Comfort When It's Cold

The light streamed in through the window – when was he going to invest in some blinds? – and blinded Mike behind his closed lids, illuminating them with an angry red colour. But since when was it so bright out before his alarm went off? Suddenly panicked, he shot upright in bed, groaning as his eyes struggled to flutter open against the too-bright sun. He flung his legs over the side of the bed as his eyes still tried to open, but was met by hard surface instead of a short drop to hardwood. What...

Oh. He was lying in an alley. That wasn't concerning at all... But suddenly it was all rushing back, and an all knew panic took over. He was mugged last night. Last night? God, he hoped so. He reached into his pocket for his phone – missing. Shit. He pulled himself up quickly, using the wall for support, before checking himself over for injuries. To his surprise, nothing hurt. Shouldn't something have hurt? Surely, after they'd knocked him out and left him there all night, he'd at least be sore from the concrete bed. But no, he felt fine. More than fine actually. Aside from the sick feeling in his gut... Harvey was going to kill him. Or worse, fire him.

It was with no great stalling that he made it to Pearson Specter Litt – actually, it was record timing, despite not having his bike (which too had been stolen) and not hailing a cab either. He was over an hour late for work – three hours actually – but he was sure Harvey wouldn't be too mad once he explained. If he let him explain that is...

He ran through the firm in a very unprofessional manner, all the way to Harvey's office, not giving Donna the chance to stop him as he barged into his boss' office.

"Harvey, I'm so sorry, I can explain everything, I swear, I didn't mean to-" He stopped. Harvey was staring at him incredulously.

"I thought you were murdered or something." Harvey said when it was clear that Mike wasn't going to say anything further.

The associate – well, hopefully he still had a job at all – gave a nervous laugh, shifting on his feet.

"Mike?" His suspicion was made clear by his hardened eyes and tight pressed lips.

"I made it to dinner on time last night... but I got jumped right outside." Damn, was Harvey even going to believe him? The man seemed to look him over, before getting up and stalking toward him.

Oh shit, Harvey was pissed. "Mugged, you say?"

"Yeah." He gulped, cowering slightly from the look of pure hate he had somehow inspired on the other's face.

"Did you go to the police?"

"And have them show me a bunch of pictures of guys they'll never find? No thanks."

"Did you go to the hospital?"

"No, I came straight here." The tension was overwhelming.

Harvey appeared to have grown three feet as he hovered in front of him, radiating tendrils of absolute rage. "What do you mean you came straight here?"

My gulped again. "I woke up in the alley this morning, and ran here. I thought-"

The man in front of him let out a threatening growl as he grabbed Mike at the back of his collar and heaved him from the office and down the hall, all but throwing him into the men's washroom. After it was apparent that they were alone, the intimidating Harvey that Mike wasn't overly fond of locked the door with a snap, and turned on his associate once more, backing him into the sink.

"Are you hurt?"

"What?"

"Are you hurt, Mike?" He ground out, tugging his tie from around his neck as gently as he could in his anger – although to Mike is seemed a little rough. "You woke up in an alley this morning and didn't seek medical attention. I'm asking you if you're hurt."

Mike thought about this. Now that the adrenaline had begun to wear off, he did feel a slight pinch in his side. Harvey seemed to catch this and began tugging off his clothes.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing?!"

"Checking you for injuries."

He made to protest, but the dangerous look he received shut him up quickly. It took seconds for him to be naked from the waist up, and Harvey looked none too pleased.

"You need a doctor."

"What? No I don't, I'm fine."

"You have a tear in your side, Mike."

And so there was... On his ribs, there was a long slit that ran around from his back to his front, but it wasn't bleeding and it wasn't really bothering him. "It's just a scratch." He insisted, prodding at the wound with his index finger.

Harvey slapped his hand away. "You need a doctor." He helped Mike back into his shirt, and threw him his jacket off the counter to put on. "Let's go."

"Harvey, I'm fine, I swear."

"No."

"Listen, I'll even work in your office, you can watch me the whole time."

"You think I'm going to let you work today?" The fury was back and building quickly. Mike decided to bring the situation down a notch before he got himself punched. Again.

"Harvey, I promise you. I feel fine. I'd like to just sit down and get to work."

They stared at each other for what felt like hours, neither backing down from their dominating staring contest. Eventually, Harvey broke with a sigh, taking the few steps it took to have Mike pressing himself back into the sinks. "Fine." He muttered quietly, picking up the silk tie he'd bought Mike as a birthday gift months ago – the one that made his eyes to that thing. "But you'll stay in my office."

"Deal." Mike affirmed, just as quietly, and let his tie be tied for him. He found himself holding his breath then, not trusting that at their current proximity that his breathing wouldn't set his ears on fire with how loud it probably was.

Harvey slung the fabric around his fingers expertly, but still much, much slower than usual. His focus seemed to be firmer than Mike was used to seeing. When had he gotten so close? He could feel his breath dancing across his lips as his tie was secured. Once it was to standard, Harvey gave it a pat, but then didn't let go. He stood there, staring at the tie with a blank look on his face.

"Harvey?"

Their noses brushed as the man looked up, staring intently at him. Mike was too lost in the contact to respond. It would seem though, that so was Harvey, because suddenly he was leaning in and his lips were pressed to his associate's. It ended too quickly though, with Harvey pulling barely away and staring back down, unseeing. He refused to look up, praying to god that he could lose his hearing before Mike said whatever it was that he was about to say. He could almost hear the words before they'd emerged from between his still parted lips. But then, none came. Instead, the words were replaced by lips again as Mike took a courageous step forward and twisted his fingers with Harvey's.

"You could have died." Harvey whispered into the kiss, not willing to break the much needed contact.

"I didn't." He continued the kiss, a soft, calculated pace that had them both reeling and soaring with heady nervousness.