round six prompt post - spoiler free
ROUND SIX - SPOILER FREE POST
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS FOR SEASON THREE ALLOWED IN THIS POSTIMPORTANT: Please don't forget to warn for any triggers (these can be found in the Rules post), better to warn when in doubt. If a prompt is not warned for triggers and contains them, it will be screened and you will be asked to re-write it with the appropriate ( Read more... )
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS FOR SEASON THREE ALLOWED IN THIS POSTIMPORTANT: Please don't forget to warn for any triggers (these can be found in the Rules post), better to warn when in doubt. If a prompt is not warned for triggers and contains them, it will be screened and you will be asked to re-write it with the appropriate ( Read more... )
So...that happened.
Mike countersued, which earned him praise from Jessica and half a smile from Harvey. It was the smile that kept him going when Kyle successfully filed a petition with the court to exclude one of Mike's witnesses. In the end, Mike didn't mind much considering he had no one to play the role. He'd thought for half a minute he could ask Jenny but then that would be all sorts of awkward. They hadn't really talked since. Well. It solved a problem and sparked another piece of texted advice from Harvey. Play the man. Mike could do that.
That Donna was playing Kyle's client was a bit nerve wracking. Mike froze the moment Donna started to cry. He hadn't expected that, and nearly forgot his strategy. Donna could take it, Mike was sure, at least he hoped so as he peppered her with questions in a way he'd learned from Cameron Dennis himself. Give no quarter, he remembered from the pre-trial pep talks of his A.D.A. days, and silently hated himself as Donna cried harder for a moment in response to a question before Kyle finally--belatedly--began to object.
Mike knew he'd won when Jessica smiled at him, but it wasn't until Donna winked at him as she stepped down from the stand that he felt as though he could breath again.
Jessica was generous with her praise, as were the other senior partners. Mike thanked them all before going back to his cubicle to finish the briefs he'd been working on that morning. He didn't feel like celebrating. He'd meet the other associates for drinks that night because he knew it was expected of him and he got that, he really did--but he found he didn't want to.
"You did good, kid," Harvey told him when Mike stopped by his office on his way out.
"I tried to settle."
"You knew you could win, though."
"Yeah." Mike sat down on the couch, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hand over the back of his head. "I knew I could win against him."
The couch dipped as Harvey sat close to Mike, letting their legs touch. Mike could feel the heat from Harvey's body from ankle to hip and fought against sinking into it.
"So, what's the problem," Harvey asked when Mike didn't say anything else.
"It didn't feel good to win."
"No?"
"You worked for Cameron, too, right?" Mike asked but it wasn't question. He already knew the answer, and he nodded when Harvey did. "I didn't like going after Donna like that."
"She thoroughly enjoyed herself, Mike. You don't have to worry about her. She wanted to do it. Wanted to see what you could do."
"I know, but it's the kind of thing Cameron wanted us to do. He made me read The Art of War."
Harvey made a sound somewhere between a laugh and groan, and nodded again.
"I didn't want to win because I knew Kyle had more to lose," Mike said after a while. "His title means a lot to him. It felt petty."
"So why did you? If you were smart enough to figure out how to win, then you knew how to lose, too."
"Yeah." Mike laughed but there wasn't much humor behind it. He shook his head before he worked up his courage to look Harvey in the eyes. "I didn't want to disappoint you."
"You didn't. You couldn't."
"I wish I had your same confidence."
"You are but the padawan and I--"
Mike tipped his head back and laughed out loud, letting his shoulder bump against Harvey's.
"Listen, Mike. You have to get Cameron out of your head and decide what kind of lawyer you want to be."
"How did you do it?"
"I listened to Jessica."
"I don't think she much likes me."
"You'd be surprised. In the meantime, you can listen to me."
"I'm trying."
"I know you are, kid."
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"Harvey, you need to back off Mike Ross."
"Has he made a complaint?" Harvey moved to sit at the edge of his seat in a chair across from Jessica, arranging his features in mock concern. He knew this talk was a long time coming. She didn't miss anything that happened in her firm, particularly when it came to Harvey. There's no way she wouldn't have noticed Harvey's interest in Mike. The way she leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked him over, told him that she didn't buy his innocent act for a minute.
"The associates fall under Louis' purview, and I know you know that."
"Louis doesn't deserve him," Harvey muttered, ignoring the look Jessica shoots him.
"I'm serious about this. Louis can't manage the associates if--"
"You're the one who told me I needed to mentor someone."
"Your own associate would be a good place to start." Harvey curled his lip in disgust. "Harvey." The warning was back in her voice.
"C'mon, Jessica. The kid is bright, maybe even slightly smarter than me. He should be on the partner track, not wasting his time proofing briefs like a rookie."
"He's a first year associate. If he doesn't like the work..." Jessica spread her hand out, indicating the door.
"Mike's not complaining about the work," Harvey said quickly, cutting off the threat. "And he didn't seek me out but we both know Louis isn't going to do anything for him. I can."
"And where does that leave Kyle?"
Harvey didn't answer. He couldn't even begin to pretend to care about Kyle and Jessica knew that.
"Look, I understand that you see something of yourself in this kid--"
"It's not about that."
"Isn't it? He graduated fifth in his class, just like you, spent two years in the D.A.'s office, just like you. I'm surprised you haven't given him Rene's name."
"He's not like me."
"No? Because from where I'm standing--"
"He's better."
Jessica looked taken aback by that admission and Harvey tried hard not to flinch beneath her unwavering gaze as she studied him intensely. "Please assure me that your interest in him is strictly professional, Harvey Specter, and if it isn't, that you haven't acted on it, because I will not allow you to do anything to jeopardize the reputation of this firm."
Harvey looked away to a point over Jessica's shoulder, his jaw clenching hard. He wondered for a second when he'd feel the anger at being accused of sexually harassing Mike but it never came. Jessica, it seemed, wasn't so far off the mark, and Harvey couldn't help but wonder when that had happened and how he'd missed it. Stupid skinny Mike with his stupid skinny ties.
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"And that's the only reason we're having this discussion?"
"Yes."
"Tell me something. I've already given you one puppy tied up with a ribbon around his neck who graduated third in his class but who has no real trial experience and could far better benefit from your experience. If you can't manage to feed and water him, then what makes you think I'm going to give you another?"
"I'm sure Kyle will make a adequate trial attorney someday but he's not Mike."
"I paired Kyle with you for a reason, Harvey. Do you know why that is?"
"I assumed it was payback for all the things I've done wrong in my life."
"It's because he's smart and he'll challenge you."
"He never challenges me, except maybe my patience."
"And Mike Ross does?"
"Constantly."
Jessica was quiet for a minute, assessing him again, and Harvey did his level best to keep his face bland and still, as if he hasn't just spent the last twenty minutes fighting for Mike. He almost thinks it's worked until Jessica shook her head, her lips twitching nearly imperceptibly to the side. Her tell. She's seen right through him. "He's not your responsibility, and I'm telling you, Harvey--not asking. Back off."
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Mike stood outside of Rachel's office for a good five minutes before he worked up the courage to push his way inside. He thought it was telling that he was afraid of all the women in his life--Rachel, Donna, Jessica, Gram... On the other hand, he thought maybe that list alone showed he had good reason. They were all scary, especially Rachel when she was pushing a deadline. It was telling of the depth of his anxiety that he ignored her scowl at his knock. "I think I'm being punished."
"Busy."
"C'mon, Rachel. This is important. Harvey hasn't spoken to me in nearly a month."
"Maybe he's busy, too."
Mike stared down at the crown of Rachel's head, knowing he should leave her alone. He couldn't help pushing just a little bit. "You have to tell me what to do."
Rachel sighed and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're a big boy, Mikey. You'll find a way to make daddy proud of you again."
"You think I'm over-reacting."
"You really are a genius."
"He's still talking to Kyle."
"If I give you some advice, will you go away?"
"Yes."
"Go talk to Harvey."
"That's not--"
"Mike."
"Right. Because I'm an adult, not a teenager with a crush."
"You so totally have a crush on Harvey."
"I really do."
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"Can I see him?"
Donna glanced up at Mike, her fingers poised above her keyboard, a "no" already forming on her lips. Mike was prepared for that--had expected it and was about to launch into a well reasoned argument why it was bullshit when she surprised him instead by clicking off the intercom and leaning in closer.
"He can't help you, Mike," she whispered conspiratorially. "Not anymore. At least not now."
Mike felt a strange, hollow ache in his chest at her words. He tried very hard to keep his voice steady and his eyes on hers as he leaned in but he couldn't help glancing into Harvey's office. He was there, the line of his mouth showing his annoyance with Kyle as Kyle frantically pawed through a stack of files. Mike's eyes snapped back to Donna when she tapped her finger on the counter in front of him.
"I did something wrong, didn't I? I can make it up to him. I just need to talk to him for a few minutes. I can come back later when he's alone." He hated to see pity in Donna's eyes. It wasn't like her, and it made him feel worse, as if he'd truly lost Harvey.
"C'mon, Mike. I'll let you buy me a cup of coffee."
Donna didn't say anything on the way down in the elevator but Mike hardly noticed. He took her silence to mean that he had done something so terribly wrong, something that Harvey couldn't forgive him for and so Donna was going to-- Going to what? Let him down gently? Mike frowned, knowing he was way off base. If he'd done something wrong on one of Harvey's cases, Harvey would have told him.
"Do you always think this loudly?" she asked as they waited for their coffee.
"Not usually."
"Harvey's not mad at you, if that's what has you twisted up in knots."
"He's quit talking to me."
"There was some indication that his interest in you was causing problems between you and your supervisor."
"He's interested in me?"
Donna laughed at him. "You have really got to develop a better poker face."
"I just meant--"
"I know what you meant, kid, and I know what you didn't say."
"Does he--"
"Your enormous brain is one of his favorite toys, but he's even more emotionally stunted than you are. You're going to have to work harder than that."
"I'm not--"
"Full disclosure. You've been here less than a year and Jessica isn't quite ready to take a chance on you yet, but she'll get there. She just has to see your potential. The mock trial--
"Oh god, Donna--
Donna held up her hand to stop the run of apologies he was about to offer. "It was a good start, Mike. Keep doing good work and eventually--sooner, rather than later, I bet--Jessica is going to offer you partner track. You're better than any of the other associates and she knows that now."
"What about Harvey?"
"Harvey knows it, too."
"I meant--"
"I know what you meant," she said again, more quietly this time. "Harvey went to bat for you but it wasn't time yet."
"He got in trouble for me?"
"Nothing he can't handle or didn't want to take on, but he needed to back off a bit. Just trust him, Mike."
"I do. I will."
"I think you mean that."
"I do," Mike repeated.
"In the meantime, you're going to have to develop your own defense strategy against Louis' legs. If Harvey can't have you, then Louis is losing his tennis buddy."
Mike smiled, warming at the thought--Harvey wanted him. Harvey had fought for him. He'd lost, and that wasn't something that Mike believed could happen to Harvey but still. Lost Mike to Louis--it must be killing him. At the thought, Mike rolled his eyes, giving his best Harvey impression, making his mumbled tennis sound like a particularly vile curse.
"I've always liked baseball better." Donna extracted an envelope from her purse, held it out to him. She winked when he took it. After picking up his wrist to check the time, she grabbed her coffee and left him standing there, calling back over her shoulder. "Get back to work, Mike."
He waited until she was gone to carefully rip the envelope open. Inside was one ticket to that Sunday's game at Yankee stadium.
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And poor Kyle, you've done such a good job of making him annoying and yet pitiable, I want to whack him upside the head and then maybe pet him a little, the poor stupid asshole.
Can't wait for more of this!
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Two days later. And if anyone tells you that Mike spent that time obsessing about what this meant and what Donna would want in return and whether it might actually lead to him being able to work with Harvey again, then...well, they wouldn't be lying.
For about five minutes on Sunday morning, Mike thought maybe he wouldn't go. It felt too much like a consolation prize, and he wasn't sure he could take much more of Donna being nice to him. In some strange reversal of the natural order of things, it made him feel worse. In the end, he went because he reasoned that the only other person he'd ever seen Donna go out of her way to be nice to was Harvey, and that almost meant something.
He was surprised and not to find it wasn't Donna at all but Harvey sprawled in the premium seat behind the dugout next to the one Mike held a ticket for. Mike stopped at the end of the row and stared for a good minute before Harvey rolled his eyes and waved him in.
"For a minute I thought this was Donna's way of asking me out."
"You couldn't handle Donna."
"I could so--" Mike started to mount his defense but then collapsed into his seat and smiled at Harvey. "No, you're right. She's terrifying."
"She'd eat you alive, though I think you'd probably enjoy it at least for a little while. I know she would."
"She told me what happened. I mean, broad strokes." Harvey just nodded. Of course he knew. "So, is this okay? I mean I don't want to get you into more trouble with Jessica."
"I can't mentor you, kid, but we can still be friends."
"We just can't talk about work, right?"
"I have it on good authority that friends sometimes talk about their jobs with each other. They might even complain about their bosses. Offer advice."
"As friends."
"Exactly."
"And you're my friend." Harvey gave him a look that spoke volumes about how simple he thought Mike was being. Mike just grinned back. "You might even be the best friend I've got."
Harvey nudged Mike's shoulder before he sunk down further in his seat. "Go grab us some beer and hotdogs, and then tell me about that case Louis dumped on you last week."
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repost b/c of fail XD
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