undergrounds | hazy shade of winter

Cooper had gotten back later than he had expected to. He'd been out talking with small groups of vampires all over the city. He's never been one for big speeches, so he relies more on his natural charm and frank nature to win people over. He doesn't make empty promises or tell everyone that things will change immediately if he's elected. But he does try to be honest, saying he'll do his best to do the right thing for vampires and humans alike.

When Nancy wants to talk, pulling out the god whiskey, he feels like something bad is coming. There's a tight feeling in his chest as his fingers curl around the glass. She's in trouble somehow is all he can think of. He has to fix this. What she's trying to tell him doesn't fully register. "I don't understand, sweet-pea. What's goin' on?"

She's so proud of him, the way he's been campaigning. She wants to be out there with him, but she can't, and so she's held back, working behind the scenes. She'd copied how many fliers, now?

Besides, he had her vote. Out of all three candidates, he had her vote.

"I want you to win, Cooper. And that means-" she finishes her glass and starts pouring more. "No one's going to vote for someone who's girlfriend they've drank from. I know we try to separate them but- but others don't. And I can't do that to you. I'm not selfish enough and- and I love you so much, Cooper." Tears spring to her eyes. "But for your sake, I can't be with you."

Cooper has always had ambitions within the nest. Being a possible candidate has been a huge step for him. It's given him a chance to stretch his political skills as he hobnobs with vampires of all ages and skills.

He finally begins to understand what Nancy is saying. A cold lump forms in the pit of his stomach. "What? Nancy, are you--" He swallows, eyes sad as he reaches out to take her hand. "--are you tryin' t'break up with me?"

He knew what her job meant. He'd known that from day one. While it had gotten them in trouble before, he thought they were past that point. To think that her profession could affect the outcome of an election where his opponents operated a strip club and were a Borgia was something that hasn't even crossed his mind.

He actually says it, the words she can't manage. Yes, she's trying to break up with him.

Her cheeks burn and she looks down, her throat tight as she manages a small nod.

"I- I love you. So much. But you can't win if I'm here. And- and I know what it means to you. I have to, Cooper. I'm so so sorry."

She can't bring herself to take her hand away, instead clinging to him like a lifeline. "You'll thank me when you're on the Night Council." He had to win, now. Otherwise, all of this would have been for nothing.

"No." His voice goes hard and his blue eyes go flinty. Rather than getting sad, he's getting upset. It's rather like the feeling he had when he saw her with a client and nearly put him through the wall. It's a irrational sort of possessiveness, the kind that doesn't make any sense, but that engulfs him entirely.

"Nancy, you walkin' the streets isn't gonna affect this much one way or the other. Jean-Claude openly runs Guilty Pleasures and Cesare....well, Cesars is a Borgia. 'Nuff said right there. So don't do this t'me. Please." His voice softens just a little. "It's gonna be a bitter victory without you by my side."

Nancy recognizes the change in his voice, in his eyes, and she stills, her back rigid. Like if she moved too suddenly, it would all be over. If she had enough cause to actually examine her actions, it was clear where they were rooted.

"And if you win? What then- you can't be on the Night Council and date a fucking whore, Cooper." She hated when others called her a whore, but when she said it- when she said it, it was different. It was right. "You're the best one for the job, but you won't win if you're with me."

She took a deep breath, still holding on to his hand.

"I don't want to do this. I love you."

Hearing her call herself a whore just stabs a shard of glass right into his heart. He's heard others call her that before. Most of the time, he usually wants to beat the crap out of them. But now here she is using it herself. He wants to shake her by the shoulders until she understands where he's coming from.

"Dammit, don't do this!" He slams his fist down on the table hard enough to form a small, fist-shaped dent. That gets the worst of his anger out. It leaves a trail of worry and concern in his mind. How could he make her see that their association wouldn't cost them the election?

"I love you too. Look, we'll find another way around this. I know you're thinking this is the best solution, but it's not!" He ran his thumb over her knuckles. ""Please, sweet-pea. The power I get won't be worth much without you by my side."

The sudden movement causes her to give a little gasp, jumping back, away from his fist. Her green eyes fly open wide and she recoils, everything bright and loud in that moment.

No, this was Cooper. He wouldn't hurt her, he wasn't like that. But it was all too similar to the way he'd been after he'd walked in on her and a client. It was all too similar to how Bill so often was. And now every time she looked at the table, at the dent, she'd remember it.

But just like that, it's over, and her hand is back in his. She unfurls herself, pressing her lips together. "I don't know what to do, Cooper. I don't want to be the reason you don't win. You're clearly a better candidate than Cesare, and Jean-Claude has so much on his plate already, it's only right. But the world isn't like that, and just think how they'll see you! I can't do that to you. I can't."

Of course, the solution was simple. But she was blind to it.

Cooper sighs, running a hand through his fair-colored hair. She's so determined to do this for his own good. All he's wanted these past six months or so is more power and Nancy by his side. One without the other just isn't good enough anymore. She looks so fragile and vulnerable right now, a far cry from the tough girl who walked the streets every night and occasionally picked pockets.

He blinks hard, feeling a lump press up into his throat. "Don't I get say in this too? I don't want to break up with you. I'm gonna win that seat on the Night Council one way or another. If they try t'make a smear campaign out of our relationship, well, I've got plenty of ammunition to throw right back at 'em."

"Do you promise?" She asks him, blinking her thick lashes at him. Mascara clung to her cheeks where her eyelashes had dusted them. "I don't want to be the reason you lose. I want to be at your side when you win, I do." She squeezes his hand.

And if he won, what then?

"I promise." And unlike other promises he had made, like trying to keep her safe all the time, this was one that he knew he could keep. He leans over and kisses her lightly on the forehead. My goodness, but she looks like a hot mess. This conversation hadn't been easy on either of them.

"I'm gonna win, Nance. Don't you worry about that." He's been doing his best to make sure every vampire that he knew was going to vote for himself rather than the competition. He had to win.

Her eyes follow Cooper as he leans in and kisses her softly.

"You better," she tells him, trying to smile through the remnants of her tears. "And when you win-" she swallowed thickly, "when you win, I'm going to be the girlfriend you deserve." One he could appear with in public.

Which meant, she was going to find herself a new job.

hazy shade of winter - january open post

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