#david budd

he followed after her in the home office, lips drawn into a thin line as they headed to another conference meeting. he noticed julia stiffen as a younger woman entered the corridor, moving quick, her shoulders square, and her steady expression slipping into an overly-polite smile as she came to face the home secretary.

"julia," you said, offering her the best smile you could, cheery still. "i didn't know you'd be coming in today. how nice to see you."

her smile thinned as she looked you over, chin raising slightly as she stepped past you. "yes, i didn't know you would be here either. i wouldn't have come."

david watched you both, trying to not react to the obvious hostility between you and his boss.

you smiled thinly, huffing out a laugh as you gave her a casual nod. “always to the point, aren’t you miss montague?” you glanced behind her and spotted david, immediately struck by how striking his blue eyes were. after a second of contact, you looked back at julia. “i watched your interview the other day. very inspiring. you want everyone to, how did you say it, ‘just get over’ the war in afghanistan?”

david’s eyes snapped to you. that particular sentence had struck a chord with him too when his boss had said it, and he was glad to see someone else agreed.

julia tensed. "well, of course i do. the war is over, it is time for the country to move on."

you dropped your smile completely, patting her on the arm as you passed her by. "i'm glad you think so."

"what does that mean?"

"nothing," you hummed. "you're right. let's move on."

you looked past her and met david's eyes again, and you risked a smile. it was a pretty smile, david thought to himself, and he found himself catching on your next words.

"i haven't met you. are you new to julia's crew?"

"yes, ma'am," he answered quickly, nodding shortly. he matched your small smile. "sergeant david budd."

your smile grew more excited. "didn't you stop the october 1st bombing?"

he glanced away from you for a moment, unused to the attention for actions he deemed natural. "yes, ma'am."

"good job," you said with a nod. "i heard you talked her down yourself when the officers were ready to shoot. that's really impressive."

he nodded. "thank you, ma'am."

you tilted your head at him, considering him for a few moments before you held out a hand. "it's good to meet you, sergeant budd. i'm y/n l/n."

his eyes widened as he shook your hand firmly. "secretary of state for defence l/n?"

"that's me," you laughed with a nod. you dropped his hand after another few moments, eying it briefly. his skin was rough, hand calloused and strong. then you met his eyes. "did you serve, sergeant budd?"

he was caught off guard. "yes, ma'am. two tours in helmand."

"helmand?" you echoed with raised brows. "damn, sergeant. i heard those were hell."

"they were," he nodded. "lost a lot of good men over there."

"i'm sorry," you said, and the knit of your brows and downturn of your lips told him that you really were. "i understand that feeling. i lost a lot of good mates in the war too."

his brows raised. "you were in afghanistan."

"two tours," you answered, a proud sort of smile on your lips as you gave him a nod. "got back and decided we needed our own kind in office. for defence at least."

"i think that's brilliant," he agreed, smiling widely at you.

it wasn't common to meet fellow military in politics, at least not politician-wise. there were plenty of vets in the police force, but for those actually in office? practically none had military experience.

he was extremely glad to meet you.

"the policies you've been pushing for," he said, trying to keep conversation going. "they're... brilliant. just from what i've read of your interviews, i'd wager you and i agree on near everything."

"i find a lot of vets feel that way," you said with a small smile. "but, thank you. i'm doing my best."

"you're doing fantastic," he told you, and your smile widened.

julia cleared her throat, frowning as she looked between you both. "was there anything else you needed, l/n?"

you smiled as you turned back to her, ironic though it was. "nothing from you, ma'am. are you coming to the luncheon tomorrow?"

"yes," she sighed.

"perhaps we could drive together," you suggested, glancing between david and julia with a half-smile.

she frowned, eying you and her security officer. "i'd rather we didn't."

"why make security work harder than needs be? we'll both be at the home office in the morning, and we're going to the same luncheon," you said, smiling still as you glanced back at david. you patted her on the arm again, which earned a deep frown from her, and began to cross the hall once more to wherever you'd initially been headed. "see you tomorrow, miss montague."

david watched you go, and the corner of his mouth quirked as you stopped and turned, a curious look in your eyes as you met his.

"i hope this isn't entirely inappropriate," you said, ignoring the piercing gaze of julia as you focused your attention on her bodyguard as you took a few steps closer. "but, could we exchange numbers?"

you offered no further explanation as to why you wanted his number, which simultaneously was shocking and seemed normal for your confidence, and david couldn't help but smile a bit, hand reaching to his pocket.

"he's married," julia cut in sharply, and you immediately faltered.

"oh, i'm terribly sorry," you said, eyes flicking to his left hand that was now pulling his phone out. "i didn't notice a ring."

"i'm not wearing one," he answered. "i'm separated."

your gaze found julia, the woman knitting her brows and trying to come up with how she didn't know that. and then you met david's bright blue eyes again and smiled as he held out his phone. "oh. i'm sorry?"

"in this case, i'm not," he told you quietly, accepting your phone as you took his. "it's working for me right now."

you chuckled as you typed your name and number into his contacts, saving it and texting yourself before handing it back to him. your eyes were shining as they met his, a little excited as you took your phone back. "it's working for me too."

julia watched with a roll of her eyes. "budd."

david stepped back, offering you one last smile before slipping his phone back into his pocket. "i'll, uh, i'll text you."

"please do," you hummed, smiling brightly before turning around and heading back towards the front lobby of the home office.

julia sighed as he turned back to her. "she's ridiculous."

he didn't grace her with an answer, instead following silently as she made her way back to her office for the next meeting.

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