb from an unstoppable killer and it didn’t take long for Hannibal to start smelling the metallic scent of Will’s blood, where the pressure of the blade had cut his palms.

The boy raised his eyes at his enemy again, and Hannibal was surprised to see no fear in them. Even his scent, in that moment, was anything but submissive. Notes of black amber and fire, like a full wildfire, living nothing alive behind.

As soon as Hannibal released his hold, Will crumbled to the ground, fingers still clutched around the blade as if he expected it to hit him again. It took a moment before his shoulders started shaking as he was feeling his body back, and he had to hold himself up when his quick pained inhales transformed into coughs.

Before he had time to calm himself down the coughs turned in heaving and then he was expelling the small content of his stomach. His scent switched quickly to the same pained one Hannibal has grown used to for the past week, but he still couldn’t ignore the ferocious being he had seen for a moment when his pup had been put in danger. Many would disagree, but he had never looked more omega before.

Maybe that was why his alphan instinct had finally kicked in, placating his anger, and forcing him to look at the young man kneeling in the dust at his feet.

Will didn’t mutter a word for the rest of the day, yet again resuming his place a few feet behind Hannibal till the sun set. But at the same time, without pulling attention to it, the alpha had slowed his pace, allowing the other to follow slowly without exerting himself too much.

As the sky started painting itself in orange and red hues and the shadows grew longer, they found a place to stop for the night.

The shop was small, consisting of one front room and a bit of storage in the back, but that’s exactly what they needed. A lot of the things inside had been either stolen or destroyed based on the state of the room, but it took no time for them both to move some furniture around enough to secure the main entrance. They would be safe there for the next few hours. As soon as the door was closed, Will headed towards the back of the main room where a couple of tatted sofas had been pushed facing each other and he plopped himself on one, giving his back to Hannibal.

It was hard for the alpha to admit he felt guilt towards him, but the hours of slow march had allowed him to reflect on his behaviour.

Neither of them had chosen to travel together, let alone be forced in that ruthless pilgrimage across the country with no recourse and no support. As much as it would be easy to pour all of his frustration on the boy, it wouldn’t make him any better than the other alphas that had shared the road with. Additionally, over his long career he had assisted plenty of expectant omegas and he had seen how taxing the experience could be, let alone for someone that didn’t have the luxury to rest for the duration of it. He had let his frustration and anger get control over him and he found that unacceptable.

Sitting on the opposite couch, he stared at the prone figure of the boy, breathing deep but still awake.

”You need to eat.” He announced with a tone softer than usual, watching the other stir but not respond. He made himself smaller, tugging one arm under his head.

They still had some rations left from the wreck that could be used (mostly dry meat and rice) but soon they would need to start looking into finding more options on their path. But that was a problem for another day. Today he was spending the night with an omega that hated him and that would struggle to keep the proteins down.

“Is your stomach still upset?” Hannibal finally asked as the boy showed no intention to join him. After a moment of silence Will simply shrugged. The doctor had to take it as a yes.

He went to collect his backpack and pulled out a couple of portions and from the side pocket he retrieved a tight bundle of fresh herbs. Earlier that day, as they crossed an area with ticker vegetation, he had spotted some wild mint growing between the rumble. As soon as he pulled them out of his backpack, a fresh smell filled the space.

“Take this.” He tapped gently against his shoulder before handing him a few leaves. “Chew it slowly. It will make you feel better.”

Will looked at the alpha, then at the plant, then again at him before picking the leaves gently. “Thanks.” The tip of his tongue poked out for a second as he welcomed the mind in his month.

”When you feel better you can have some food.” The omega nodded before turning around to face the wall again.

Chapter Text

Looks could be deceptive.

Hannibal knew that all too well. And in a world where nothing was sacred and no one could be trusted, no sentence was more true. This was valid for humans, dead or alive, regardless of their designation. He had learned to keep his barriers up at all times, even with those he ended up sharing years of service with inside the Baltimore base. None of them had ever got close to seeing his real self, just as much he had never trusted them to be who they presented as.

Humans are deceiving. They lie. They pretend.

But the same could be said for places. A building could look safe from the outside, present untouched by the elements and by human presence, but inside it could hide any type of danger. And now that they were forced to explore more in search of useful supplies, every location would be a gamble for their lives.

He could make educated guesses: did it look like someone had been there recently? Was there any noise coming from the front door? And then ultimately, would there be an easy exit if anything went bad?

This was going through his brain as he studied the front of the two floor house sitting at the very end of an overgrown cul-de-sac.

The entire neighbourhood looked relatively untouched. At the centre of the street, still stood the metal sign announcing the impending evacuation and how all the residents were invited to collect their belongings and be ready to leave, on an early morning of early September. Twenty years later, the rust had almost destroyed all the words.

They had taken their time to visit most of the houses in the area, but it was impossible to ignore that one particular building. The garden in the front must have been particularly gorgeous at some point, based on the shapes on the ground and the dead foliage. Over time it had escaped its confinements, but without human support it had withered and died. Apart from the clear signs of abandonment, it was still in good conditions. The windows were still intact, the front door was still closed, like waiting for its owners to return any time, if it wasn’t for the rusted car sitting on the front drive. The other houses on the same street had given a little to their backpacks, but it was easy to imagine what could be hiding behind this very last one.

Since their fight Will had become more careful when it came to complaining. His stomach had improved, certainly thanks to the mint brew Hannibal had started to prepare for him in the morning, but the long walks were still taxing and looking at him right now he looked like he could do with a break indoors. Whoever had been asked to get him ready for the journey had not taken into consideration his size or the upcoming weather, likely handing him an extra military uniform without much forethought. The material was thick and heavy and likely a few sizes too big for him. He could have done with something more sensible for the next weeks of journey.

Hannibal stepped closer, inspecting the entrance for any sign of disturbance. He lifted the encased welcome mat with the tip of his booth, moved a pot distranctingly, watching as some of the dry soil spilled over the brim, and then, almost ironically, he picked up what looked like the small statue of a dwarf, whose smile had discoloured almost entirely. Under its base there it was the spare key he hoped to find.

Will chuckled as the alpha showed him the trophy.

”Now, why would you even bother leaving a key there? Did they really think they were coming back home?” The omega scoffed, pulling at the sweaty collar of his shirt.

“You would be surprised how many were convinced it would all be over in a couple of weeks, even after watching Europe fall before their eyes.”

He had to force the lock a bit, as the rust had ruined the inside mechanism, but soon the door swung open.

The entire house was suspended in time.

Everything looked untouched, quiet, almost asleep, and the only clue telling them the place had not been visited in years was the particle of dust dancing in the summer light coming in from the open windows. In places the wallpaper had been precisely discoloured in those areas the sun had touched repeatedly over and over again.

It framed a moment in time that had been long gone.

The front door opened on a large foyer that would lead to a cozy living room on one side and the kitchen on the other. Just in front of them, wooden steps led to the second floor.

Next to the front door, on a slim console table, still rested the post-it reminding the family members to take out the trash on a Thursday.

Of the multiple framed pictures of the people living there, a couple had been taken out and the empty frame had been secured neatly in a corner, ready to be used again.

Will immediately headed towards the kitchen, ignoring any sign of waiting from the alpha, too interested in exploring the content of the cabinets. Obviously most of the produce left behind by the tenants was spoiled, but there could surprisingly be many things they could still use as long as they were sealed. Hannibal had learned to be quite resourceful with what the world offered him and he was confident he could transform even the simplest ingredients into the most delicious food. (Or at least, delicious by post-virus standards)
”Put everything on the kitchen island so I can pick what to take with us.” Food was the priority at the moment since they had a limited amount of rations left, but even with that they had to be selective. They could only carry so much before it would slow them down.

Neither of them even get close to the fridge, or more precisely, the cursed content of it. There is an unspoken rule everyone knows, and that no amount of hunger is worth exploring that level of decay.

As he opened one of the cabinets, skipping any opened or damaged item, Will's eyes lingered for a moment on the knife block, resting in a corner on the counter. He didn’t get close, simply staring for a moment too long at the inviting handles just a few feet away.

”Don’t even think about it.” Hannibal quickly called him back to reality and the not-so-silent warning elicited a brief scoff from the omega. Hannibal watched him slam a cabinet before he went back emptying the storage.

By the time they were done they had found several sealed tins of food, honey and a few bags of dry noodles. Tucked away at the bottom of the ladder, they managed to survive two decades away from mold and sunlight. What at the time must have been considered an afterthought for the tenants, would help them carry on for quite some time. All and all it had made their side quest worth their time.

“I think I saw some bottles in the living room.” Will announces as he tucked away one of the last cans in his backpack. “Maybe the alcohol is still good.”

”Maybe.” As long as it wasn’t in direct sunlight, liquor usually was a safe choice and it could have multiple uses, but he was not sure it was worth the weight. “Check if any are still sealed.”

The glass cabinet next to the fireplace actually contained a pretty large selection of liquors, from whisky to bourbons and rum. Bringing a cognac to his nose, Hannibal closed his eyes for a moment to take in the fruity notes. Since the bottle had already been opened, some hints of peaches and apricots had lost their potency, but the scent still seemed lovely. Knowing how rare it would be to find more alcohol, the alpha finally opted to take with them a bottle of vodka. It was still sealed and it would be useful as a disinfectant or a firestarter.

As he was busy scanning through the contents of the cabinet, he glanced to the side and noticed how Will seemed distracted by something, having abandoned the search altogether. He was standing in front of the fireplace, looking at the family pictures that decorated the mantle. One in particular captured his attention and he was staring at the image with a confused look in his eyes. Hannibal glanced at it above his shoulder, recognising the same faces he had seen earlier by the front door.

The group was standing on a boat, parents proudly looking at their youngest child in the centre, around 10 years old, as he presented to the camera his latest hunt, a muddy-coloured fish small enough to fit in his open palms.

“I don’t understand it.” The omega finally announced without looking away from the kid.

The alpha paused for a few seconds, uncertain about the question. “What are you referring to?”

“What are they so happy for?” The younger scoffed, tapping his finger at the centre of the picture. “Look at the size of that catfish. It’s a waste of bait. You cannot feed anyone with it. Definitely not something to celebrate.”

He sounded genuinely annoyed, like he couldn’t fathom why anyone would be proud of such accomplishment.

“Before the virus, many people would go fishing or hunting just for fun, not for food. So, the size of the prey is irrelevant.” Hannibal explained calmly.

The omega scoffed at the words, looking up at the other for a second. “That’ stupid. I don’t remember any of that.”

”Besides, he is just a pup.”

“And? Why would that make any difference?”

He was not certain about his age and he had never bothered to ask, but based on his look Will couldn’t be much older than 20. His knowledge of the world prior to the spread of the virus was likely limited. It was not surprising that a lot of customs would appear bizarre for someone so used to fighting to survive.

”Do you know how to fish?” He changed topic, hoping the omega would still be inclined to open up. Luckily it worked.

”Mmm. My dad taught me to. We moved from one port to another till it was too dangerous to do so.” He abandoned the frame, inspecting the content of the bookshelf distractingly.

”Do you think your father wouldn’t have approved of this loot?”

He laughed dismissively. ”I don’t need to guess. I know he wouldn’t have. Once he left me alone by the lake close to home because he thought I had not earned my dinner yet. I spent the night crying, terrified of what he would do if he came back the next day and I was still empty handed.

His voice sounded detached, neutral, but his scent had shifted lightly, with hints of wilted flowers and unripe citrus. Hannibal couldn’t quite decipher it. “What did he do?”

The young man went quiet for a few seconds as he picked up a random book from the shelf.

”I don’t know.” He mumbled eventually. ”I woke up in his truck on the way back home.”

“How old were you?” The alpha enquired, moving closer to the boy.

”I’m not sure. I had not had my first heat yet. Mmm…” He paused again, lifting his eyes from the cover of the book before continuing. “Maybe that checks out if he wanted me to be the type of alpha he was. But it never got better after I presented.”

A certain impulse was pushing Hannibal to pry more information from Will, no matter how dangerous his questions were getting.

He lowered his voice. ”Was he unhappy about your designation?”

Will pushed the book back in place, his fingers lingering a bit too long on the spine. ”He was unhappy about a lot of things. Some within my control, a lot outside of it.

”That must have been very difficult for you growing up.” Just a couple of steps away he could detect every single change in his scent, even those Will himself was not aware of.

“Life is tough for everyone. We all have to grow thick skin to survive.” He was looking down, now too deep into his thoughts to continue with his scavenge.

”He was preparing you to be able to endure the world.”

His lips curved for a second in a bitter expression. ”It surely felt like it.”

”Was he a harsh man?” he was getting too personal. He knew he was but couldn’t help himself but to push the boy a little more to the edge.

”He was like any other alpha. Harsh was the only way he knew how to father.”

”Would you say the same for the sire of your pup?”

Will turned towards the alpha, suddenly too aware of the conversation they were having. His stare didn’t falter, but the perfect equilibrium had been shattered.

”I’m… I’m going to check upstairs.”

And he left the room in a hurry, trailing behind a bitter scent that smelled a lot like regret.

—-

At the end of the corridor, facing south, was the master bedroom. An open suitcase had been abandoned on top of the bed, and a pile of clothes had been quickly thrown in, more were scattered in front of the open wardrobe and on the floor. Whoever was living there had planned to leave, clearly, but time had run out. He still remembered how it felt to escape his own country first, and then again the new temporary house they had found in America. Leaving everything behind had only been marginally easier the second time around, and only because they didn’t have much to bring with them.

While Will was occupied looking through the open suitcase, Hannibal headed immediately to the master bathroom. Everything had been left untouched and even if expired, some of the medicine would still be useful. It was shocking to see how unprepared the family was when they left the house, leaving behind something so precious as their medicines. However, it was not surprising. The government had made many promises at the time, promises it would have never been able to keep, so people had to hold tight on their hope and trust authorities. Well, they would not get wasted now.

As he poured most of the content of the cabinets in his backpack, his eyes lingered for a moment towards the omega in the next room. He watched him discard the heavy military issued shirt and the alpha couldn’t avoid noticing the history his skin seemed to tell. Multiple scars littered his pale skin, which was not entirely shocking considering the boy’s past, or at least what Hannibal imagined had been part of his upbringing. What was more interesting were the few burn marks that covered his back and arms. They were not accidental, there was logic and pattern in the way they adorned his body. This was the first time he had a chance to see him undress. During his physical he limited his visit to what Jack had asked him, otherwise those signs would have never escaped his analysis. Some of those marks seemed old, some were still pink and shiny, no older than a few months.

But something else captured his eyes the moment omega turned in his direction, too busy looking at the clothes in front of him to notice Hannibal’s look. His belly had filled up a little since the last time he saw it and certainly not for the rations he had consumed. In any other omega it would be impossible to notice already the signs of pregnancy, but the boy in front of him had arrived at the base so slender that one could see the gentle curve of a baby bump picking out of his trousers.

Will caressed his belly unconsciously, like he usually did when he was in deep thoughts, before covering himself again with a shirt he had found in the corner of the wardrobe. It was still slightly too big for him, but the fabric still revealed at moments his new curves. As much as he wanted to look, Hannibal forced himself to avert his eyes, so as not to destroy the fragile equilibrium that had been developing between the two.

A loud shattering of glasses pulled him back from his thoughts.

Will’s head sprung up, staring at the alpha first and then towards the open bedroom door. A second crash followed, now more clearly coming from the lower floor and Hannibal had to raise his hands to stop Will from instinctually running away.

”Why the fuck did you do that Tommy? I could have drunk that” A voice whined, drowned in deep laughter.

“Then grab yourself one and stop complaining. There are more where that came from.”

Raiders.

Hannibal pressed himself against the bathroom wall, using the door as a shield, and the other mirrored him sneaking inside the open closet between hanging clothes.

It was hard to figure out how many people had entered the house, but based on their voices they were at least 4 or 5. Their scent, as they were getting closer and moved around the space, carried alphan pheromones, and the classic self confidence he had seen among the men at the base, but far less self control.

For the first time that day he became very aware of the pressure of the guns he carried in his side holster and how much he didn’t trust his ability to make those bullets count.

He quickly glanced at the bedroom window. It was close shut and he doubted he would be able to open it quickly enough for them to leave before the intruders noticed them, and even if that was possible, how would they be able to climb from the second floor? It was a dead end.

”Fuck off… These people have left all their shit behind. Do you think the car still has gas?”

The first man whistled, calling out the group. ”Bill, check the garage and I’ll look upstairs. Maybe these idiots have a lockup or something.”

Hannibal could feel the vibration shake the upper floor as one of the men climbed up the stairs and he looked at the omega stuck in the other room, the realization that he had no way to defend himself dawning on his face. He could already smell his fear rising, as he looked around in a panic, but nothing in his proximity could even resemble a weapon.

A tall alpha emerged from the door, slowly approaching the room as he studied the mess all around taking a long puff at his cigarette.

He was big, almost as big as Hannibal, but leaner and on his shoulder he carried a rifle.

The doctor heard the omega’s breath stop and the guy turned in his direction, taking in the sight of the boy crouched in the corner.

”What- “ He barely had time to realise what was happening that the doctor, instinct taking control over his self preservation, jumped from the bathroom and buried his knife in the soft meat of his neck. Blood splashed hot and fast along his arm and the young man scrambled to fight his invisible enemy. The fingers reached for Hannibal’s hair, but were shaking too much to find grip.

The alpha held his body tight, and at first the raider tried fighting the lack of oxygen and the terror of the unexpected attack, but Hannibal only tightened the hold more till the man slowly stopped altogether.

The body fell to the ground with a loud thud, immobile but from the deep gurgling coming from the gaping wound in his trachea.

“What the fuck! Tommy!” A scream came from the top of the stairs where a second alpha was standing looking at the dead body of his friend soaking the old carpet.

Hannibal rushed towards Will, just in time to hear a gun being loaded and shooting in his direction.

In the span of seconds their options had been drastically reduced.

With slippery fingers he reached for his own gun, responding to the fire with fire.

More feet rushed to the bottom of the stairs, where the second man was hiding trying to find a small opening. But as much as they were struggling to get to the couple upstairs, Hannibal was starting to fear his bullets wouldn’t be enough.

”Give me a gun” WIll yelled, covering his ears.

”No way!” He really couldn’t afford to waste a gun on an omega. The situation was already dire.

”Just give me one!” This time Hannibal ignored him completely, too busy avoiding a shot flying dangerously close to his face.

Will looked at the alpha, then at the abandoned rifle still hanging off the dead’s man shoulder and he jumped ahead, keeping as low to the ground as possible as he tried to get to the weapon.

”Will, no!” With the corner of his eyes Hannibal watched him struggle, pulling at the weapon with all his strength but finally he managed to collect it with a grunt.

It took a second for the omega to load the shot and then aim at one of the raiders, whose head had just peeped out from the corner of the stairs.

The hit sent the body backwards and the blood spray went to decorate the still frames of family members hanging on the wall.

Hannibal didn’t even hear the screams coming from the other man, calling at the dead companion, too transfixed by the image of the omega loading a second bullet.

Will took another deep breath, calmed his rushing heart as he pressed the barrel to his cheek and he pressed the trigger again, this time hitting the wooden bannister, keeping the enemies at safe distance.

He was magnificent. So fully in his element, powerful and dangerous.

Before he even had time to load a third shot, the alpha heard the group rush down the stairs. As the older man got up and peeked through the window, he spotted two men running for their lives, and then speeding away on a pair of motorcycles.

The house was quiet again apart from the quick panting of the omega, still crouched on the floor staring at the now empty doorway. As adrenaline was starting to wear down he noticed his fingers trembling around the trigger. The boy looked down at the barrel, still loaded with that third bullet, and then at the alpha standing in front of him. It would be very easy for him to just aim and be free again.

Hannibal could do very little to save himself if Will made that decision.

The alpha didn’t move, watching the realization hit the boy as he stared back at his captor. Neither of them said a word, and Hannibal watched the rifle being raised in his direction before slowly Will handed it over.

There was no fear in his eyes.

”Thank you.” Hannibal collected the weapon and loaded onto his shoulder with a hint of a smile.

The boy simply nodded and he lifted his hand to ask for support standing up. His legs were shaking. “We should leave the area. The noise might attract infected.”

“Lead the way.”

There was more to him than Hannibal could imagine.

Chapter Text

It was a matter of time before Hannibal’s luck would run dry.

If the start of their solo journey had been mostly smooth and uneventful, over time the road had become progressively more deteriorated making it impossible for them to continue in a straight line. Sure it was easier to improvise and work their way even on uneven ground, where in the past their military vehicles had struggled a lot, but on foot any possible bypass added hours, if not days to the schedule. The additional miles in the progressively rising summer temperatures were making their journey increasingly more difficult.

Over the past week they had witnessed how the lack of human interventional had affected the country over the last two decades, and now Hannibal was facing the sinkhole that had destroyed the latest city land space forcing them to stop. The alpha was studying the area, calculating every option they had through semi collapsed buildings or side roads while Will was resting in the shade of a rusted bus stop. He certainly didn’t seem to mind the break as much as Hannibal did, but the oldest had not yet vocalised his worry about the limited time they had to cross the country. In honesty he didn’t think adding anxiety would benefit their journey, but the ticking clock never stopped to appear at the back of his mind.

“Up. I found a way.” Hannibal called him, loading the backpack on his shoulders.

When he obtained nothing in response he finally looked at the omega. His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow and deep. Lately he had become an easy sleeper, and at any break, no matter how short, Hannibal would find him snoozing. At the end of each day, it was almost a struggle to have him eat anything, and not for the sickness that had characterised the first trimester of his pregnancy and that luckily had now mostly gone, but because he would fall asleep as soon as they set camp for the night.
”Will.” He called him again, gently but firmly, and this time the omega’s eyes fluttered open.

”What…?” He mumbled before starting to collect his belongings as he got used to.

”We are going this way.” Hannibal announced again, pointing at a building just around the corner of what at some point had been the Main Street. Under an archway a tiled set of steps led down, deep down into the ground. Someone had vandalised the sign at the entrance and the gate of the subway had been forced open, enough for them to be able to squeeze in.

From the sideway, looking down, the stairs lead to a large atrium drenched in darkness.

Hannibal attempted a couple of steps, but the omega didn’t get any closer, stopping a few feet away with a nervous expression on his face.

”No way. I’m not going anywhere near that.” He waved in the general direction of the entrance.

”We can cut a considerable amount of time if we proceed underground.” The alpha explained. He couldn’t be sure of the conditions the subway was in, but hopefully they wouldn’t have to spend too much time there. Based on his projections it would take them a few hours before emerging on the other side.

Still Will didn’t move from his spot, squeezing his hands nervously around the straps of his backpack. “We can walk around.”

“That is not an option.” The alpha sighed. He really didn’t have the patience for that conversation now. They had already wasted too much time trying to take the easy way and he wanted to put as many miles behind them as possible before stopping for the day. The underground was the faster option.

”We cannot go there.” The omega protested once again, looking around almost trying to find a secret alternative way that had escaped both of them till now.

”That’s as good as any other way. This will take us out of town faster than if we try to walk around the debrief” He didn’t want to think how long it would take Will to actually climb over the collapsed road, and how many hours of rest he would need after to recover from it.
”I’ve always been told not to go underground… You don’t know what’s down in the dark.”

It wasn’t necessarily bad advice and many people living outside of the QZ lived by it. At the early stages of the infection many had found refuge in those tunnels, back when electricity was still a reliable resource. But it didn’t take long before the underground had become a dangerous trap for anyone untrained. And there were far safer places where to find shelter or resources. Still, in his experience most subways looked more dangerous than they actually were.

All smoke and no meat.

”We have the torches and enough batteries to last us until we are on the other side.” He turned and climbed down a couple more steps glancing at the other one last time.

”But…”

”That’s not up for discussion. We are going.”

The omega stared at him without adding another word, before finally heading down into the subway.

As they made their way down, slowly all sounds died down. The chirping of birds in the distance or the soft brushing of the wind through the trees went quieter, stopped by the thick cement walls. The temperature also decreased considerably, from the intense summer heat to a more manageable chill that grew more intense the more they delved deep into the shadows.

The main atrium was drenched in a quiet dim light coming from the only exit.

The floor was covered in newspapers, abandoned suitcases and trash, so much that they had to wiggle their way through the barriers.

Behind those, the room split, leading towards several escalators to the platforms, but as they climbed down the tall steps of the tunnels going downtown, a rotting stench hit them so aggressively they both had to slow down for a second. An inch of slimy dark water, a mix of sewage and rain had been collecting slowly over time, covering their walkway.

Hannibal turned briefly towards the other expecting to see him struggle with the smell. It wouldn’t be the first time that a corpse would make him ill, but as much as his expression betrayed his discomfort, Will still continued.

It was not that he didn’t have empathy for him, he did. Hannibal surely understood the underground was far from the most ideal option for them, but he tried repeating to himself it was a necessary evil in order to leave town as fast as possible. He promised to give Will a few more hours of sleep in the morning as a reward for following without too much protest. Sure, that seemed a good compromise.

It didn’t take long before they had to say goodbye to the last slim traces of sun and they had to rely on their torches alone. He knew when he snatched them from the wreckage they would turn useful very soon and the military grade was going to be essential to beat the darkness of the tunnels. It was almost as if the walls had been soaking in that night for so long, only a powerful tool could cut it.

The platform was desolated. Litter had accumulated in every corner, leaving behind signs of passage of the people that had in the past hoped to find escape there. If that was successful or not it was hard to say. The alpha glanced briefly at the map decorating the wall, checking the list of stations on the same line before climbing down on the rail track.

”This way.” He announced before jumping off the platform. Will seemed hesitant, looking back at the faded lights of the main entrance in the distance before joining the other. There the water was higher, splashing them both up to their ankles but hopefully the short journey would be worth the discomfort.

From there it was a long straight line deep in the tunnels, to the outskirts of town.

—-

“Did you hear that?” Will asked at some point, with a certain apprehension in his voice. The stench of rotten water was stronger now that the ventilation was basically nonexistent, but Hannibal could still detect notes of nervousness in his scent. “Something moving.”

The only noise echoing in the darkness were their steps in the water.

The alpha stopped for a second, holding his breath so to let the echo die between the cement walls. But as he scanned the surface with his torch, he could only see and hear the screeching of critters running away from the light.

“It must be rats.” He reflected out loud. “Ignore them.”

Slowly it had started downing on him the reality of his choice, and the paranoia began brewin in his chest like an infection. Every little whine, every creak or squeak or any whoosh in the water, made him imagine tragic scenarios where they would perish without ever feeling again the warmth of the sun. Even their own shadows looked like something they should run away from.

It didn’t take long for him to decide he didn’t want to spend any extra minute drenched in that putrid smell. The prospect of wasting a couple of days just to avoid the most damaged parts of the city now didn’t look that bad. He didn’t want to alarm Will, though, and plant the seed of doubt in him, but he was already looking for signs for the next station. He didn’t care anymore how long it would take them to cross town in the more traditional way. It would still be worth it.

The subway had been a naive mistake.

A whine made him turn around again. The level of the water was higher there and the omega was struggling to make a step in the dense liquid. It reached his calf and he had to lift his knees all the way to be able to continue.

”Get on top of the track” He would gain a few more inches that way and hopefully it would make it easier for him to continue. “It shouldn't take long before-“

”Oh shit.”

Turning the torch in front of them they found themselves facing a scenario he had not expected. Two derailed trains were tangled under a pile of rubbles. The ceiling had collapsed blocking the passage completely and the only way to continue was through the open door of the carriage.

“We have to go back.” He heard the boy say, while he tried scanning with the light the inside of the vehicle. He could only see so much from their position, but it looked eerily empty. Like an omen.

”No. We continue.” As much as he regretted choosing that path, he would not waste additional hours making it all the way back. Sure the tunnel had collapsed, but the carriage didn’t seem affected by it, so there was still a chance for them to emerge on the other side. Only if nothing else was possible he would accept defeat and go back.

He wanted to imagine the next stop was just waiting for them on the other side, already drenched in sunlight, the smell of rotting flesh lifted. They just need to brave through this last step.

”This is not good.” Will mumbled quietly but he didn’t wait for the alpha to reprimand him.

He climbed first, assessing the metal ledge before extending his hand to help the other up. There was a second of hesitation before Will reached for it and followed. At least now they were no longer ankles deep in sewage water.

The railcar was laying on a slight inclination, and over time the garbage and rubble had accumulated against the seats, making it a bit more difficult for them to climb. Many abandoned suitcases had been left across the floor and on top of the chairs. He chose not to linger too much in observing where human remains had decomposed fusing with the filthy fabric.

They could feel the structure tremble with each step, the metal skeleton having to support additional weight for the first time in years, so they slowed their pace, hoping to get to the end of it as soon as possible.

But it didn’t take long for them to reach a dead end. The door heading to the next carriage appeared closed, if not for a small gap, no larger than a couple of fingers.

”We have to go back.” Will suggested, and this time his voice betrayed how scared he was.

He didn’t want to consider that possibility. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

So he kept repeating himself they had nothing to fear if not the dark itself.

He couldn’t quite see what waited for them on the other side of the door, maybe another carriage, maybe another tunnel, but he still slid his fingers in the gap and started pushing. The doors creaked but didn’t move.

“Hannibal…”

He pushed harder, just to feel the metal tremble between his hands. He could just feel it, a slim breeze coming from the other side, the smell not as dreadful as the tunnels they had walked till now.

”Hannibal!”

The alpha turned, to see Will facing the sinkhole they had climbed from, and the cold light of his torch traced the shapes of something that had not been human in a very long time. Their skin had lost its natural colour entirely, swollen and rotting after spending years threading nasty water. Although their milky eyes couldn’t likely see anything, almost as soon as the two acknowledged their presence, a guttural sound rose from them while they scrambled to climb on top of the train.

The omega turned quickly, bracing the rifle, but didn’t dare shoot yet one single shot. “Hurry!”

The alpha forced the doors as much as he could, feeling the metal buckled ever so slightly under his hands. He could feel the cold air coming in from the other side, but he could only see pitch black through the small gap. He heard the omega load the bullet with a loud click, his hold getting tighter on the wood of the barrel. Every shot was precious, any loud noise could easily attract flocks of the same undead.

He peeked behind just for a second, watching the creature making their ways on the coach, struggling on the pile of rubbish and giving them more time.

“Come on…” Another push and the door opened a few more inches, enough that they could both squeeze and pass but unfortunately, the second carriage he was hoping to find was not there. On the other side of the door the floor had completely collapsed.

Looking down, the tunnel had been swallowed by the water, the light of the torch reflecting on the surface like a sea of petrol. He briefly turned behind one last time, the growling of the infected had grown stronger, loud enough to cover Will’s panicked inhaling. His light followed in a frenzy the direction of his gun, while he decided what to shoot first… if the bullets would be enough to protect them from the impending flock.

Hannibal grabbed him by the collar pulling him towards the doors. “Jump!” Their eyes met for a second, wide and fearful, before he watched him jump ahead.

There was a pause, just a brief second before he heard his body hit the water, and then the alpha followed.

The water engulfed him. It was dense and dark, so much that even his torch couldn’t cut through it and when he emerged it took a moment for his lungs to fill again.

Above him the growl of the undead continued, more desperate and agitated from their struggle to squeeze through the still semi closed doors. But apart from their cry, the room was quiet again, with the subtle move of the waves crashing against the body of the rotting carriage, almost entirely under the water.

Almost too calm.

He turned around, scanning with his light the room from one wall to another, inspecting the dark waters for any movement, but there was nothing. Will had not emerged.

He took a big breath before the panic had time to fill his lungs and dived in.

Debrief and garbage were floating in front of him in a sinister still frame and the much too dense water enwrapped his features. It felt unnatural to open his eyes in that darkness, but he forced himself to blink a few times while he got used to it. He frantically scanned the water, horrifyingly discovering they were not the only people there, and but he finally was able to spot the boy, the only thing differentiating him from the corpses floating were the numerous bubbles escaping his lips and nose. He had sunk to the bottom, and he was fighting with all his strengths to resurface but his left leg was held tight by a rotting creature, bloated fingers, and greenish skin.

The monster had been waiting for so long to sink his teeth into fresh meat it was not going to leave this prey so easily.

The alpha rushed to them, watching the bubbles coming out of Will’s nose in fewer and fewer bundles, his arms slowing down as the oxygen in him ran out.

He reached for his knife as fast as he could, finding with horrid disgust how easily the blade would sink in its decomposing neck. Black watery blood escaped the injury when he pulled the weapon back, but he was too focused on tearing the infected’s grip open and pulling the omega to safety to sit behind and watch him die for good.

Will didn’t react as Hannibal wrapped his arms around him and by the time they broke the surface of the water, the boy was completely limp against the alpha’s chest. His head lulled to the side, resting on Hannibal’s shoulder, the mop of brown curls making rivulets down his cheeks.

They needed out of that pool as quickly as possible. He couldn’t be sure another one of those was hiding in the rubble waiting to feast on them both.

There was a nearby carriage in the tunnel, almost completely submerged if not for a few inches of roof peeking from the water. Lacking any other option, Hannibal swam in its direction, trying to keep the omega’s head out of the water the best he could. He thanked his strong alpha build for being able to push him on top of the coach, because the boy still showed no sign of rising.

As he laid him on the metal skeleton, he brushed his hair back, observing his still features more clearly in the torch light.

”Will.” He slapped him once, at first more gently, before raising his voice, the fear of attracting undesired attention dying a little every second. “Will!”

But nothing. He remained still, lips slightly open and with a bluish tint.

Closing the space between the two, the doctor brought his ear to the other’s mouth to check his breathing, but he was met with silence.
”Will. You must breathe for me.” He pinched his nose and put his lips on his, blowing in. The boy’s chest rose under the soaked shirt, but then fell flat again. “Come on, Will. Come on!” He begged again, a new type of fear sinking in, before blowing the breath of life in him a second time.

He felt the boy tense under him, his chest spasming for a second before he watched the omega turn to the side and vomit the same rancid water they had been swimming in. “There you are. Good…” He patted his back gently as wet coughs shook his body and oxygen filled his lungs again.

“That… that was… “ Hannibal lifted his pant leg, checking for any scratch or bite mark, but luckily the monster had not broken skin. His hand brushed over a new bruise that was blessing on his calf in the shape of a handprint. It had been so close.

“You are okay.” He was not entirely sure if he was trying to reassure the omega or himself. Either way he hid his smile of relief in the dark. “You are only allowed to die on my terms. You understand?”

The boy rolled on his back, allowing the adrenaline to leave his body. for the first time. He didn’t seem upset about it.
”Well, that’s comforting to hear.”

They still had a long way to go on the other side, miles of tunnels before they could see the sun. But for a moment Hannibal was certain he had felt the warmth again.

Chapter Text

He looked down at his watch again.

Another hour of slow march had passed and he wasn’t sure they had made any progress at all. If it wasn’t for the tool around his wrist, he wouldn’t even be able to tell how long they had been walking for.

Every tunnel looked the same, every corner led to the same repetitive corridors covered in moss and mould. If it wasn’t for the slightly different graffitis on the walls or the different state of decay of each area, he would almost wonder if they were walking in a circle.

Hannibal was no longer even sure where they were anymore, or if they were even still walking towards another station. The dive had taken them to a section of the underground where passengers were not meant to be, with narrower passages and small rooms, where all the engineering side of the subway had been tucked away from commuter’s eyes. There were no signs indicating the next exit, either they had never been there or time had consumed them under layers of rust and debris.

At least they were not walking in inches of rotting water anymore, but he could still smell it on their soaked clothes. They just wouldn’t dry in the stagnant air.

He looked behind. Will was following with his head down, hugging himself and shivering in silence.

Ever since they had emerged from that dive he had grown quiet, no longer as paranoid as he had been hours before when they had first entered the tunnels. And in fairness, the corridors they were traversing now were completely silent, as if none of the creatures had ventured so deep down into the ground. Either there was just no food for them this deep, or there was something even more scary keeping them away. Hannibal simply refused to think too much about this possibility. Whatever the reason they seemed to avoid the darkness and so the alpha would take it as a partial win.

He heard the omega suck air quickly between his teeth. No matter how much they had complained about the rising temperatures outside, he already missed the feeling of the sun on his skin. The more they descended the more the temperature had fallen, and the wet clothes stuck to their skin, humidity seeping deep in their bones.

The corridor made a quick turn but once they crossed it they found themselves in front of another hallway, no dissimilar to the one they just came from. There was no sight of an exit, nor the structure gave any information on where they were. The ceiling was covered in multiple thick metal tubes and somewhere in the dark one of them was leaking with a repetitive sound.

Hannibal had to ask himself if he had condemned them both. He has underestimated how unpredictable the would could be even for a fully trained individual like himself. Maybe if only he had looked a bit longer, studied the map more, trusted Will’s guts, maybe…

Would they even get to see the sky again or were they doomed to go crazy together down in the dark?

He paused for a second thinking of the options they had, but Will continued marching, head down, deep in thoughts. Only then, the alpha noticed his steps were uneven and he didn’t seem to put as much weight on his left foot. His brows would flinch lightly as soon as the left boot touched the floor.

He had not mentioned it in any way, maybe hoping Hannibal wouldn’t notice, but regardless, they needed a break. Hopefully a few hours of rest would clear his mind on what to do.

”Here.” He pointed at a metal door on their path sporting some “Staff Only” sign. The letters had mostly peeled off, but one could still read the empty space left behind.

The entrance led to a small boiler room. Cleaning supplies covered a corner, abandoned on shelves no one had any access to for decades. The same tubes continued inside, knotting and branching out covering the entire ceiling like overgrown ivy. The rest of the room was mostly empty but it was quiet and tucked away. It was not the most comfortable option, but they could hardly be picky. And, if anything, they could at least close the door behind them.

”We can rest here for a few hours.” He announced keeping the door open for the younger one.

“Okay.” The omega half mumbled, squeezing under Hannibal’s raised arm. Hannibal watched him enter the room, stumbling in the dust to find a spot against the wall tucked in the corner, before closing the door behind. It took all his strength to move it from the rusted hinges.

He peeled his own jacket off, shaking it before hanging it at a nearby hanger before inviting the boy to do the same. The omega didn’t reply immediately, holding onto the fabric that was giving him a little more protection.

”Quick.” He would feel better once it had a chance to dry. The boy sighed, dropping the heavy backpack on the floor and finally took the jacket off. The material was sticking to his skin, and when he turned around, Hannibal noticed the raised goosebumps on his neck, around his jagged mating mark.

“Is your leg hurting?” He finally asked, noticing how he was limping even to make a couple of steps to hand him the clothes.

The boy raised his head quickly, as if caught in something he shouldn’t be doing. “It’s nothing.” he was quick to say, but his flinch as he moved from one leg to the other betrayed his lie.

”Show me.”

“I said it’s nothing.”

Hannibal ignored the words entirely and nudged at a spot on the ground, next to where he had dropped his backpack. “Here. Sit.”

Finally relenting, Will lowered himself to the floor, using the wall behind for support and stretched his left leg towards the alpha.

Hannibal took his time and positioned his torch on a shelf nearby. It helped keep the room lit up, and maybe a little less scary.

Kneeling in front of the other, he glimpsed a second at the boy's awkward expression before gently taking the boot in his hand. He worked the laces slowly, trying not to move the joint too much, and then pulled the shoe off, holding his calf to steady him. He pushed the pant leg up again, eyeing the same bruises he had seen earlier, now in a darker shade of purple. His fingers brushed the ankle, moving it slowly to assess its condition. Will flinched but didn’t pull back, staring back at the alpha’s hands as if to make sure he wouldn’t try anything sinister and the doctor kept massaging the leg with expert fingers.

All and all the ankle was sore but not worrisome.

”It’s slightly swollen but it will pass. Just keep it elevated.” Ideally he would be able to rest for a couple of days before putting weight on it again, but they could only afford a few hours of sleep before continuing. Better than nothing.

“It's not my first time.” Will scoffed leaning on his right leg, face pressed against his knee. “I know how to take care of myself.”

”I’m sure you do.” He had still not let his leg go, slowly and gently working his hands on the most sore spots, hoping to give him some relief. Under his fingertips he felt the raised skin of a scar, running parallel to the shin. “Not the first time you have to take care of your own injuries?” Not that he actually needed to ask. The assumption could be valid for anyone in the current world. Additionally, the boy was likely young enough to have virtually no memory of living without the constant fear of the undead.

Maybe it was easier to survive when you have nothing better to look back to.

”Who else was supposed to do it?” His brows pinched together, he looked almost offended by such a silly question.

”Your father perhaps.” Hannibal knew it was a dangerous question. Will hadn’t taken it well to his digging just a few weeks before and they had not touched the topic since. The omega was always surprisingly reserved when it came to his own past, and in the sporadic conversations they had, he had shared very little details of where he came from. And even thought the room was filled with the intense smell of mold and dust he could already smell his scent shifting to a much more bitter one.

”He was not there for long. I had to learn fast.”

”Did he die?” He regretted asking as soon as the words left his lips, but somehow Will’s scent didn’t turn completely sour.

”Your guess is as soon as mine.”

Well, that was not the answer he expected to hear. ”You don’t know?”

Maybe it sounded judgemental, but the boy took a deep breath and leaned more against his knee before continuing.

”He left one morning to go find supplies, food, whatever…He took the car and told me to stay inside, to not go too far, but he never got back.” He scrunched his face at the memory. “Maybe he died out there, maybe he just decided to leave. I don’t know.”

The proverbial “gone to get milk”.

Hannibal lowered his head, letting silence fill the space for a few seconds. When he realised Will was not going to continue he pressed again. “How long was it before you realized he was not coming back?” His fingers never stopped massaging the sore skin, climbing up and rubbing circles on the meat of his calf. The omega didn’t protest the touch.

His hair was still wet from the unexpected dive and his curls were hanging low, covering part of his vision. “I waited as long as I could.

Maybe he got stuck somewhere, maybe he was lost or he had run out of gas… After five days I had nothing left and I decided to leave as well. Anyway it was clear he was not coming back.”

”It must have been really hard for you.” Based on the context clues he must have been very young when he found himself alone for the first time. The doctor could imagine him, no more than a child, waiting alone hour after hour for someone to come and save him. How many tears did he shed before realising he had to save himself?

The world could be extremely scary for a child, especially without support. Hannibal knew it well.

”It was harder to stay.”

“I suppose it was.” He pulled the pant leg down slowly, covering the bruised skin. “Keep it rested.” He reminded him before helping him put the booth back on. The tight lace would help him keep his ankle straight and avoid doing wrong movements. Hopefully soon they would be out of the tunnels and he would be able to rest it properly.

Will mumbled a thank you, quietly before continuing. “Did you grow up in the QZ?” It was the first time the omega had asked him anything personal since leaving with the troops.

”No, I joined the Baltimore base when I was a young man.” It was many years before, but he still remembered how Jack had welcomed him through the large metal gates and guided him to the infirmary. He had been the first friendly face he had seen since walking through the doors, and likely if it hadn’t been for him, it would have taken more time for the rest of the military to see him as equal. Strangers would always be seen as the enemy no matter the world they lived in.

”What did you do before?“

”I travelled around, trying to survive like everyone else.” More or less.

“By yourself?” Hannibal didn't answer immediately, thinking wisely how much he cared to share with the boy, selecting the details he considered safe.

”For the most part.”

“Friends?” The young man pressed again, his eyes staring straight at the alpha with no fear of repercussion.

Hannibal was not sure what it was, if the time they had been spending together had made him more comfortable with exploring his captor, or if the near death experience had made it easier for the boy to open up, or maybe it was the sense of safety of that little cupboard underground.

Hannibal took another couple of seconds, sipping at his flask slowly as he set his back against the opposite wall (or at least as comfortably as the hard surface let him). Against his better judgement, he chose to let curiosity take him.

”No. I was with my family.” This really took the omega by surprise.

“You had family?” He retreated before clearing his voice. Maybe the admission was way too genuine. “I don’t know why I am surprised…” The boy’s fingers started playing nervously with the loose fabric of his shirt. “Are they in the QZ now?”

There it was. Hannibal could see the gears turning in Will’s mind as he tried to imagine what it looked like to have your family safe behind the thick walls of the military capital. His hand had gone yet again to caress the gentle slope of his belly and the curve was getting every week more noticeable under his loose shirt. The alpha was starting to understand what his silence was hiding since surviving that near death experience and in his eyes Hannibal recognised the ferocity of a mother that didn’t want to see his pup die in a similar way.

But unfortunately Hannibal didn't have positive reinforcements to share.

”No. I lost them long before I joined the QZ.”

The omega quieted, leaning back against the wall slowly.

“Oh.” He didn’t apologise for the loss, just as he hadn't after Jack's passing and Hannibal was again grateful for the lack of false pity. He looked at the ground in silence before continuing. “Is your mate waiting for you in Seattle?”

Hannibal had never mentioned before of a possible mate but in the way Will had asked his question there was no sense of uncertainty.

“Why are you asking that?“ It was almost too direct coming from the boy and Hannibal couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at it.

Maybe Will had sensed it was treading dangerous waters because his eyes stayed glued to the ground, avoiding looking at the other as much as possible in a truly omegan submissive manner. “Just curious, I suppose.”

Hannibal took another sip watching him nervously play with the fabric of his shirt. “Uhm. No, I’m not mated.”

The boy finally looked up, staring at the alpha with a questioning look. “Oh… But you have a pup?“

Hannibal froze. It was common for an alpha his age to be mated and have pups, most of his former colleagues at the base did, but there was nothing in the doctor’s demeanour that implied he had someone waiting for him.And yet, once again Will sounded extremely sure of his words.

“What gave you that impression?”

Will didn’t answer, but his eyes stayed firm on the alpha, too afraid to look away again.

”Will.” He wouldn’t just drop it. Not this time.

“Sometimes you talk in your sleep.”

Hannibal didn’t answer. He felt naked, all the things he kept secret exposed for the world to see.

“You keep repeating a name.”

He stood quickly interrupting the other before he had a chance to finish the sentence. “You should rest for a few hours. I’ll wake you.”

His voice was neutral, but the boy for the first time he had been the most dangerous creature in the room.

He simply answered with a weak smile, and Hannibal watched him get comfier against his backpack in the dim light of the torch. He reached for it, brushing the button with the tip of his fingers before stopping. Saving the battery, no matter if it was a couple of hours worth of electricity was fundamental, but the reassurance it gave them, even if superficially, was worth it. In the tight space of that abandoned closet it would be able to push away the scary noises coming from deep in the tunnels.

He tucked his own luggage against the door and leaned against it pretending it was the comfortable bed waiting for them in Seattle… No, waiting for him. The omega’s breathing quickly evened out and the alpha stared at his tired features for a few seconds before closing his eyes as well. There was no bed waiting for the boy, just another cage and a mass grave.

Since before leaving Baltimore, it had been agreed they wouldn’t reveal to Will the plans the government had for him once arriving in Seattle, in the hope that he would collaborate if he knew there was a place waiting for him in the new capital. It was a hard decision to make, but Hannibal had not even considered it being his problem. But now, with months ahead of them, he was starting to rethink that decision.

The secret was starting to burn a hole in his chest.

Chapter Text

He managed to sleep a few hours.

Or at least, that’s what Hannibal’s watch showed when he woke up from his rough, restless sleep. Every inch of his body was hurting, forced to spend the night sitting on the hard, cold floor. He was not the young man he used to be and the trip was starting to take a toll on him. As he sat back, finding support in his backpack, he promised himself that if they managed to leave the tunnels, he would find a nice house for the both of them where they would be able to actually recover from that ordeal, with soft beds, clean sheets and a stocked pantry. To hell with his rush. They could afford 24 hours to properly sleep.

Hannibal turned towards the other and he was surprised to see Will was already awake. He didn’t look any more rested than he did a few hours before though, and in the cold light of the torch, his face appeared sunken and grey. He greeted the alpha with a weak smile.

”Did you manage to sleep a little?” The doctor asked, picking up his light source from the shelf, and pinning it back on his chest.

Will shook his head. “I couldn’t.” He admitted, almost ashamed.

That was surely not like him. The second trimester had aggressively depleted his energies, and for the past week or so he had been taking advantage of any break to sleep and recover. But not this time.

Somewhere above their heads a tube creaked, the same way it had done all night, and Will’s eyes immediately went to the ceiling.

The paranoia had the better of him and Hannibal couldn’t really blame him for it, not after his experience of the day before. Even in the thick smell of mould, the alpha could sense the acrid scent of fear coming from the omega. The room was filled with it.

Hannibal simply nodded, before helping the boy on his feet. “How is your leg?”

The younger one tested it, lowering his weight on his left boot slowly. His face scrunched a little, but nothing compared to what he did before. “I’ll survive.”

Promise it. The words came to him in an instant and he had to stop himself from saying them. “Good.” That felt more appropriate.

Before leaving, Hannibal made sure to take some of Will’s cargo and move it to his own backpack so he wouldn’t strain himself too much. Anything too heavy he could carry it for him for now. He repeated to himself it was just the most practical thing to do, to keep it steady, as quick as possible, no other sentimental reason.

They were ready.

Back on their slow march, nothing had changed from earlier. The tunnels would mix together, heading straight for what felt like forever.

Hannibal hoped to see any sign of their path changing, maybe signs on the walls, or even just a different noise coming from the tubes above them, possibly indicating they were getting closer to the surface.

At least, looking behind, Will’s pace appeared steadier and more regular. The omega still followed a few steps back, his head always turning quickly towards any unwelcome noise. Sometimes the echo of their own breathing would distort against the walls, as if someone was following them.

Focused as he was on the way ahead, he noticed a moment later he had stepped on something.

It was a large metal sign, covered in dust and grime. The surface had warped where rust had taken place so he brushed it with the bottom of his shoe to see the bold letters on it.

The stylized figure of a manufacturing worker called for any employee passing by to stop, the words below reminded the staff to wear adequate protective gear before continuing in the tunnels. He looked around and spotted a faded shape of roughly the same size decorating a large metal door. He couldn’t be sure if it had been ripped off or if it had fallen by itself over time but it was the most encouraging sign he had seen in hours.

“Wait.” He called the omega just as the boy was about to walk past him.

“What is it?” Clearly those doors looked like any other to him. Protective gears had a very different meaning now.

He pushed on the surface, with one hand first, then with his shoulder but it only moved a few inches before stopping. Something on the other side was blocking it. “Help me here.”

Will took his backpack off, before leaning with his shoulder against the metal door. “Ok, push.” The frame rattled, but no matter how hard they pushed it only opened a few inches more before stopping again. He kneeled on the ground, spying through the gap a slice of the room on the other side to understand what was blocking it, but his torch couldn’t point to anything in particular. He spotted some tables, what looked like a couch and some chairs, but nothing else. The exit felt so close, the chance to see the sun again and leaving that rotting place, and yet the universe had chosen to make it more difficult.

“I think I can squeeze through.” Will suggested. The space was about a hand’s width. Too small for the alpha’s built, but a lean omega could easily squeeze. The question was, what would he find on the other side? It looked quiet, sure, but they had seen before how silence would pull tricks on them. Not only that, but it would also be very easy for him to run away, if the chance presented itself.
“Absolutely not. We are going to find another way around.”

“There is no other way around! We have been walking for hours. I can get on the other side and free the passage.”

Hannibal had nothing to counteract it with. It was the fastest solution and so far the only that had presented itself since they climbed down.

“If you see anything dangerous, you come back immediately. You understand?” The boy nodded staring straight back at the alpha, his fingers nervously twitching on his side as he did when he was trying to calm his nerves. Hannibal had noticed this twitch the first time he and Alana had approached him in the kennels, and then again when he faced him after Jack’s death. His face might not always betray his feelings, but his hands did.

“Be careful.”

He dropped his backpack to the ground before attempting his way. The boy pushed himself to the gap, head first, before slowly wiggling his shoulders through, then his full body. Had he been any far into his pregnancy he wouldn’t have likely not been able to make it.

”Ah! I did it!” He sounded surprised of himself.

The alpha leaned back, staring at the door trying to imagine what was happening behind based on Will’s sole voice. “Good. Can you see what is blocking it?”

There was no immediate answer, just the steps of the omega walking from left to right. “I think… “ The steps slowed down, till they stopped completely.

”Will?” The boy didn’t answer, and then, just as abruptly, Hannibal heard him back away, running in the opposite direction. “Will!”

The alpha slammed against the door, not caring if the noise would recall something in the darkness. He should have expected it, that even in the dire situation they were in right now, the omega would take advantage of the first chance he had to leave. And what better moment than now, when Hannibal couldn’t chase him. He punched the door, cursing the damn frame for not moving under his command, and in his rage he almost didn't hear Will’s voice calling back for him.

”Keep it down! Do you want to wake every infected in Virginia?” Behind the door something creaked, heavy and metallic, and then finally with a loud grunt, the door unblocked. Pushing gently against the frame, it opened with no effort. “I swear, you alphas are so useless…”

Stepping in, Will was just standing there, arms crossed as he stared at his captor with an annoyed expression and Hannibal felt ashamed for doubting his intentions.

A large filing cabinet had been pushed away from the wall and, based on the tracks in the dust, the doctor assumed it had been moved at some point against the wall to block the passage. Next to it laid a chair on its side, which the omega had used as leverage to move the heavy furniture.

“Good job, Will.” The boy mocked him, walking back to collect his backpack, still on the other side.

Hannibal didn’t answer, pretending his outburst had never existed.

From the rusted tunnels they came from, the room they were in looked suspended in time. The side closer to the tunnels was blackened by mould that had built slowly over time from the damp, but the more his eyes travelled forward, the more the mould turned into dust.

They had stepped into a gray corridor and from a pair of wide wooden doors they spotted a large office room. Their torches revealed lines and lines of desks, cubicles and chairs, relics of a long forgotten reality.

The exit was getting closer, he could feel it.

The room was mostly untouched. At some point, twenty years before, someone had closed the front door and no one had stepped back in again. On the desks, under a layer of unsettled dust, were still resting the belongings of those who had worked there. Keyboards, stationeries, unfinished paperworks. Some potted plants had been left behind and were now completely dry. Hannibal spotted some framed pictures at a few workstations, but the images had faded away.

A few candies, still wrapped and sealed, gained his attention.

”Will. Here.” The boy turned just in time for the alpha to put a couple in his hand. In the right conditions, sugar was still suitable even years later. It was a silent apology.

There was a pink cardigan hanging on the chair, and over time the fabric had warped considerably, but he could still picture the type of person that used to wear it. He wondered for a second if she was still alive. Likely not.

He opened one of the drawers hoping to find something useful and he found himself a large collection of snacks of every kind. Most of them would be inedible, but any tea, sugar or coffee would be well accepted. He pocketed everything, including a few bottles of unspecified pharmaceutical. Most drugs would lose their potency over the years, but they could still be useful.

While his companion explored more of the other working stations, Hannibal scanned the room again. There were no windows, so he couldn’t be sure, but any office space couldn’t be that far away from a fire exit or the main entrance of the building. The air itself was definitely less rancid there than it had been since they started walking the tunnels. For once he could feel the omega’s scent more than anything else, Will’s very own notes of petrichor and sandalwood, instead of the stagnant water and decay.

He just couldn’t afford to celebrate yet.

A loud thud made him turn towards the other. In an effort to force a cabinet open, a stash of boxes had fallen out, the content crashing on the floor and spreading glasses everywhere.

“Fu… sorry.” He stepped back, lifting up his boots to avoid the larger shards.

As if on command a shriek erupted from the next room, followed by more.

With a speed he didn’t know he had, Hannibal grabbed the omega by the shirt and pulled him to the floor, to crouch behind a cubicle. He felt the boy stiff at the rushed touch, but before he had a chance to make a noise, the alpha pressed his hand on his mouth, just as an infected emerged from a nearby door.

They couldn’t afford to use bullets, he didn’t trust either of them to be successful in that deep darkness, and more creatures would come attract by the shots. If they wanted to make it out alive, he could only hope the exit was indeed close enough for them to move undetected.

Will’s fingers reached for his hand, wrapping around his wide palm and Hannibal could feel how much he was shaking. Almost instinctively he tightened his grip on him, forcing his smaller body to be engulfed by the alphan figure. His scent was starting to change again, and so up close the doctor couldn’t feel anything but the sheer scent of omegan fear the boy was releasing, getting stronger and stronger the more the steps came closer.

They were lucky infected couldn’t really perceive humans the same way they did when they were alive, just as much as it was impossible to guess an infected’s past designation. They could only rely on sight and hearing.

When the creature finally turned the corner, both their torches landed on the horrific details of the monster’s body. Its face was blindly twitching left and right trying to find the source of the noise that had called it there, but the milky pupils betrayed the infected inability to see. Maybe years spent in the darkness had taken away that gift, or possibly the corpse had started finally to rot. It almost had no hair on its head, and its face had lost most of its features. Nose and ears were mostly gone, and the mouth wide open made it look even more terrifying.

He could feel Will’s heart beating fast against his chest, like a small bird trapped in a cage and unconsciously Hannibal nuzzled his cheek against his head trying to calm him down, to reassure him with his presence.

The creature slowed down, screeching as it looked for the cause of the noise, and then moved forward, blind to their presence, just a few feet away. As it walked away to a deeper area of the office, Hannibal spotted, just above the door where it came from bold letters pointing at a newby security exit.

He had to calm his instinct to get up and run. It would be a terrible mistake.

Without lifting his hand from the omega’s mouth, he pointed at the words. The boy gasped quietly in his hold and then nodded in acknowledgement. It was now or never.

The infected still had not noticed them, so they moved slowly to the door, step by step, calculating how their boots would land on the uneven carpet. He pushed the boy in front of him, so that he could put more distance between him and the creature. When they finally turned around the corner he spotted what they had been looking for so long: the office led directly to the main atrium of the station, and in the distance, outside of metal barriers, he saw a faded light coming in.

Moving slowly, they made their way to the other room, and Hannibal was sure the creatures could hear his heart pounding in his chest. The drum was filling his ears.

Will kept turning back, checking that the alpha was still at arm’s length. Right as he stared in his blue eyes, Hannibal felt an uneven shape under his boot, and as he left all his weight on it, the crack of broken glass had them stop breathing altogether.

The monster stopped immediately, turning quickly behind towards them with a deep guttural growl, its prey finally found.

“Run!” He pushed the boy and they both started speeding towards that glimpse of hope, rushing in the atrium without turning back. The beast was fast, and hungry, and if it wasn’t for its uncoordinated movements it would have been able to sink its teeth in fresh meat before they even had a chance to leave the room.

“Hannibal!” He saw his curls shaking as the omega looked behind for a split second.

“Up the escalator!” The light was getting stronger, everything was starting to come into view in a faded grey hue. The stairs were covered in rubbish, abandoned suitcases and lost items, allowing them to gain more distance from the infected. But nothing would stop it in its effort to feed.

As soon as they reached the top, Hannibal’s heart sank in his chest.

A metal barrier was stopping their exit, the turnstile blocking the passage from floor to ceiling. He launched himself to the barriers, pushing as hard as he could to move the turning gates but the rusted gear would only allow it to move enough for a slimmer figure to pass.

“I’ll keep it open! Go! Go!” Will followed the instructions without questioning, and only when on the other side he seemed to realize his companion wouldn’t be able to do the same.

“No no no! Hannibal!” He screamed pulling at the same metal frame he had just squeezed through.

“Just go!”

The creature behind had gotten closer, his growl so close Hannibal could smell the rotten flesh next to him. He closed his eyes, hoping it would be fast and painless, but just as he felt the pressure of teeth on his shoulder, a loud bang covered every sound, deafening him. The weight lifted immediately and the alpha fell to his knees disoriented.

It took a few seconds before his mind came back to him, focusing first on the boy’s figure in front of him, before realizing the young man was screaming his name at the top of his lungs.

The light of the outside, now so close, was shining behind him making him look like a mistic figure, but it was his shaky hold on the semiautomatic that made him human again.

“Hannibal! Hurry!”

The alpha turned behind, still unsteady on his feet, to see the body of the monster on the ground, his mouth wide open in an unspoken scream while his limbs were still spasming. The bullet had left a hole on his face but it was taking longer for the nerves to register.
“Quick! This way!” Will was pulling at the net blocking the passage, lifting a broken part wide enough for Hannibal to get through that had been obscured by a pile of abandoned boxes.

Only a few steps divided them from the outside, and as they rushed their way out the alpha grew more and more aware of the mess of blood on his shoulder and on the side of his head. Pain had not registered yet, but at least if he had to die, he wanted it to be in the sun.

The light was blinding.

The smell of the outside almost overwhelming after so long stuck underground.

In his daze, he barely registered Will’s hands, ripping the backpack from his shoulders and pushing him to the ground.

“Did it get you?! Did it bite you?”

He was not sure.

Shaky yet decisive fingers pushed the fabric aside, exposing the naked skin of his shoulder.

“Ah!”

Hannibal’s hand reached for the area, to find it still intact. The monster had managed to break the fabric, but the strong military material had saved him from a dire end.

“You are fine! You are fine!” A couple of hiccups betrayed how those words were meant more for himself than for his dazed captor.

“I’m fine.” Hannibal finally repeated to reassure the both of them. He had gone so close to die like many of his group had done before, and he would have been torn apart if it wasn’t for Will’s fast reaction.

All around them nature had claimed the space again. Trees and grass covered most of the square, seeping through the cracks in the tarmac and climbing up the walls. Here and there relics of humanity’s past popped between the trees where natures had not yet claimed them.

No matter what, nature had survived.

And so did Will, standing in front of him with glassy eyes and a wonky smile on his face. Adrenaline was finally fading and his hands were shaking enough that he had to hug himself to calm down. His fingers were still locked around the gun, but the boy didn’t seem to be much aware of it.

”When… When did you get the gun?” He tried to fill his lungs between words, but his chest was still burning from the run.

Will looked down at his hand, only now realising how tight his grip was on the trigger, his knuckles having turned white in the commotion.

”I told you I couldn’t sleep.” He admitted with a chuckle and Hannibal couldn’t do anything but laugh in response.
He was glad he didn’t.

Chapter Text

Hannibal kept his word and the two days they took to recover from the underground ordeal allowed them to leave town with renewed energy. They both seemed to be in a better mood, and even Will’s pregnancy symptoms had calmed enough for them to cover a much larger distance than they had before. Days had grown longer and the temperature had risen considerably making each mile a new challenge to complete, but with some planning they would be able to walk avoiding the hottest hours of the day, at dawn and sunset.

The world appeared more serene and quiet in those hours, so much that at times Hannibal would almost forget the purpose of their mission.

All and all, being stuck underground had helped them build a new kind of chemistry that made the journey more enjoyable.

Certainly Will had changed the most. Under his clothes the gentle curve of his belly was more visible, especially when he laid down to rest. Sometimes at night he would lay in front of the fire, his features relaxing after a long day of marching and he would pet his unborn child as if to wish them a good sleep. His skin had grown a particular glow Hannibal had seen before in other pregnant omegas, something that was so distinctive of his designation. His scent was also getting stronger. The usual notes of petrichor mixed with a stronger and stronger touch of milk and jasmine flowers, delicate and sweet, confirming what the doctor had smelled on him the first time he had laid eyes on the young man.

His mood had also changed. He was more cheerful and talkative, filling up the silence with many questions regarding life at the Baltimore base, but even more regarding what expected them once in Seattle: what kind of jobs were available for the residents, if it was safe, what accommodation were offered to the civils, what type of food or medication he could find. It was clear Will was getting ready to start a new life at the new Capitol, and he seemed excited to put behind whatever secret from his past he still kept from the alpha.

But Hannibal had still not opened up to the young man regarding the government plans once the baby was born. He had repeated in his mind word for word the content of his meeting with Jack, analized each sentence hoping to find a loophole that would help save Will’s life. Equally he imagined Alana would do the same, making their case to her superiors before their arrival, in the hope her journey had been more successful. But Hannibal knew it was all for nothing. He had seen so many civilians being rejected by the QZ, being denied a chance at life.

Seattle was not meant to be a safe haven for survivors, just a cage to keep everyone out.

Still, Will deserved to know.

The doctor had gotten close to telling him once, sometimes after the tunnels, on a particular night they had been relaxing while having dinner. Will had expressed some worry about the future, and Hannibal had almost told him there and then there was no future for him to worry about. But the words had just died in his throat at the boy’s tender smile as he cuddled his belly half asleep. He just couldn’t. He lied to himself it was simply not the right time. But when would ever be the right time to tell someone they were going to die?

So he decided to wait until he knew exactly what to say.

A lovely breeze blessed them just as they crossed another small town.

They had been following a line, slowly but steady in West Virginia finding little to no issue along the way. They were far enough away from Columbus that they had encountered almost no sign of infected or riders. He was not a scaramantic man, but he still chose to silently count his blessings for it.

Compared to other places, the town had been left almost untouched by the spread of the infection and the population had stayed behind finding no alternative place to escape to. For many, that had resulted in a better outcome, more peaceful but with the same sad ending.

As in most places, nature had reclaimed most of the road, but between trees and outgrown grass, the buildings slept in a summer stupor, quiet and blissful.

“If we hurry we can reach the next town by the end of the day. It shouldn’t be too far away.” The map he had saved from Jack’s stash had been very useful in planning a secure journey, although it had suffered a bit from being soaked in the underground’s water. He had managed to dry it in the sun while they rested but the paper had warped and lost most of the colors. Regardless, it was still serviceable.

”We could do with more food if we can find any.” The omega brushed his hair off his face, closing his eyes for a minute to enjoy the light breeze. His cheeks were glowing under the sun with a pink blush, visible even with his new tan.

Without a word, Hannibal reached for his canteen and handed it to the boy, pressing it gently to his shoulder to grab his attention.

“Ah. Thanks.”

“We can continue that way, towards the town centre. We should find something.” He let Will take his time, sipping slowly at the cool drink as he folded the map and placed it back in his pocket. “When you are ready.”

A few faded signs pointed them in the right direction.

He didn’t want to waste time checking every house hoping for scraps, so they would have to explore more strategically. Shops were the most likely option, but also the first place anyone would have raided.

A long line of empty parking spaces lead them to a small building. One of the big metal letters spelling the name of the school had gone lost, no pupil had been called to class in a long time. Based on his experience, Hannibal could guess that even a smaller institute such as that was equipped with a cafeteria and maybe even a full size kitchen. The back storage would still be safely locked. It was worth a try.

”Here.” It wouldn’t be hard to find a way in, once passed the main gate.

But behind him Will didn’t move, too distracted by some noise coming from the end of the street. A group of wild dogs had emerged from the trees, chasing after a rat. The poor roden had tried rushing to the other side, but the pack had reached it quickly. Its squeeks were drowned in excited barks.

”They seem to have fun.” The omega commented, staring with a smile at the animals. One of the mutts had stopped playing and was now looking back at the omega from a distance. Its fur was muddy but still fluffy, white and sandy with black spots.

”Don’t get close to them. They are feral.” Hannibal couldn’t remember how long it had been since he had seen a domesticated dog. It was not uncommon to see soldiers trying to bond with animals of any kind during the long boring hours of the base, but for the most part having pets was frowned upon, seen as a waste of resources. Humanity still craved the connection, it was just harder to make space for it.

”You don’t know that. Maybe their owner is close.” Quite optimistic.

”Come on.” Will sighed before following him, and soon the pack rushed away into the trees looking for another prey.

The building was simple, the size reflecting that of the village it was in, on one level. A couple of windows had been smashed, but apart from that everything was just sitting as if expecting to welcome everyone back any day. It didn’t take long for Hannibal to spot the front door, left slightly ajar and loosely secured by a short chain. They had not even tried to lock it properly.

”Let’s check the nurse office as well. We might find something useful.” The alpha commented out loud, working to free the entrance.

Behind him, Will was not entirely paying attention, looking at the sky and then around, maybe hoping to spot the pack again.

Hannibal had noticed before his interest towards animals, dogs especially and any time they had heard barking his scent had brightened lightly, with subtle hints of vanilla. He recalled once the boy had sprinted outside just because he thought he had spotted a tail somewhere outside of a window. He had returned back minutes late looking quite disappointed having discovered it was only a torn piece of fabric trapped in the rubble and he had not spoken about it till the next day.

”Was that a raindrop?”

He finally managed to free the handle and he let the chain fall to the ground before stepping in.

On both sides of the corridor the walls were lined with hooks, no taller than a few feet high. Some were still occupied by tiny coats with colorful backpacks resting just below. As they slowly walked down the hallway, looking for the centre nerve of the school, Hannibal spotted tiny shoes abandoned on the floor and covered in dust. He didn't want to think about their owners, and he hoped the pupils didn’t find themselves in class while the world went down.

He forced his thoughts to focus on something else, but the memories of his sister had already pushed through his mind, thinking how she would have filled shoes of a similar size.

But Will didn’t seem oppressed by the same sadness, and he looked around with a curious smile, taking in what was left of the building.

”Did you go to a school like this?” The omega had started asking more personal questions lately, not only about Hannibal’s current life, but also about his past, and the alpha had yet to decide how much he felt comfortable sharing. For the most part he didn't mind opening up, dropping small fragments of his upbringing to his companion, but some still stayed locked away, untouched, undiscovered.

”No, I had a private tutor.”

“Tutor? Like… a teacher?”

”More or less.”

He had been fortunate to receive the best education money could offer, far superior than most children growing up in Vilnius. It extended to science, literature, art and music. It was easy for him to still find refuge there when times were dark.

After escaping to the States he should have joined a local school for international students, but the pandemic had followed his family taking that experience away from him. So his perception of American schools had been limited to American medias and then the rubbles of any institute he had explored after the fall of civilization. “Have you?” He was uncertain about the boy’s age so he was not sure how much he had experienced of the world pre-pandemic.

Will shook his head, playing distractingly with a locker as they walked past it. “I don’t remember. I don’t think so. Dad didn’t believe it was useful. He taught me how to read and how to do basic stuff but…” He looked disappointed, almost embarrassed.

”But?”

The boy sighed, shaking his head. “But then I presented and he decided it was just a waste of time.”

That was a shame. Unfortunately it was not uncommon for some old school alphas to still preclude members of the opposite designation from basic rights like getting a full education, even in countries as modern as the United States. Sad to see certain beliefs would survive even when nothing else did.

“There used to be a big library not too far away from our house. Sometimes I would just run away when dad was busy and hide there for hours among the books. It was always so empty and quiet…” He giggled. “ You know, one time he was really mad at me for something, and he got pissed drunk. I snuck out and spent the whole night right. Came back home just before sunrise. He never noticed. It was my safe space any time I felt scared or sad.”

That was certainly dangerous, but how could he blame a child for looking for a safe place when his own home was enemy territory?
They slowly walked down the hallway and they reached a cross way. Looking around Hannibal spotted a faded sign on the wall pointing at the main auditorium straight ahead and the cafeteria to the right.

”Here, this wa-“ He didn't have time to finish the sentence that Will rushed towards an open room on the left, around the corner.
”Look at this!” He dropped his backpack in a corner and the sounds echoed in the quiet building.

The walls were covered with a rainbow of drawings, letters and pictures, some faded to a light hue where the sunlight had been hitting them over and over again from the wide windows. A few desks had been pushed to a corner, but for the most part the room had been left exactly like it was during the last lesson. The omega was completely enamoured with the inviting space and he couldn’t help himself from flipping some of the drawings, to look at the pictures more closely.

“This is amazing!” As the alpha approached him he noticed the stronger notes of milk and jasmine flowers coming from the boy.

”It surely shows immagination.” Hannibal was a stranger to that type of educational environment. It didn’t resemble anything he remembered from his school days, spent in historical accademies.

”Did you use to have schools like this in Baltimore?”

”No, it was a military base. No pups there, so no schools.” He explained calmly checking the empty drawers of the teacher’s desk.

”How about in Seattle?” He should have expected the questions to go there.

”Yes, there are schools. Maybe not as colourful as this one, but certainly pups can learn all the things they will need in life.“

Will’s hands travelled to caress the curve of his belly, as he grew more quiet.

“You know, I think Seattle is going to be good. I was not so sure about it at the beginning. But, I’m glad to know my pup is going to experience all of this, have the chance to learn with other kids, be safe… be happy. There are so many things I didn’t get to experience, but I’m happy it will. I look forward to seeing it have the childhood I always wanted.”

As Hannibal looked at Will's soft smile, that sense of dread came back to churn in his stomach in full force. He couldn’t keep the secret from him any longer, and watching the omega make plans for a future he was not going to have part in was taking the oxygen from his lungs. He stepped closer, grabbing the back of a chair for support. He felt the wood crack under his finger.

”Will, regarding Seattle…” Where was his alphan determination now?

The boy turned around for a second as he played with one of the classroom wall decorations. “You are going to tell me the weather there is garbage or something?” He chuckled.

”You should sit down.” He already regretted saying anything.

“I’m not tired.” His smile had disappeared but he didn’t move.

”Here.”

The omega didn’t even look at the chair he was offered. ”What is it?”

Hannibal really wished he had decided what to say before starting that conversation, but just as the words left his lips, he realised he was never going to be ready for it.

“There is something I didn’t tell you about the new capital.” He paused, giving the other a chance to talk, but the omega stayed silent, blue eyes fixed on the alpha. “You know, no newcomer is allowed in the city. That has been the rule for the last five years.” Anyone knew, even outsiders. Seattle was considered a sacred haven no one was allowed to step in, no matter the circumstances. For its residence it was considered a prison, but for any outsider, it was heaven.

The boy kept staring with a confused look, clearly not understanding how that rule applied to him, since his access had been approved by Captain Crawford himself. The journey itself was proof the gate would open for the omega. “Jack said they are making an exception for me.”

”They are making an exception… for your pup.”

There was a moment of silence before the boy dared to speak. ”What are you talking about?”

Each word was burning a hole in his tongue. ”You are authorized to enter the city and to live there until the pup is born, but then you are not allowed to stay.”

”I’m not leaving without my pup!”

”As a single omega, the government has arranged for your suppression.”

The change in the boy's demeanor was instant. He stumbled back, just one step, as the sense of betrayal painted on his face. Hannibal couldn’t help himself from showering him with excuses, explaining how he had been working with Alana to find a solution before their arrival, promising him that the doctor was likely already at the new capital convincing her superiors to make an exception. All excuses the alpha knew already were not going to work, and he could also tell Will didn’t believe them either. He wanted to touch him, hug him so he could put his pieces back together, but he also knew better than to touch the omega, the boy that preferred to refuse physical contact even when in extreme distress. Nothing would be good enough to fix what neither of them had power on.

He looked around, spotting a cabinet in the corner of the room. Inside, there were still a few books and stationary with colourful animals on top.

“Look.” It wouldn’t be enough to lift the other’s mood, but he didn't know what else to do. The distressed scent of the boy was filling up his head. “This is interesting. We could-“ He turned around quickly at the sound of the door being slammed shut. Will was no longer there.

He should have expected that reaction. Actually he was surprised Will had not exploded, pouring all his (well deserved) anger on him. Or alternatively he would have expected tears, screams, definitely not silence.

He put the book down and made his way to the door, the image of the upset omega walking down the corridor filling up his head. Every alphan cell in his body was screaming at him to fix the problem, console his companion, but there was nothing he could do. But once he pushed on the door, nothing moved. It took his brain a few seconds to register it was blocked, the mechanism too rusted to follow his command.

He slammed on the handle again, and again, never once managing to open.

“Will?”

No answer.

”Will!” He found himself slamming against the door as he still called for the other, but no matter how loud he called for him, no voice came back on the other side. Another hard slam and the door finally opened, and exactly as he feared he found himself facing an empty hallway.

He rushed down where they had come from, the front door still open as they left it but there was no trace left of the young man.

Stepping outside he was welcomed by a torrential rain, soaking the ground, the walls, the air… and erasing any trace of Will’s scent.

He was gone.

Wasn’t this exactly what he had wanted since the beginning? Being free from the responsibility of bringing him to Seattle. And the omega had disappeared exactly as he had threatened multiple times at the beginning of their journey. He was now free to be on his way, make his own decisions, die or live on his own accord and Hannibal could disappear and reach the new capital faster and with no regret. No one would even question his arrival without the boy on his side, and the government would appreciate saving time on additional paperwork.

And yet he didn't feel any sense of relief. Something was brewing deep in his chest so intensely he wasn’t sure he could breathe.

As he scanned the open parking lot for any trace of his companion, he kept thinking of all the threats he had made to him about the world, how dangerous it would be for a lone omega to walk around, so vulnerable and fragile. His backpack was still in the classroom exactly where he had left it. He doubted he had taken at least one of the guns with him.

Not only would he be an easy prey for any infected, but riders would find him in no time, simply catching his sweet scent in the air. And then…

His alphan sense was screaming at him.

Before he even had time to think, he stepped under the rain. The water soaked his clothes in seconds but he didn’t look back.

He was going to find him.

Chapter Text

Hannibal had not felt this lost in a long time.

The Lecter family had left Lithuania on a bleak November day.

Hannibal barely had time to collect a small bag for him and his sister before Count Lecter loaded them into his car directed towards the Port of Klaipeda. He stuffed some clothes for himself, a couple of books he was currently reading and Mischa’s favourite teddy. He made sure to pack a pair of soft gloves for her so she wouldn’t get cold, and the last pack of candies from their local shop in Vilnius he had managed to buy for her just before the city closed down.

“You are a big brother, Hannibal. You must take care of her.” And he intended to.

He stared at the shoreline become more distant, and deep down he knew he was never going to see his home again. He forced himself to memorise every nook of the coast, every colourful building drenched in the November fog.

Soon nothing was in front of them but the agitated line of the Baltic Sea, days of sailing, and Mischa comforting giggle as she played on the main deck of the cargo ship.

They were welcomed in Portland a few weeks later by a family friend just in time to spend their last Christmas together. They settled in a flat, kindly offered to them as a temporary shelter “until things calm down” but it never felt like home. The smell was different, the noises were different. He could still see a glimpse of it in Mischa’s face when they would hide under the blankets at night. She was home.

Count Lecter and his wife only had a few months of tranquillity after moving to the States, before the first signs of the infection appeared on the national news. It started the same way it did back in Europe, with a few sporadic cases and alleged “incidents” the government was quick to discredit as foreign alarmism. Only when it became impossible to deny any longer, the tone shifted, it became serious, collected, expressing false empathy while minimizing the growing panic. By then half of Europe had already fallen, Lithuania has disappeared completely from the news like an old wife’s tale. From there the spread grew faster, taking households first, then villages, and cities then states. The Lecter had to watch history repeat itself as their new home collapse like the one before. But this time they wouldn’t be able to flee again to a safer port: there was no haven left in the world.

The day the news announced DC had fallen under the wave of the infection, Hannibal watched his parents fall into silence. They held each other’s hand without saying a word, while the tv somberly announced the dead toll. Simonetta was sobbing in her husband’s arms and for the first time even Mischa dropped her teddy to find refuge in his brother.

It was over. Humanity had been defeated.

Trucks came and they took people away. Under the tight scrutiny of the military, families were torn apart, parents separated from their pups, mates split and sent into different directions.

Hannibal was not yet a man when him and Mischa were pushed onto a truck with tens of other children with the promise of a secure refugee camp in Atlanta.

“You are a big brother, Hannibal. You must keep her safe.”

The last thing he saw was his mom chasing behind the truck and calling their names before a soldier locked the vehicle and left. He held his sister tight to his chest as she cried for their parents to come back to get them, knowing fully well this was the last time he was going to see them, alive or not. Her hands held tight to her teddy and Hannibal couldn’t help himself from cuddling her to placate her sadness.

She was the last home he knew of, and he was going to do anything to keep her safe.

The same oppressive sensation was now churning in his chest every moment louder. It dismantled his self control, his sense of balance, even blurred his thoughts so much he was not sure he had already checked the latest building he was now in.

He wanted to blame his alphan biology, that part of him that he always tried to repress and that screamed at him to find the omega and keep him safe. It didn’t matter if they were not mated, of course it didn’t matter. It was still in his nature to want to make things right.

And the boy had been assigned to him, he was his to keep safe. He could almost hear his father’s voice in his head, scolding him for letting his young sister out alone.

As soon as he had left the school building he had started looking for any sign of Will, combing every alley and corner he came across that could offer a quick hideout. He checked shops, houses and restaurants, anywhere he could imagine the young man could have snuck into. Even for the size of that village the options appeared too many to count, and with each empty location he felt his heart sink a little more.

The rain had grown havier, like any summer storm it was escalating fast and aggressive, making his search every minute harder. But even soaked to the bones and with his clothes uncomfortably clinging to his body he kept searching the area for what felt like hours.

As he passed by a café, he heard noises coming from the inside. He rushed through the front door without a second thought and his boots almost slipped on a few pieces of broken plates that covered the floor.

“Will!” The name left his lips involuntarily.

He spotted the wiggle of a tail under one of the tables, and as soon as the alpha entered the room, the animal escaped to the far back of the establishment, poking his head from behind the counter with bared teeth. Hannibal recognised the fur immediately as the same feral dog they had spotted hours with the rest of his pack. It was alone now, or at least it seemed, and his coat was soaked just like the man’s. There was no other trace of life in there. No sign of Will.

As he finally took a second to look better at the establishment he was in, he recognised the faded pictures on the walls, the same rounded shape of the counter and the dusty shelves behind.

Not only the omega was not there, but he also had explored that location already. He had been running in circle.

He took a deep breath trying to collect himself. Panic was not going to help him find the boy, it was only going to waste time and energies he didn’t have. He had not felt like this in years and yet he would recognise that feeling immediately. He was still that young boy, watching his family disappear, unable to provide his sister the comfort she needed. But he couldn’t let this feeling take over him… wouldn’t…

Usually, he would be able to detect Will’s presence in seconds. He had learned to recognize his scent among all other, the specific way his pheromones announced him before he even entered a room. He would smell like charcoal when he was angry, and he was angry often at the beginning of their journey. But it would turn sour and sulfuric when he was sick, God knows how many times Hannibal had offered him mint infusion any time he would detect those notes building up in his system. But he would smell like petrichor when he was content, and like the forest, all underlined with the sweetness of his pregnancy, like fresh milk and honey. The rain had made the search virtually impossible: every surface was washed clean, even the air was filled with ozone making his usually powerful sense of smell useless. But even like this, the omega couldn’t have gone too far, likely finding a place to wait for the storm to pass and lick his wounds. And the town was small, collected, but it offered many places to snuck into without being seen.

If he had left of his own accord.

The concept creeped into his mind slowly, making itself louder with each empty spot he checked. It would have been easy for someone to abduct him while Hannibal still struggled to leave the school building. A raider could have noticed them when they arrived in town, followed them to the school, and snatched the omega as soon as they saw him leave the building alone, upset, and unarmed. The mere idea someone could have taken him made him want to vomit.

Hannibal had to actively push the image away, with all the horrible things that could have happened to him once left on his own. It was impossible, he repeated, he had only been out of sight for a few minutes before disappearing. He would have known if someone was after them, for sure he would have flet their presence of heard them follow behind. And Will was clever, way more than his look would betray. Either he would have found a way to escape from them, or he would have hid till the raider left. Hannibal had seen with his own eyes how resourceful the boy could be, damn, the alpha would already be dead if it wasn’t for his fast thinking in the underground. He had survived years in the outside world without anyone looking after him, which was a lot considering how the rest of their group had died within a week of leaving the Baltimore QZ. He would be able to take care of himself.

But still… All the horrible stories he used to scare him so he wouldn’t leave now repeated in Hannibal’s mind like a curse.

Somewhere in the distance, barking noises pulled him away from his thoughts. He turned towards the noise, spotting the rest of the pack running away under the rain. They were still around, equally looking for a safe and dry place to hide.

The dog in front of him made an attempt to move but immediately stopped seeing how it would have to pass through the alpha. It eyed the door, then the man again and it started growling louder. It was not too dissimilar from Will the first time they met each other.

“Hey…” Hannibal raised his hands to placate the creature and slowly moved to one side. “Have you seen my companion?” Maybe he was getting desperate if he was willing to ask a rabid dog for help.

The growling quieted, just above a whisper and then the dog rushed outside, joining the pack under the rain. But instead of taking the same way as the others, it snuck into a narrow alley Hannibal had not noticed before. The passage had almost completely been blocked by overgrown vegetation, but when he squinted his eyes, he noticed the rusted street sign pointing at the rest of the shopping district.

He went back outside, feeling a chill as soon as the water started washing his body again, and he made his way to the newly discovered street. The dog had already disappeared in the maze that was the town, but Hannibal could still hear his barking in the distance getting more and more far away. He didn’t take long for him to notice a colourful window poking from around the corner and partially obscured by an abandoned car. The glass was cracked in some places, dusty and frosted with whimsical cursive letters announcing the latest arrivals, but behind Hannibal saw a velvet shelf where a few books had been displayed on a pedestal. The extensive exposure to the sun had warped the pages and the drawing on the covers had faded completely, but it was clear no one had been inside in a very long time.

Could it be…?

If Will was scared, upset, it would make sense for him to look for a place he felt secure in, just like he did years before when he was just a young boy running away from his dad’s anger.

The main entrance door was open, and under the partially shredded fabric canopy there was a trail of water leading inside.

His legs guided him there quickly and his heart didn’t stop hammering the entire time. The place was suspended in time. On each side of side of the shop long line of bookshelves covered the wall, and apart from a few scattered pieces on the wooden floor, everything had been left in place, waiting to be picked up again. But nothing seemed missing, and it was not hard to understand why, in a end of the world scenario, no one had considered the shop a priority. Wet prints continued to the back of the shop, stopping by the entrance first where the water had collected, and then moving to one shelf to another before retiring to the far back. And there was the omega curled up on a sofa with a book on his lap. His nesting instinct had taken him to hide in the safest place he could find, between the narrative and the history section.

The tome was resting partially con the corner of the sofa, but although he was looking down, he didn’t seem to be reading it. His eyes were lost somewhere above the pages, unfocused, and his dominant hand had made a dog ear playing with one corner. The other was occupied pulling at the loose thread on the neck of his shirt. Only when Hannibal got closer, he noticed his face was splotchy, red, his features even more highlighted by the droplets dripping from his wet hair.

Hannibal slowed his pace at the sight, without saying a word, and only when he came a few feet away Will glanced in his direction for a brief second before going back to his book. Maybe he was waiting for the alpha to find him, or maybe he was not surprised he come to look. He didn’t try to run away again; he didn’t even move from his position. It reminded Hannibal of that morning, just after Jack’s passing. He had found Will in the same position, with the same unspoken tension resting between the two of them.

“You know why the library?” Will’s voice was rough but collected. He closed the book slowly, resting it on the sofa as he teased one of the warped corners with the tip of his fingers. “I remember how disappointed my dad was the day I presented. All of a sudden I stopped being a son and I became a burden. Nothing I could say or do mattered anymore. I didn’t matter.”

His head dropped low and he rubbed his eyes hard, stopping the tears that were already collecting on his bottom lash. The blue of his eyes was even more striking, surrounded by red.

”But when I come here… there is no judgement… no expectation on how I’m supposed to act or who I’m supposed to be. My designation doesn't matter. I just get to be.”

Compared to most alphas, Hannibal had never shared the same old beliefs of gender separation but it was easier for him to break the rules than it was for an omega. He could see in Will’s face the frustration of being tied with chains he had no way of breaking.

”All my life someone has decided for me. My dad first, then my alpha, and now your government. Not once have I been able to decide for myself.”

Whatever form of trust he had managed to build with him seemed irreparably damaged. He could smell it on Will’s scent, the bitter flavour of shame and sadness as once again his entire existence was reduced to the content of his womb. Nothing mattered, not his thoughts, not his past, or possible future and Hannibal couldn’t but feel ashamed of his own designation. A part of him still wished he had kept the truth away from him, give him a few more months of tranquillity before someone else broke the news. But now he couldn’t possibly conceive of having a stranger take away the boy’s limited liberty. Maybe in another universe they would have reached Seattle and Will would have lived happily for however long he was allowed, in blissful ignorance. And Hannibal wouldn’t have been the one to inform him of his incoming death, and losing the chance to see his own pup have a better life.

“I trusted you.” The words stabbed him straight in the chest.

“I was not authorised to tell you-”

”Please don’t lie to me!”

The alpha went quiet again and for the first time he found himself unable to withstand the young man’s stare. He had all the rights to be angry, to pour all his frustration on him and Hannibal could only accept his rage.

”I don’t agree with the government’s decision and if it was in my power you would be able to continue your life in Seattle with your pup, or leave if you so wish.”

In a perfect world Will would be able to decide what to do, make his own choices and the government would just be able to accept them and offer assistance where needed, where requested. However they both knew life outside of the QZ was not an option. They both knew.

“Hannibal… please.” He raised a hand to protect himself from the gentle words. They would only make his decision more difficult. ”Now that I have this pup, I have to think what’s best for it…” His fingers went to stroke the curve of his belly, and the boy had to take a deep breath before continuing. “So… If I can make one choice for myself, here, now, is that I want to be a good mom… No matter the cost.”

His voice broke just as a couple of tears fell from his lash line. He rubbed them quickly before they even passed his cheekbones. He knew better than to show any weakness. “And if I have to choose death, so be it.”

The alpha stood still, watching the boy take a shaky breath as he said goodbye to the future he had so many times talked about. He wouldn’t see his child walk, talk, grow up, experience life and the world. But with his sacrifice he ensured his baby had a chance to live it.

”I will come with you to Seattle, for this pup’s future.”

Not his own. He didn’t have one, but it was likely something Will had to comes to terms with a long time ago.

Hannibal finally closed the distance between them, kneeling on the ground just before Will.

”I will keep you safe. Both of you.”

He knew how to keep his promises.

Chapter Text

The boy lowered himself to the ground, testing the soil with his knee as he settled himself among the leaves.

Hannibal watched him exhale, slowly, as he drew the rifle to his face with a smooth motion. He placed the barrel against his cheek, the side of his lips barely touching the metal. His shoulders relaxed, lowering enough for the gentle curve of his muscles to mellow under the shirt, now expanding more slowly at each precise inhale. Somehow even his scent had changed. Its notes of petrichor and wood had quieted to disappear with the rest of the forest, his calm exterior blurring with the trees and if he was one himself.

He blinked once, then twice, then his eyes narrowed to focus on something moving in the grass some feet ahead.

Something popped up from under a bush, sprinting in the tall grass in short bursts, the tiny creature covered in grey and brown fur was almost unnoticeable in the foliage. It stopped by the roots of a tree, sitting on its back legs as it studied the green with raised ears, its small nose twitching rapidly smelling the air around.

The young man’s finger moved with precision on top of the trigger, caressing the metal with the tip of his forefinger to get a good grip on it. Will followed his prey for a few more jumps, allowing it the time to feel secure, alone, safe lowering its guard as it grazed with what nature had to offer.

He heard the omega shallow breathing, and then he pressed the trigger with decision. The loud bang echoed in the forest covering any other sound and above them a group of sparrows rushed away disturbing the leaves and branches. A few seconds of silence followed before the boy got back up to look at his catch, his expression changing immediately to one of celebration.

“Ah! I got it!” He glanced at the other with a smile, looking for approval.

”Excellent shot.”

Turns out Will was exceptional with a gun. Ever since they had started crossing the forests between West Virginia and Kentucky his hunting skills had come to great use. As much as leaving the “commodity” of the cities had made it harder for them to find supplies, their journey had also become quieter, solitary, with barely any enemy encounter, alive or dead. In the shade of the trees the weather was milder, especially in the august climate, and the newfound tranquility had allowed them both to rebuild their relationship. If it wasn’t for the sporadic traces of long gone humanity scattered within the green, they would have almost forgot they were still in the States.

Hannibal had to work hard to regain Will’s trust.

The first few days after their fight, the omega had closed down completely, only exchanging words with Hannibal when absolutely necessary. It was weird to admit how the alpha was missing his company, when, at the very start of their journey, he would have appreciated the complete silence. But now he found himself working harder to rebuild the equilibrium that had formed between them.

He slowed their pace, allowing the boy to set up their rhythm, listening more and commanding less, and somehow that had made the trick and Will had started opening again.

He was not expecting to hear his voice at all, when the young man complimented him for the dinner he had prepared one evening, a simple stew made with canned meat and foraged mushrooms. He had to hold back from prodding him for a more extensive conversation, and Hannibal simply thanked him looking at the dark curls, hanging low on Will’s brows.

He didn't feel the need to rush to Washington anymore. The journey was going to be difficult, of course, but any additional day they had outside of the QZ was an extra day Will got to live on his own terms, on his own pace. Any day was a gift, even under these tragic circumstances.

So today they got to enjoy hunting.

They both could do with some proteins. Long hours of marching every day had taken a toll on them both and canned food could only do so much. Rabbit was a lean meat, but it would serve them well with some wild herbs he had seen on their path. If he remembered correctly, he still had some wild onions he could pair the meat with for extra vitamins.

Will loaded the gun back on his shoulder and started heading towards his prey, a few feet ahead where the grass was shorter.

As they got closer, a quick shifting in the grass called for Hannibal’s attention. It was fast, moving at a safe distance from the two of them hidden by the vegetation. The alpha had just enough time to get closer to the omega, rounding his arm around him protectively, before he felt the movement getting closer and then passing them.

Hannibal was already reaching for his knife, when the figure emerged from the green and stopped where the dead rabbit was. Its paws made almost no sounds on the ground. The dog turned to stare at them, visibly calculating his next move before lowering itself to the ground, sniffing the grey fur.

It took a second for Hannibal to realise it was not a random dog. He had seen it before, that mix of colours in its coat was unmistakable.

“That’s the same dog we spotted a couple of weeks ago in Hayleysville.” He commented out loud. How likely was it for them to randomly meet the same stray twice over the course of almost two weeks, or even three times considering the brief encounter Hannibal had with it while searching for Will. They had walked several miles since and the dog seemed to be travelling alone this time. No traces of the rest of its pack.

“Oh? Is it?” The alpha turned towards his companion at the odd tone. His voice didn’t sound particularly surprised, despite his words saying the opposite.

The dog raised his eyes again at the couple and then it opened its mouth collecting the meal with swift motions.

Hannibal reached for Will’s gun but the boy backed instantly. “You cannot shoot him!” The idea enraged him.

“I will just scare it off. I promise.” They were in no position to waste a well deserved meal, but the omega didn’t seem to agree. As soon as the alpha reached for the gun again, the boy pulled the shotgun against his own chest and turned his shoulder away, blocking him from reaching over. “You cannot do it! Just leave it.”

Taking advantage of the discussion, the dog collected the rabbit and disappeared into the bushes.

Finally stepping back, Hannibal let out a deep sigh, watching the tail getting smaller and smaller in the forest. Will, finally relaxed, and a tiny smile curved his lips. “It’s fine. He can keep it. We’ll find something else.”

Hannibal’s backpack was full of berries he had found on their journey and other small fruits. Not enough for a full meal, but he was still grateful for the fresh produce they would be able to eat later. However, some meat would have benefitted them both. He had already envisioned in his mind a lovely roast he could have prepared using that lean creature. There was an abundance of squirrels in the area and the doctor could hear them running on the branches above them, completely unaware of the danger of humans, but the flavour of a rabbit would have been preferable.

“It was a waste of ammo.” Hannibal reprimanded. He was not actually mad, just slightly annoyed, and Will had learned not to be afraid of his monotone voice. So much of their dynamic had changed since they had left Baltimore.

“We have plenty of ammo. We’ll get more.” The younger one joked, waving his hand dismissively at the other as he started walking again in the dept of the forest.

Hannibal followed slowly, staring at the boy’s slim shoulders. “ He.”

Will looked back above his shoulder, his face confused as he crossed the alpha’s stare. “What?”

“You said he. You called the dog a he.” It would be impossible for the doctor to ignore how soft Will had behaved for what was ultimately a feral creature. Its scent was a confusing mix of happiness and nerves.

“Oh. Ehm… I guess he looked like a boy. I don’t know.”

Hannibal sped up a little, trying to match the other, but as he got closer Will started avoiding looking at him. It was not entirely out of character. He had noticed before how Will preferred to avoid eye contact, if not in certain situations. He would rarely look at the alpha during their conversations, even to the point of actively turning the other way when called. Many would assume it was an action of disrespect, but Hannibal knew better.

“Have you seen it before?” He pressed, studying his body language.

The young one didn’t reply immediately, keeping his eyes focused on the ground. “You said yourself we saw him back at Hayleysville.”

“I mean between then and now.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Why?”

“When we saw it last it was very far away. How do you know it looked like a boy?”

Will sighed. “Hannibal… I don’t know. I told you. You are thinking too much about it.”

“Uhm… maybe you are right.” It didn’t matter really, but the alpha found the interaction amusing. He would press him again maybe in the future, but for now he decided to let the topic go. He had learned to tease Will only to a certain point, before the boy would retreat back into himself. It was a fine line and one Hannibal preferred not to cross unless he had to.

“You are quite the skilled hunter, Will.” He complimented him after a few minutes of silence. That earned him a quick glance back from the omega and the hint of a smile.

”Ah yes. Bev was surprised as well!” He heard him giggle as his hands went to pull the shoulder strap back in place. The weapon was just a little too big for his figure but it didn’t seem to bother him much. Hannibal had stopped taking the gun away from him weeks before. There was no point in doing so. He trusted the boy to be better suited to using it anyway and Hannibal felt more comfortable with his own knife.

”Did your father teach you?” It would make sense considering he had taught his son how to fish. From the way Will had talked about him it fit the description.

”Before I presented. But after that he refused to let me hold a gun. I had to teach myself once he was gone.” He explained with a hint of bitterness in his voice, like he always did when talking about the man. It clearly was difficult for him to mourn somehow he felt resentment for. “Bev taught me a lot as well. I barely knew how to hold the thing properly without hurting myself. But she was a very good teacher. Soon enough I became the one in charge of getting us fresh meat.”

Will rarely mentioned his late companion and Hannibal had always thought wise not to initiate the conversation. It had been months now since her passing and he was sure the omega was probably still experiencing symptoms of their broken bond, although sometimes it was hard to distinguish them from the regular pregnancy sickness. Walking on his side, Hannibal had a clear view of his mating bite, poking from the neckline of his shirt. The scar had barely changed since leaving Baltimore, it was still raised and irregular. Eventually it would fade almost completely. That, if Will had enough time to heal from his separation and mate with someone else, which, unfortunately, was pretty unlikely. He would probably die still carrying the bite of his long dead mate.

”How unalpha of her.” Hannibal teased.

“I could say the same for you.” Will teased back, finally looking back at the doctor.

“I suppose you are right.” He laughed. Foraging and cooking were definitely not usually considered alpha-like skills, and that was only the tip of the iceberg of activities Hannibal enjoyed partaking in that were not associated with his designation. But the doctor had always embraced them unapologetically.

“She never really cared about norms anyway… She was so clever… and funny!” He chuckled. “She had a way… Sometimes at night I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to sleep. She would stay up all night with me just talking.”

Hannibal had seen Will’s night terrors. There were still nights he would wake up shaking, completely unaware of where he was or who he was with. The doctor blamed the stress of the captivity and the difficult journey, but it was clear there was something else plaguing the boy’s mind.

“I really miss her.” He finally admitted with a soft voice.

In a perfect world she would still be alive, the troop wouldn’t have found them and Will would have a chance to raise his baby with her.

But this was not a perfect world.

“How did you meet?”

There was a pause before Will continued.

“She was already at the farm when I-”

The sentence died half way into his mouth and Hannibal almost bumped into him as he continued on his path, unaware of the change in the boy’s demeanour.

”Will, what is-“

He heard a meek whine coming from him, quiet enough that anyone else would have missed it. Getting closer, his eyes laid on the pale face of the omega, and his terrified stare looked at something above them, only partially disguised by the leaves and branches.

Just a few feet above the ground was hanging the body of an infected. His arms had been tied back, the ropes digging deep into the rotten flesh and his body was swinging lightly trying to reach them. As his eyes looked lower, Hannibal saw how the bottom half of his body had been devoured by others of its kind. Chunks of greyish skin had been taken from his legs, the feet had been completely consumed. Two words had been painted in bold letters on the man’s chest:

BAD OMEGA

The presence of the creature was not an unfortunate accident. Someone had decided to leave him there, unable to defend himself and waiting to be eaten. It had been a punishment.

Next to him he felt the omega starting to shake, his eyes still glued to the corpse. Even in his desperate situation was still trying to find a way to sink his teeth into the two strangers.

“Will…” Hannibal called him softly and without thinking he reached for him for some reassurance. As soon as his fingers touched the omega’s arm, the boy flinched, immediately taking a step away.

”Don’t touch me.” His scent was spiked in sulphuric notes. “Don’t… Don’t touch me.” He repeated again, almost begging.

”I’m sorry.” The apology came out instinctively. He didn’t mean to cause any harm, but Will’s mind couldn’t know it right now. “Let’s move…”

”I’m fine.” He clearly wasn’t. The sight had shaken him to a level he didn’t expect. They had seen their fair share of monsters, alive or not, but this encounter touched something deep within him. It was almost a familiar sight.

Before Hannibal had time to respond, Will rushed ahead, his eyes fixed towards the horizon so as to avoid seeing anything else he didn't want to.

Roots covered the ground thick in an intricate mess.

Running ahead, among the tall grass, Hannibal had only a brief second to see Will disappearing into the ground with a short yelp. His heart rate spiked up and the doctor immediately leaned over the edge of the hole his companion had just fallen through.

”Will!” It was a few feet deep, enough that the roots poked from every side. The omega had tumbled down and he was now sitting at the bottom, scrunching his face at the unexpected fall.

”Are you okay?” The doctor called trying to see for any sign of possible injury.

The boy pushed himself up, rubbing his hand on the sore knees that had slowed the fall. “I’m good.” He sighed looking up at the other. It was deep enough he would struggle to get out. “Who digs a hole in the middle of the forest?!” Apparently his ego was the only part of him that had been bruised.

In the fall his rifle had fallen off his shoulder but he seemed too busy to have noticed it.

The noise of broken branches called his attention to the opposite side of the hole and Will’s face drained of all colours in an instant.

Among the roots, another decaying corpse of what used to be a man started animating, one finger at a time, making his way from under a pile of dirt. It barely looked like a human anymore, his skin having melted almost completely into the rotten flesh and brittle bones, its colour more similar to that of the ground than living limbs. The lips had dried so that the black teeth were exposed and at the sight of the first meal in maybe years it had started moving again following a hunger that never dies.

Will rushed to the ground, his fingers trembling as he reached for the rifle, and the monster was already on him, ready to sink his teeth into the warm flesh. A guttural sound came out of his throat, deep, animalistic.

With only a few seconds left to fight, Will turned around and pointed the gun towards the creature, pressing the trigger without hesitation. The explosion deafened him, so much that Hannibal couldn’t even hear his own voice calling for the other. The corpse slammed back, falling one last time to the ground.

Adrenaline now going down, the omega raised a shaky hand to his face finally noticing the dark rotten blood he was covered with. Even Hannibal could smell how putrid it was from the edge.

”Don’t move!” The risk of getting infected, even with the creature defeated, was too great. Any injury, no matter how superficial, could still poison him. “Don’t move! I’m coming to get you!” He struggled to hide the panic in his own voice.

He unloaded the backpack from his shoulder ready to make his descent, his heart hammering so loud in his chest he didn’t notice the steps approaching them till they reached the edge of the hole themselves.

”Oh. That d-d-doesn’t l-look… g-g-good…”

Chapter Text

”Here.” He guided Will to sit on a chair in the corner of the bathroom by the large window. The glass was frosted, and it was covered by light linen curtains. As Will took his seat, Hannibal moved them slightly aside, letting more of the warm august sun come in, shining on the omega’s slim figure. The blood that had sprayed on him had already started drying and he knew for sure it felt uncomfortable.

Sometimes Will found it uncomfortable even the tight collar of his shirt rubbing a bit too much on a warm day, let alone if it was covered in dry human waste.

“Can you please take your shirt off for me?” He asked gently, keeping his voice low and unthreatening. He didn’t want to unsettle him more than he already was. The boy had barely spoken since his fall, and he still looked very shaken by the encounter. The doctor could feel his heart hammering any time he would conveniently press his fingers against his wrist as he was guiding him inside. In any other circumstance Hannibal would never be allowed that level of intimacy with an omega he was not bonded with. That job was exclusively assigned to Will’s mate, that’s what any civilized society imposed. Hannibal had to repeat to himself he was acting as Will’s doctor.

Nothing else.

Will didn’t respond at the request, simply nodding after a couple seconds of silence and reaching the hem of his shirt. His movements were slow, but Hannibal could already tell he had survived the infection for now, or he would already show signs of fever. Jackson’s transformation had been quick and catastrophic. Will looked nothing like that.

He let him help himself at first, not wanting to intrude in what was already an act of trust before offering his assistance. “Can I?” He asked, waiting for the other to give him permission before even stepping closer. He pinched the fabric on one corner, making sure to avoid the bigger stains and then he gently helped him out, stretching the neck of the shirt so Will wouldn’t risk getting in touch with any infected material more than necessary.

The top was ruined, impossible to use it again, but also he trusted Will didn’t want to be reminded of the accident. The alpha discarded the item in a bin placed next to the sink. There was no running water in the cabin, of course, but he assumed its owner still liked to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

A bowl of warm water had been placed for him next to the tub, a few clean towels were hanging on the wall for him to use.

“I will clean you now. Keep your eyes and mouth close, please.” Some of his alphan voice, calming and deep seeped between his words without him trying but Will didn’t notice. Or if he did, he didn’t react to it. “You are doing very well.”

He dipped one of the towels in the water, wringing out the access before getting closer to the other again. “I’ll start with your right hand.” He announced waiting a couple of seconds for Will to acknowledge him before gently taking his wrist in his hand. He didn’t want to scare him, so if he had to let him know each step he was going to take in advance, so be it. The rotten blood had coated his fingers where the spray had reached his knuckles, seeping in the cracks of the skin like a disease. He cleaned it slowly, leaving no trace behind before turning to check his palm. It was clean there, the hold on the rifle had saved him from the blood reaching the scratches he had on the soft tissue, likely gained as he tumbled down the hole. He used a clean corner of the towel to clean him from any debrief.

Those were not the hands of a common omega, soft and delicate from spending all day at home taking care of his pups and his alpha.

The thick skin and scars told the story of a survivor. White lines, old healed injuries, littered his tanned forearms and when he moved to the left hand he found similar decorations. He tossed the towel with the shirt and reached for a new clean one before moving to his torso. The shirt had protected him so there was barely any trace of blood to clean, but he took his time to check for any hidden injury.

It was the first time since meeting the boy that he had a chance to look at him so closely. The gentle curve of his belly was now more pronounced, the bump distended, and based on his past predictions Hannibal was sure the boy was around his 18th or 20th week of pregnancy. A dark line was starting to form from his belly button down his navel, but as soon he noticed it the doctor made an effort to avert his eyes from such a delicate area. There was a scruff on his back, likely where the shirt had lifted in the tumble. He cleaned it gently from any trace of dirt, blowing cold air on it to give him a little relief from the pain.

As he moved higher he faced once again his mating mark. Hannibal had always thought the shape was odd looking, but staring at it so close gave him more details. The scar was raised, uneven, of a mark that had been repeated several times, so the skin around it was angry, layers of scar waiving into each other. The surface was wider than what he expected from someone of Bev’s size. He still remembered her when she had been taken into the morgue of the Baltimore base. It was also slightly more on the back of his neck compared to what he would normally see in mated couples, indicating he had been bitten while his alpha was standing behind. Once again, not uncommon, but it didn’t seem to match the idea he had built of her in his mind.

He moved over. It was not his place to judge.

“I’m going to touch your face now. I’m almost done.” His fingers lightly reached for the boy’s chin, lifting it to inspect his features better, acknowledged by the movement of Will's Adam’s apple.

He brushed the hair off his forehead, watching as his eyelids would flick at the gentlest touch, almost unconsciously expecting aggression. He dipped a new towel in the warm water and attentively washed every speck of red. Slowly he felt Will relax under his care, his shoulders sagging a little. His scent was finally calming down to a more neutral one, even though still marred with apprehension. By then he had completed his task, but still took longer than necessary to give Will a once over. He carded his finger through the boy’s curls, delicately as if holding something fragile, and allowed himself a few seconds to look at the line of his lips softening with an exhale.

“There you go.” He whispered, placing the dirty towel with the others. “You are clean.” More to himself than to the other.

The boy leaned back against the wall, but he straightened his back as soon as his skin touched the cold tiles. Maybe realising how espoused he was, he hugged himself, hiding his body from the doctor’s eyes.

”How are you feeling?” It was clear he was not in danger of infection. The question was not connected to his physical state. They had not talked since the encounter with the tortured omega and he could tell the memory was still upsetting him. Why that in particular would affect him so greatly was still escaping the doctor. They had seen plenty of sorry cases during their journey, and none had shaken Will so much in the past.

“I’m fine.” The answer came instinctually, as if he had trained himself to say anything that would call the conversation short instead of having to explain himself in any further.

“You almost drowned back in Virginia, and you still laughed about it. What scared you so much this time?” The question was direct, more than Hannibal would usually attempt, but any vagueness wouldn’t help him decipher what was happening in Will’s mind. He could smell it on his, such a deep terror that preceded the encounter.

Will finally looked up, staring at the alpha almost pleading to not make him relieve the experience, but he quickly looked back down when he saw no chance to escape it. His hands latched hard around his own biceps, digging his nails in the freckled skin. He had to force the words out. “That omega… he…” He bit his lips. “What they have done to him… I’ve seen that type of punishment before… “ He lowered his head so much that his chin was pressed to his chest, defensively.”

Hannibal kneeled almost as a reaction, trying to find Will’s eyes under the cascade of curls. “Where? Where did you see that?” But the boy shut his eyes shaking his head nervously.

“No… I don’t want to talk about it…” His whine was interrupted by a soft knocking on the door.

“I b-brought some c-c-clothes.”

“Yes, come in.”

The squeaking of the hinges announced Peter, a thin looking beta, stepping in with a few folded clothes on his extended arms. “I wasn’t s-sure… They m-might be t-too big.”

“They are perfect. Thank you”.

He had not expected his presence just an hour earlier as the man had stepped close to the prone figure of Hannibal, ready to lower himself down the hole to help Will, but it only took a moment for the alpha to realise they had nothing to fear. The man was extremely fearful, even while approaching Hannibal with raised hands, meek to such an extent the soldier was not sure how he had managed to survive in the woods alone so long. Furthermore, the man had offered his assistance almost immediately, first to help the omega climb out of the ditch and then suggesting following him to his cabin, tucked away among the trees so he could wash himself from the blood.

The doctor’s guard was still high, but with the boy so into shock he didn’t feel like he was in a position to refuse help. A part of him suspected Peter was involved in the tortures they had come across earlier, maybe as a way to dissuade other strangers from coming too close to his house, or maybe as a pure act of madness after prolonged solitude, but the character he was seeing now didn’t fit the description of the cruel monster as he stepped in the bathroom with eyes barely looking at the omega in the corner.

“I’m s-sorry you s-saw t-t-that. Is he ok-okay?”

Hannibal stepped closer and Peter flinched before handing over the clothes. “He will be. We are thankful for your assistance, Peter.”

In the pile he saw a couple of shirts, of different patterns and sizes, trousers and even some underwear. Everything appeared neatly folded and recently washed.

“Will, will you be ok to dress yourself?”

Will looked up at his companion before nodding. He could do with some privacy now.

“Good. Take your time.”

The two older men left the room, leaving the omega to get changed.

Hannibal followed the beta to the main living area of the house, a wider space that consisted in a couple of sofa chairs arranged around the fireplace. A cast iron tea pot was still resting near it, a few embers cooling down among the ashes.

On one side of the room, nested in a corner, was a small cage. Without saying a word, Peter reached for it, and a brown mouse climbed on his arm before snuggling in his open palms.

”I’m s-sorry f-f-for what h-hap-ppened to your c-companion.” He pointed for Hannibal to join him on the chairs. “T-those p-poor people…”

He had already apologised profusely, reassuring them he had taken no part in the two infected’s tragic ending. The doctor didn’t comment on it.

”We are grateful for your help.”

”Are you t-travelling w-west?”

“Yes.” He debated for a second how much was safe to share. “We are heading to Washington.” Looking around he noticed a single mug cooling down on the table, as a single throw blanket by the side of the chair Peter was sitting on.

”Do you live here alone?”

The beta nodded before lifting his pet so Hannibal could see him better. “J-just me and K-Kevin. I d-don’t like people.” He explained how he had decided to retire in the woods many years before, too scared of other humans even before the world had tragically come to an end. He found solitude more comforting, safer, surrounding himself with animals and his garden. Hannibal couldn’t necessarily blame him. Life was probably more predictable without the variables of other people, but still he wondered how the beta had managed to survive so long without anyone else around.

The door of the bathroom opened and both men turned to look at the omega who was now cautionally walking in the room. The shirt provided by Peter was maybe a size too big, but the fabric looked soft and it would fall nicely on Will’s features as his body changed. The same could be said for the trousers, and the boy had already rolled them up so he wouldn’t step on the extra length.

His face looked more serene than what Hannibal had seen on him earlier, even his scent was slowly coming back to his usual serene self. He exchanged looks with the alpha for a brief moment as he came closer, before speaking.

”Thank you for this.”

Peter didn't look away from playing with his mouse but his head wobbled in acknowledgement. “That’s n-no problem.”

It didn’t take long for Will’s attention to be captured by something in the corner of the room. Close to the front door there were a couple of fishing rods, well kept and clearly used frequently.

”Are you a fisherman, Peter?” Hannibal asked, watching the omega’s excited look as he stared at the instruments. His hands had reached for the hem of his shirt to stop himself from touching the rods without permission.

”Ah. N-… I t-try.” His stutter seemed to get worse when caught unprepared. “T-there’s a p-pla-place c-close f-from here…”

Will didn’t wait for the other to finish the sentence. ”Could I borrow it?”

Hannibal had not seen Will this excited since they had explored that school in Hayleysville.

”Y-Yes, of course.” A candid happiness had filled the cabin.

—-

Half a mile from Peter’s home, the forest opened up to make space for a stream. The water flew among the rocks at a placid pace, clear and full of life.

As soon as they came in view of the current, Will abandoned his backpack at the side and rushed to pull his boots off.

”Be careful.” The alpha reprimanded him with a smile on his face, but the omega was not listening, too focused on following his own instinct. He rolled the wide pants up above his knees and slowly stepped into the water.

He looked so much in his element, surrounded by nature, serene, and as soon as he reached the centre of the river his features relaxed in a way Hannibal had rarely seen on him since they met. The way he tucked the rod under his arm as he prepared the line between his expert fingers was incredibly fascinating. And then, with one smooth motion he swung the instrument forward, the lure flying above the surface before diving in the agitated waters. He had become one with the river.

As he watched the boy from the side bank where he and Peter had been resting, his eyes travelled down to his legs, in the slim slither of skin poking from the rolled trousers and above the water. There was a mark there Hannibal had not noticed before. A plethora of scars covered Will’s body but this called his attention because it was completely different from any other he had seen on him. They would usually be irregular, of odd shapes, gained likely in the many years Will had spent surviving in the outside world. But not this one. This was a perfect circle, at least from what the alpha could see from a distance, way too perfect to be unintentional. It was clearly man-made, seemingly burned into his skin.

He was so focused on looking at his companion that Peter’s voice almost startled him.

“How l-long have you b-b-been bonded?” The question was very direct but without malice.

“Oh. We are not a couple.” He corrected. The surprise was clear on the beta’s face.

”Oh s-sorry. You look… m-mated.”

“No, we are just travelling together. Unfortunately Will’s alpha has passed away.” He didn’t think it was wise to go into details, but it would be impossible to hide the omega’s pregnant state. Anyone would have assumed their relationship.

”Oh… I’m s-sorry to hear t-that.“ He took a pause and his expression turned more worried. “The world… is d-dangerous out t-there.” So much was an obvious statement. It was understandable why someone like him would have chosen to isolate. But then he continued. “B-be careful on… on your journey. There are… v-very dangerous p-people around.”

”We know how to defend ourselves.” So far they had managed to survive.

Peter shook his head pressing his eyes shut.

”N-no… t-there are people g-going around so e-evil… I c-can h-hear them at n-night… T-they t-take p-people away… t-t-torture t-t-them…” His stutter was becoming worse as he spoke. A shaky hand had reached his temple nervously patting on the tender skin. “I h-hear t-them s-s-scream… in the f-forest. I don’t k-know if t-they are al-alive, d-dead… maybe worse.”

Whoever had tortured that omega and left him to be eaten alive was not in front of him. Now Hannibal was sure of that. He turned back to look at the water, wondering if he had made a mistake by taking them across the woods of Appalachia.

“Hannibal, look!”

The tension was broken by the voice of the omega. Kneeling in the river, hands reaching for something below the surface, he pulled up his catch, a ten inches long rainbow trout. The colorful scales were shining under the august sun as the animal was flopping in Will’s hold. His smile resembled the one of the child they had seen weeks before in the framed picture. The fragile boy he was cleaning up earlier that day from the blood of an infected had disappeared completely and Hannibal couldn’t stop himself from smiling back at the sight.

”Excellent job, Will.” The omega made his way to the side bank, where a bucket had been prepared for him to place his spoil. “Peter, if you’ll allow me, I’d be happy to cook for the three of us tonight, as a thank you for your help today.” He glanced in the omega’s direction as he said so, the young man nodding in approval.

Peter didn’t answer immediately, almost taken aback by the generous offer. “You c-can use any-anything from the g-garden.”

—

In the next few hours Will had managed to catch another two beautiful trouts that Hannibal prepared on the fire, stuffed with some of herbs he had collected around the cabin. It had been a long time since he had access to so many fresh vegetables. The beta’s offer was not as vast as what he was used to at the Baltimore base but that was to be expected. They had several people in charge of the garden at the QZ that would dedicate their full-time gardening. The kitchen at the base had always been fully furnished and Hannibal himself had the privilege to make use of it sometimes (with Jack’s full support). But even as a single person, Peter had managed to fill his entire pantry with jars and jars of preserved vegetables, spices, and dried herbs in addition to any fresh produce that would help him survive the long winter months. He paired the lean meat with lots of tomatoes, roasted zucchini and boiled new potatoes. Peter didn’t seem to mind sacrificing so many precious ingredients for the strangers, a fair price for the company after so many years of solitude. The food would come back, the human touch was far more rare. The vitamins and omega 3 would do wonders for Will’s body, so deprived of all the healthy nutrients he would usually need to carry his pregnancy to full term, and everyone would happily enjoy the full delicious meal. Just as he was dishing out everything the beta had emerged from the cellar carrying a bottle of aged whisky he had saved for special occasions. It just couldn’t get any better. Hannibal had the privilege for a few hours to forget the impending dangers that were waiting outside of the door.

He was sitting by the fire, reading a book Peter had left him with before retiring for bed, when his eyes lazily looked where Will was supposed to be resting, only for him to find the chair empty. His backpack was still there, by the side of the sofa where he had left it earlier that day. His empty plate was on the arm of the sofa, but his mug of camomile tea was still half empty, steaming. He turned to look in the other corner. Maybe he had gotten distracted playing with the mouse. But no, he was not there, the cage was closed. He peered above his shoulder to look at the door of the bathroom. Maybe the boy had been sick again. It wouldn’t be surprising since his body was likely not used anymore to such a big meal. From the wide entrance he saw it was dark inside and the room was empty. Will was nowhere to be seen.

His heart was racing already as he stood from the chair, the book abandoned on the floor.

How could he possibly not notice him disappearing? The boy could be very quiet and sneaky sometimes but it was hard for him to understand how Will would manage to leave without noticing as they stood just feet from each other.

The same dread he felt weeks before raised in his chest almost immediately. He had lowered his guard too much. They didn’t know the area, they didn’t know this man, for all he knew he could be playing a part in lowering their defences before attacking them.

As these thoughts rushed in his brain once again stripping his usual collectiveness away, he heard a voice coming from outside, almost like a giggle. He recognised that voice immediately as Will’s.

He stepped outside, walking around the cabin and following the laughter getting more and more clear.

”Shh… you need to be quiet!” He heard him whispering, pointlessly trying to keep his volume down. The inside light coming from one of the windows projected long shadows on the ground, framing the scene in front of him.

Will was in Peter’s Garden, kneeling on the short grass behind an apple tree and in front of him the same dog they had seen earlier that day. The animal noticed Hannibal’s presence before the boy did and when he turned around to face his companion, Will immediately stood to cover the stray.

”Ah! Hannibal! I… I can explain.” He tossed something to the ground quickly, the mutt rushing to sniff it wagging his tail all excited.

”What is going on here?” He watched him rub his hands clean on the new trousers and he soon recognised some leftover from the dinner scattered by the roots that the animal was happily feasting on.

The omega sighed, almost annoyed he had been discovered. He couldn’t hide the truth any longer.

“Okay… Look… I have been feeding him for a couple of weeks.” As if they could afford sacrificing food. “He has been following us but I promise, he is so smart…” Almost as if aware the conversation had focused on him, the dog came back to rub against Will, whose hands had instinctually reached for the matted fur. “He can take care of himself and… and… you won’t even notice him…”

Hannibal crossed his arms watching the boy scramble to find any excuse to keep the animal, or at least, that’s what the alpha suspected.

”He is my responsibility…”

”We don’t have the resources to feed a dog. It’s a liability.” And there he thought Will had started to grow a better appetite over the last few weeks. If only he had known half of their hard-earned meals had gone to feed a mutt.

”He has survived by himself this long. He can help us!”

”That’s a no, Will.”

He instinctively stepped closer. Maybe it was the tone of his voice, maybe his scent that had started souring, but the dog jumped in front of Will and barred his teeth, ready to sink them in Hannibal’s arm at the smallest hint of aggression. Will might not have intentionally chosen the dog, but the dog had definitely chosen him.

”Maybe he is more valuable than he looks.” He smirked.

It took a second for Hannibal’s words to register. “What?”

”It seems, against my better judgement, that he could serve a purpose. And we need all the help we can get.”

“Really?” A wide smile grew on Will’s face and the dog immediately stopped growling, wagging his tail in response to his owner’s excitement.

“You’d better start thinking of a name.”

The boy kneeled again, letting the stray lick his face.

”I think you look like a Winston… What do you think? Do you like “Winston”?”

Something warm blossomed in Hannibal’s belly and he convinced himself it was the dinner.

They left the next day at the first light of dawn. Peter had been so generous to fill their backpacks with plenty of food that would help them greatly until they reached the next town on the map.

They wished him good luck and Winston led the way among the trees.

Hannibal had stayed up later than the rest of the group, still too nervous to be able to fall asleep and he had watched the omega finally sleep through the night with the pet cuddled to his side. Since they had left Baltimore, Will had never looked so serene in his sleep and the alpha could only blame the animal for this positive change.

As they continued their journey, he found himself glancing back at the cabin before it completely disappeared in the green. For a second he considered he could just stop now, settle there with Will and never go to Seattle. It would be a different life, for them both, on their own terms, on their own time.

But was it an option? He looked back ahead at Will. He looked happy, more than he had done for a while. Everything was quiet around, apart from the chirping of the early birds and the trees waking up under the sun, but in Hannibal’s mind he could still hear Peter’s words about the dangers of the world. Even now something was waiting to destroy that peace.

He had made a promise to Will to keep his pup safe, no matter the circumstances and he knew there was no option for safety outside the QZ. He was quick to wave the image away from his mind, of Will standing by the garden with the pup curled on his chest in the warm light of summer, Seattle a distant memory.

For a few hours he mourned that loss.

Chapter Text

He stood staring at the main building for a while at a safe distance.

The wide parking space surrounding it was mostly empty, safe for a few scattered cars, abandoned and now rusted under two decades of changing seasons, some partially hidden by the overgrown weed that seeped between the cement slabs.

At some point one of the letters of the word “pharmacy” had fallen off the front façade and its remains had been left to rot in the dust.

The location had served at some point as the main distributor of drugs in the area and the frosted windows still showed ads of long forgotten beauty products no one had asked for in a very long time. Anti age cream was clearly not a priority anymore, not when there was no promise to reach old age. According to the large signs plastered outside the perimeter, the location had closed suddenly, at the early stages of the pandemic, before the government had time to transform it into another military subsidiary, like most locations from the same chain. It was odd to see one of those stores still looking like they did before everything fell. It was an eerie reminder of what the world used to look like.

Hannibal had seen it on the map as soon as they entered the state and he had been thinking for the last couple of days if it would be worth the risk. The place was large, in the middle of nowhere and it might still carry many items they all would benefit from. Will was halfway into his pregnancy now, suspicion confirmed by the more prominent curve of his belly, getting more evident under his clothes and the stronger and sweeter omegan scent.

If his calculations were correct and without additional setbacks, they should arrive in Seattle in time for the baby to arrive, but there were still many things both mother and child would benefit from in order to keep them healthy, medications that any outpost would normally stocked with but that were hard to find in the outside world. Painkillers were a priority, just as supplements and first aid essentials. The doctor was keeping a close eye on his inventory, he still had some stock he had saved from the convoy but it was not going to last them very long.

It was worth the risk.

The pregnancy was starting to take a toll on Will. Hannibal had noticed how tired he was at the end of each day, no matter how much the boy would try and hide it. Some days the alpha would find him out cold, before he even had time to prepare camp for the night. The doctor hated having to waking him just to put some food in him, but he would be back asleep in no time nested against his furry companion.

The older man was making a mental list of all the things to look for as he inspected the main entrance for any sign of intrusion.

There was a reason why Hannibal felt so nervous. The building was massive, with multiple points of entrance. It would be hard for them to keep an eye out for any other guest, either alive or dead. It didn’t take an expert to understand many would find the location appetizing. He had never been this worried before, careful sure, always, but never this paranoid, but now something in his chest kept reminding him there was something more important he needed to be careful for.

Hannibal unlocked his holster and placed his hand on the gun for a brief second, feeling the weight of the weapon pressed on his side. It was loaded and ready.

“Let’s try to keep it brief.”

He watched the other load the shotgun on his shoulder with a well-rehearsed movement and Winston rushed to his side, brushing gently against his leg, almost as if checking on him. Will’s lips flicked with a hint of a smile, gentle yet barely there, before he looked back towards the building. “I don’t see any movement from the windows. Looks quiet.” He brushed his hair back, staring into the distance and Hannibal couldn’t help but notice the light freckles on his cheeks that had appeared over summer. He made a mental note to help him cut his hair as soon as they had some time to spare.

“Keep an eye open for any back door. I’m sure there must be at least a couple heading towards the employee parking space.” He announced as they headed towards the entrance. “If you hear anything suspicious, we get out immediately.”

As always Winston marched in front of the group, closer to Will, as if knowing exactly what they were looking for.

Hannibal had been nervous about adding it to their pack, but it didn’t take long for him to notice how much its presence had improved Will’s mood. The mutt had grown attached to the omega, more than to Hannibal, no matter how much food the doctor had shared over the last couple of weeks. Sometimes he still greeted the man with bared teeth and a low growl if the alpha moved too close too quickly.

Some days the dog would disappear while on their long march, only to reappear hours later with blood on his fur and a full belly. He knew how to take care of himself, but also when to show up for his new owners.

A heavy chain had been lazily wrapped around the handles of the door, loose enough for them to be able to squeeze under. He pulled it as wide as he could and helped his companions to squeeze through. “Here.” The dog rushed in, followed immediately by Will. The space was just big enough for the alpha to make his via through, having to pull his backpack behind. It wouldn’t do as an exit if they had to run out.

Nature had slowly made its way inside the building. One side of the main space was covered by a thick layer of moss, running on the grey tiles of the floor and up the wall to the second floor, likely coming from the water infiltration that was still leaking from a broken vent. But the rest of the store was surprisingly well preserved, with lines of racks mostly emptied out and covered in dust. Above all, the ceiling was made of large glass panels, mostly still intact, and through the frosted layer the sunlight came in engulfing the room in a dim eerie light. It was warmer inside, he noticed. The lack of circulation had made the pharmacy into a greenhouse. He would need to be more careful with any medication they would find.

“Wow…” Will was already exploring the aisles, captivated by the colourful ads that covered every shelf.

Hannibal remembered a time when he visited a place like many years before when he had just moved to the States with his family. The now empty aisles were flooded with people, rushing in for the Christmas season looking for last minutes gifts to bring home. Some cheesy holiday music that Hannibal was not familia with played in the background as his mother was looking at the makeup counter with Mischa by her side. Count Lecter’s hand was wrapped around the boy’s palm, big and warm, but his thumb was twitching nervously as he looked at crowd unable to share the same excitement. Just that morning the national news had announced the definite fall of Europe before the subject was quickly brushed away in favour of the new fake happy report from small town America. People were dying in the tens of thousands, and yet everyone seemed to avert their eyes and close their ears. How long before all those people would be at each other’s jugular for some food?

“That’s funny.” Will’s voice emerged somewhere deep in the shop. As he looked in the direction of the voice, Hannibal could barely spot the tip of his head emerging from the shelving units.

“What is it?” A moment of silence followed by some ruffling of papers before the alpha saw him emerge from the corner, slow pace as he looked at a folded paper in his hand.

“Happy birthday, you silly sausage!” He giggled showing the birthday card he had snatched from one of the shelves. A cartoon wiener dog was on the front, holding a massive bone in his mouth.

Hannibal chuckled. The joke was not even that funny, it was barely a joke at all, but the alpha found Will’s amusement adorable. He watched the boy turn to Winston who was trotting close. “See?” He handed the card in the dog’s direction, but after a quick sniff the mutt left again, investigating a different section.

“You don’t have a sense of humour, Winston.” He sighed walking back to the card display. Hannibal followed his gentle humming moving between the shelves till it stopped again. “Happy retirement… What’s a retirement?”

—-

The prenatal section was in a corner, tucked between the cosmetics and beauty treatments and it appeared almost completely untouched compared to the rest of the shop.

That was a lucky find. In most supermarkets they had been in so far the section had been ransacked but here, maybe due to the remote location of the building, it had been forgotten. He would need to leave any liquid or cream behind, unfortunately, as they wouldn’t have survived the passage of time even in perfect conditions. However there was still a lot he could make use of: most powders and pills would still be safe to consume, although with a reduced potency.

He loaded his backpack without a second thought. He knew Will needed all the help he could get.

As he stashed away as many bottles of vitamins he could find, his eyes landed on the lower shelf on a few sealed boxes of home doppler.

In a normal scenario such a tool would not be advisable (too unreliable) but in their current predicament it would be useful to rely on something more precise than just Hannibal’s hearing.

He didn’t have batteries to check but every element seemed intact and ready to use. As he weighed the object in his hand he decided to hide it quickly at the bottom of his backpack under a few clean shirts before the other noticed. He didn’t want to give Will any false hope in case the machine was broken.

He heard him approaching just as he was pulling the backpack back on his shoulder.

”Are we done here?” Winston emerged behind him just seconds later, brushing against his open hand. “You’ll have to explain to me what the hell is a ”no-makeup makeup”. So, is it or is it not? I don’t get it.”

It was a battle he didn’t intend to fight. Hannibal had already spent too much time trying to explain to him the concept of weightloss food and predistressed clothes and it had been a complete failure. No amount of explanations seemed to make sense for the boy so used to a naturally hostile environment. So he ignored the question altogether.

”Let’s go upstairs.” He pointed at the big lettering on the wall. “We should find more things in the pharmacy.” Hopefully they would be able to leave quickly before anyone would notice their presence.

Will sighed but he headed immediately towards the stairs.

Large steps lead to the upper floor, wrapping around a central column and there it opened back to another large room, equally occupied by shelves and shelves of products.

Unfortunately it wouldn’t be a quick deal.

The upper floor was entirely dedicated to the pharmacy, with rows of over-the-counter drugs, integrators, and natural remedies, however most had been already taken. He managed to snatch a couple of boxes that had been forgotten during the raids, but a large hole in the ceiling had allowed the water inside and over time the natural elements had destroyed what was still available. A slimy substance was covering the floor where it had been collecting over the years. The building was but a ghost of what it used to be in the past.

Several signs pointed at the far end of the room. Protected by a double glass was the pharmacist counter, the sleek curved desk was covered in yellowed posters inviting people to book the latest flu shot or stop smoking. Behind it, the locked shelves with prescription medications had been broken into and emptied, but the door leading to the lab was still sealed, the “staff only” sign still vibrant and readable on the metal. Based on the damage near the handle someone had tried to get into it but had been unsuccessful. Its precious content was likely still waiting behind.

Hannibal made his way behind the counter, noticing the rusted keypad on the adjacent wall. Once electricity had stopped working, the lab had sealed itself shut for good. He tried the handle a few times to check its sturdiness as he thought of a way to get inside.

“You think you can lift me there?” Will pointed at a slim vent carved above the door. “I can try from the inside.”

“It’s too dangerous.” The alpha contested.

“I’ll be careful.”

The passage was just big enough for the omega to squeeze through, just barely. A few more weeks and it wouldn’t be an option with his curves.

He remembered a similar scenario earlier in their journey, and how little he trusted will at the time. It was no longer the case, quite the opposite. He took a minute to look around for a better option that wouldn’t require the boy to put himself on the front line, but the desire to leave the building quickly made him relent.

“Alright. Check if it opens first.” He watched him drop backpack and shotgun on the floor, before bending his knee to give Will a surface to climb. They didn’t need any additional instruction, having rehearsed the position now many times. The weight felt reassuring, still too little for his liking, and Hannibal rested a hand around his companion’s tights to steady him.

The boy shook the fan in a tight grip and then with one last push the vent opened, with the entire structure falling off the wall. The passage was free for him to climb into. “Is the room clear?”

“Hang on…” He leaned in, letting his shoulders wiggle inside. A few seconds of silence were followed by the boy’s voice echoing in the empty room “Clear!” The drop was muffled but Hannibal still followed the steps till he was back by the lab door. “I got it!” It didn’t take long for the door to open, squeaking around the unused hinges, and then the light finally poured in.

“Please, come in!” Will chuckled, welcoming the alpha inside. His chest and nose were covered in dust where he had crawled in.

“Well done.” He smiled back.

They couldn’t be luckier. The space had not seen a human in two decades. Every shelf and cabinet was still filled to the brim with a variety of tools, medication or every type, and the sealed entrance had preserved everything in the best conditions: painkiller, antibiotics, even some antiseptics. This was the type of loot the soldiers would look for while patrolling, and certainly One this big would deserve a celebration.

He filled his backpack quickly, choosing an assortment of items and drugs, especially those that were harder to find. He even found some space for surgical tools in the side pockets. Hopefully he would never need them, but he was still grateful for the additional weight.

”We will split everything when we are out.” He commented out loud, ready to leave. The quick tapping of Winston’s nails on the floor came closer, but no human steps. “Are you ready?”

There was no answer.

He stopped by the lab door, loading the backpack on his shoulder one last time and turned to look at his companion.

“Will?” On his face there was an expression Hannibal couldn’t entirely understand. He looked terrified, but on his cheeks there was a light blush that was quickly becoming darker, especially as his eyes started watering. “Are you okay?” His left hand reached the curve of his belly, while the other grabbed on one of the shelves for support, his hold so tight that his knuckles had turned white.

“I think…” It was just a whisper. His scent was equally confusing, and the doctor couldn’t do anything but rush to his side.

“What is it?” The boy was still refusing to look back.

“I think… I think I felt a kick.”

Hannibal’s mind lost self control for a moment and the words died in his mouth.

“Ah.” The laughter sounded almost like a cry. “Yes. I can feel it.” Without waiting for a response Will grabbed Hannibal’s wrist, forcing his palm against his growing bump. There was a second of nothing before a clear woosh brushed against the alpha big hand.

“Hello, little one.” Almost in response, the little creature kicked again, now more clearly and Will sighed happily, squeezing his shaky fingers around the alpha’s wrist.

All of a sudden they were no longer alone in that closet. The life that so far has been a silent participant in all their conversations has made itself seen.

Without realising it, Hannibal had started stroking his thumb on the belly, a weird warm tension rising in his chest he had never felt before and it took him a while for his mind to strike him into control again.

“Let’s go.” He didn’t want to interrupt the moment but he didn’t want to spend any other second inside the pharmacy. They got what they wanted. Now it was time to leave.

Will scrubbed his face, as if embarrassed by the blush that was still covering it under the sparse freckles and rose to his feet.

”I wanna make it to the next town over before the sun goes down.”

He only made one step out of the lab before everything went down.

The pain didn’t register immediately.

First came the thunder, deafening, terrifying.

And then the heat.

Before he knew it his knees buckled and he fell to the ground, a splash of blood mixing with the dust and glass shards.

”I got him!” A male voice came from the back of the pharmacy, behind a shelving unit, followed by an equally disgusting cheer.

”Hannibal!” Will was by his side in an instant but the alpha was quick to push him aside to stay protected behind the counter. He let himself fall against the wooden structure pressing a hand to the wound. There was already so much blood. The bullet had burned his left side, leaving a weeping hole behind. His fingers were soaked as he looked down at his soaked trousers.

“No no no…” Will was kneeling in front of him, pale as a ghost, as he called for his companion with terrified eyes. His shaky fingers were reaching, pressing on top of Hannibal’s to stop the blood.

Another shot hit the table behind them, sending splinters in the air.

”Fucking get them out!”

Not like this… He couldn’t let them have him…

”R-run…” The command came without strength as another wave of pain struck him. It was hard to think.

“The alpha is down! Now, Dean!”

He vaguely heard steps rushing in their direction, before the omega emerged from the corner, rifle held into a tight grasp as he shot the enemy with a single breath to his neck. The rider hit the floor hard, his body convulsing as life spread on the tiles.

“N-now!” Taking advantage of a moment of silence, Hannibal pushed the boy on his feet, trying as he could to run in the direction of the staircase they came from. He only made a few steps before he collapsed again.

His energies were leaving him quickly. His vision blurred and when he looked ahead Will had turned around, calling for the alpha again.

The moment of distraction was enough for one of the thugs to reach for him, trapping the boy in a tight lock.

”Got the bitch!” The omega was thrashing as hard as he could but he could only do so much scratching the man’s face trying to set himself free. “Fu… you knot teaser…”

“W…” he tried to stand but his vision swimmed, sending him again to the ground. He forced himself to look ahead just in time to watch Winston jump onto the aggressor and sink his teeth into the man’s shoulder, setting his owner free. Will crumbled to the floor, coughing as he was finally able to take a full breath.

”Aaah! Fucking d-“ The raider didn’t have time to finish the sentence. He was pushed to the ground and the dog went for the jugular.
“We have to go! Now! Now!” Will was once again by his side, supporting his weight as they ran downstairs.

Hannibal pressed harder on his wound and he forced himself on his feet. The pain was blurring his vision, his mind slipping as they stumbled down, one step after the other. Next to him the omega kept turning back, he could feel his heart rate panicking as he squeezed his hand. There were shots echoing behind.

Once reached the ground floor, the alpha instinctually turned left to go back to the main entrance where they came from but Will pulled him towards the other side. “That way!”

Lifting his head required too much energy, energy that he could feel draining from his body at each step, but as he looked to the back of the shop he noticed the emergency door open, wide, facing the open parking space.

Winston ran in front of them leading the way. He made a few steps and his knees trembled again, threatening to pull him to the ground.

“P-please…” It was getting harder for the boy to help him. The big alpha body pressing against him was too much for a boy like him to carry. “Please… al-almost there…”

”Leave…” The word came out of Hannibal’s mouth no louder than a whisper but Will ignored it.

“Come on… It’s almost there!”

The colder outside air hit his face, giving him a moment of lucidity. A car was parked just outside and he realised it was the ride the thugs had come in with.

”Wait…” Hannibal slumped against the vehicle as Will rushed to open the back door. His trousers were now soaked, he could feel the heat leaving his body. ”You have… you have…” the words were coming out slurred and it took all his energies to put the thoughts in order.

Will was back by his side before he was able to complete the sentence.

”You have to get up now, Hannibal! Come on!” The boy helped him to his feet once again, the back door was wide open and he laid the alpha in unceremonially. They didn’t have time. Winston followed immediately as Will rushed to the driver seat.

The keys had been left in the engine.

”Do you… Have you…?” The boy’s panicked eyes as he looked at the staring wheel weren’t reassuring.

“Once.” He cut short, understanding the other even with slurred words.

The car sped up and the rough movement sent Hannibal rolling against the back rest, pulling a scream of pain out of his chest.

The wheels hit a pot hole as they swamned against the gravel. Will kept turning back looking at his companion but it was getting harder for the alpha to look back. A second car engine rumbled behind them, getting louder and louder.

”You have… leave me…” He wheezed, closing his eyes as he rolled on the hard surface.

“Don’t even, Hannibal! Don’t even say that!” Will was clearly trying to keep his composure, but in his voice Hannibal could hear his fear.

As his blood soaked the seat below, a strange sense of calmness took him over. Will still had a chance to survive, take the car and run to Seattle, find refuge, find a life. But none of that would be possible if the dying alpha was there to drag him down. Hannibal knew it, and he was starting to be at peace with it. “Just… save… yourself…”

Shots hit the frame of the car and Will screamed when one broke the back window, sending glass particles everywhere.

Every sound was getting more muffled. The hand that was still pressed to his wound was putting lighter pressure. On his shaky fingers he could still feel the rhythmic beats of his heart. As he finally lost the battle with consciousness he thought one last time at the first kick of the baby, he could still feel its movements on the tip of his fingers. If he was to die there, he wouldn’t care much.

Will was still screaming, but Hannibal didn’t get to hear any word.