A/N: Hello, people!

I don't own Hannibal.

I have no beta.

ENJOY!

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Hannibal Lecter nodded to the young woman who leaned through the doorway of his office to inform him that his next client had cancelled due to familial emergency. Frankly, Hannibal was grateful because it meant retiring early and not having to deal with Franklin's snivelling.

Kailani Taikefu was a young woman of Polynesian descent, born in America one week after her parents had moved. Not the best living conditions at the time and knew hardship rather well. One of the reasons why she was easy to tolerate despite her youthful age of only twenty-two years.

Most young adults were only just getting into themselves and discovering who they were. Kailani had to learn who she was at a young age, much like Hannibal had to. It was a shame that such young individuals were forced to grow and mature so early on in life. In Kailani's case, it resulted in many emotional and mental disorders.

Kailani had suffered for being Polynesian. The only child in her school as such and from the only Polynesian family in the community. She was very sparse on details, but did mention that she was bullied by everyone for her skin color and her eye color and that one time, a jealous girl had even cut off her braid to 'show her she wasn't exotic or beautiful'. Terribly rude.

Hannibal had suffered much of the same racism when in France. He was some orphan from a 'backwater country'. The children tried to convince him that he wasn't special. That he didn't deserve to live with his aunt and uncle, who were esteemed members in society.

Hannibal had never forgotten the names of those who wronged him. When his title as a Count was revealed and people learned he had a sizeable amount of wealth to his name, their attitudes changed. And one by one, Hannibal picked them off carefully over the years, enjoying expressing himself through the culinary arts.

Now Kailani was by no means a cannibal or even a murderer. She did however, have murderous thoughts about specific people and always warned that if she'd been arrested, it would probably be because she couldn't hold back any longer.

Their first meeting had been… interesting.

The young woman had been with a friend - her only friend, she admitted - simply shopping in the local farmer's market. The two had gone from stall to stall, both carrying large, wicker baskets full of their purchases. The friend, whom Hannibal had learned was named Maritza, was a young Hispanic woman with a blunt manner and an easy smile.

Young Maritza had been lining up jars of preservatives and was very loudly - and rudely - trying to add the numbers together. Hannibal had been right beside the two, glancing over in annoyance at how loud they were being. And then Kailani rattled off a number with ease, no thinking necessary. She ended up being exactly correct and her friend paid the price for her treasures.

With interest peaked, Hannibal had followed them slowly, turning his ear in the their direction while managing to keep a safe and respectable distance from them. They were arguing over food and who would cook and who would bake. Kailani had blurted out another price and ended up being correct again.

Hannibal knew he had needed a secretary but had put off the search after the dozens of young men and women he had interviewed were simply trying to 'get in his pants' and the teenagers would say. He considered asking the young woman but knew he needed a reason to speak with her at all. He ended up sacrificing a good coat when he deliberately walked into her while 'busy' staring elsewhere, and she dumped her hot cocoa on him.

She was respectful to a degree and apologized profusely while her friend glared at him and called him a very rude word. However, for the sake of finally getting a competent secretary, he'd allow her to live should the young woman agree.

"I'm so sorry," Kailani had said, looking forlornly at his ruined coat.

"It is no trouble, I did have to send this to the dry cleaner's soon, a little earlier would not cause any fuss."

"I'll pay for it," she insisted, already pulling out her purple wallet. "How much?"

"Kailani!" Maritza had hissed, sounding annoyed.

"Marza, I ruined it, so I will pay for it."

Maritza huffed and turned away, "Fine."

"You need not trouble yourself," Hannibal insisted, though mentally working on how to mold the situation to his favor.

"I have to pay you back somehow."

The doctor had pretended to think it over and then smiled charmingly. "I am in need of a secretary. The people I've interviewed have been rather… crass. A few days of help until I can finally fill the position would be lovely."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a psychiatrist and I own a practice in Baltimore."

The young woman had shrugged, "I honestly have nothing better to do."

"Wonderful!" Hannibal smiled, pulling a business card from his coat pocket and handing it over. "Just basic structuring of appointments and light typing and paperwork required, will that do?"

"Sure, sure," she nodded. "Shouldn't we… I don't know, get to know each other first? Trusting some stranger with your stuff is a bit… odd."

The friend had scoffed, but Hannibal readily accepted the reason and offered to cook dinner for the two young women in order to appease Maritza's protectiveness and Kailani's wariness even as she pulled out a small book and began writing something down in it after looking at her watch.

"Dr. Hannibal Lecter," she read his card. "I'm Kailani Taikefu and this is Maritza Perez-Vasquez."

"Charmed."

After an interesting evening of speaking with the ladies and ensuring that no he was not a cannibalistic serial killer - though he actually was but they didn't need to know that - Kailani acquiesced to helping him out. He wasn't expecting her work to be so efficient that he'd ask her to keep the job permanently.

She was an efficient buffer though and a fast typist and she always warned him when Franklyn arrived. Sometimes the man came early and with Kailani there, he could no longer try to spend time with Hannibal beyond more than what was necessary. He was becoming problematic.

The day at the office ended early and Hannibal sent Kailani a nod when they departed, going their separate ways.

It was nice to surround himself with competence.

A/N: First is done.

-For anyone who might whine, I have a friend with the last name Perez-Vasquez.

-Kailani looks like Dinah Jane(from Fifth Harmony), but 7 inches taller and strictly brown hair that is hip length.

-Warning, Kailani has severe anxiety and paranoia. She has odd habits in order to protect herself. Give her some slack. He past will be revealed soon enough.

-*Note* that part of her personality is shared with mine. Death doesn't affect me in the least and truly I don't give a fuck when people die. Don't ask me why, I can't understand what's wrong with me. So when she's blase about death, but loses her shit over animal or child abuse, don't hate on her.

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