...Hannibal...

Will's soft lips had trembled with the insecurity of a first kiss. Hannibal couldn't decide if it was worth to stray from his plans to get one kiss, after all he wanted much more. Despite the last chapter's name ''Direct Approach'', that wasn't at all the approach he had planned, the kiss was a slip of control. It was partly Jack's fault, calling at the wrong time to go to some stupid shop, but he couldn't miss a minute with his prey.

Will's mood hadn't escaped him, from shy he became aroused, from aroused he became upset. What had escaped him was the reason for the investigator's anger. The problem couldn't be his kissing of course, god complex often crosses roads with narcissism, Hannibal was well aware of his sexual skills. Since he didn't have the gift of empathizing he had to go back and analyze their conversation to see what was wrong. Anyway, it wouldn't be difficult to act up an apology even if he didn't know the mistake. Mistakes depend on your point of view, depending on Hannibal's, he rarely made mistakes. He's very proud but when his cut isn't perfect because the knife isn't sharpened enough, he admits it.

The crime scene was in the countryside, it was a good drive from the city to there. Even so, they didn't exchange words or glances in the whole way. When they finally got there, it was an old barn and behind it, there was an old tree. That's where the victims were hanged this time. Crime scenes didn't entertain Hannibal, except the ones from good killers, including him. He learned from the mistakes of others but this Puppet Killer was an amateur. He instead focused on his main issue.

He stopped the car beside the barn and, with a conveniently old fashioned car, locked the doors from inside. He'd better start to sweeten up his quarry. Will tried to open the door with a failed attempt, he just held the handle with white knuckled hands refusing any kind of eye contact. Hannibal placed one of his hands on the investigator's thigh, watching for a reaction. Will couldn't ignore that but still, he only glanced at Hannibal's hand. When the doctor gave a squeeze, he finally looked up. Hannibal could feel that he was searching something in his eyes but no sign of recognition passed through Will's face. What was him searching anyway?

''Could you open the door please?'' Will muttered taking his eyes from the doctor's face and gazing fixedly to the handle.

Good for him he wasn't rude. Hannibal complied, but it wasn't surrender, he had to talk to Jack Crawford.

While Will walked a straight line to the tree to do his analysis, Hannibal was already taking care of an important arrangement.

''Leave him alone? He's been unstable since I met him. I asked if he wanted to quit and he said no.''

''That's natural, his wanting to help the others blinds his own problems'' This wasn't a compliment coming from him, it annoyed Hannibal ''I'm merely asking you to leave him alone now. He has been with a lot in his head since the interviews.''

''That's not possible, I need to know if anything comes up from his analysis''

''That could be easily done by telephone. I'll make sure that he calls you immediately if that's the case.''

''That would be unseemly, Doctor Lecter''

''As his psychiatrist, I could recommend a few days off. In this case it's only a few hours.''

Fortunately, Jack hadn't argued much more. Hannibal thought of him as a dog, that wouldn't let go of a bone easily, but he couldn't win this one. It was only reasonable to let Will do his job than nothing at all. Since forensics had already been done and photographs had been taken, it was only a question of minutes to collect the group. Soon, there was only Hannibal and Will on the site.

The psychiatrist stood a few feet away from his patient, close to entrance of the barn. Solely after half an hour having his graceless form, despite possessing a great ass, studied from behind, did he opened his eyes and turned to find Hannibal standing there alone.

''Where's Jack and the crew?''

''I convinced Crawford to give you some time alone. I'll take you back to the office after''

''After what?''

''After you finnish doing what you do'' Hannibal paused and added ''After the awful lot I mentioned earlier.''

Those few words were enough to emerge Will's anger again. This anger dangerously gave him courage to push Hannibal against the wall. The doctor suppressed a smile, even with his nostrils flared, Will looked more like a pussycat than like a bull starting a fight.

''Why do you keep giving me mixed signals? Just say what you want!''

''You''

Of course Hannibal wanted a great deal of other things - he wanted Pachelbel, he wanted glorious Mozart! - but he thought that saying ''You'' would have a lot more impact. As often, he was right, Will was astonished at the simple answer. At the time, the professor didn't see what it really meant, something that would cost him dearly later, ''you'' meant possessing body and soul. This possession could be associated with love but with demons too. Didn't they often shared qualities? None of them actually realized it but love and hate were the seeds to this new phase of their relationship.

...Will...

Everybody knows that in a fight a disappointed look is worse than angry one, that an angry look is better than a calm one. Most people don't know what to do when confronted by it, Will was no exception. Hannibal's calm face left his mind blank. Didn't he have arguments? They just stood there looking at each other's eyes like, if you may let me compare their eyes to food, blueberries to almonds. Will knew that the doctor was waiting for his response, but he didn't have one.

''What is it?''

''I don't know what to do''

''What do you want to do?'' Hannibal carefully asked, like he was talking to a child (except he didn't like children).

''Taste your lips'' The answer came fast. His eyes had unconsciously darted to the flush lips conveniently placed on his eyeline but inconveniently far from his own lips.

The current problem was solved by his standing on his tiptoes and inclining his head upwards. This wasn't a fierce sudden kiss like their first, it was a recognition of territory. Both were good. Hannibal seemed to understand that as he stayed still and quiet as if not to scare him. Will didn't wait for an answer.

He brushed his tongue on Hannibal's lips at his own pace, never rushing. The middle of his upper lip had a protuberant bulge almost as good to feel as the reassuring bulge down there pressing against his hip. He gave a few sealed kisses, molding their mouths and, finally, explored the inside with his tongue.

That seemed to be enough to Hannibal, since he was the one pressed against the wall and that position didn't really suit him well. Will was taken by the hand to the inside of the barn and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. There was only one spot where the light entered, shaped like an egg symmetrically placed on the middle of the empty space. Wasn't it ironic that this was the place where they reached the next step? Would it happen there? I mean, Will didn't know how those things functioned with a man. He just waited for Hannibal to say something.

''Take off your clothes'' Hannibal didn't say, he commanded.

Will just stood there self-conscious. Was that the only way to start it?

''Do I have to ask twice?'' the doctor softly asked.

Poor Will, he was innocent in these matters. But curiosity, and desire, won over shame. He started by taking his coat off.

Greeedy people, hoping for some real action in the next chapter? I know, I tend to linger and take time but I assure you I'm not walking in circles, or at least I hope so. Review or say something, don't let me sulk in silence here!