How Will fell on the subway

      It was the beginning of November. The morning puddles were already getting a thin web of ice, and the fallen leaves glistened blue-green and copper under the white hoarfrost. The stars were shining brighter in the Milky Way, like little sugar creams speckles on fresh black coffee, the flavour still lingering on Will’s lips.       He was rushing through the bustling crowd of the evening city on a… date? A friendly dinner? The very thought of him rushing to a nice restaurant to spend the evening with a woman whose bland, earthy odour didn’t even appeal to him made him uneasy. Her looks didn't strike him either. And some of her personal qualities… To be honest, it was only his conscience that prevented Will from refusing her intrusive offer.       His light black coat and emerald scarf were fluttering in the chill wind, which burned Will’s trim, hot body from his fast walk. But no matter how hard Will tried, he couldn’t make it to dinner on time. Maybe it was for the best.       The only way out was to take the subway. That would shorten the journey by twenty minutes since he’d already left his car in the next block due to the traffic jams. Well, it seemed he had to force himself to go one long way.       Will looked around at the crowd descending the stairs, lifted his head and exhaled cool air that rose in a puff of vapour to the darkening sky, where the stars would soon appear.       Why did he have to do all this? That girl… and him in his tight black shirt and evenly tight trousers that showed off his figure quite well. Why, if they won't even get any further than a one-off? Oh, right, he simply didn't want to offend her. Besides, they went to the FBI Academy together and could easily become colleagues in the future if she decided to apply to the behavioural science department. God, why is it so hard sometimes to make the move you really want to? It was decided! This evening he would definitely do something he would enjoy immensely, even if it was just ordering a simple peppermint latte with gingerbread. Or he might even try something risky and unorthodox…       Alas, Will didn't get the chance to enjoy the feeling of slight excitement from the decision he had made. The crowd was rushing forward, sweeping away everything in its path. Will had to yield to its current and slip into an underground world of stale air, loud metallic sounds and unpleasant inscriptions. At least, that was the way Will remembered his last trip from a few years ago. He did not enjoy it.       Will’s expectations turned out to be more prosaic as he was almost pushed onto the tracks. Adrenaline kicked in, his heart started racing, and a nervous smile appeared on his young face, and a nervous smile appeared on his young face. His neatly styled curls were now dishevelled, and his clean patent shoes had a couple of brightly coloured shoe marks. He hoped he would never again descend into this abode of nerve-ravaging desolation!       Will was trying to abstract his mind from the situation he was in. His empathic receptors were wailing with all the fatigue, irritation, apathy, and anxiety he felt from the people around him. Even the image of the river’s turbulent current didn’t do much to anchor him in a state of calm, and he found himself slowly drifting into the abyss of other people’s experiences. It was an overwhelming sensation, and Will had to inhale the peculiar odour of hot dust, tunnel damp and creosote, reminiscent of birch tar and charcoal, to calm himself down a little.       He was pushed into the open doors of the arriving train like a small fish into a fisherman’s stinging nets. Fortunately, he managed to find a good spot opposite a sitting man and now could turn his back to all the horror of those people with their gloomy, blank faces. This way, he could at least breathe and let his gaze trail along the multicoloured branches of the subway on the poster with not a thought troubling his mind.       The handrails had that metallic and slightly smudged gloss, and they didn't look like something he would want to touch, so he had to spread his legs wider to keep his balance. It made the fabric of the pants stretch. Will silently promised himself he’d never wear pants that tight, and accentuate all his areas that much ever again!       Will felt something pressing against his back, and his lips curved into a wry grin. The subway was clearly created for perverts exclusively. Who else would like to travel jammed between two bodies, willingly rubbing against each other, taking in the pungent smells of others' perfume and the heat oozing with sweaty stench from under jackets?       The train moved, and Will swayed to the right, managing to keep on his feet. The worst was over, and now he could relax a little. One station, just one long dash from point A to point B, and he’d make it through without drowning in the nightmarish sea of human misery.       Will’s blue eyes slid casually over the passenger in front of him and stayed fixed on the man who looked like he’d stepped off the cover of some expensive magazine. The extravagant light grey suit matched perfectly with the glossy beige coat. The shirt, dazzlingly white of the snow on the mountain top, was buttoned up and tightened under the collar with a tie as bright as celestial azure. It perfectly complemented the stranger’s chiselled cheekbones, and the lips that Will could only describe as kissable, his straight nose and ash-blond hair neatly styled. God…       The man in all his splendour seemed to be the luminary of the carriage, looking almost painfully incongruous in such a shabby hole among cheap jackets, horny jerks, and the foul language that often came out as soon as someone moved from their seat in the tightly packed crowd. Probably this man was in a hurry too, and he wisely decided not to waste an extra hour in traffic.       Yet Will felt an unimaginable calmness in the man as if he had been plunged into a calm harbour of warm seawater, protecting him from whatever misery remained on the other side of their suddenly formed private space.       Will sniffed and closed his eyes to catch what he expected to be the fresh scent of breeze, but instead, he sensed subtle notes of bitter wood and sweet coffee amaranth. Holding his breath to sip the heart-stirring aroma, Will could almost taste that soft, nutty flavour on his tongue and slowly opened his eyes.       A slight shiver ran through Will’s body and warmed his lower abdomen as the thought of getting to know this man crept into his head. Tingling at his fingertips, he wanted to run his hand through the soft strands of the stranger’s hair, wreaking havoc with his overly pedantic image. And those lips… Will couldn’t look at the curve of those lips without mentally groaning, unable to stop imagining the vulgar things they could do.       It was getting stuffy.       His racing heartbeat and the heat that colored his cheeks didn't stop there, descending to his private parts in a rush of unbearable sweetness. And that did not go unnoticed by the passenger. Damn!       The gaze of the stranger’s sun-tar yellow eyes hovered at the level of Graham’s cloth-clad groin and then darted upwards with interest.       Will felt the man’s inquisitive gaze exploring his body, and when it finally reached his lips, it lingered there a little longer than it should have. The tip of Will’s tongue slipped subconsciously into the corner of his mouth, and Will forgot how to breathe. The passenger’s eyes darkened when he looked at Will intensely as if trying to seal his image inside Graham’s mind forever. Will felt lost, almost broken in front of this stranger, and he could barely keep from giving in to this violent reaction.       The electric shock that slid between them with a dry flash made Graham even more confused. The new sensation of attraction knocked the ground from under his feet, and Will took a fatal step back.       Time seemed to slow down as rough hands pushed Will mercilessly into his back. On impulse, his body lurched forward, Will lost his footing and fell right into the stranger’s arms, face to face. Lips to lips…       Reality narrowed to a few points of perception: the subtle ringing in his ears, the tenderness of this accidental kiss, and the burning touch of the strong hand on his buttoned shirt.       Will stared unbelievingly into the brown eyes, noting the wild wine glints in their cold depths. He sensed the denser notes of vanilla and amber. And he couldn’t pull away…       It felt right. And it still felt achingly right when the man's lips slightly parted making this touch more sensual. It felt so right that Will's groin throbbed at the intimacy.       It was only the uneven movement of the train that woke Will from his sweet oblivion. He blinked sluggishly and slightly pulled away, feeling the man’s breath on his chin, and then froze, unable to move on. The stranger’s lips beckoned to taste them, and this image lodged in his curly head.       It was hard to say “Sorry” when al he wanted was to say “More”. The man opposite tilted his head a little, letting Will see a spark of regret. His hand touched the collar of Will’s coat, carefully adjusting it as the words Graham would never expect brushed against his ear in a low, velvety voice:       ‘Never apologise for something that brought us both pleasure.’       Will lost all his words at once. He was embarrassed and tried to straighten up when he realised that the man was holding him by his scarf.       He could hide neither the surprise in his eyes nor the spark of hope that flickered in his facial expression.       The stranger wasted no time. He held out a gold-embossed velvet business card, and Graham grabbed it like a lifeline.       The train stopped, and Will had to straighten up as the exiting crowd carried him onto the platform.       He didn’t feel the emerald scarf slip from his shoulders and remain in the hands of the mysterious passenger. It wasn’t until he turned around that Graham noticed the man bring the soft fabric of the scarf up to his nose and inhale deeply. Will caught one last glance of the man's eyes, now almost black, and then the train moved, pulling them further apart with each passing moment.       The euphoria that had so suddenly swept over Will’s young body made him stand there with a silly smile for a few more minutes, gently caressing with his fingers the gold initials of the stranger: Hannibal Lecter.       ‘Hannibal.’ Will murmured, tasting the sonorous name. It felt almost familiar. Maybe someday he’d like this name to become the most special.       The sudden vibrating of the phone caught him off guard. Dinner was about to start, and he had to hurry to make it. However, things were working out just fine. The girl texted to say she couldn’t make it in time and their dinner was off. How timely! Will thanked her almost aloud for such luck.       Exhaling happily, Will happily scored a new contact and clicked on creating a message for Hannibal. The thrill he felt in his chest now reached his hands, making them shake a little.       “Good evening, Hannibal. My name is Will.”       ‘Nice to meet you, Will.’ Hannibal’s broad palm was suddenly on Will’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly under the fabric of his coat. The light scent of the familiar bitter wood enveloped him with a calm and hidden sweetness that made his cheeks flush with embarrassment. His heart fluttered as if he was a teenager in love. A warm smile appeared on Will’s lips as he turned around. ‘You forgot your scarf, and I thought you’d be waiting for me here.’       Their eyes met: blue, blazing with genuine joy, and deep, now cognac-coloured in the dimmer light gaze, filled with tenderness and fascination.       ‘Will you take it?’       Hannibal held out a neatly folded scarf, and Will unconsciously reached for it, covering the long fingers with his own. The unexpected touch sent a jolt of electricity through his insides, setting his empathic sector on a single wave. A wave called: “Hannibal Lecter.”       The rumbling, velvety voice made Will close his eyes briefly and swallow noisily, trying to bring his inner chaos to order. But all his efforts were instantly scattered to stardust when he felt the desired softness of a new kiss on his lips…       He didn’t answer immediately, letting himself get whisked away by this turn of events, but quickly pulled himself together, responding fervently.       Hannibal enjoyed Will’s eager giving and openly admired the flutter of his eyelashes beneath the shadows of the unruly curls that sometimes rippled in the subterranean breeze. They met for the first time and had already established an unbreakable bond at a time when others would have taken months or even years to do so. Hannibal wasn’t about to miss this chance.       Their kiss came out long and sensual, and Will licked his lips and smiled when it ended:       ‘Keep it.’       He pressed the scarf against Hannibal’s chest, burning with the desire to kiss those perfect lips once more.       The sensation of a budding connection vibrated inside as if he was silently purring. So unusual and so… good.       ‘I can’t let you freeze.’       Hannibal’s caring tone with a touch of sincerity embarrassed Graham again, and he nodded timidly, letting himself be taken care of. All of this was more than he’d let anyone else do.       Hannibal skillfully wrapped the cloth around Graham’s handsome neck, creating an elegant and warm construction that made Will even more gallant and attractive. To him it seemed that he had never seen a more living work of art, for everything about Will was perfect, from the ginger cocoa scent with its melted milk tint to the image of innocence itself, with its huge blue eyes, its mop of brown curls, and its taut body. It made Hannibal’s lonely heart flutter and want to lay the whole world at the feet of this man who had burst into his interesting, but empty life without that hot spark.       ‘Do you have plans for tonight?’ Hannibal asked, satisfied with the result of his work and openly admiring Will.       He was enjoying the situation that developed so quickly, and not even a little embarrassed by the speed at which the new acquaintance was developing. As if it was meant to be. As if they were meant to fall into each other’s arms and get carried away from the first glance kiss.       ‘No, I’m free,’ Will’s smooth-shaven cheeks flamed with fire at the attention, ‘in all senses. If you’re interested.’       ‘I’m curious,’ Hannibal smiled, tucking a loose curly strand of Will’s hair behind his ear and letting him see a part of himself that wasn’t radiating reverent coldness and silence. ‘Would you like to have dinner with me?’       Will would like that. He longed to know this man as close as possible, to get under his skin with every cell of his body, every molecule, to mingle their smells and tastes, to make them one. This desire was reflected in the flurry of emotion on his face and did not escape Hannibal’s observation. Hannibal might have been flattered, but for the fact that their desires were so similar.       Hannibal let Will lead the way on the crowded street and occasionally let himself touch Graham’s warm palm, noticing the smile on his face. Will turned to him only when they reached the restaurant, the distant light of twinkling stars above them. His eyes, deep as space, glittered with determination and impatience.       Running his fingers along the lapel of Lecter’s coat, Will sharply pulled Hannibal to him. The new man in his life. A partner. A soulmate. The man who had so suddenly become the embodiment of dreams and desires, a stronghold of calm and rest, never to let him go again. This was his ardent and bright as a starry sky design.