Suits
Title: The Bet's On.

Pairing: Mike/Harvey

Rating: PG-13 for this chapter. Because I think I use mild swearing. I can't remember!

Summary: Louis and Harvey make a bet, Mike being the prize. And Mike actually thought that Harvey was starting to care. He soon changes his mind. Multi-Chaptered Story. Slash.

Warnings: (Male/Male sex. Slash. In future chapters.) Spoilers for Season 1 - Episode 11 - Rules Of The Game.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, no money is being made from this. Simply for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: I got inspiriation from one scene as I was watching the episode 'Rules Of The Game'. Well actually, I got inspiritation throughout the entire episode , I'm not good with the whole 'lawyer' aspect of Suits, I mean I understand it and everything, but I'm no Law expert. xD Just thought I'd let you know before hand. So I hope it's a good read and that it doesn't suck ass..

...

"Do we really have to play nice with Louis. I wanna' crush him." Mike asked sulkily as he followed Harvey into his office. Harvey headed straight for his desk, picking up the pile of folders sitting there heavily. Mike admired his stance, how he moved with such grace. Swan-like, he humoured. Smiling inwardly he refocused on what Harvey was saying.

"You really wanna' crush him?" Harvey turned and dumped the large pile of folders into Mike's waiting hands, "Get over to the papers. Kick the tires and figure out what it's worth." Harvey spoke close to Mike's ear, his voice lowering just slightly. But Mike notices everything that his boss does, no matter how slight it may be. He just chose not to acknowledge any of it, or to try not to anyway.

"Thought we were 'sposed to use the independent valuations?" Mike asked, furrowing his brows towards the older man.

"What? You think he's gonna' play by the rules?" Harvey questioned, raising his tone. If only slightly, but Mike pretended not to notice. Like how he pretended not to notice the sly looks that Harvey throws his way when he thinks Mike isn't looking, or the small smile that would spread across Harvey's lips as Mike said or did something that impressed him. Pretended not to notice the feeling in his stomach when he realised that maybe, Harvey was proud of him when that small smile appeared.

"I know he won't." By now, Mike's learned the hard way that nobody can be trusted in this firm, every man for himself. Kyle showed him just that. But Mike somehow can't help but trust Harvey, because Harvey would never lie to Mike. Would he? I mean, Harvey's putting his career on the line for a reason right? And if Harvey really didn't give two shits about Mike, then Mike wouldn't be here right now. At least, that's Mike's theory.

"That's why you gotta' be three steps in front of him," Harvey gracefully sat back into his luxury leather chair, taking one of his baseball memorabilia and rolling it in his palm. Which you could say.. distracted Mike a little whilst he flumped down onto the seat to the left of Harvey's desk, dumping the files heavily in front of him, "and I can guarantee you, Louis'll be two steps ahead of you."

Mike couldn't help but think about what else Harvey could expertly roll around in the palm of his hand, yet he wasn't quite sure why he was so suddenly having these thoughts. Mike didn't swing that way, at least that's what he's always thought. Just before Mike could swallow, blush the brightest colour of red and then attempt to squeak out a reply to Harvey after them thoughts, Donna thankfully saved him by sauntering into the room with an annoyed expression.

"Speak of the Devil, Her Majesty's here to see you." Donna raised her eyebrows with a cocky smile as Louis strode in behind her, waiting. She's never like this guy, to be honest, she doesn't actually know of anyone that does. But yet there must be something about him that Jessica likes. She can't for the sake of hell, think what that something is.

"I heard that." He stated, as if she didn't plan him to. She smiled sweetly.

"You were meant to." Donna explained, before sauntering back out the office door and returning to her work..which wasn't listening in on the conversation that was about to begin. Louis stopped in front of Harvey's desk, scanning his eyes around the room before resting them back in the general direction of Harvey.

"Gentlemen." He greeted professionally, nodding at Mike first, then Harvey. He eyed them down, feeling greater than them both like the cocky sod he was. Hey! With someone as God damn brilliant as he was, why shouldn't he be a cocky sod? He was an amazing lawyer, despite the time when he killed that guy.. and then insulted the widow.. whilst costing the- a few flaws for his many brilliances, he decided. He deserved the firms Senior Partnership promotion, not Harvey. It's unfortunate that Jessica doesn't seem to agree.

"Your Highness." Harvey entertained, answering with a smug almost-smile. He's never liked this rat-like man -with his buck teeth and the really, really perverted smile being only one reason why- they hadn't always been rivalries, they used to be civil. Until Harvey got the promotion. And as much as Jessica would like for that rivalry to change and return their relationship to neutral, both Harvey and Louis know that they can never go back.

For one, they both have too much of an ego for them to be held in the same room for long without a disaster breaking out, but they liked it that way. They knew they were a competition for one another, and they both liked a good competition.

"O-Ok, d'you know what? That's exactly why I'm here." Agitation flooded Louis tone, he would very much like to wipe that smirk off of Harvey Specter's pretty face. Too damn cocky for his own good, Louis thought as he eyed the man with distaste.

"To be mocked?" Harvey retorted, humour evidently there, which just caused more frustration to heat up inside of Louis. Harvey knew what he was doing though, of course. Because Harvey always knows what he's doing.

Louis sighed his irritation, "No. To set clear ground rules to keep the negotiation above board."

"Absolutely. No kicking, biting and no rabbit punches." Harvey feigned a serious tone, looking straight at Louis with pure sarcasm plastered on his features. Mike sat back watching the two, Louis trying to get a serious conversation started whilst Harvey just sat back tossing jokes and insulting Louis' intelligence subtly. Treating him the way he looked; a rat.

Louis threw his hands out in exasperation, "And now you're mocking the ground rules." But Harvey just shook his head.

"No. I'm just mocking you." A simple answer with a simple meaning, honesty is what Harvey lives by. Granted, he may not be honest with many people, but the people that he is, should feel blessed at the least. Harvey was a genuine man, his word could always be trusted. Even if he would every so often twist his words into manipulating his clients to close the deal in someway or another so he could come out as the winning man.. he still never lied. At least that's the way Harvey looked at it.

Louis pressed on, ignoring Harvey's last words. "Point one: we both agree to use the independent valuations."

"Absolutely. Good point." Harvey graces Louis with a half wink before giving a subtle look towards his rookie associate, who was calmly sitting back and enjoying the show. Every so often throwing in the odd snigger when Harvey said something that humoured him. Louis caught the decline in Harvey's concentration every time Harvey even so much as glanced towards that kid. He felt he needed to raise his voice a little louder in order to regain Harvey's attention this time.

"Point two: you do not call Jessica in to mediate. This is you and me." Louis made sure to make himself clear that Harvey was on his own, no one to back him up if his plans don't go in his favour. Louis was a devious man, anything Harvey could do, Louis could match. Simply through being his devious self, of course. Harvey would never expect what was about to hit him in this round. He's going to get his ass kicked, Louis thought with excitement beginning to rise already.

Again though, Harvey was back to mocking. "You afraid mom's gonna' take my side?" Harvey pushed his bottom lip out. How could he take any of this seriously? It's Louis.

"No, I know mom's gonna' take your side."

"Because I'd be right." Louis expected that, of course Harvey instantly thought he was going to win. Because he's that arrogant that he underestimates all that Louis can do. But not this time, Harvey Specter's going down. And Louis is going to be there to see his face when he does.

"Point three: Chinese wall. You can't access any internal documents that I create." He finished, lowering his chin to assure that they understand exactly what that means. Though they probably won't figure out Louis' game plan until Louis himself explains it to them, because Louis is just that good, he thinks smugly.

"Let's make Jessica proud. We do this right, everyone walks away happy." Harvey silently agrees to the terms, though mentally crossing his fingers behind his back. Harvey knows that Louis is, in no way, going to follow that last rule especially. That's all Louis is good at, going behind peoples backs in order to assure his victory. Louis will never win the fair way. Harvey knows this, so Harvey also knows that this time, Louis won't even win the unfair way.

"Wonderful." Louis intertwines his fingers behind his back and turns swiftly on his heels to leave. Harvey couldn't help himself, he turned to his rookie with a childlike expression.

"Don't worry, we'll still crush him." He gives Mike a wink and that small smile of encouragement. And Mike suddenly feels like a blushing school girl whose crush had just noticed her for the first time. Dear God, what the hell Mike? He thought as he tried to force his lungs to keep working properly and his heart to slow from 60 beats a second. Mike truly hoped that Harvey hadn't noticed the effect that he has over him today.

"I heard that." Louis threw over his shoulder just for the sake of it. He carried on leaving, not letting it bother him, Harvey was just trying to intimidate him. Louis had to stay smart in this.

"You were meant to." Louis stops dead in his tracks. So, Harvey's challenging him is he? Well, alright then. The rat-like Junior Partner swung his body around and made his way back over to Harvey's spotless desk.

"Care to make a wager?" Confidence now building inside Louis' slighty tubby stomach. Harvey just stares blankly at him, not giving anything away. Something Harvey's learned to do over the seven years he's worked at Pearson Hardman.

"Our job is to make both sisters happy. How do we know who wins?" Mike states, pitching in for the first time since this whole conversation started.

"We'll know." Harvey and Louis answer in unison, game faces set in place on both mens features. Mike liked Harvey's game face, he didn't quite know why. But whenever Harvey would look at Mike with his game face on, it would give Mike the shivers and apparently today, fill his mind with thoughts that he really shouldn't be thinking about. Especially when they include his boss bending him over a desk and- well, never mind.

"Usual ammount?" Harvey asked, in return Louis was shaking his head. Excitement welling in his eyes now, also. Mike felt a little uncomfortable having thoughts about his boss whilst he was in the room with Louis. Paranoia was something Mike's had his entire life, and Mike could swear that Louis knew exactly what Mike was thinking, even without looking at him.

"Nope. I think we should change it up this time.. I win, I get Mike." Louis' eyes never once left Harvey's, not even to spare a glance towards the blond rookie currently watching them both from the side lines, now with a very worried expression spreading throughout his features.

"You can't bet me like I'm chattel, Louis." Mike tried to insert some logic into the rat-mans mind. Ridiculous, Mike thought. Disbelief evident in his tone at that. It didn't help that Harvey was deciding to consider the offer, either. Mike didn't want to go work for Louis! Mike didn't even know what working for Louis was.. He didn't really fancy finding out, either.

"It's not like he's gonna' win." Harvey shrugged with a hint of reassurance behind his tone, giving Mike a relaxed look. Mike couldn't believe this, Harvey was really going to offer him up as a prize for a bet? Is he kidding? Harvey can shove his reassurance up his ass if that's the way things are gonna' go. Mike felt very displeased right now.

"One month."

"Ten days." Harvey counters Louis' offer, clearly Harvey wasn't kidding. But Mike wasn't just going to sit back and let this happen.

"Harvey-" He tried but was soon cut off by Louis' negotiating.

"Two weeks."

"Nine days."

"Harvey!" Mike tried again, shouting his protest now, taking to his feet. Did it not matter what Mike thought in this? Should Mike not have a say about the situation he was currently being thrown between?

"Alright, fine. Ten days. And in return?" Louis finally settles, and Mike realises that he really doesn't have a choice in this. That there's nothing he can do to stop Harvey from betting him off like.. like chattel. But that didn't mean that he couldn't show his frustrations he was now feeling towards his well dressed boss. All inappropriate thoughts forgotten.

"Well that's tough.. 'Cause anything you have, I wouldn't want." Harvey pushes himself up from his chair, not sparing a last glance for a nervous-looking Mike before he headed off out the door. But that didn't stop Mike from throwing in his piece of mind.

"Wha-uh, you're gonna' bet me for nothing?" Okay, so he could've said something a bit less desperate. But Harvey just ignores him anyway and carries off on his way. It's one thing to bet Mike, but to bet him for nothing? That's just not right. Louis turns his torso towards the blond rookie, eyeing him up and down, smiling, before he leaves Mike standing alone and confused in Harvey's office. Mike looked on toward Donna who was staring at him with a sympathetic look, he flailed his arms about as if saying, 'What the fuck?' in which Donna replied with mouthing, 'Good Luck.'

Mike sighed, exasperated. What a dick Harvey really is. Alright fine, so if Harvey is so willing to put Mike up as a bet, then Mike will show Harvey just how valuable he is to the older man and just how much his boss would miss him if he were to lose to Louis. Even if it would only be for ten days. Mike was valuable, he was. Harvey pretty much depends on Mike to get him through the days now. If Mike wasn't around to do Harvey's dirty work or to look into a clients background to help him win a case, then Harvey would be screwed.

...

Rocking in his leather office chair, forward and back, tossing one of his baseball memorabilia up into the air over and over. Harvey Specter was bored. Yeah, bored. He was really supposed to be focusing on the Cameron Dennis case, since he was intercepted in the restaraunt by a very fine looking woman who worked for the Attorney General's office. And Harvey hit a realisation that maybe, just maybe, his mentor screwed him over back in the day. And now Harvey was on a low. And he needed to figure out why his mentor might have screwed him over in the first place. But truthfully, Harvey just couldn't be arsed right now.

"Donna, can you get Mike in here." Harvey called out to his assistant, though she was a lot more than just his assistant. She was his bodyguard, confidant and -though Harvey hardly liked to admit this and would never, never repeat this back to the fiery red head- best friend. She has been more to him than anyone else and Harvey couldn't ask for better. He also enjoyed the fact that Louis pratically yearned after her. Before Harvey knew it, Mike was sauntering on in to his office.

"What do you want from me now, boss?" Harvey could hear the sarcasm emanating from Mike's words, he didn't like it. He sounded unappreaciative and down right out of order. Harvey pratically handed Mike this oppertunity, and it's a damn oppertuinity of a life time, and the kid thinks that he can just stroll on in here and mouth off? No.

"Excuse me?" He paused to catch eye contact, when he had the contact he gave a very unimpressed expression before continuing, "Talk to me like that again, and you'll regret it." Mike trailed his eyes off to the side, clearly not happy about being scorned. Harvey sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Now I need you to-"

"No, you know what. No. That's all you ever say to me, you need me to do this and you need me to that. Well you know what, Harvey. I've had enough!" Mike throws his hands up in exasperation, sucking in a large ammount of oxygen before forcing himself to look Harvey in the eye after his explosion of opinion. He recieved a very intent death glare, if looks could kill.. Harvey pushed himself up from his leather chair, placing his hands deep into his pockets as he walked over towards Mike.

Mike swallowed the lump that had suddenly appeared in the back of his throat, he swore he caught Harvey's sight drop to his lips as he flicked his tongue out to wet them. Harvey stopped at a distance so that he was close enough to intimidate but not close enough for people to get the wrong idea as they walked past. Not that Harvey cared.. or that Harvey was even thinking about Mike in that kind of way. Because he wasn't.

Harvey lowered his voice dangerously, "Have you forgotten everything that I've done for you? Because I can take it away justlike that." Harvey rose his left hand to click his fingers. "I hired you." Harvey shoved his index in Mike's direction, "You do as I say," flicking his index back towards himself, "you're my associate. You have no say in what I ask of you."

"I don't remember the part where you could use me for a bet." Mike's voice was quiet, Harvey thought he heard a hint of sadness within his words and could see the glistening of tears welling up in his eyes. And suddenly, Harvey couldn't be angry at the younger man. But Harvey had a reputation to keep, and being soft wasn't part of the deal.

"You're mine, I do what I want with you. And if you mouth off to me one more time, I'm firing you." And with that Harvey returned to his seat, opening up the briefs and scanning through them like he was interested. Harvey could feel Mike's eyes watching him, he chose to ignore it and continue pretending to be engulfed in work.

"What do you need me to do?" Mike's voice interupted the line of endless and meaningless thoughts about why Harvey had somewhat of a soft spot for his associate, he hadn't managed to come to an answer. He supposed it was because Mike reminded Harvey of himself, or maybe because he just has them kind of eyes. Them kind of eyes? Oh Jesus.

"I need you to handle the Pryce case yourself." Harvey kept his face down and eyes focused on the blurring words in front of him. His voice was collected, calm. Like he expected Mike to just take it and leave. Despite the fact that Harvey could feel a migraine beginning to pound over his left eye.

"You bet me and now you're hanging me out to dry?" Mike doesn't intend it to happen, but his voice breaks slightly. He blinks back the tears of frustration and concentrates on keeping a cool exterior. "Yeah, sure, whatever. Decided what you want from Louis when we win?"

"His tickets to Nixon in China." Harvey replies, raising his head to give Mike a knowing smile, "I don't want to go, I just think it'll be amusing making Louis miss it." He answered the unasked question with a smug grin washing over his face. Of course, it wasn't there long, because Harvey Specter hardly ever smiles.

"Great." Mike left the room with no further words, slightly upset and very frustrated. But Harvey couldn't waste anymore time thinking about the kid, he needed to sort himself out and get his act together. This soft spot for his associate isn't going to do him any good. The next time Harvey looked up, Donna was standing next to his desk. Harvey leaned back into his chair, relaxing a little and preparing for whatever Donna was about to say.

"What's going on with you and the Kid." She wiggles her eyebrows in a suggestive manner, and Harvey knew exactly what she meant. He wasn't in the mood to humour her, he wanted to keep this little information seeking, short and sweet. He really needed to focus on his job at hand if he wanted to crack this case.

"Nothing's going on."

"No? Kid seems pretty beat up about you putting him up for a bet." She pouts her perfectly full, peach lips and Harvey can't help but smile. Again, he doesn't smile often, but in front of Donna, he just can't seem to help himself. It was embarrassing really.

"Leave it alone, Donna. You're digging for a bone that's not there." He shakes his head as he gives the beautiful, mischeivous red head his best apathetic stare. She just raises one delicate brow, and smiles wickedly. Harvey decided that he didn't like that kind of a smile. He knows what that smile means, with that smile - comes great disasters. But he supposed tonight he'd let it slide, but only because he had a pounding migraine, he's very tired and lastly, because he simply just can't be arsed.

"Uh-huh." Donna's tone was decisive, index finger absently tapping at her lips in thought before she straightened herself out and made way for the door. But not before turning back with a few words, "Let me ask you something." she placed her hands on her hips, "If you had to go into battle, would you want him with you?" She waited for a few moments before giving Harvey a warm smile and then leaving.

Despite the fact that Donna just quoted Top Gun, Harvey completely understood what she was getting at. And yeah, Harvey would want Mike with him. Because Mike always had Harvey's back, always managed to throw in information at the most convienient times, thanks to his freaky ass brain. And with Mike by his side helping him, -not that he really needed it- he could win any case. But that didn't explain why Mike was throwing some bitch fit over Harvey offering him up to Louis as a bet.

The kid confused him, but maybe that's what Harvey liked so much about him. He was a challenge. He kept things fresh and he never bored him. He has a likeable energy about him, he's better than most lawyers he knows, -excluding himself and Jessica- even if he still has a lot to learn. And what he needs to learn, he can't learn from reading and remembering. Harvey liked the fact that the kid could think on his feet, it's a good trait to have. And Harvey made a mental note to ease up on the rookie a bit, maybe Harvey does pile him with work. But in his own defense, he did warn him.

This wasn't the kind of job where you can slack off. You're kept on your toes, you do as you're told until you work your way to the top. Harvey doesn't think Mike fully understands that just yet. Sure, the kids exceptionally good, but that doesn't make him invincible from a firing. That's something Mike doesn't get, and if the damn kid wants to survive in this world, then he's gonna' have to start getting it. But that was a lecture for another time, or maybe next time he sees Mike if he's in the mood. But right now, Harvey needs to find some pain killers.

...

A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, then chapter two is waiting for you with only a click away! ;) GO READ IT. ;P I'd love it if you left a little review/comment, feedback means the world to me and always brings a smile to my face! (Like: Yaaaay, new comment! OHEMGEE.) Mhm.

Ciao!xx