For me, this ship started out as crack. However, over time, I have somehow written a multi-chapter story about a ship that is still pure crack to me. This does have actual plot though, and it's going to be a wild ride if you stick with it.
This story is dedicated to the amazing VampireRide. You are the only thing that keeps me on this site, and thank you for sending me messages that remind me that human contact is a good thing when all I want to do is hide under my blankets reading Coliver fanfiction on Ao3. I love you forever and ever and hope with all my heart that you someday move on from Jandom because that shit's never going to happen.
Warning for language and me trying to pretend I know how politics work. If anyone wants to help on that front, I'd be greatly obliged.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Fang."
The redhead that sat across from him had delicate features, but Nick knew better than to let a woman's looks deceive him. She wore bright red lipstick that should have clashed with her hair, but somehow complimented it instead. The dress she was outfitted in was designer, gucci or prada- Nick wasn't fashion savvy, but he was aware that his mental narrative was starting to sound eerily like a black and white detective movie.
"Of course, Ms. Wallace. I'm still a bit lost as to why you've chose this location, however."
Nick gestured widely, encompassing the wooden counters, plush leather chairs, and bakery displays. They were at Starbucks, one of the nicer ones in D.C. and his seventeen-year-old sister's home away from home. But that still didn't make up for the fact that they were surrounded by teenaged hipsters and business people who rushed in and out of the coffee shop. The indie music playing softly on the speakers combined with complicated coffee orders being spewed out not even twenty feet away was starting to give him a headache.
"The caramel macchiatos, of course." She paused to take a sip of her drink and give him a small smirk. "I also find that people of our profession don't usually frequent this sort of place."
Nick nodded. "And those that do acquire their caffeine here don't typically recognize politicians unless they're the president of the United States."
Lissa folded her arms, all humor fading from her face. "And that brings us to the matter I called you here to discuss."
"The president of the United States? If this is about setting up an assassination attempt, while I do know a guy I could set you in contact with, I'm not personally down for that."
He only got a hint of a smile. "We both know that there's an election coming up, Mr. Fang. We both also know that you were responsible for how far Clinton got in the race a few years back. Now, Clinton's not running this year, but that doesn't mean that it's not time to get some lady parts in the oval office."
Nick's eyebrows rose, but he kept his face blank. Setting down his coffee, he asked, "And you think you should be those lady parts?"
"I do." She looked at him evenly and he sighed.
"Look, Wallace, I like you. I do. But Clinton was well known and a great woman and she didn't even make it. I understand how it feels to be-"
"You look, Fang. I know that you're mixed and because of that you have gone through things that I'll never understand. I don't mean to belittle that or anything, but being a woman is so much worse. You have deal with men constantly defining what you can and cannot do, sexualizing you, telling you to let the big boys handle things, playing any argument off as it being your time of the month. So, while you might understand some of that, you will never know exactly what it took for me to get where I am. I am running for office with or without you. What I need to know is if you are in or not."
.Fang looked around the coffee shop. This was not the ideal place to talk about this, but Wallace had been smart in picking a public place where it would be harder for him to stall. There was a line forming and a meek looking busboy kept passing their table throwing looks at their nearly empty drinks. It was time to end this.
"If you're serious-"
She gave him a look. "Deadly fucking serious."
"Then there's something you should know about me before we begin. I'm not saying that it will, but… in my previous experience a few close minded people have tried to use my preferences against me."
"Mr. Fang, I think I understand what you're trying to say to me. And I wouldn't have thought you were when you first walked into this fine establishment, but seeing as you haven't looked at my chest once, I'm starting to see it."
Nick snorted out a laugh at that. "I take it you don't really care."
"Hell no, Fang. We'll crush any misogynistic, homophobic asshole that tries to stand in our way." She stopped for a moment and laughed. It was full and bright and made him like her a even more. "Damn, I'm going to have to quit swearing once I start my campaign, won't I?"
Fang gave her a wry smile. "I'm afraid so, Ms. Wallace."
She stood and put on her coat, getting ready to step into the frigid February air. "If we're going to be working together for the next several months, I think that we should call each other by our given names, Nick."
She held out her hand and he gave her an admiring look. "I'll be seeing you soon, Lissa."
She made her way towards the door, stopping about halfway there are turning around. "Oh, and Nick? There's probably something that you should know about me: I'm hella gay too."
Lissa gave him a wink and excited the Starbucks. He smirked as he watched her hail a cab through the window and then looked around the building. His smirk slid off his face as he gazed at the many teens on their laptops, taking pictures of their lattes. God, he hated this place.