"Mia cara, I would never take advantage of you. Nor would I ever stoop to such low levels of cruelty." Hannibal told you with a respectful tone of voice; holding one of your hands in his own before pressing his lips delicately against the top of your fingertips.

"W-W...Well you were clearly trying something...!" You anxiously stammered out, feeling flustered a second time and questioning what his intentions really were. Maybe he was just trying to look out for you. Perhaps he was just trying to be considerate and keep things under control. But...But...

—

"—After all, I would really hate to see you unhappy. I feel kind of like I'm responsible for that, seeing as I have to do everything I can just to keep the others under control."
"Oh no, it's alright...!" "Really. After this new phone and the visits to my Mom, I'll be...I'll be just fine. I honestly don't need any more gifts or luxuries."

"—And I really do care about you...you know...?" "I don't like seeing the other slashers give you a hard time. With how mean Krueger is and everything..."
"Oh c'mon, Freddy's not that bad." "He's just a little...malicious and sharp-tongued—"

"...And what with those two "unwanted admirers" being a little bit...you know...unhinged...? Unbalanced...?"
"They had their reasons, and besides, I was taught to never judge a book by its cover."

"Ahaha...I guess people did get taught that everyday quote, now didn't they...?" "But it's weird, because in all the time we've been dating, we've hardly gotten to spend any time together. You know what I mean, (Y/n)...?"

"It's getting kind of dangerous for you to spend so much time with the others. Especially the unwanted admirers."
"Billy might need some help mentally, but him and Stu aren't a threat anymore...!"
"Be that as it may, isn't it safer to take precaution...? To protect yourself from any sort of upcoming danger...?" "At least for now."

"I-I guess, but—"
"So I think if you kept your distance from those two for the time being, that would probably be for the best."
"That would just make things worse...!" "Distancing myself from the others and Billy-slash-Stu would cause nothing but...but chaos...!"
"—While you're at it, don't be shy to spend a little more time with me~"

"To put it lightly, I at least have it together in the head, and I know how to treat the people I care about."
"No." "You don't...! You may seem like you do, but you don't...! You're just taking advantage of my minor exhaustion and overall empathy. I'm NOT stupid, Hannibal. Distancing myself is a terrible idea."

—

No. There was no way. You had to keep your guard up. He was just trying to win your affection and paint himself higher than the others. Just like usual. God. Dammit. "Trying something on me or not, I'm going to change clothes and then make some breakfast before my Psychology class this afternoon." You decided sternly, ignoring your embarrassed blush and accelerating heartbeat. "Those are my plans, and I'm not budging on them."

"My, oh my, it seems that I don't have much of a choice, now do I~?" Hannibal responded with a soft smile, finding your fierce retort to be somewhat amusing and comical.

"You have multiple choices. You can either respect my decision and leave me to my own devices, pull a Freddy or Michael and act like a total pervert, or try to stop me from leaving the house and go back on your word about giving me my freedom altogether." You calmly announced, crossing your arms and facing him with fake confidence.

Hannibal casually stood there for a couple of minutes; the psychiatrist looking as though he was carefully deliberating over your words and silently contemplating over what to do altogether. Then his charming smile returned, plainly trying to win back your favour somehow. "Very well, mio fiorellino. If heading towards the University after breakfast is what you wish, then I certainly won't stop you from leaving."

"Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get changed and prepare for my classes this afternoon." You decided firmly, trying your hardest to behave self-assured and fully assertive.

"Understood. See you downstairs for breakfast then, mia amata." He replied sweetly, raising his hand as a wave before walking towards the bedroom door.

Once you'd said "See you downstairs" back to him, you turned opposite your bed and opened your wardrobe, picking out some fresh clothes due to not wanting to wear bloodstained clothes for the rest of the day. You - personally - weren't squeamish, but you could definitely tell how suspicious the others would become. Amber and Laura would undoubtedly freak-out, Cadence would grow unbelievably concerned, and Rose would...well, you didn't know enough about Rose exactly yet to know how she'd react to Billy and Stu's blood on your unclean attire. However, thinking back to that awful event made you swiftly shake your head, focusing solely on switching your clothes and brushing your hair. After you'd completed that, you used some deodorant and made sure you looked generally presentable - heading downstairs around ten minutes later.

"(Y-Y/n)...! I...I thought you'd never show...!" Norman exclaimed excitedly, tears glistening at the edge of his eyes before engulfing you in a hug and flinging his arms around you.

"Once I'd ordered a new phone, I...I was just changing clothes, so—"
"I-I was so, SO worried about y-you, I...I didn't know w-whether or not to...Well, w-whether or not to g-go and get you...!" The skittish slasher shyly bursted out, his hold on you tightening as he looked into your eyes with nothing but total desperation and devotion.

"Easy now, easy now. Like I just said, I was merely using your laptop to order a new phone and sitting on my bed at the same time. That's all." You reassured Norman soothingly, curling your arms around his and returning the embrace. "So you really have nothing to worry about."

"O...Oh...O-Okay..." He timidly mumbled, resting his head against your chest before closing his eyes. "I-I...I guess I...overreacted a-a little bit, n-now didn't I...?"

"Maybe just a little bit, yeah." You lightly agreed, rubbing his back for a few seconds while your stomach rumbled and indicated hunger. "Hey, I was about to make some breakfast. Care to join me...? Or have you already eaten...?"

"R...REALLY...!?" Norman cried aloud gratefully, breaking away a minute afterwards and clapping his hands together. "Y...YOU'RE asking M-ME to join YOU f-for breakfast today...!?"

"Well, um...only if you want to..." You hesitantly remarked, your tone dripping with awkwardness whilst you headed into the kitchen. "I'm not going to force you or anyth—"

"O-Of COURSE I w...want to...!" He interrupted with a cheerful expression, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and nuzzling into your body happily. "I-I'm not picky, I...I SWEAR...! I...I'll eat A-ANYTHING you make...! H-Honest...! Y...Your cooking i-is DELICIOUS...!"

"Y-You're too kind..." You disagreed faintly, your heart skipping several beats as you started making some food for both you and Norman. "I...I'm really not all that..."

"O...Oh, but you ARE...!" Norman affectionately praised, the dark-haired male watching you cook and continuing to flatter you at the very same time.

You lapsed into silence, your difficulty in accepting compliments shining through your actions and beginning to show altogether. It's not that you didn't like to be sweet-talked, it was just that you didn't feel as though you needed it. Or at least, need it consistently. You were fine with merely being good at making food, alright with doing tasks and chores, and thankful for being able to keep up with your Psychology classes and the slashers all at the very same time. Speaking of which, you knew Norman wasn't going to take your departure today particularly well. But you'd already made up your mind to meet up Amber, Laura, Cadence and Rose at the University this afternoon. So after you'd eaten at the dining table - in the presence of Norman, Michael, Hannibal and Pennywise - you told him your plans for today, Norman wailing about your well-being as per usual.

But you were used to this, so you just pointed out that you'd be back by this evening; promising that Norman could sleep with you tonight and spend some time together that way. Although he didn't want you to leave, you could tell he was secretly ecstatic with your compromise, reluctantly letting you head over to the University and spend time with your other friends. Hannibal kept his word from upstairs and gave you a gentle goodbye, but Michael and Pennywise...They...Well, they stuck to you like glue. At least until you'd approached the building's main entrance. Then Michael disappeared to his regular stalking spot and Pennywise vanished into thin air - presumably to watch while being invisible to the human eye. You didn't even think that was possible, however you never questioned it, instead heading inside and just sitting down at your desk.