Mike took one last gulp of his Red Bull before closing the purple file in a victorious manner. He couldn't wait to show Harvey what he'd found - a loophole he uncovered in an otherwise messy yet expertly covered up contract was no match for his brain. And for a publishing company, the several run-on sentences and oddly placed ampersands he found should put the editor to shame. Stupid modern authors.
He made himself a coffee before heading toward Harvey's office, sipping it slowly as the hot liquid burned satisfyingly down his throat.
Harvey's office was in sight when he saw Harvey replacing his fancy cufflinks with what looked like even fancier ones. He noted the way Harvey's posture was - elegant, of course, and also slightly fuming with nervous… tension? He was on speaker with someone from the way his hands were gesturing. Harvey glanced at his watch and nodded, eventually getting up and straightening his tie and a million other multitasking things while remaining in full conversation, not once distracted by Mike's presence toward him and Donna. Mike couldn't help but be curious at this development.
He was about to enter Harvey's office when Donna said sweetly, " Uh uh uh Mike, he's busy. Give it to me."
"Why is Harvey extra spiffy tonight? Wait, let me guess. Hot date?" Mike asked sarcastically as he approached Donna, handing her the Leeson files he worked all afternoon for. "And yeah, you're welcome.
"Wouldn't you know it?" Donna replied, "And he wanted these files hours ago. You're welcome."
Usually Harvey would be riding him for work even if it was a minute late. Mike felt out of place that Harvey had forgotten. No, Harvey doesn't forget anything. He just chooses not to say or acknowledge it until he does. But still, the very fact that he's seemingly distracted leaves a number of things to the imagination.
"She's that hot huh." Mike said, making an observation at Harvey and looking at him through the glass window.
"I'd like to say Charles is pretty hot." Donna quipped nonchalantly, clicking soundly on her keyboard.
"Char-, what?" Mike asked, shocked. "Harvey's...Harv...he's...he's.."
Donna narrowed her eyes on him before conjuring some witful remark worth saying but Mike interrupted her. "So he's into dudes? You met him already?" Mike asked conspiratorially, leaning into her desk.
"Look, rookie, his love life is mine and his business only. And for the record, Charles was the one who got away."
"The one that got away" Mike repeated, thoughtful. "I thought Harvey didn't do relationships."
"With Charles he did" Donna replied.
"Why did he show up all of a sudden? What does he want with Harvey now?"
"God Mike, do I have to tell you everything? They dated during Harvey's time in law school and for sometime after that when he was at the DA's office. They ended their relationship when Charles was offered a teaching position at Stanford. Now he's here as a visiting professor at Columbia. Naturally, it makes sense to meet."
Mike looked dumbfounded. Harvey. Of all people, Harvey. He knew that Harvey liked good looking women but he was pretty ambiguous most of the time when there weren't clients around. He'd thought maybe Harvey was bi, but then almost always Harvey's actions proved that he was anything but. Miss America, really? And Charles is a professor? That just. He couldn't even fathom the aspect of Harvey ever being attracted to anyone in academia although he wouldn't put it past him. Harvey did admire intellectual qualities.
Mike's train of thought was interrupted by Harvey coming out of his office.
"Ray will be here in 7 minutes" Donna said. Harvey nodded and waved goodbye. Mike followed him to the elevators.
"Harvey, you won't believe what I found on the -"
"I'll look at it in the morning" Harvey interrupted.
"Are you serious? I spent hours on it."
Harvey made eye contact with Mike. "When I said i wanted it 3 hours ago, I expected it from you three and a half hours ago. Not right now when I have somewhere to be."
"But you weren't even going to look at it"
"I would have three and a half hours ago."
The elevator ride was weird and long. He wanted to ask Harvey about Charles but he didn't want to. He didn't want to offend Harvey but he was curious as hell. He decided on a whim that he better be front about it and say it. Honesty is really the best policy.
"So, you're gay." Mike blurted. He quickly regretted it as soon as it came out. What he wanted to know and how he wanted to say it was supposed to be different. Fucking brain. He cursed his brain and mentally made a note to bang his head against the wall when he got home. Then hang himself.
"You have something gays?" Harvey asked.
Again with his ambiguity.
"Yes, i mean… NO." Mike said, not looking at Harvey and instantly regretting his answer again.
Harvey looked at Mike suspiciously and smirked.
"What I meant to say is that you're going out with….an ex and Donna said…."
"What's your point?" Harvey asked, unperturbed.
By now they were outside on the street waiting and Mike wished the ground would just swallow him whole. This conversation went from weird to fucking awkward in just 30 seconds and he thought he knew Harvey quite well. They've been working together for 3 years now. Turns out he knew absolutely nothing about him. What the hell?
"I just thought if you were…it's cool, but I thought you'd tell me. Not that you would have to tell me specifically, just that maybe you're seeing… someone. Maybe differentiate the sexes a bit." Mike said nervously, stammering on each word like it slapped him in the face. "I always tell you about stuff."
"You mean your high school drama? You have too much time on your hands" Harvey said, looking at his watch for the twentieth time.
At that moment, Ray's car pulled up and Harvey straightened up.
"Those briefs better be flawless tomorrow" Harvey warned as he entered the town car, "Otherwise I'm firing you."
"You always say that" Mike said to no particular person as he watched the car speed away, long since gone. It was beginning to get chilly.
Mike's realization of the moment was the fact that Harvey neither acknowledged being gay nor denied it. He somehow made it about Mike even though that obviously was not the intention. The events of the day were insignificant leading up to this point. News like this is like a climatic volcano of epic proportions. Granted, Mike was always interested in Harvey but it was more of a deep crush than an act-on-it and get fired type. Harvey was his mentor, a trusted confidante and friend although right now it seems like none of those. Pathetic.
When Mike got back to his apartment, it was half past nine and he couldn't stop thinking about Harvey. He popped open a beer and took a swig. Harvey was always on his mind in some way but rarely on the forefront and never in an obsessive type of way. He knew that he needed to rid himself of this crush, or infatuation, or whatever the hell it was. Perhaps now is the time to do it. There is a typical male solution - get over a crush by finding a new one. Or what the hell. High school drama, Mike scoffed. It didn't seem far off. In fact, it was beginning to seem like it with the way his thoughts were going and calling whatever thing between him and Harvey a crush. He paled at the thought that Harvey was having an intimate conversation with whatshisface and having hot sweaty sex later during the interim of a movie back at Harvey's condo.
Or maybe it's time to win Harvey for himself. No, the guy is a professor. At Stanford. Probably tenured and takes sabbaticals and studies art history on his time off and Mike's a fake lawyer with no degree and no trade skills other than the one time drug dealing. He probably breeds French bulldogs in his lab. Law professor maybe? In the sciences? A law teaching scientist. It couldn't be too far off.
But what the hell is he doing here as a visiting professor? He must know Harvey's here but what made him want to come back now? Mike could have easily convinced himself that Columbia wanted him to teach for a semester because of his expertise in law and science but it seems as if they broke up a long time ago. And from his experience, people don't just come back.
With his inhibition lowered, that's when Mike's hazy mind decided on the one thing that made absolute sense at the moment. He was going to find out everything he can about this sleezy Charles guy. He may not have the sources that Harvey has to investigate people but he was certainly thrifty and knew ways to find things and Charles is no doubt going to be found. Mike will come up with a plan, prepped with procedures and other important things to get started. Mike popped open his fourth beer and sat back on his couch thoughtfully.
Operation-Find-Out-Everything-About-Charles will proceed in full swing.