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When Harvey’s cellphone vibrates, it’s late.
2am kinda late.
He groans to himself, stretching out a hand and swiping the offending object up from the side of the bed.
Donna.
“What?” he answers, voice thick with sleep.
“Ahh, Harvey.” Donna sounds amused.
Great. Harvey already knows where this is going.
“I think you better come and pick up your boy wonder because we are done for the night.” Donna continues.
In the background there’s distant laughing - giggling, even.
“For the love of God.” Harvey mumbles, dragging a hand over his face. “He’s drunk?”
Donna laughs. “I mean, he made all his choices himself.” There’s a slight scuffle on the line. “Here, talk to the man himself.”
Harvey blinks in the darkness, waiting for a second. “Mike?”
“Harveeeeeyyy.” Mike laughs. “I’m totally not wasted, ignore Donna.” His words slur, just a little.
“Sure.” Harvey says dryly, swinging his legs out of bed and reaching for some sweatpants. “I thought this was a quiet drink?”
“Hey, you tell that to these guys!” Mike says quickly. “Rachel is a bad influence!”
“I’ll bet.” Harvey pulls on an old hoodie, squinting in the dim light for some socks. “You do know it’s two o clock in the god damn morning?”
“Wait, it is?” Mike sounds genuinely surprised. “Huh. Hey, Harvey, guess what?”
“Oh no. We’ll deal with facts of the world later.” Harvey says firmly. “Stay there, do not drink any more alcohol. And put Donna back on the phone.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Mike says in a mock serious tone.
Donna comes back on the line and reels off the address of the bar. It’s one Harvey already knows.
“You couldn’t have got a cab like normal people?” Harvey says incredulously. He heads out the bedroom and grabs his keys from the side. “You’re lucky I have a car this weekend.”
He pauses for a second, thoughts racing ahead. “If Mike pukes in my car, we’re done.”
“Oh Harvey, shut up and hurry up.” Donna yawns. “I want to go to bed, my social battery is nearly depleted.”
“Oh, so I’m just a taxi service now?” Harvey says, shrugging on a jacket as he heads out.
“Unless you want to leave two vulnerable women in the middle of the city at 2am?” Donna sing-songs.
Harvey sighs deeply. “I’ll be with you in ten minutes.”
He ends the call and heads towards the parking garage where the Jaguar waits - shiny, temporary, indulgent. Hired for the weekend only.
He and Mike had taken it out the day before for a long drive. Roof down, music playing. Harvey smiles a little at the memory as he backs out the parking garage and heads towards the wine bar.
Wine bar. Two dangerous words. Especially when it involves Donna and Rachel.
Even though NYC never sleeps, the roads are significantly quieter at 2am and it doesn’t take him long to get downtown.
Sure enough, Donna, Mike and Rachel are waiting outside on the curb. Harvey pulls up, steps out and takes them in at a glance.
“Harveeeyyy.” Mike lights up immediately. His cheeks are flushed, eyes bright, and leans into Harvey’s side without a second thought.
Harvey catches him automatically, sliding an arm round his waist to steady him.
“Specter’s Cabs.” he says in a sardonic tone, glancing at Donna. He jerks his head to the side. “Get in.”
Donna and Rachel both laugh but comply, swaying a little on their heels as they head across the sidewalk and climb into the back.
“You alright?” Harvey murmurs, steering Mike towards the passenger side.
“Totally. Just tipsy.” Mike says, stumbling a little. “The alcohol percentage was a little high and-“
Harvey deposits him in the passenger seat and shuts the door, shaking his head. He gets in the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
In the backseat, Donna and Rachel are already re-hashing a conversation from the night - clearly, an amorous man or two have been trying their luck on both of them.
“He was totally hot.”
“No, he was not. He was bald!"
“Bald is an exaggeration-“
“He was receding.” Mike pipes up from the passenger seat. He frowns. “Harvey, is my hairline receding?”
“No.” Harvey says shortly, pulling away from the curb.
“You’re a good man.” Mike grins, lolling his head sideways and watching him for a moment. “Playing hot cab driver at 2am.”
“Good or foolish?” Harvey quips. He glances in the rear view mirror, but Donna and Rachel are still talking animatedly.
“I think I’m a little tipsy.” Mike sighs. “Like…more than a little.”
“I can see that.” Harvey says dryly. “You’re not gonna throw up all over this expensive, leather interior are you?”
“No!” Mike says quickly. He reaches out and grabs Harvey’s hand, drawing it closer.
Harvey doesn’t pull away.
“So apart from over exerting yourself in the alcohol department, did you have a good night?” Harvey asks. He slows down at a red light and waits, glancing sideways at Mike.
Mike nods, his eyes still bright. “Yeah, the place was kinda swanky. You’d have liked it. Some dudes were hitting on Donna and Rachel.”
“The bald one?” Harvey says in amusement. He lifts his right hand and smoothes it through Mike’s hair. He feels warm to touch.
“Hmm yeah, he was kinda… bald.” Mike yawns. “He wasn’t hot. You’re hot.”
“Noted.” Harvey says, almost smiling.
The light changes and he drives on, heading for Donna’s apartment first.
“Guess what? A fluffy white cloud weighs a million pounds.” Mike says out of nowhere, still yawning a little.
Harvey raises an eyebrow. “A cloud?”
“Uh huh. Same as one hundred elephants.” Mike murmurs. He pauses. “Or a jumbo jet.”
Harvey rolls his eyes a tad, pulling the car down a side street and up to Donna’s apartment and cutting the engine. “Alright, passenger princess number one, we’ve arrived.”
“Thank you, driver.” Donna says in an airy tone. She hugs Rachel before leaning, with some difficulty, through the gap to the front seats to kiss Mike on the cheek. “Don’t forget to drink water, puppy.”
“Water. Totally.” Mike nods seriously.
“Goodnight.” Harvey says dryly, watching until Donna disappears inside her apartment door before pulling away.
“You good in the back?” he adds.
“Oh, I had the least to drink, I’m fine.” Rachel says in a convincing tone. “Mike got a little ahead of himself.”
“Did not.” Mike mumbles, curled into the seat now.
“He had four drinks and then started listing your top five physical attributes, Harvey.” Rachel huffs out a laugh.
“Really?” Harvey smirks. “Alright, finally some gossip I’m interested in hearing.”
Mike snorts with laughter. “Teeth, hair, smile-“
“I’m sorry - teeth?”
“Yes, teeth! You have the Harvard-winning smile.”
“Out of my whole physique, you landed on teeth.” Harvey shakes his head.
“Teeth, hair, smile, body and hands.” Mike says, counting them off on one hand.
“Body is vague.” Harvey mutters, trying not to smile. He’s also aware Rachel is still in the backseat. “We’ll discuss this later- actually, no. We’ll discuss it tomorrow, if you actually remember any of this.”
Mike laughs again. “Hey, Rach!” he raises his voice. “Don’t forget the studyyyyy for the LSAT’s like I taught you.”
“I will.” Rachel sighs. “God damn it. I hate those stupid tests.”
“You’ll be totally fine, you know it, just stop thinking that the paper is out to get you, dude. You’re too suspicious.” Mike says with drunken certainty.
“Well, if anyone should know about the LSAT exam, it’s you.” Harvey says wryly. He cuts down a side street and pulls the car round to Rachel’s apartment building. “Alright, home sweet home.”
“Thank you so much, Harvey.” Rachel says in a polite tone. She pats Mike on the back of the shoulder. “I’m never drinking with you again.”
“Likewise, babe.” Mike grins. “Goodnight!”
Rachel gives them a goodbye wave and Harvey waits until she’s safely inside before driving off.
“You’re a good man, Harvey.” Mike murmurs.
“Why, because I’m out at 2am in sweatpants?” Harvey mutters. “Or because I’m driving a fifty thousand dollar sports car?”
“Both.” Mike nods.
Harvey snorts. “Lucky me.”
It’s quieter now, without Rachel and Donna filling the silence. Just the hum of the engine and Mike’s occasional yawns.
Harvey glances over at him. He’s curled in the seat, eyes half lidded. He’s still holding onto Harvey’s hand.
“You with me?” Harvey says softly.
“Hmm, yeah. Just thinking.”
“Dangerous as always.”
Mike snorts. “Hey, my thinking has got us out of a lot of shit at work in the past year.”
“It has.” Harvey agrees. He stifles a yawn himself, glancing at the clock. 2:33am.
Thankfully they’re home less than ten minutes later. Mike is half asleep, breathing slow, still gripping Harvey’s hand.
Harvey parks up - carefully - and cuts the engine. Silence.
“Come on, hotshot.” he murmurs. “We’re home.”
Mike blinks. “We are?”
“Come on, let’s get you upstairs, hydrated and into bed.” Harvey says gently but firmly.
He gets out the car and walks around, opening the passenger side.
Mike groans but gets out the car, waiting for Harvey to lock it with a click of the button before leaning into him. Harvey steers him to the elevator and out again and they finally get inside the apartment.
“Home sweet homeeee.” Mike smiles, kicking off his shoes and stumbling.
“Easy.” Harvey steadies him. “Bathroom, go.”
Mike nods but stretches his arms out, turning to Harvey and wrapping both arms round his neck. Harvey smiles but indulges him, cupping the back of Mike’s head.
“Bathroom.” he repeats, voice softening. “I’ll get you some Tylenol and water.”
“I meant what I said.” Mike murmurs, eyes sleepy, hair a little dishevelled.
“About?”
“About you being hot. Body, teeth, hair.”
“I’m honoured, truly. But what I’d like more is to get into bed.” Harvey says. He presses a tender kiss to Mike’s temple. “Now, go.”
Mike whines but obeys, dragging himself away and disappearing towards the bedroom.
Harvey checks the door is locked before bypassing the kitchen for a large glass of water and some Tylenol. He heads through and sets them down on Mike’s side of the bed before opening the drawer and pulling out a clean t-shirt and an old pair of shorts.
Mike appears a minute later, smelling of toothpaste and his hair damp.
“Now, do I need to undress you?” Harvey says in a dry tone. “Or are you good?”
Mike laughs sleepily. “Uhh, I need help from a hot lawyer.”
Harvey nods to the bed and Mike sits down on the end of it. He’s wearing a pale blue shirt and Harvey unbuttons it with ease, sliding it off him. “Arms up.”
Mike obeys as Harvey undresses and re-dresses him.
“Guess what.” Mike grins. “Hippos can’t swim.”
“Neither can you.” Harvey quips back. He nods to the bed. “Tylenol, then bed.”
Mike obeys, shifting backwards and collapsing on his side of the bed with a sigh. “Uhh excuse me, I can swim, you’ve just never whisked me away on a fancy vacation with a pool, Mr I-don’t-take-time-off.”
He pops out some Tylenol and gulps them down with some water, shuddering a little.
Harvey shrugs out of his hoodie, switches off the light and climbs into bed, sighing in relief. “Oh you want a fancy vacation?”
“Sun, sea, sand. A fancy drink.” Mike says, turning onto his side and wriggling into Harvey’s arms. “Hey, how about St Kitts and N-“
“Mike. Sleep.” Harvey kisses his on the temple. “It’s nearly 3am.”
Mike hums, tucking his head under Harvey’s chin and sighing. “Harvey?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks for being a hot cab driver.”
Harvey huffs out a quiet laugh. “You just wanted me to show up in a flash car, huh?”
“Uh huh.” Mike nods against him. “I gotta flex on people that my boyfriend is hot, rich lawyer with a car club membership.”
“I’m pretty sure Rachel and Donna know all of the above."
“Yeah, but I get to be a smug asshole because you chose me.” Mike lifts his head, a sleepy grin on his face.
“I did?” Harvey says. “More like you crashed into my life and caused total chaos.”
“Chaos is good. Harvey Specter likes a challenge.” Mike tilts his chin for a kiss and Harvey indulges him once, twice.
“He does. Now, however, he likes sleep more.” he murmurs. “So less talking, more snoozing.”
“Hmm, ok.” Mike concedes, curling back in. “G’night.”
“Goodnight.” Harvey echoes. He shuts his eyes, finally and moves his hand to Mike’s back, scratching his nails lightly up and down his spine.
Mike sighs, body melting into the touch.
Outside, the city hums faintly with the sound of distant traffic. But inside here it’s quiet - warm, still, settled.
Mike shifts a fraction closer, half his body already clinging on like a limpet.
Harvey doesn’t move. He keeps moving his hand slowly, absent lines up and down Mike’s back, the minutes ticking by.
He waits for another quip or a joke or a random life fact - but, no…
Mike is out, breathing deeply.
Harvey studies him in the dim light of the bedroom.
The way Mike looks so much younger in sleep, when he’s not joking or arguing or being a smart mouth…
He’s just Mike.
Harvey kisses him on the temple and exhales, letting his eyes shut again.
For the first time in years… chaos felt like exactly like peace.