Chapter Text
Our teen years have never been easy, reaching that point where everything starts to hurt, and that's mostly your heart. You start being interested in things that you never noticed before, you start feeling things that you never bothered to pay attention to… and so suddenly your unique nature pops out, explaining your behaviors and changing the way you think. The first part of becoming…
“Becoming what Mr. Crawford?“
“Alpha, omega or betas. It is a crucial part in our development, I know some of you are recently experiencing some changes and that's completely normal at your age”
The class felt never-ending, and at his 16 and a half years Will couldn't hide himself totally behind his book. All the alpha and omega talk was becoming anxiety in his belly The talk… that talk he’d had with his dad, Charlie Graham, some weeks ago when his second gender started to emerge - the sweet scent under his skin telling everyone he was changing. Omega his father told him with darkened eyes, not an alpha - what a shame for the older Graham.
The first weeks of his presentation as omega, the sweet orange scent in his body and the blush of his cheeks made Will hide from everyone, more than he did before as a beta. The other kids in the corridors were curious about that, he wasn't the first omega in the school neither the first to have his presentation at his age, there were always early bloomers and late bloomers. This happened to all omegas eventually, which didn’t make it any less annoying and frustrating.
The bell rang and was time to wait for everyone to leave the classroom and to be finally in peace.
“Graham, get your nose out of that book and take your recess.” said Mr Crawford pointing at him.
“Sorry Mr Crawford I'm not very comfortable.”
“Graham, I said out, if you feel dizzy go to the nurse office.” He said, now pointing at the door.
Dragging his denim bag with a forced smile Will left the classroom for the wild world of the Baltimore High.
No one looked at the skinny 16 year old omega, his clothes were larger than his frame and hung a couple of inches from his body.
“I stink… don't I? That's why no one has approached me, it's because I'm an omega? I reek of omega…” he thought walking down the corridor to his locker, smelling his own shirt to make sure.
He opened the locker on the third try, his fingers fumbling whilst behind him a conversation was taking place. A thick accented boy was talking to Alana, he knew by his voice and by his scent, the boy was in the same class as Alana - sharing a common space. Will thought they were friends, but he could tell Alana seemed hesitant.
“I made this for you Alana, I thought about you...” said the male voice making the vowels hard in that maybe European accent.
“Ah, thank you… Hannibal it’s… pretty, but... I have to go now, bye.” The sneakers clapped down the corridor leaving the two of them there like no one else existed.
Will was unconsciously listening to the conversation behind him with heavy and nervous breathing, sharing the anxiety of the scene happening at his back.
Calm steps went away, the older student wore a soft red sweater, slacks and leather sneakers. A tall beta, he had his pale brown hair perfectly combed to the side framing his strong features, pointy nose and high cheekbones.
Will sighed, “what happened there?” he asked himself looking at the beta’s back.
He followed the same path of the beta to the cafeteria, until he saw him stop in front of the trashcan, by inertia the slim omega stopped behind him.
The golden eyes of the beta darted to the red origami heart atop of the garbage, a neatly folded realistic origami heart. He took it out with care, shaking the crumbs out the piece of paper with pity. Will looked at him, he felt how the beta’s heart drummed with pain, as his eyes started to cloud with tears.
Will took a deep breath and approached pointing at the heart of paper.
“W-wow that's so cool, umh did you make it?”
The beta used his free hand to dry his tears threatening to fall down his cheeks, and looked down to him with a soft smile.
“Yes, I made it, but I think I was silently rejected.”
Will smiled back, something new to him, something he only did reading a book or stealing a beer and drinking it sitting beside the river.
“We used to be close, until she presented as alpha… I believe you are aiming for someone that… already has other interests.” Will replied shrugging and pointing to Alana’s table in the cafeteria. She was the brightest smile at the table, and as always she was with Margot, a sweet omega from the countryside that was her love interest.
“I see… my interest was not welcomed then.” he tugged a little smile just for Will.
The omega blushed at him, watching how Hannibal's left hand was about to drop the little heart back to the garbage.
“Please don't throw it away, is beautiful! Ah… I-I want it, if you don't mind, uh, Hannibal is your name?”
“Hannibal Lecter, my pleasure, and you?”
Hannibal extended his hand and shook it with the omega.
“Will Graham”
Their hands parted and Hannibal put the little heart in his hand, brushing his soft fingers along the omega’s palm.
“I'd rather make a new one for you instead one freshly rejected.”
“This one is fine,” Will studied the heart in his hand. “We are very alike.” he indicated the heart.
“Excuse me, I'm not understanding?”
“Ah! Eh… because I'm rejected trash? I thought that was… f-nevermind, sorry. Thanks for your heart, I mean the origami heart!” the color of his cheeks darkened three tones in one sentence, the beta smiled with his eyes, softly nodding at him.
Will started to head back to the classroom, cupping the paper figure in his hands escaping from sight, until the beta’s voice filled the hallway.
“Do you want to have lunch together umh…tomorrow?”
The omega's heart stopped for a second, clutching at the paper in his hands wrinkling it a little.
“FUCK! I mean, yes! Of course, see you then.”
**
Will walked home as every day, 40 minutes of walking where he could think and breathe. This time he felt like he was disconnected to the world, walking while inspecting the folds of his new heart. His father was waiting for him in the porch of the wooden house.
“How was your day little fella?”
“Fine pop, are you working tonight?”
“Yes son, there's some fish in the oven and rice and fruit, please eat this time!”
Will came inside the house, the only room upstairs was his, sharing the space with a little studio room. Mr Graham was a cop, his room was on the ground floor between the main door and the kitchen so he could come and go without bothering his kid.
Will tried to get his homework done, watching as his dad’s car pulled away and his mind already on the next day.
“Hannibal” he repeated out loud tugging a smile. The homework was already forgotten while he made a little wooden stand for the origami heart, softly smoothing the edges he’d wrinkled earlier.
He took the heart with him to the kitchen, his company eating dinner, while he inspected the interesting folds that made him wonder about the beauty of the realistic organ. That night he finally settled it on his nightstand behind his glasses.
The silence of the night made his heart hammer harder in his ears, anxious about sharing a meal with the that tall beta. Sleep came later, filling his dreams with different options of what was to happen in few hours.
**
The bell rang. Will couldn't focus in the omegan sex ed, but for the first time in months Mr. Crawford didn't have to tell him to leave at the end of the class.
When he came out into the corridor a taller figure approached from behind.
“Hello Will”
“Ah! You scared me, you are so silent, hello Hannibal, how- how are you... Ah, how was your class?”
“I'm glad to have company. And regarding the class, I could say it would be more interesting with more current information.”
They walked to the cafeteria at a slow peace, with Will stealing glances here and there until they sat in a corner. Hannibal unpacked his lunch, three containers with roast beef sandwiches, fresh fruit and nuts. Will unpacked his little paper bag with a whole apple and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“Wow that looks nice, smells like roast beef.”
“Indeed it is, I made it myself, would you like to try some?”
“Is that ok? You can have some of my sandwich too?”
“I have to keep myself nourished, I'm part of the swimming team.” The beta smiled at him, this time showing a little of his teeth. Will was chewing a bit of the offered meat sandwich and trying to avoid his companion gaze.
“Cool, I'm not really good with umh, sports but yeah… how old are you, don’t you have to be a senior to be on the swim team?”
“Seventeen you must be fifteen?”
“Sixteen and a half, the same age as Al… yeah but I'm almost seventeen.” He smiled taking a bite and making eye contact, the soft brown eyes were on him with complete attention.
The lunch was filled with questions and answers about themselves, having mutual interests in science and culture, Will now knew Hannibal was Lithuanian born, raised there until he was 11. He lived in the center of Baltimore with his uncle and he liked to cook, read and play some instruments. Will told him about his house in Wolftrap street, not in the other state like everyone believed, something that Will didn’t cared to correct.
They talked about their families, his dad being a cop, the love for his alone time, reading on the porch and fishing, his love for the forest and animals.
They talked until the bell rang again. Hannibal walked with him and left him near the classroom door.
“Same time tomorrow?” Hannibal asked when he was turning around.
“Same time tomorrow.”
**
Months passed and the routine was always the same, he came out of the classroom for the lunch hour and Hannibal appeared behind him. They had lunch at a corner table and talked about life, about the future, classes and school gossip until they reached the point of trusting each other enough to ask about their becomings.
“So… you’re a beta.” Will asked gingerly.
Hannibal nodded. “I'm starting to think I will stay like this, all my classmates already presented their changes… betas are no minority these days, just an average puberty no… heat or rut.”
“I would be glad to be a beta” Will sighed “all these changes, and sweating, and oh gosh all the other parts of being omega… my father was quite disappointed in my becoming.”
“I'm sure you will be a good man Will, you are a wonderful friend so far, and you always smell so good. To be honest, I was going to ask you about your soap brand.” Hannibal chuckled.
Friend… that word was heavy to Will’s ears.
“Yes yeah, I'm really glad to be your, f-friend of course.”
At the end of the word his stomach sunk. Hannibal was approaching him, leaning across the table until he stuck his nose close to Will’s ear. Vermillion red ribbons decorating Will's neck, ears and face when he heard Hannibal loudly inhale.
“Orange blossoms.” Hannibal whispered, his eyes closed.
“I use neutral soap actually.” Will shrugged inside his too large sweater feeling it tight like a restraining jacket, a peak of fear piercing his body. Talking about his scent made him nervous, he was sure he always just stank of sweat.
The bell rang and their routine continued until Hannibal left him near the classroom. Every day Hannibal asked “Same time tomorrow”, but this time it changed.
“Will, can I keep you company on your way home?”
Will faced him.
“Yes, of course, I… but my house is not on your way.” Will replied nervously as he shifted on his feet, why would Hannibal want to share such a boring time with him. Why would anyone want to spend that much time with him?
“I have some spare time.” Hannibal was smiling brighter than ever, showing pointy fangs to the omega.
“Oh, OK see you outside then.” Will hid behind his bag and dashed into the class.
At the end of the period Will took his time to gather all his things, put on his scarf and regulate his breathing before heading out, the same peak of fear nudging his heart, not sure of why would his friend make him company in a snowy day.
Hannibal was waiting at the main door, his leather bag on his shoulder, over his blue long coat, making a perfect match with his magenta sweater.
“Ready?“
“Hannibal are you sure about walking with me home? It’s freezing and your house is the other way.”
“Knowing new paths is always a good thing, more so with good company.”
“You don't want to get home yet? It's a long walk to my house” Will sabotaging his own happiness since forever.
“Don't mind of the time”
“There's something you don't want to do at home?”
“Even if I enjoy nourishing my knowledge, it tends to get a little boring sometimes, and sharing time outside the school is… good. Better than staying in the library.”
He was right, they haven't shared more than few blocks on their way home, sometimes a huge black car was waiting for Hannibal outside. They barely knew what happened outside, in the other part of their lives - and Will wanted to know.
The wind was cold but the conversation grew warm. He updated Will with his training calendar and even mentioned to him that he was going to compete soon.
Conversation turned to the problems you have as a seventeen year old beta. Hannibal’s lack of interest in mates and couples, but at the same time feeling outside the alpha and omega dynamic inside his classroom. Feeling excluded but not unhappy.
“And what happened with Alana?” Will asked.
“As you are her classmate, you should know better than me. I think she's afraid to properly tell me she's interested in someone else but… now she barely greets me, frankly it’s rude. I think she wasn’t worth it in the end, she's not like me, and I'm OK with that.”
Will nodded his understanding and stopped to warm his hands, the sun was gone already and the temperature had dropped.
“Your hands are cold” Hannibal’s voice grew low like he was telling a secret.
“Yeah but we are almost there, you should leave me here and go home Hannibal, I don't want you to catch a cold, the coach will kill me if I make you miss the upcoming competitions.” Will warmed his hands with his breath.
“I want to make it to the end, promises are promises.”
Hannibal closed the space between them, taking hold of Will’s hands and rubbing them with his own. Big and soft hands took the cold out of Will making the blush on his cheeks glow with cheer.
Hannibal opened his mouth to say something, but remained silent. Will was radiating heat, his blush overtook his whole body and the older boy stayed quiet.
“I-I'm fine, thank you” Will brushed his thumbs over Hannibal hands, he felt like something was starting to burn inside him, his blood making noise in his ears.
They walked the last few blocks, until the moment came, time to say goodbye.
“Wanna come in? We-we could have a tea before you leave, if you have time? I can show you… umh not the forest because it’s dark already but well… my dad isn't home yet.” The doubt pierced him like a stake, the possibility of rejection and loneliness creeping under his skin.
“I can stay a couple of minutes, and a cup of tea is always wonderful.”
Both took off their top layer, the house was warming with the kettle on the stove.
“My dad works in weird schedules so I'm alone most part of the day. I have a sort of routine but I enjoy being alone... a-and of course with you is good too.”
Hannibal noticed how the blush of Will's cheeks was in every inch of skin he could see, Will offered him the warm cup and showed him the house.
“You like to hunt?“ Hannibal pointed at the wall with antlers decorating almost the complete extension followed by a shiny pair of rifles hanging crossed in the center.
“My dad, he tried to teach me but I don't like the shooting part.”
“Me neither…” Hannibal's voice was deep and low, sadness shadowing his eyes.
Will scooted near him, their arms brushing together, wanting for Hannibal not to feel alone. Something was happening in his mind, but Will didn't wanted to overstep.
They moved upstairs, to the “studio” as Will called it. Where he had a desk, a big chair and bookcases outside his room.
“Sorry it’s a little messy, my dad doesn't like to come here because of my scent… someday he's going to kick me out.” he laughed dark and deep.
Hannibal turned serious, even if Will said it as a joke, he knew Mr Graham was a difficult man.
“I hope he behaves, and doesn't kick you out.”
Hannibal was interested in every book on the shelves, touching them with care.
“Is your favorite book here?”
“Yes, ah… is that big green one, they are old Scandinavian stories. My favorite is the one of a Wendigo and the man that lured him with a Christmas tree”
“Can I borrow it? I promise I will take great care of it.”
“Only if I can borrow your favorite book.”
“We have a deal.”
Will nodded, hiding his smile in the tea cup. It was getting late, Hannibal put the book inside his bag and headed to the main door with the still blushing omega.
“See you tomorrow Will.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Should he hug him? Shake his hand? Hannibal thought at first putting his hand on Will’s shoulder, moving it until he touched his elbow, caressing his arm a kind caress of goodbye.
Will closed the door when the beta disappeared around the corner, the feel of the warm palms of his friend ghosted over his skin.
He liked it.
**
“Graham? Graham are you feeling alright?” The voice of Mr. Crawford was distant and Will came to himself.
“Sorry Mr Crawford I… I didn't sleep so well last night.”
He was telling the truth. His gut and his brain wouldn't let him sleep properly, sending confusing messages about how to feel, what to feel - the beta’s scent creeping around his mind.
“Graham, go to the nurse’s office” The professor said, wrinkling his nose.
It wasn’t much later that Will found himself with a thermometer in his mouth while the nurse was scraping something inside a cabinet.
“You presented as omega didn’t you child?”
“Yes, like… two years ago...”
“Early bloomer I see...Then you should be experiencing the first symptoms of your heat Graham, there's nothing I can do… you have to cope with it until you are 18, then you can start using suppressants and get rid of it if you want… I'm sorry Graham all I can give you is a chamomile tea, becomings are like this. Your heat and becoming don’t always happen at the same time y’know?”
“I thought this would happen around Christmas…” Will was shaking over the chair, he felt defeated by his own nature.
“You will have to stay these next few days at home. Rest and have some food, I will send a note to your parents and they will understand.”
“How-how long does it last?”
“This is your first, so it should last around 4 days and the next one may come in 5 or 6 months”
“Shit”
The mid aged nurse took the thermometer and looked at it.
“You are developing a fever, do you want me to call your parents and send you home?”
“My dad will be sleeping he was working all night, I think I can cope…”
He could, but the others were aware of what was happening to him, wrinkling their noses giving him more than enough space in the classroom, like he was infected with some kind of deadly disease..
“I stink, I'm sweating like a pig, I'm disgusting my skin feels clammy. How am I going to see Hannibal like this, he will find me hideous, he will never ever have lunch with me” Will thought drowning in a pool of distress tugging at his shirt, damp with sweat.
From the months they knew each other and the couple of weeks after the first evening Hannibal walked him home, warmed his hands and took his book, winter had never been so warm for Will. They were good company for each other, they shared and laughed over silly things in the school, the upcoming exams, the Christmas break, and now… he was going into heat.
Will came back to the classroom and rested his head on his arms the rest of the period, this time Mr Crawford didn't say anything when he stayed in the room.
Will heard the soft familiar steps approaching his desk, a feather-light hand touched the exposed skin in the back of his neck. It felt cold on his heated skin.
Will jerked on his seat and looked up, glassy eyed and sweat covering his forehead.
“I made chocolate cake, do you want to eat it with me?” Hannibal’s eyes had no trace of pity, and looked at the sweaty omega with tenderness. His bigger hand cupped one side of Will’s face. Will lingered at the cool touch nodding.
“I will go to get some fresh water for us and we can eat here, please don't move.” Hannibal said softly - a controlled tone. Concerned by the state of the omega.
Will felt protected, not rejected, by Hannibal leaving. His feverish mind was starting to fog his thoughts and worries about all the other students, there was only room for Hannibal right there.
The beta came back with a bottle of water and two forks, in the container two cakes covered in shiny black chocolate were waiting for them. Before they could take the fork Hannibal pressed his hand to the omega’s forehead.
“I'm going to take you home today, my uncle will drive us.”
“Please don't bother about me, I’ll be fine.”
“No… I insist, now let's eat, you need to eat. And I brought you something else...”
Will's hands trembled, all his skin seemed to vibrate at the presence of the brown eyed beta in front of him, like a thousand butterflies fighting under his flesh to emerge.
Without saying a word Hannibal took his fork and fed him a piece of cake, it was not a big deal, just helping him through his current state.
“Thank you, this is delicious.” Will's voice was starting to crack, the sweet chocolate ganache melting in his mouth with a soft aftertaste of liquor. Will started to smile, a fever drunk smile that put an end to the hard, serious face of his friend. Concerned but trying to be neutral, Hannibal blushed at what was before him. As he gave another piece of cake to Will, a soft sound came from the internal part of Will’s throat, high pitched and unsteady - a purr.
Hannibal scooted closer, leaning over the table with the next piece of cake to hear the tiny sound coming out of Will, who was trying to make it stop.
“I don't know what this is! Sounds like something is shattering inside of me.” Broken, his mind repeated over and over - the thought sabotaging him in front of someone who had become the most important person in the world to him.
“You are purring, or starting to...” the beta smiled, fond and warm.
“Geez…”
Both laughed at the uncontrollable reflex, new for both of them.
A soft cough announced someone entering the room. Alana looked at them sharing the tiny space over Will's desk, their knees touching under it without noticing until Will moved by instinct getting away from the beta.
Hannibal looked at her meeting her eyes.
“Hello Alana, good to see you”
“Hello Hannibal, I hoped I could say the same.”
Will was immersed in a sudden panic. The purr and the colors of his face were now gone. Alana used to be close to him, before her becoming, the alpha inside the girl was powerful.
She took something from her desk and gave them her back.
“You will reek of omega now Hannibal, I'm not sure if your uncle will be pleased with that!”
“I truly appreciate your concern but you are no one to make a judgment about the friends I choose.”
Alana scoffed and kept walking out of the room. She had changed, and the hormones in the air made her presence even worse.
“How rude… Will don't listen to her, she doesn't know.”
Know what? Will thought, still sitting as far as he could from the beta. Alana was right, he was ruining Hannibal with his presence. Will sulked in his thoughts, enough to make the beta notice the barrier between them. The possibility of rejection by his status.
“Will, you don't smell bad, I mean that. Don't run from me, please, your own smell is way better than the cheap cologne she uses every day.”
All the bad thoughts in Will's mind faded with Hannibal's laughter, keeping alive the butterflies in his inside and bringing back the colors to his cheeks.
The bell rang after Hannibal put the containers back to his bag, he handed Will a book.
“This is my favorite book, It took me a little more time than expected to find a good english version.”
The Divine Comedy by Dante. A tough black hard-covered book with golden letters. Will took it with his unsteady hands until he could shove it in his bag.
“I will have your book as hostage until you finish it.” Hannibal half blinked at him and headed to the door “See you at the main door.”
“See you there, Hannibal”
Hannibal felt a sweet shiver down his spine hearing the omega say his name with the feverish, sleepy voice. Every time Will said it he was all the happier to be named by his friend. He let out a happy sigh going back to his classroom.
**
Hannibal was waiting for Will at the main door of the school, the car already there waiting for them outside.
Will took his time making it to the door, his skin burning under his clothes, already damp.
Hannibal helped him with his bag and opened the door for him to get in the car, a slender tall man was sitting in the driver's seat, light brown eyes and soft creamy eyebrows framing a tender smile.
“Good evening Hannibal, this must be your friend Will, nice to meet you. Hannibal is always talking about you, I think he has already read your book 10 times.” He was interrupted by the darting eyes of the young beta begging him to shut up.
“Nice to meet you too. I wish we could have met with me in a better state.” Will shook his hand, aware of his sweaty palm and sat beside Hannibal with only his bag to separate them.
“My uncle Robert is also a beta.” Hannibal reassured him.
“Yes boy, don't worry about the scent.” The car started moving and Will couldn't help but think of Alana’s words. Hannibal was right, she didn't know a thing.
They shared gazes inside the car, Robert saw them smiling to each other leaning a little, just a little, on the other. The trip to Will's house felt terribly short.
Hannibal accompanied him to the door, Charlie Graham was not there again, so he helped Will into his house.
“I can come if you need something, I can wait for your father to come home?”
“Please don't bother about me Hannibal, you have done enough… as always.” Will felt thankful but useless, wanting to ask for help, but at the same time wanting to be independent.
“You need water and maybe food... I don't know what a omega needs… but believe me I will do my best”
“Hannibal I will… I will be ok. I will call you if I need something.”
“Read the book.” Hannibal pointed at his bag.
Will just smiled closing his eyes.
Hannibal touched his arm and hugged him for a second, a true second of complete interest in his well being before saying goodbye and leaving him.
In the car Robert watched Hannibal dreamily watching the woods pass by.
“You seem so happy Hannibal, I quite like him.”
“He's my friend.”
“I didn't said otherwise, but I like him… however, how was your day?”
The voice of his uncle was white noise in his ears, his mind completely occupied by the idea of the omega handling himself alone in that house. Hannibal felt his throat closing tight, thinking of all the possibilities.
Charlie Graham arrived before dinner to find his boy shaking in the heat fever. Will couldn't make it off the sofa where Hannibal had left him.
“You are lucky the first heat doesn't involve pheromones Will, some unmated alphas can't control themselves and they would just... take you.” The alpha father was talking with the knowledge of having a child that same way.
“I know” Will whispered while his dad helped him to his bed, carrying blankets and food so he didn’t have to go up again if it was not necessary - leaving his son alone to deal with the first real change of his becoming.
During the night the fever got worse and worse, blurring the reality from what was inside his deepest dreams and the real world. His dreams were coming alive, the stream of a rocky river under his bed, his body damp and cold, burning inside his guts. He was a hungry thing to catch imaginary fish with his hands, a soft mumbling coming out his mouth until he felt a thud outside, outside the mess of his room, the sound took him off the feverish dream to another where he saw Hannibal.
“Hannibal” he repeated facing him buried in a pile of blankets trying to reach him with a hand, too far away from knowing the truth of what he was seeing.
Hannibal was wearing black, his eyes golden in the moonlight coming from the half open window of the studio.
Was he really there?
The figure approached the omega, touching his forehead with the palm of his hand.
“Are you hungry?”
“Hannibal?”
“Yes, Will, are you hungry? You need to drink some water.”
“Hannibal you are here?”
“Yes, it’s almost five in the morning. I… I’m sorry, I climbed in your window, I thought you might need some help, we are in your room.”
Hannibal kneeled before him cupping sweaty face with care.
“You will be fine Will.”
Even in the dark room he could see that smile, a smile he had been memorizing for months. A sweet curved line Hannibal dedicated only to him every day, he liked him.
Hannibal helped him into fresh clothes, shuffling his blankets. Then he fed him a sandwich piece by piece, waited until he drank a whole cup of water and until the fever let him rest.
Will was clutching at the beta’s sweater with his hand, sniffing the thick knitted pattern.
“Will I have to go, I will come back after school ok? Please try to eat and drink water.”
Hannibal came so close Will could feel his breath tickling over his skin as the beta slightly touched his nose to Will's temple.
“Goodbye.” he whispered closing the window behind him disappearing the same way he got there.