After Mike ends the phone call with Kimi, he quickly types in his address and texts it to her. His hands are shaking still but this time, it's out of poorly contained excitement.
And then suddenly he freezes.
Mike can't believe it. All those years he thought she was dead, all those moments when he cried for her. He wants to laugh now. It's like the Earth has tilted on its axis and everything is falling apart (or coming together in his case), almost like this is how it's meant to be. Tilted and off-balance.
Not even bothering to control the wide grin on his face, Mike begins to tidy up. He puts away all the mail on his coffee table into a folder stuffed in the shelf, he grabs the broom and haphazardly sweeps the entire apartment, he wipes down the counters and shelves so that there's not even a speck of dust to be seen. All in all, he cleans like he's never cleaned before which isn't as much of a metaphorical statement than it is fact.
Not long after he sits down on the couch, there's a knock at the door. Before he knows it, Mike is on his feet, rushing towards the entrance and just as he's about to open the door, he stops.
Breathe in, breathe out. Relax, Mike. This can't be all that different from the last time you met her.
With great anticipation, Mike opens his front door at a leisurely pace so as to not seem so eager. He's greeted with the most nostalgic and wonderful sight of his life.
"Mike. I know this isn't a very good conversation starter but your apartment building looks like shit from the outside."
Mike makes no moves to indicate that he's heard her and just stares at her with a goofy smile on his face. He can't help but notice that her hair is still the same shoulder length and burgundy in shade. There's a faint scar over her right eye overlapping her thin eyebrow, but other than that she hasn't changed much.
Mike notices Kimi shuffling a little awkwardly as he's forcing her to stand out in the hall for no other reason than the fact that he zoned out. Quickly realizing the position he's putting her in, Mike steps back to give Kimi some room to enter. At least he has the good grace to look at least slightly abashed for his actions. Since he had shifted his gaze to the floor, the young man was startled to feel a hand cup his cheek. It's small, or smaller than what he remembers, but it still holds the same warmth and softness that he'd grown accustomed to.
He's brought of his musing when Kimi speaks,
"This must be a little overwhelming for you, huh honey?"
Mike meets Kimi's gaze and reaches up to clasp her hand in his.
"A bit. But in the best way possible."
Kimi seems caught off guard at that comment. Obviously she's been expecting some sort of backlash or resentment for what she supposedly did wrong. Mike doesn't want her to even think that he might be mad at her because he's not, so in order to make her understand how genuinely glad he is for her coming back, Mike steps forward and hugs Kimi tight. He can feel her tense minutely for a split second but she's to quick to respond with a hug back.
This is the moment he's dreamed of several times. The way he can feel her steady heartbeat, her hair tickling his forehead and cheek, the way her scent is strongest between her neck and shoulder with his arms wound tightly around her.
"You really missed this, didn't you? I can tell because I can't breathe." Kimi says this with a hint of humour and her voice sounds a bit airy, which is why Mike let's go of her in a rush.
When he pulls back, she's nothing but smiles and he blushes out of embarrassment.
"Sorry, I didn't realize."
"No need to apologize, Mister. I missed your hugs more than anything in the world."
She reaches forward and cups his face in her hands. Mike becomes aware of the tears forming in his eyes for the third time that night and before he can do anything about it, Kimi's thumbs are already there, wiping away the rushing tears pouring down his cheeks. She looks like she herself is about to cry but manages to keep herself together. It's more than what Mike is able to accomplish so he doesn't say anything.
He's about to remark on how emotional this is and if they keep this up, they'll never have time to catch up. He doesn't get the chance to say it when there's another knock at the door.
Not expecting any visitors aside from Kimi, Mike gives his closest friend a confused yet apologetic look. She acknowledges this as a surprise visit and offers Mike an encouraging smile.
"No worries, little man. I'll just scope out this man cave while you sort things out."
He scoffs at the 'man cave' reference and moves to open the door while Kimi makes herself comfortable.
He yanks the door open as he's annoyed at the fact that his reunion has been interrupted but then Mike is met with the sight of his boss and his secretary, both looking awfully uncomfortable and irritated. Harvey, a bit more irritated and Donna just looks plain uncomfortable.
"W-what are you guys doing here?" he chokes out.
Mike thinks that maybe Harvey looks extremely out of place and probably feels the same as well. He notices how he won't make eye contact with him instead opting to look past him and into his apartment. Donna, on the other hand, seems more in control. Her body language is less tense than Harvey's and she's looking at Mike rather inquisitively.
"We need to talk. And before you even think it, I'm not here because Donna said so."
Not only did that earn Harvey a look from Donna but Mike felt himself get a little angry.
"So basically, you're here because Donna said so." Mike leaves a pause in the middle for it to sink in. "You don't honestly expect me to believe that you, self proclaimed heartless bastard, are here to talk things out of your own volition because the Harvey that I know, or at least think I know, doesn't talk about anything."
Donna, immediately assuming the role of mediator, steps forward and effectively cuts Harvey off before he says anything he might (read: will) regret and turns to Mike with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Just hear us out, okay? You don't have to say anything but will you at least listen?"
"Even if I wanted to, now's not a good time. I'm busy."
"With what?" asks Harvey.
"Oh so now you give a shit about my personal life."
Harvey's full out glaring at his associate at this point even though he understands Mike's resentment. Still, he doesn't like being on the receiving end of it.
"You're right, I don't give a da-" Harvey's unable to finish the sentence because he gets cut off by a voice behind Mike.
"Now, now, Mike. Behave. That's not how you greet people at the door."
Mike turns around to face the person behind him and softens his expression.
"Sorry, Kimi. But they're not strangers. They're just work colleagues."
The omission of the words 'boss' and boss's secretary' aren't lost on the two.
"Wait. Kimi?" All eyes turned to Donna in question.
"How do you know her?"
"I don't, Mike, but I was the one to answer her call, remember?"
Kimi's eyes brighten in recognition and steps forward to face Donna. "Now I remember why your voice sounds so familiar. Thank you, by the way, for forwarding my number to him. I know I didn't specifically ask you to but I really appreciate it nonetheless."
Mike turns to stare at Donna wide eyed, clearly having mistook Donna's attitude earlier that day. He was certain that the secretary was unhappy with having to forward that message for him and he was under the impression that she would rather have not wasted her precious time on him.
It doesn't help that Donna herself looks slightly embarrassed (a look not seen on her often) and gives Mike an apologetic smile.
"It was no big deal. I did it mainly for my own convenience." I was trying to avoid icy encounters with the puppy.
"Are we going to talk or are we wasting our time here?" says Harvey. "Because it's not nice to keep your boss waiting."
"He's your boss? Mike! Why didn't you say that before?" Kimi quickly grabs Mike by his arm and gently steers him inside, effectively clearing the way for his "work colleagues" to enter. Harvey and Donna are quick to oblige and are inside the apartment before Mike has even reached the couch. He doesn't want to confront them when he and Kimi were in the middle of an important conversation (more like emotional turmoil) and has no desire to air his dirty laundry to his oldest and closest friend because for as long as Mike can remember, the very few friendships he did establish in his life all diminished because of someone's personal drama. So he understandably doesn't want to take that chance right now, not when he just got Kimi back.
Donna sits herself on the far end of the couch and faces Mike. She realizes immediately that Mike's trying to make himself unknown, for what reason she can't decide, but it makes him look utterly pathetic. She continuously watches him so as to make eye contact but the kid won't even look away from the floor. Turning to face Harvey, she motions for him to take a seat but her boss doesn't budge. He instead chooses to sit at the kitchen table, distant from the confrontation-to-be but close enough to contribute. Donna eyes him critically and tries to communicate her dissatisfaction through her gaze but is effortlessly ignored.
Meanwhile, Kimi has stationed herself in the kitchen, noises of pots and glasses clattering followed by the aroma of coffee. Some few minutes later, she's in the living room with a tray full of coffee mugs, pots of milk and sugar, and a plate with some cookies to go with it. Kimi sets it down on the table and smiles at Donna.
"I know it's a bit unconventional to serve coffee so late in the evening but this little man has absolutely nothing."
At this point, Kimi's shooting Mike an intense disapproving look and moves to sit on the armrest that Mike is sitting next to. Harvey has yet to speak or offer any words of introduction, so Donna takes it upon herself to steer this conversation in a more appropriate direction.
"So, uh, how are you and Mike related?" If she notices Mike tense at her question, she doesn't acknowledge it.
"Oh. Well..we go way back. I was his babysitter, initially, but when his parents died, I took him in for a couple months before complications arose."
"What kind of complications?"
Mike is looking at her too and it dawns on the secretary that maybe this is information that Mike wasn't privy to either.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. It's too personal."
Donna nods her head slowly and focuses on Mike. He's still looking at Kimi but it's a sad, regretful type of look. She starts to wonder what really happened to change their living circumstances. And then something occurs to her that doesn't make any sense.
"You said you were Mike's babysitter but you're so young. You couldn't possibly have been that much older than Mike to babysit him."
Kimi lets out a nervous laugh and starts to look a little uncomfortable. She was secretly hoping hat no one would mention the differences in their age, not because Donna was right but because it makes her feel so self-conscious and it's road she doesn't want to go down again.
"Yea, about that. I'm flattered that you think I'm in my early twenties but I'm really not. I just don't age that fast. I'm well into my mid thirties now."
"No." Donna is unaware of her hanging jaw and bulging eyes.
"Yes." Kimi's staring at her lap a little awkwardly but quickly brushes it off by turning to Harvey.
"So, you're his boss, huh? How's he been doing?" Her hand is resting on top of Mike's head now and is slowing rubbing her thumb in circles at the back of his head. Kimi is looking at Harvey with a smile on her face which slowly dissipates when she notices the tension in the room intensify.
"Well, he's got much to learn, that's for sure." Straight to the point, as usual.
"Oh. I'm sure he'll catch on. Mike's always been smart that way."
"Clearly not." It's the first time Mike has spoken, though very softly, since he sat down and is still staring intently at the floor as he says it. Then suddenly he's not staring at the floor any more is staring at Harvey instead, eyes hard and hollow. "Whatever it is that you want to say, can it wait? I mean, it's not like I don't want to hear you fire me and all, but I'd rather hear it where my dignity isn't being compromised."
That raises several eyebrows.
And then Harvey is talking and his voice is basically pouring with sarcasm.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mike. Forgive me for not realizing how important your dignity is to you. It's a little hard to remember that when you seemed to have forgotten it right before you lost."
Mike straightens his posture defensively and retorts, "I knew you were an asshole but I didn't think you were an insensitive prick."
"Woah, woah. Slow down cowboys, this was supposed to be civilized", says Donna. She's standing in between the two of them for the second time with her arms held out towards the both of them. She turns to Kimi with an awkward smile and says, "I'm sorry. This was a bad time, we'll come back later."
Kimi's not listening though as she's observing the two men glare the living daylights out of each other. They haven't wavered in the slightest. Mike is tense and his breathing has become faster while Harvey is sitting straighter with his arms crossed. Her expression becomes sad and then as if Donna's words have just registered with her, gives a quick smile.
"Don't worry about it. In fact, I'd rather you resolve this here and now."
Kimi's voice is authoritative and Donna almost feels like throwing in a salute to complete the look she was giving her. Donna chances a glance at the two males in front of her and thinks about how this might play out. Not good, that's how.
"I realize that I'm new to this conflict so enlighten me. What the hell is going on? Losing? Mike, where do you work?"
Mike is still tense and rigid but when he meets Kimi's gaze, his posture deflates. He's not looking at his friend anymore, opting to look at his feet instead, and says nothing. When it becomes apparent that she's not getting a response, Kimi turns to Harvey. Her face is set in stone and she's ready to fight tooth and nail for Mike despite being unaware of the entire situation. After all, Harvey is an unknown threat to her as far as she's concerned.
Harvey sighs deeply and takes on a contemplative look before saying, "He's my associate. I'm an attorney and I hired Mike as my associate at Pearson Hardman three months ago."
Kimi's face pales considerably and slowly turns to look at Mike. Her voice is low and hesitant.
"You work...at a law firm? You're a lawyer? But...you're only twenty. How in the hell did you manage that? And don't even lie about having gone to law school."
Now it's Mike who becomes sheet white as he ducks his head between his hunched shoulders. He has a feeling that the next few hours will not be pleasant.
Donna and Harvey are slack-jawed at this new information and are silently wondering how it never occurred to them. Before Donna is able to reign in her shock and pacify the situation a little, Harvey is already on his feet with shock written all over his face.
"You're twenty years old? You lied about your age?" Mike detects an undercurrent of stronger anger in his boss's voice.
Previous issue forgotten, everyone is staring at Mike with unimpressed looks. Mike glances at the rest of the three briefly before offering a sheepish smile.
"Hah. Surprise?"
"You are in so much trouble, little man."
A/N: Ahhh okay so this chapter was fun to write though I kind of struggled with the dialogue. I hope you guys like the read though. And I hope was able to portray the awkward tension in the air the entire time. LOL
Read and review please! I tend to be motivated to continue when there are reviews. :P