It had been a long day and Hannibal sighed gratefully when he had closed the door behind his last patient. Not even bothering to arrange his affairs for the following day, he put on his coat, switched off the light and made to leave. However, the moment he opened the door to the foyer, he was confronted with Will, in an even worse state than that morning.
Hannibal wanted to make the usual greeting they always had, but Will cut him off with a kiss. He pressed himself against the taller man and felt the soft, warm, but rough lips of Dr. Lecter push against his. Will pulled away from Hannibal for a second, but couldn't resist to give him another short peck.
The kiss had brought Will some relief, but he was still quite unsure about what he had wanted to say with it. He looked at Dr. Lecter and pushed him softly towards the practice. He let go of Hannibal, once they had closed the door, and stood at the desk. The older man stayed by the wall, still quite overwhelmed. It took him a while to find his voice back.
"Do you always kiss psychiatrists when you're upset, Will?" he asked as he finally approached his... 'patient'.
"I'm sorry, I didn't..." Will stepped back with shock in his eyes. Not shock at himself, Dr. Lecter noticed. Confirmed bisexual - how interesting. Hannibal stepped forward quickly and put his hand on the other's shoulder.
"No problem, Will. If this is what you need, I could give it to you. There will be a price, however."
"A... price?" Will stammered. Hannibal smiled at all the naughty thoughts he knew would now be going through Mr Graham's over-active mind. He hastened to correct his poor choice of words.
"Not a monetary one - I do not aspire a change of profession. But you will need to do something for
me. In return."
Will rubbed his eyes and squinted at him tiredly. "What would that be?"
Hannibal smiled again. He took Will's hand, led him to the light-blue couch and sat beside him. "You must let me hypnotize you."
The special agent jumped up, agitated and alert. "Absolutely NOT! It's bad enough to see it all once, and then have nightmares and hallucinations on a daily basis. I will not let you put me through every second of it again voluntarily!"
Doctor Lecter remained seated, but that didn't make his look less compassionate, nor his attitude less authoritarian.
"Will. If you let me into your mind, I could help you put up barriers, make the experience less painful and overwhelming, without making your observation less effective. I am your friend and I would never do you harm, you know that, right? All I ask is your trust." He reached out his hand to Will, and the younger man took it with hesitation. His face had still the lost puppy-look he adopted so often - and which Dr. Lecter had come to find so adorable - but the corners of his mouth already quirked upwards.
"I don't want to be rude, Dr. Lecter, but I don't think this is a good idea." He looked away and tried to avoid the doctor's eyes. "I do trust you, no doubt about that, but I don't trust myself."
He still felt the firm grip of the doctor's hand in his. Hannibal's skin against his felt too good, so he let go and walked away. Will knew the doctor's eyes where following him, every movement he made was being scanned by the man.
"William, it will be good for you, and I will be here to help."
Will looked at Hannibal while he was thinking, and stayed quiet for a long time. Finally, he spoke up: "Why are you so persistent to help me, Dr. Lecter?"