Chapter Text
Mike and Donna sat alone in Harvey's office, it was only 10:30 in the morning on a Thursday and the firm's buzz had been cut in half. Harvey wasn't answering the redheads' calls, but she knew from Ray that he was in his condo. Mike hadn't tried, he assumed he was one of the many people the older lawyer didn't want to hear from.
“I can't believe it passed.”
“You're one of the few alphas.” Donna responded dejected. “Who knows who will come back?”
Mike rubbed his eyes with his hands, he couldn't wrap his brain around the events that transpired. He had watched the trial, just like everyone else who could this morning, he couldn't believe it still. Media rooms and newspapers named it the ultimate battle of the sexes, but Mike thought it was more along the lines of the ultimate horror movie. “As much of an asshole as it makes me, I'm only worried about Harvey.”
“I think Jessica is going to make an offer.” Donna really didn't know, but she could see that being a move made by the managing partner.
“Harvey would rather jump off the roof than have to bend to Jessica's every whim.” The alpha didn't even hesitate with that response, but he knew that would be a disaster. “Have you seen the offer list?”
“I'm sure it's overwhelming.” Donna shrugged, “I saw what it looked like an hour ago.”
“Fuck this.” Mike grabbed the files off Harvey’s desk, “I’m not playing this.. Whatever it is. If Jessica values Harvey half as much as she claims, she’ll find a way to pay him.” He picked up his messenger bag by the table and flung it over his shoulders.
“You think going to Harvey’s is the best course of action?”
“If you have another plan to stop him from diving from his balcony, I’m all ears Donna.”
“He might not let you up.”
“He will.” Mike wasn't convinced either.
*****
The alpha took a cab to Harvey's condo, with half a plan and more concern. Mike paid the cab driver and made his way up to the elevator, Donna had a very clear point, Harvey didn't have to let him in. Mike gripped the files in his hand a little harder as he walked up to his boss's door. The knock fell harder than he intended, Mike winced a little at the echo. After a few seconds of silence, the alpha could hear sounds on the other side of the door; Mike waited patiently knowing Harvey could see him through the peephole.
Harvey opened the door with narrowed eyes, “Do I seriously need to tell you this is a bad time?”
“Do you seriously think I'm going to leave you alone to fight this?”
The older man sneered, but he didn't want to have this conversation in the hallway. He just walked back into the condo, leaving the door open for Mike. The omega fell onto the couch and picked up the glass of scotch he had been nursing.
Mike followed Harvey into the condo, shutting the door behind him. “Getting drunk already?”
“If you came with stupid comments, you know where the door is.” Harvey wasn't going to be lectured about his choices right now, “You know we can't fight this. They didn't have one omega lawyer in court today, they fucked up. They used a damn ton of witnesses, but they had an alpha lawyer. Of course it would be better.” The omega bared his teeth in anger, because it came from the Supreme Court. The fight now would take years, Harvey needed to work now.
“I got a half assed plan, but so far it's been working for me. Fraud lawyer and all that.” Mike sat down in the chair and dropped the files Harvey was looking over this morning on the table. “We work here until you're back. Jessica put her name in the ring?”
“Don't want to talk about the fucking offer list.” Harvey snapped, not answering the question. “Wouldn't say yes even if she did. I'd never get my name on the wall and if she actually thought she was right every damn time she spoke, I'd end up in prison for murder.”
“So your plan is?”
Harvey held up his scotch, because he had no plans on how to get out of this situation. With the unemployment rates so high, AFF, (Alphas Freedom Fighters) a right-wing alpha activist group, blamed it on the omegas in the workplace. Omegas shouldn't be in the workplace unless their alphas allow it, because it was the alpha's right to care for their omegas. Unmated omegas were under the care of the alpha in the family. Harvey's family alpha was dead (his dad) and he was unmated, so he fell into another category. If he wanted to work, he had to find an alpha to approve it and oversee it, thus in-came the offer list. Alphas who wanted to claim Harvey. On a technicality, Harvey’s brother could sign for him, but that would require them to live in closer proximity.
“I can't believe they won.” Mike finally said.
“That makes one of us.” Harvey knew the possibility was high, but he knew there was nothing he could do. The left-side had all the facts, but they failed everyone when they used an alpha as their lawyer. “You know you'll still have a job. Jessica is going to need all hands on deck now.”
“Maybe it's the circumstances of the morning, but my job wasn't my highest concern.” The alpha snipped, he wasn't lying, but he did feel a little more secure hearing that his own job was safe. “If we work here, I'm sure Jessica will figure something out.”
“She put her name in.” Harvey wasn't amused, he didn't find the move endearing. “Didn't ask me, just threw her name in with a fucking email.”
“It's not like it'd be romantic, she just doesn't want to lose you.” Mike wasn't intimidated because he understood that Harvey felt cornered, he could completely understand why. “Is there any alpha you'd be okay with?”
Harvey took a sip of his drink, “None that's offered. I spent half of my life to get where I am, fuck those assholes who think I'm just going to be the trophy here.”
Mike snorted, “Sorry. I imagined even before this happened that you'd be with an alpha that treated you like a gold statue.”
“Get out.”
“Oh I'm sorry, does my off the rack suit offend you?” Mike didn't stop, because he knew Harvey wasn't being serious. “An anniversary present to you would be letting you play dress up.”
“Fuck off dress up, this is how people who give a shit look.”
“I was talking about you dressing your alpha, asshole.” Mike rolled his eyes, because any chance the older man got, he hit at the alphas clothes.
Harvey's mouth twitched just slightly amused, but he hid it in his drink. “Why are you really here, Mike?”
“Me and Donna were convinced we were going to find your body in the street.”
That made the omega laugh for real, he looked around his apartment then back at Mike. “So your plan? How do I build my stats without credit?”
“We fix it afterwards? Just have you down for a.. fuck, that's still employment.” The alpha went through his plan again in his head, looking for a loophole in his own mental contract. “You could count it as donated time and when we finally do get it figured out, it'll have my name on the cases. We can just refile that you were the senior lawyer on the case, I was just representing. It wouldn't be fraud, because I'd be one leading in person.”
“And getting paid?” Harvey used one finger to swirl in the air to gesture to the place that they currently were sitting in. “I got enough put away for awhile, but without income that goes fast.”
“Gifts.” Mike answered immediately, “Like you said, Jessica is going to want all hands on deck. This is the best way she can have it legally.”
Harvey was quiet for a minute as he looked over the alpha. Mike was young but he made up for it with loyalty. It was on the tip of Harvey's tongue to ask why the alpha hadn't thrown his own name into the mix. “Present it to Jessica, let me know what she says.”
“Me?” Mike asked, confused, because between the two of them Jessica was more likely to take Harvey more seriously.
“Yup, you. Your plan, your idea. I don't hate it, but I have no idea if Jessica will go for it.”
“Okay, first thing in the morning.” Mike didn’t argue since Harvey was at least entertaining the idea, when the omega narrowed his eyes at him, “Or I could go back to the firm now. You probably want an answer sooner than later.”
“There you go. I’ll let Ray know to wait for you at the firm."
*****
So now that Mike had a plan, and was now on his way to pitch the idea to the managing partner of the firm. The alpha was beyond nervous. If things played in his favor, then Jessica would agree, but the woman apparently also put her name into the running to be Harvey’s alpha. The idea made Mike cringe. When he got back to the firm, he had half a mind to run this by Donna first, just to make sure he wasn’t making a bad move.
With a deep breath, Mike knew it wouldn’t matter what Donna said. Harvey’s word took precedence, so he just went directly to Jessica’s office. He stood outside as she saw she was currently in a heated argument with an alpha client, he couldn’t hear them but he could see neither was backing down. Mike knew it was over when Jessica took a seat at her desk. The woman was going to dismiss the client out of her office. Proven correct when the man just sneered at Jessica and stomped his way out of the office.
Mike waited a few seconds and then turned to Jessica’s door, he slid inside and shut the door behind him. “I can see your having a hard time.”
“Mr. Ross, do I look like I’m in the mood for jokes?’
“Right. I think I got an idea to help.. A little.” Mike didn’t know how much help it would be comparison to the company-wide shortage in staff, but at least they could save the MVPs.
“You’re already here.” Jessica waved Mike on, because she could easily dismiss anything inappropriate but she wasn’t in a situation where she was full of solutions. The alpha was willing to listen to whatever was offered to her at the moment. “But there are dumb ideas.”
“What if Harvey donated his time to the firm for free?”
"Why on Earth would he do that and how?” Jessica jumped right into talking about the ridiculousness of this idea.
“The firm could gift him for his donated time, just like how volunteers get cashiers checks and gift baskets. Purely a symbol of gratitude from the firm.”
“Mm.” Jessica wondered how far she could go with that with other people she wanted to keep in the firm, so long as they didn’t have an alpha who outed them later. Harvey wasn’t the type to put her in that type of situation. “How much of his time?”
“I volunteered to be the errand boy. I mean I was a bike messenger before this.” Mike tried to joke once he saw that Jesscia was debating on the concept. “I’ll just be the translator.”
“This isn’t the worst idea.” Jessica agreed, she had thrown her name in the ring because she didn’t pay for Harvey to go to Harvard and be her right hand for him to disappear. They fought and they battled, but she knew the omega had unlimited potential. Harvey’s name being on the wall someday wasn’t just a dream for the omega, Jessica worked hard to get Harvey to be there too. “So on a technicality, you would be taking on Harvery’s cases?”
“..Yes.”
“You understand the plate you’re offering to carry here? Because if you mess up, Harvey’s actual reputation will be on the line. Even if legally it’s yours, our circles will figure out what is going on pretty quickly.”
“Yes, I understand that he might actually kill me before we figure out a better plan. I know.” Mike still wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but both Harvey and Jessica were either desperate enough or the plan wasn’t as hacked up as he was dreading. “But the deal is, he has to be gifted enough to keep up with his living conditions. I’m not asking you to pay for his scotch or cars, but the condo, his clothes, I guess Ray. I can’t imagine Harvey handling that separation well. The person, not the service.”
Jessica raised both eyebrows, she looked the alpha across from her over and gave him a half smile. She licked her lips amused, “Harvey know your plan?”
“He sent me here to talk to you.”
“Of course he did.” Jessica’s half smile turned into one of pity, as if she was talking to a small child. “Well, I can agree to those terms. Can I count on you to get me a reasonable quote for what he’s expecting?”
“On me?” Mike echoed back, he had no idea anything about Harvey’s finances and he doubted the man was going to let Jessica go through it to verify actual needs.
“Do you see Harvey here making this deal? Yes you. Or was the gift idea his?”
“You think he’s going to ask for something unreasonable.”
“I know he’s going to ask for something unreasonable. It’s what Harvey does.” Jessica gave Mike a pointed look, indicating to the associate himself. “You do this well, I mean really fucking well Ross, because this is an opportunity for you to show your worth.” She looked Mike over again, thinking about her own protege who was currently barely in her service anymore. “Do this well enough, I’ll see that you’re made a junior partner at the end of the year.”
The younger alpha waited a few seconds for the punchline or another threat, the managing partner just stared him down waiting for an answer. “I - I won’t let you guys down.” He didn’t know what else he could say.
“I don’t think you will, Mr. Ross. Have a good rest of your day.”
*****
Mike is man enough to admit that he ran to Donna after his meeting with Jessica, they made eye contact as he was coming down the hallway and she led him into Harvey’s office. Once the door was closed behind her, Mike spilled the beans about everything that just happened in the last hour and half. “What in the fuck just happen?”
The redhead sat down in a chair by Harvery’s desk, the dots from Jessica and Harvery felt too connected and the second she recognized that the two were working together without working together - she saw their game. “Only Harvey.” She rolled her eyes, “I think you got what you wanted.”
“Did I though? I try to get Harvey to get lunch with me and that’s too personal. He just had me have a meeting with Jessica about him. I do the thing, now Jessica wants me to make Harvey open his literal life to get a reasonable cost of living. I’m the decider on that! Since when ? I don’t even own my apartment!” Mike was freaking out, he couldn’t say this to Harvey because he knew the older man would just shut it all down. Harvey shouldn't be dealing with all these restrictions. Mike also wasn’t going to let Jessica see him this overwhelmed already, she just offered to give him a promotion if he could do this well enough.
“I always thought Harvey went overboard.”
“Donna!” Mike scolded, because he needed the woman to focus.
“I think you should remember this is Harvey, he doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to.”
“Somehow that makes this more confusing, not less. No offense, but you are zero help.”
“Let’s see if we can do this Harvery style.. I had lost my sight, but I got something in return.”
“Ben Afflack?” Mike was distracted by being disappointed.
“Fine. The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Hellen Keller, asshole.”
Mike rubbed his face with his hand, “I guess is there anything else I can take with me back to the condo?”
“We’re going to need to get a fax machine set up at Harvey’s.”
“How is that not already a thing?”
*****
So the next thing Mike did before he went to Harvery’s was go buy a fax machine, he had a box of files sitting in Ray’s car while he went about getting everything set up at a local best buy. He doubted the man knew or cared about technology enough to care what Mike bought, but the alpha kept the receipt just in case.
Mike pulled out his phone once he got back into Ray’s car after he put the fax machine in the trunk, he didn’t really know what to say to Harvey over text and calling seemed silly when he was literally on his way there. He settled with.
Mike: I’m on my way back
It felt simple enough, but the alpha was thrown with the next text.
Batman: No news is good news. Did you eat yet?
At this point, Mike was confident that he was in a dream. The day hasn’t been normal since he thought he got out of bed. First the trial, then Harvey, then Jessica, then Donna, now we’re at Harvey. He couldn’t think of a single reason why Harvey would ask him that question. Mainly because he didn’t do lunch with Mike outside a hotdog by the courthouse - and only because it was conveniently right there. Two, it didn’t matter if the alpha had eaten or not, if Harvey wanted him to bring him something, he’d just ask for it. Mike could go further on why this wasn’t a normal question, but the alpha was accepting that today just didn’t count as a real day. Tomorrow things were going to go back to normal, they just had to get through today.
Mike reasoned, Harvey is just acting weird because his life just altered quickly and drastically. Well, it almost did. It still technically could, but there wasn’t anything illegal happening, so the risk was just they would have to stop if they got caught.
Mike: No. Been a busy morning, do you want me to bring you something?
Batman: I got it. You better have gotten an online fax
Mike would have been spooked if he wasn't so used to Donna. He didn’t even need to tell Harvey he was on his way; the omega had already been informed. “Ray, what do you think about everything that happened this morning?”
“I was concerned about Mr. Specter, but he seemed to be doing better.”
“Better?” Mike asked.
“Well, when I picked him up from the firm, he was obviously very upset. Said a lot of things, but he was mostly yelling at the universe I think. When he called me to come get you from the firm, he seemed a lot calmer.”
“We’re going to figure this out. Aren’t you mated with an omega?”
“I am, Mr. Ross.”
“Forgive me if I’m overstepping, but how she is handling?”
“Since I’m a beta?” Ray asked to make sure he understood where the alpha’s concerns were coming from. “She called her father when the trial started a month ago, he already agreed to sign for her if she needed.”
“This is so fucked up.” Mike couldn’t understand how this happened, but he could at the same time. “They don’t deserve this. This is either going to get a lot worse or things are going to need to change back.”
“I agree with you, Mr. Ross.”
*****
The alpha put the fax machine underneath the box of folders and balanced them walking through Harvey’s building. Mike used his foot to tap on the door; ironically lighter than when he knocked this morning. The smell was what the alpha noticed first when Harvey opened the door, he followed the omega in daze towards the smell.
Harvey went into the kitchen and flipped the two burger patties in the pan, “You can put everything by my desk. Jessica texted me and said she’ll email me tonight with her new priorities list..”
“That smells amazing.” Mike said once he found his words again, he had to take in the image in front of him. Harvey wasn’t in his suit from this morning, but in black chinos and gray shirt, and he was flipping burgers. “I uh, I got the online version or whatever. Didn’t want to waste time trying to set up a temporary phone line.”
The omega opened the oven and pulled out the hamburger buns that he had been toasting, he dropped them on the plates next to him. “Desk.” Harvey said a little slower, he pointed with his finger to the corner of the condo where his desk clearly was.
“Right.” Mike shut the condo door, he set everything down on the floor next to Harvey’s desk. As he stood up he looked at the records on the wall. The shelves were filled and Mike wondered if the omega had actually listened to all of them or if any of them were for decor. The alpha went back into the kitchen and looked around awkwardly. “So.. what do you want me to do?”
“You get in a bike crash today? Forget your helmet?” Harvey asked as he took the plates over to the counter, he pushed one plate by a chair and he kept his close to himself.
“I feel like it would be insensitive if I asked the same thing.” Mike could connect the dots just fine, he sat down in the chair where Harvey had put down food for him. “You cook?”
Harvey shrugged, “I do for company I intend on letting come back.”
Mike just accepted that, because he didn’t have any better explanations. He took a bite of the burger and moaned, he looked up at Harvey and covered his mouth. “Sorry,” he chewed and swallowed, “This is perfect. Whatever I did to make this happen, I’ll do it again. Hands down.” He took another bite and felt a little proud when he saw Harvey smile at him like he was just amused, not offended by Mike’s bad table manners.
“Good, you can set up that fax thing.”
“Oh yeah? What do I earn for that?” Mike asked, laughing, because he expected to be the one setting up the system anyway.
Harvey took a bite of his own food and opted out of verbally answering the question, he just gave a half smirk and a shrug.
The alpha just smiled back, this wasn’t their normal banter of who was better, if anything Mike would almost say they were flirting. The omega was cute when the sly act wasn’t being used for vindictive circumstances. Mike was froze in his thought, but he didn’t try to show it. Harvey is cute as hell all domestic. And he would kill me if I said that out loud. “I’m gonna eat and work on that fax, who knows how long it’ll take?” The alpha made up an excuse to move away from the counter, just to force his brain to move on to a different path. Mike missed Harvey’s eye-roll at his back as he went over to Harvery’s desk.