Mike swallowed a gulp of the bourbon. Liquid courage, save for the part that he still wasn't feeling very courageous. Harvey was sitting on the couch, folder in his lap, bare back facing Mike, who was shaking from nerves. He'd never seen Harvey in anything less than professional. Even when he had shown up drunk at Harvey's door and Harvey was dressed down it was still professional. So seeing this side of him was quite a treat. "We're missing something. I'm missing something." Harvey murmured as Mike sat down beside him. "We're going to be here all night." he said more to Mike this time.
"Well, that sucks because I'm not sitting in this suit all night." Mike said, stripping himself of his jacket and tie, loosening the top couple of buttons on his shirt. Harvey glanced over at him for a second, skimming his eyes down the more relaxed looking associate but when his thoughts started to wander he focused his attention back on to the files in front of him.
"You can put those in the bedroom closet if you want to keep them wrinkle free. There are some sweat pants and t-shirts in there, too. They might be a couple sizes bigger than you but you just might make the cut." Harvey offered.
"Quit while you're ahead, I might start thinking you care about my comfort."
"No."Harvey deadpanned. "You work better when you are comfortable, your work reflects on me. I absolutely care about me." He pushed Mike away from the couch and watched as he began to unbutton the rest of his shirt before looking back down at the files. This was going to be a very long night.
Mike scratched his head as he rummaged through the sweat pants trying to find a pair that would fit the best. Finally he settled for a gray pair that hung on him loosely but were manageable. The bottom hems of the pants legs dragged the ground, but Harvey's floor was so clean that the pants were probably getting cleaner with every step.
He grabbed an empty coat hanger and draped his pants over the bottom bar and pulled his shirt over the edges, buttoning the top button so it wouldn't slide off. He rolled the tie over the shirt and pulled the jacket over that then hung it up next to one of Harvey's suits. It looked like that movie Beauty and the Beast so Mike decidedly took it back down and hung it on the door hook away from the rest of the clothes. He put his shoes on the rack next to Harvey's which were also a couple of sizes bigger and a couple hundred dollars more expensive. Mike frowned at the contrast between Harvey and himself, it was reflected in every aspect of their lives, from their clothes to their reasons for taking cases to their appearance and size. Mike jammed his socks down into the shoes and grabbed a t-shirt from on top of a shelf and put it on, not caring that it was hanging quite far past his hips.
"Harvey, I don't know what exactly you are looking for but…" Mike stopped as he seen Harvey leaned over, head in his hands, disappointment in his posture.
"I'm really sorry Mike. I got you into this mess."
"What are you talking about?" Mike asked. "This is just a tactic, they are trying to scare us. Nothing else."
"No, they are trying to scare me." He murmured and held up an envelope. Mike snagged the thick paper in his fingers and opened it up. More pictures, this time with Mike cut out of them except for the few where it looked like Harvey was angry with him, those he was left in. Pictures from tonight, of mike getting out of Harvey's town car with him and walking into the condo building.
Mike bit back his sickness. This was just wrong. "When did…"
"While you were changing, someone slid them under the door. I went to get some water, saw the package laying there."
"What exactly…"
"I think someone is offended by the fact that they assume you and I are…"
"Oh. So this isn't a client. It's probably one of your conquests." Harvey rolled his eyes.
"Whoever it is, they are trying to rattle us, and doing a pretty goddamn good job." Harvey said getting up and taking the pictures from him. "Mike, I was wrong, and that doesn't usually happen, and if it does I don't admit to it, but I am now. I was wrong and now this is dangerous. You should go."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"No."
"Mike just…" His phone buzzed on the table and he walked over to pick it up holding up a finger to Mike, telling him to wait. "Hello, this is Harvey Spector." He answered. "Who is this?" he demanded after a second of waiting. "Look, I don't know who the hell you are but I will find out and when I do…" Harvey's face went pale and Mike walked over to him, touching his wrist to get his attention but Harvey grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. "Stay away from him." Harvey growled. "You have no idea what you're talking about." After a couple more seconds Harvey snapped the phone shut picked up a remote and pressed a button. For a moment Mike waited and then he noticed the ceiling to floor curtains moving toward one another, blocking out the view of Manhattan.
"What's going on?" Mike asked as Harvey sat down, still holding Mike's hand. He pulled the smaller man down on the couch next to him.
"Someone's watching us." Harvey avoided Mike's eyes.
"Harvey, what's going on." Mike demanded this time.
"Remember when I told you that I hadn't always lived this way."
"I have an eidetic memory Harvey."
He pursed his lips and gave Mike a look that called him a dick. "I wasn't kidding. I made some enemies. I think this is one of them." He finally met Mike eyes.
"What did they say?"
"For me to tell you the truth about me. About you. About how I feel about you."
"Harvey I…"
"No, Mike, I should." Harvey looked away then back to Mike. "I care about you. Not because you're my associate or friend or anything like that but because for some sick twisted reason in my head I look at you differently than anyone else." Harvey smiled tightly. "Your eyes, they're crazy, they drive me crazy. The way you are always so emotional, the way I wish I was sometimes. I see the best of everything in you. I've seen you at bad times. I've seen you drunk and hurt and upset and high and half asleep and during all of those times, you were still the most beautiful thing I had ever seen." Mike breathed in a sharp deep breath. This couldn't be happening. No way.
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Always,
Alice
