Blind Luck
Summary: Harvey and Donna get set up by their respective friends, and wind up on a blind double-date that unveils how they really feel about each other.
AN: Based off a prompt by darveywtf :)
Donna angles her hand-held compact, checking her make-up in the mirror as the Uber she ordered navigates the streets of Manhattan. As a favor to her friend, she agreed to go on a double-date, because, for one, it never hurts to have the CEO of her favorite salon owe her, and because, after Rachel jetted off to Seattle, her social life has been dwindling of late. It's time she starts getting back out there, and she closes the mirror, slipping it in her purse as she turns to Michelle."So, tell me more about this mystery man you're setting me up with."
"He's a banker… Or a lawyer. Maybe a doctor. I think."
The usually confident brunette flusters, and Donna smirks. "You're nervous."
"What, no." Michelle tries to play off the butterflies rolling around her stomach, but she caves under Donna's gleaming look. "Alright, fine. I really like Roy, Donna. But I know you know people…"
"And you want to know if you think he's wasting your time," Donna fills in, watching the woman nod sheepishly. "Of course I'll help."
Michelle relaxes back into the seat with a grateful sigh, and all Donna hopes is that her date isn't a lawyer. "Does my guy at least have a name?"
"Harry? Or maybe Hugo?"
She winces, making Donna chuckle as she shakes her head. Her friend has it bad, and she's going to do whatever she can to ensure the night runs smoothly.
The Uber pulls up at the restaurant right on time. They agreed to meet outside at eight, and Donna swings her handbag over her shoulder, feeling an odd sensation wash over her as climbs out of the car—a feeling she instantly recognizes when she sees Harvey on the sidewalk, his curious gaze roaming over her. She hides her surprise with a smile, about to excuse herself to say hello, when the man next to Harvey grins at Michelle and her stomach drops.
Sure enough, the sandy colored blonde starts in their direction, his pearly white grin flashing a polite introduction. "Hi, I'm Roy."
She nods, dumbfounded as he motions beside him.
"This is my friend, who also has the pleasure of dining with two beautiful women tonight, Harvey Specter."
Harvey's confusion is just as apparent as her own, but before he makes the situation more awkward, she jumps in, trying to save Michelle from winding up completely mortified. "Today's your lucky day, Harvey."
"Why is that?" He frowns, struggling to figure out if he's being subjected to some sort of practical joke.
Her eyes plead with him to play along, silently promising she'll fill him in on everything later. Michelle is already a nervous wreck. Her friend will be devastated if the double-date ends up being a bust. "Because it's the day you get to meet Donna."
He doesn't understand what the hell is happening, but the fact she's role-playing the night they met means something is going on, even if he isn't sure what. Trusting she knows what she's doing, he blindly follows her lead. "Let me guess, you're Donna."
Relieved he's not going to blow their cover, her lips curve around a smirk. "Oh, you have no idea how Donna I am."
She extends her hand, and he takes it, acting a little too cocky as his confusion turns to intrigue, and he commits himself to the con. Leaning in, he pretends to give her a kiss on the cheek, whispering in her ear. "I think I have some idea."
He slides himself back, introducing himself to Michelle with a charming smile, and she already regrets giving his ego a stage to play on. But she promised Michelle she'd be a supportive friend tonight, and it's only dinner. Something she and Harvey have done countless times before.
They enter the restaurant together, and when he extends his hand in the lobby, offering to take her bag and help with her coat, the chivalry is a step beyond his usual manners. He's always been considerate when they're out, holding doors and being courteous. But when he scoops her purse into the crook of his elbow, going to check her coat, she realizes she's signed herself up for the full Harvey Specter dating experience.
Roy and Michelle, however, seem oblivious to his show, happily engaging in conversation as they're shown to their table. Harvey pulls out her chair, making sure she's comfortable before taking his own seat. He grins, and she rolls her eyes. They're probably having too much fun for two people technically deceiving their friends, but if he's going to bring his A-game, then so is she.
Which is why, when their water approaches, she asks for a bottle of 1999 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Les Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Harvey's favorite. "My treat."
The couple beside them don't take notice of the label, but Harvey does, his expression relaxed and playful as menus are distributed around the table. Even without studying the ornate font, he knows what Donna's going to have; a fancy pasta dish with whatever salad is the new fad. But she'll only eat half of it, because she'll save room to share his chips, and then order dessert. He could play the same game she is, but instead he opts for a suggestion he knows will both catch her off guard. "I've heard the Veal here is amazing."
It takes Donna a great deal of effort not to wince offensively at a meal she would never touch. And she shows the same restraint by ignoring Harvey, and smiling sweetly at their waiter. "I'll have the Penne all'arrabbiata, with a rhubarb and walnut salad."
"And a side of fries," Harvey teases, regretting it when his shin is subjected to her heel. "For the table," he adds, taking the hint he isn't being covert enough, and ordering the Filet Mignon.
Michelle and Roy spend a little more time perusing their options, but it isn't long before their meals are on their way, and the waiter returns with their wine.
As soon as the drinks are poured, Donna seeks out the stem of her glass, shifting her attention to Roy. She's here to get a read on him for Michelle, but there's no reason she can't help her friend decipher her relationship, and dig into why Harvey's really here. The man has never been on a blind date in his life, but something must have spurred him into agreeing to come along. "So, Roy... How do you and Harvey know each other?"
"We used to play baseball together in college." He conceals a smirk, taking a sip of his drink. For almost twenty years he's kept the real reason Harvey gave up sports under wraps. And sticking to tradition, he boasts his friend's talent. "Believe it or not, Harvey almost went league, until he busted his shoulder during a game."
Donna snorts. "That's a lie—"
Harvey's eyes widened slightly, and she gulps down a large sip of wine. "Lifestyle change. Big one."
He slants his head, shrugging at her knowing expression. "What is it you do, Debbie? Excuse me… Donna."
His gaze glimmers mischievously and she matches his energy. "I'm the COO at a top law firm. Michelle said you're a lawyer… I'm surprised I've never heard of you."
"Not all heroes wear capes." He doesn't miss a beat, proudly brushing his lapel with a grin.
"No, but most know their own phone number." As soon as the mumble leaves her mouth, she knows she's being too obvious, because Michelle throws her a curious look.
"Asking for my number already?" Harvey swoops in, saving them both, and winking. "Don't you want to see how the date goes first, Donna?"
She taunts his cockiness with a daring smile."In that case, why don't we ditch the shop talk?" She challenges him, not necessarily suggesting they throw away all their boundaries. But forgetting about the firm tonight, leveling the playing field and enjoying each other's company is something she'll raise her glass to. "To real conversations."
Suddenly, he's knee deep in his own grave, but he isn't alone. He's not the only one holding a shovel, and he picks up his wine, accepting the toast. "To discovering new things."
His smug agreement makes her stomach flutter, and she drains the last of her drink, raising an eyebrow. He doesn't falter, seemingly relaxed, and for the first time since they met, she can't quite gauge if he's acting or not.
But she knows one thing; the night is certainly going to be an interesting one.
…
"No you didn't." Donna laughs candidly, refusing to buy the bullshit story Harvey just finished telling everyone.
"I did." He grins across at her. "You don't believe me, ask Marc—" a soft kick catches him under the table "—my brother." He corrects himself, narrowly avoiding another slip.
Their plates now empty, and three bottles of wine in, he's surprised neither he nor Donna have given themselves away. But without work as a fallback, they're genuinely seeing a different side of each other. After a decade of spending ten-hour days together, he's revelling in little details about her personal life that he's learning. At some point, what started out as a pretend date now feels real, and that notion should terrify him, but when a flutter of panic surfaced over his Filet Mignon, Donna's easy smile calmed his nerves. Something that's been happening for years—he was just too blind to notice.
"Give me Marcus' number, I'll text him right now," Roy laughs, cupping and squeezing Michelle's hand. "Do you have any siblings, Donna?"
She stiffens, the question making her uneasy, and she appreciates the fact Harvey takes the opportunity to top up her wine. "A sister. Half-sister, actually. We're not very close."
Harvey pushes her glass over, knowing how much she dislikes talking about her older sibling. He often forgets the woman even exists, and he smiles gently, taking the heat off her. "I wasn't close to my family for a long time, either. Fortunately, I had someone who helped me through it."
Warmth flushes Donna's cheeks as she picks up her drink, holding Harvey's gaze. "That must have been quite a someone."
"She means a lot to me," he says honestly, huffing at his own foolishness. "I've just never been good at telling her that."
Donna's heart skips as she takes a sip of wine, her skin still tingling when she catches Michelle and Roy sharing a confused look. Obviously, they don't know she's the person Harvey's referring to, and light sarcasm infiltrates her tone. "Maybe you should be dating her."
"Maybe I should," he answers, not taking the hint until her foot softly nudges his ankle, and he clears his throat. "I mean, maybe I should introduce you. I think you'd like each other."
Miraculously, he gets away with the bluff, and they fall seamlessly back into a four-way conversation with Michelle and Roy, laughing and flirting their way through dessert, until the end of their double-date draws to a close.
While Harvey and Roy collect their coats, Donna confides in Michelle that she thinks Roy is the real deal, and she sheepishly deflects when Michelle starts gushing over the chemistry sparking between her and Harvey all evening. The entire night has felt surreal, and when the guys return—Harvey helping her into her coat—she catches his gaze, nervous that leaving will break the spell they're under. But he clasps her fingers with a soft squeeze, holding her hand until all four of them are outside.
After saying their goodbyes, Michelle and Roy pile themselves into a cab, leaving her and Harvey alone on the sidewalk, and when he turns to her with a soft smile, she's relieved they can stop pretending. "Hi."
"Hey." He greets her properly. As much as he's enjoyed exploring this new dynamic between them, he would much rather continue as them, and not two strangers. "That wasn't what I was expecting."
She smirks. Despite her subtle probing, she still doesn't know what prompted him to show up, and she teases him. "Why did you agree to go on a blind date?"
Maybe it's the wine that's been free-flowing or the fact he hasn't held anything back all night, but he tells her the honest truth. "I ran into Roy a couple of weeks ago, and I saw how happy he was. I guess I thought the universe might deal me a good hand."
The answer isn't what she was expecting, and she narrows her gaze suspiciously. "You don't believe in serendipity."
He grins, taking a step closer to her and whispering. "You're right." It's no secret he believes in making his own luck, but even he can't deny that the odds of being set up with Donna were at least a million to one. "And yet, here we are."
"Here we are," she confirms, smiling as his hands snake out to loosely palm her waist. When he leans down, she reaches up on her toes, meeting his slow and delicate kiss—the kind someone would deliver on a real first date. She clutches his coat, breathing in his chuckle when he pulls back.
"I'm not usually this forward with women I've just met, but what do you say we go back to my place?"
She wouldn't exactly call biding his time for ten years direct, and she pats his chest playfully. "I'd say you're lying, and that you're an idiot. But yeah, I'd like that."
Beaming smugly, he hails them both a cab, guiding her to the door, and opening it for her.
"Harvey." She pauses, suddenly realizing that although their little game was fun, if they ever want to go to dinner with their friends again, they'll have to come clean. "What are we going to do about Michelle and Roy?"
"Tell them the truth. If it weren't for them, I'd still be clueless about the best thing that's ever happened to me." He doesn't feel bad about one small fib, not when it opened his eyes to something he's certain his friend is also feeling. But he can tell by Donna's flushing cheeks she's about to protest, and he smiles warmly. "They'll be happy for us. We were doing them a favor, remember?"
She doesn't know how, but he manages to quell her doubts, making her feel at ease, and she climbs into the cab, not sure if it was fate, karma, or just a coincidence that brought her and Harvey together tonight, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter.
Because they're both finally where they're supposed to be.
