Chapter Text
It was dark.
Will became aware of that before he became aware of anything else.
Then came the sensation of fingers and toes.
Of the air in his lungs.
Of his lashes brushing his cheeks.
Of the scrape of his clothes against skin.
Of snowflakes landing on his parted lips.
When he opened his eyes the moon was so bright above him that it was almost blinding. He raised a hand to create a shadow over him and smiled as he observed the night sky for the first time.
He felt as though he were floating along a river through the universe. He felt everything and nothing all at once.
And then…he flew.
Hannibal watched the new spirit be born with mild interest. It had been some time since a new one had come along and to witness a birth in such a way was a truly novel experience. For a moment he flexed his shadows and wondered what would be more interesting. To observe this spirit from beginning to end? Or leave it to discover its own path.
Before he had much time to ponder the young man, nearly a boy, floated from the ground and leapt into the sky with a joyous laugh. Out here in the vast nothing of a mountain side the sounds seemed to reverberate against the snow and trees and sky until it settled deep within his bones.
He decided then to only observe. Besides if he were going to kill off a spirit there were many more that he could easily name and that were far more deserving of his time.
Will did not take easily to the other spirits. They came to him and introduced themselves but they moved on quickly enough. It didn’t truly bother him all that much he would rather be on his mountain and listen to the snow fall than pretend to be interested in anything that they had to say.
Some were kind and gave him advice; some were bothersome and prying as they tried to ask about his past.
The most interesting conversation he had to date was with a fairy named Alana. Apparently every spirit started out as a human. Then through some deed or another or sometimes it was just a matter of fate they became of spirit that usually had something to do with the manner they died.
Will didn’t worry too much about his past. After all if his powers had anything to do with his death then he could easily imagine that he was some foolish human who wandered too far and succumbed to the cold.
The cold didn’t bother him anymore and with no memories of his past there was nothing more to ponder on.
There was one spirit that drew his curiosity. It was an old spirit. As old as the fear in men’s hearts.
Hannibal.
Another spirit, Jack, had warned him that young spirits would do well to stay well away from him. He muttered all sorts of stories of sharp teeth and the strength that a dark spirit could gain from devouring one of his own kind. Apparently he had done it before and promised to do so again.
Despite himself Will wondered what another spirit might taste like. What that sort of power might do. And most importantly…had the other spirit deserved it?
Not everyone he spoke to had such dark things to say about the boogeyman. Margot was an interesting spirit that he saw from time to time. He had the impression that she would rather not talk about what she focused on and so he respected her silent wish. In return she cautioned him that all spirits were made for a reason. Before she left she whispered to him that one would have to be an incredibly powerful spirit to rely on fear rather than love or devotion as some of the others did. Will had nodded at her words and watched as she faded into the distance.
It was some time before he met the famous ‘Pitch Black’ himself.
Will rarely left his mountain if he could at all help it. He had little longing to explore more of the world though having control over the North Wind certainly did help with that aspect when he was in the mood.
They in fact met not far from the spot where Will was born. He had come to do his rounds as he usually did and there was a shadow a shade longer and touch darker than the rest. He waited beside it for a moment looking at it curiously before asking “Hello?”
The shadow shifted for a moment and a tall from arose from within it.
An angled jaw, sharp cheekbones, maroon eyes and a figure draped in darkness. All the things that had been whispered to Will now stood before him in physical form and all he could do was stare in silence.
“That is rather rude.” Hannibal said softly though his tone held little reproach.
Will caught himself floating in air and realized he had been circling the other spirit without meaning too. He had been surprised when he rounded Hannibal’s back and saw that the man had long hair tied back into a neat tail. “Sorry…I don’t often have company.”
The older spirit tilted his head “Be that as it may….I believe it is only courteous to introduce yourself.”
Will floated back to where he was facing Hannibal head on and smiled “But you already know who I am.”
Again Hannibal seemed to consider him for a moment before the first trace of humor crossed his expression. “Indeed I do. Hello Will.”
“Hello Hannibal.”