To the lovely diff-r-ent-1 who gave me this idea. I hope I covered everything.
It's been a long time everyone. I really don't want to pour out lame excuses, but I'm guessing it was because of writers block/ lack of motivation. Some people said something not so nice about my writing and that kind crushed something inside of me. However, I'm still here and I will finish what I started. I borrowed some dialogue snippets from Suits, so credit goes to them. This is part one and there will be future parts depending on how long the story will be. To those of you reading this thank you. Enjoy!
It had started out as a normal day really. It was just the usual, Mike being late for work, Harvey affirming the 'punctuality is everything' line, and Stiles tagging along. It had taken awhile for Harvey to let Stiles back into the firm again after his little injury with Harvey's client, but all matters were resolved within their own time.
Stiles wondered how Scott had been dealing with the whole werewolf thing. He was his best mates anchor pulling him down to sanity whenever needed, but he found himself ditching that job when slowly by slowly Scott learned how to control it. He remembered when Scott asked why he hadn't screamed the first time he transformed in front of him. Stiles told him that the day of the accident the face of the murder wasn't human. In that instant Scott threw himself at Stiles and broke down emotionally calling himself a monster. He comforted his friend in the death gripped embrace, and told him humans did horrific things, but not all of them are monsters. It had been an emotional night for both of them. He grinned bitterly at the memory.
"Stiles!" Harvey hauled Stiles to the side as a biker drove swiftly past the spot he'd been, cursing while doing so. "Can you for once pay attention without getting hurt?" He snapped at the boy.
Stiles apologized sheepishly adding a sarcastic retort and was once again aware of his surroundings.
The trio entered building and he breathed in the familiar air of paper, dispute, and sophistication, but at the same time was cautious to keep his head down. Even though the accident was about approximately three months ago, there had been too much chaos that day to forget so easily. The last thing he needed was people coming up to him and asking "Are you alright?" or a load of other questions. No thank you.
He was once again acquainted with a certain strawberry blonde in front of Harvey's office. "Hey Donna," he greeted, "You look great."
She brushed her hair behind her shoulder. "Please, tell me something I don't know."
Harvey lightly snorted in his cup of coffee as he entered his office. Oh Donna.
In many ways did she remind him of Lydia. For one thing, their hair color was exactly the same, they both are intelligent, and they're not afraid to hand your ass to you. Hey, could there be a funny chance that they're related, too?
"Oh, and tell your daddy he's been handed a new case."
Stiles froze in shock and felt his jaw drop to the floor, panic seizing his heart. She knows! Now the whole firm will find out, and his father would be embarrassed for life! What if because of him Harvey quits!? He really couldn't live with himself, or look into Harvey's eyes for that matter.
"H-how on earth did you-" he stopped in his tracks. Wait a minute. This was Donna he was dealing with. She knew everything.
She answered his stuttering with a smirk and handed him the case.
He entered Harvey's office still dumbfounded as ever. "You told her and wouldn't even warn me?" he squeaked.
"I didn't have to."
"Ok Mr. Enjoy-giving-me-a-heart-attack." he dropped the case on Harvey's desk.
"What's this?"
"Birthday present from Donna." He replied.
Harvey sighed. Oh great. He really didn't like criminal trials because sometimes he had to defend them when deep down in his heart he knows they got their hands dirty. But don't get emotionally attached to your clients' right?
"Harvey, Jessica wants to see you." Donna said through the intercom. She clearly was not amused.
"Why?" he asked.
"Something about the puppy."
Harvey rolled eyes. Of course Mike did something. He swears his hair's going to turn grey from these two (God forbid). Puppy number one and puppy number two both biting at his shoes and making him clean up their messes-except for the fact that he had blood relation with one of them.
He jabbed his finger at Stiles who was lazily sprawled out on his couch. And so the lecture began. "Do not step foot out of my office, don't breathe, touch, or look at any of the cases, and Stiles if you lay a finger on one of my records I'm kicking your ass and feeding you to Louis faster than you can say 'ballerina'."
"You wouldn't kick your only son's ass, would you?" he teased cheekily.
"I mean it Stiles," he deadpanned. "Behave."
Stiles drew a lazy salute. "Aye aye, captain."
Harvey gave him 'the look' before leaving his office. He swears this kid's going to be the death of him…
…...
While Harvey left, Stiles waited, and waited… and waited. 20 minutes passed and he swears the clicking of the clock is driving him insane! It's no fun when Harvey tells you not to touch anything. You start to feel like you bound to some sort of spell.
Stiles reckons Harvey's senses are about 1/10, so he can touch a few things right? Maybe he can get away with it and be quick? But then again… Donna's is a 10, and is literally Batwoman, and all hell would break loose if he got caught.
His eyes travelled to the case he brought to Harvey. He couldn't help wanting to read it since there was nothing to do. Stiles peered through the transparent glass to see if Donna was there. Surprisingly, the scary woman wasn't. She's maybe on her lunch break or had to go pee or something.
Stiles grinned deviously and poked at the case that was temptingly calling his name. Harvey said nothing about reading the cases right? He brushed his fingers lightly on the front cover of the file.
This was it.
He flipped the first page and suddenly felt his heart poke against his ribcage, the whole world around him frozen.
No. This couldn't be.
The face of the monster who murdered his mother popped into view. The one he desperately tried to forget all these years. His cold stone eyes haunted him in his sleep along with that vicious scar on his lips.
Stiles can never forget that inhuman roar he gave out when he slashed his mother's throat, her scream dying instantly along with her. And the most tragic thing is, is that Stiles preferred those animal-like red eyes over his mother's lifeless ones that remained open, staring at her beloved son as her spirit left her body; never to return. She was gone. Forever.
He heard a growl.
"Stiles."
He would have snapped out of his reverie if it wasn't so painfully strong.
Harvey strolled into his office anger blazing in his eyes on how quick the boy was to disobey his commands. "I thought I told you t-"
"Did you love my mother?" Stiles suddenly whispered. He fought against all those tears that pushed against his eyes threatening to fall. He would not cry in front of Harvey.
Harvey was taken aback. Stiles never asked this before. The kid asked a lot of questions and he couldn't keep his mouth shut even if his life depended on it, but why out of all questions this one? Why now and not before?
"Why?" he stuck with.
A rare gap of silence distanced them. Stiles was as frozen as ice and Harvey grew a little concerned. Is this another panic attack? Shaking his he pushed the thought aside. If it was it be more dramatic.
"Stiles look at me." He demanded softly.
When Stiles still remained glued to the floor Harvey moved towards him and grabbed his arm spinning the boy around to face him. What he saw he never wanted to see again. It's as if someone pulled Stiles' eyes out and wrung them of life then put it back into his head. Why was he acting this way he had no clue.
They stared at each other's pupils for a while until Stiles broke eye contact. He couldn't keep his hands from shaking or the sniff that escaped his nose. He was surprised he didn't have another panic attack by now. He thanked almighty God for it.
Harvey looked at the opened file in front of them. His eyes darted from the case to Stiles suspiciously wondering is this why he's acting so strange?
Stiles' small, shaky voice broke the tense silence. "Harvey? Can you do me a favor?"
Curious, Harvey grunted for the teen to go on.
"Promise me you won't have anything to do with this monster." He beseeched pointing at the picture of the criminal.
"Harvey you have meeting with Jay Smith." Donna announced through the intercom, breaking an important bond she knew not of.
Damn.
Out of all times now he had a meeting.
"I'll be back." Harvey said and starting walking out of the office.
However, before he stepped out of the door Stiles' hand shot out and grabbed his for dear life. "Promise me!" he urgently pleaded.
Harvey questioningly looked at his begging, persistent eyes, but nonetheless spoke the words.
"I promise."
Little did he know how hard it was to be a man of your word.
...
Harvey was furious. No, scratch that; he was livid.
First, they give him a case about a woman who was viciously murdered; failing to note that it was his son's own mother! Then, they want him to accept this case with open arms and solve it? Not on his watch! It didn't take long for Harvey to figure out why Stiles was acting so strange, but nonetheless he actually read the file this time and he almost temptingly threw it out the window. No, he had a better idea. In a way, he was sort of proud of Stiles for handling it that smoothly. How many people do you see react to a huge life trauma after it splats in their face after all those years?
Harvey stood up, file in hand, and marched his way to Jessica's office.
Jessica hovered over a woman (probably a client; he really didn't care at this point) with a big smile that made Harvey feel sick. "Don't worry I'll get your company back." She eased; earning a grateful thanks from the woman.
"Can you get me my sanity back? Because I just got a case that the woman I loved was murdered 9 years ago." He taunted.
Jessica shot Harvey a huge death-glare and excused the client. Once she left Jessica bursted. "What the hell is wrong with you barging in like that when I'm with a client!" she bellowed.
He really couldn't believe her. Harvey pointed at himself in a baffled matter, outraged. "What the hell is wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you!"
"Watch it." She warned. It wasn't normal for Harvey to lose his self-control. Not like this. "Now what the hell is going on?"
Harvey tossed the file on the transparent table. "That" he said motioning his head to the file and sitting down on one of the couches near him.
Jessica picked up the case turning to the first page and read the brief summary of the murder. She then turned to the next page revealing a beautiful woman with cheery eyes of laughter. Ofcourse, it didn't surprise her that Harvey would pick the prettiest fish out of the sea.
"You need to take this case."
Harvey smirked crossing one leg over the other. "Really? Last I checked I don't."
Her voice was fierce, determined, and challenging. "Then check again."
"Tell me what is so important that I have to sacrifice my time and other people for this damn case?"
"Whose 'people' Harvey?"
No answer.
"Better yet, is it a person instead of people?" she asked again.
When Harvey still stayed quiet her eyes softened. The whole adoption thing wasn't a total secret. Jessica knew he had a son from the day that kid got pulled onto a stretcher and was driven out of here. How? She saw the caring, worried, protective, look in Harvey's eyes. She had seen it occasionally with Mike, but this time it was more intense, like he couldn't live with himself if anything happened to that kid. It was fatherly, and from that moment on she knew. It doesn't matter though. Harvey's personal life was none of her business.
"We're going against Travis Tanner, and if we don't stop him he will drive that murderer out of jail."
Harvey never thought he'd be stunned from bad news twice in a day. Out of all closer's it had to be Tanner? He hated this with every fiber of his being. What he hated even more was the fact that if he didn't do anything that bastard would be out in the streets, enjoying a life he didn't earn.
Jessica slid the file towards Harvey. "Take the case Harvey."
Harvey reluctantly stood up, took the case, and exited her office without a word.
She smiled to herself.
He really did have a heart.
...
How the hell was he going to tell Stiles? Hey kid, this may come a little quick of the tongue, but I have to break my promise for the sake of both out sanity because if I don't take this case guess who will be back in town? Yeah, like that will do the trick.
The worst part about this whole thing is that he has to go up against that sleazy bastard. He has to admit that even though he's the best closer in New York, Tanner isn't exactly a beginner when it comes to playing a fair share of cards. He was a tough player, opponent, whatever he may be; this won't be an easy picnic.
"Harvey."
Speak of the devil.
Harvey turned to see Tanner; a sly smile placed on his smug face. "What an unpleasant surprise."
Harvey smirked. "I could say the same."
"You hear about the case?"
"About that" Harvey dropped the smirk and stepped towards Tanner, looking almost menacing "Why, pray tell, are you releasing murderer out onto the streets?"
Tanner shrugged. "Elijah Wood is not guilty."
"Oh, I beg to differ. His fingerprints are all over the car and that woman's dress; they found tools in his car that were covered in her blood, not to mention he was drenched in her blood when they found him."
When Tanner stayed silent Harvey felt himself grow more confident. "Not so innocent now, eh?"
Tanner smiled deviously. "Well I hate to break to you, but some of that evidence is useless."
"What do you mean it's useless?"
"I would explain it all to you Harv, but I'll just stick to one thing; they found buried evidence. Apparently, while the paramedics were carrying Ms. Emilia's body out they found open beer bottle's that weren't completely empty."
Harvey cursed under his breath. This was one of many things and who's to say there isn't more buried evidence? This game just went to a whole new level.
"See you in court, Harvey" Tanner mischievously enthused and walked away.
That bastard's going down and he can kiss my ass while at it.
...
It was late.
Really late.
Today had been so slow for him. He hasn't had one of these days since he was an associate. He usually did stay after hours, but not passed 12:30. Harvey already lost his tie and suit jacket, and his hair was sort of ruffled up instead of being neatly gelled back. This whole Elijah Drake business had been spontaneous; it was as if he was struck by lightning. These things can be so annoyingly overwhelming.
Harvey twisted the key in the door knob and entered his condo. He sighed when he found Stiles in his sweats and T watching TV.
"Hey," Stiles greeted drowsily.
Harvey returned the greeting and set his jacket over the couch. "I think it's way passed your bed time. Don't you?"
Stiles shrugged. "I didn't know I had one."
"I'm considering" he smirked.
He grinned cheekily and put a hand on his chest "Aw Harvey I'm touched. Sounds like you care about me."
Harvey rolled his eyes. He had given Stiles the 'I don't care about anyone, but me' speech aswell. "I don't. Last thing I need is a sleep-deprived Stiles in the morning. That's not good for my health."
"Or mine either."
He nodded "Glad we agree on something. Now go to bed." Truth be told, he honestly didn't care about Stiles' sleep schedule, but he needed some way to work on this case. He and Mike had been up all night 'till Mike starting muttering things that weren't even English let alone human. Then they had to call it a night, but his work wasn't over.
Stiles rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I can't sleep."
Harvey frowned. "Why?"
He snorted, voice rising. "Jee I don't Harvey I just saw the psychotic killer who murdered my mother and you want me to be all goody-goody, and go to sleep and have dreams of heaven? After all of that?"
"Keep your damn voice down" he growled. "And you wouldn't have to be so traumatized if you kept your nose out of places where it shouldn't be!"
Stiles stood up. "No! My nose was perfectly in the right place! It doesn't even matter. I was going to find out anyway that the psychotic murderer who killed my mother is back in town! Did you even reject the case?"
At this point Harvey couldn't help but feel horrified. He knew the boy was going to find out and eventually he'd have to spill, but he didn't think it be this quick. Harvey sighed. He should just get this over with.
"Look kid, I don't know how to break it to you, but-
"You promised me!" Stiles exclaimed.
Harvey thinned his lips and looked down at the boy. Damn Elijah, damn Tanner, damn Jessica, damn everyone who created this mess for him! He was tired, no, exhausted from all this crap!
"I should have known." Stiles raged on "You're just some empty suit looking for cash! You never even cared! You never even loved my mother-
"ENOUGH!"
A sudden fear chilled down Stiles' spine causing the hairs on his neck stand up, as Harvey's roar echoed in the luxurious condo; probably all of Manhattan. Goosebumps arose on his skin dotting everywhere; shock mixed with hopelessness stirred in his chest. Never in the history of people did yelling and screaming at him has he ever heard someone roar like Harvey. Not even his tempered coach or Sourwolf for that matter. It was the scariest thing you could ever feel.
This was all really too much for him. The secrets of supernatural power and the old demons were all too much. He could feel all the years of pain and sorrow push against his eyes again.
He spoke with a wet teary voice. "He killed her Harvey."
Harvey's rage was instantaneously replaced with empathy. It wasn't the kid's fault his mother was dead. Stiles didn't deserve any of this. No one did. He stared down at the bundled teen that had been strong for too long as his body racked with sobs. He had spent a handful of months with the boy only to learn he hid his true emotions well; a trait he acquired from his father.
Harvey stepped forward and put a hand on Stiles' buzz-cutted hair. He drew comforting circles with his thumb on the fuzzy surface. When Stiles whimpered it banged on Harvey's heart. He slid his hand from the top of his head down and cupped Stiles' neck. Harvey finally spoke with boldness.
"The first time I met your mother was when she was giving me a ticket." Stiles looked up at him in shock and Harvey smiled at the memory. "It is natural to say that I was pissed at first, but then I laid my eyes on the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. After that I gladly took the ticket. I then asked her to search me for weapons, but that didn't go to well." Stiles grinned weakly and he squeezed tenderly. "I eventually found out what station she worked in." His voice trailed on. "Then asked her to dinner and all that jazz." He suddenly became serious. "But then one night Emilia started this huge fight over nothing 'till everything was over. She kept on saying how I wasn't ready and now I know she made us fight out of fear." Harvey and Stiles locked eyes. "She was probably pregnant and she didn't feel that I was ready."
A pause.
"Well are you?" Stiles couldn't help but ask.
He thought about it. Was he ready? I mean he has been doing a great job so far, but was he truly ready to be a father? To take up all that responsibility?
Stiles panicked when he saw Harvey think about it. Oh no. Now he has to go back to foster care where all the verbally mean people are. Not to mention the crappy homes where he'd probably end up on the streets onceheturnseighteenandneveramounttoanything, and-
"I am."
He gave such a look to him that it made Harvey insides feel warm . (Though he'd probably never admit it) he hasn't felt that for a long time.
Harvey squeezed his neck for reassurance. "Stiles I need to take this case and I need you to be strong, kid."
Stiles preferred to nod then to speak which was a shock to him also.
Harvey pulled on Stiles' neck lightly tugging him along. "Alright yoda time for bed."
Stiles in a squeaky techno voice said, "Your yoda I will be."
He opened the door to Stiles' room and Stiles climbed under his covers, sleepily. "You know Harvey; I never took you for a trekkie." He mumbled.
"Hey, captain Kirk is the man and I don't wanna hear another word about it. Now go to sleep."
Stiles hummed and smiled in comfort; he closed his eyes blissfully "Aye aye cap'n."
Harvey stared at him and flashed that classic smile of his. He couldn't help but feel fond of the boy at times. At least all was well between them. With one last glance Harvey closed the door and headed to the living room. Now to find something for that case…
…
That night Stiles dreamt of his mother. She wasn't screaming or dying like in his nightmares, but she was happy and smiling. Even though Stiles couldn't touch her he felt her, if that made sense. Maybe all would end well after all.
TBC
Disclaimer: I do not own Suits or Teen Wolf.