In For A Penny (6/7)
Ok just to let you know I never intended Trevor to be this horrible...I don't know what happened.
Chapter 5
Harvey’s getting lunch with Donna a few days later (Donna likes to slum it sometimes and grab a hotdog, something that Harvey’s totally fine with), she’s giving him grief about something but Harvey’s mind is elsewhere. On Mike, as per usual, and the way the kid has got completely under his skin, even though he’s managed to convince Mike otherwise.
There’s still that lingering hint of guilt whenever he thinks of Mike. The guilt at trying to dictate the kids life, at the subterfuge between him and Trevor. There’s the knowledge that Mike will be furious when he finds out, because it’s a matter of when not if. Harvey knows Trevor well enough that he will spill it all if he needs to get the upper hand. And Harvey tries to justify it all by telling himself he’s just trying to give the kid a life even if he doesn’t want to accept it from Harvey. Yet.
Harvey’s hasn’t had the occasion to use Mike since, but he’s starting to feel the need to just call him anyway, to feel his skin under his hands and watch him come apart when Harvey tells him to when he hears his own name.
“Harvey,” he turns to find himself face to face with Mike. He’s grinning for show, a grin that doesn’t reach his eyes and Harvey wants to kiss him. But he pulls him into a quick hug and tries to ignore the way Mike seems to fit perfectly with his body.
“Mike…hi,” Mike pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, “Donna, Mike,” Donna, ever gracious, holds out her hand like the Queen that she is, “Mike, Donna,” Mike smiles and takes her hand.
“You run his life,” Mike says with a smile, and Harvey thanks his great memory that lets him remember things like that. She smiles and nods, and Harvey can see she’s sizing the kid up as he turns back to Harvey, a worried look seeping back into his face.
“Apparently not his private life though…that, I hear, is all you,” Mike grins that forced grin again at Harvey. Harvey frowns slightly at the worry in the kid’s body language, but rolls his eyes dutifully.
“She knows everything,” he says by way of explanation, pulling his sunglasses out of his pocket and slipping them over his eyes. Mike swallows and Harvey licks his lips for show.
“It’s true…I do,” Donna says, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Mike bounces slightly, like he’s nervous and Harvey curls his fingers around his arm. Mike stops immediately and Harvey has to swallow down the flare of desire that shoots up his spine.
“Everything ok?” he asks and Mike shakes his head.
“Well actually…” he sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets “I need your help.”
That’s really all it takes for Harvey. Four words and he’s telling Donna to clear his schedule and ushering Mike into Pearson Hardman.
…
“So what’s going on?” Harvey asks, crossing his legs and sitting back in his chair. Mike presses his hands to the window ledge and looks out over the city. The view from Harvey’s office is nearly as impressive as the view from his apartment. Mike sighs again, turns and leans against the ledge.
“It’s not me, its Trevor,” he says and Harvey’s face hides what he’s thinking, but his jaw muscles twitch.
“What’s he done?” Mike can still feel the air of unease between them, no matter how much Harvey is trying to cover it up, and no matter how much Mike is trying to ignore it. It’s there. Sitting heavily like smoke, curling around their ankles and Mike wants to call Harvey on it, but knows it will only make it worse. Harvey’s staring at him expectantly; his fingers playing with an elegant pen that looks like it might be worth more than Mike’s entire wardrobe.
Mike would feel easier talking to Harvey under the cover of darkness, skin on skin and fingers in Harvey’s hair, but he swallows down his awkwardness and lets his fingers run over the basketballs on the window ledge. Harvey watches his hands but doesn’t say anything, just waits for Mike to talk.
“He deals…” Mike starts and takes a deep breath, “cocaine,” Harvey doesn’t move, only his eyes convey his surprise and Mike has to look away, “he’s always done it, since we were kids, and even though he earns enough with…” he trails off and gestures at himself, “us, he still does it,” Harvey stands, there’s anger on his face and it makes Mike want to reach out and soothe it. He shrugs slightly to stop himself from doing just that, “he owes people a lot of money.”
Harvey takes a deep breath.
“How much?” he asks and Mike shakes his head.
“I don’t know, but a lot. He got arrested the other day and he’s still not giving up names. Jenny’s going nuts, Kyle’s planning a hostile take over,” Mike smiles, trying to interject a little humour but it seems to go right over Harvey’s head. He frowns.
“Do you need bail money?” And Mike wants to cry at Harvey’s ability to read people. Mike hates having to ask for charity, to actually come out and ask for help, it took a lot, and Jenny begging, to get him to come here today and Harvey’s just taken the words out of his mouth. He throws himself down on the couch and hangs his head. He feels Harvey sit next to him, an almost tentative hand on his knee, fingers stroking gently and Mike wants to lean into that touch.
“I have most of it just not all,” he says and Harvey leans into his personal space, catches his eye, “I’m not asking for it, I’m asking for a loan, I promise I will pay you back, I just…didn’t know where to go,” Mike says and Harvey lifts his chin. It’s the first time they’ve properly touched since the drunken escapade and Mike shivers slightly, Harvey’s thumb fits into the curve beneath his lips so achingly perfectly that Mike wants to just give everything up and tell Harvey that he’ll give up the whole job for him.
“See what I mean about him being an anchor, Mike?” Harvey asks and Mike pulls himself out of Harvey’s grasp, away from temptation, “he’s stifling what you could be.”
“And you’re not trying to do the same?” Mike snaps and then sighs, shakes his head, “Sorry I just…I don’t want your lectures right now Harvey,” Harvey frowns again, “He’s my oldest friend,” Mike says and even to his own ears he sounds like he’s reaching, grasping at reasons to help Trevor when Trevor’s done nothing for him for years. Harvey scoffs and Mike reaches out and curls his fingers around the edge of Harvey’s jacket. The closest to touching him he will allow himself right now, “If it wasn’t for Trevor we would never have met.”
Harvey’s face softens somewhat and Mike smiles thinly.
“Ok…where are they holding him?”
…
Harvey doesn’t let Mike in with him when he goes to post bail. And he takes pleasure in the surprised look on Trevor’s face when he sees him, and then his face darkens and Harvey can’t help the smirk that spreads across his own face.
“Mike call you?” Trevor asks and Harvey nods.
“You’ve got a good friend there,” he says and Trevor stiffens, walks out of the station in front of Harvey. Mike’s waiting at the bottom of the steps and he grins up at them both. Harvey reaches out and curls his hand around Trevor’s arm.
“I want you to leave, Trevor,” he says and Trevor glares, shrugs out of Harvey’s grip.
“You don’t get to dictate my life as well Harvey, you’re already dictating Mike’s,” he nods down at Mike. Mike shoves his hands in his pockets and even though Harvey knows he can’t hear, he still lowers his voice.
“After the amount of money I just coughed up for you I think I do,” he says and Trevor narrows his eyes.
“You did it for Mike, not for me,” Trevor counters.
“Damn right I did it for Mike, for some reason that kid still thinks you’re worth his time,” Harvey snaps and Trevor smirks.
“You forgetting our agreement, you get Mike, exclusively and I don’t tell him why none of his other clients are calling him?” Harvey hasn’t forgotten, it’s been on his mind for the past two days, tossing and turning, conflicting emotions about whether it’s right to dictates Mike’s life without him knowing. Harvey takes a deep breath and glances down at Mike. Mike frowns like he’s wondering what’s taking them so long, but he stays where he is and bounces on his feet slightly.
“Go ahead,” Harvey says, turning back to Trevor, “tell him. He withdraws his services, I withdraw mine, end of deal,” Trevor narrows his eyes, “And the money you owe me starts accruing interest…lots,” Mike said he’d pay Harvey back but Harvey wants it from Trevor, Trevor was the one that needed it, not Mike and Mike had frowned when Harvey had told him that but nodded once and bitten on his bottom lip. Trevor takes a step back and cocks his head to the side.
“You threatening me?” he asks and Harvey laughs, a cruel sound that he uses with clients who are being difficult, Mike turns at the sound and frowns slightly.
“If you want to call it that,” Harvey replies, not taking his eyes off Mike. Mike looks down at his feet and back up at him and Harvey cracks a small smile.
“You,” Trevor starts. Harvey holds up his hand.
“Leave Trevor, let Jenny run the place, she does anyway. It will do her good to get out of your self destructive shadow, and Mike? Mike’s holding on to you because of some misplaced solidarity and the kid deserves more than you for a best friend,” he finishes and walks down the step to Mike. Mike meets him half way and Harvey can’t stop himself from pulling him close with a hand flat on his lower back, fingers dipping slightly into Mike’s waistband. His skin’s warm against Harvey’s palm.
“Thank you,” Mike mutters and Harvey lets his hand slide further up Mike’s back. Mike’s eyes close briefly and Harvey wonders how, now he has this again, he can stop touching Mike.
“I’ll see you later?” he asks, and he can’t keep the hope from creeping into his voice. Mike smiles, leans forward enough to presses his lips briefly to Harvey’s.
“If you want, I’ll try,” he replies and Harvey lets him go as Trevor glares at them both.
“I want,” he says and Mike grins, bounds off in Trevor’s direction. Harvey sighs, climbs into the back of his car and Ray takes him back to the office.
…
“I don’t know why you’re so angry,” Mike snaps as Trevor slams the cab door and stalks off in the direction of the house. Trevor turns, glares at Mike but doesn’t answer, just pulls the door open and waits for Mike to go in first. Mike sighs, he’s been getting the silent treatment the whole way home, Trevor stewing over something, and the only think he can think of is that he’s pissed Mike asked Harvey for help. He knows those two have never got on but it was the only thing Mike could think of. The only way to help because no matter what’s between them, or not, they’ve still known each other for too long to just give up.
“Trevor,” Jenny looks like she going to pass out with relief when she sees Trevor. The girl has been running herself mad these past two days, stressing over Trevor, and keeping clients happy and Mike wants to give her a hug when Trevor turns his scowl towards her.
“Not now Jenny,” he snaps and Jenny’s face falls. Mike spins Trevor round.
“Jesus Trevor, what’s your problem?” He demands and Trevor laughs, the sound wry and cruel and Mike flinches slightly at it.
“My problem? I don’t have one,” he snaps, pushing Mike’s hand off his arms, “What’s yours Mike? Clients not calling you as often as they should?” Mike takes a step back, like he’s been slapped in the face. His blood runs cold, he knew Trevor had something to do with that. Jenny bites on her thumb nail nervously as she looks between them both.
“How did you know that?” Mike demands, curling both hands around Trevor’s arms. Trevor got a few inches on him but Mike can hold his own, especially when he’s angry and he can feel it building right now, bubbling in his stomach. Trevor just smirks.
“Did you ask yourself why?” Trevor asks and Mike shakes him slightly, pushes him hard and Trevor stumbles but lets out a small laugh, running his hand through his hair.
“What did you do?”
“Me? Nothing that I wasn’t paid to do,” Trevor says and Mike pushes him again, Trevor’s head hits the door hard and Jenny gasps, takes a step forward. Trevor smirks even wider, like this is all planned, like he wants Mike to loose his temper.
“What have you done?” Mike feels his hands curl into fists and Trevor laughs again, standing up straight and staring Mike dead in the eyes.
“Maybe you should ask Harvey,” he says and Mike ignores the way his stomach drops at that.
“I’m asking you,” he says and Trevor pushes himself off the door, goes to walk past Mike but Mike is faster, grabs at his arm, “Trev.”
“He bought you Mike, your precious Harvey bought you, treated you like the whore you are,” Trevor shrugs out of his grasp and grabs Jenny. She throws a worried look at Mike.
“You’re lying,” Mike says and Trevor laughs again, pushes Jenny towards the stairs.
“If only I was Mikey.”
…
Mike’s never been so angry in his entire life. It boils under his skin as he hails a cab, and he wants to drink to forget it, wants to call Tom just to piss Harvey off, wants to go round to Harvey’s and punch the self satisfied dick in the face because where the hell does he get off trying to control Mike’s life like that.
He gives the driver an address and curls his hands into fists, pressing his short nails into his palms and tries to breathe through his anger.
…
“You son of a bitch,” Harvey’s barely got the door open before Mike’s swinging, his fist connecting with Harvey’s jaw. It’s not hard, but it’s hard enough that it hurts, and it’s so completely out of character that it takes Harvey so much by surprise he stumbles backwards.
“Good evening to you too Mike,” he quips, standing straight and moving his jaw tentatively. Mike glares at him and honestly, Harvey thinks he’s never seen anyone so furious. He heads to the kitchen for ice and hears Mike stomping after him.
“You bought me?” Mike demands and Harvey’s heart sinks, “You fucking bought me?” Harvey dumps a handful of ice into a towel and presses it to his jaw.
“Aaah, I see Trevor makes good on his threats,” he says and Mike shakes his head like he can’t quiet believe Harvey can be so blasé about this.
“You can’t just dictate my life, you son of a bitch,” Mike shouts and Harvey raises an eyebrow, lowers the towel from his jaw.
“You called me that already, and why not?” Mike looks like he’s about to self combust, there’s a flush against his cheeks and he looks almost feral.
“Because I don’t belong to you,” he shouts back, slamming his hand on the counter. And that’s the crux of the problem. The truth that Harvey doesn’t want to have to deal with, Mike isn’t his. “This isn’t some alternate universe where sex slaves are bought and sold like chattel, Harvey,” Mike looks like he’s going to throw a punch again and Harvey drops the towel, stalks closer to him and lowers his voice.
“I pay you,” he says and Mike’s eyes narrow.
“Yeah, you pay me,” he sounds resigned and tired and he presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose, “and I can walk out that door whenever I feel like it,” he says, lowering his hand and staring straight at Harvey with blue eyes that convey no emotions.
“Go on then,” Harvey says, nodding at the door, “walk.” He’s expecting Mike to turn on his heel and leave, to walk out the door and he mentally prepares himself for that. But Mike seems to deflate slightly, crossing his arms over his chest and staying where he is.
“You can’t just throw money at everything and expect everyone to fall at your feet Harvey,” he says and Harvey takes a step forward, goes to reach out but thinks better of it at Mike’s glare.
“You’re saying that if I offered to give you a life, a good you wouldn’t want it?” Mike stiffens, drops his arms and Harvey sees the way he curls his hands into fists by his sides.
“I have a good life Harvey, and I like it. I don’t need, or want you to save me. That’s not how this works, and I have told you that before, why won’t you listen?” There’s a hint of pleading in Mike’s voice and no matter how much Harvey cares about him, he can’t drop this subject now, not when they’re finally talking frankly.
“So you want to continue whoring yourself out to anyone who will pay?” The second he says it Harvey knows he’s possibly lost Mike. Mike’s demeanour changes instantly, from tired and resigned to impassive and he steps away from Harvey.
“You pay me Harvey. I’m whoring myself out to you. So maybe you need to come to terms with that before you start flinging insults…again,” He turns to leave.
“Mike, stop,” Mike stops, presses a hand to the wall and lowers his head. There’s tension in his shoulders and Harvey wants to chase it away.
“I thought we were past this?” Mike says, turning back to Harvey, “You trying to rescue me. I thought we had moved on,” he finishes and Harvey takes a step forward. Mike doesn’t move away but he’s got walls a mile high around him.
“No kid, you moved on,” Mike blinks, sways slightly like the anger was the only thing keeping him from gravitating towards Harvey, “or at least you tried to,” Mike closes his eyes and shakes his head once and Harvey steps forward, into his space, “I want you, and I have never hidden that,” Harvey steps to the side and pushes Mike flat against the wall, Mike’s eyes go wide but he stares straight at Harvey, his nostrils twitching the only outward sign that he’s struggling with something, “We work,” Harvey says coming in closer, “we fit,” Harvey slides his thigh between Mike’s, slowly, like Mike will bolt at any sudden movements. Mike’s hands go to Harvey’s arms, he doesn’t pull him closer but he doesn’t push away either so Harvey presses his hands to the wall by Mike’s head, “we have mind-blowing sex, and you keep me on my toes. If the only way I can have you is to pay you and keep everyone else away then so be it,” Mike shoves him suddenly and Harvey stumbles but keeps himself upright.
“You’re unbelievable,” Mike says incredulously, shaking his head like he’s almost impressed at Harvey’s audacity.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” Harvey demands and Mike lifts his chin slightly.
“I don’t want you,” He says automatically but Harvey can hear, or at least he hopes he can hear, the uncertainty in his voice. The way Mike reacted to Harvey, in the bedroom, the way he came apart under Harvey’s hands wasn’t just for the money. Harvey takes a step forward.
“Say it like you mean it,” he says and Mike’s eyes flash dangerously but he swallows, pushes himself off from the wall.
“I don’t want you,” he says, more firmly this time but there’s still a hint of uncertainty in his tone and Harvey meets him in the middle of the hall, and he can’t help but remember the last time they were here, Mike drunk and angry and shaking in Harvey’s arms.
“Still not believing you kid,” Harvey says and Mike lays a hand on his chest like he’s going to push him again and Harvey covers it with his own.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Mike pleads, tugging on his hand. Harvey presses forward and Mike shuts his eyes.
“I don’t think you want that,” Harvey says, running his thumb across the back of Mike’s hand. Mike’s eyes fly open and he’s angry again. He tugs harder and Harvey lets his hand go.
“Don’t tell me what I want, you don’t know me,” he says, stepping away from Harvey, towards the door. Harvey catches him at the door, pushes him against it and presses his hips to Mike’s. Mike lets out a small noise of protest, pushing back against Harvey but Harvey snakes his hand between the door and Mike and holds him close, his hand flat against Mike’s stomach.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he says into Mike’s ear. “You’re brilliant, pushy, have a quick wit, you’re able to charm the pants off anyone who crosses your path, you kiss like you mean it,” Harvey slides his lips down Mike’s jaw and Mike lifts his head to give Harvey better access to his skin, “you punch like a girl, you’re fiercely independent to the point that it’s a character flaw, you like shit food yet your eyes light up when you drink a fine wine, and you want me as much as I want you,” Harvey finishes, dipping his fingers into Mike’s pants. Mike tenses, manages to turn in Harvey’s grip and pushes him away again. “You come apart when I order you to; you have this need to please people, to submit. Yet you’re too fucking stupid, too…proud to realise I can give you that,” Harvey knows he’s grasping at straws, trying anything to get Mike to stay, but Mike looks at him like he’s breaking.
“No,” he says, a finality in his tone that almost scares Harvey. Mike shakes his head, pushes Harvey away again.
“Don’t lie,” Harvey says as Mike fumbles behind him at the door handle. “I read people remember,” Harvey almost feels it when Mike’s walls come up again. Mike pulls the door open and is halfway out when he turns around.
“Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are,” he says. The sound of the door slamming is louder than anything Harvey’s ever heard.
“Shit.”
…
Harvey’s half way through his run on his treadmill when there’s a knock at his door. Usually he goes to the gym, bashing out a few miles until his legs feel like jelly and his heart’s racing but he didn’t want to see anyone else tonight. He was planning on getting steaming, fall down drunk and sleeping until Monday and he groans as he slows the treadmill to a stop and then the knocking on the door kicks up a notch.
“Alright, Jesus,” Harvey shouts, grabbing a towel and running it over his face as he makes his way to the door. His heart sinks as he pulls it open.
Trevor pushes his way into Harvey’s apartment.
“Where is he?” He demands and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who he’s talking about. Harvey sighs like he’s bored even though worry twists in his stomach.
“You think he’d be here? After you let our agreement slip to him? You must be out of your mind,” Trevor glares at him and crosses his arms over his chest. Harvey leans against the kitchen counter like nothing’s worrying him.
“Well where is he then?” Trevor asks and Harvey raises any eyebrow.
“Probably with Jenny plotting your demise. I don’t know Trevor, now why don’t you go find your errant property and get out of my apartment?” Harvey pushes himself upright and Trevor does the same. They both take half a step forward until they’re within striking distance of each other. Trevor looks at him like he wants to punch him, and then possibly disembowel but Harvey just stiffens his jaw and looks back.
“You want me to go? You want me to leave Mike and Jenny?” Trevor asks finally, crossing his arms again, “you’re gonna have to pay me,” Harvey lets out a bark of a laugh and Trevor blinks defiantly.
“I’m not paying you for anything,” Harvey says incredulously. Trevor’s face twists into an ugly smirk.
“You paid me to keep Mike for you,” he says and Harvey feels his blood boil.
“Yeah and look how that turned out,” he says, ignoring the way his stomach twists again. “I paid your bail, and miraculously got you out of a prison sentence,” Trevor opens his mouth to speak but Harvey just holds up his hand, “By the way I pulled valuable favours…for you, so I’m not giving you anything else.”
“You didn’t do it for me,” Trevor says, repeating the statement he said outside the police station, the smirk back on his face, “you did it for Mike.”
“That may be true, but it helped you out so I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it if I were you,” Harvey pushes past Trevor to the fridge and grabs a bottle of beer, he twits the cap off and takes a sip. The taste reminds him of Mike, Mike who drank beer instead of whiskey but who always licked his lips when he kissed Harvey and tasted it. “If you were as good a friend as you claim to be you would leave him, and Jenny, the hell alone,” Harvey finishes and Trevor glares, but the fight in him is waning and Harvey feels a surge of glee at that.
“If you cared as much about Mike as you claim to you would do the same,” Trevor counters, with a little less spite than he would have said five minutes ago. Harvey doesn’t hear it though, he growls as he drops his beer and winds his hands around Trevor’s arms, slamming him against the nearest surface.
“You know nothing about how I feel for Mike, so don’t claim to. I pulled favours to get you out Trevor, don’t make me revoke that,” Trevor’s eyes go wide but he recovers himself and smirks again.
“Again with the threats Harvey,” Trevor smiles and Harvey shakes him again.
“Get out of my apartment,” he drops Trevor and steps away, Trevor slumps, absently rubs at his arm, “get out of my city,” Trevor curls his hand into a fist and Harvey narrows his eyes and crowds in again, “if you think you can fight me on this take a swing and see what happens,” he sticks out his chin daringly and Trevor’s nostrils flare before Harvey’s sees his fist uncurl, “yeah I didn’t think so.”
“He wont come back to you, you know?” Trevor spits as he slips to the side and heads for the door. Harvey’s knuckles go white where he grips at the kitchen.
“Maybe not,” Harvey replies, “he wont go back to you either.”
That’s the second time that day that someone slams his door and Harvey picks hit beer bottle off the floor and hurls it across the room, the tinkle of breaking glass much more satisfying that it should be.
Chapter 7
Chapter 5
Harvey’s getting lunch with Donna a few days later (Donna likes to slum it sometimes and grab a hotdog, something that Harvey’s totally fine with), she’s giving him grief about something but Harvey’s mind is elsewhere. On Mike, as per usual, and the way the kid has got completely under his skin, even though he’s managed to convince Mike otherwise.
There’s still that lingering hint of guilt whenever he thinks of Mike. The guilt at trying to dictate the kids life, at the subterfuge between him and Trevor. There’s the knowledge that Mike will be furious when he finds out, because it’s a matter of when not if. Harvey knows Trevor well enough that he will spill it all if he needs to get the upper hand. And Harvey tries to justify it all by telling himself he’s just trying to give the kid a life even if he doesn’t want to accept it from Harvey. Yet.
Harvey’s hasn’t had the occasion to use Mike since, but he’s starting to feel the need to just call him anyway, to feel his skin under his hands and watch him come apart when Harvey tells him to when he hears his own name.
“Harvey,” he turns to find himself face to face with Mike. He’s grinning for show, a grin that doesn’t reach his eyes and Harvey wants to kiss him. But he pulls him into a quick hug and tries to ignore the way Mike seems to fit perfectly with his body.
“Mike…hi,” Mike pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, “Donna, Mike,” Donna, ever gracious, holds out her hand like the Queen that she is, “Mike, Donna,” Mike smiles and takes her hand.
“You run his life,” Mike says with a smile, and Harvey thanks his great memory that lets him remember things like that. She smiles and nods, and Harvey can see she’s sizing the kid up as he turns back to Harvey, a worried look seeping back into his face.
“Apparently not his private life though…that, I hear, is all you,” Mike grins that forced grin again at Harvey. Harvey frowns slightly at the worry in the kid’s body language, but rolls his eyes dutifully.
“She knows everything,” he says by way of explanation, pulling his sunglasses out of his pocket and slipping them over his eyes. Mike swallows and Harvey licks his lips for show.
“It’s true…I do,” Donna says, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Mike bounces slightly, like he’s nervous and Harvey curls his fingers around his arm. Mike stops immediately and Harvey has to swallow down the flare of desire that shoots up his spine.
“Everything ok?” he asks and Mike shakes his head.
“Well actually…” he sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets “I need your help.”
That’s really all it takes for Harvey. Four words and he’s telling Donna to clear his schedule and ushering Mike into Pearson Hardman.
…
“So what’s going on?” Harvey asks, crossing his legs and sitting back in his chair. Mike presses his hands to the window ledge and looks out over the city. The view from Harvey’s office is nearly as impressive as the view from his apartment. Mike sighs again, turns and leans against the ledge.
“It’s not me, its Trevor,” he says and Harvey’s face hides what he’s thinking, but his jaw muscles twitch.
“What’s he done?” Mike can still feel the air of unease between them, no matter how much Harvey is trying to cover it up, and no matter how much Mike is trying to ignore it. It’s there. Sitting heavily like smoke, curling around their ankles and Mike wants to call Harvey on it, but knows it will only make it worse. Harvey’s staring at him expectantly; his fingers playing with an elegant pen that looks like it might be worth more than Mike’s entire wardrobe.
Mike would feel easier talking to Harvey under the cover of darkness, skin on skin and fingers in Harvey’s hair, but he swallows down his awkwardness and lets his fingers run over the basketballs on the window ledge. Harvey watches his hands but doesn’t say anything, just waits for Mike to talk.
“He deals…” Mike starts and takes a deep breath, “cocaine,” Harvey doesn’t move, only his eyes convey his surprise and Mike has to look away, “he’s always done it, since we were kids, and even though he earns enough with…” he trails off and gestures at himself, “us, he still does it,” Harvey stands, there’s anger on his face and it makes Mike want to reach out and soothe it. He shrugs slightly to stop himself from doing just that, “he owes people a lot of money.”
Harvey takes a deep breath.
“How much?” he asks and Mike shakes his head.
“I don’t know, but a lot. He got arrested the other day and he’s still not giving up names. Jenny’s going nuts, Kyle’s planning a hostile take over,” Mike smiles, trying to interject a little humour but it seems to go right over Harvey’s head. He frowns.
“Do you need bail money?” And Mike wants to cry at Harvey’s ability to read people. Mike hates having to ask for charity, to actually come out and ask for help, it took a lot, and Jenny begging, to get him to come here today and Harvey’s just taken the words out of his mouth. He throws himself down on the couch and hangs his head. He feels Harvey sit next to him, an almost tentative hand on his knee, fingers stroking gently and Mike wants to lean into that touch.
“I have most of it just not all,” he says and Harvey leans into his personal space, catches his eye, “I’m not asking for it, I’m asking for a loan, I promise I will pay you back, I just…didn’t know where to go,” Mike says and Harvey lifts his chin. It’s the first time they’ve properly touched since the drunken escapade and Mike shivers slightly, Harvey’s thumb fits into the curve beneath his lips so achingly perfectly that Mike wants to just give everything up and tell Harvey that he’ll give up the whole job for him.
“See what I mean about him being an anchor, Mike?” Harvey asks and Mike pulls himself out of Harvey’s grasp, away from temptation, “he’s stifling what you could be.”
“And you’re not trying to do the same?” Mike snaps and then sighs, shakes his head, “Sorry I just…I don’t want your lectures right now Harvey,” Harvey frowns again, “He’s my oldest friend,” Mike says and even to his own ears he sounds like he’s reaching, grasping at reasons to help Trevor when Trevor’s done nothing for him for years. Harvey scoffs and Mike reaches out and curls his fingers around the edge of Harvey’s jacket. The closest to touching him he will allow himself right now, “If it wasn’t for Trevor we would never have met.”
Harvey’s face softens somewhat and Mike smiles thinly.
“Ok…where are they holding him?”
…
Harvey doesn’t let Mike in with him when he goes to post bail. And he takes pleasure in the surprised look on Trevor’s face when he sees him, and then his face darkens and Harvey can’t help the smirk that spreads across his own face.
“Mike call you?” Trevor asks and Harvey nods.
“You’ve got a good friend there,” he says and Trevor stiffens, walks out of the station in front of Harvey. Mike’s waiting at the bottom of the steps and he grins up at them both. Harvey reaches out and curls his hand around Trevor’s arm.
“I want you to leave, Trevor,” he says and Trevor glares, shrugs out of Harvey’s grip.
“You don’t get to dictate my life as well Harvey, you’re already dictating Mike’s,” he nods down at Mike. Mike shoves his hands in his pockets and even though Harvey knows he can’t hear, he still lowers his voice.
“After the amount of money I just coughed up for you I think I do,” he says and Trevor narrows his eyes.
“You did it for Mike, not for me,” Trevor counters.
“Damn right I did it for Mike, for some reason that kid still thinks you’re worth his time,” Harvey snaps and Trevor smirks.
“You forgetting our agreement, you get Mike, exclusively and I don’t tell him why none of his other clients are calling him?” Harvey hasn’t forgotten, it’s been on his mind for the past two days, tossing and turning, conflicting emotions about whether it’s right to dictates Mike’s life without him knowing. Harvey takes a deep breath and glances down at Mike. Mike frowns like he’s wondering what’s taking them so long, but he stays where he is and bounces on his feet slightly.
“Go ahead,” Harvey says, turning back to Trevor, “tell him. He withdraws his services, I withdraw mine, end of deal,” Trevor narrows his eyes, “And the money you owe me starts accruing interest…lots,” Mike said he’d pay Harvey back but Harvey wants it from Trevor, Trevor was the one that needed it, not Mike and Mike had frowned when Harvey had told him that but nodded once and bitten on his bottom lip. Trevor takes a step back and cocks his head to the side.
“You threatening me?” he asks and Harvey laughs, a cruel sound that he uses with clients who are being difficult, Mike turns at the sound and frowns slightly.
“If you want to call it that,” Harvey replies, not taking his eyes off Mike. Mike looks down at his feet and back up at him and Harvey cracks a small smile.
“You,” Trevor starts. Harvey holds up his hand.
“Leave Trevor, let Jenny run the place, she does anyway. It will do her good to get out of your self destructive shadow, and Mike? Mike’s holding on to you because of some misplaced solidarity and the kid deserves more than you for a best friend,” he finishes and walks down the step to Mike. Mike meets him half way and Harvey can’t stop himself from pulling him close with a hand flat on his lower back, fingers dipping slightly into Mike’s waistband. His skin’s warm against Harvey’s palm.
“Thank you,” Mike mutters and Harvey lets his hand slide further up Mike’s back. Mike’s eyes close briefly and Harvey wonders how, now he has this again, he can stop touching Mike.
“I’ll see you later?” he asks, and he can’t keep the hope from creeping into his voice. Mike smiles, leans forward enough to presses his lips briefly to Harvey’s.
“If you want, I’ll try,” he replies and Harvey lets him go as Trevor glares at them both.
“I want,” he says and Mike grins, bounds off in Trevor’s direction. Harvey sighs, climbs into the back of his car and Ray takes him back to the office.
…
“I don’t know why you’re so angry,” Mike snaps as Trevor slams the cab door and stalks off in the direction of the house. Trevor turns, glares at Mike but doesn’t answer, just pulls the door open and waits for Mike to go in first. Mike sighs, he’s been getting the silent treatment the whole way home, Trevor stewing over something, and the only think he can think of is that he’s pissed Mike asked Harvey for help. He knows those two have never got on but it was the only thing Mike could think of. The only way to help because no matter what’s between them, or not, they’ve still known each other for too long to just give up.
“Trevor,” Jenny looks like she going to pass out with relief when she sees Trevor. The girl has been running herself mad these past two days, stressing over Trevor, and keeping clients happy and Mike wants to give her a hug when Trevor turns his scowl towards her.
“Not now Jenny,” he snaps and Jenny’s face falls. Mike spins Trevor round.
“Jesus Trevor, what’s your problem?” He demands and Trevor laughs, the sound wry and cruel and Mike flinches slightly at it.
“My problem? I don’t have one,” he snaps, pushing Mike’s hand off his arms, “What’s yours Mike? Clients not calling you as often as they should?” Mike takes a step back, like he’s been slapped in the face. His blood runs cold, he knew Trevor had something to do with that. Jenny bites on her thumb nail nervously as she looks between them both.
“How did you know that?” Mike demands, curling both hands around Trevor’s arms. Trevor got a few inches on him but Mike can hold his own, especially when he’s angry and he can feel it building right now, bubbling in his stomach. Trevor just smirks.
“Did you ask yourself why?” Trevor asks and Mike shakes him slightly, pushes him hard and Trevor stumbles but lets out a small laugh, running his hand through his hair.
“What did you do?”
“Me? Nothing that I wasn’t paid to do,” Trevor says and Mike pushes him again, Trevor’s head hits the door hard and Jenny gasps, takes a step forward. Trevor smirks even wider, like this is all planned, like he wants Mike to loose his temper.
“What have you done?” Mike feels his hands curl into fists and Trevor laughs again, standing up straight and staring Mike dead in the eyes.
“Maybe you should ask Harvey,” he says and Mike ignores the way his stomach drops at that.
“I’m asking you,” he says and Trevor pushes himself off the door, goes to walk past Mike but Mike is faster, grabs at his arm, “Trev.”
“He bought you Mike, your precious Harvey bought you, treated you like the whore you are,” Trevor shrugs out of his grasp and grabs Jenny. She throws a worried look at Mike.
“You’re lying,” Mike says and Trevor laughs again, pushes Jenny towards the stairs.
“If only I was Mikey.”
…
Mike’s never been so angry in his entire life. It boils under his skin as he hails a cab, and he wants to drink to forget it, wants to call Tom just to piss Harvey off, wants to go round to Harvey’s and punch the self satisfied dick in the face because where the hell does he get off trying to control Mike’s life like that.
He gives the driver an address and curls his hands into fists, pressing his short nails into his palms and tries to breathe through his anger.
…
“You son of a bitch,” Harvey’s barely got the door open before Mike’s swinging, his fist connecting with Harvey’s jaw. It’s not hard, but it’s hard enough that it hurts, and it’s so completely out of character that it takes Harvey so much by surprise he stumbles backwards.
“Good evening to you too Mike,” he quips, standing straight and moving his jaw tentatively. Mike glares at him and honestly, Harvey thinks he’s never seen anyone so furious. He heads to the kitchen for ice and hears Mike stomping after him.
“You bought me?” Mike demands and Harvey’s heart sinks, “You fucking bought me?” Harvey dumps a handful of ice into a towel and presses it to his jaw.
“Aaah, I see Trevor makes good on his threats,” he says and Mike shakes his head like he can’t quiet believe Harvey can be so blasé about this.
“You can’t just dictate my life, you son of a bitch,” Mike shouts and Harvey raises an eyebrow, lowers the towel from his jaw.
“You called me that already, and why not?” Mike looks like he’s about to self combust, there’s a flush against his cheeks and he looks almost feral.
“Because I don’t belong to you,” he shouts back, slamming his hand on the counter. And that’s the crux of the problem. The truth that Harvey doesn’t want to have to deal with, Mike isn’t his. “This isn’t some alternate universe where sex slaves are bought and sold like chattel, Harvey,” Mike looks like he’s going to throw a punch again and Harvey drops the towel, stalks closer to him and lowers his voice.
“I pay you,” he says and Mike’s eyes narrow.
“Yeah, you pay me,” he sounds resigned and tired and he presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose, “and I can walk out that door whenever I feel like it,” he says, lowering his hand and staring straight at Harvey with blue eyes that convey no emotions.
“Go on then,” Harvey says, nodding at the door, “walk.” He’s expecting Mike to turn on his heel and leave, to walk out the door and he mentally prepares himself for that. But Mike seems to deflate slightly, crossing his arms over his chest and staying where he is.
“You can’t just throw money at everything and expect everyone to fall at your feet Harvey,” he says and Harvey takes a step forward, goes to reach out but thinks better of it at Mike’s glare.
“You’re saying that if I offered to give you a life, a good you wouldn’t want it?” Mike stiffens, drops his arms and Harvey sees the way he curls his hands into fists by his sides.
“I have a good life Harvey, and I like it. I don’t need, or want you to save me. That’s not how this works, and I have told you that before, why won’t you listen?” There’s a hint of pleading in Mike’s voice and no matter how much Harvey cares about him, he can’t drop this subject now, not when they’re finally talking frankly.
“So you want to continue whoring yourself out to anyone who will pay?” The second he says it Harvey knows he’s possibly lost Mike. Mike’s demeanour changes instantly, from tired and resigned to impassive and he steps away from Harvey.
“You pay me Harvey. I’m whoring myself out to you. So maybe you need to come to terms with that before you start flinging insults…again,” He turns to leave.
“Mike, stop,” Mike stops, presses a hand to the wall and lowers his head. There’s tension in his shoulders and Harvey wants to chase it away.
“I thought we were past this?” Mike says, turning back to Harvey, “You trying to rescue me. I thought we had moved on,” he finishes and Harvey takes a step forward. Mike doesn’t move away but he’s got walls a mile high around him.
“No kid, you moved on,” Mike blinks, sways slightly like the anger was the only thing keeping him from gravitating towards Harvey, “or at least you tried to,” Mike closes his eyes and shakes his head once and Harvey steps forward, into his space, “I want you, and I have never hidden that,” Harvey steps to the side and pushes Mike flat against the wall, Mike’s eyes go wide but he stares straight at Harvey, his nostrils twitching the only outward sign that he’s struggling with something, “We work,” Harvey says coming in closer, “we fit,” Harvey slides his thigh between Mike’s, slowly, like Mike will bolt at any sudden movements. Mike’s hands go to Harvey’s arms, he doesn’t pull him closer but he doesn’t push away either so Harvey presses his hands to the wall by Mike’s head, “we have mind-blowing sex, and you keep me on my toes. If the only way I can have you is to pay you and keep everyone else away then so be it,” Mike shoves him suddenly and Harvey stumbles but keeps himself upright.
“You’re unbelievable,” Mike says incredulously, shaking his head like he’s almost impressed at Harvey’s audacity.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” Harvey demands and Mike lifts his chin slightly.
“I don’t want you,” He says automatically but Harvey can hear, or at least he hopes he can hear, the uncertainty in his voice. The way Mike reacted to Harvey, in the bedroom, the way he came apart under Harvey’s hands wasn’t just for the money. Harvey takes a step forward.
“Say it like you mean it,” he says and Mike’s eyes flash dangerously but he swallows, pushes himself off from the wall.
“I don’t want you,” he says, more firmly this time but there’s still a hint of uncertainty in his tone and Harvey meets him in the middle of the hall, and he can’t help but remember the last time they were here, Mike drunk and angry and shaking in Harvey’s arms.
“Still not believing you kid,” Harvey says and Mike lays a hand on his chest like he’s going to push him again and Harvey covers it with his own.
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Mike pleads, tugging on his hand. Harvey presses forward and Mike shuts his eyes.
“I don’t think you want that,” Harvey says, running his thumb across the back of Mike’s hand. Mike’s eyes fly open and he’s angry again. He tugs harder and Harvey lets his hand go.
“Don’t tell me what I want, you don’t know me,” he says, stepping away from Harvey, towards the door. Harvey catches him at the door, pushes him against it and presses his hips to Mike’s. Mike lets out a small noise of protest, pushing back against Harvey but Harvey snakes his hand between the door and Mike and holds him close, his hand flat against Mike’s stomach.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he says into Mike’s ear. “You’re brilliant, pushy, have a quick wit, you’re able to charm the pants off anyone who crosses your path, you kiss like you mean it,” Harvey slides his lips down Mike’s jaw and Mike lifts his head to give Harvey better access to his skin, “you punch like a girl, you’re fiercely independent to the point that it’s a character flaw, you like shit food yet your eyes light up when you drink a fine wine, and you want me as much as I want you,” Harvey finishes, dipping his fingers into Mike’s pants. Mike tenses, manages to turn in Harvey’s grip and pushes him away again. “You come apart when I order you to; you have this need to please people, to submit. Yet you’re too fucking stupid, too…proud to realise I can give you that,” Harvey knows he’s grasping at straws, trying anything to get Mike to stay, but Mike looks at him like he’s breaking.
“No,” he says, a finality in his tone that almost scares Harvey. Mike shakes his head, pushes Harvey away again.
“Don’t lie,” Harvey says as Mike fumbles behind him at the door handle. “I read people remember,” Harvey almost feels it when Mike’s walls come up again. Mike pulls the door open and is halfway out when he turns around.
“Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are,” he says. The sound of the door slamming is louder than anything Harvey’s ever heard.
“Shit.”
…
Harvey’s half way through his run on his treadmill when there’s a knock at his door. Usually he goes to the gym, bashing out a few miles until his legs feel like jelly and his heart’s racing but he didn’t want to see anyone else tonight. He was planning on getting steaming, fall down drunk and sleeping until Monday and he groans as he slows the treadmill to a stop and then the knocking on the door kicks up a notch.
“Alright, Jesus,” Harvey shouts, grabbing a towel and running it over his face as he makes his way to the door. His heart sinks as he pulls it open.
Trevor pushes his way into Harvey’s apartment.
“Where is he?” He demands and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who he’s talking about. Harvey sighs like he’s bored even though worry twists in his stomach.
“You think he’d be here? After you let our agreement slip to him? You must be out of your mind,” Trevor glares at him and crosses his arms over his chest. Harvey leans against the kitchen counter like nothing’s worrying him.
“Well where is he then?” Trevor asks and Harvey raises any eyebrow.
“Probably with Jenny plotting your demise. I don’t know Trevor, now why don’t you go find your errant property and get out of my apartment?” Harvey pushes himself upright and Trevor does the same. They both take half a step forward until they’re within striking distance of each other. Trevor looks at him like he wants to punch him, and then possibly disembowel but Harvey just stiffens his jaw and looks back.
“You want me to go? You want me to leave Mike and Jenny?” Trevor asks finally, crossing his arms again, “you’re gonna have to pay me,” Harvey lets out a bark of a laugh and Trevor blinks defiantly.
“I’m not paying you for anything,” Harvey says incredulously. Trevor’s face twists into an ugly smirk.
“You paid me to keep Mike for you,” he says and Harvey feels his blood boil.
“Yeah and look how that turned out,” he says, ignoring the way his stomach twists again. “I paid your bail, and miraculously got you out of a prison sentence,” Trevor opens his mouth to speak but Harvey just holds up his hand, “By the way I pulled valuable favours…for you, so I’m not giving you anything else.”
“You didn’t do it for me,” Trevor says, repeating the statement he said outside the police station, the smirk back on his face, “you did it for Mike.”
“That may be true, but it helped you out so I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it if I were you,” Harvey pushes past Trevor to the fridge and grabs a bottle of beer, he twits the cap off and takes a sip. The taste reminds him of Mike, Mike who drank beer instead of whiskey but who always licked his lips when he kissed Harvey and tasted it. “If you were as good a friend as you claim to be you would leave him, and Jenny, the hell alone,” Harvey finishes and Trevor glares, but the fight in him is waning and Harvey feels a surge of glee at that.
“If you cared as much about Mike as you claim to you would do the same,” Trevor counters, with a little less spite than he would have said five minutes ago. Harvey doesn’t hear it though, he growls as he drops his beer and winds his hands around Trevor’s arms, slamming him against the nearest surface.
“You know nothing about how I feel for Mike, so don’t claim to. I pulled favours to get you out Trevor, don’t make me revoke that,” Trevor’s eyes go wide but he recovers himself and smirks again.
“Again with the threats Harvey,” Trevor smiles and Harvey shakes him again.
“Get out of my apartment,” he drops Trevor and steps away, Trevor slumps, absently rubs at his arm, “get out of my city,” Trevor curls his hand into a fist and Harvey narrows his eyes and crowds in again, “if you think you can fight me on this take a swing and see what happens,” he sticks out his chin daringly and Trevor’s nostrils flare before Harvey’s sees his fist uncurl, “yeah I didn’t think so.”
“He wont come back to you, you know?” Trevor spits as he slips to the side and heads for the door. Harvey’s knuckles go white where he grips at the kitchen.
“Maybe not,” Harvey replies, “he wont go back to you either.”
That’s the second time that day that someone slams his door and Harvey picks hit beer bottle off the floor and hurls it across the room, the tinkle of breaking glass much more satisfying that it should be.
Chapter 7