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Jed's been on edge all night, so Leo takes the first opportunity to escape the senior staff and figure out what's up. Leo finds him staring out the window of the plane, still awake, and he settles into the seat across from him. Jed only glances briefly at Leo before looking back out the window at the night sky. They sit together in silence for a moment, and Leo pushes his foot forward to rest against Jed’s, knocking their shoes together, a silent request for Jed to unload his troubles.
“I told Ted Marcus there is nothing the White House can do about gay rights,” Jed tells him, still staring out at the blackness of the night. “I told him if we tried it would only get worse.”
Leo allows the words to hit, allows the meaning to settle deep into his bones, a now-familiar ache, and he nods in understanding.
“He asked about Cameron’s bill?”
Jed nods once, eyes downcast.
“He wanted me to say publicly that I would veto Cameron’s bill if it made it to my desk, and anything like it.”
“It won’t make it to your desk,” Leo tells him.
“I told him the worst thing I could do for gay rights right now is talk about this bill. I told him as a politician I don’t get the luxury of voicing my opinion about every matter that’s introduced to Congress.”
“You told him the truth,” Leo says. They both know it’s true.
Jed shoots him a truly unimpressed glare. Leo counts it as a success, given that he was able to break Jed's empty stare.
“I’m a queer man. I’m the president of the United States. And I can’t do anything about gay rights in the United States?”
Leo has grown used to seeing Jed like this and he knows to expect it when Jed asks, “Leo, what the hell are we doing here?”
“We are doing everything we can.”
He enunciates the words carefully, hoping Jed will internalize them. It’s not the first time he’s had to say these same words to Jed, and he’s sure Jed’s not going to believe them any more than he has the last hundred times, but he has to try. Jed considers him and Leo doesn’t allow his gaze to waver.
“You really believe that?” Jed asks.
Most of the time he does. He doesn’t have to like it for it to be true.
“What are you proposing, Mr. President, that you tell your constituents you’ve been in a relationship with a man, your employee, behind your wife’s back for a decade? That you share your identity with the world and take your chances on whether that garners support or inspires an attempt to oust you?”
Jed scoffs.
“It’s nothing so tawdry. You and I both know Abbey is perfectly happy with this arrangement.”
“And you think people will believe that?”
“It’s the truth.”
“It doesn’t matter! Nobody will see the truth, and you know that. They’ll see this, us, as something shameful and wrong and they will strip you of your office and what legacy do you think you’ll have then? What ability do you think you’ll have to run the country while everyone else is preoccupied thinking about what goes on behind your closed doors?”
Jed’s expression is stormy as he glares at Leo, but Leo holds his gaze. He’s right about this, no matter how much cause they have to resent it.
“It does matter,” Jed says.
Leo sighs.
“Of course it matters, Mr. President.”
At Jed’s look, Leo reconsiders.
“Jed,” he concedes. “Of course it matters, Jed. Who we are matters. But it won’t matter to everyone. It won’t matter to the general public, not the way we want it to. You know that. I know you know that.”
His words are a plea, and he can see them break through Jed’s stubbornness. Falling back in his seat, Jed sighs.
“I hold the highest office in this country and there’s nothing I can do.”
Leo purses his lips. This is the part of the job Jed has always struggled with most.
“That’s the way it is sometimes, sir.”
Jed tilts his head down just enough to give Leo a raised eyebrow and Leo grins.
“We should talk to Abbey about it when we get back. I think some time with the two of us will make you feel a bit better. But tonight you should sleep.”
Jed nods, taking in a deep breath as if preparing himself for something.
“Stay with me?” he asks, “We can say we fell asleep reviewing Josh’s secret plan to fight inflation.”
Leo laughs.
“I think we may have finally put that to bed, actually.”
He never can resist that hopeful look on Jed’s face. He gets out of his seat to settle into the one next to him and allows the back of his hand to rest against the back of Jed’s, the ring he still wears on his left hand cool against Jed’s skin. Jed looks up at him with gratitude and affection, and Leo knows they can’t do anything more than this here, not with the staff in the next room over, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t tempted.
“Thank you, Leo,” Jed whispers. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
Leo sees the truth of it in Jed’s eyes and he nods.
“You’ll never have to.”
Jed rests his head on Leo’s shoulder and finally sleeps.