"I ᗪOᑎ'T ᗰIᑎᗪ ᗯᕼEᖇE ᗯE GO. ᗩᔕ ᒪOᑎG ᗩᔕ I'ᗰ ᗯITᕼ YOᑌ." [A/N: "I DON'T MIND WHERE WE GO. AS LONG AS I'M WITH YOU." His notepad message made your blush deepen considerably; your eyes widening due to the random words of romance.

"Okay, okay, but this is not a date, got it?" You clarified firmly, wondering where to take him and where he'd be entertained. "This is just...two people having fun, that's all." Michael didn't say anything - simply staring at you with that serious expression of his and making you grow even more embarrassed.

You couldn't tell what he was thinking, how he was feeling - nothing. Nothing at all. "And it's normal fun too! No funny business! Ugh, let's just go to..." You paused for a moment - hesitant about a suitable location. "The local park! I mean, I doubt many kids and parents will be around to notice how...out-of-place you appear to be."

Your blunt comment didn't even seem to faze him - the stalker giving a silent nod and letting you pull him down the street. "But seriously, if you wait inside the university like that someone will spot you. Not to mention that it's reckless!" You kept on scolding him, still feeling the need to make sure he understood the seriousness of said situation.

"I ᑕᗩᑎ ᗩᒪᗯᗩYᔕ TᗩKE TᕼEᗰ OᑌT. IT'ᔕ ᑎO ᗷIG ᗪEᗩᒪ." [A/N: "I CAN ALWAYS TAKE THEM OUT. IT'S NO BIG DEAL."]

"That's not the point!" You huffed after receiving another notepad response, your footsteps coming to a halt as you faced him properly. "Besides, I know you're not that reckless. Why'd you do it?"

"I ᗯᗩᔕ ᗯᗩITIᑎG ᖴOᖇ YOᑌ." [A/N: "I WAS WAITING FOR YOU."] Your face flushed bright pink after his next reply; not expecting such a direct answer.

"Waiting for me...? But...But you could've waited outside. Y'know, like I told you to?" Your confused tone switched into a sarcastic one towards the end, wanting to cover up the confusion as best you could.

"I GᖇEᗯ ᗯOᖇᖇIEᗪ. TᕼE OTᕼEᖇ ᔕTᑌᗪEᑎTᔕ ᗯEᖇE ᑕOᗰIᑎG OᑌT ᗩᑎᗪ YOᑌ ᗯEᖇEᑎ'T." [A/N: "I GREW WORRIED. THE OTHER STUDENTS WERE COMING OUT AND YOU WEREN'T."]

"Oh right..." You mumbled awkwardly, shifting from foot-to-foot to hide your emotions. "Well I had to make up an excuse as to why I couldn't visit my friend in hospital to my other friends. After all, it's not like I can just tell them I'm going to hang out with a local serial killer whom also happens to be a stalker as well."

Michael nodded and so the two of you resumed your journey to the nearby park, the awkwardness fading from the atmosphere almost altogether. What the—? Why did the conversation suddenly feel so natural between you both just now? Your cheeks heated up as you refused to look him in the eyes - even when reaching said park. What were you supposed to do now? Should you talk about something? But what would you talk about? Maybe if he had any other interests or things he found fun besides the whole slaughtering thing...? How would you bring it up though? It's not like you could just ask him outright...could you? Were you just overthinking this...?

"So..." You sat down on one of the swings and finally looked at him - feeling even more nervous when you locked eyes with the tall male. "What do you like to do, Michael? Do you have any...y'know, hobbies...or interests...?"

"ᗷEIᑎG ᗷY YOᑌᖇ ᔕIᗪE, ᗷEIᑎG TOGETᕼEᖇ, ᗷEIᑎG ᑕᒪOᔕE TO YOᑌ—" [A/N: "BEING BY YOUR SIDE, BEING TOGETHER, BEING CLOSE TO YOU—"]

"Okay, okay, I get it!" You stopped him from writing his response after you saw the first few lines; pushing the notepad down and averting your eyes with another embarrassed expression. "Alright...? I...I get it..."

"Is there anything else you like to do during your free time? Besides hang around me 24/7?" You inquired curiously.

You stiffened up when the stalker brought out his knife and toyed with the edge of it; looking almost thoughtful as he twirled the weapon against his fingertips. Was he contemplating which interests he had? Or was he thinking about slaughtering more innocent lives after you'd asked him such a harmless question? You didn't know. But what was he doing with it...? Tilting his head to the side, Michael slowly shook it; continuing to mess around with the knife and causing you to feel more and more on-edge. What was he thinking? Was he doing this on purpose? "Not to mention that it's reckless!" "Besides, I know you're not that reckless. Why'd you do it?"

"Can't you put the knife down?" You reached out and clasped your hands over his worriedly, not acknowledging the sharp pinprick you'd received on one of your fingertips. "You might accidentally injure yourself with that, and—!"

He merely placed one of his hands over yours; holding your left one out wide to show that you'd been hurt instead of him. Tiny trickles of blood slithered down your cut finger faintly, you not realising until Michael pointed it out. "Shit, shit, shit!" You panicked in a high-pitched tone - feeling anxious. "I...I'm so sorry! I...I didn't mean to make you feel bad or anything...!"

Michael shrugged - as if to say he didn't care about the subject regardless - and wrapped an arm around your waist; wanting to help stop your finger from slightly-bleeding as quickly as possible. "But hey, at least we can walk home together, and—" Your voice died out when you said that, suddenly feeling incredibly shy.

Because not only were you two walking home together, but Michael was also holding you close to his side by your waist. This strangely-sweet embrace caused your flustered state to increase exponentially - the pale-faced male forcing you to stay close. "Still, this is exactly why you shouldn't play with knives." You muttered, trying to validate your behaviour and avoid his worried stare.

He stopped again and his next retort made you flick your head in annoyance - not liking his answer. "I ᑕᗩᑎ ᑭᒪᗩY ᗯITᕼ KᑎIᐯEᔕ. YOᑌ'ᖇE TᕼE OᑎE ᗯᕼO GOT ᕼᑌᖇT. ᗷE ᗰOᖇE ᑕᗩᖇEᖴᑌᒪ." [A/N: "I CAN PLAY WITH KNIVES. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GOT HURT. BE MORE CAREFUL."]

"I'm fine." You grew defensive and decided to walk again, "It's...It's whatever. So...So don't worry about it or anything...m'kay...?"

After you said that, Michael stopped you from moving - obviously concerned over your wellbeing. "ᗯE ᑎEEᗪ TO GET YOᑌ ᕼOᗰE. ᗪOᑎ'T ᗩᖇGᑌE ᗯITᕼ ᗰE. TᕼIᔕ Iᔕ ᑎOᑎ-ᑎEGOTIᗩᗷᒪE." [A/N: "WE NEED TO GET YOU HOME. DON'T ARGUE WITH ME. THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE."]

"It's only a tiny cut." You spoke under your breath sulkily, disliking how you were now being treated like some sort of child. "I'm not a little kid. I was just caught off-guard!"

The slasher didn't even reply to your sour retaliation; instead snatching up your right wrist and tugging you down the street while ignoring your surprised squeak of shock. "H-Hey! What's your problem!?" You demanded to know once a minute or two had passed - pink dusting your cheeks. "You're acting like...like I've just been stabbed or something!"

This time it was your words that were the reason Michael stopped walking next, the stalker forcing you against a building's wall and placing both hands either side of your head menacingly. Although he wasn't saying anything and staying silent like usual, his answer was as clear as day; the two of you were going home, and the two of you were going home right now. With a defeated sigh, you allowed Michael entwine your right hand's fingers with his and escort you the rest of the way home - the walk back being quiet and oddly calming. Why was he overreacting to such a degree? Honestly...Just because you were momentarily freaked out by said cut, doesn't mean he had to be.

"Ah, welcome back mi amore." Hannibal greeted after you'd entered the house, his tone polite and pleasant. "I trust you had an enjoyable time with Michael...?"

"Oh, um..." You bit your lip - not knowing how to answer properly - and unintentionally became apprehensive, feeling timid. "Thank you. I uh...We had a nice time together - we hung out at the park and everything. Right Michael?"

Without joining in the conversation, Michael gripped your wrist and held it up aggressively; wanting Hannibal to see the trickle of blood and for him to connect the dots. "Oh my." Hannibal murmured intently - taking ahold of your left hand and making you blush due to his thumb and forefinger brushing over your hand's skin. "You've been cut."

"Yeah, no kidding." You sighed a second time - not wanting to make a big deal out of such a small injury - and grew even more embarrassed, "I think Michael's overreacting to some degree though. It'll stop bleeding on its own!"

"Be that as it may, we wouldn't want any bacteria or unnecessary germs infecting your delicate skin, now would we?" Hannibal's fingers curled around your left hand's wrist whilst he spoke, his smooth tone and warm expression making your heartbeat quicken. "Don't you agree?"