Chapter Text
It's starts with a voice, just like it always does for Will. The line between his insanity and the same man who belong in society is a rather thin one. For all he feels, Will has always struggled with the ability of appearing normal. His own father had tried to teach him, but Beau Graham's life experiences and own stunted emotional state hadn't done much good for Will.
Sure, his father had tried his best and Will loved him because of it. But the rather instant; "Just don't tell people about the constant whispers you hear because it's none of their business!", hadn't helped much in the long long run. People somehow always knew that something was off about Will Graham. That he should be kept at a distance.
There is a whisper just beyond his shoulder saying he should pay great attention to who he is about to meet. Just a voice that belong to no one. Will isn't worried, it's happened often since he was a little kid. He's used to it, doesn't even so much to twitch toward whatever is talking anymore. But still, it makes him curious. A rather weird morning at 9 am in the morning.
When he open the door to Jack's office and sees another man, he nods towards him as he sits down. Will is very tense. The voices have always had a tendency to be right. It's like a glimpse into the future sometimes, though usually they focus on the darkest of things.
He'd once known that his kindergartener teacher was going to be killed by her spouse when she returned home later in the day. At 5, he cried over it and been inconsolable the entire day. She'd given him a week of detention in punishment. Little Will had sat and just watched her that day, crying and knowing that there would be no week. She was dead at 6 pm that day. Will told his father and he'd gotten a hug and a shrug. The offer of takeout pizza that they couldn't really afford for dinner.
"Will, this is Hannibal Lecter. I've assigned him as your psychiatrist." Jack always speaks with an authoritative tone around Will, but today it's too much.
Will shoots out of his chair fast, opening the door and getting out into the hallway without hestitation. He opens his email and sends a very distressed one to HR. Types quickly from extremely distressed fingers. Jack wants him to work for him in the field so Will needs a psychiatrist? No, absolutely not. Will helps and does what he can, but those doctors always want to pick him apart. He can't stand it.
So what he's been mute for years? His brain had literally been on fire and he'd run a high fever for months, all while working for Jack and trying to do some good. It had nearly killed him. He's had enough. He's grown as a person. A voice started talking to him and pointing it all out. Will isn't stupid, he can get by without this high salary and take care of himself just fine! He will quit before he lets Jack Crawford destroy him.
He takes steps away from the room when loud arguing starts between the two men he left behind. It's not everyday that someone fights back against Jack Crawford, and Will is tempted to put his ear to the door to listen. That would only get him in more trouble though, so he doesn't bother. The door bangs open fast and Will flinches. 'It's okay, don't run.' A voice says calmingly and Will holds his ground instead of following through with his flighting instincts.
Doctor Hannibal Lecter rushes to him, stopping a mere foot away. He reaches out, hesitates and then does not touch. "Will Graham, I am very pleased to meet you despite the circumstances. I had no idea that was an ambush and can assure you I would not have been there had I known." His words are both quick and measured. His accent is extremely attractive. Will has to make an effort not to just stare at those lips.
Will nods his head, choosing to believe what the enchanting European man is saying to him. He reaches out to shake his hand, and Hannibal grins as he accepts. And then when it's over he doesn't let Will's hand go, but instead bring it up toward his face for a kiss. Time seems to freeze between them for a moment and Will swears he watches what is happening in slow motion.
Will mouth opens and it felt like he gasped though no noise came out. He does not pull away or try to stop Hannibal in any way. 'This man is powerful, and we can be so, just by staying near him.' The voice is even more cryptic then it usually is. Will can practically feel a headache coming on, and it feels like a shame he no longer just carries aspirin around. He'd been told it's a bad habit to get into.
Will takes out his phone, but instead of typing out a message like he sometimes does, he holds it out for Hannibal. It's less bold to ask for a number when the man has already kissed him. They technically haven't communicated at all yet, but Will feels the chemistry between them. The voices like Hannibal too, which is surprising because the voices in his head don't like anybody!
Hannibal looks delighted to give it to him. "Excellent, please text anytime you feel, and I will do my best to answer hastily. Though, please do not take offense that I keep my phone off while having sessions with clients." There's a sing song tone in Hannibal Lecter's voice that is a tell to how happy he truest is in that moment.
Will smiles and nods. It's sweet how worried about it Hannibal seems to be. Will blinks away what feels like dazzling amazement and tries to think of a way to calmly tell the other man; "I'd like to sit in complete silence with you." He's mute, and he struggles with communication sometimes.
Will instead looks down the hallway where he was actually headed too. The voices are quiet for Will once and he reminds himself that they're not actually real. That they are just left over from his brain being on fire for too long. That he had probably gotten sick as a child and his father hadn't gotten him proper help. Even if they tell him things cryptically that seem like the future, it's all just his over active imagination.
Hannibal gives him time to think, seemingly having no intention of leaving Will. The man is apparently too enchanting with his scruffy looking stubble and studded ear piercings. It's a nice change of pace because Will usually finds that he repels people with his odd nature. Though he can already tell that Hannibal Lecter is plenty strange as well.
Will types a message out of his phone and then shows Hannibal. "It's nice to meet you, people don't usually stand up to Jack for me. Thank you."
Hannibal smiles at him and them bends slight to kiss Will's hand again, like a prince would in a fairy tale. It makes Will's heart flutter. That's of course when Jack came back into the picture, exiting his office to ruin the moment. Will feels a surge of anger that is probably unjustified. A voice says that Will should kill Jack and then offer his blood covered hands up to Hannibal to continue to kiss. Will chooses to ignore that one expertly.
Jack immediately starting glaring at the two of them and cleared his throat with authority. Jack always had a way of looking like a disappointed father. Will hated that. He still had his own father that he avoided seeing for that same reason. His father had disapproved that Will wanted to go into law enforcement. They still had arguments about that to this day when texting.
Hannibal does something that would be considered strange, beside him. He straightens himself up to full height, and steps so it blocks Will from immediate view. Will just watches in awe. The voices in his head just chant; "Look, Look!" Over and over again.
"Ah, Mr. Crawford." Hannibal starts, voice sounding particularly whimsical. "It is with great regret that I must inform you that you are not allowed to assign someone a psychiatrist. Though, through proper means and paperwork, you may have a person required in law enforcement to seek help before reissuing a fire arm or badge." Hannibal's voice sounds like music in Will's ears. It silences even the loudest voices in his head for once.
When was the last time that someone had stood up for him? Will could easily tear up. He has felt nothing but bullied since Jack Crawford set his eyes on him. He has even been contemplating quitting at the bureau to escape from him. People usually just watch him be dragged around and cursed at.
"Now listen hear Doctor Lecter!" Jack's voice is hissing and loud. He's clearly angry and it makes Will flinch. A voice in his head says he should step closer to Hannibal's broad back to hide himself away completely, but he doesn't move. He doesn't want Hannibal to think he's weak.
Hannibal is quick to cut Jack off. "The relationship between a psychiatrist and patient is one of trust. It can not be forced. Some people just don't click together and forcing them to speak to one another on a weekly basis would just cause more anxiety or negative feelings. To say Will has to speak to a certain person is unethical and abuse of authority Mr. Crawford. I would not have given you the time of day had I heard we were ambushing someone unwilling."
No one has ever sounded so attractive to Will before.
Jack has the decency to stay quiet after that, but Will can practically feel that he's seething with anger. Hannibal Lecter just stands his ground like that's no big deal. Will might be a little bit in love with him already. He's certainly more then a bit aroused.
"I will be placing a complaint about this Mr. Crawford, so that at the very least you are stopped from trying this again. Good day, Mr. Crawford." Hannibal finishes strong. A head nod that's more polite then anything else, before turning to Will again. Dismissing Jack away from his life like he means absolutely nothing to Hannibal.
"Mr. Graham, I regret how stressful this most have been for you. You have my most sincere apologies on the matter. May I escort you back to where you are supposed to be?" He is such a gentleman in the pushy way that he speaks. Will likes it.
Will licks his lips and nods his head. He never went back to teaching after becoming mute, but the bureau had placed him in the cold case unit. They always needed all the help there they could get and a lots of the time it didn't involve a lot of people interacting anyways. Will was finding that he genuinely enjoyed it. There was only two other people actively working in the unit, so the office that they shared was often a quiet space. Or it would be if Jack Crawford would leave Will alone and stop storming in every time he stepped foot into the office to work.
Will is escorted with a hand resting on his back, and he doesn't look back at Jack. He thinks about the panicked short email he sent to HR just moments ago, and the fact Hannibal has said he will be complaining. He likes Hannibal Lecter more and more with every passing moment.
They only really move until they are out of sight of Crawford because Hannibal clearly doesn't know where Will actually belongs in this building. Will smiles and even takes a moment to enjoy the voice in his head singing childish nursery rhymes. It's much better then the screaming or terrifying taunting words about death that he usually hears. It's almost like the madness that Will has likes Hannibal.
"I should get going now, as I need to take some time before my afternoon client to write in my complaint. I hope to see a text from you very soon." The way Hannibal speaks always seems so elegant. It's unfairly attractive to Will.
Will blushed slight and bites his lip. He wants to be so brave for this. No one ever shows him this kind of attention. Would Hannibal be interested in a date with him? Or are they going to go separate ways and just never see each other again? Will had momentary regret for no longer having a voice. He thinks about the two hand kisses he has received from the man.
Will inches forward and presses a light and possibly only a second long kiss to Hannibal's cheek. His face heats up in embarrassment, but Will considers it worth it. Hannibal looks enchanted all over again. And then Will lets Hannibal go. He steps back and gives him space. Hannibal stands there somewhat dazed for another moment, before seemingly blinking himself back to animation.
"Of course, I should let you get back to work. Until next time, dearest Will."
Will regrets letting that man leave. The voices in his head do nothing but hoot and holler pride over capturing the attention of who could be the perfect mate. It's embarrassing but at the very least, Will knows that he's that only one who can hear them. Plus, watching Hannibal walk away in those tight fitted dress pants of his isn't bad either.
It only takes Will six hours to work up the courage to text Hannibal Lecter. He's answered within seconds.