"That's enough, Frederick! You're giving me a headache! I'm leaving, please take your things and leave before I'm back!" saying these words, Hannibal Lecter shut the door closed and furiously stepped into the gravel towards his Bentley. The psychiatrist was an extraordinary patient and well behaved man, his own reaction, however, would be described as unspeakably rude even by himself. Frederick had this kind of influence even now that they were nearly at the end of their long-lasting relationship. What had happened between them? When did his lovable companion and best friend stopped to be his reason of living and had turned into this stranger, with whom he was arguing every day about trifles?

Hannibal entered his car and squeezed the steering wheel in an almost mortal grip.

"Where am I going?" he was asking to himself when he hit the main road.

Frederick Chilton had moved in with Hannibal into his home (it is more accurate to call it a mansion) after their first kiss anniversary. They had known each other in college and had soon become best friends. Hannibal looked back painfully at those times, when they were cuddled in his bed and were whispering their eternal love to each other. He remembered Frederick's loving smile, his way of breaching Hannibal's defenses, his being a shelter even to the stoic and impassive Lithuanian. He had let Frederick in, had let him see him, take care of him like he never had allowed to anyone. And he ended up betrayed.

He was driving without any clear direction. It was getting dark. That perfect moment of the day, when it was clear enough to see the shadows advancing from the darkness until they subdued the lights of the day. Hannibal reached a nearby park. He stepped out of the car after parking and turning off the engine.

The park was very calm. He had never been in that neighborhood before and he wasn't really sure how he would be going back. Just the mere thought of returning to his home brought instantly distressing images through his mind. He had never been a jealous or obsessive lover, maybe that's why he hadn't seen the events coming… until it was too late… He let the images flood his mind trying to do what he did so well for other people: analyze them. He had been returning with an early flight from a psychiatrist's convention in New York. He wanted to surprise Frederick, who had not accompanied him for the first time in five years because of his duties as an administrator of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Chilton had been rehabilitating a very aggressive murderer for the last months and was almost obsessed by his patient, so the Lithuanian doctor did not oppose his preference to stay in Baltimore instead of joining him like he usually had done. Hannibal had bought a box of Godiva "G" collection chocolates which were his lovers' favorites and had purchased a cool bottle of Dom Pérignon at the airport before getting in a cab. He had been thinking about how distressed Frederick had been with that criminal, how his companion's self-esteem did not leave him satisfied with the tiny responses he was getting of Abel Gideon. Hannibal has a deep knowledge of this lover… Yet he was unprepared to what he found as he entered their bedroom with the chocolate box and two champagne flutes in one hand, while the other, which was opening the door, clutched at the champagne bottle. There, in their bed – in Hannibal's bed – his companion, Frederick, was intensely pounding into some girl who had her legs spread on his Egyptian sheets and was moaning loudly. The Lithuanian psychiatrist was utterly shocked at the sight, he had let the bottle fall to the ground. The crashing sound alerted Chilton, who jumped off the bed, clutching the golden sheets to his bare and sweaty body in an angry expression.

"I didn't expect you before morning", he had said. In the shocking moment, the words had failed Lecter. Incredulously, his eyes flipped from Frederick to the embarrassed young brunette who was gathering her sparse clothing from the bedroom before fleeing from the house and passing right next to him.

"I didn't expect you before morning". That was what Frederick had said, it was almost a week ago. They had spoken about it, right then and there. Being two psychiatrists they thought it best. Hannibal had asked him if there had been others before that girl. He wanted to know how many times in five years his companion had been with other men or women. Chilton had coldly replied that it was just sex, that he wasn't emotionally attached to no one of them. Them. He had never thoroughly answered the question and Hannibal did not want to inquire any further. He was terribly hurt, he felt betrayed and did not understand the overwhelming force of his feelings. He wanted to be angry at Chilton, because being angry meant being master of his feelings; the reality was that he could not bring himself to loathe the man in front of him, that way he was just subject to his internal struggle. They had spoken like adults, Hannibal could not remember the exact words that had been said, it was as if his brain had purposely clouded his memories in order to protect him, like in a car accident, when one cannot really remember everything that has happened. But this was no accident. Nobody could "accidentally" sleep with another person, it was premeditated. And, from the girl's moaning, it had seemed that both of them were having quite fun.

Hannibal had walked around the lake and had observed the crystal and darkening water. Chilton had told him that he was still in love with him, that it was just sex with the others… He had let his arrogant mask slip, he had implored Hannibal to forgive him. And Lecter did. Or he thought that he had. From that day on, he could not pretend that nothing had happened. He was constantly anxious about Fredericks whereabouts and he could not seem to forget the daring and angry look his lover had given him on that night, when he had walked in, interrupting his brilliant performance. They had been arguing for one week. Hannibal knew that he couldn't soon let go of his feelings towards the handsome psychiatrist, but he had to change something in order to prevent his foreseeable madness.

Chilton had to move out. It was the only option. He had to leave him alone and never come back again. Hannibal couldn't stand his presence anymore. It was for the best, he thought, while he walked towards his car again.

It was getting chilly. He had to look for a respectable hotel in the area and stay there for the night. Tomorrow he would be back. Tomorrow would be a new day and he would begin his new life. Yes, tomorrow.

"Hey handsome! Was that a new dance?"

Beverly shouted, passing a cold beer to a flushed and pretty exhausted Will who was sitting right next to her on a stool. The club was overcrowded and the volume of the music was almost deafening, Will had to press himself to his best friend in order to be heard.

"Yeah. Did you like it?"

"You know that I'm your bootie's biggest fan!" she grinned back at him.

Will blushed to the bluntness of the compliment. He adored Beverly's boldness and her rough manners. She was so different from himself. Even if he was working almost naked at a strip club, he was a very reserved and timid person and hated social interaction. But Will loved to dance. He loved any kind of dance. Having been the youngest brother to three sisters, he had, since his childhood, been a doll to them. They had put on makeup on his smooth and fair skin, they had tried to tame his chocolate locks, they had even dressed him in their gowns. But they had also passed down to him the passion to dance.

"It's quite crowded tonight, do you want me to take you home after the closing time?" Bev asked. She went often to the club after work. She could unwind there, have a chat with her best friend and maybe eye some cute guy.

"No, it's alright. Nicole is driving me home" he answered, sipping at his beer. Nicole was a barmaid at the club. She had been shamelessly flirting with Will, who hadn't understood her advances because of his homosexuality. He had been gay since forever, but he held his sexual orientations to himself. Not that he was ashamed or something like that, it was simple his own matter and he was not good at socializing with people. It was not uncommon that girls fell for him; his kindness was mistaken for flirting among them.

"You know that she has a crush on you, right?"

"What? No, that's not it, Bev!"

"Well, maybe you don't get it, but it's quite obvious to the rest of us. The poor girl is trying to get your attention for a while now" she said with a soft smile, seeing Will's frowning forhead. "Just tell her."

Will moaned uncomfortably, emptying his glass. "I have to go. I have some more lap dances to give" he leaned forward, brushing Beverly's cheeks with his lips and waiting for her to do the same.

She disheveled his soft curls with a hand, while she was clutching on his back with the other hand. She pressed her lips to his cheek and whispered to his ear "I love you, Casanova. Now go and make momma proud"

Will grinned at her and turned around towards the stage. It was very crowded indeed.

Two hours later, Will was ready to go. He had properly dressed (because he wore just some shorts while he was working), it was always very cold during the first hours of the day.

He was scrubbing at his eyes when he heard a voice coming from behind the bar.

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure" he answered.

The club was strange after the closing time. All lights had been turned on and some boys had been cleaning around and gathering the glasses on the tables. It was also astonishingly quiet and his ears buzzed, deprived from the hammering music that had been pervading the place until ten minutes ago.

Nicole appeared in her red jacket. Her blonde hair was fastened in an elegant bun and Will observed her deep green eyes wander all over his chest.

"Let's go, then" she said, walking in a provocative manner on her high heels.

Will was wondering if Beverly had been right about the girl and felt very uncomfortable. He had an amazing relationship to his colleagues in the club and he did not want to lose Nicole's friendship.

They drove in a pleasant silence until Nicole stopped in front of Will's house.

"Well, thank you. I guess I…" Will started to say as he was grabbed and pulled towards the blonde girl in a strong grip. She pressed her voluminous lips to his to shush him. Will was dumbstruck in the beginning, but then he pulled away.

"What?!" she said irritate.

"Ehm. I- I'm gay" Will stuttered. He had never been kissed by a woman before and was fighting the aftershock of the almost aggression.

"I'm sorry" he added hesitatingly, when the girl had remained silent for almost half a minute. Then she smiled, and her smile grew in laughter. Soon she began to laugh loudly. Will observed her silently. Had she lost it?

"I suspected it." She said still laughing, after she had regained the ability to speak. "You don't have to apologize, I should." She smiled at him. "I did not want to jeopardize our friendship, I'm sorry".

Will sighed in relief. "It's alright, I never told you"

"So, you've never been with a woman? Like never, never?" she inquired rising her eyebrows.

"Nope. I have never even kissed a woman before… Well, I guess I have now." He said thinking. Both burst in a loud laughter.

"Well, lucky me then! Seriously though, I did not mean to scare you off. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at work then" Nicole said smiling genuinely at him.

"Don't worry." Will smiled back. "Yes, thanks for the ride Nicole, until tomorrow, have a good night" he said, getting out of the girl's car.

He stopped for a minute watching her driving away. Then he lifted his hand and touched his lips, where the blonde had kissed him. His lips were still sticky and he could taste her strawberry lipstick on him. He smiled thinking about how unaffected this kiss had left him. Nicole was very popular because of her good looks, yet Will could just not feel any attraction to her.

What a crazy night, he thought. Let's see what tomorrow will bring. Yes, tomorrow.