Wear My Name: Chapter 1
Pairing: MikexHarvey
Rating: PG13 (currently)
Warnings: Slight AU(Mike has a degree), crossing over with "The Proposal" (2009)
Disclaimer: I do not own Suits or the Proposal or... anything. I'm not making money off this.
Summary: Harvey thinks on his feet, Mike freaks out, and Louis is a jerk.
Prologue
Harvey Specter had not expected this when he walked into work that morning. Donna had said Jessica wanted to see him and he hadn’t thought much of it. He stared at Jessica now, not amused. “You’re joking. There is no way.”
“You broke the rules, Harvey. I told you not to go see your brother. I told you, you couldn’t leave the country and what did you do?”
Harvey looked down at the ugly company carpet and sighed. “I left the country.”
“And now, your application has been denied and you are being deported until you are up for reapplication. Congratulations.”
“Jessica-“
“Until this is resolved, I’m going to have to give most of your clients to Louis.”
Harvey stared at her, with what he hoped were desperate Canadian eyes. He knew there was nothing Jessica could do for him now. The American government was a heartless machine that wouldn’t make an exception for his brother and sister-in-law being in a car accident.
Stupid American government.
It was just then that there was a knock on Jessica’s door.
“Harvey, are you still-“
Harvey turned and saw Mike frozen in doorway, looking like a deer in headlights at the both of them. “What is it, Mike?”
“I have thing… The thing for the Reinhart proposal?”
Harvey felt the light bulb switch on in his head. He knew there was a reason he kept the kid around, not always the best judgment but his ability to spark brilliance in Harvey made him proud.
“But if you’re still busy I can-“
“No, Mike I think you want to be here for this.”
Mike stopped his retreat and slid into the office, closing the door behind him. He nervously took his place by Harvey and waited like a good puppy. Harvey gave him a smile that he hoped conveyed that Mike needed to be with him on this one and just go with it. “Jessica, Mike and I are getting married.”
Harvey didn’t think he had ever seen Jessica look more confused. Jessica didn’t do confused.
“Married?” she asked, and looked to Mike.
Mike looked at him, face blank and obviously asking if he was to agree. Harvey felt his eyebrow twitch as he saw his whole plan unravel before him. Harvey had finally found the line Mike wasn’t willing to cross. It was over.
Mike looked back to Jessica.
“Married,” Mike echoed with a surprising confidence. Harvey wondered if Mike was telepathic as well as a genius. He could have kissed him right then and there but that might have been pushing it.
“Married,” Harvey said. The confusion on Jessica’s face morphed back into irritation.
“And when were you planning on telling me this?”
“Well, you didn’t tell me about your marriage until you were already divorced so, never? Or at least until after the ink was dry on our marriage certificate.” Jessica almost looked hurt. Oh well, his job was safe for the moment and that was what was really important. He’d ask her to be the witness or something, and she would forget all about that comment. “It wasn’t an issue until I was about to be deported.”
“You’re being deported?!” Mike’s hit a very unnatural note there and Harvey counted to three like those classes had told him too.
“It won’t be an issue.”
Jessica shook her head. “Make it all legal and we can put this thing behind us.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Harvey led Mike out the door, opening it for his Associate and guiding him out with a hand on the small of Mike’s back. He tried to look concerned and not smug as they headed for his office in silence. He was going to ignore how willing Jessica had been to believe that they were in a relationship, already to the stage of being engaged. This was a win, but there was no reason to count chicken just yet.
He was totally the best closer in America.
When they were safe in Harvey’s office he sat down, prepared to act as if that hadn’t just happened.
“Did I pass?”
Harvey looked up, bewildered. Mike’s grin was unexpected. “Pass what?”
“The test. That was obviously a test. Did I pass?”
“With flying colors.”
“So, we’re getting married?”
Harvey shrugged. “It was more likely than me and Donna getting married. I was thinking on my feet.”
Mike laughed. “But we don’t have to actually get married-married, do we?”
“If I want to stay in the country? Yes.”
Mike’s face dropped. “What?”
“I am not going back to Canada. Have you ever been to Canada? There is nothing in Canada. Just… Maple leaves and ham that they call bacon but isn’t bacon. It’s a terrible place, especially Winnipeg, which is where I would be living if they make me go back.” Mike was fidgeting. Great, now he was having a crisis of faith. At least it had been delayed enough to get out of Jessica’s office.
“You know this is like eight different kinds of illegal, don’t you? And we’ll have to pretend to be a couple. You know, a COUPLE. Hand holding and goo-goo eyes. The whole nine or no one is going to believe us.”
Harvey suppressed a sigh. He had thought of that but he had been in theatre in high school so this would be cake compared to Shakespeare. “I will do what I must.”
“Dude, Canada is not that bad. You make it sound like a death wish-“
“When I am gone your boss will be Louis.”
“No! He hates me! He’ll fire me the second you cross the border.”
“So all you’ve got to do is marry me.”
Mike looked pained for a moment and proceeded to pout. “That is no way to propose to someone.”
“Come over here then.” Mike walked around the desk and Harvey grabbed his leaning in sincerely and looking up at him. Mike’s eyes went wide. “Michael James Ross. Will you marry me?”
For a second Mike looked legitimately speechless. “Well… When you put it like that- no.”
“Louis Litt.”
“I was kidding. Of course I’ll marry you.”
Harvey leaned back and dropped Mike’s hand, ignoring how Mike just continued to stand there. “Good. After work I’m taking you by my place. If this is going to work there will be a lot of lying involved and we need our story straight.”
“Of course, honey-bear.” Mike sighed, turning to leave.
“You’re the best, cuddle-butt.”
As Mike left Donna was sitting back down at her desk and Harvey grinned. For once, she would not be in the know. Louis came around the corner with tcvhis gross, smug look on his face and leaned on the side of her desk. The shock that crossed Donna’s face might just have been worth it all. She looked over her shoulder at Harvey like he was a stranger- a stranger who had stabbed her in the back with a chainsaw.
She stood and came to the glass door. For a moment she just glared through it at him before yanking it open and letting it swing closed. “No.”
Harvey blinked at her.
“You are not marrying Mike.”
“I am.” He tried to look determined.
“You’re not. You’re using him. I know it.”
Harvey made a sound of protest but Donna’s glare deepened. “He consented. That’s not using him.”
“Using his man-crush on you to get what you want is still using him.”
Harvey frowned. “You make me sound like a really terrible person, you know that?”
Mike sat at his cubicle, his brain moving a million miles a minute and unable to stop.
His life was over.
No more partying or girlfriends or semblance of anything that he used to do. It wasn’t long before Rachel swung by with a look of shocked indignation. “Oh my gosh, why didn’t you tell me.”
Mike looked up at her, unable to put any sort of emotion in his features. This must have been what going into shock felt like. He need a blanket and some water. Maybe a sledgehammer to the face.
“I know we were weird for a while after our thing but I thought we were at least honest with each other! How could you have kept this from me?”
“I just... I didn’t want anyone to know, alright. I haven’t even told my grandmother yet.” He was going to be sick. He was going to have to tell his grandmother.
He was going to be sick.
“Awe, Mikey.” She came around his cubicle and perched on the edge of his desk. Her fingers came up to rub circles between his shoulder blades in an oddly comforting manner. “It’ll be okay.”
“You’re right. Of course you’re right.”
Rachel smiled. “How’s Harvey taking it?”
“I don’t think it’s hit him yet. Honestly, I’m surprised he even- He must really hate Canada if he was willing to out us to stay, you know?”
She laughed and patted him on the back. “Or he just really loves you.”
Mike let out a wistful sigh. No more flirting with Rachel, she was an option now completely off the table. Could his life get any sadder?
Louis approached, with that look on his face that made Mike feel like he needed a shower to wipe the slime off from just being on the same planet as him. “Michael.”
Mike gulped. “Yeah, Louis?”
“I hear congratulations are in order? You and Harvey? I have to admit, I did not see that one coming. Getting hitched? That isn’t really his style you know?”
“Yes.” He put as much certainty into that as he could but the look didn’t leave Louis’ face. He didn’t believe Mike for a second. Louis was way too nosey for his own good.
Rachel stood, placing herself between Louis and Mike. “Yes, now if you’ll leave him alone he’s just had a very long morning- what with his personal business being hung out for everyone to see by you. I think you need to leave.” Mike looked around and a few of his other associates were standing up, glares fixed on Louis.
He had made some allies.
The day was not completely lost.
Mike still buried his face in his hands. It was all a little much to deal with.
“Whatever.” Louis continued on his way past his cubicle with a dramatic huff. “I’m not the one who slept my way to the top here.”
Rachel let out a gasp of shock, and Mike seriously felt like dirt. He hadn’t even thought about that reaction coming up. It was to be expected though wasn’t it? He didn’t really have to deal with Louis as much as the other- he got more cases then they did. It was because he was good at his job though. They had to know that. Shit, this was going to suck royally.
Rachel however was freaking out at the look on his face. “Mikey, listen to me.” She took his face in her hands and made him meet her eyes. “You know that isn’t true, right? Only Louis would say something that horrible. Do not let him get under your skin. I for one am happy that you and Harvey found each other. If he says anything else you let me know and I’ll kick his ass.”
“We’ll kick his ass.” That was Mark from the cubicle across from his. A couple of the others nodded.
“Thanks, you guys.” Mike really wished he could kiss Rachel in that moment, which was funny because he hadn’t had that impulse in six months.
God, did Mike hate immigration law.
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