Chapter Text
Harvey leaned against the doorframe as he watched Mike in the mirror of their bedroom.
Their bedroom, huh. When did he start calling it that?
Mike hadn't officially moved in but his possessions had been slowly making their way over to Harvey’s condo for the last few months. Harvey was pretty sure there was now more at his than there was back at Mike’s, and he couldn't remember the last time Mike spent the night anywhere other than in his bed.
He was proud of Mike, of course he was, but that didn’t stop the small amount of dread he could feel from creeping its way up his back and into his head. They’d been working together for so long, not having Mike by his side was going to take some getting used to.
He felt like one of those cartoons with an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other. One little voice telling him that he should be angry that Mike was being stolen from under him, and another, much bigger, much louder voice telling him that it was the right decision.
For the past ten months they’d been carrying two secrets, at least now it was back down to one. And the remaining one; where they get to share a life together. Well, that was far more exciting than committing fraud had ever been.
They would make it work, he had to believe it. They’d been through so much already and he’d be damned if something as small as Mike getting a new job was going to drive them apart.
“What’re you staring at?” Mike turned and smirked at him.
“Nothing,” Harvey said as he walked up behind him and wrapped his hands round Mike’s waist. “I’m just wondering why it took you getting a new job to finally put on a vest.”
He lent down to kiss Mike's neck, just above his collar.
“Are you complaining?” Mike turned in his arms so they were facing each other and he wrapped his arms around the back of Harvey’s head.
“Never,” Harvey leant in and kissed his lips. “And as much as I would like to keep you here so that I can take it off you again, you better get going. I don’t want you to go upsetting your new boss by being late on your first day.”
“Don’t worry,” Mike said teasingly. “He’s not as big of a hard ass as my last boss.”
“Is that so?” Harvey raised a seductive eyebrow.
“Yes.” Mike nodded as he ran his hands down the front of Harvey’s shirt. “Although I have it on good authority that my old boss is secretly not as hard as he makes out to be.”
“Do you now?” Harvey shifted his hands to hold Mike's hips. “And whose authority would that be?”
“Well, now that would be telling." Mike shook his head. "But I will say that he has VIP access to his life,” Mike leaned in to whisper in Harvey's ear and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. “His condo…” Mike’s hand wrapped around Harvey’s back. “...his bedroom…” His fingers brushed against the waistband of his pants. “...sometimes even his toothbrush.”
Moment ruined.
Harvey pulled away, disgusted. “You did not.”
Mike shrugged. “Desperate times and all that.”
“Mike?”
“I plead the fifth.” Mike raised his hands in surrender.
Harvey didn’t know whether to be amused or appalled. He was strongly leaning towards appalled.
“Well, on that note you should head down. Ray will be waiting.” Harvey glanced at his watch. “I need to go and disinfect my mouth with bleach.”
“Oh don’t be so dramatic Harvey, I was only joking.” Mike said as he shimmied past him into the living room.
“I hate you.” Harvey mumbled.
“No you don’t, you love me!” came Mike’s reply, muffled by the door now between them.
Jesus, when did he acquire super hearing?
He was right though, Harvey did love him. Even if he didn't always know why.
It took Mike a few minutes to gather together his belongings. It didn’t help that he still refused to put his keys in the key bowl, instead opting to abandon them on literally any other surface in the condo. Harvey had long given up on that particular battle.
Harvey handed Mike the final missing item - his phone - before he straightened Mike’s tie and brushed his hands over his shoulders, smoothing down his jacket. “Knock em dead kid.”
Mike beamed at him, leant in for one last quick kiss and headed out the door…only five minutes later than planned.
Harvey shut the door behind him and leant forwards against the wood. He sighed, time to get himself ready to go. Their new routine was going to take a bit of getting used to.
---
Harvey’s day went surprisingly quickly. It was amazing how much more he had to do without having Mike around to do his grunt work. He’d spent the morning cooped up in his office doing paperwork he probably could have palmed off to another associate because he knew whatever they did, it wouldn’t have been as good as Mike could have done it. It also meant the chances of him accidentally running into Jessica were lower, a tactical move to avoid any questions about Mike’s replacement for at least a little while longer.
It wasn’t that he was in denial about Mike’s departure, he just didn’t have the energy to teach some other hapless fool how to do a job they’d never be as good as Mike at doing. Or at least that’s what he planned to tell her once she finally came looking for him.
He was beginning to lose the will to live whilst proofing his notes for the next day's meeting when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He rested his pen down on the pad in front of him and reached into his jacket to retrieve it. The message on the screen was some generic marketing text, probably telling him he could get fifty percent off pizza if he ordered in the next minute and a half. He didn't bother reading it, just dumped his phone down on the desk once he realised it wasn’t Mike.
He’d sent him a text at lunch, nothing elaborate, just a quick message to check and see how he was getting on on his first day. But that was almost three hours ago and he’d still not had a reply.
“You know you could just call him?”
Harvey looked up to see Donna leaning against the glass door, a mischievous expression on her face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stuffed the phone back into his pocket, and went back to his notes.
Donna, never one to give up on a challenge, waltzed up to his desk and perched herself on the corner. “Please Harvey, you’ve been looking at your phone every five minutes for the past three hours. Just admit it, you’re worried about him.”
“Donna?”
“Yes Harvey.” She gave him her best fake smile.
“Do you actually need something? Or are you just here to comment on my texting habits?”
She raised a hand to her chest dramatically. “Harvey, you wound me. I am purely a concerned secretary wanting to make sure her boss isn’t spending too much time pining over his boyfriend.”
Harvey shot her a disapproving look. “I’m not pining, I’m just taking an active interest in his new job.”
"Yes yes, it’s all very very sweet, you missing him, him not missing you.” She sighed dramatically. “But what do I know?”
With that she went back to her own desk looking a little too happy. Harvey glared at the back of her head. He’d never pined, she was completely delusional.
---
It was almost seven before Harvey’s phone finally chimed with multiple messages from Mike in quick succession.
-Sorry, insane day here!
-All good.
-I’ll tell you about it at home
-Should be back around 8
-Love you
Harvey laughed, Mike had never been one for putting all the relevant information on one message - something that Harvey would never get tired of teasing him for.
He typed out a quick reply and then gathered his things together ready to head out, deciding he’d drop by Mike’s favourite pizza place on the way home.
---
He’d just finished plating up their food when he heard the familiar sound of the key turning in the lock. He checked his watch, 7:56pm, Mike was ahead of schedule.
“Hey,” Mike called from down the hall.
There was a thud followed by the click of the hallway closet door closing and a couple of seconds later Mike emerged in the kitchen.
“Hey to you too,” Harvey replied. “You hungry?”
“God yes,” Mike groaned dramatically as he walked over to Harvey and wrapped his arms around him.
His hands were freezing, Harvey could feel it even though his shirt and when Mike’s lips touched his cheek they were cold too.
“Did you walk?” He asked in surprise.
“Yeah, so?” Mike shrugged, grinning like an idiot.
“Mike, it's freezing!”
“I know, I know.” Mike waved him off as he took the plate of food Harvey held out for him. “But I had all this pent up energy. New job, new office, new coworkers. I just felt like walking, taking in the sounds of the city, you know?”
No. Harvey did not know.
“Sure,” he nodded slowly.
“Come on Harvey.” Mike continued, buzzing with excitement. “You know what I mean, being out in the city, the buildings, the people, all that passion, it’s contagious.”
Harvey raised an eyebrow sceptically. He’d lived in New York for most of his adult life and could probably count the number of times he’d felt like that on the fingers of one hand, and most of them had come in his first month in the city.
They sat down and Mike continued blabbering between mouthfuls of pizza. He told Harvey all about his day, about his new shiny office with its floor to ceiling windows and leather couch. He happily chatted away about all of the new people he’d be working with, his new secretary - Amy - who is ‘smarter than she claims to be and definitely should pursue a career outside of secretarial work’.
He talked about how awesome he thought it was going to be working for Sidwell, or Jonathan, as Mike was now calling him. Apparently he’d shown him the ropes, ‘really supportive’ was the phrase Mike used.
Harvey listened, nodding and humming the occasional words of encouragement in all of the right places, but he’d be lying if he said it didn’t sting a little. Had Mike felt like that after his first day at Pearson Hardman? Had he gone home to his grandmother and talked so passionately about working for Harvey? Was he the worst boyfriend ever for worrying about that instead of just being happy for Mike?
“Harvey?”
“Hmm?” Harvey’s head snapped up and he realised he’d been staring absently at the now cold slice of pizza on his plate.
Mike reached out his hand and placed it on Harvey’s own.
“I just asked how your day was,” he said a little sheepishly. “Sorry, I know I’ve been doing most of the talking.”
Once Harvey’s brain had finally caught up with what Mike had said he smiled and shook himself off, needing to dispel the negativity. He wouldn't let his own selfish attitude get in the way of Mike’s enthusiasm.
“No, I’m sorry.” He ran his hands over his face in another attempt to school his expression. “It was your first day, you’re allowed to talk about it. I guess I’m just a bit tired.” He lied.
Mike smiled at him softly, a smile Harvey didn’t deserve. “Let’s head to bed then.”
Harvey nodded in agreement.
They tidied up the plates together and Harvey grabbed some water for them both before following Mike through to bed. Mike was already tucked under the covers by the time Harvey came through the door and he fell asleep within minutes. The energy he’d had earlier seemingly gone as soon as he laid his head down on Harvey’s chest.
Harvey lay awake. His mind was still racing. Had they made the right choice? He tried to remind himself that it had only been one day. He’d get used to not having Mike around, wouldn’t he?
He couldn’t resent Mike, he’d encouraged him to go in the end. They were safer than they had been before, the jeopardy hadn’t gone completely but it was as close as they were going to get.
He looked down at Mike, fast asleep with his lips parted and hair askew. He looked more content and more at ease than Havey had seen in a long time. He planted a kiss into Mike’s hair and closed his eyes.
He’d find a way to be ok with it, he had to, for Mike.
---
It did begin to get easier.
Mid February rolled around meaning they hit the one month mark of their new routine, and Harvey got his new associate.
“Morning,” Rachel greeted him happily at the elevators one Tuesday.
“Morning Rachel,” he replied more stoically. “Do you have the files ready?”
“Yes.” She presented him with a manilla folder. “Everything is in there, and I double checked for anything they could use to trick us this morning. Changes are on page two, it all seems to be above board."
Harvey took the file from her and gave it a quick once over. “Good work, thanks Rachel.”
He began to walk down the hall towards his office, assuming their conversation was done. But Rachel hurried after him, her heels clicking softly on the carpeted floor.
“Have you heard from Mike?” she asked once she’d caught up with him. “I was just wondering how he’s getting on at his new job.”
Harvey had just enough time to school his expression before turning to answer her.
“Not much.” He shrugged. “He sent me a message at the end of his first week, I think he’s enjoying it.”
Keeping their relationship a secret from people at the firm had been a struggle from day one. Donna found out almost immediately, apparently she could tell by the way Harvey walked? He still didn’t know what that meant. But it had been eleven months and still so far she was the only one that knew.
“Good.” Rachel smiled at him. “That’s good.”
“You should give him a call,” Harvey said without really thinking. “I think he’d like to hear from you.”
Rachel’s brow furrowed. For all she knew, Harvey and Mike were no longer close, why should he have opinions on Mike’s social life? Whatever she was thinking, she didn’t voice it out loud. Her expression softened slightly and she nodded before turning to walk away.
“I’ll see you at twelve,” Harvey shouted after her. “Don’t be late.”
“Am I ever?” she called back over her shoulder.
True, Harvey thought. Timekeeping really was the only thing she did better than Mike.
It had been a little odd at first, working with Rachel Zane. It’s not often you work so closely with your partner's sort-of-ex-girlfriend. Mike would claim they were never officially together, stating that 'a couple of dates really didn't count as a relationship'. But Harvey, who had had to hear about their will-they-wont-they routine day in day out for almost six months, begged to differ.
Still, he was comfortable enough in their relationship to know she posed no threat. Mike and Rachel had ended things amicably more than two years ago and had both long since moved on.
Rachel was a competent enough associate, her tenure at Pearson Specter had stood her in good stead. Working as a paralegal for more than half a decade meant she had experience many fresh faces Harvard graduates could only dream of. She turned up to work on time, did everything Harvey asked to a reasonable degree and he even found himself starting to enjoy her company.
The biggest issue really, was simply, that she wasn’t Mike.
---
When Harvey arrived home later that evening, Mike was already there waiting for him with two steaming bowls of freshly cooked pasta.
“You cooked?” Harvey asked as he leant over to give him a kiss.
“Nice to see you too.” Mike looked at him, pretending to be offended.
“Oh my apologies. Good evening Mike, how was your day?” Harvey put on a fake posh accent causing Mike to scowl.
“It was very good actually,” Mike replied. “I finished up early with a client this afternoon so I thought I’d come home and make a Ross family special.”
He pointed towards the bowls, picked them up and then carried them over to the dining table whilst Harvey grabbed them some beers and went to join him.
They tucked into their meal and Harvey had to admit, it really was very good. Mike didn’t often cook, it was rare that either of them had the time, but when he did he always managed to surprise Harvey with his culinary repertoire.
“Rachel called me today,” Mike said as he took a sip of his drink.
“Did she now?” Harvey mocked his surprise.
Mike frowned. “You knew?”
“Not exactly," Harvey shrugged. “She was asking about you, I may have suggested you were probably feeling all sad and lonely now that you’re working at the other side of the city.”
“You didn’t?” Mike looked alarmed, making Harvey smirk.
“No.” He replied plainly. It really was too easy to wind Mike up. “I simply said I thought you’d like to hear from a friend. Was I wrong?”
Mike looked more relieved as he laughed.
“No I guess not.” He took another swig of beer, shaking his head fondly. “But there’s no need to look so smug about it.” He pointed an accusatory finger in Harvey's direction.
Harvey laughed and went back to his food. Him? Smug? Never.
They finished their dinner quickly and retreated to the couch. Mike was nestled into Harvey’s side as a replay of Sunday’s game played on the TV. Most of their evenings now ended like that. Both exhausted but wanting to make the most of the time they could still share.
“How’s Rachel getting on anyway?” Mike asked as he peered up at Harvey. “She said she’s enjoying it, but I know what working for you is like, I need to know when to send in the rescue party.”
Harvey jabbed him in the ribs causing Mike to yelp.
“She’s doing well actually, much better than you,” he teased.
Mike didn’t look amused.
“I’m kidding,” Harvey laughed. “She’s only a little bit better.”
Mike returned the rib-jab. But soon settled back down under Harvey’s arm and Harvey kissed the top of his head.
“No one is better than you Mike, you know that,” he whispered into Mike’s hair. Although it really didn’t have to be said.
---
They fell into a comfortable rhythm after that. Mike went to one glass walled office every day and Harvey to another. They both darted about the city, charming clients and closing deals, occasionally stopping to think about what the other one was doing.
Harvey got used to not having Mike around. He saw him every evening and most mornings. They learned to make the most of what little free time they both had. For the first time in Harvey’s life, his work and home bubbles were separate and he began to find himself not only tolerating it, but actually embracing their new normal.
Until the day that Mike came bounding into his office, practically vibrating with joyful anticipation, talking big ideas and saving companies, and about how he was ‘going after a whale’. That’s when Harvey knew their bubble was about to burst.