"I fucked up."

"Yes you did."

He didn't even have a response for that snarky employee of his. She was right. Unfortunately, his memory didn't hold onto that thought as he made his way towards the bullpen. Instead, he was just angry. How dare he? Ugh! There were just too many things for he to have dared to do. Firstly, leaving him after he made him. Who does that? Actually, when you put it that way, it's not so uncommon. But surely Mike had more decency than that. After everything they'd been through... And then on top of that, he didn't even have the decency to say it to his face! If he'd been thinking with the logical part of his brain he would have understood. Lately, he flipped out at Mike over anything and everything. Of course the kid wouldn't have come to him with something this critical. But he wasn't thinking with the logical part of his brain. He was thinking with the brain that was seething. The voice in his mind gnashed it's viciously sharp teeth together, tethered by a thin chain of sanity – rationality having been blown way out the window by then – and searching furiously for something to sink those pearly whites into. The forked tongue dripped venom that pooled into a picture that somewhat resembled his associate's – ex-associate's – face. He nearly growled out loud as he turned into the bullpen – but then froze in his tracks, all thoughts of fury dispelled.

Mike was standing beside his desk, holding a small stack of briefs, donning an elegant smile. It made Harvey's heart clench in beautiful and uncomfortable ways. He only wished that smile was for him. Louis was the lucky winner this time. The voice's eyes turned an envious green, and the forked tongue snaked out as it hissed. Mentally, he tried to scold his inner demon, hushing it until it slunk to the back of his mind. He followed suit, turning and exiting the room quickly, making his way back to his office.

This was a nightmare. He spun his chair so that it was facing the window, and he stared out over his grand city. He was the king, and a lonely king at that. He heard someone enter, but didn't bother to turn and look; he already knew who it was. He heard her sit down in the chair next to his desk, heard her hands fold neatly over the top and her legs cross. He even heard the mild expression she wore, save for times like these.

"What happened with Mike?"

He turned the chair then to face her. She wasn't going to let this go, he knew it.

"Tell me."

He sunk back in his chair; head leaned down against the back as he looked at her. "I slept with him."

"Harvey!" She blanched, shocked beyond description.

"He was gone before I woke up."

Well, that was unexpected... She waited for him to continue.

"So I thought he thought it was a mistake..."

"Harvey," she said again, softer this time. She didn't want to feel sorry for him, but she couldn't help it. She was sorry for all of them really. It was a painful situation, even to those who weren't Harvey or Mike. It sucked.

"I told him not to talk about it."

"So..." there was obviously more to it. But Harvey spoke in a language known to very few. Donna knew. But she still had very little to go off of. "He freaked out, then got hurt and left...?"

His smile held little humor. "It was a couple of weeks ago."

"Oh." She thought on this. "What?"

"The other night he told me he couldn't keep his feelings out." He shrugged, head bobbing slightly from its place on the headrest. "I let him walk out, and then in the morning I had it out with him. Bad. I didn't know he was thinking about leaving..."

"Harvey, I-"

"People don't leave me." He was sitting straighter then, posture rigid. If she hadn't known him so well, she'd have thought this new persona dangerous. But she knew him, and she knew that he was hurting, trying to protect himself, and begging her for words of comfort. Could she offer him that?

"No one's leaving you, Harvey." She smiled sadly, trying to control her emotions. One of them had to be strong...

"You're right, because he already left." He laughed, and it was a self-deprecating sound. It hurt to hear.

"Get him back."

"What?"

"Talk to him."

He sighed. "Donna-"

"Harvey, you guys have seriously communication issues." Her raised eyebrows said enough, she wasn't asking. She was telling. "Talk to him."

SUITS

He'd been thinking about it all day. What was he going to say to Mike? Surely he couldn't just ask him to come back. Of course not. There had to be a lead in... Somehow... Unfortunately after hours of contemplation, he still wasn't ready when he'd run into Mike in the hallway.

"Mike," he greeted, in a halting sort of way.

Mike stopped in his tracks, eyes snapping up from the briefs he was no doubt memorizing. "Harvey," he greeted back, voice filled with nervous shock.

"How are you today?"

"I'm fine," his brow knitted together as he searched his boss' – ex-boss' – face for signs of what the hell was going on... Wasn't he mad? "How are you?" He tensed for the blow.

"Been better," he smirked. "How's working for Louis?"

He was afraid to answer. Really, truly afraid. He'd seen Harvey lose his temper enough times to know that his face was too precious for what Harvey could do. He tried not to step back as he replied. "Great, I've been learning a lot. Actually, I'm heading out to a deposition right now, so if we could continue this later?" He tried to escape around him, but a firm hand grabbed his arm before he could.

"Mike..."

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you could help me with a case?" What? What case? Where did that even come from?

"Harvey, I'm kind of busy..."

"No you're right, Louis work comes first. But we both know you're better than the other associates, and I wouldn't trust any of them in a million years." His smirk was faltering. What was he doing? His inner demon was hiding beneath a rug.

Mike watched him skeptically, putting the pieces together. It was all Harvey could do to not shift his feet under the intense gaze. Suddenly, Mike's expression swung and his eyes grew dark with some misplaced humor. He stepped forward, feeling braver now that he knew what game they were playing. "Flattery, Mr Specter?"

Harvey took a step back before he could stop himself. "If you don't want to help, that's fine. I hear I have to start being nicer to the associates anyway. Jessica calls it 'trust issues'." He screwed up his face as he stage whispered the last part, aiming for humor but failing.

"Right, that's it," Mike's darkened eyes seemed to be peering into his soul, devouring him. His inner demon gave a shudder. He was still walking forward.

"That is it." Suddenly, his defenses were in full swing.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with this," he moved his hand between them, a gesture that said a lot more than it should.

"What is this, Mike?" He mimicked his movements, giving him a no games sort of look.

"You know," he stepped forward again. "You tell me not to make things personal, but this time," he poked his finger into his shoulder, a move he'd probably end up regretting. "You're making it personal." He knew he crossed the invisible line as soon as he had. Harvey's entire demeanor changed. Oh shit. But before he could do anything about it, it shifted back.

"You're right, Mike." He offered him a tight smile. "You are a good lawyer, aren't you?" And with that, he made his grand escape.

"Well?" Donna asked, rising and following him into the office.

"Well what?"

"I saw you talking to Mike."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"That good, huh?"

He didn't respond, knowing full well that in his irritation he'd say something to offend her and she'd leave. He needed the company. She seemed to get that.

SUITS

Harvey was getting ready to leave, he had his briefcase and jacket, and he was heading towards the elevators. Finally, the day was over.

"Harvey."

Oh. Great. Not over yet. With well practiced grace, he plastered the bored mask onto his face and turned around. "Mike."

"I'm taking you up on that offer."

"What offer?"

"The one where you need help with your case and I'm generous enough to lend a hand." Harvey couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. He'd better not be, with the way he was speaking to him, but he so wished he was.

"You're going to help me with a case?" His eyebrows lifted in disbelief, and humor danced across his lips.

"Let me guess..." Mike's stance shifted, growing taller and more confident, but his expression seemed to relax infinitesimally. "There is no case."

Harvey's eyebrows remained high as he shook his head, eyes laughing. Popping the 'p' to make a point, he replied, "Nope."

Mike shook his head with a grin, and gestured towards the elevator.

They travelled down together in silence, both hiding their joy at each other's presence. As mad as they both were, it was hard to not find solace in the other's company.

When they got to the bottom, Mike ducked his head and waited for Harvey to exit the box before he followed dutifully behind him, priding when Harvey turned to see where he was.

The air outside was chilly; warm enough to ignore the empty cabs, but cold enough that they each tugged their jackets closer around them. With a shaky breath that he could see in the air in front of him, Harvey managed to get a glimpse of his ex-associate without being noticed. The kid seemed oddly closed off. Something that seemed completely out of place on him. Where was that excitement he loved so much?

"How was the deposition?" Even his voice sounded cold.

"It was great," Mike beamed, and suddenly went into full chatter-mode, telling Harvey this and that, replaying dialogue out loud, gushing over everything he learned. Harvey was glad for it. For a few moments, he had the old Mike back. The trusting, carefree, happy Mike. His insecurities murmured Louis' Mike, but his inner demon shut the thought up quickly, before returning to sulk under its rug.

Mike hesitated at the door of the bar before sighing and walking through the door Harvey held open for him. Of course they were here.

"Do you remember that time Craig Carlson cussed you out?" He emphasized the name comically, eyes twinkling as he recalled the memory.

Harvey took a swig of his beer, making a face as he too remembered that fateful day... "He will forever regret that."

Mike laughed, and it was nearly unravelled Harvey right there. The sound was so pure; it almost brought his inner demon out from under the rug. Almost. The musical sound died almost as quickly as it had begun, and his expression grew solemn. "I thought you were going to do that to me today."

Harvey felt like a cold rock had formed where his stomach should be. He felt sick. "Mike... I would never..."

"I know, it was dumb, I just..."

He looked at him with sympathy then, not bothering to mask his affection for the kid. "Never, Mike." He reiterated, needing to get the point across.

"I know," he closed his eyes briefly, then dragged his fingers across the man's knuckles. "You're intimidating sometimes."

Well, that wasn't exactly news. "I don't want to intimidate you."

"But you do."

"Mike, I-" I what? What could he say? Did he have something to say? Would there ever be an end to that sentence?

"I know," he whispered, not looking up. He stared at the glass in his hands, watching the bubbles come to the top of his drink.

It was a selfish move, but he did it anyway. He reached his hand across the table, and unwrapped on of Mike's hands from his glass, and squeezed it gently with his, not taking his eyes off him. When Mike seemed to relax, Harvey pulled away, immediately missing the contact.

"Remember that time Hunter Stone cussed me out?" His grin was filled with mischief then.

Mike laughed. "A lot of people cuss you out." He laughed again, shaking his head, eyes filled with admiration for the man in front of him. "Yeah, I do remember."

"I'm not the only one that can be intimidating." He hid his grin in his glass, drawing a mouthful of golden alcohol.

"Unfortunately my fists can't take a punch like yours can."

"I've had a lifetime of training," he brushed it off, sweeping his fingertips across the other's knuckles again, the memory stained into his head. "In that moment, Mike..." he stopped at that. Mike could do with that what he wanted, and Harvey would do the same. "Come work for me."

"What?"

"I don't want to know what kind of lawyer I'd be without you."

"Harvey..."

When he looked up, his eyes were pleading. This was it. The walls were down. Was this it? It seemed like it. Now or never... He seemed so open now...

"Look, I don't know how to say it, so I'm just gonna come out and say it, but I don't want to lose you."

Did he flinch? It seemed like he flinched. His eyes remained downcast. Say something...

He looked up to him for the shortest of seconds and then dropped his eyes to stare at the lawyer's regal silk tie. It suited him.

"I can't..."

Harvey didn't seem surprised by this, nor did he seem upset by it. His expression turned once again to that of sympathy as he tilted his head to the side. His eyes looked apologetic. He knew this was coming, didn't he...

Without looking away from him, Harvey put his hand out and took Mike's once again, tracing the back of his hand gently with his thumb. Normally, every fiber of his being would be screaming for him to leave. Flee before the blows started to hurt. But this time, he just wanted Mike here.

SUITS

"You seem happy," Mike smiled.

"Hello, Donna." She grinned in response.

"Here late, aren't you?"

"As are you."

Her smile was sly. She sat down beside him and turned her attention to the file at hand. "What's this?"

"Some files for Harvey."

"For Harvey?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't know you were still doing things for Harvey."

"Yeah well neither does he, so if you could not tell him..." But the question hung in the air. "He doesn't trust the other associates with his work, and frankly, neither do I. They aren't worth the risk to his reputation or his cases."

At her continued silence, Mike glanced up at her. Her expression was unreadable. "Why can't he know?" She asked eventually.

Mike shrugged. "What doesn't know won't hurt him."

She nodded, understanding, but wishing she didn't. Mike had rejected him, in more ways than one. But Harvey had asked him to come back, he'd laid it all out in front of them – in as big a statement as one so damaged could muster – and Mike had turned him down. It would be a slap in the face to know that Mike was doing associate's work for him.

"He doesn't need your pity, Mike." She suddenly felt very defensive of her friend.

Mike's eyes snapped up again, horrified this time. "I don't pity him," he whispered, not moving.

What the hell was going on? "So then what are you doing?" Mike continued to stare at her, mouth parted slightly, eyed showing just how bewildered he really was. "Oh my god." She stood up. He stood with her. "You're in love with him."

At this, he couldn't look at her anymore. He broke the eye contact and stared down at the floor, wishing it would just swallow him up already and hide him forever. In his ear, his shoulder angel gave a tired sob. On the other shoulder, his shoulder devil stomped it's foot down passionately. Oh yes. Yes, he was very much in love with him.