A/N: I'm sorry for the wait. And while I should continue my other stories, and I will, I was really inspired by a fanfic written about one of my favorite shows, Suits, that I had to give it a shot.
Disclaimer: As always I don't own suits. All OCs are mine. I will not be putting the disclaimer in every chapter. If you want to see it. Come back here
Mike was having a bad day.
It all started with waking up at 3 am. drenched in sweat, heaving from that unforgiving nightmare. The walls of his apartment are paper thin and he heard his neighbor bang at the wall yelling "Shut up or die!" He couldn't go back to sleep after the nightmare, he never could. So he got up and padded to his dingy kitchen tripping on his case on the way there. He reached in his shelf to get his coffee on to find only a few grinds in the container. He ran a hand through his hair, he was out of coffee. Fine. He would pick up a cup of coffee outside of the firm. Mike quickly showed, dressed and was out the door and then felt the urge to cry. His bike was imitating a metal pretzel. His precious bike was exactly where he left it but it certainly wasn't how he left it. Not only did he feel bad because he loved his awesome bike but now he had no way of getting to work. Cabs in NY were way too expensive. We'll I guess I'm walking to work. Thank god he got out of his house early. He would barely make it as is. So he gathered himself and started forward. His feet ached. By the time he arrived in front of the imposing building he checked his watch. Shit he just had enough time to get a cup of joe. There was a crowd of busy suits cramming, eager to get their healthy dose of caffeine.
Ding, ding, ding. Mike startled. Then realized it was his phone. A text message from Harvey. Where are you puppy? Don't you know when owners call, puppies need to come? Get here.
Damn that puppy analogy. However, in his current state he couldn't help but be warmed up by the analogy. At least he belonged here. Resigning himself that he wasn't about to get his coffee he made his way up and to Harvey's office. When he passed Donna's desk and saw her sipping her coffee he couldn't help but whimper, causing her to raise her eyebrow in amusement. He looked down and shuffled his way in, not bothering to knock. Harvey looked up, "Didn't I tell you that punctuality is…" finally looking up and frowning. "What happened to you?"
Mike, despite his tiredness couldn't help but smirk, "Why? Are you telling me the great Harvey Specter cares?"
Harvey's lips tightened, which would have concerned Mike if it wasn't for seeing the tiny curl of the lip that signaled the man was amused.
"First, you look like shit. And secondly, of course not kid, but you are a representation of me and I definitely care about me."
Mike felt his amusement slip, doubt filling him. Was that really how Harvey felt.
"Well I'm fine." At Harvey's furrowed brow, he continued "Seriously Harvey. So what's up? What do we case are we working on?"
Harvey sighed. "None. We actually don't have an actual client for a week or so. Jessica has taken care of all our clients and there isn't nothing pressing. We are just tightening up our paperwork."
Mike frowned this time. "Then why am I here? I mean if we aren't working on a case."
"Because you are my associate and I refuse to do all these meaningless piles of paperwork by myself. Why are you smiling?" he looked at Mike as though he questioned his sanity.
"No reason. Does that mean that we are doing this together? You aren't just going to pass it over to me."
"As much as I would like to puppy. These briefs must be completed and filed correctly by the end of the week or we'll be forced to do it all over again. Jessica really wants this done. Apparently we've been lagging on doing our required paperwork." He sighed again and tossed a file toward Mike, who caught it swiftly. Just as Mike was going to ask if this was the only one, Harvey gestured beside Mike and Mike looked over the coach to realize there were three small piles sitting there.
Mike got started on the file but couldn't stop flicking his gaze on Harvey's steaming cup of coffee. He wasn't even aware of his movement until he found himself beside Harvey, reaching for the holy cup. He was startled when he found a warm hand on top of his. They locked eyes.
"Sorry." Mike mumbled. "I just didn't…wait you don't." Harvey was already on his feet handing Mike the half- finished coffee. Mike blushed but took a sip, almost moaning at the warmth flowing down his throat. "Thanks Harvey."
Harvey didn't say anything but gave Donna a look from his office, Mike watched as Donna nodded and left her station.
Mike looked at Harvey questioningly but all he got was a "sit there and finish that coffee". He tugged the file out of Mike's hand and pushed him down on the coach until he settled comfortably. Then surprisingly sat down next to him and looked him from head to toe then once again.
"Now you are going to tell me why you are so exhausted. I let you go home early yesterday. Did you go out? Get drunk," he narrowed his eyes, "you better not have gotten high."
Mike was already shaking his head. "I'm really ok Harvey I just had trouble sleeping." He wanted to leave it at that, not wanting to hear Harvey tease him about having nightmares although some part of his mind reasoned that Harvey would never be as cruel as that.
Mike instinctively rested his head on Harvey's shoulders and yawned. "It's usually like this at this time of the year." Mike leaned into Harvey's hand which was sorting through his hair soothingly. He looked up at Harvey's concerned face. "Come on pup, tell me what's going on."
"It's the anniversary of my parent's death" Harvey's hold on him tightened. "I'm sorry Mike."
"It's not your fault," he sighed, "Grammy would distract me with stories, or Trever would take me out for the night…"
"But now your grandmother is in the hospital and…," here Harvey's face turned stoic, "and Trever is cancer and out of your life."
He gave a small laugh. "Harvey! Yes, he's not in my life anymore, I promise." Harvey continued carting through his hair and it was reassuring and soothing and he didn't want it to stop.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He's never heard Harvey sound so hesitating, "You can…you can talk to me." Warmth spread through Mike and his smile broadened.
"Maybe later, let's get this work done." Harvey got up and reached for a file, Mike thought he would head back to his desk but all he did was settle himself next to Mike and continue screening it.
They worked for a few hours, bantering here and there until Mike knew no more.
Harvey had just turned to Mike, a reference in mind, when he found Mike had fallen asleep, file dangling dangerously over the edge of the bed, threatening to fall.
Mike had a soft snore and he looked relaxed, the frown lines there had disappeared and the bag on his eyes looked less pronounced. Harvey had a soft smile forming on his face. His puppy. "Oh Mike, nap time." He whispered.
He took the file carefully from the man's fingers, shifted the files off the couch and laid him down with a pillow under his head. He heard Donna come in and he reached behind him to the throw blanket that Donna had gotten. He shook it out and covered his associate. It wasn't until after he made sure he'd be comfortable did he realize he'd just tucked in his associate. Hmm, perhaps later on he'd focus on the fact that he didn't really mind.
He continued working, needing to get through the files, he barely acknowledged when Donna left, too preoccupied with making sure everything was ready for Jessica to submit. It was busy work but part of his job. He'd just signed off on his last one when he heard some whimpers and gasps coming from Mike. He was just about to put down the file when those gasps became louder and Mike was suddenly struggling with the throw blanket, falling on the floor and fighting a terror only visible to him. File forgotten, Harvey at once took action. Yanking the blanket off Mike he grabbed both his hands and make them wrap around him, forcing Mike to embrace him, placing his ear to Harvey's heart. "Come on puppy, listen to my breathing, copy me…that's it." Harvey did his best to steady his own breathing and heartbeat. Harvey could tell when Mike finally had calmed down and was lucid. He tensed in his arms and tried to pull away but Harvey was having none of it. He tightened his grip on the man, cuffing him softly on the head, "Shhh…bad puppy…stay." Mike gave a choked laugh. "Sorry Harvey." Harvey was already shaking his head. "None of that…come on we're going home." He was standing up, pulling Mike up with him.
Harvey gave him another reassuring squeeze then left him to grab his jacket, briefcase and keys. Mike hadn't moved from the spot but Harvey was glad that the glassy look had left him. Concern coursed through him at how unbelievably tired Mike looked, how dejected he seemed and how he clearly didn't want to go back to him apartment. He was just about to tell him he'd be staying the night at Harvey's place when Mike, twisting his hands around came up to him. "Umm Harvey…you see…can I ask you a favor…not a big one…not really…my bike died…well not really but someone damaged it…and I need a ride home…if it's not too much trouble" Harvey was extremely upset, how dare someone hurt Mike. He knew the young man had an unhealthy attachment to that bike but it was his, and Harvey was actually getting used to seeing him on it. Mike must had misconstrued his frown for a no because he hastened to back pedal. "But it's no big…it's only," Mike glanced at his watch, "3:21am. The buses are out but I can walk home. I can't really afford a cab at this time of the night…they always charge more during…I've been saving up for…what are you doing?"
Harvey had had enough. He grabbed Mike's face with both his eyes making him make eye contact. "Okay, first of all, do you really think I'd let you get home on your own at this time at night, even with your bike. Shh. Rhetorical question. Secondly, we're going to talk about what happened to your bike but we'll revisit that when I remind you of how dangerous and horrible you apartment and surround neighborhood is." After a moment he added, "and about your money concerns. But that's a problem for tomorrow…or at this rate later today. You're staying with me tonight puppy." At Mike's questioning look he muttered. "I need to know you'll get some sleep."
He tugged a shocked Mike out the door and by the time they'd made it to his car Mike had a goofball smile on his face. He made sure the kid was buckled in and the heat was on, he had noticed Mike wince at the bitter cold, he needed to get his pup a proper coat, and took off. He smiled as he heard Mike whisper "You do care," and snuggled into the leather seat closing his eyes. Harvey thought he should say something but all he did was smile, content his pup was with him, and soon they'd be at his place where he'd cocoon Mike in blankets, making sure he was safe, warm, and resting.