"Why on Earth would you say something like that to my friends!?" You complained with a cold glare, waiting for him to check out the cookbook and explain his foolish actions. "I mean, there was absolutely NO need for them to know that!"

"Know what?" Hannibal calmly asked, thanking the librarian before he took back the book and faced you once more.

"Know about...well...you know...!" You went from frustrated to flustered in a matter of seconds; now feeling far too embarrassed to finish your response.

"—About you and me..."

"STOP IT, STOP IT! I'LL...I'LL DATE YOU ALL!!" "Please do relax, mio tesoro, it's not like I told them about the others or how you were dating more than one person." He cleverly pointed out, both of you now heading out of the library's exit.

"That's not the point!" You groaned anxiously - attempting to regain your composure whilst also staying calm and collected. "The point is that I didn't want my friends to know about my relationship with any of you."

The psychiatrist only shot you an amused smile; obviously enjoying your stressed-out state and how worried you seemed to be. "I personally don't see the problem, angelo mio. In fact, I found it rather—"

"Wait a minute...Michael?" You interrupted Hannibal with a surprised look, spotting the stalker standing outside - nearby some trees. "I-I don't understand, what are you doing here...? People might see you!"

The pale-masked male merely ignored your question and moved directly in front of you; wrapping one arm around your waist while his other hand cupped the side of your face, his fingers possessively running through your hair as his breathing became heavier. Your cheeks changed to a crimson colour - unable to control how hesitant you now seemed to be. The way Michael was holding you...The way his fingers were softly stroking your strands of hair...It was almost too much. But for some reason you just couldn't pull away - no matter how much you wanted to. His dark-brown orbs stared into your eyes obsessively, hugging you even tighter as he now grew immensely infatuated.

"(Y/n)'s got a point, Michael." Hannibal sighed and shook his head, reaching out to touch the other male's shoulder. "You're acting incredibly idiotic here."

"Hang on, I never said he was idiotic." You hurriedly protested, breaking away from them both and holding your arms awkwardly. "All I meant was—" Before you could finish, Michael slipped his hand into his boiler suit's pocket and gripped the top of his knife - clearly feeling threatened.

"Typical." Hannibal rolled his eyes and held his book underneath his arm, bringing out his pocketknife as a way to defend himself instead. "And here I thought you knew how to keep yourself out of sight when it came to staying hidden in public. Shame."

"Stop trying to rile him up." You stiffly retaliated, defending Michael as you tightened your arms and eyed Hannibal with a cold expression. "I can see what you're doing. It's pretty obvious."

"Oh you can, can you~?" Hannibal's grin darkened while he mischievously replied - becoming even more entertained by your innocent state. "How...interesting. Mind filling me in, my dear~?"

Michael - furious by how condescending Hannibal was being - grabbed the dark-haired male by the throat and held him high in the air; angling his head to the side as he started strangling said psychiatrist. "Michael, stop it!" You cried out in alarm, panicking whilst you glanced around and noticed people beginning to become aware of you three.

However the stalker couldn't care less - his only objective now being to end the other male's life with his iron grasp. "MICHAEL!" You wildly snapped, your fuming temper causing Michael to turn his attention over to you rather than Hannibal. "Put Hannibal down right NOW! You understand me!? Do you!?"

Narrowing his eyes, the silent slasher slowly lowered Hannibal back down to the ground and released him, disliking how you'd taken his side. "Thank you." You stiffly spoke, flicking your head and clenching your fists fiercely. "Now let's go. If we keep standing around like this, people are going to carry on staring at you guys. Let's just hurry up and go home."

"Home? My oh my, I believe that's the first time you've ever called our residence your home before." The smart male retaliated smoothly - his remark causing you to stop dead in your tracks.

"It's not that big of a deal." You avoided his gaze while your blush darkened, suddenly feeling extremely awkward.

"I suppose not." He wryly chuckled, using his thumb and forefinger to tip your chin up ever-so-slightly; his other hand curling around your wrist as he behaved unbelievably intimate.

Before you could respond, Michael seized your other wrist and tugged you closer to his chest - further away from Hannibal whilst also resting his head on top of your own. "Though it still doesn't change the fact that it pleases me." The psychiatrist added lightly, his adoration slowly slipping through the cracks of his affection.

"Right." You raised your eyebrows a little bit and then broke away from them both, wanting nothing more than to go 'home'. "Anyway, we should head back. It's getting late."

"I agree. So Michael, if you wouldn't mind acting so moronic..." Hannibal gestured away from the stalker and therefore riled him up again - the pale-faced male merely wishing he could just rip Hannibal to shreds.

"Stop!" You called out wildly, purposely moving in the middle of both killers. "I'm tired of this. I'm NOT that stupid, Hannibal!"

"Believe me, it wasn't my intent to make you feel like you were." He gently told you, caressing both sides of your cheeks as the psychiatrist attempted to calm you down. "Nor was it my intent to make you feel like you were ignorant, my dear."

"You say my psychology classes have taught me well. But," You paused for a split second as you hesitated - reaching a difficult decision. "I don't think that's true. Not when it comes to you at least. I'm not naïve, but the others were right."

"(Y/n), you have to understand—"
"You've been playing me!"
"I was just protecting you. You don't understand how truly dangerous the others really are. Norman, Michael, Jason, Krueger—"

"One of those people?"
"One of those people who can...who can get close to someone, if it means you get what you want. Even if it...Even if it means hurting the people around them. Hurting the people they love - without a care in the world. With little to no emotion. With little to no feeling. You say you have feelings for me...but do you really?"

"Madness and blackmail may not be the same thing - but using emotional blackmail on the one you supposedly love...that doesn't seem like a smart idea. At least...not to me."
"My apologies for earlier, (Y/n)." "I didn't mean to cause an outburst." "But to answer your previous question, I guess you could say I am. Though I'm surprised you recognised all the symptoms - your psychology classes have taught you well it seems."

"So you agree?" "You agree that you only get close to people to get what you want? Is that what you're doing to me? If so, what do you have to gain from getting close to me?"
"I don't think you'd like my answer to your first question. But I'm certainly not doing it to you."
"How am I meant to trust you?"
"I don't think there's anything I could say at the present time that would convince you."

"Please, just trust me, mi amore." Hannibal held both of your hands in his and kissed one of them - his pleasant persona fading as he became somewhat possessive.

"I can't." You shook your head and carried on walking home; Michael shadowing your footsteps while you realised Hannibal was just as dangerous as the others. "I...I can't trust you anymore. I'm...I'm sorry."

"And you trust the others...?" He wondered in an off-handed fashion - flashing you a slightly sad smile whilst also appearing by your side. "Norman tried to strangle you and Krueger gave you love bites."

"Don't act like you're superior to them." You retorted sharply, avoiding his gaze and approaching the house. "Your psychopathic behaviour is both cunning and crafty - not to mention manipulative."

"Damn right." The dream demon's voice called from the doorway, his expression looking extremely exasperated as he leant against the front door with his arms folded.

Oh.