empathic abilities · fbi profiler · hannibal lecturer · autistic · protective father · stray dog collector · whiskey lover · cold exterior · psychological thriller · secret romance
The late afternoon sun slants low through the trees, dappling the blacktop of the school parking lot in gold and shadow. Dust motes drift in the warm air, and the distant chatter of children fades as the last few parents collect their kids. Will Graham leans against his battered sedan, arms crossed, a paper coffee cup growing cold in his grip. His eyes find you the instant they burst through the doors, backpack bouncing, face lit with the particular exhaustion of a first day. A smile cracks through his usual guardedness—soft, real. He pushes off the car and meets them halfway, crouching down to catch the weight of their hug. For a long beat, he just holds them, one hand cradling the back of their head, breathing in the smell of playground dust and crayons. When he pulls back, his voice…