Toby and Harvey - Cat and Mouse
Fandom: The October Daye Novels/Suits
Title: Cat and Mouse
Author: iluvroadrunner6
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Harvey Specter, Donna, October Daye, Mike Ross
tamingthemuse Prompt: Tithe
Content Warning: Crack. So much crack.
Summary: Getting in to see Harvey Specter is never an easy task.
Author’s Note: I … don’t even know. Please don’t ask me to explain my logic in this because-it just makes sense to me.
Disclaimer: I don’t own. They belong to Seanan McGuire and USA Network. I’m just borrowing and will put everything back where I found it.
Getting in to see Harvey Specter is never an easy task.
He likes it that way. It makes it more of a game, and those who are willing to play the game are rewarded. Those who can’t or won’t, are not. It’s possible that it’s simply part of his nature, that he needs to protect what he is, but at the same time, Cait Sidhe are known for how they play their games.
Toby’s never really been one to care to spend too much time with Harvey to find out. In fact, from what she does know about him, she’s honestly surprised that he’s lasted this long at Pierson Hartman. He’s known for his short attention span, but maybe the games of being a lawyer are something he can finally work with. It’s just enough cat and mouse to satisfy the cat in him, just enough game playing to tame the fae, and just enough normal that it keeps him out of trouble. Regardless, Toby still doesn’t want to spend any more time with him than she has to-just enough to get this job done and out of the way so that she never has to speak of it again.
Ever.
She doesn’t know what it is with the purebloods thinking that they can just bind her whenever they get into trouble. She owes Tybalt already-he didn’t need to go the whole nine yards. Where she’s from, a debt is a debt and all he had to do was call that in, but Tybalt has never been said to be sane.
Regardless, it is a long trip from San Francisco to New York, and Toby’s temper isn’t the best one when she arrives at the doors of Pierson Hartman. Thankfully, most of the obstacles here are human ones, and it doesn’t take long for her to get past the security guard and onto the law firm’s main floor. She tells the receptionist that she has an appointment with Harvey and she’s waved through to the next round. The only real obstacle is Harvey’s assistant. That is where she hits the roadblock.
“Can I help you?”
The girl is pretty, a redhead. Toby doesn’t think much of her at first, and tries to see if she can get through on her wit and charm alone. “Toby Daye. I’m here to see Harvey.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“In a manner of speaking,” she says with a nod, hoping that the urgency in her voice will carry through. The woman is tough, though. She doesn’t give, and fixes her with a look that has probably sent lesser men running.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Specter is very busy today. I can make you an appointment for later in the week if you’d like.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Toby replies, before there’s a quick, muttered nursery rhyme under her breath and the push of I’m right there. See me on the list. “I have an appointment.”
She looks down at the list in front of her and nods. “I’m sorry for that, Ms. Daye. Let me show you in.”
Toby is simply glad she’s human. If she had been fae, she would have had her work cut out for her. She turns and follows the redhead into the office, where Harvey is seated behind his desk, with a young kid she didn’t recognize sitting in front of it. They both look up when the two women enter, and Harvey looks less than amused.
“Donna, we talked about unscheduled visitors. And how they shouldn’t be here.” His eyes are on Toby’s the entire time, and she stares right back, not willing to give him an inch. Donna, on the other hand, simply looks confused.
“But-she has an appointment.”
“I think I would have remembered if October Daye was on my calendar,” Harvey replies, before turning to look at her. “But we’ll let it go this time. Just don’t let it happen again.”
Donna looks confused as she nods and backs out of the office, before Harvey’s eyes return to Toby again. He watches her the way a cat watches anything, careful and measured, prepared for any sudden movements, but for the most part aloof and unimpressed. He doesn’t see her as a threat, and he never has.
“Toby, this is my associate, Mike Ross. Mike, this is October Daye-the best PI in San Francisco, who really should have stayed in San Francisco.” She doesn’t flinch under the last part of that threat, just blinks at him for a moment, before Mike actually gets up and moves to shake her hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too, kid.” Because really, that’s what he is. A kid. “Mind giving us a minute?”
Mike starts to make to go before Harvey speaks up. “And who says you could order around my associates? Whatever you need to say to me-”
“It’s official business, Harvey. Regarding Tybalt.”
“Tybalt? That’s pretty Shakespearean.” Harvey fixes Mike with a look, and Toby just smirks. Where does he think Shakespeare got it from?
Harvey pauses, but nothing on his face changes, his eyes still regarding Toby as though she is some kind of new play thing he could bat around. “Mike, get a cup of coffee. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Mike seems confused before anything else, and Toby can’t really say she blames him. But he does as he’s told, and makes his way out of the room. Once he’s gone, Harvey shifts to lean back in his chair and gestures for Toby to take the empty one Mike had left behind.
“Alright, Toby. Out with it. What brings you here of all places?”
“Tybalt is missing,” she begins slowly. “And whoever has them is hiding themselves well. I’ve followed the trail here, but I need help.”
“And so you came to me?” Harvey raises a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m not sure whether I should be offended or touched.” Toby rolls her eyes, and the edges of a smirk cross his face. “Why you? Don’t you two have some kind of deep seated hatred for each other?”
“I owe him,” she answers simply.
“Right. You owe him, but I don’t owe you. Tybalt may be my liege-”
“Exactly. Tybalt is your liege. Do you really want to find out what will happen if he dies somehow in this and the Court of Cats is left without a king?” Toby may be doing this because Tybalt bound her, but Harvey owed a tithe to his lord in order to keep his position, and Tybalt isn’t the kind of ruler who accepts gold and jewels.
There’s the flicker of something across his face. Harvey tends to be smarter than most fae, but most don’t question their own mortality. Not until it’s shoved in their face. Harvey’s been around a long time, however, and breaking that composure isn’t part of the game plan. He swallows hard, before finally dropping his eyes from hers, and picking up a pen.
“Come to this address after business hours tonight,” he replies simply, scribbling down an address on a piece of paper. “Then we’ll discuss this little problem of yours and whether or not I can be helpful.”
It isn’t a promise. She knows that much. But it’s the most she’s gotten from anyone as of late, and she’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She nods as she takes the paper from him, before straightening herself to go. “I can be there around eight?”
It is the closest they gave to a thank you in this world, and they both know it. Harvey just looks at her wearily for a moment, before waving a dismissive hand. “Whenever. Just don’t get yourself killed on the way over.”
It is meant as a joke, but given Toby’s life as of late, she’s not really sure she can take it as one. Taking a breath, she nods and makes her way out the door. She’s about halfway through it when he speaks up again.
“Oh, and Toby?” She glances back, and he’s back to smirking at her again. “Next time you mind-whammy my assistant? I’ll do worse to you.”
She smirks as she turns and walks out, giving Donna a small smile and a wave on the way out. She didn’t get one back.
She hadn’t really expected one.
Title: Cat and Mouse
Author: iluvroadrunner6
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Harvey Specter, Donna, October Daye, Mike Ross
tamingthemuse Prompt: Tithe
Content Warning: Crack. So much crack.
Summary: Getting in to see Harvey Specter is never an easy task.
Author’s Note: I … don’t even know. Please don’t ask me to explain my logic in this because-it just makes sense to me.
Disclaimer: I don’t own. They belong to Seanan McGuire and USA Network. I’m just borrowing and will put everything back where I found it.
Getting in to see Harvey Specter is never an easy task.
He likes it that way. It makes it more of a game, and those who are willing to play the game are rewarded. Those who can’t or won’t, are not. It’s possible that it’s simply part of his nature, that he needs to protect what he is, but at the same time, Cait Sidhe are known for how they play their games.
Toby’s never really been one to care to spend too much time with Harvey to find out. In fact, from what she does know about him, she’s honestly surprised that he’s lasted this long at Pierson Hartman. He’s known for his short attention span, but maybe the games of being a lawyer are something he can finally work with. It’s just enough cat and mouse to satisfy the cat in him, just enough game playing to tame the fae, and just enough normal that it keeps him out of trouble. Regardless, Toby still doesn’t want to spend any more time with him than she has to-just enough to get this job done and out of the way so that she never has to speak of it again.
Ever.
She doesn’t know what it is with the purebloods thinking that they can just bind her whenever they get into trouble. She owes Tybalt already-he didn’t need to go the whole nine yards. Where she’s from, a debt is a debt and all he had to do was call that in, but Tybalt has never been said to be sane.
Regardless, it is a long trip from San Francisco to New York, and Toby’s temper isn’t the best one when she arrives at the doors of Pierson Hartman. Thankfully, most of the obstacles here are human ones, and it doesn’t take long for her to get past the security guard and onto the law firm’s main floor. She tells the receptionist that she has an appointment with Harvey and she’s waved through to the next round. The only real obstacle is Harvey’s assistant. That is where she hits the roadblock.
“Can I help you?”
The girl is pretty, a redhead. Toby doesn’t think much of her at first, and tries to see if she can get through on her wit and charm alone. “Toby Daye. I’m here to see Harvey.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“In a manner of speaking,” she says with a nod, hoping that the urgency in her voice will carry through. The woman is tough, though. She doesn’t give, and fixes her with a look that has probably sent lesser men running.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Specter is very busy today. I can make you an appointment for later in the week if you’d like.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Toby replies, before there’s a quick, muttered nursery rhyme under her breath and the push of I’m right there. See me on the list. “I have an appointment.”
She looks down at the list in front of her and nods. “I’m sorry for that, Ms. Daye. Let me show you in.”
Toby is simply glad she’s human. If she had been fae, she would have had her work cut out for her. She turns and follows the redhead into the office, where Harvey is seated behind his desk, with a young kid she didn’t recognize sitting in front of it. They both look up when the two women enter, and Harvey looks less than amused.
“Donna, we talked about unscheduled visitors. And how they shouldn’t be here.” His eyes are on Toby’s the entire time, and she stares right back, not willing to give him an inch. Donna, on the other hand, simply looks confused.
“But-she has an appointment.”
“I think I would have remembered if October Daye was on my calendar,” Harvey replies, before turning to look at her. “But we’ll let it go this time. Just don’t let it happen again.”
Donna looks confused as she nods and backs out of the office, before Harvey’s eyes return to Toby again. He watches her the way a cat watches anything, careful and measured, prepared for any sudden movements, but for the most part aloof and unimpressed. He doesn’t see her as a threat, and he never has.
“Toby, this is my associate, Mike Ross. Mike, this is October Daye-the best PI in San Francisco, who really should have stayed in San Francisco.” She doesn’t flinch under the last part of that threat, just blinks at him for a moment, before Mike actually gets up and moves to shake her hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too, kid.” Because really, that’s what he is. A kid. “Mind giving us a minute?”
Mike starts to make to go before Harvey speaks up. “And who says you could order around my associates? Whatever you need to say to me-”
“It’s official business, Harvey. Regarding Tybalt.”
“Tybalt? That’s pretty Shakespearean.” Harvey fixes Mike with a look, and Toby just smirks. Where does he think Shakespeare got it from?
Harvey pauses, but nothing on his face changes, his eyes still regarding Toby as though she is some kind of new play thing he could bat around. “Mike, get a cup of coffee. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Mike seems confused before anything else, and Toby can’t really say she blames him. But he does as he’s told, and makes his way out of the room. Once he’s gone, Harvey shifts to lean back in his chair and gestures for Toby to take the empty one Mike had left behind.
“Alright, Toby. Out with it. What brings you here of all places?”
“Tybalt is missing,” she begins slowly. “And whoever has them is hiding themselves well. I’ve followed the trail here, but I need help.”
“And so you came to me?” Harvey raises a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m not sure whether I should be offended or touched.” Toby rolls her eyes, and the edges of a smirk cross his face. “Why you? Don’t you two have some kind of deep seated hatred for each other?”
“I owe him,” she answers simply.
“Right. You owe him, but I don’t owe you. Tybalt may be my liege-”
“Exactly. Tybalt is your liege. Do you really want to find out what will happen if he dies somehow in this and the Court of Cats is left without a king?” Toby may be doing this because Tybalt bound her, but Harvey owed a tithe to his lord in order to keep his position, and Tybalt isn’t the kind of ruler who accepts gold and jewels.
There’s the flicker of something across his face. Harvey tends to be smarter than most fae, but most don’t question their own mortality. Not until it’s shoved in their face. Harvey’s been around a long time, however, and breaking that composure isn’t part of the game plan. He swallows hard, before finally dropping his eyes from hers, and picking up a pen.
“Come to this address after business hours tonight,” he replies simply, scribbling down an address on a piece of paper. “Then we’ll discuss this little problem of yours and whether or not I can be helpful.”
It isn’t a promise. She knows that much. But it’s the most she’s gotten from anyone as of late, and she’s not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She nods as she takes the paper from him, before straightening herself to go. “I can be there around eight?”
It is the closest they gave to a thank you in this world, and they both know it. Harvey just looks at her wearily for a moment, before waving a dismissive hand. “Whenever. Just don’t get yourself killed on the way over.”
It is meant as a joke, but given Toby’s life as of late, she’s not really sure she can take it as one. Taking a breath, she nods and makes her way out the door. She’s about halfway through it when he speaks up again.
“Oh, and Toby?” She glances back, and he’s back to smirking at her again. “Next time you mind-whammy my assistant? I’ll do worse to you.”
She smirks as she turns and walks out, giving Donna a small smile and a wave on the way out. She didn’t get one back.
She hadn’t really expected one.