Work Text:
I’m boarding now :-)
9:08am
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Jessica knows this:
Some relationships begin big; bodily running into each other, mutual love at first sight, dropping a briefcase of marijuana at someone’s feet. Big, decisive moments where everyone involved knows that they’re in for a crazy ride.
Harvey meeting Mike wasn’t like that.
For Harvey, meeting Mike was like walking in the door at the end of the day, knowing your bed is waiting; like a long, slow release of the breath you hadn’t realized you were holding, where you look forward at everything to follow and allow a gentle smile.
Meeting Mike had been coming to the silent agreement that you might as well share your favorite table at the cafe; never planning it, but sitting down opposite each other at the same time every morning, laptops out, typing a calming backdrop to the smiles shared over lattes. It had been taking 3 months to exchange more than brief comments on the day, or the quality of the new barista. It had been sharing favorite benches in the park, favorite restaurants in the area, favorite record shops nearby. It had been an eventual, comfortable and inevitable invitation to meet for dinner.
Meeting Mike had been a slow, relaxed descent into everything Harvey had never realized he wanted.
Mike was Harvey’s definition of perfection.
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I’m waiting ;p
9:09am
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Jessica knows this:
For Mike, meeting Harvey had been opening an acceptance letter knowing you have the scholarship; the perfect result, that you never allowed yourself to expect. It had been finding the puzzle piece you gave up on looking for.
Meeting Harvey had been quiet smiles, a gentle acknowledgement of presence; it had been space for his thoughts to run wild as they did, knowing there was someone sitting beside you, smiling over a coffee. It had been savoring each others presence instead of asking questions, allowing feelings to grow before conversation.
Meeting Harvey had been everything Mike had ever wished, but never had the gall to dream.
Harvey was his world.
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You’re too old to use faces like that
9:11am
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“Morning Harold,” was not normally something he expected to be so cheery. Which meant, he realized as he looked up to what was almost a smile , Harvey Specter’s awful mood had ended.
“Morn- Morning Mr Specter!” He replied, two seconds too late. Goddammit, he didn’t need to sound so shocked.
But apparently, not even his slow response could kill Harvey’s mood, as the lawyer continued on his way towards his office, practically bouncing.
Harold turned to Rachel, who was standing nearby, equally shocked.
“What the hell?” He managed to squeeze out, as Rachel skittered over. “Who did he kill last night? He’s been in a bad mood for weeks! Normally it takes skinning someone-”
(“Usually you,” Rachel adds helpfully.)
“For him to cheer up from his bad moods,” he finishes forcefully, scowling at his single friend in this god-forsaken firm. Rachel smiles at him innocently.
“Maybe he just got laid,” Kyle interjects usefully, leaning back in his chair to see around the cubicle wall.
A few minutes later, at the tail end of the same conversation, Kyle overbalances, and topples to the floor just as Louis walks in with an unfamiliar man.
This in itself isn’t unusual, since Louis is a lawyer with clients, and clients need to come to their offices, but something about this is different. Namely, it’s that ‘walks in’ is a loose term, since the man is outpacing Louis and the partner is trotting to keep up. The guy is handsome, reasonably, with blond hair and fair skin, dressed in an impeccable suit, tie 8 shades too skinny. When he hears Kyle fall has pauses his movement, sharp blue eyes snapping to the sprawling associate before Louis, not having noticed his abrupt stop, runs into him from behind.
“Excuse me, Mr-“
“Seriously, Louis, call me Mike.” He glances back at Louis, flashing a smile briefly. “You’ll know me well enough, soon. I take it this is your bull pen? Some of them seem more like calves.”
There’s a smattering of muffled laughter, and Kyle stands abashedly, brushing his suit quickly and resetting his chair.
‘Mike’ is already moving on. Towards Harvey’s office.
Harold and Rachel share a look, and rush to follow them. (Discreetly.)
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I can do what I like.
9:20am
And you’re getting old now too
9:20am
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Donna knows everything.
So her complete confusion when a younger man, impeccably dressed ( Is that one of Rene’s suits? It must be. ) rounds the corner to her desk, Louis steps behind him, and a trail of hopelessly indiscreet associates snooping from nearby, is palpable.
Sure, her and Harvey’s relationship is more work based than people assume, but this is work, so she should know who this man is.
“Donna! How are you this fine day?” He smiles broadly, raising a hand in salute for some reason. (Why is he so familiar? )
“Hello? If you’re looking for Mr Specter, he’s not in right now. He doesn’t usually take clients before 10am on Monday.” He’s actually in a meeting with Jessica, but this guy doesn’t need to know that, even as he approaches her desk with curious familiarity.
“I’m sure he’ll make an exception,” and there’s that smile again, his eyes glinting with something devious. ( Shit, shit, shit, who is this guy? ) He steps around her desk, looking through the glass door to Harvey’s currently empty office.
“We’ll have to see.” She smiles in her practiced way, opening the calendar on her computer, scheming. “Could I please get a name to check that you have the right time?”
“The won’t be necessary,” he states, still smiling. “Harvey will most definitely make an exception.” He pulls out a phone, and types and then sends a message without looking down, pocketing it afterwards.
“He really won’t-“
“Mike?” And the man of the hour has arrived.
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Surprise :-)
9:28am
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These few minutes become integral Pearson Specter legend.
Harvey Specter, to everyone’s complete and utter astonishment, spares the oddly behaving associates his usual criticism; he simply steps past them, unaware of the commotion around the corner.
He gets three steps towards his office before freezing completely, and, as though he can’t control himself, letting out a breathless, “Mike?”
Everyone ahead of him freezes, and the intruder turns towards him, whole face brightening.
“Harvey!”
And, as everyone watches in shock, Harvey Specter, infamous grouch, splits into a huge smile, striding forward to sweep ‘Mike’ into a huge hug. They both laugh as Mike’s feet swing off the ground, and the younger man hugs back with just as much ferocity.
Harvey lowers Mike to the ground, but holds onto his elbows even as he leans back to look at Mike’s face.
“What are you doing here?” Harvey manages, brightly, breathlessly, laughter still in his voice. “You said-“ He pauses, then laughs again. “Oh my god, Mike, you- how dare you! You did this on purpose!”
Mike is smiling just as wide, eyes soft, as he replies, “Well, the client didn’t take as much convincing as we expected, and we wrapped up early enough for me to book an earlier flight.” Harvey pulls him in for another hug, so his added, “Plus, you deserve surprises, all the time,” is fairly muffled.
“You trickster,” Harvey manages, face burrowed in Mike’s neck. His next words are quiet, private. “I’ve missed you, so much.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Mike replies, in like.
When they part, their audience is silent. Harvey starts, like he’s just realized where they are.
“Who the hell is he?” One of the associates mutters, having emerged from around the corner, but in the silence ‘Mike’ manages to pick it up, flashing a devilish smile from where he’s holding Harvey’s hand. He gives a flourishing bow.
“Michael Specter, at your service.” He looks around the gather faces. “Newest legal consultant at Pearson Specter, lawyer extra-ordinaire, husband of this here grouchy boomer.” Then, like an afterthought, “Pleasure to meet you all. Now shoo, I have catching up to do with my husband.”
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Donna does not know everything.
Jessica does though.
And not to brag, but knowing Harvey and Michael Specter is one of the perks.
(Helping Mike organise things behind his husbands back is just a guilty pleasure).
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End.