Chapter Text
“I miss working with you.”
Mike has a spoonful of fruit loops about two centimeters from his mouth- his eyes snap up to meet Harvey’s. He’s shocked, sure Harvey had been on the emotional side for the past few days- but always to his benefit, he never really offered up his own feelings.
“I miss working with you too.”
He’s not lying, he misses working with Harvey, kicking ass with Harvey, he doesn’t miss the looming fear of being caught hanging over his head though.
“Come work with me- as a consultant or something, we’ll work something out. Just come back- “home. To me. “- to the firm”
“I can’t Harvey, I just can’t go back there I mean- it’s part of the past.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“Because- I just- I can’t do that.” To you. I can’t see Rachel everyday. I can’t see the life I could’ve had. I can’t make you less respectable. Tears are already welling up in Mike’s eyes. He loathes how easily he cries nowadays.
Harvey softens instantly. If you would’ve told Harvey Specter a few years ago that the site of a grown man crying would break his heart- he would’ve punched you in the face and laughed. Now he crumbles.
“Hey, hey it’s okay- it was just a suggestion. I can’t force you to come back Mike- and I wouldn’t, if you don’t want to come back then don’t come back. I promise I’ll help you find something- but you got to promise to stop by the office soon, Donna is itching to see you, she’ll kill me if I don’t bring you around.” He tries to end on a light note, he offers Mike a sheepish smile.
He smiles back.
“Why doesn’t she just come over?”
“She insists it has to be on your own terms- she didn’t want to come over if you weren’t in the mood.”
“Tell her I appreciate that.”
“Tell her yourself.”
“How about today? We’re you going in?”
“It was a toss up but since you’re willing to actually go outside, I’m not going to let that opportunity pass so yeah, you sure you’re ready?”
Mike doesn’t want to tell Harvey that he’s unsure, he’s a little scared, going to the firm raises the chance of running into Rachel, he doesn’t want to pass by his old office, he doesn’t want him to know how unsure he is. So he takes a spoonful of soggy fruit loops into his mouth.
“I’m sure.”
She’s squeezing the breath out of him- but it’s okay. He’s sure that his face is covered in her lipstick prints- but then again, she’s Donna so maybe not. He feels oddly grounded in her arms- despite the numbing of his abdomen.
“Donna don’t break him.”
“Shut up, I missed him.”
“I missed you too Donna.”
“I’m offended- you barely returned my hug when I saw you.”
“You actually hugged him?”
“He hugs me a lot- I think he cares about me.”
Mike’s missed this, it calms him to know their dynamic hasn’t changed. Donna finally lets go of him and takes some time to really look at his face.
“If you write down the names of everyone who treated you poorly in prison- I’ll have them taken care of.” She whispered before she kissed his cheek and set off to complete whatever task she needed to do- promising him lunch.
“That woman still terrifies me, in the best way possible.”
“Don’t let her hear you say that; it magnifies her powers.” Mike laughs, it’s real this time.
Lunch time rolls around and Mike is actually having a pretty good time. He’s sitting on the couch, with Donna to his right, Harvey in his chair to the left. They’re laughing about something- Mike doesn’t know what it is but he knows his laugh is genuine.
“So I get you guys, but why did Benjamin stay?”
“He actually liked you.”
He smiles at that, he actually liked Benjamin too.
When they walked through the doors of the apartment hours later, bags of Thai in hand, they’re both smiling. It’s the best either of them have felt in a really long time. When they’re dishing out food in the kitchen Mike bumps Harvey’s shoulder with his own.
“I can’t work there anymore, but I don’t mind spending time there with you, or Donna. Today was good.”
“It was good, any thoughts as to what you want to do?”
“I was considering maybe doing back to school.” He mumbled the last bit but Harvey heard him.
“That’s a great idea.”
“Few problems though.”
“Such as?”
“I can’t really put ‘Fake Lawyer’ on my resume.”
“We’ll figure something out- you’ll have a ton of recommendations.”
Mike smiles, because Harvey always has an answer, because Harvey is always there for him. He gives Harvey the last dumpling as thanks, even pairs it with a sincere smile.
He hopes Harvey gets the message.
Harvey does.