"I did indeed." You let out a light laugh, sitting down at the table as Norman did the same - sitting right next to you. "So try not to be so worried next time, m'kay?"

"Okay..." Norman's expression melted into one of melancholy, his sudden sadness making you feel bad almost immediately. It was like...like you'd severely scolded him - which wasn't what you were going for at all!

"I-I'm not telling you off or anything!" You quickly reassured him, wanting his mood to switch back. "All I was saying was that you shouldn't grow so upset. I mean...this is where I live now, right? I'll always come back."

Norman simply stared at the floor, his dejected eyes only forcing you to feel worse. "Y...You promise...?" He mumbled while grasping at your shirt with both hands.

"Uh-huh!" You tried to answer with a fake-happy face, but he seemed to pick up on the pretend optimism; his sadness sparking even higher. "I...I mean, of course I promise."

"See?" Hannibal quietly murmured to Michael, the both of them still standing in the hall. "I told you Norman would be a good piece to use in this complex and complicated game." The mute killer merely nodded, having understood Hannibal's words by this point. What words, exactly? Don't. Norman's clinginess and constant need for attention is an essential factor in what we're trying to accomplish. He can unknowingly play on her empathic mindset and guilt-trip her relentlessly.

"Yay! T-Thank you, (Y/n)-!" Norman's facial features brightened almost immediately; flinging his arms around you and resting his head on top of your shoulder. "I-I knew it-! I knew you were super duper nice-! E-Even mother agrees-!"

"No problem...?" You were a little confused by what just happened, but decided to drop it - coming to the conclusion that it wasn't that big of a deal anyway. "I'm glad that you think I'm nice, and that...your mother agrees."

Michael entered the dining room next - standing in the corner of the dining room as he started to just...stalk you. "Um, Michael?" You called his name uncomfortably, "Aren't you going to sit down too?"

"Michael doesn't sit down at the table." Norman informed you on Michael's behalf coldly - the stalker shaking his head as an answer to your question. "H-He never eats."

"Oh, I see..." You dipped your head once you'd received your uneasy answer; minutes ticking by like seconds whilst you wondered when food would be ready. Relief flooded your veins when Hannibal finally brought in the lovely-looking cuisine and flashed you a pleasant smile.

"I do hope you like what I've prepared for tonight's meal, mio fiorellino." He spoke with an incredibly polite attitude, placing down plates of food with the utmost of care. "Since I still haven't learnt your preferences along with what you disapprove of."

Glancing down, you saw that he'd made some sort of meat dish; the heavenly scent drifting upwards as you inhaled it faintly. "Oh please don't worry, I try my best not to be particularly picky. Besides, this looks absolutely delicious." You warmly replied - wanting to sound as grateful as humanly possible. Because you were grateful. "So thank you. Thank you very much."

You were so thankful in fact that you didn't see Norman throw an afraid look in both Michael and Hannibal's direction; clearly stressed out over something. "I'm delighted to hear that. And it's no trouble, no trouble at all, my dearest (Y/n)." Hannibal ignored Norman's alarmed face and carried on talking to you - not concerned in the slightest.

"I'm curious though, what exactly is this meal made of?" You curiously inquired, confused and a bit taken aback by Norman's reaction; his cutlery clattering onto the table as his eyes widened in panic. Uh, what the—?

"Oh this?" Hannibal glanced down for a second casually, "This is just Prime Rib served with Fresh Herb Sauce. It's typically cooked for special occasions, but I enjoy the culinary arts and tend to grow a little...overexcited."

His smoothly-spoken explanation made your stomach quietly rumble, but luckily nobody seemed to have heard it. "Well your overexcitement is turning out to be really yummy!" You cheerfully complimented, after taking a bite and enjoying the tasty flavour.

"I appreciate the kind words." Hannibal pleasantly responded, sitting down himself and acting like a real gentleman.

Michael - for whatever reason - stormed forwards and gripped Norman by the neck, holding him up in the air as he shook him roughly. "Michael!" You gasped in shock, not expecting the killer to behave so violently. "What are you...What are you doing!?"

"L-Let...L-Let go...o-of..." Norman choked out hatefully, clawing at Michael's hand with both of his while he tried his best to escape from the silent stalker's grasp.

"Michael." Hannibal sighed in exasperation, standing up again and planning to step-in. "There's no need for this."

Before the psychiatrist could do anything, you stepped in first; shoving Michael to the side and pulling Norman closer to you via his shoulder. "Are you alright...?" You asked the dark-haired boy worriedly, seeing him rub at his throat and take several deep breaths of air.

"I...I-I'm fine..." Norman shot you a weak smile and sat back down, slowly recovering from the sudden act of aggression.

"What the hell was that for!?" You shouted at Michael in the heat of the moment, completely losing your composure and becoming angry at the silent male instead. "He didn't even do anything! Now Norman may not be the most socially-adept of people - but he's nice, kind, and dependable!"

"(Y-Y/n)..." Norman stuttered your name shyly, surprise spreading across his face as he felt nothing but awe and affection.

"What do you even know about someone like that?" You continued sharply, eyeing Michael with an actual glare.

"ᕼE'ᔕ ᑎOT TᕼE ᑭEᖇᖴEᑕT ᒪITTᒪE ᔕIᔕᔕY-ᗷOY YOᑌ'ᖇE ᗰᗩKIᑎG ᕼIᗰ OᑌT TO ᗷE. ᕼE ᗩᒪᗰOᔕT ᔕᑭIᒪᒪEᗪ ᔕOᗰETᕼIᑎG IᗰᑭOᖇTᗩᑎT ᒪIKE ᗩᑎ ᗩᗷᔕOᒪᑌTE IᗪIOT." [A/N: "HE'S NOT THE PERFECT LITTLE SISSY-BOY YOU'RE MAKING HIM OUT TO BE. HE ALMOST SPILLED SOMETHING IMPORTANT LIKE AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT.]

After he scribbled down a response and passed you that small notepad of his, you shook your head - still irritated. "I. Don't. Care. You don't almost strangle someone to death just because they might've been showing subtle signs of a secret." You scolded him severely, tossing it back as you stared him down.

Michael returned the stare unfeelingly; though you could see tiny, tiny traces of emotion swirling around his dark-brown orbs. Frustration. Anger. Hurt. Obsession. But despite all of that, he didn't say a single word. Not one. He just gave a frigid shake of the head and left the room, his footsteps silent as he did so. Your anger died down a minute or two later, feeling a tad guilty at your outburst. You rarely exploded like that, in fact you preferred to just snap at people or roll your eyes - things like that. Were you a little too harsh on him? Maybe you should apologise...

"(Y/n)?" Hannibal called your name calmly, stepping around the table and gently placing a hand on your shoulder. "Are you alright? Or do you perhaps need a minute?"

"No, I..." You softly shook your head; dazed. "I'm fine. I'm sorry I lost my temper the way I did. I should probably find him and—"

"I think you should finish eating first, mia cara. Besides," Hannibal paused for a moment - an amused expression plastered across his face instead of his usual one. "I personally believe that people get served what they deserve. So, in my mind, you've got nothing to worry about."

"I agree!" Norman chimed in, "I didn't do what I d-did on p-purpose-! Y-You just...Y-You just stood up for me-! B-Because...B-Because you're so...so s-sweet! And...And so lovely-!"

Biting your lip, you gave a hesitant nod of your head and allowed Hannibal to guide you back to your seat - therefore returning to your food. "So let's forget about that chaotic moment for now and satisfy our hunger instead." He attempted to direct your attention away from Michael and towards himself and Norman instead, obviously wanting to soothe you somehow.

And in your mind, that was rather sweet. For all you know, Michael might've deserved that scolding. Hmm...

...Whatever.