Hannibal (Age Plot)

[will_you_see]

Alcuin woke feeling a little strange, but then he realized that he must have climbed into Hannibal's bed in the middle of the night again. A bit embarrassed, he scooted away from Hannibal's sleeping form before climbing out of the covers. He pushed his hair out of his eyes. It was getting a little too long again, enough so that people would be

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[anamusebouche]

It happened quite often that Alcuin crept into bed with Hannibal. The poor boy was still haunted by nightmares. Hannibal allowed it, even though boys his age should really sleep in their own beds.

"I'm awake," he said and turned around to him. "Did you have a nightmare again?"

[will_you_see]

"I... don't really remember," Alcuin admitted. "I think so. I didn't mean to wake you. Would you like me to put on some water for tea?" He was so eager to help, to make himself useful. He could make tea, and Hannibal was even starting to teach him a little cooking, which Alcuin was really very happy about.

[anamusebouche]

Alcuin was always eager to help and Hannibal allowed it. "All right. Do you think you can make some breakfast? I'll be down in half an hour."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin's face lit, and for a moment he actually looked like a child, which was somewhat uncharacteristic for him these days.

"I can," he said confidently. "Can I use the stove? I'll be really careful. But I can do eggs, and even heat some sausage if you have some made already."

[anamusebouche]

That face always brightened Hannibal's day. It reminded him of the smile on his sister's face, and it softened him.

"There is sausage in the fridge. Use the step when you use the stove. I don't want you lifting hot things too high."

[will_you_see]

"Okay," said Alcuin brightly, and smiled adoringly at him before bouncing out of the bed and running downstairs. He put on water for tea first, and then dragged a step stool over to the stove and started making eggs and sausage.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal showered and came downstairs fully dressed to the smell of breakfast. "That smells delicious," he complimented. "Did you manage everything?"

[will_you_see]

Alcuin beamed at him, then turned and took the skillet off of the burner and turned it off. "I made scrambled eggs because it's easiest," he said, "But you can teach me omelets sometime."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal looked over the young man, hands on his shoulders, looking at the eggs and sausage. He squeezed the shoulders a little, encouragingly. "I will teach you," he promised. "But this looks very well. And the kitchen doesn't look worse for it," he added, teasingly, recalling an earlier attempt to cook that had resulted in a massacre in the kitchen.

[will_you_see]

"I cleaned as I went," Alcuin said proudly. "And there's tea steeping."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled to the beaming boy. "Take the plates to the dining room. I'll take the tea," he suggested.

[will_you_see]

"I'll set the table," Alcuin said, and scurried away with the plates. When Hannibal joined him, he'd set Hannibal's place setting at the head of the table and his own in the seat beside him.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal walked in with a tray carrying two cups of tea, milk and sugar. He took his place at the head of the table, where Alcuin had placed him and served them both tea. "Which herbs did you pick for the eggs?" Hannibal asked. He knew, of course, he could smell it, but he found asking the young man part of his education.

[will_you_see]

"Rosemary," said Alcuin immediately, "and olive oil." And waited for approval.

[anamusebouche]

"Very good, very good," Hannibal complimented, smiling easily. "Well, bon apetit," he said and took a bite.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin took a bite as well, and it tasted okay to him, though he looked at Hannibal expectantly.