Hello all. A reminder that this chapter is OPTIONAL, because there is Slashy undertones in this chapter. If you do not wish to read it then don't. I'm not opposed to your skipping this chapter at all.

Disclaimer: I don't own Suits.

Mike and Harvey still sat in silence even more after Mike had told him they needed to talk. Harvey knew what it was about. So did Mike. They were just…trying to delay the inevitable. Mike sighed standing.

"I want to know how you feel…about us." Mike said going by the window. Harvey leaned back in his chair not looking at Mike directly.

"I seem to recall you telling me that I should never share my feelings ever again. Especially to you. Remember?" Harvey said cocking an eyebrow. Mike rolled his eyes at the window.

"I was stoned. Let it go." Mike complained. Harvey smirked at his back. "I mean it, you know?"

"I know. You were very adamant against my feelings." Harvey joked.

"Harvey." Mike cut him off warningly. Harvey sighed.

"What do you want me to say?" Harvey offered. Mike turned to him and walked over to the desk. He sat on the corner and looked at Harvey.

"The way I see it, there are seven reasons why we wouldn't work out. I'm going to argue them out. If you think, after hearing them all, that there is a way to move forward with this, you give me a sign okay?" Mike negotiated. Harvey nodded.

"Am I allowed to counter your argument?" Harvey asked. Mike shook his head.

"We'll be here all night; you take forever to make a point." Mike teased. Harvey slapped his arm playfully.

"Okay, hotshot, make your case. Why shouldn't Harvey Specter and Michael Ross pursue a relationship outside of the comfortable friend zone?" Harvey began.

Mike took a breath in before beginning to steady himself. "Firstly, you are thirteen years older than me. I'm 26 years old and you're 39. When you're 69, I'll be 56. You'll be going through a mid-life crisis before I even hit forty. When I was 5 you were just turning 18. It shouldn't be." Mike argued.

"Age is just-" Harvey argued.

"What did I say?" Mike said. "Second, we are both men. Yes, this is the twenty-first century and blah blah blah, but it stands to reason that there are people still uncomfortable with homosexuality. That brings me to my third point. Aiden. I love the kid but, he's going to be stigmatized with being raised by two guys. There's data that suggests a psychological defect in children raised by two people of the same gender. I don't believe in that crap. It's like saying I turned to pot because I wasn't raised by my parents; but there are people who do believe it and I don't want Aiden being teased by others because of me." Mike cut off, clearing his throat, not meeting Harvey's eyes which he knew were glued on him as he explained.

"Fourth reason. I have experimented with men before, okay? But you are Harvey Specter. Okay? There's like a…bar…that I can't ever hope to reach if I slept with you. I can't measure up to you and I don't want it to be bad for either of us. Remember the whole 'life is this I like this' hand thing you do." Mike mimicked Harvey's hand measurements as he said it. "I don't know if I can be this." Mike's hand remained elevated for emphasis.

"Fifth reason, I prefer to stay with one person. That's just me. You like sleeping with many people. That's you. I've accepted it but if we were to do this; I'd want you to choose to be with me. Only me." Mike shifted on the desk.

"Sixth reason, and quite importantly we work together, you're my boss. It's against the rules to date someone who is your boss. I put up with enough crap because you give me more attention than anyone else. I don't need them thinking I sleep with you to get to the top. And your reputation will suffer if you're with me. There will be talking behind your back and…I don't want that. You have enough to deal with now." Mike trailed off, biting his lip in thought. Harvey leaned forward slightly, trying to meet Mike's eyes which were still stubbornly glued somewhere other than Harvey.

"And the last reason?" Harvey asked. Mike sighed closed his eyes.

"I'm afraid. I don't want to ruin our friendship or whatever this is because I'm selfish and want more. I can…live with my feelings…but I don't want to screw this up, I don't want to make a mistake that is irreparable. I do care for you Harvey, maybe even enough to say I-" Mike cut off sharply breathing heavily. "But. You don't do feelings, you don't do caring and I understand that. I am content with us just being friends." Mike finished trailing off into silence. Mike stood up and walked back to the windows, watching the stars in the sky. Harvey tapped a finger to his lips, thinking. Mike sighed not wanting to turn to him. Harvey finally stood up, straightening his vest lapels. He slowly walked around the desk. Mike closed his eyes, thinking that he was leaving, giving him the sign that this was over, there was no future for them. He was holding back his tears until he knew Harvey was gone.

But Harvey didn't leave. He wasn't leaving. He simply moved around the desk over towards the window. He stood beside Mike for a moment, startling the blonde. He allowed Mike to stare at him as he waited. Harvey then turned to Mike, blue eyes were widened in surprise, as he pressed his lips against the younger associate. Mike pushed him away gently staring into the bright brown eyes.

"But…I…uh…th-that is…wha-?" Mike stuttered.

"Are you having a stroke?" Harvey teased. Mike slapped his shoulder.

"After all that?" Mike demanded. "After all those reasons, you want to move forward?"

"Do you even know me at all? Did you think that I would give up that easily?" Harvey asked head cocked in surprise. "Those reasons were full of so many holes that it's just easier to start a relationship to prove you wrong rather than trying arguing with you." Harvey explained; his hands gripping Mike's forearms, ensuring that Mike wouldn't escape. Mike looked away and at the floor, in thought. The stayed like that for a while, neither budging and inch; afraid if they let go, this moment would be over. Harvey could see the gears whirling in Mike's head, the reasons that he told Harvey at the forefront of his mind, reminding him to stand his ground, to not fall for Harvey's charms. Harvey watched as Mike bit his bottom lip gently, as a distraction Harvey guessed.

At least ten minutes passed before either one made a move. Mike sighed and tried to remove his arms from Harvey's grip, slumping against the older man when it was evident his efforts were in vain. "You need to think about this." Mike said continuing to look at the floor.

"What if I tell you I have?" Harvey disputed. Mike shook his head.

"You haven't thought about it enough." Mike argued. "You just think I want to hear that. You want to run head long into this and fix it when it becomes a problem. Damn it Harvey!" Mike spat finally, finally, looking up at Harvey. His eyes pierced through Harvey. "I'm not a one night stand! I'm not a…" Mike cut off, expelling a heavy breath through his nose. "I'm not looking for a one night thing, that's not me." Mike amended trying to be calm. "And before you say anything about Tess, just…don't." Mike's words fell off lamely. "You have a child, Harvey; you need to really think about who you're going to sleep with." Mike had deflected the conversation. Harvey cocked his head to look at Mike who had broken eye contact to look at whatever spot on the floor was interesting to him.

"What can I say to convince you that I'm serious?" Harvey asked gravely, moving to try to meet Mike's eyes.

"I-" Mike began.

"Are you still talking?" Harvey interrupted. Mike rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"This is all a joke to you!" Mike yelled finally ripping his arms away from Harvey. "Everything having to do with me is a joke to you! My apartment, my clothes, my life! This isn't a joke; this is your child's life! I love Aiden! I love my job! I love my apartment! I love my damn skinny ties that you hate so much!" Harvey felt himself smirk despite the tone of Mike's voice. "And I love you!" Mike cut off grabbing at his mouth in horror. He stumbled back and sighed. "That wasn't supposed to be said." Mike whispered. Harvey came up in front of him.

"But it was." He stated with his impassive stare. Mike was silent again, looking off at the floor. "Mike." Harvey called. "Look at me." He pressed. Mike shook his head.

"No." He mumbled.

"Look at me." Harvey ordered.

"I…I can't." Mike admitted.

"Why not?" Harvey demanded. Mike sighed and slowly looked up at Harvey but still didn't meet his eyes.

"If I look at you, then I can't be mad at you anymore." Mike explained slowly. Harvey placed his hands against Mike's cheeks, cupping his face.

"Look at me." Harvey repeated. Mike tried to move his face but Harvey held his jaw steady. "Please." Harvey pleaded. The 'please' caused Mike's breath to catch in his throat. Mike's eyes rolled up to stare straight into Harvey's.

"I'm serious Mike. About this, about…whatever this is." Harvey whispered.

"Whatever this is?" Mike repeated.

"This." Harvey stressed. "Is dependent on you. You can dictate how fast or slow this goes." Mike stared at Harvey, stunned.

"You…mean that?" Mike asked slowly. "You're not going to force my hand at all? If I said stop, we'd stop?"

"Yes." Harvey assured him. "I mean it. Does that make you feel better?" He asked. Mike nodded causing Harvey's hands to move with the motion. Harvey smiled.

"Is it alright to kiss you now?" Harvey asked. Mike's lips quirked up at the question.

"I think that would be permissible, councilor." Mike joked. Harvey chuckled as he leaned in toward Mike's lips. Mike sighed dreamily as their lips connected.

Oh, yeah, he could definitely get used to this.

Next chapter will be up shortly.

KatrinaKaiba