Anonymous (1/12)
Title: Anonymous
Author: WibbleyWobbley
Rating: Probably up to NC-17
Characters/Pairing: Kevin/Scotty
Word Count: ~24,450
Spoilers: Nothing major. Set approximately season 1.
Disclaimer: Alas.
Summary: AU. The Shop Around the Corner (1940), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), You've Got Mail (1998)...Anonymous (2009)
A/N: One of these days I'll write another story set in the actual show universe. That day is not today.
"OK, run me through the schedule again."
"You’re on your way to the veteran’s - "
"I know that, Kevin."
"Right. League of Women Voters in the afternoon, then the dinner tonight."
"Fundraising," Robert said with a sigh. "Where is that again?"
"Uh...San Estephe," Kevin said, angling sideways as he held the door open for Robert.
"Is that downtown?"
Kevin nodded, looking around the parking garage. "It takes months to get a reservation there."
"Then how did we get in?" Robert asked with a laugh.
Kevin smirked as he handed Robert a folder containing his speech and several briefing memos. "The owner is a big fan. Besides, they’re usually closed Monday nights."
"Lucky us. See you later," Robert said as he climbed into the car.
Kevin closed the door behind him, tapped the top of the car twice, and waved quickly before walking away.
***
"I can’t believe we actually have to work tonight!" Vicky grumbled as she walked into the kitchen.
"Think of the overtime," Scotty said with a smile.
"Yeah, serving Republicans. That’s dirty money or something, isn’t it?"
"Don’t say that too loudly."
"Yeah, no kidding. I like my job."
"It’s only one night."
"Who knows, maybe the man of my dreams will be here tonight. Or the man of yours."
"Go set tables."
Vicky smiled at him, offering a small wave as she backed out of the kitchen again. Scotty shook his head, then focused again on the meals he was preparing.
***
"Oh come on, Kitty!"
"Kevin, no."
"Why not?"
"Because - where are you? I can barely hear you."
Kevin looked around the restaurant, which was packed with dozens of wealthy supporters. The constant murmur of chatter, occasional laughter, clinking of silverware - an array of noises combined to make the phone call almost impossible.
"Hold on. I’m going to try to find a quieter place," he said.
After walking around the room, and even going down the hallway towards the bathrooms, Kevin ultimately walked through swinging doors into the kitchen. There was lots of activity in there as well, but without as many people talking in the background, it might work.
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes."
"Uh...sir, exc - "
"OK, so why not?"
"Because, Kevin, it’s a new job. I’m not going to start off by asking for favors for my family."
"This isn’t - Kitty, it’s a political news show based in California. This is a Senator of the state, who also happens to be running for Governor. You’re going to interview him eventually. Why not - "
"Sir, you can’t - "
"Why not a time that just happens to coincide with the passing of his bill?" Kitty asked sarcastically.
"It’s news."
"Ugh, fine, Kevin. I’ll think about it."
"Thank you, Kitty. You’re the best. Gotta go."
Kevin hung up, then quickly exhaled.
"Sir!"
He turned abruptly, nearly colliding with the young (attractive) man in front of him. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
"Sir," the man said again, slightly annoyed. "You really can’t be back here."
"Right, sorry." And then Kevin was immediately distracted. "Are those crab cakes? I haven’t eaten all day. Do you mind?" he asked, even as he reached out to the tray, removing a cake and taking a bite.
"It’s - it’s a seafood mix. Shrimp and - sir, I’m going to have to ask you - "
Scotty quickly stopped talking, stepping back slightly as Kevin bent over, spitting out the food into his hand. Scotty’s eyes narrowed and his mouth dropped open.
"Sorry it’s not to your liking; now if you’ll please," Scotty said, putting a hand on Kevin’s shoulder and guiding him out of the room.
"No, it’s just that - "
But Kevin was already on the other side of the door, alone. He tilted his head slightly, looking through the circular windows of the door. He saw the man walking away, pointing at something as he spoke to one of the other workers in the room. Kevin stared for a moment, then shook his head, plastered a smile onto his face, and went to network with the big donors.
***
By the end of the night, Kevin was exhausted. He collapsed onto his couch, loosening his tie with one hand as he lifted his wine glass to his lips with the other. Leaning forward slightly, he turned on the computer. Signing into his e-mail, he sighed when he saw the message from Sarah with the subject line, "Here’s the site."
He clicked on the link for the dating site she had told him about, then moved the arrow so it was hovering over the register button.
"I can’t believe I’m doing this," he muttered before clicking the mouse again. He sighed. "OK, I am a man...looking for..."
And Kevin paused, swallowing. He rubbed a hand quickly down his face. He had promised himself, back when his father died, that he would finally give it a real try. It wasn’t like he was going to march in a parade or anything. He was just going to acknowledge that, perhaps, there was a reason it had never worked out with any of his past girlfriends. Heart pounding, he clicked the arrow by the drop-down menu.
"Looking for a man," he whispered.
***
"Soooo?" Sarah asked leadingly as they set the table.
"So what?" Kevin replied.
"Did you sign up?"
"Sign up for what?" Justin interrupted, carrying a couple bottles of wine into the room.
"Nothing," Kevin said quickly before scratching at his eyebrow. "Just a...a dating site thing."
"You joined a dating site?" Tommy asked incredulously as he joined them in the dining room.
"God," Kevin muttered, tilting his head back.
"Oh, be quiet, you two," Sarah said. "You all said it was a great idea when I joined."
"Yeah," Justin agreed, "but you - um."
"I what?"
"You’re, uh, you’re..."
"A workaholic divorced mother of two," Tommy finished with a grin.
Sarah punched his shoulder before glaring at the two of them. "Kevin’s a workaholic Republican low-paid government employee," she argued.
"You just had to put Republican in there, didn’t you?" Kitty said, walking slightly ahead of Nora as they carried food in from the kitchen. "As if that is some sort of hindrance to Kevin getting a girlfriend."
"Well, it is."
"I’m a moderate Republican," Kevin clarified. Very moderate, he thought.
The conversation paused as they all sat down, passing food around the table and filling their plates. Once everyone was settled, Nora leaned towards Kevin.
"Have you had any hits?"
"They’re called matches, Mom," Sarah explained.
Kevin looked at his plate, embarrassed. "Um, no. Not yet. Well, maybe. I haven’t actually signed in since I made the account."
"Ugh!" Sarah rolled her eyes. "You’re never going to find anyone with that attitude."
***
After yet another long day at the restaurant, Scotty sat down at his desk, preparing to spend a few minutes relaxing on his computer. He checked his e-mail, and looked at a recipe-sharing message board he was part of, read some celebrity gossip, and then finally signed into the dating site. He rarely went there; joining had been Jordan and Tracy’s idea. They registered him after he broke up with Randy, but he was never particularly excited about it. It just seemed somewhat...weird.
"You have five new recommendations!" his profile cheerfully read.
Scotty scrolled through them; all of them seemed not quite what he was looking for. Except, maybe, the last one. Identified only as Kevin-33, the man didn’t have the most original description. But it was almost as if Scotty could read between the lines. There was just something about him, something telling Scotty not to dismiss him.
"Oh, why not?" he asked himself, before clicking on the send message button.
What to write, what to write? Scotty thought, chewing on his lip. He drummed his fingers lightly against the keyboard, then shook his head.
"Hello...welcome to the site. It’s a little daunting at first..." Scotty stopped typing. "That’s lame," he said, deleting the entire message.
He stared at the blank screen for a while, then sighed. He signed out of the program.
***
"Good morning. I have good news," Kevin said, walking into Robert’s office and sitting in his usual seat across from him.
"Me too."
Kevin glanced at him, confused. "OK. Well, Kitty agreed to interview you as her first guest on Red, White and Blue."
"Excellent. That will be good exposure."
"Mm-hmm." Kevin nodded in agreement. They sat quietly for a few minutes, and Kevin watched Robert make a few notes on the speech Kevin had written the night before.
"Well?"
"Hmm?"
"What was your news?"
"Oh!" Robert looked up, removing his glasses. "I talked with Pietro, the owner of San Estephe. He’s offered to cater all our fundraising events for the campaign for a very reduced price."
"That’s great."
"Yeah, so I need you to meet with the head chef and discuss a menu for at least the next few things."
Kevin stared at him briefly. "Excuse me?"
"You know, figure out food and stuff."
"Robert," Kevin said, shifting in his seat. "I’ve been your communications director and a senior advisor for almost three years now. I have several degrees. Why am I suddenly your party planner?"
"Because food talks, Kevin. Remember the debacle with that endangered...fish or whatever it was?"
Kevin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Fine."
***
I am a professional, Scotty thought to himself as he parked behind the restaurant. I make food for my boss’s clients. My own political views do not come into play. I am a profess - I can’t do it. I can’t spend the next several months catering for that...ugh!
He climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind him. He walked into the restaurant and through the kitchen. The restaurant was officially closed still, but Pietro was sitting at a table in the near-empty dining room. Next to him, his back to Scotty, was a man with curly dark hair.
"Ah, Scotty! You’re here. This is Kevin Walker, from the Senator’s office."
The man stood, turning and reaching out a hand in Scotty’s direction. Scotty stopped abruptly. It was the man from the other night, the one who barged into the kitchen and then spit out Scotty’s food right in front of him. Scotty clenched his teeth as he forced a smile to his face and took the man’s hand.
Next Chapter
Main Page
Author: WibbleyWobbley
Rating: Probably up to NC-17
Characters/Pairing: Kevin/Scotty
Word Count: ~24,450
Spoilers: Nothing major. Set approximately season 1.
Disclaimer: Alas.
Summary: AU. The Shop Around the Corner (1940), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), You've Got Mail (1998)...Anonymous (2009)
A/N: One of these days I'll write another story set in the actual show universe. That day is not today.
"OK, run me through the schedule again."
"You’re on your way to the veteran’s - "
"I know that, Kevin."
"Right. League of Women Voters in the afternoon, then the dinner tonight."
"Fundraising," Robert said with a sigh. "Where is that again?"
"Uh...San Estephe," Kevin said, angling sideways as he held the door open for Robert.
"Is that downtown?"
Kevin nodded, looking around the parking garage. "It takes months to get a reservation there."
"Then how did we get in?" Robert asked with a laugh.
Kevin smirked as he handed Robert a folder containing his speech and several briefing memos. "The owner is a big fan. Besides, they’re usually closed Monday nights."
"Lucky us. See you later," Robert said as he climbed into the car.
Kevin closed the door behind him, tapped the top of the car twice, and waved quickly before walking away.
***
"I can’t believe we actually have to work tonight!" Vicky grumbled as she walked into the kitchen.
"Think of the overtime," Scotty said with a smile.
"Yeah, serving Republicans. That’s dirty money or something, isn’t it?"
"Don’t say that too loudly."
"Yeah, no kidding. I like my job."
"It’s only one night."
"Who knows, maybe the man of my dreams will be here tonight. Or the man of yours."
"Go set tables."
Vicky smiled at him, offering a small wave as she backed out of the kitchen again. Scotty shook his head, then focused again on the meals he was preparing.
***
"Oh come on, Kitty!"
"Kevin, no."
"Why not?"
"Because - where are you? I can barely hear you."
Kevin looked around the restaurant, which was packed with dozens of wealthy supporters. The constant murmur of chatter, occasional laughter, clinking of silverware - an array of noises combined to make the phone call almost impossible.
"Hold on. I’m going to try to find a quieter place," he said.
After walking around the room, and even going down the hallway towards the bathrooms, Kevin ultimately walked through swinging doors into the kitchen. There was lots of activity in there as well, but without as many people talking in the background, it might work.
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes."
"Uh...sir, exc - "
"OK, so why not?"
"Because, Kevin, it’s a new job. I’m not going to start off by asking for favors for my family."
"This isn’t - Kitty, it’s a political news show based in California. This is a Senator of the state, who also happens to be running for Governor. You’re going to interview him eventually. Why not - "
"Sir, you can’t - "
"Why not a time that just happens to coincide with the passing of his bill?" Kitty asked sarcastically.
"It’s news."
"Ugh, fine, Kevin. I’ll think about it."
"Thank you, Kitty. You’re the best. Gotta go."
Kevin hung up, then quickly exhaled.
"Sir!"
He turned abruptly, nearly colliding with the young (attractive) man in front of him. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
"Sir," the man said again, slightly annoyed. "You really can’t be back here."
"Right, sorry." And then Kevin was immediately distracted. "Are those crab cakes? I haven’t eaten all day. Do you mind?" he asked, even as he reached out to the tray, removing a cake and taking a bite.
"It’s - it’s a seafood mix. Shrimp and - sir, I’m going to have to ask you - "
Scotty quickly stopped talking, stepping back slightly as Kevin bent over, spitting out the food into his hand. Scotty’s eyes narrowed and his mouth dropped open.
"Sorry it’s not to your liking; now if you’ll please," Scotty said, putting a hand on Kevin’s shoulder and guiding him out of the room.
"No, it’s just that - "
But Kevin was already on the other side of the door, alone. He tilted his head slightly, looking through the circular windows of the door. He saw the man walking away, pointing at something as he spoke to one of the other workers in the room. Kevin stared for a moment, then shook his head, plastered a smile onto his face, and went to network with the big donors.
***
By the end of the night, Kevin was exhausted. He collapsed onto his couch, loosening his tie with one hand as he lifted his wine glass to his lips with the other. Leaning forward slightly, he turned on the computer. Signing into his e-mail, he sighed when he saw the message from Sarah with the subject line, "Here’s the site."
He clicked on the link for the dating site she had told him about, then moved the arrow so it was hovering over the register button.
"I can’t believe I’m doing this," he muttered before clicking the mouse again. He sighed. "OK, I am a man...looking for..."
And Kevin paused, swallowing. He rubbed a hand quickly down his face. He had promised himself, back when his father died, that he would finally give it a real try. It wasn’t like he was going to march in a parade or anything. He was just going to acknowledge that, perhaps, there was a reason it had never worked out with any of his past girlfriends. Heart pounding, he clicked the arrow by the drop-down menu.
"Looking for a man," he whispered.
***
"Soooo?" Sarah asked leadingly as they set the table.
"So what?" Kevin replied.
"Did you sign up?"
"Sign up for what?" Justin interrupted, carrying a couple bottles of wine into the room.
"Nothing," Kevin said quickly before scratching at his eyebrow. "Just a...a dating site thing."
"You joined a dating site?" Tommy asked incredulously as he joined them in the dining room.
"God," Kevin muttered, tilting his head back.
"Oh, be quiet, you two," Sarah said. "You all said it was a great idea when I joined."
"Yeah," Justin agreed, "but you - um."
"I what?"
"You’re, uh, you’re..."
"A workaholic divorced mother of two," Tommy finished with a grin.
Sarah punched his shoulder before glaring at the two of them. "Kevin’s a workaholic Republican low-paid government employee," she argued.
"You just had to put Republican in there, didn’t you?" Kitty said, walking slightly ahead of Nora as they carried food in from the kitchen. "As if that is some sort of hindrance to Kevin getting a girlfriend."
"Well, it is."
"I’m a moderate Republican," Kevin clarified. Very moderate, he thought.
The conversation paused as they all sat down, passing food around the table and filling their plates. Once everyone was settled, Nora leaned towards Kevin.
"Have you had any hits?"
"They’re called matches, Mom," Sarah explained.
Kevin looked at his plate, embarrassed. "Um, no. Not yet. Well, maybe. I haven’t actually signed in since I made the account."
"Ugh!" Sarah rolled her eyes. "You’re never going to find anyone with that attitude."
***
After yet another long day at the restaurant, Scotty sat down at his desk, preparing to spend a few minutes relaxing on his computer. He checked his e-mail, and looked at a recipe-sharing message board he was part of, read some celebrity gossip, and then finally signed into the dating site. He rarely went there; joining had been Jordan and Tracy’s idea. They registered him after he broke up with Randy, but he was never particularly excited about it. It just seemed somewhat...weird.
"You have five new recommendations!" his profile cheerfully read.
Scotty scrolled through them; all of them seemed not quite what he was looking for. Except, maybe, the last one. Identified only as Kevin-33, the man didn’t have the most original description. But it was almost as if Scotty could read between the lines. There was just something about him, something telling Scotty not to dismiss him.
"Oh, why not?" he asked himself, before clicking on the send message button.
What to write, what to write? Scotty thought, chewing on his lip. He drummed his fingers lightly against the keyboard, then shook his head.
"Hello...welcome to the site. It’s a little daunting at first..." Scotty stopped typing. "That’s lame," he said, deleting the entire message.
He stared at the blank screen for a while, then sighed. He signed out of the program.
***
"Good morning. I have good news," Kevin said, walking into Robert’s office and sitting in his usual seat across from him.
"Me too."
Kevin glanced at him, confused. "OK. Well, Kitty agreed to interview you as her first guest on Red, White and Blue."
"Excellent. That will be good exposure."
"Mm-hmm." Kevin nodded in agreement. They sat quietly for a few minutes, and Kevin watched Robert make a few notes on the speech Kevin had written the night before.
"Well?"
"Hmm?"
"What was your news?"
"Oh!" Robert looked up, removing his glasses. "I talked with Pietro, the owner of San Estephe. He’s offered to cater all our fundraising events for the campaign for a very reduced price."
"That’s great."
"Yeah, so I need you to meet with the head chef and discuss a menu for at least the next few things."
Kevin stared at him briefly. "Excuse me?"
"You know, figure out food and stuff."
"Robert," Kevin said, shifting in his seat. "I’ve been your communications director and a senior advisor for almost three years now. I have several degrees. Why am I suddenly your party planner?"
"Because food talks, Kevin. Remember the debacle with that endangered...fish or whatever it was?"
Kevin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Fine."
***
I am a professional, Scotty thought to himself as he parked behind the restaurant. I make food for my boss’s clients. My own political views do not come into play. I am a profess - I can’t do it. I can’t spend the next several months catering for that...ugh!
He climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind him. He walked into the restaurant and through the kitchen. The restaurant was officially closed still, but Pietro was sitting at a table in the near-empty dining room. Next to him, his back to Scotty, was a man with curly dark hair.
"Ah, Scotty! You’re here. This is Kevin Walker, from the Senator’s office."
The man stood, turning and reaching out a hand in Scotty’s direction. Scotty stopped abruptly. It was the man from the other night, the one who barged into the kitchen and then spit out Scotty’s food right in front of him. Scotty clenched his teeth as he forced a smile to his face and took the man’s hand.
Next Chapter
Main Page