Chapter Text
Jaime Lannister was in her office. Podrick had announced him, of course, so she knew he'd be here but...he was in her office. Beautiful and golden and bathed in the noonday sun shining through the floor to ceiling windows. His green eyes were twinkling and he was giving her that cocky Lannister grin. Oh gods. What the hells is he doing here?
"What the hells are you doing here?"
"Well, good day to you too, Senator."
"I'm sorry. That was rude. I-" she faltered.
She'd given speeches to Congress, to the Westerosi people, to Essosi diplomats and she couldn't even get out a full sentence in front of Jaime Fucking Lannister. She sighed.
"What did you need, Mr. Lannister?"
His eyes scanned her from head to toe like he'd never seen her in his life. Those green eyes. Always his damned eyes. She may hate him and his sister and his entire family(except for Tyrion) and everything that he stood for, but those emerald eyes could be her undoing if she ever let them.
"I need you to call me, Jaime, Senator." He murmured, scanning her body once more.
She flushed, a clammy sweat breaking out on the small of her back. He wasn’t leering or even particularly appreciating, just studying, trying to find the opening in her armor. A nice soft spot to twist the blade. Brienne cleared her throat.
"Why would you need me to call you Jaime?"
He gave her a grin that cut like a knife. The first slash. “Because I'm going to be your new campaign manager."
She laughed right in his face. She couldn't help herself. The last she had heard, he was running his sister's campaign. What could have possibly happened to cause a rift with the golden twins? Unless this was a trick. He swoops in to save her campaign but truly he was here to ruin it. Like she would even entertain the idea of him joining her team. Half her communications department was made up of people who couldn’t stand the Lannisters. Except for Tyrion, again.
He was looking at her with laughing eyes and that cocky smirk and she realized she'd been silently gaping at him. Not very presidential. Brienne folded her hands atop the desk and narrowed her eyes.
"Your sister is my opponent."
"Yes."
"And you're offering yourself as my campaign manager?"
"Yes."
"Is this a joke?”
"No."
"Am I having a stroke?"
"I don't believe so, Senator."
~~
“When you went to that town hall meeting in the Riverlands.”
“Excuse me?”
“I was passing through that area and decided to do a little recon for my side.”
“Okay...”
“You kept talking.”
“I’m sorry?”
“When the cameras shut off, you kept talking. You stayed at that assembly until one o’clock in the morning talking to the common people. Farmers and teachers and nurses and college students. It wasn’t a show for you or a photo op. You actually cared what they had to say.”
He could remember it like it was yesterday, sitting in the back of that auditorium and watching her for hours. She’d looked tired by the end, with bags under her eyes and her hair a bit out of place from running her fingers through it, but that soft smile never faltered. She never once gave the impression she wished she was somewhere else or that these people would all shut up and leave her alone.
Such a complete contrast to his sister. A breath of air when he’d been drowning in the undertow of Targaryen/Baratheon/Lannister campaigns for years.
And her entire staff adored her. From her chief of staff to her press secretary to the interns that answered to them. He’d made a thorough study of them all and no one ever rolled their eyes after she said “one more question” for the hundredth time. No one tapped their toes in impatience or blew out a frustrated breath. They all seemed as enraptured by her as the people of the Riverlands did. She was a good politician and a compassionate woman and she inspired loyalty wherever she went. She inspired it in him and he wanted to be a part of this.
“Of course I care. They’re my countrymen and I’m asking to be their President.”
He laughed. Of course she would say something like that and still not understand why he wanted to be on her side.
“No,” he corrected her with a sharp shake of his head, “Politicians don’t give a damn about the common people. They work for the billionaires and the big corporations who give them enough cash flow to get elected and stay elected.”
Her lips pulled into a ferocious frown, brow furrowing. “Not me.”
“And that’s when I decided that you were my candidate.”
Silence fell between them. Beyond the door, he could hear staffers shuffling around and the constant trill of phones ringing. He honestly couldn’t believe they hadn’t been interrupted yet, but right now he had her complete attention and he had to make her understand. He wanted this for sure, but more than that, he needed it. He needed to run a campaign he could be proud of, for a candidate he could believe in.
Sometime during their conversation, Jaime had come within a step of her desk. He took that step, thighs brushing against the edge as he continued earnestly, “Look, I’m the best. I know it, you know it, your staff knows it. And I know my sister and I know exactly how Baelish and Qyburn are going to run this campaign.”
She bit her lip, looking uncertain for the first time since their meeting began. “Inside knowledge seems a bit unfair doesn’t it?”
He arched a single brow. “Do you want Cersei Lannister to be President?”
Her lips quirked and she wrinkled her freckled nose. “Good point.”
Scooting her chair back, she walked around the desk and extended her hand to him, “I want to hire you but I’ll have to talk to my staff first.”
Jaime sucked in a breath. He’d never been this close to her before and the full force of those eyes could bring a man to his knees. A strange quiver hummed in his gut and he stupidly blurted, “You have the most magnificent eyes.”
She rolled those very same eyes and muttered, “I’m sure.”
“The camera doesn’t do them justice. They’re astonishing.”
“Im telling you I want to hire you, the shameless flirting can stop now.” She leaned closer, capturing his hand with hers and giving it a firm shake. “I want to win this election. The Westerosi people need me to win this election because, full offense, your sister is a nightmare.”
That shocked a laugh out of him. Finally returning the handshake, he smiled. “Agreed.”
She nodded and turned to resume her seat. “I’ll call you Monday.”
“Thank you, Madam President.”
Her head jerked toward him and she whispered so softly Jaime wasn’t sure if he’d actually heard it or just watched her lips form the words. “Excuse me?”
“Just practicing.” He winked and turned to the door before tossing over his shoulder, “See you Monday, Senator.”