Hannibal's first comment is so reminiscent of their old therapy sessions that Will almost laughs, and he realizes it was meant as a joke, both Hannibal and Will fully aware that Hannibal is the only person Will has ever opened up entirely to, emotionally and physically. There's an understanding between them that's intrinsic, but one they came to via reciprocated manipulation; Will has molded Hannibal into his perfect other half the same way Hannibal has sculpted Will. Intimate physical commingling was the last step in their concurrent metamorphosis, and though they still exist in space within two separate bodies, they are now entirely conjoined on a metaphysical level.

Hannibal's fingers follow the bumps and hollows of Will's spinal column upward as Will's trace down Hannibal's, and Will thinks about the dichotomy of their relationship, how it was before and how it is now. Along the way, when Will was busy luring Hannibal to a specific target, his intention changed, his view changing as he progressed down the path he'd designed for himself. At the beginning of this journey Will had felt nothing but hatred, disgust, and anger, and though the fundamentals of Hannibal's being hadn't changed, Will's proximity and perspective had caused his feelings to evolve, leading him here to feel trust, devotion, and love.

Desire, however, is something that has only changed its ends.

"I want to start with the flesh," Will tells Hannibal as he trails his touch lower, over Hannibal's coccyx, lower until the end of his middle finger just brushes the start of Hannibal's cleft. It's a tease, but not one meant to frustrate; they have a plan that requires they're calm enough to dress and go out, and Will doesn't think he'll survive waiting again if things progress too much past calm.