Chapter Text
He stepped into the coffee shop, and the young student was immediately captivated. His soft doze turned sharp, everything snapping into focus as he stared at the older man. He was terribly out of place in the worn-down establishment. Someone in that nice of a jacket and slacks did not belong in a café with mismatching cups and burlap sacks stapled to the walls. He ducked his head quickly, staring down at the textbook in front of him as the man looked throughout the busy place. Will swore that his eyes lingered on him a little longer than necessary, before turning to examine some of the art for sale.
And still, the textbook could not stop his traitorous eyes as they flicked to the man again, short stuttering glances as he took in his appearance. There was no median in his bone structure. The hollows of his cheeks were cut deeply, his jaw sharp and marked by the barest hint of stubble. His eyes dropped back to the textbook again, squeezing shut for a few seconds before resting on the man again. Just a second too long. Eyes snapped to his and held him captive before he could even dream of looking away. A sharp knowing power lingered in the quirk of his lips and glowing of his eyes. The expression wasn’t mean, but inspired a flush across the younger’s cheeks nonetheless. He broke the charged gaze as quickly as he could, but that didn’t stop the well put together man from advancing upon him.
He looked down to the journal in his lap, shaky hand jotting meaningless notes until long fingers splayed over the edge of his table. His hands fumbled in his rush to pull the headphones out of his ears, eyes slowly tracing up from his well-manicured fingers to the man’s face. Once he finally met his eyes, his lips were transformed into a full smile, giving his god-like face a warmth that made Will’s head spin. “Posso comprarti un caffè?” The Italian rolled off his tongue effortlessly. Something about his rough posh accent wrapping around the words sent Will into a daze for a few seconds, before he forced himself to speak.
“Mi dispiace. I dont speak much Italian.”
“May I buy you a coffee?” He switched languages effortlessly and without further comment, making his mouth dry slightly. “And perhaps sit?” In English his heavily accented voice was even more intoxicating. “Unless you’re too busy with studying of course.” The knowing glint in his eyes made him feel like he had very little choice in the matter. He nodded jerkily as the man closed his fingers around his mug and returned to the line.
He continued to stare at his wide shoulders. The well tailored jacket shifting across the muscles in his back and arms, hair well kept and slicked back. He spoke effortlessly to the barista, gesturing with a smile until even she bloomed under his charm. Will continued to stare until he tossed a glance over his shoulder, eyebrow quirked and head inclined slightly. That spurred him into movement, cheeks on fire as he threw all his stuff into his bag and entertained himself on his phone until he returned to the table. He set down the mugs and took off his jacket, reclining against the chair across from him with an easy smile.
“Hopefully, that was the right order, thats what the barista told me to get.” The corner’s of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. “I’m Hannibal by the way.”
“I’m Will, nice to meet you.” He slid his hand into Hannibal’s extended one, his skin smooth and warm. They fell into easy silence as they sipped on their coffee, Will sneaking glances while Hannibal glanced around the café. “This doesn’t seem like a place you’d normally be at.” He settled on finally, shifting as those heated amber eyes slid back to him. “I take you for more of a man of the arts, someone I’d see at the opera.”
A soft chuckle was his reward, making a soft smile play on his lips as he sipped at his coffee. “I do love the opera, but I was taking a walk and this was the closest place.” He shrugged and raised his mug slightly. “A coffee sounded nice.” His eyes slid minutely down Will’s body. If it was possible, he felt his flush get hotter, starting to spread down his neck and chest. “It seems I made the right choice coming to this café.”
His eyes widened slightly, staring at the man across from him as he was pinned in his gaze over the rim of his coffee cup. Just for a moment, a predatory glint morphed those warm eyes into hard crystals, a primal type of panic welling up in Will’s chest. He blinked and it was gone, the panic quieted and he took a sip of his coffee to calm himself. Hannibal finished his coffee and stood, reaching for his jacket as he turned to the boy. “I would love to stay and chat longer, but I’m afraid I have to run.” He slid his jacket on and produced a pen out of nowhere, holding his hand out until Will gave him his own.
He took a step closer, close enough that Will could smell his cologne. Slowly, he wrote a number across the back of his hand, and leaned down to his ear. “Call me and I’ll take you out to dinner. I still have many questions about you, Will.” His lips skimmed across the shell of his ear, voice pitched low and sweet in a way that had something low in his stomach curling tightly. Heat burned across his body for a few seconds, only to be left gasping and cold when Hannibal turned away and left him at the table.
He stared down at the number on the back of his hand, wondering where he was going to get a phone.