The Heart of Politics

Introductions

okay so part of me felt bad writing this because they are married to other people. SOoOOOOOO to reduce my guilt this is "in another life" type of storyline. Imagine they aren't married; just two single parliamentarian dudes. 

also please be nice this is my first time writing a fanfic like this. <3 

Jesse entered the Second Chamber, he was familiar with. The room of blue chairs, and wooden tables was nothing new. But his position as leader of the GroenLinks was new. And that title, along with the pressure to perform, and not to mention the people complaining about his age sent shivers down his spine. But despite this he'd told himself to remain calm, to look collected. And so he kept a straight face and walked over to his assigned seat two rows back from the open space for speeches. He pulled back a rolling chair covered in plush blue leather, and the silver emblem. It read "Tweede Kamer Der Staten-Generaal" for some reason reading those words centered him as he sat down. 

"I should probably bring up green solutions to start...then we can move on to education." he muttered.  He pulled out the pen from his suit's pocket, and started twirling it. "Yes...Yes...Yes...that seems like the right way to go." he continued. 

"Agh! but what if they'd prefer me to start with crime rates in our country, or maybe the healthcare system! I should have planned this more, I should have set this better. What if I try to say something an-" the pen he'd been twirling launched out of his hands like a rocket and smacked a man in the face. 

Jesse got up and rushed over. "I'm so sorry–are you okay?" His brown eyes flitted across the man's physique as a means to ensure his lack of damage. 

"Ahaha, it's my first day and already a pen has been thrown my way! Well at least it's better than my nightmare, where everyone threw beets. Don't ask me why. It is what it is."  the man replied. 

"I–um, why beets?" Jesse stuttered finally looking at the man's face. 

"Didn't I just tell you not to ask why? Oh well, I'd like to think it was because they were trying to "beet" me up." The man's eyes twinkled, and a second later he burst into a fit of laughter. "Do you get it! Beet me up!" 

"I-" Jesse stared.

"Is it your first time in here?" The stranger's eyes searched his face inquisitively. 

"I- No. No it's not. I've been in here before." Jesse finally managed.

"Wow you seem more uncomfortable than me, and it's my first time in here." The man chuckled. "I'm sorry that was rude of me, I should've introduced myself first before being so blunt. My name is Rob Jetten. But my friends call me Roberto." 

"...." 

"That was a joke...nobody calls me that–This is the part where you save me from embarrassment and introduce yourself." Rob tilted his head towards jesse. 

"Ah, yes. My name is Jesse Klaver. Nice to meet you." Jesse threw out his hand. 

"Oho, so maybe you do know procedures for social interactions, Mr. Klaver." Rob grinned, shaking Jesse's hand. 

"I am a politician after all" Jesse ducked his head trying to hide his blush. Here was a complete newbie who'd already knocked him off his feet. No wonder this man was elected. He seemed so incredibly charismatic. 

"This is true. But one can never be sure. Here's your pen." Rob extended the pen towards Jesse. Jesse quickly snatched it. 

"Right. Thank you, anyways have a good day." Jesse rushed back to his seat. Leaving Rob Jetten behind. Once he'd sat down again, he looked around the room. His eyes landing on Rob who sat not even two meters away from him.  Rob waved at him

"Mr. Klaver, you do realize I work here too, therefore we shall be seeing a lot of each other. There was no need to say goodbye like some heart stricken lover. I almost felt like I was being rejected." Rob rested his his head on his hand, smiling intensely at Jesse. 

"I would never reject you!" Jesse gushed, shaking his head vigorously. And as the words registered in his head, he froze. "I! I didn't mean it like that!" 

"Oy don't go breaking my heart now. Not after that confession." Rob suppressed a laugh. 

"But I didn't mean it like that." Jesse tried to justify. 

"Alright Mr. Klaver, whatever helps you sleep at night. But honestly, why are you so jittery? Or is this just your regular state." Rob asked

"Despite the stereotype, politicians can have social anxiety too." Jesse's brows furrowed. 

Rob threw up his hands in a motion of surrender "No arguments from me." 

"We are now calling this meeting into session."  Madam Speaker's voice rang. And Jesse's attention was latched onto the woman with short black hair, and rectangular glasses. 

As usual since there were new faces, all 150 members would go around introduce themselves and give a few words about their political stance. Realization spiked in Jesse's mind, his neck turning at breaking speed to once again gwalk at the handsome man...wait...did he just call him handsome. Shaking his head he cast that thought out of his head and looked at Rob Jetten. Who already knew who he was, and whom he already knew as well. In fact, despite it being tradition to go around and introduce the new people in the Second Chamber; everyone already knew everyone because this was politics. You couldn't not know who you were working with in this profession. You needed to know who stood by you, and who didn't. Those were the rules of survival in politics. 

As Jesse took in the straight slope of Rob's nose, and the pouting lips that had smiled earlier. He realized that man had already known him long before they'd even spoken to each other. He turned back to face the front of the room, grimacing. Or at least, Rob Jetten knew who he was based on whatever data his party had collected of him. People were like icebergs and Rob only knew the tip of Jesse's iceberg. For some unknown reason Rob not knowing Jesse's true self bothered him more, than the fake introductions he pulled earlier. 

"Ahem" A woman's voice cleared her throat. Jesse saw Ms. Khadija Arib the "Madam Speaker"  look at him pointedly. He shot upright. 

"Hallo, my name is Jesse Klaver. I am the leader of GroenLinks party. I want to leave this a place knowing I have improved the future for generations to come." Jesse answered his practiced introduction. He had been told to leave out to many details of the party's ideology for it was already known, and because giving away too much would create more enemies than needed. As soon as he finished he sat down. 

"Goedemorgen,  my name is Rob Jetten. I am the leader of Democraten 66 also known as D66. I believe in building a progressive route towards pluralism, thank you." Rob's voice rang throughout the room. It was calm, steady, commanding, and entirely open. His voice enticed you to talk to him. Jesse stared at this newbie who had already stolen his attention. 

Once the morning had passed, and introductions had been made. Madam Speaker closed the meeting for the day. Jesse saw Rob trying to catch his eye, but he decided to pretend he hadn't seen and rushed home. Once he'd gotten into his apartment, he went to his library and sat in his fort of pillows. He shouldn't have lost control as he had today, and he would keep himself from getting distracted. He promised himself to remain focused. But despite this a man by the name Rob Jetten lingered throughout his thoughts.