I’ve been in love with the book version for about as long as I remember myself - then transferred that Hannibal love to all movie versions, and when they initially announced the tv series I was so amazed, and actually seeing the episodes I fell in even more love - instantly. After a rewatch last august I finally got round to browsing ao3 for fics and found so many many many amazing writers and plotlines; and made this sideblog recently but it’s already filled with so many lovely Hannibal things! Alright, enough rambling, onto the fic recs - they’re sorted in the order I read them (and I’m not nearly done, there’s so much more fic to rec, so this won’t be the only post haha)
The Business by Magnetism_bind, 50k / Hannibal hires a hooker with the intention of eating him after he’s done fucking him. His plans change when he sees the hooker.
Shark Tank by xzombiexkittenx, 71k / Will and Hannibal meet in prison. Hannibal is still the Ripper, Will is still a profiler who had encephalitis. Only now they’re cell mates
What Dreams by emungere, 92k / A seduction through physical objects. It starts with a scarf loaned to Will on a cold day, but Hannibal, as usual, isn’t satisfied with anything small.
Blackbird by emungere, 88k / It’s a relief to have Hannibal telling him what to do, but the closer they become, the closer he gets to realizing who and what Hannibal really is.
Ladders by emungere, 134k / Will is slowly losing his mind in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. He makes a deal with the devil to get out.
Provenance by drinkbloodlikewine, whiskeyandspite, 62k / A delightful AU about a rare book dealer, an owner of a high-end coffee shop, and murder. This does involve Hannibal Lecter, after all.
Page Six by ThisBeautifulDrowning, 66k / Crime reporter Will Graham’s column on page six of the Baltimore Sun garners him the attention of many: fans, hobby detectives, the FBI…and others.
Pattern Break by ThisBeautifulDrowning, 72k / He knew exactly how Abigail’s ear had gotten into him, who had shoved it down his throat. He also knew that trying to indicate Hannibal as a killer again was futile.
Dread and Hunger by LiaS0, 71k / AU in which Will receives a secret admirer with a penchant for writing him poetry and slaughtering the innocent in artistic fashions.
Ill Intentions by LiaS0, 90k / He has a watch that beeps to tell him when to get water, when to go for a walk, and when to eat, but he hasn’t yet found a program to tell him how to feel when the Chesapeake Ripper of all people sends Fanmail.
Oddbodies by toffeecape, 72k / Will is an off-brand sentinel. Hannibal is a reputable guide. What could go wrong?
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Murder by bokunojinsei, 57k / Will was a hitchhiker who was doing just damn fine on his own. Then Hannibal had to come along and make the simple life of murdering people on the road complicated.
Identically Different AU by Pragnificent, sparkyhero, 243k / AU where Hannibal is an FBI profiler troubled by his own potential for violence and Will is a psychiatrist and serial killer.
Wolfman by Cadaverish, 38k / The Biloxi Wolfman was happy slipping into retirement [..] That was, until, the Chesapeake Ripper decided he wanted to play a game with mild mannered Will Graham, no longer the Wolfman but still very much a predator.
Carrion Comforts by Cadaverish, 61k / [..] the famed Chesapeake Ripper, died years ago without ever being caught. Only something strange is going on in [his] house and by the time Will figures out what, it may be too late…
In Sickness and in Health by BonesAndScales, 60k WIP / Everyone knows that Will and Hannibal are married. Not everyone knows that they are married to each other.
Bread & Music by peppermintquartz, 252k / Seventeen-year-old Will Graham never makes wishes. If he has any, it’s that he wants his dad to stop drinking, a chance to play on a proper piano, and a home where he can have dogs. He doesn’t expect any of these to come to pass.
The Sacrificial Lamb by princesskay, 100k / Five years after Hannibal and Will disappeared, they are located in Spain, where all evidence points to Hannibal holding Will as his prisoner. Circumstantial evidence isn’t enough to prove whether or not Will was complicit in Hannibal’s crimes.
deus ex machina by coloredink, 26k / "Isn’t that Hannibal Lecter’s car?“ / The car beeped to indicate it was locked. "Yeah, I guess so.” Will walked away, toward the field, Katz on his heels. “I needed a new car.” / “So you bought the cannibal car?”
Secretary by fragile-teacup, ThisIsMyDesignHannibal, 21k WIP / Will Graham needs a job. [..] What he needs is stability, direction, something to help put his life back in order and quiet the buzzing in his head.
The Long Weekend by Devereauxs_Disease, 42k / When Hannibal finally finds him, he makes a proposal: Spend one weekend together, and make a decision once and for all about his and Hannibal’s fate.
Slip the Veil by ThisBeautifulDrowning, 21k / He misses me, Will thought. He wanted what could have been, so much. He was lonely, looking for someone to finally see him for who he is. To accept him as he is.
we are but dust and shadow by peppermintquartz, 7k / Cop-in-training Will saves a man from a mugger. The man turns out to be Hannibal Lecter, a reclusive former surgeon.
Vena Amoris by PaperPlaneChemTrails, 35k WIP / Will Graham is a producer on a Bachelor knock off reality TV show. Against his protests and better judgement, Dr. Hannibal Lecter is cast as the primary love interest on the show.
Bloodline by xzombiexkittenx, 35k / Someone is murdering fledgling vampires and it’s up to Will Graham to figure out whodunnit while coming to grips with his own undeath.
never kiss me by wormsin, 8k WIP / Will Graham is a famous true crime author, a misanthropic hermit [..] Hannibal Lecter is a high class sex worker whose every correspondence is worth its weight in gold. It can’t be love—it’s just a transaction.
Playing God by zacharybosch, 9k WIP / Jack is conspiring with Miriam Lass to lay a trap from the Ripper to walk in to. That trap is Will Graham, a vampire who has been under the control of the FBI for a century.
Watch Your Back by OneWhoSitsWithTurtles, 73k / This is the story of profiler!Hannibal and serial killer!Will, and the crossing and entwining of their paths.
Savage Grace by BadTiming, 14k / “You think you’re in love with me.” Will chuckles, a bitter chuckle devoid of mirth.