Maybe a writing prompt: Chilton referring to his chub as "baby fat" in front of Hannibal?
Frederick squirmed under the doctors gaze.He hated having eyes on him, on his stomach, on the scar. Cold, trained eyes. Not that pitying ones would have been better.
He twitched a bit when she touched the sensitive tissue.It sent a bolt of pain through his entire body. A number pain, not a hot searing one, and it made the hairs on his arms stand up.
Another thing he hated. He newly healed skin just felt so different. He twitched under every touch. It was never enough for him to make a sound, but it was enough for the hairs on his arm to stand.
“As far as I can see, nothing happened. The wound seems to be intact, the stiches haven’t come undone. You should be more cautious next time, though.”She rolled back on her chair pulled her gloves off, the latex snapping loudly, and he would have honestly excited at the sound, if there wasn’t the lingering dread of being cut open in the back of his mind, when it came to medical procedures, tainting the obvious appeal of a female doctor (even an attractive on) touching him with gloved hands.
Frederick looked over at Hannibal who was watching with a neutral expression, his suit jacket folded over his arm.This was not good. He had always wanted to be near his colleague, sitting here, shirtless, after a big meal , which of course has been provided by said colleague, his scar fresh and red and glaring – it wasn’t exactly how he would have imagined getting undressed in front of Hannibal.
He also didn’t like the idea of Hannibal obviously being able to tell by his reactions what he was thinking about. And he knew he was being obvious.The dread. How he visibly paled.How medical situations scared him, how he still felt the tinge excitement nonetheless.
The doctor looked at him again then walked over to her desk to take a few notes.
Frederick nodded, not sure when he had last been that grateful for anything in his life. It wasn’t as if he had been the person to be most comfortable in his own skin, but with the scar – He nodded and slipped into his shirt.
“Thank you for brining him here Dr. Lector”, the doctor smiled at Hannibal who just nodded.“I just wanted to make sure. You are better acquainted with his medical history.”She nodded and jutted down another note.
“Dr. Chilton, you seem alright to me. I would advise you to take it easy though. Keep rapid movement to a minimum. The tissue is bound to be a lot more sensitive, and it’s not as durable.About your weight –“, she started and Frederick’s eyes grew wide.
Oh no she wasn’t starting on that. “Yeah I know. It’s just a bit of baby fat. I’ll lose it eventually”, he stuttered, his face and ears surely an ugly pink.She gave him a disbelieving look then looked over at Hannibal who at least had the decency to not bat an eye.
“Alright. I just needed to address it. With the new diet, weight loss is going to happen eventually anyways.”She stood up and shook his hand, then nodded at Hannibal, before leaving.
They shared a cab back to Hannibal’s place, where Frederick had parked his car.They sat in silence for a few minutes, Frederick trying his best not to think about the recent embarrassment in front of Hannibal, the man he had always found enticing and who now surely thought he was pathetic. Even more so than he had before at least.
“Baby fat?” Hannibal’s tone was much, much too amused and Frederick’s head jerked to look at him.
“I – it was, I’m just”, he started but stopped to look down at the hands folded in his lap.It was no use. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know he was lying to himself. Although he didn’t feel all that bad about his extra – padding.He just would rather have had a slimmer body because it was easier on people.
“You use that description often, otherwise you wouldn’t have used it when being taken by surprise.”Frederick didn’t say anything, his heart beating in his throat.“Frederick? Cat got your tongue?” Hannibal asked and Frederick only shook his head.Hannibal chuckled and Frederick bit his lips.
Worst of all he was getting worked up over this.“You can’t be that delusional Frederick. You are clearly looking the way you do, because you enjoy food. You practically demolished my dinner. Don’t get me wrong I am flattered, but taking seconds is not going to help you ‘grow out of your baby fat.’”
Frederick swallowed audibly. Why was that happening?Hannibal still looked at him.Waited for him to speak and Frederick dreaded he would do so until he had answered.
How could the man sound so neutral and still so condescending. Surely Hannibal knew what he was doing to Frederick.Hannibal of all people had to know.
“Yes. Yes I am aware. I -Why are you – doing this?” He blurted out. Maybe calling Hannibal out on it helped?Still – he couldn’t look the doctor’s in his face.
“Oh Frederick, just because it amused me. You went to medical school – you ought to know better. Maybe also slightly due to the fact that you seem to enjoy the situation more than you should. I find it fascinating. Sometimes I wonder how there are so many layers to the human psyche.”
Frederick felt like crying.Yes it was true, but he couldn’t admit to it.He heard a rustle from Hannibal’s direction and soon after he could feel Hannibal’s breath on his ear.
“Tell me Frederick, what is it? The embarrassment, or how that doctors gaze was resting on your soft middle? Or the fact that you knew I was listening?So many possibilities”, Hannibal all but purred. Frederick shuddered and pressed his legs together.
Oh god, Hannibal was the devil. Was he only mocking him, or did he actually want to provoke this reaction.What was he getting out of this?
“Maybe I should invite you to dinner more often. With you enjoying it so much – we don’t want you to lose any of that baby fat, do we?”
“But the doctor –“, Frederick bit out.
“That is your main problem? Interesting.
The extra weight is not that bad. I can tell you as a qualified doctor and surgeon”, Hannibal smirked before leaning get back again.His hand rested his hand on Frederick’s thigh for a second or two, and it would have been enough for him to spread his legs and whimper should he had taken another second or so, but Hannibal pulled back soon after.
As it was he tried his best to recollect himself when the cab came to a stop.
“Alright Frederick, see you next Tuesday at seven.”
It wasn’t even a question. Hannibal knew he would be able to make time.Hannibal paid the driver and got out, after nodding at him and smiling sweetly.
Frederick could barely make his way to his car, before opening his pants and relieving himself with a few quick strokes.He wasn’t even going to beat himself up about this. It was no use.Next Tuesday at 7 …