Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Can you tell me what your title is now?” Benjamin asked. “You kept saying it was ‘to be determined’ which is the biggest load of crock.” 

Harvey froze. He stared at the glass and listened for Mike's response. 

“Sure, how's, there's only one way to find out and it requires being inside my bedroom. Care to take a spin Benjy?”  

“Miss Donna!” 

Harvey smiled as he handed Mike his drink, returning to his spot resting against Mike. He turned his head up, “You got me.” He whispered. 

Mike smiled, running hand down Harvey's side. “Always.” 

Donna watched the couple with a smile, she nodded for Benjamin to go ahead and get a piece of pizza. She was used to him waiting for her to say something when they were alone or even on dates just them, but in an obvious setting like this; the natural reaction was lost on her. She smiled apologetically at Benjy, she didn't want him to think she had forgotten him. Relieved when he smiled back at her and leaned against her leg, communicating that he was okay, he knew this was new for her. 

“I think the hypocrisy should be acknowledged, even if the majority of the room wants tip-toe around it.” Harvey broke the silence, even though it wasn't awkward with everyone eating or drinking. He did however feel the hand in his side dig in; in warning. “Case and point. Tip toe we shall.” 

“They can't do it.” Benjamin chimed in, “I think it's a chemical imbalance.” 

“Benjamin!” Donna threatened, because the playful insults in private was one thing but Harvey and Mike didn't need anymore fuel. “Watch it.” 

Harvey started laughing when Benjamin just held up his hands in silent surrender. “Chemical imbalance! Yes that has to be it. We have a whole game in front of us and they won't let us play.” 

“It's not fair!” Benjamin agreed. “They can pull the corner out with any comment but it's never them turning red in public.” 

Donna and Mike looked at each other like neither one of them could believe what was happening. The blonde male spoke up, “Are they ganging up on us? Because I feel pretty ganged up on.” 

“Same. I had a whole plan for tomorrow if today went well. My new heels came in a few days ago.” 

“You're telling me. It's like he wants to be caged tomorrow too.”

Harvey groaned looking away from Mike while Benjamin whined and looked up at Donna. Neither one of them wanted the outcome that was being threatened right now, both of them went their different ways of trying to plead their case. Harvey sat his drink on the table and turned his face into Mike's neck; Benjamin put his pizza on a napkin on the table and moved off Donna to kneel facing her. 

“I'm sorry, Daddy.” Harvey whispered into Mike's neck, “I won't be disrespectful.” 

“I'm sorry, Miss Donna.” Benjamin said looking up through his eyelashes, “You warned me and I continued.” 

Mike raised an eyebrow that Harvey couldn't see, he looked down at Benjamin whose hands were placed on his knees as he waited for Donna to react. The redhead looked away from Benjamin at Mike. Neither of the dominants really knew the level of their submissives in public, so they were both guessing here.

“No, you have a point. Don't they Donna?” 

Scrunching her eyebrows confused, Donna had no idea where Mike was going with this. She looked down at Benjamin and studied him for a second, his eyes held hers for longer than usual. The redhead raised both eyebrows at the defiance. “I'm not sure they do.” Donna turned back to Mike when Benjamin dropped his eyes. 

“I mean, it was Benjamin and Harvey's idea that we even get together tonight. So maybe we should let them play, it'll give me all the excuses in the world to go full stop next time we do this.” Mike smirked a little, “Maybe next time Benjy will be collared.” 

“More like leashed.” Donna looked down at Benjamin, letting him know she wasn't impressed that he was showing off exactly what he had been criticizing with Harvey. “My tolerance isn't as high as yours.” 

Mike nodded, he understood their dynamics were different. He nodded to the corner behind Donna, “That's Harvey's spot. You're more than welcome to use it.” 

Harvey buried his face deeper into Mike's shoulder, he couldn't believe that it was being talked about out loud with another person. The reminder of the corner this morning restarted the flushing in his face. Mike pulled him closer, Harvey didn't want to speak up and get the attention back on him. 

“Benjamin.” Donna spoke evenly, when her submissive looked at her. “When I agreed to this, what did you promise me?” 

“That I would be on my best behavior because Miss Donna was nervous about coming.” Benjamin sighed ashamed because this conversation was only a few hours old, “I'm sorry, I didn't listen when you warned me. I'll be polite, Miss Donna.” 

“Next time I'm going to react as if we were alone.” I don't know how else to react. Donna didn't feel confident enough to bring their dynamic around people yet, she didn't want to do this today. Benjamin and Mike reassured her that it wouldn't be more than she could handle, but this was feeling like a situation she didn't know. Donna didn't know if she was going to go too far, she only understood their relationship the ways they've already explored. 

Benjamin thought over his next words carefully, because he knew he had rushed this a little for his dominant. He had been warned before they left and even while they were here. “I understand and accept the conditions.” Benjamin wanted to apologize. “I'm sorry I embarrassed you by claiming our dynamic was about obedience only to contradict myself minutes later. They are not us, I won't get confused again.” 

Mike was impressed, he looked at Donna who was obviously struggling. The redhead nodded and relaxed as Benjamin spoke, she laid her hand out flat and her submissive crawled the distance. “Way to go Donna, making me look like a pansy.” Mike went to lighten the mood once he saw the repair had been done. 

Harvey pulled away from Mike, he wanted to see his face to know if Mike actually felt showed up - because that was a different kind of issue that Harvey didn't want to start. Harvey never wanted Mike to even have an inclination of jealousy, the older man had dealt with the Scottie situation and he didn't want anything close to a repeat. He didn't see any signs of true agitation, so he turned and looked at Benjamin. He had never seen someone display their submissive side like this before. “We are all in agreement that nothing here leaves the four of us, right?” 

Benjamin looked at Donna, who nodded. “It went without saying.” 

“Thank fuck, because I can't keep tip toeing around titles when he's this ansty.” 

“I'm not ansty!” Mike objected, “I'm perfectly fine.” 

“Riiight.” Harvey took the attention away from Donna and Benjamin intentionally. Donna was obviously uncomfortable and Mike had already tried to break the ice. “The little hint where the corner was, wasn't for me to?”

Mike smirked with a shrug, “Maybe. Didn't seem to work much.” 

“Daddys a spoiled sport. Ganged up on.” Harvey shook his head. 

“I'm this close.” Mike held up a bit of space between his finger and thumb, trying to warn Harvey not to go too far. “To throwing the key off the balcony and wishing you good luck.” 95% sure you don't know about the spare. 

“You're full of it.” Harvey hit back, because he doubted that completely. 

Mike made a face, “Okay.” He got up and pulled the key out his pocket and walked towards the balcony.

“He's not going to do it.” Harvey told the couple with complete confidence. 

“Harvey, I don't know.” Donna told him as she watched Mike go outside. “Harvey, he's looking at you. I think he wants you to see.” 

Harvey froze, there was no way Mike would pull this type of stunt. From Donna's face, Harvey could tell she thought his dominant was being serious. He looked at Benjamin who looked genuinely concerned at his own dominant, as if she might be getting ideas. “Fuck, he's being serious.” The conclusion came when another threat from Mike didn’t come. Empty threats got replaced quickly if they didn't work, real threats were usually carried through. 

“I think so. He's still waiting for you.” Donna reported back. 

He knew if he turned around at this point, Harvey knew he'd be watching the key fly. “Fuck.” He looked around the apartment for an idea, because his options were severely limited now. He has to have a spare, but that's not the point now. “He can't hear me and I can't turn around.” 

“Sometimes the easiest answer is getting down.” Benjamin whispered, more to himself than anyone else. 

“Donna will you go get one of Mike's ties from the bedroom? They're right next to mine.” Harvey got an idea from Benjamin's words, even though they had different ways of ‘kneeling’. 

The redhead having already seen this transaction, she nodded and went into Harvey's bedroom. She didn't nose around, immediately going to the were Harvey's ties were neatly tucked away. Donna grabbed one of Mike's ties and came out to her seat, she handed the item to Harvey as she sat down. Mike and her met eyes, she smiled at him when he shook his head amused. 

Harvey stood up and took off his shirt, his back was still to Mike, it was his own limit that clothes stayed on. He tied the tie around his neck and held up his hands on either side of his head. “He still just looking at me?” 

“Yes.” Donna laughed, because she didn't know who to watch. “He's a little closer to the door now though. He can probably hear you if you talk loud enough.” 

“Daddy you win! Jeans, tie, the only thing missing is you. I literally got all your favorite things.” Harvey listened for footsteps, because Mike didn't always need an apology. He needed Harvey humbled. “I'll reel it in.” 

Mike stepped back into the condo, “You let the title out of the bag. I want nothing but for the rest of the time.” 

“Yes, Daddy.” Harvey watched as Mike came back into the living room, he jumped for an opening into a new activity. “How about a drinking game?”

Mike smirked, “How about I Never?” 

Harvey objected, “We're not in high school!” 

Benjamin also disagreed with the idea. “You just want to know all my secrets!” 

The blonde dominant looked at Donna with a raised eyebrow, “I really was just asking you.” 

Donna held her glass down to her submissive, “Benjy love, refill my glass and yours please.” 

“Harvey, why don't you do the same.” Mike nodded to his own glass on the side table. 

Both submissives fought the eye roll as they made their way into the kitchen. 

“We should do this more often.” Donna admitted to Mike, for the most part she was having fun. 

“Agreed. I'm surprised they were more comfortable with this than we were.” 

“You're telling me, Benjy blushes at shoes and I was more embarrassed coming here.”

“Tell me seeing Harvey blush like that isn't like touching gold.” 

“Tell me you're not a little jealous of how well Benjy kneels.” 

“Boujee.” 

“Spoiled.” 

Mike grinned, “I'm a little jealous.”

Donna smiled back, “I feel a little bit richer.” 

Chapter Text

Harvey came back into the condo after his work out and headed into the bedroom to shower. He glanced at the sleeping body - which was odd. Harvey was used to coffee and Mike's presence in the kitchen. When he got back from his work out, either the gym or a run, coffee was always ready. So Harvey stared at the sleeping body and debated on changing the scene up a little bit more. He took off shirt and tossed it in the hamper; then jumped into the bed over the man. His arms caught on either side of Mike, so he didn't actually land on top of him. “I know you're not sleeping in on a beautiful morning like this.” 

“I know you're not on top of me without showering first.” Mike responded without turning over, he had heard the older man come in. “I can't eat in bed but your sweat is fine.” 

“And whatever else I can make come out of you.” Harvey grinned as he moved his hips against the younger man. “Come with me.”

“I don't reward bad behavior.” Mike joked as he moved his arms under the pillow making himself comfortable. 

“No coffee and you won't put out? Why do I keep you around again?” Harvey witted back as he moved down to his elbows, resting his chin on Mike's shoulder. “You good for real? I can order breakfast when I get out.” 

Smiling into the pillow, “I overslept, I'm good. I'll get up.” Mike could hear the mild concern in Harvey's voice as he checked in. The older man liked routine and Mike did his best to keep to one; Mike made breakfast every morning, when Harvey came back and Mike was still in bed - it set the routine off. 

Harvey hummed but didn't move, “You know, we could go out for breakfast.” 

Mike nodded. “Sure. You got a place in mind?” 

“There's a brunch spot not far from here. It's a date. Be ready to leave in 20.” 

Snorting, “It takes you 30 minutes in the mirror alone. Hair, skin, and blah blah. It's not me who we'll be waiting on.” 

Harvey bite Mike's ear as he got up, “Just for that, you're paying.” 

Mike turned around quickly and wrapped his legs around Harvery, before the man could fully leave the bed. “Who am I going on a date with this morning? My boss or my Lovely?” He didn't want to throw out strikes when he hadn't used them in a while, so he tried a light warning to get his submissive’s attention.  

“Pretty sure this would be sexual misconduct.” 

Nodding, Mike wasn't surprised or phased by the answer. “So can we leave the armor behind or do we need to it physically? Because I'm feeling some brave vibes coming off you this morning.” 

Harvey rolled his eyes, inwardly pouting a little bit. “I was checking on you. I didn't break any rules.” 

“Oh no, that would be too blunt. Harvey Specter makes subtle offenses, sneaky ones that I have to argue because he wants me to prove him wrong. Is this one of those times, Harvey?” Mike sat up and brought his face closer to the older man. “You really just wanted to check in?” 

“I wanted you to come shower with me.” Harvey rested on his knees so he wasn't hovering uncomfortably. Mike's legs were wrapped around his thighs, it wasn't really strong enough angle to keep him in place; but he didn't move anyway. 

“Last chance, Harvey. Deal is coming off the table.” Mike pushed, because Harvey knew how to get what he wanted - being cheeky about it wasn't the way to go. 

“I asked you on a date!” Harvey argued at first but when Mike didn't respond, he sighed with eyeroll. “I'm sorry.”

Mike removed his legs, “Oh I can see that. Go shower, I'd take that time to reflect unless you want to do it when you get out.” 

Harvey got off the bed, “Whatever.” 

“Freeze.” 

The older man did, the tone set tingles over Harvey's skin. He didn't turn around, but he could hear Mike moving off the bed. Swallowing as the footsteps drew closer, Harvey watched as Mike walked around him and into the bathroom. He looked ahead and Mike turned on the shower. I went too far. 

Mike tested the water with his hand, then went about using the toilet ignoring his submissive for the moment. Brave waves was an understatement. The younger man washed his hands and looked at Harvey in the mirror. “Strip.” 

Taking off his pants and boxers, Harvey tossed them on the floor as close to the hamper as could from his spot. He shouldn't have dropped half his comments this morning but that last one had been the final straw. “I'm sorry.” Meeting the ‘the look’ in the mirror made Harvey drop his eyes to the floor. 

The small hum was the only acknowledgement Mike gave Harvey's apology, it was a little late now. “Shower. If you're not out in 15 minutes, I'm pulling you out no matter your condition.” 

Harvey nodded and got into the shower, he didn't hear Mike leave the bathroom. “Are you mad mad?” He immediately got his hair under the water, running his fingers through it. The water was set to the warmer temperature he usually used to clear his head, not the cooler temperature he usually used on his muscles after a workout. He had to get his conditioner in with enough to let it sit, so he grabbed the shampoo bottle while he listened to Mike. 

“I don't know yet. You got a good explanation or you want to reflect a little longer?” Mike turned and leaned back against the sink; he could be getting dressed right now but he didn't want to give his partner a chance to relax. Harvey was obviously in a mood this morning and Mike was confident if he walked away from it, he'd be walking back into another round. 

I did want to check in, he was okay. I wanted to shower together, but he didn't really say no. I wanted a date, he said yes. I don't really know, I just wanted more. Shit. “I wanted more, I guess.” He rinsed the shampoo out and grabbed the conditioner. 

“More what?” 

Harvey didn't answer immediately, he didn't like the one he had. Swapping conditioner for body soap, the older man felt his ears turn red as he spoke. “Attention.” 

“Intentionally or unintentionally going for attitude?” Mike was trying to get to the point if Harvey was trying to get a rise out of him or if this was reactive behavior. Rarely did that matter in the end, but because of the nature of this situation, the dominant wanted to respond in a specific nature. 

“Unintentionally, I think.” 

“You think ?” Mike echoed back, wanting further explanation. 

“I.. I don't know. I knew what was going to happen, so I guess a little intentionally but I didn't exactly think about it like that.” Harvey struggled with responding honestly while making sure he wasn't giving Mike room to argue with him. If he answered wrong, this conversation would last until he got it right. 

Mike chalked that up to unintentionally, if Harvey wasn't aiming for punishment. “Then no, I'm not mad mad. I'm disappointed. You know how to get my attention, especially if you want it immediately. Give me three phrases that would have immediately got all of my attention on you that you could have used instead of whatever. ” 

“Yellow.” Harvey responded immediately, because that has never failed to work. He has used yellow as a way to communicate that he needed something he didn't know how to vocalize or work through before, he technically could have used it here; but he hadn't recognized the situation for what it was in time. “Daddy, I need help.” Harvey listed as his thoughts carried through, he's said that before in lows, scenes, or situations he just wanted his dominant. The submissive was then flooded with a several scenarios where Mike seemed to know when Harvey needed him. “It's my tone. Anything said in..a specific way will get your attention.” 

That last one surprised Mike, because he wasn't going to deny that there were key things Mike made sure to always respond to. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Harvey was a man of routine, so having things in their relationship that always worked; certain tones, looks, or words always had the same reaction. Good and bad. "That was perfect, Lovely. Remember that in the future." He didn't want to ignore the request now that they've talked through what should have happen.  “Do you still want to go out or would you rather I made us something?” 

Harvey didn't know anymore, he didn't want to go out if he was in trouble because he struggled with the good behavior required when they were home, being in public was just another layer. He didn't want to say that because he was the one who pulled out the attitude and asked for a date in the same conversation. “I don't want to pick anymore.” Harvey admitted, because that felt like the safest way to answer. It wasn't lying and it wasn't digging himself deeper by trying to ‘lawyer’ out of the situation. 

Mike frowned, he didn't want Harvey withdrawing from what he actually wanted. This exercise wasn't to silence his submissive but to communicate more clearly. “Lovely, I'm not mad.” 

“Feels the same.” Harvey didn't really mean that, but he felt it was close enough to the truth. 

“Times up.” Mike licked his lips and waited for the water to turn off. He watched Harvey exit the shower and grab a towel. “What changed your mind?” 

Harvey sighed and dried off his hair, he should have known better that he could get off with simplicity. “I don't want to fight in public.” 

Mike tried not to be offended, he looked away to hide it; taking advantage that Harvey wasn't really interested in meeting his eyes anyway. I know we have our humiliation games, but I'd never actually try to belittle Harvey. I rarely take punishments publicly and if I do, it's because the offense happened publicly. Does he actually think I want to go on a date to punish him? He looked back at Harvey as the man wrapped the towel around his waist. “Yeah, I guess we should stay in.” Mike licked his bottom lip and felt like an asshole as he said the words. “Fuck, yellow. I can't do this.” The younger man shoved off the counter and walked out of the bathroom. 

It took a second for Harvey to move and his heart to beat again. He thought over the conversation they had and he was just confused. He knew Mike wasn't offended because Harvey wanted attention, because they would have never lasted this long if that was a possibility. Walking out of the bathroom, Harvey just watched as Mike got himself dressed. “Mike. Talk to me.” 

“Do you really think I'd take you out to humiliate you?” 

“Uhm, I really feel like this is a trick. I know the answer but I feel like you want a different answer.” Harvey didn't know how to even approach answering that question while Mike was looking at him with hurt. “Mike, I'm so confused right now.” 

Mike laughed humorlessly and sat on the bed, “Okay, I did word that poorly.” He could admit that. “You expected some type of punishment with this date, right?” 

“Yes.” Harvey was having a hard time feeling embarrassed about it with the air in the room, the younger man was being too closed off. 

“Do I do that often? Take a private offense and bring it to the public? Or into our romantic life?” Until now, Mike didn't think he did, he personally thought he let Harvey's attitude slide more often when they were on dates. He had a perfect memory, but he wasn't perfect. Maybe he took the attitude rule too far. 

The pieces of the puzzle flew together for Harvey with the questions, he actually breathed with relief. “Shit, I know yellow is like a medium word but you rarely use it. I think my heart actually froze for a second.” Harvey sat down on the bed next to Mike. “You don't. I copped an attitude and asked for a date, I assumed because I set the stage. My assumption literally almost had nothing to do with you.” 

Mike laid back on the bed and closed his eyes, throwing his arm over them. “Thank you for explaining.” 

Harvey looked at Mike for a second, he wanted to say something but he wanted to give his dominant the same respect Mike would give him. “Do you want me to give you a minute?”

“I think we both started off this morning a little rough and we should hit restart.” Mike replied honestly, because they both have lost their footing; Harvey with his communication and Mike with his confusion. 

With a slow grin, Harvey crawled over Mike; he kissed his collarbone up to his neck. “Any chance Daddy is interested in going out to breakfast with me?” He pulled up slowly waiting for Mike to reveal his eyes. 

Mike couldn't stop the half smile at Harvey's cocky tone, he moved his hands to his submissive's waist; where the towel was still wrapped. He looked into Harvey's eyes, he leaned up and kissed him. “I love you.” 

“I love you too.” Harvey leaned down and kissed Mike again. “So is this one of those days I get to dress myself or was that wishful thinking?” 

Chapter Text

Harvey and Mike were eating dinner in the living room, both of them had their own files next to their plates; researching their individual cases. They got back from Hawaii two days ago, slowly bringing less work home as they caught up (they went in Tuesday night per Harveys request). The older lawyer realized he was going to have to wait until the morning because he needed stuff from the firm, so he shut the folder and looked at the man across from him. “You doing something important?” 

“Eh, I'm trying to find a loophole in this contract. I think my best bet is hoping they didn't follow all the financial agreements.” Mike didn't look up from his documents as he answered Harvey, he rubbed his eyes. “You cool if I pick Louis's brain tomorrow?”

Harvey shrugged, “Does that mean I'll get you now if I don't have you tomorrow?” 

Mike snorted to himself and shut his folders. “You have my attention, Lovely. You know you can just ask.” 

“I've never been real good that.” Harvey grinned and grabbed both their plates. “You want a drink?” He asked over his shoulder as he went into the kitchen. 

“I don't know, do I?” Mike asked back, because Harvey knew how he felt about he, himself, drinking during scenes. It was more of a question on which direction Harvey was trying to go, because he was the one who called on Mike's attention. 

Harvey grabbed two glasses and the bottle of scotch from its place on the cart. “Middle ground?” He asked as he poured two glasses. “Verbal and surface only.” 

Mike picked up his glass from the table and leaned back against the couch, he looked over Harvey and shrugged his acceptance. “You have questions.” He wasn't asking. 

“I think of them more as curiosities. I want answers, but I don't need them.” Harvey placated. 

“Always the lawyer.” Mike half smiled. “While noted, I want to point out I think I'm usually an open book with your questions.” 

“The touching you rule. I don't think I really understand it.” 

“Your hypothesis before we left for Hawaii made it seem like you did.” Mike took a sip of his drink with a smirk. “What don't you understand?” 

“Doesn't it get old?” Harvey leaned back into seat, he had wondered this for a while. “I mean I'd constantly be wondering if you were bored or something if you weren't always touching me. The only reason you aren't right now is because I didn't sit with you.” 

Mike laughed. “In no one way does it get old. If I want your hands on me, all I have to do is give you a look or a word. When I wonder if your bored, I make sure the situation isn't so boring anymore.” Licking his lips in thought, because the dominant wanted Harvey to feel satisfied with the answers he was walking away with. “I don't want you put an urge in me that I didn't allow you to put there. I feel like it's another challenge, another situation your trying to control. It's a turn off. Not a limit, because it doesn't make me feel unsafe or anything like that, it's just counter productive in my eyes to our dynamic.” 

“Which would be excat opposite of what I'd be trying to do if I'm physically touching you.” 

“Right. Which is why I corrected it the one and only time you tried. I love it when you fiddle with my fingers if you want me to play with your hair. When you want to be a real tease, you'll face me with just enough distace, you grab my hand and kiss my fingers, because we both know that'll happen next don't we?” 

Harvey's ears turned red when Mike broke down the physical interactions between them. 

“I'll grab your hair and I'll make you close that distance. Maybe I'll go for your mouth or maybe your neck. But the entire point is my fingers curled in your hair, guiding you wherever I want you. Isn't it?” 

“Your changing the topic.” Harvey took a sip of his drink to focus on something other than the heat in his face. 

“Am I? You wanted to know if it got old. I thought I was clearing the curiosity. My bad.” Mike smirked on, he looked over his submissives body. He didn't think he would be pouring himself another drink with the way this conversation was going, because Mike doubted it was going to end clothed. 

“So I can instigate, just not physically.” 

“You do instigate. All the damn time.” Mike pointed out. “Exhibit A, we're on two different sides of the table and you started the mood here.” 

Harvey felt silly asking his next question, it felt insecure and desperate. “And I can make you as interested as I am?” 

Mike didn't think Harvey was having doubts, because he didn't sound concerned, just confused. “Different things turn us on. Harvey, you turn me on sometimes just sitting there. You don't even need to speak up sometimes, you just exist as the best high I've ever had. I can be sitting on your couch in your office, I'll just look at you typing on the computer and I'll have to remind myself that you're my boss in that moment. As much I want to grab your tie and bend you over your desk, I can't.” 

Grinning, Harvey took a drink. “You don't really show it.” 

“You want me to lose control.” 

“It'd be nice to see that I can make that happen every once in a while.” Harvey didn't dislike their sex life, that wasn't what he meant, if things never changed, Harvey would be okay. He just wanted to feel like he was giving Mike as much the dominant was giving him. 

“You being cute asking like that or are you really forgetting all the moments I have lost control?” Mike asked calmly, honestly wanting an answer. The first one was a solid way to change the mood of the conversation, the second one deserved reassurance. 

“I've never made you lose it like I do. It's not the same thing and you can't say it is.” Harvey pointed out. He hadn't been trying to make fun. “The power exchange here is a part of that, I can follow the logic but I can't follow how you can feel secure. I'm not trying to be offensive, if you don't want me to know, I told you in the beginning, I'll be okay.”

It took Mike a second to follow Harvey's thought process, because he felt like his submissive was saying everything but his actual question. “Ready to paint another mental picture with me?” 

“I'll do my best.” Harvey admitted, but he was interested. 

“How would it feel or hit your ear if I crawled into your lap and asked.. ‘Will you take me to bed, Sir’?” 

“I think I'd push you off me.” Harvey immediately scrunched his nose, because the puppy version of Mike was the most docile Harvey could handle with Mike. Even now sometimes it was a struggle not to laugh when he saw the persona displayed at the firm. 

“Yet, that works in your favor more often than not, doesn't it?” Mike moved to a scene they have done several times. “You do different things that make me feel alive. Maybe I'll narrate my thoughts for you one of these times. You'd have to be the epitome of good if you want a night like that, but it can be done.” 

“I can read your mind just fine.” Harvey's eyes widened a fraction, “Withdrawn.” The older man did want a night like that, so making fun of it was not the smart move. “Sorry, Daddy.” 

“Exhibit B. Attitude, immediately back pedaling without me even needing to tell you it was a bad move, and the apology you know is required. A 10 second non physical interaction that..don't be offended..that I trained you to do. How can I not be turned on and proud? You stir feelings in me all the time Harvey. You are the most exciting and intoxicating thing I've ever encountered.” Mike threw out a freebie for his submissive, Harvey had been decent with his attitude; the recent offense seemed like an honest mistake. “When you crawl in my lap and ask me, I feel like the king of the world.” 

Harvey was glad he asked his questions now, because he felt good about it. Mike rarely held back information when Harvey asked directly and if he did, it was so Mike could calm down enough to answer his questions. “You had fantasies about me being submissive before you knew I'd enjoy it.” 

“You know that already.” Mike raised an eyebrow, “I'm the one who gave the journal.” 

“You only told me about stuff you thought of at the firm. Did you ever think of us here or me at your apartment?” 

“Of course.” Mike smirked, “You also know information like that is earned, it's not a dynamic question.” 

“I was curious if I had been living up to standards. If you don't think I've earned that, it's fine.” Harvey felt awkward in his own skin as he tried to lay the guilt trip instead of his usual tactics. 

Both of Mike's eyebrows shot up, he studied Harvey and waited a few seconds. “How'd that taste coming out?” 

“Gross.” Harvey didn't bother with trying to continue, being caught was just another humiliation. “You'd make me tell you.” 

“You put my fantasies to shame a long time ago.” Mike offered, “The real thing is much better.” 

“I aim to impress.” Harvey set his drink on the table, he was a little nervous trying to put his next thought on the table. “I did some.. I checked out some of those forums you talked about.” 

The dominant choked on his drink, he coughed and hit his chest. “Christ, okay. That must have been interesting.” Mike had no idea what was going to come out next, because Harvey could have read or seen any number of things. The dominant did not chance guessing. 

“It.. was. I focused more on stuff I could read than the pictures.” Harvey had a hard time with a lot of the visuals because it was so public. Mike has had him in a lot of different situations, but Harvey would never allow picture evidence posted. Messages between them was one thing, but online? It blew Harvey's mind. “You don't make me kneel all the time.” 

“Point?” 

“Benjamin does for Donna. People have routines that involve it. It.. it seems really common.” 

“You don't want to kneel all the time.” Mike didn't beat around the bush, “And I don't need you on your knees to know I run the show.” As he watched Harvey, Mike hit a realization. He thinks he could be wrong. “What made you change your mind about doing your own research?”

“Donna and Benjamin were texting earlier, I don't know what he said, but she looked at me and point blank said, ‘He gets so lippy when he wants to be put on his knees.’ Then I remembered, Benjamin kneeled for her without prompt when they visited. It was weird at first, but the more I thought about it..it makes sense, right?” Harvey didn't know what to make of the ‘study face’ he just wanted to explain to the best of his abilities. 

“Harvey I'm sorry, I misread the situation.” Mike responded genuinely, because he had neglected his submissive’s needs. He thought backwards over their relationship and tried to see where he went wrong. “But this isn't about the actual kneeling itself is it?” 

“It seems like..there's a few common positions submissives know. You don't expect those kinds of things.” 

“You want more of it though.” 

Harvey shrugged, “I don't know. I'm.. curious. I don't dislike our dynamic and if nothing changed, I wouldn't be unhappy. I love you and us, I'm just.. curious.” 

Mike nodded, “Okay. Let's explore it then. Usually I'm the one introducing something, since this is your exploration, do you want to go about this slowly or do you want to take it like a boot camp weekend?” 

“Boot camp?” Harvey's voice cracked as he asked, that sounded a little more intimidating than he felt his request was. 

“Positions are all about display, intention, respect, and a level of other things. Which is what you're actually interested in exploring. It's going to take some practice to master perfection. You think Benjamin just knew when to put his hands on his knees or on the floor? He was watching Donna's reactions, he enjoys kneeling, he had to learn Donna's positions without coaching because she didn't know how at first.” 

“At first?” 

“I'm sure by now they've had the conversation or Donna figured it out. I'd bet money on it.” Mike snorted, the redhead was new but she was a natural at reading people. This isn't something that could be mastered in a few weeks, but Mike wasn't hearing Benjamin complaining. “He probably has a rest and relax position, a reflecting position, and a focused position. They might have more, but I don't honestly know.” 

“I.. I think I have those.” Harvey answered, thinking about it, when Mike smiled he continued with his hypothesis. “The rest and relax is when I'm laying on you, you sit with your leg around me and you play with my hair. You just.. hold me.” 

“We both like physical touch and I like feeling you relax with me. I can work something else out.” 

Harvey didn't know how he felt about that, but it wasn't comfortable. He put that to the side for a moment to check on the rest of his theory. “Reflecting position is me being staying put, usually I'm in the corner but sometimes you just say sound off. I'm not meant to talk or move unless you guide me.” 

“ That I was confident was working for us. I apologize again for not giving you enough attention with this.” 

The last thing Harvey wanted was more attention when Mike was in a mood, that's why Harvey doesn't seek out to disobey the 'sound off' command. “The focus position, I think means I'm focused on you right? Like you have my undivided direct attention?” 

“That's what I meant by it, yes.” 

“You do put me on my knees then.” Harvey argued lightly to himself, thinking about the dynamic essay questions Mike almost made him read aloud. Or the puppy scenes. “You don't need a position for that though really, you use a tone and a look.” 

“Harvey, are you having second thoughts?” Mike tried not to show his amusement. 

“Majorly. The idea seemed fun, but the mental picture now seems like I'd be setting myself up to fail. I don't want to lose the relax position, I definitely don't want more attention with the reflecting one, and the last one.. like I said, the tone and look is enough.” Harvey wasn't interested in changing anything anymore, he liked their dynamic the way it was. “Can we just forget I said anything?” 

“Yeah, Lovely. But we can explore whatever you want to. I wasn't trying to talk you out of this.” 

“I'm glad you did instead of when we actually tried. All I see are yellow situations that borderline red, but you already knew that.” 

“I had a guess.” Mike didn't want to come off as know-it-all, but sometimes Harvey really set him up to be. “Anything else on your mind?” 

“I want to hang out with Benjamin and Donna again. You were right, seeing it helps understand it.” 

“I'll talk to Donna about it when things slow down at the firm. We've been bringing work home the last few days and we have that networking event next week. I'd rather just relax when we have them over.”

Harvey nodded his agreement, “Bed?” 

“Aw, I know you can do better than that. Or are you really going to be tease tonight?” Mike smirked and sat his glass on the table. “Come here, Lovely.” 

Harvey got up and moved over to the couch, he straddled over Mike's lap easily. He started undoing his dominant's tie. “Daddy, will you take me to bed?” 

“Exhibit C, I've been hard since you started your curiosities.” Mike grabbed Harvey's hips grinding them down against him. “If you can get undressed before I get in the bedroom, I'll let you pick the position I fuck you in.” 

Harvey jumped off Mike, “Don't waste my scotch.” He called over his shoulder as he took his shirt off heading into their bedroom. 

“Wouldn't dream of it.” Mike said to himself with a grin, he picked his glass back up. Wonder what display I'll be walking into. Wonder how long he'll be able to hold it. The idea of positions gave Mike a good segway into this scene, they haven't had sex since Hawaii because of the late nights. The dominant knew Harvey hadn't gotten off in that time, so he couldn't think of a better time for some edge play. How many times can I bring you to the brink and take it away before you fall apart? Mike licked his lips and finished his drink. He stood up and walked towards the bedroom, “Hope your ready, Lovely.” The dominant called out. 

Chapter Text

2016

April 4th - One day when I don't have to be in control of everything, that's when I'll actually live like a King. 

April 20th  - The Poker Game 

April 22nd - 23rd - The Bet 

(Undetermined Date) - Mike throws out the bracelet he used as a collar in past dynamics 

June 8th - Start of story / God's Green Earth 

June 9th  - Princess plug at firm / Got together 

June 10th - Secret Admirer Box - cards, scotch, journal key 

June 11th  - Bet takes place at Inhale 

June 13th  - Harvey agrees to drink with Scottie, Mike drinks with associates, Harvey storms the bar, and agrees to 'no dates outside clients and networking'

June 14th - Harvey reminds Mike “im yours” policy with tie and silk / Harvey has history curiosities over lunch 

June 24th - Harveys stands in for Jessica at network event / Harvey has a freak out about Mike seeing as weak after incident at event 

June 25th - Roles reverse for a scene / Rene surprise fitting Mike gets tricked into / Mike finds himself moved into Harvey’s condo / Harvey spends an hour-ish on the floor as punishment 

June 26th - Celebrating moving in / Mike stands ground on drinking during a scene but gives eventually / Mike pushed limits with shopping,  feels extremely guilty - Harvey offers online shopping as a substitute / Harvey plays "Loving you, Baby" by Charles Bradley 

June 27th - Coming out at the firm / Harvey's rumors get spread / Donna overhears tie switch conversation / Cage introduced 

June 28th - Louis's office and tie get a flag / Harvey texts Mike yellow about ‘being in love’ convo with Louis / Harvey has to ask for cage after work - fight ensues about Scottie, rumors, and ‘sugar baby’ ideas  / “First Lie” about never asking Scottie to move in / Harvey asks for the cage genuinely 

June 29th - Harvey's first drop / Mike promises dinner with Jessica / Mike promises Harvey seasonal trips to Rene's (unknowingly) / bracelet gets bought 

June 30th - Mike makes a bet that Harvey can't drop his attitude for day in trade for a trip to Rene's (unknowingly already promised) / Mike wants to tell Donna about the dynamic / Interview with Times / Harvey says “I love you” for the first time 

July 7th - Hannah shows up at the firm / Donna gets confirmation about her own guesses about the dynamic / Harvey goes out for drinks with Donna to talk and calm down / Donna goes on blind date with Benjamin / Mike promises to fix Harveys feelings about Hannah 

July 8th - Mike guided Jordan (Hannahs dom) through a conversation to give Harvey peace of mind / Hannah and Jordan come to the firm to apologize / Mike has drinks with Donna discussing dynamics / Mike tells Harvey about the dinner with Jessica he forgot to mention - Harvey threatens to go to a hotel 

July 9th  - Harvey went to the bar instead of gym / Harvey admited to wanting to throw Mike out when scotch is delivered 

July 10th  - Harvey tries to make nice in the morning - gets mad again / Jessica's dinner - meeting the dean of Havard about Penny's case to help Mike's Harvard records / Harvey and Mike make up on the drive back - no more drinking while angry rule gets established / Mike finds out Harvey took off his bracelet - Mike locks bracelet up in his chest (Also Donna's 2nd date with Benjamin) 

July 11th - Harvey's 2nd drop / Mike gives Harvey back the bracelet 

July 13th - Mike hears his new nickname as "Ken Barbie" / Donna agrees to a double date at the condo / Benjamin tracked the data leaked from Pabwi software (Penny/Mike's case) / Mike and Harvey discuss Harvey's concerns about the double date 

July 15th - Full compliance introduced to trigger subspace / Mirror gets introduced / Mike gives Harvey the cufflinks 

July 16th - Harvey waits for Mike permission to leave the bed / Harvey claims to have won the bet about Rene's because he didn't have attitude / Harvey shops online for lingerie / Harvey realizes he's in subspace 

July 18th - Pawbi responds to Harvey with Scottie as the lawyer / Mike demands to be let in on the deposition between Harvey and Scottie - Harvey puts Jessica on babysitting duty / Scottie shows up in Mike's office - “Let's see how long your luck lasts” / Harvey goes to lunch with Scottie - Mike shows up because of Donna's text (which Mike covers for later via phone call with Rachel) / Harvey struggles with concentrating at work - Mike gives him contract work and the corner (Harvey leaves to ask Donna for a file - but only tells Mike his legs got tired) / Mike riles up Harvey with implying Louis might be a better lawyer/mentor and with a hanging threat about no more s urprises / Jessica gives Harvey Rachel for Pawbi cases - Harvey implies to Mike he's using her for everything by telling him he works for Louis - Mike and Harvey make a bet on who will cave first (caged for a weekend vs Mike taking a ride ) / Mike wears a rainbow tie in the library - Harvey loses his mind (and the bet) and demands Mike back in his office to finish contracts / Mike stays at the firm significantly later than he should have because of all the back and forth 

July 19th - Harvey wakes Mike with coffee as apology - Mike's first words were “Cute touch. Go get the crop.” / Harvey started questioning Mike's source on Pawbi (Benjamin) because of Scottie - Mike gives a calmer ‘you're mine’ rebuttal / Scottie shows up outside Harvey's office - Mike moves to sit at Harvey's desk - Harvey tells Scottie off / Pawbi settles - Mike is safer / Harvey and Mike celebrate with a ‘special occasion’ (Harveys side of the bet about working with Louis) / Harvey and Mike stop at bar before ending the night - Harvey admits to feeling like a king - Harvey stops someone from jumping Mike in the bathroom / Harveys POV of Mikes expressions ‘the look’, ‘the study face’, and ‘you've given me the world’. 

July 22nd - Donna takes Ray for a date with Benjamin (audience finds out about Harvey's 2nd lie, leaving the corner) / Jessica assigns Mike bullshit cases - Harvey threatens Jessica for managing partner for having a power fight over a tie - Harvey snaps at Mike in his current mindset / Harvey freaks out in cab because he wasn't paying attention to Mike's expressions so he doesn't know what to expect at home - Mike takes pity because the caged weekend coming up, he let Harvey explain himself (getting some insight about his own expressions) / Harvey and Mike talk about more about Harvey's concerns about the double date - appropriate punishments, clothes, and trust (at one point Harvey gets defensive and says “Fuck you”) / Harvey confesses to his 2nd lie - leaving the corner / Caged that night after dinner for the weekend / Mike and Harvey make a deal, Mike can smoke pot if Harvey can be allowed to participate / 

July 23rd - Harvey goes down on Mike to wake him up, first time bluntly instigating sex physically - Mike corrects it, Harvey is confused but accepts it / Harvey gets angry and snaps when Mike informs Harvey that Donna knows Mike's title - Mike tells Harvey to find a corner in the living room - Harvey gets more defiant and Mike tells him to safeword - Harvey backtracks / Mike informs Harvey about the temporary 'hands-free rule’ canceling their previous deal with Mike getting high / Mike fucks and teases Harvey until its time to get ready for the double date / Donna and Benjamin double date - Harvey finds out about the voicemails, Donna gets hit at for a collar (because Mike is being petty that she was apart of Harvey's lie), Benjamin sees dynamics from a different light, Mike is just enjoying himself 

July 25th - Harvey storms into Mike's meeting at the firm calling him “puppy” / Mike has Harvey waiting by elevator as a public cornering substitute - Harvey runs late meeting up / Mike introduces what puppy is going to really mean from now on with an Expo marker, a tie, and a mirror. 

July 27th - Benjamin calls Mike in a drop - Mike gets angry at Donna / Harvey and Mike get into a fight about Donna which Harvey finds a lot of insecurities lingering with Mike / Harvey intentionally pushes Mike until he loses it and goes for a harsh punishment - Mike is scared and angry so he reminds both of them of safewords and takes breaks to check in with Harvey / Harvey has Mike inform Jessica they won't be at the firm in the morning 

July 28th - Mike feels guilty and tries everything he knows to check in and be easy - Harvey isn't interested in being coddled, but he's not mad / Long talk about dynamics - contracts, safewords, limits, interests / Mike tells Harvey he wants to do a non-sexual scene with Donna - Harvey lays down ground rules 

July 29th - Mike offers Donna to do a scene together 

July 30th - Mike and Donna's scene / Harvey riles himself up to immediately grab Mike's attention when he gets back to the condo / Jessica calls and informs Harvey that hes standing in for her for a few days 

August 1st - Harvey stands in for Jessica at the firm - tells Mike hes strictly on Harveys cases / Harvey is exhausted, annoyed, smothered, and bombarded all day - he sees Mike in the conference working with Louis and Katerina and snaps - Mike calms the situation and Harvey / Louis questions Mike about Mike and Harvey's relationship - Mike dodges most questions / Mike distracts Harvey from stress once they get home 

August 2nd - Harvey feels uneasy because of the “you got me?” comment - concerned it might be too much for Mike - Mike explains their ‘reigns’ and calms Harvey / Harvey realizes he got away with a lot and begins his game of teasing - voicemails and using titles spontaneously

August 4th - Jessica comes back / Louis confronts Harvey about his suspicions about Mike and Harvey having a dynamic - Harvey is humiliated and angry, he summons Mike to his office - Mike has Louis tell Shiela - Harvey claims he was careless at the interview - Mike shuts down completely hurt / Harvey tries to apologize and get Mike to talk when they get back the condo, when doesn't work he calls Louis and to show he's sorry - Mike feels comforted 

August 5th - Mike is a little more distant in micro ways, making Harvey uneasy - Mike explains that he won't punish Harvey for having emotions / Harvey figures out that Mike has been trying to comfort Harvey all morning - Harvey avoids his office / Mike tries to talk about it in the car but ends up angry when he finds himself having the same conversation from this morning - Harvey makes comments trying to goude Mike into a punishment - Mike enforced the corner for the rest of the night 

August 6th - Mike interrupts Harveys boxing workout with a dynamic lesson / Mike assigns Harvey short essay questions as a punishment, but more so to remind Harvey of their agreements in their dynamic / Harvey starts planning to take Mike on a vacation (or for an extended version of Inhale) / Harvey informs Mike about the Rene agreement about seasonal trips after his first drop / Mike takes Harvey on a date that gets cut short because Harvey wouldn't stop flirting with the waiter / Mike introduces the puppy scene with toys for the first time - Harvey learns that that whimpering really riles up his dominant 

August 7th - Harvey overthinks and stresses out about how much he got into the puppy scene while on his morning run - Mike tells Harvey he should do whatever makes him happy / Harvey uses that whimper trick to get Mike in the shower with him 

August 8th - Harvey and Donna talk; they start planning the Hawaii trip, Donna calls dibs on being Mike's best man, Harvey shows concern about telling his brother / Harvey gives Mike information through the intercom at Donna's desk “No deal, Daddy. Double it or we go public.”  

August 11th - Harvey is informed he's on for a networking event in a few weeks - he asks Mike if he’s coming by asking if a tux falls into their Rene deal 

August 13th - Harvey gets all his suit shirts altered that needed to be for his cufflinks (even though Mike assumed they both would only have a few shirts), Mike gets fitted for a new tux and orders more shirts instead of altering his current ones 

August 15th - Jessica confronts Harvey about bringing “his puppy” - Harvey stands his ground and ends the ‘puppy’ nickname (Donna overhears) / Mike questions Harvey about the last few days, Harvey admits to “being addicted” / Mike is glowing - “Did you just defend Lovely?” 

September 21st - Harvey tells Mike has a surprise planned for his birthday and wants to have some control on delivery - Mike grants the request 

September 23rd - 27th - Hawaii