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schrijverr · 2 years

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Miracle Worker 2

Chapter 2 out of 10

Mike has dropped out of High School at sixteen to take on a full time job as a bike delivery boy to take care of Grammy. He lies that he’s eighteen to get better hours and more pay, somehow ending up working for Harvey on a project that will get him Senior Partnership. Mike and Harvey become friends during the course of it, Mike looking up to Harvey as all he wants to be, but probably never will. However, when things go south with Grammy, he considers taking Trevor’s offer to do a drug run, instead ending up with Harvey offering to be his mentor. Offering him help.

In this chapter, friction starts between Mike and Trevor, while Mike impresses Harvey more and more with his deliveries, ending in front of Jessica Pearson.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: proverty, mild classism

~~~~~~~~~~

Will

Between all his deliveries, he makes time to hang out with Trevor, whom he has known since he was a little kid. They’ve always been best friend, despite the fact that Trevor is three years older, having been held back a year, while Mike skipped two.

They’ve always done their best to stay friends, even if they grew up to be very different people. Even now, with Mike working full time while Trevor is becoming more a trouble maker than a senior in High School, they make time for each other. Sundays, are optimal, since most businesses are either shut down or slowed down enough that Mike can consistently clear them.

“How’s school?” Mike asks, desperate to know about the place he’d been loath to leave behind. It sucked, he knows that, but now that he’s no longer in school, he misses it.

“School is school,” Trevor shrugs, completely unconcerned. “All boring tests and blah, blah, blah. I skip most of the time, honestly. Can’t wait to get out of there.”

“And your college applications?” Mike asks, hoping to get at least something out of his friend. He’s worried about Trevor, always has been.

While Trevor might be the one that beat up the bullies that came after Mike, it was Mike who wrote his essays along with his own, who did both their homework and let Trevor cheat of his tests. He knows Trevor can do it on his own, but the other boy has never shown interest in doing well academically.

His parents are rich and he has always assumed he can live of the trust fund and later inherit their company. Recently, without Mike there to force him to at least try, he’s been letting school slip through his fingers more and more. And Mike can’t help, but be concerned about what his friend will do when his parents finally decide that enough is enough and cut him off until he gets himself back on track.

“Like I’m going to make it into college,” Trevor grouches, slouching even more on the ridiculously expensive couch in one of the many living rooms in the Evans residence.

“Come on, Trevor, don’t be like that,” Mike punches his arm lightly as he says that. “Any college would be lucky to have you. Not to mention your parents are both Yale legacies. You’re gonna be fine.”

“And what if I don’t want to be fine?” Trevor challenges, to moodiness melting away as if he’s smelling a fight and is glad to have it.

“What do you mean?” Mike asks, apprehension forming in his stomach, nearly afraid to ask because then he’ll have to live with whatever the answer is.

“I don’t want to do the whole college crap,” Trevor scowls. “I don’t want to be a legacy and study and do all that movie bullshit. I just don’t. It’s stupid and I hate school, why would I want to toss even more years away like that? That’s what my parents want. But not me. I want to start a business, make some real money, have fun, not be stuck in stuffy classrooms.”

Mike can hardly believe his ears. Not only does Trevor already have all the money in the world, which will stay his if he gets his ass into college, any college really, and tries. He also has the opportunity to get into Yale and other fancy colleges due to his parent’s connections. And he gets to study like Mike wishes he could.

He has never asked Trevor for anything except friendship. Not a single penny has he borrowed, even when he had to drop out to support himself, because Trevor had confessed to him how he hated that everyone was nice to him since his parents were rich. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel the need to punch Trevor in his face really, really hard right now.

“You already have a business that will be yours one day,” Mike says instead of getting angry. It’s his own feelings, he shouldn’t be pushing those on Trevor. “And having a degree will make running a business much easier. You can still have fun in college, Trev.”

“So why do you get to drop out and just have fun? You’re always off in the city doing god knows what without me while I’m stuck reading about the Cold War or something,” Trevor asks him petulantly, another lie coming back to haunt him. He never told Trevor about Grammy and the money problems, just said he needed a break from school.

“Because I have plans to get back, Trevor,” he can’t help but snap slightly, before reigning himself in. It’s no use to fight with Trevor when he can’t even say why he’s upset. That would be unfair to his friend. “I’m sixteen, dude. Why go to college when I won’t even pass with a fake ID?”

Trevor gives him a look, like he doesn’t really believe him. Mike can’t blame him really, but he made his effort and he’s still upset about what Trevor said, even if his own lies caused it. In the end, Trevor says: “Yeah, I get that. I’ll sneak you into a few parties.”

“So, you’re going to try?” Mike asks, hopeful. “I can proofread your application essays.”

“I’ll think about it.” That is as much of a concession that he’ll get, so he drops it and moves on to different topics, like school gossip and what went down at the posh party Trevor’s parents threw last week.

Hanging out with Trevor is nice, even if there are more schisms between them than before. Trevor is his oldest friend, the one symbol of his life when it was easy and fun. He’s not just letting him go, not after all he’s been through with Trevor there.

Monday rolls around and Mike is up at ass o’clock in the morning, like he always is these days. He makes breakfast for himself and Grammy, waking her enough to force her to take her meds, but letting her sleep after. She needs the rest.

Then he gets on his bike, checking his phone for all the deliveries he has today. A few deliveries in Queens, one for a charity, those are rare. He has to go to Staten, ugh. He also spots one for Pearson Hardman, but it’s for Mr. Litt to be taken to his office, even if it’s not marked as urgent.

Harvey is now his guy at Pearson Hardman, however, he still delivers for anyone who uses Fly Delivery and it seems it’s the firm’s courier service. But that doesn’t mean he can’t check if it’s for Harvey anyway. The man tips well and maybe if Mike brings him the non-urgent deliveries directly, he can get another tip like that. Not today, though. Today he has to bring it to Mr. Litt and he vividly remembers how much the last delivery there sucked.

Mike is not ashamed to admit he puts off the delivery as much as he can. The deadline is 2:00, so he’s there at 1:45 (he is a professional, okay, no matter how scared he might be of Mr. Litt, he’s going to provide good service anyway).

He smiles at Jose, who nods back stoically, before going into the elevators, unable to hide the nerves at the prospect of seeing Mr. Litt again.

The route to Mr. Litt’s office is familiar, even if he has only walked it once. All the offices he’s ever visited are burned into his memory, like every other piece of useless information he has ever absorbed. Though this is useful for as long as he manages to hang onto this job at least. And who knows, maybe one day he’ll dazzle someone with his smarts instead of making them call him a freak.

Mr. Litt’s office is again guarded by the elderly lady, Norma, who looks up at him over her half moon glasses. He fidgets, feeling a bit like a boy who got called to the head teacher’s office. He holds up the package and says: “I’m here on a delivery. Can I hand it to you, ma’am?”

Norma levels another look at him and doesn’t respond. Mike fidgets some more, stepping forwards to hand it to her, figuring she’d stop him if it’s wrong.

“What are you doing?” Mr. Litt interrupts him.

“Delivering a package for you, Mr. Litt,” Mike stammers, unsure how this could anger the man in any way.

“So why aren’t you handing it to me?” Mr. Litt asks him.

“Uh,” Mike can’t very well tell the man it was in the hopes of avoiding him, so he says silent, handing the package to Mr. Litt instead of Norma, like he planned.

Mr. Litt snatches it out of his hands, ranting: “And you’re nearly late too. I swear to god, services these days are getting worse and worse. Do you know how important these papers can be? Who am I kidding, of course you don’t. You can’t even follow the simple instruction of bringing it to my office. My office is over there,” he points to the office behind him, “not out here. Okay?”

“I- I’m sorry, Mr. Litt,” Mike stutters. He has always liked delivering to mail room more, since they have standardization in how packages are received. Each business man, lawyer or CEO has their own ways they prefer and Mike always seems to get it wrong.

“Sorry isn’t going to do much, now is it,” Mr. Litt snaps at him.

“Louis,” a familiar voice behind them saves Mike from having to respond, “you’re really going to take out your loss against Harvey on Mike?”

“You know this kid?” Mr. Litt sounding both surprised and scared.

When Mike turns back he sees Donna, looking all sorts of unimpressed, arms crossed. She says: “I know him, he’s our emergency delivery boy. He’s the fastest there is and really not the one you should be yelling at.”

“He isn’t that fast,” Mr. Litt sniffs. “The deadline for this is 2:00, he took his sweet time.”

“It’s not even 2:00 yet, Louis,” Donna points out and before Mr. Litt can protest it, she asks Mike: “So, can you tell me what deliveries you had before this?”

“I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you that,” Mike protests.

“Humor me, unless it’s in your contract,” Donna says.

“Well, it’s not not allowed,” Mike gives in, still slightly unsure. “I was in Queens mostly. I had a few deliveries for a charity, pretty sure they’re donation collections. I also had to deliver a few documents from the DA’s office to the courthouse on Staten Island. Mr. Litt’s package wasn’t marked as urgent, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“So,” Donna turns back to Mr. Litt sharply, “not only was Mike here before the final deadline, he also wasn’t told it was urgent and did other important work before yours. So what an earth did he do to you, Louis.”

“He still couldn't even bring it to me directly,” Mr. Litt huffs, though he’s backing off, which Mike is grateful for.

“It said I was to take it to your office, Mr. Litt,” Mike offers. “Some would rather I hand it to their secretary. It won’t happen again, I promise, sir.”

“And he’s respectful too,” Donna says pointedly. “You can’t expect the kid to be a mind reader, Louis. Apologize to him and I won’t do anything with the 3rd of June 1997, okay?”

Mr. Litt blanches and grits out a quick apology to Mike, which never has happened before, then he quickly retreats into his office, looking sulky. Mike turns to Donna with wide eyes of admiration and breathes: “How did you do that?”

“I’m Donna,” she tells him simply and he finds that explanation enough with just her being her.

“Thank you,” he smiles, hoping he can convey how much he appreciates her stepping in when Mr. Litt was yelling at him.

“It’s a pleasure,” Donna says. “Can I ask if you’re too busy for an extra delivery today? I was on my way to bring this to the mail room, but this would be more convenient.”

He takes the package she’s holding and does his best impression of the associate smirks he has seen during his job. He smirks: “For someone as amazing as you, who saved me from Mr. Litt to boot, I’ll move heaven and earth.”

“Little charmer,” Donna smiles indulgently. “You’re going to break a lot of hearts once you get through puberty.”

“I’m already through puberty!” he exclaims, immediately undermined in his lie by his voice cracking. If Donna sees through his age lie, this whole thing might start crumbling down. “I just have a babyface.”

“Whatever you say, kid,” she smirks. “I don’t believe you’re a day over eighteen.”

A wave of relief washes through him. She hasn’t uncovered his lie. He protests, but this time a bit more playfully: “Well, I still argue in favor of my boy-ish charms.”

“Charms you shouldn’t be using to flirt with women who are ten years older than you,” she chides him and he blushes, though he can’t help but say: “I might believe five, but not ten, Donna.”

Donna chuckles and says: “You’re a delight, Mike. Now, chop chop, these need to be brought to Travis Tanner, he’s staying at the Chilton Hotel, room 2412. Harvey does not like him, so be disrespectful if you can. Maybe a bit smug. We have him by the balls here.”

“Does his firm work in this city?” Mike asks.

“No, from Boston, he’s here for this one case. Why?” Donna answers.

“Then they’re not regular clients,” Mike explains with a grin. “I won’t be hurting Fly Deliveries, just making one of our lovely clients happy.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Donna grins.

He gives her a salute, feeling happy when he leaves, the opposite of what he’d feared. He likes Donna, she’s nice even if she’s scary. He decides it is best to keep her on his good side, so he paddles over to the Chilton Hotel immediately

At room 2412 he knocks on the door at the door calling out: “Delivery for Travis Tanner?”

A slimy looking man with brown hair opens the door with a frown: “I didn’t order anything, what the hell are you doing here?” But he signs anyway, taking the files.

Mike puts on his most impish grin and quickly tucks the signed paper away. “Harvey Specter says hi. He has you by the balls. Hope you’re prepared.” Then, just because he can, be blows a raspberry in his face, before hurrying down the hall without waiting for Mr. Tanner’s reaction.

That delivery makes his day. It’s always fun when he can do more than just hand things over and sign things off. So, he happily paddles through the rest of his deliveries, not even minding that he gets yelled at again by another guy.

When he gets a delivery for Harvey a few days later, it’s not marked as urgent, but is does need to be brought to Harvey’s office directly. Mike wonders if Donna forgot to mark it. He thinks it’s unlikely, but to be sure, he puts it on the top of his list. Right below one that is actually marked urgent and will get him yelled at by his actual boss if he doesn’t deliver.

But then he’s off to Pearson Hardman, the place becoming a common sight. He thinks his boss does it on purpose, ever since he got Harvey to sign him on as a permanent urgent delivery boy. It’s good, he thinks, Jose even smiles at him this time.

A bit of apprehension fills his chest as he sees Harvey standing next to Donna’s desk as he approaches. Softly he starts: “Uhm, I have a delivery for you, Mr.- Harvey, sir.”

“Ah, there is the flash,” Harvey grins when he spots him, putting him at ease. “Don’t worry, I won’t bite your head off if you leave it with Donna.”

“You heard about that?” Mike groans, feeling a bit embarrassed about having been yelled at like a naughty kid.

“Yeah,” Harvey says with a grin, then his face turns serious. “I also heard a bit about your delivery to Tanner.”

Mike swallows, did he do something wrong? Donna told him to be smug, but maybe Harvey was against it. He stammers: “Y- You did?”

The serious expression on Harvey’s face starts to crack and relief floods through Mike’s veins when the lawyer laughs. “God, that’s hilarious! I know Donna told you to be disrespectful, but I never expected that. You should have seen his face when he told me,” Harvey says. “He asked if I told you to do it. He was so offended.”

“Aim to please,” Mike smiles back, proud he did right by Harvey. It’s probably sad how much he jumped on the first role model out there who gave him a grain of humanity and attention, but he tries not to focus on that as he jokes: “Should I be worried for legal repercussions?”

“Nah, I told him I paid you to do it, which isn’t even incorrect,” Harvey assures him. “If he has any trouble, it’ll be with me.”

“And I’m assuming he already has enough trouble with you right now? With you ‘having him by the balls’ and all that,” Mike asks, unable to hide the curious tone. He’s always curious about the packages he delivers and he will never know most of them. Now, however, he does have the chance to find out, so he’s taking it.

Harvey, luckily, isn’t against bragging in the slightest and informs Mike that what he delivered was a piece of evidence that proved Tanner’s client had been embezzling money from Harvey’s client, the smoking gun so to speak. And after the delivery the two settled quite quickly, for an amount so high Mike can’t help but let his mouth hang open slightly.

Then Mike really has to go if he wants to complete all his deliveries at a reasonable time today. As he says so, Harvey and Donna wave him off, but not before Harvey hands him another twenty. “For making my day,” he tells him and Mike once again walks away from Pearson Hardman in a good mood.

That mood is dimmed slightly, when he sees Trevor loitering on a street corner when he’s making a delivery in Brooklyn.

He knows the other boy skips a lot of classes, which could mean running into him while working, but he still hasn’t expected it to actually happen. Fortunately, Trevor looks distracted and Mike angles his face away as he races by.

How would he explain this to Trevor?

Mike told his friend that he needed a break from school. He said that he wanted to have some more time to be a teen before finishing High School, maybe alluded to him being out getting into his own sort of trouble while Trevor was at school. To have it be revealed he has been working every day would be both humiliating and uncomfortable.

It’s stupid, probably, to not ask for help from Trevor. He knows the other has the money to help him even though his parents think Mike is the one dragging him into trouble and might not want to help, he knows Trevor will pull some bullshit to help him anyway. And even if he couldn’t, he would be there for him and Grammy, maybe help with groceries or keeping Grammy company.

But Mike can’t bring himself to tell Trevor. Because Trevor won’t really understand, won’t get how much Mike hates needing to ask for help. How much he hates his whole situation, the universe that seems to be against him, and, on the dark nights, even his Grammy, though he hates himself for those moments too.

There is also the chance that Trevor won’t get that no one can know about what Mike is doing to keep him and Grammy afloat.

If Trevor asks his parents for help, or goes to anyone about it, then CPS will be on the doorstep in seconds.

And Grammy is the only person who has ever been there for Mike, cared for him when his parents died and never gave up on him. Grammy is his everything and he’s going to do anything in his power to keep him with her, to care for her, to repay her the love she has given him for all these years.

So no, no one can know. Not even Trevor. It’s best if he thinks Mike is having fun out there, being too busy with his own stuff for the things he left behind in High School. Thus Mike bikes past, not looking at Trevor and being too busy with his own fears to even wonder what he’s doing there.

He isn’t spotted and continues on with his day, however, in the following week, he can’t help but be cautious. Even if it turns out to be for nothing and he relaxes slightly.

When he gets another delivery for Harvey, it is again not urgent, but still to be delivered to his office.

Of course he puts it as high up on the list as he can get away with – Harvey is his only direct urgent customer and Mike is determined to keep his business. So he gets to the office at about ten greeting Jose, who smiles again. He’s making progress there, he thinks smugly.

The way to Harvey’s office is very familiar despite the fact that he has made only three deliveries there before now. Donna’s bright hair is easily spotted and he smiles as she looks up and spots him, bounding over to her desk.

“Here you go, m’lady,” he winks as he hands her the files.

“I know I said you’re a charmer, but I think it went to your head there,” Donna informs him. “I told you not to do that, didn’t I? Are you trying to get something out of me?”

“Well,” Mike knows he shouldn’t be flirting with Donna, but it is just a joke and she seems to know that. Still, he decides to drop it and go with: “Sometimes it gets me cookies.”

“Cookies?” Donna repeats.

“Yeah, I’m willing to go to the dark side for cookies,” he grins, knowing his eyes are too mischievous for the innocent look he’s trying to pull of.

“God that’s one of those dorky nerd things, right?” Donna asks and Mike blushes as he nods, not thinking she’d catch him in that one. “I think I heard Harvey say that once too,” she comments.

“Harvey?” Mike repeats before he can stop it or remember that the man knows comics, so why not Star Wars.

“Between me and you? He’s a giant nerd,” she tells him conspiratorially.

“Really?” Mike raises a brow. It’s not often he can do office gossip, seeing that his job doesn’t have an office and if it did, he would have kept his distance to avoid slipping up. But it is nice. It is especially nice when Donna gives him an actual cookie. “Thank you,” he says sincerely, surprised by the kindness and the fact that Donna has cookies at her desk.

“Of course,” Donna smiles at him, before they both startle Harvey’s voice coming over the intercom: “That looks cozy out there, can I have a cookie and my files now?”

“I’m sorry,” Mike says immediately. “I didn’t mean to hold you up.” He likes talking to people, to have that social interaction whenever he can. He thrives on it. However, he doesn’t want to mess up at his job, he needs it too much, and especially not with Harvey, whose approval and money he greatly appreciates.

“You’re not, sweetheart,” Donna replies gently. “He’s a bit of a grumpy pants, but he’s mostly trying to weasel a cookie out of me. I refuse to tell him where I get them and it’s driving him nuts,” she winks and Mike giggles.

He watches her pull out another cookie and put it on the files he just gave her. He’s about to turn away when Donna stops him. “Wait, I have your tip here, Harvey left it with me in case he was out,” she explains, holding out another twenty.

“Thank you,” he says, holding the twenty with probably too much reverence than is healthy. He knows he should say something more about the big tips, but he doesn’t want them to stop, because they mean he can afford some of the small unexpected things.

“It’s alright,” Donna sounds as if she knows what’s going through his mind right now. “He might be a hardass, but he appreciates good work.”

“Thank you,” he repeats, not sure what else to say, before he bids her goodbye and leaves.

He uses the tip Harvey gave him to buy a good blanket. Last week the heating went out for a bit and he doesn’t want to think about the possibility of Grammy freezing. She also has a tendency to forget about the heating, so it’s an extra comfort, both to her and his conscious when he has to leave her each morning.

Trevor calls on Thursday to ask if Mike wants to come to a party that night. Mike considers it, but he has the early morning shift tomorrow and the last thing he wants if having to navigate New York traffic while tired.

Not only that but Grammy is as clear as a whistle and he isn’t going to waste a night where he can pretend it’s last year again and life was good. So he declines and tries not to be upset when Trevor complains: “You’re always too busy for me, dick,” before hanging up.

Ugh, he hates this. He hates the lying and the stress and the constant worrying, but he can’t make himself regret it when his Grammy beats him at chess again while shit talking him with all the wit he’s used from her.

This is good, he thinks. This is what I’m doing it all for and it will always be worth it.

He is also grateful to himself, when he finds himself on his bike at 5 AM the next morning, making all the deliveries that need to be in places before the work day can start, while they were finished when yesterday’s work day should have long been over.

Mike doesn’t necessarily mind working in the early hours. The streets of New York are never quiet, but in those moments they are lived in by the people who live and breathe the Big Apple.

It’s the business man, who come in early. The soccer mom’s already out jogging. The party girls coming from the clubs. The baristas coming in to serve the morning crowd that is about to descend on them. And Mike loves being a part of that crowd. It makes him feel like he too is part of the many faces that make New York so great, that he will be missed when he’s not there to make the backdrop of the City that Never Sleeps like it is in the movies.

Those mornings also feel less rushed and he enjoys waking up slowly on his bike, instead of having to be alert immediately in the bustle of the streets.

He takes a break for breakfast, the energy bar he has shoved in his mouth that morning is not enough to keep his biking for hours. Biology is annoying, Mike decides, always surprised by how much it costs to keep himself fed not only with the physically demanding job, but while he’s growing too.

But the weekend is around the corner and he is actually off for the entire two days. So, he powers through the day, which is a long one, and sleeps in late on Saturday, waking up to Grammy’s pancakes, a luxury he rarely has.

It’s on Monday after the blessedly uneventful weekend that Mike’s life takes yet another turn, because he gets a call from Donna while he walks out of his latest delivery for the day. He picks up with a: “Hello, Mike Sorkins speaking, what can I do for you.”

“Oh thank god,” Donna’s voice greets him. “Drop everything you’re doing. We need you to work another miracle, Mike.”

“Where do I need to go,” he answers with no hesitation.

“There is a contract at the firm on 32nd Old Slip,” Donna tells him. “We need it in Jessica Pearson’s office before the end of the hour. Can you do that?”

Mike quickly calculates that it’ll take a little over 20 minutes to get from Old Slip to Pearson Hardman. He’s now a five minute ride away from the other firm. One glance at his watch tells him he has 30 minutes total. “Yeah, I can do that,” he answers, before what Donna says hits him and he exclaims: “Wait? Jessica Pearson, as in the Pearson of Pearson Hardman?”

“Yes,” Donna says. “It’s important.”

“I’ll be there,” Mike tells her, already hanging up. He has decided that the freak out can be saved until he’s in the elevators. Besides, he’ll probably have to hand it to the secretary, Wendy he remembers Donna telling him her name was. He won’t actually talk to the great Jessica Pearson, just see her through the window maybe.

Still, the nerves are making him jittery, which luckily helps him paddle faster, as well as aid him in hurrying the poor mail room worker along. He might be an unimpressive scrawny teen, but he has an annoyed face like no other, having copied it from all the businessmen who have ever waited on him as he came in a few seconds later than they would have liked.

So after a minute of huffing and puffing, he tears out of there, practically sprinting to his bike and jumping on it, before he’s off alongside the East River until he turns North.

The familiar building of Pearson Hardman comes into view and he doesn’t even bother to lock his bike, putting it in view of Jose as he calls out: “Please watch my bike, I have an urgent delivery for Jessica Pearson,” as he runs into an elevator.

In another situation, he would have been proud of the fact that Jose gives him a thumbs up, however, he’s too distracted now.

He glances at his watch anxiously. Only two minutes to 1:00 and the elevator moves oh so slowly as the handle ticks ever closer. This delivery is a big deal, he heard that in Donna’s voice, not to mention who he’s delivering it too. He doesn’t want to disappoint.

Luckily, the elevator arrives on the 50th floor and Mike remembers a map for clients he saw once that points him in the right direction.

Pearson Hardman is always a hive of production, but no lawyer would be ever caught doing something so undignified as running. Mike, however, is not a lawyer and has no such inhibitions, so he’s off running the moment those doors open.

Wendy, as it turns out, is a young Asian woman, who looks up surprise and mild disdain that seems to be common for anyone in the high life that meets him. He can’t blame her though, since he has just skidded to a halt in front of her desk in his messy, sweaty teen outfit, helmet still on his head, package in hand as he pants: “I- I have an urgent delivery for Ms. Pearson.”

Her eyes go wide and her eyebrows creep up her face as he says that. Instead of replying, however, she presses a button and says over the intercom: “Jessica, there is a delivery for you.”

Mike finally has enough air to look around and when he looks behind Wendy, he sees Harvey sitting in Ms. Pearson’s office, looking very smugly at an imposing black woman.

He has seen Ms. Pearson in a magazine before and he’d been impressed with her then, but that is nothing compared to the awe he feels now. Self consciously he wipes the sweat away and swallows roughly. What a first impression to make, he thinks bitterly.

Then a smooth voice comes back over the intercom as Jessica Pearson herself says: “Well, let him in then. It is quite urgent after all.”

“Of course, Jessica,” Wendy replies, motioning for Mike to go in there.

The anxiety that has been in the background the entire time slams into him at the prospect of talking to Ms. Pearson while sweaty and stinking, still catching his breath. If there is one thing he is, however, it’s ballsy and stubborn, so he puts on his game face and enters the office. He is shaking slightly, but ignores that as he hands the package with a: “Your files, Ms. Pearson.”

“Thank you, Mr…” she purposefully trails off and he can’t believe he’s lying to the biggest face in the law industry as he supplies: “Sorkin, ma’am.”

“Well, thank you, Mr. Sorkin,” she tells him. “And call me Jessica, please.”

“Of course, call me Mike,” he replies, voice a bit dry.

“Harvey, give Mike here something to drink,” Jessica orders the man, who has been ignored until now, as she signs the papers. “I’m giving these to Wendy to fax to London. They should be there before they close down for the day.”

She goes to do just that and Harvey offers him a glass of water, which he takes gratefully, too thirsty to even hesitate. Harvey is also still grinning, looking all sorts of pleased though Mike doesn’t know why yet. When Harvey catches his suspicious look, he snorts: “Stop that, this isn’t going to be a ‘This is Sparta’ moment, no wells around.”

“Really, because it feels like I’m going to dine in hell and I am not made for that,” Mike quotes back easily, despite the nerves. Then he can’t help but ask: “Is her not sending me away immediately good or bad news? Because if it’s bad, I might take the easy route and throw myself out the window.”

“Turn down the drama, Impulse,” Harvey rolls his eyes, but there’s humor in them.

“Easy for you to say, you’re not about to maybe get torn apart by New York’s best and most terrifying lawyer,” Mike squeaks. He isn’t the most comfortable around Harvey, yet, but the man has proven himself to be likable and right now, faced with potential disaster, Mike needs familiarity more than anything.

“I’m glad my reputation precedes me,” Jessica’s voice floats from the door and Mike practically jumps in the air as he apologizes. Harvey, the asshole, just laughs, as Jessica says: “It’s quite alright, Mike. But don’t worry, I’m not here to ‘tear you apart’ as you’ve so kindly put it.”

“You’re not?” Mike asks, tacking on a quick, “Ma’am.”

“No, I’m here to thank you for getting me that document on such short notice,” Jessica tells him. “My guy has been out on leave, but Harvey assured me, he knew someone. Glad he isn’t talking out of his ass for once.”

“I never talk out of my ass,” Harvey defends himself, nearly pouting. “All my bragging is true and deserved.”

“Of course,” Jessica sighs, but Mike can tell she is fond and he wonders how Harvey, as a Junior Partner, has managed to get the attention and apparent favor of the woman in charge. She turns her attention back to Mike, but says to Harvey: “Have you considered him for your little project?”

“My little project, will earn us millions,” Harvey defends, before turning incredibly smug, “And of course I have considered him.”

“You just wanted me to suggest it, because you knew I’d never sign off on this kid otherwise,” Jessica fills in a blank Mike hadn’t even noticed, looking amused, impressed and tired at the same time.

“Ah, you know me so well,” Harvey grins.

This, Mike thinks, is the perfect time to ask: “Uhm, what- what are you two talking about exactly? And what does that have to do with me?”

Jessica turns to Harvey, letting him elaborate. “I have a temporary job for you.”

A/N:

16 is the age where you think you can be an adult and can have developed the stubbornness to try, not to mention the pride of doing it by yourself and not asking for help. It’s not a weakness, but were any of us smart enough to realize that at 16? No. If you are and you think so, please return in three to five years and if you can still confirm, congrats ur delusional (half-joking XP)

Also for someone who has been in New York, like three times and knows nothing about it, please forgive me, I am using Google Maps to try and figure out how realistic I’m making Mike’s deliveries lmao