All The Kings Horses (a Suits fanfiction)

Rated: M

Pairings: Mike/Harvey

Summary: Slash. Harvey is only mildly surprised when he discovers his associate moonlights as a waiter. The real shocker is Mike's third job...

A/N: This story isn't that good. You probably shouldn't waste your time.

Chapter 1 - Moonlighting (Posted 7 November 2011)

"You're late." Donna said without looking up from her computer as Mike walked up to her.

"Oh, really?" Mike snapped. "I hadn't noticed. Can you just tell Harvey I'm here?"

She looked up, raising an eyebrow at him. When did he grow the balls to talk to her like that. She nodded her head toward the office, "Tell him yourself. I'm sure he'll want an explanation."

Mike shook his head. "Whatever." He walked into Harvey's office, digging in his messenger bag and tossing the files he retrieved onto the desk. "Here. I know they're late, and I'm sorry, but I got... held up." He pointed at Harvey when the man opened his mouth to speak. "No, I don't want to hear it. I know, I'm lazy, I'm irresponsible, I need to do better, yadda, yadda, yadda. Either fire me or let me get back to my cubicle so I don't have to turn in any more late work."

Harvey simply raised his eyebrows and scowled, gesturing toward the door.

Mike took this to mean he was free to get to work, and bowed gratefully as he stalked out of the office, returning to his desk and starting immediately reviewing more files.

X

"So," Rachel said to Mike around lunch time, her teeth glistening as she showed off a flirty smile. "Got any plans tonight?"

Mike rolled his eyes before turning and smiling at her. "I thought we agreed not to pursue each other?"

"We did." she said. "But I've... reconsidered."

"Well I haven't." Mike said bitingly. And then he felt guilty when he saw her hurt face. It wasn't her fault he was having a bad day. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that. But Rachel... I just don't like you like that."

"Oh... okay, well... we can still be friends, right?"

No, Mike thought, that's a bad idea. The less friends you have, the safer you are. But... "Of course we can. I love having you as a friend."

She smiled defeatedly. "Thanks."

He nodded politely before ducking away.

The rest of the day went somewhat smoothly. The other associates and Louis must have sensed his very pissed-off and don't-even-try-to-fucking-mess-with-me-right-now aura, as they seemed to leave him alone. Even Harvey didn't come to check on him other than once; and even then he'd just stopped by his cubicle, glared at him and his paperwork, and walked away.

After finishing all his work, he left Pearson Hardman without a word, shuffling quickly out of the building, not realizing there was someone following.

X

Mike stopped in front of the diner, locking his bike up before stumbling inside. "Hey, Jack." he called out as he walked behind the counter.

"Hey, you're actually on time," the man answered with a fair amount of surprise.

The statement caught Mike off guard. He sent the owner a questioning look. "What? I am? Has that ever happened before?"

"It sure as sugar hasn't." Jack said with a chuckle. "But it's a nice change."

Mike gave a little laugh. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

"You know, it'd be easier to just cut your hours rather than dock your pay each week."

"Really?" Mike asked, although it made sense. "Then do it, you know I'll take whatever hours you're willing to give me."

Jack nodded. "Okay. Just plan on coming in a half an hour later than usual from now on. But I want you here relatively close to the right time, okay?"

"You got it." Mike smiled and hurried off to the employee bathroom where he changed into his uniform polo and khakis, pinned his name tag on, and tied his apron around his waist. He walked out of the bathroom and checked the assignment chart, seeing he'd been assigned to section eight again. He didn't know why he even bothered to check the chart every day, it was always the same. He liked section eight, and Jack liked him, plus he was a good worker so no one ever said anything about it.

He walked out to see a few parties being seated in his section and felt a little flutter in his stomach. Even though Mike loved being a lawyer and working with people, serving them always made him a little nervous. He was good at it, and his nervousness never showed through to the customers, but it was impossible to deny it was there. Though he attributed part of it to the fear of someone he knew coming into the restaurant. Or worse, following him out of it.

As he ventured out into the maze of tables and booths, he stopped at each cluster of people and took their drink orders. As he came to the last table before he had to go back to the kitchens, he took a small breath to calm himself. His nerves were really getting the best of him tonight, and he didn't know why. Something just felt... off.

But he kept his head down at his order pad as he spoke in hopes of calming himself. His shift had only just started and already he felt like he was going to have a breakdown.

"Hi, my name's Mike, I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you to..." He happened to glance up, remembering the general rule of smiling at and making eye contact with the customer. And all his words were stolen from him as he saw the one and only Harvey Specter smirking at him. "What are you doing here?"

Harvey shrugged. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Being an asshole."

"Is that any way to talk to your boss?"

Mike took another deep breath. "Right. Sorry. So, are you here to actually eat something or did you just come to embarrass me?"

"Well, I initially followed you to see where you've been rushing off to every day. When I saw you come in here, I wanted to find out why."

"That doesn't answer the question. And before you order, I feel obligated to point out that, even though I'm sure you are aware, this is a family restaurant. It's not one of your hoity-toit expensive restaurants where the menus aren't in English and the portions are smaller than your fist."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you wouldn't like anything they serve here. So could you just leave, please, and spare me further embarrassment?"

"I'd like a root beer."

Mike made a confused face, eyes squinting as he tried to assess the situation. "A what? A root beer? Are you fucking kidding me? I may be stupid but I'm not dumb enough to believe you actually want a root beer. I bet you've never had root beer in your life."

Harvey blinked. "I don't only drink expensive liquors in tiny glasses, Mike. I have more sense than that."

Mike stared at him. "Are you serious?"

"It's not good to keep your customers waiting."

Mike rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Whatever." He scribbled on his order pad and walked away, returning a few minutes later with a tray full of drinks. He distributed them to their respective tables, finally setting a frosted glass in front of Harvey. "Here's your drink. Are you ready to order?" He had his pencil and pad ready, but a disbelieving look on his face as he expected Harvey to simply laugh in his face and leave.

"Why do you have that?"

Mike looked down at himself and then back up at Harvey. "Have what?"

"The pad. Why do you even bother to write down the orders when you can remember what they were and who ordered them?"

"Like it's any of your business."

"I was just curious."

Mike sighed. "It freaks out the customers when I don't write it down." This made Harvey chuckle. "Oh, yeah, just what I need, my boss laughing at me."

"I'll have the chicken cordon bleu."

"Chick..." Mike hung his head in defeat. "You do realize that it's made from a mound of poorly processed chicken, breaded in some unlabeled brown concoction, and stuffed with fake cheese, right?"

Harvey shrugged. "I ordered it."

Mike glared at him, scratching his pen across the pad as he wrote the order down without looking. He rolled his eyes and walked away, stopping at some tables on his way back to the kitchen. He busied himself with distributing food as it became available, all the while feeling Harvey's eyes scrutinizing him. Of all the people he was worried about being seen by, Harvey had never crossed his mind. Why would a guy like him come into a place like this? Then he thought of something. Did he... did he really follow me? When Harvey's food was finally ready, he felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. He really didn't want to face the man any more that night. But, it was his job. So he grabbed the tray and set the plate down in front of him. "Anything else I can get you?" he asked, closing his eyes.

"Not right now, kid."

"My name's Mike, Harvey. I'm not a kid." With that, Mike walked away.

Harvey ate his meal in silence, not admitting to himself that the food he was eating wasn't really that bad. He watched Mike scurry around the place, bringing food and taking empty dishes into the back. He watched him collect small tips from the table, placing them safely in the pocket on his apron. He checked on Harvey a few times, but he seemed to be avoiding him.

"All finished?" Mike asked, a little out of breath.

Harvey nodded, allowing his table to be mostly cleared. He watched as Mike placed the check in front of him and walked away. He stood and took the check to the counter, paying for his meal. Then suddenly he realized he forgot to leave a tip.

So he walked back over to the table and threw a bill on the table. He didn't do it because he cared. He was a logical man, and seeing Mike work a second job told him just how much he must need the money. And he couldn't have his associate constantly distracted by another job or financial issues, so this would help him out.

X

The next morning, as Harvey was sitting in his office, he saw Mike walk by looking somewhat nervous. He seemed to pause before turning around and backtracking to Harvey's office.

"Um... Harvey? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Harvey nodded, laying his pen down on his desk. "Shut the door. Donna's away for a minute, so no one's listening." He didn't want to sound like he thought Mike was paranoid, but he could tell by the serious look on the kid's... on Mike's face that this was to be a private discussion.

"Right." Mike said, closing the doors. "Thanks. So, um... about yesterday..."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone your secret."

Mike visibly relaxed, obviously relieved by Harvey's words. "Thank you."

Harvey nodded again. But Mike didn't need to thank him. It's not like he was looking out for him, he was simply protecting his assets. If anyone discovered Mike's second job, there was a whole lot of paperwork his boss had to take care of. "Anything else?"

"Well... yeah." He quickly became nervous again. "I'm sorry."

The apology made Harvey blink. "Sorry?"

"Yeah. For being rude to you last night. I just... I wasn't expecting to see anyone I knew there, much less you... I mean of course I've always been worried about being found out, but..."

"Mike." Harvey said, pulling him from an almost-rant.

Mike stared at him for a second, a thoughtful look on his face. "Right. Uh... I have something..." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out something green, laying it on Harvey's desk. He didn't notice Harvey's confused glare. "You left that on your table... I thought it was a tip, but... when I picked it up and saw it was a fifty-dollar bill, I figured you either forgot it or thought it was a lower denomination, so... yeah. That's it. I'll just... go." Mike turned to walk out of the office.

"Mike, wait."

Mike turned back around. "Is there something else you need?"

"I didn't make a mistake. I left that on purpose."

"But... why?"

"Because. It's rude not to leave a tip."

"Are you blind? That's fifty dollars! Your bill was only just over ten dollars, making the maximum acceptable tip a dollar fifty."

Harvey shrugged. "You were working hard. You deserve it."

"No, I don't. I was rude, and I ignored you and... I didn't deserve a tip at all, much less fifty bucks."

"Look, the food was... good. And the service was, well... it could have been better but you were busy and frustrated and surprised, it's only to be expected that you behave a little inappropriately. Take the money."

"I don't want it." Mike shook his head.

"But you need it."

"I don't need your pity, Harvey. I thought you would be the one person who wouldn't pity me, but I guess I'm just so pathetic that even Harvey fucking Specter feels bad for me."

"It's not pity, it's simply me seeing that you need the money. I was... amused, to see you in an apron." He smirked at seeing Mike tense, his glare deepening. "And even though you weren't the perfect server, you did your job, so I did mine."

"I can't accept your money, Harvey. I won't. The whole point of having three jobs is so I don't have to take help from anyone."

Harvey stood. "Three?"

"What?"

"You have three jobs?"

Mike slapped his palm over his face. "Oh, shit."

"Look, kid, I don't care if you moonlight under the table a few nights a week, but taking on another job on top of that is-"

"Nothing I can't handle. I've been doing it for months, Harvey, and you didn't even notice a difference. So what does it matter?"

"What matters is that I can't have my associate distracted."

"I'm not distracted. I get all my work done here, go the restaurant and then go to... my third job and I have just enough time to eat and sleep in between. Which is all I can afford to do right now anyway, so it's not a big deal."

"Where is all this money going?"

"Like it matters. The point is, I need the money, but I want to work for it, and as much as I appreciate the gesture, I just can't... I can't take that money. I didn't... earn it."

Harvey sighed, frustrated. Why couldn't Mike just swallow his pride and accept the money? "Fine. But don't come asking me for it when you change my mind."

Mike scoffed at him. "I'm not gonna change my mind."

Suddenly, Harvey grew curious. "What's your third job?"

Mike's eyes went wide. "It doesn't matter."

"It does matter."

"Why?"

"Because I'm asking you."

"Well I'm not answering."

Harvey really didn't want to have to get nasty. But he wanted to know. And considering all he's done for Mike, he had a right to know. "Yes you are."

"I don't think so."

"Tell me." Harvey said. "Or I'll invite the whole building to this nice little restaurant I discovered..."

All the color drained from Mike's face. He looked absolutely horrified. "You wouldn't."

"Are you willing to take the risk?"

"But... Harvey, if Jessica finds out..."

"It's your choice, kid." Harvey sat back down, eyebrows raised expectantly.

"I'm not a kid!" Mike said a little too loudly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you, but... I'm not a kid."

"Fine, Mike. What's it gonna be?"

"Harvey... both of those choices... end with me losing this job."

Harvey squinted. "Why is that?"

"If I tell you... you'll fire me."

"Do I have to follow you again?"

"So you did follow me, then?" Mike asked, realizing he'd gotten Harvey to admit it without even trying.

"I told you I did."

"I thought you were joking." Mike deadpanned.

Harvey chuckled. "Nope."

"Please don't follow me anymore."

Harvey didn't miss the concern in Mike's voice. "Why?"

"Just... because. Some of the streets I walk by... aren't really nice places. I wouldn't want you getting hurt because of me."

"I can protect myself."

Mike shook his head. "Look, if you go there... I might not be safe. Unlike you, I can't protect myself. And I know you don't care but I'd really appreciate it if you don't follow me because..."

Harvey lifted an eyebrow. "Because?"

Mike hung his head again, speaking softly. "Because you'd be disappointed in me."

Harvey took a deep breath. He should have known the kid would fuck up. "Are you dealing?"

"What?" Mike shook his head, more to clear his thoughts. "No, no I'm not dealing. I promised I wouldn't. And I haven't, I haven't touched it, I swear."

"Just tell me what the job is, Mike. I'm not going to tattle on you." Unless it's that bad, of course, he thought.

"I... I can't."

"Okay, then I'll just call Jessica and..."

"What? Really? Harvey..."

Harvey pursed his lips. Now he was really curious. He didn't know why, but before he knew it he was promising, "I won't fire you because of this third job. No matter what it is. I just want to know."

"Why?"

"Because. It's my job to look out for you."

Mike sighed. "Yeah, it's your job. Not like you actually care about me or anything."

"Just tell me."

"...You promise you won't fire me?"

Harvey nodded. "I'll probably regret this, but yes, I promise."

"Okay... well, here goes. You know I work here during the days. Evenings after I get out of here, I work at the restaurant. And nights... at night I'm a prostitute."