Chapter Text
Kenny couldn't believe he was going to be going to the White House. The White House! He had traveled to many places in America as Joey’s interpreter (and her friend). But the White House? This was exciting. But he would have to remember to not accidentally sound too excited when talking to the Deputy Chief of Staff. After all, he knew how much Joey had talked angrily about the lack of funding from the DNC.
He was woken up when he heard the flight attendant asking if he or Joey would like anything to drink. He reached over to the window seat and tapped on Joey’s shoulder.
“Do you want something to drink?” he signed after she woke up.
“Is there Diet Coke?” Joey asked.
“Is there Diet Coke? He asked the flight attendant.
“Yes, there is. As I said, there are a variety of pops and alcoholic drinks, there is also water. “ She said in that New England accent that he would probably be hearing a lot the next day or so.
“Diet Coke and Sprite. Thanks.”
She left and returned with a Diet Coke and a Sprite and two cups of ice.
He passed the Coke and cup to Joey.
“Ice? Who has ice with their drink in the middle of winter? “ Joey asked, rolling her eyes.
Kenny smiled. “Ever been to the Midwest? Or the South?” He said teasingly.
“We’re on a plane to D.C. A city full of fucking idiotic democrats.”
“We are both democrats.” he reminded her with a smile.
“Fucking idiotic republicans too.”
Kenny grinned.
“Can you please let me get another hour of sleep before we land?” Joey asked.
Kenny nodded. Joey fell back asleep but he couldn't fall back asleep. He just kept thinking about D.C. ‘Whatever you say, remember not to tell anyone there that you didn't vote for President Bartlet. That won't help our case’ he thought to himself.
Before he got off the plane, he grabbed his scarf from his bag. Wait... D.C.- lots of conservatives, really was wearing a gay pride scarf the smartest idea?
“Kenny, are you okay?”
“Yeah”
It was winter, who cared what scarf he wore? Rainbows are good everywhere. It wasn’t L.A. or Des Moines but he wouldn’t be here for long.
He and Joey got up and went into the big crowd of people leaving the plane.
“Hello, do you know where Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman’s office is? We're here for the 11:00 meeting” he asked a random person once they got to the West Wing.
“Oh, you must be Joey Lucas. I'm Cathy, I work for Sam, not Josh. But Josh’s office is right down the hall and to the right.” she said, pointing that way.
As soon as they stepped into the office, Joey started signing fast.
“Are you the unmitigated jackass who has the DNC choking up funding for the O’Dwyer campaign in the California 46th?” He said repeating after Joey.
A guy with curly hair who looked as if he hadn’t slept in at least a week, lifted his head off the desk. Joshua (Josh?) blinked his eyes, looked back and forth at Joey and Kenny several times.
“What in God’s name is happening right now?”
Kenny tried not to laugh. Maybe Joey was right about there being idiots in D.C. Or at least people who never look at their calendars.
He looked over at Joey. “I'm Joey Lucas.” He repeated.
“You’re Joey Lucas?” Josh asked confused.
“He doesn't understand.”
“You idiot, I'm Joey Lucas!”
“Oh, I'm Josh Lyman. “
Kenny rolled his eyes and signed that to Joey.
“I know who you are.”
Of course, they knew who he was. He was the deputy chief of staff with who they had a scheduled meeting. And he had really curly hair.
“Are you drunk?” Joey asked.
Kenny thought that the White House would have canceled the meeting if Josh had been drunk.
Kenny kept working. Signing to Joey and telling Josh what she was saying. Just like normal. Except not. He just kept noticing how cute and sarcastic Josh was and good at his job.
He was cuter than Issac. His ex from UCLA, Issac had played drums and had hated politics.
“You okay, buddy?” Josh asked, a little less sarcastic.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just thinking.”
He looked over at Joey, who was signing “Wake up, Kenny!”
“I wasn't sleeping, I can't sleep standing up!” he signed back and sighed. “Sorry about that. Can you repeat that?”
“It was really nice meeting you,” Kenny said, knowing he shouldn't do that, say that. It would sound like he was putting words in Joey’s mouth. But it had been surprisingly nice meeting him. He hoped he would see him again.
Josh turned around and raised his eyebrows. “It was?”
“No, I said that, not Joey. “Kenny quickly corrected himself.
“You didn't have a nice time meeting me?”
Kenny signed that to Joey.
“F----, no.” but Joey was smiling. Kenny decided not to translate that.
“What happened back there?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking. Got distracted.”
“That's rarely- no never happened before.”
“I'll be fine. Don't worry.”
“Wait. Do you like that idiot the deputy chief of staff?”