Chapter Text
Mike and Harvey stared at their respective papers in front of them, though Mike had stopped processing anything ten minutes ago. His mind was focused on one thing. Food.
Not that he was hungry. He never was anymore. It’d been three days, and Mike hadn’t had a single bite. He was doing so good. All he had to do was last another-
“Mike!”
Mike flinched, his head jerking up.
“What?”
Harvey didn’t respond at first, just tilted his face to the side.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” He sounded genuinely curious.
“Nothing- What? I’m just working,” Mike replied with a defensive edge to his voice.
“You haven’t turned the page for the past fifteen minutes, Mike,” Harvey countered. “Come on, let’s get some food and call it a night. You must be tired.”
Food. Mike couldn’t eat now. Then today would be wasted.
“I’m not hungry,” Mike told him, trying to sound casual. “Had a big lunch.”
Harvey’s eyes traced over his body and Mike resisted the urge to shiver.
“You didn’t have lunch.” The words were definite, final.
Mike had two options. He could insist he ate, but from the tone of Harvey’s voice, arguing wasn’t a good idea. Or, Mike considered, he could eat whatever Harvey wanted him to, and get rid of it later.
The latter was sounding like the best choice.
“Fine,” Mike said. “What are we getting?”
“What do you want?”
“You’re paying, up to you.”
“Chinese.”
“Sure,” Mike agreed, willing his voice to pass as normal.
The waiting was torture. Mike imagined biting into disgusting, greasy dumplings and swallowing. The thought revolted him.
The food arrived fifteen minutes later, surprisingly quick.
Harvey grabbed the translucent, red takeout bag and set it on the glass table, moving aside some papers. He pulled out five white boxes and joined Mike on the couch.
Mike looked over the options; fried rice, egg rolls, pot stickers, soup dumplings, and orange chicken. Mike went over the calories in his head. About 200 for an egg roll, but maybe 70 for a soup dumpling.
Mike placed two soup dumplings on his plate. 140. He glanced at Harveys plate; two egg rolls, fried rice, and three potstickers. There’s no way Harvey expected Mike to eat the same amount, right?
Still, Mike grabbed a potsticker too. 210? He wasn’t counting right. It was probably way more than that. 300, just to be safe. That number felt more accurate.
Mike turned to the right, and realized Harvey was watching him. He didn’t look judgmental, just that same interested look as before. Like he was waiting.
Oh god, he’s waiting for me to eat all this even though I don’t need it it’s so disgusting he thinks I’m disgusting oh god-
“Mike,” Harvey said, not unkindly, snapping him out of it.
Mike didn’t know what to say, instead looking back at his plate, which had formed a grease spot around the potsticker.
Okay. He was going to do this. Mike lifted the potsticker to his mouth. Now, take a bite. Chew. Chew. Chew. Okay, swallow. Another bite. Chew, chew, chew. Swallow. Done.
Harvey had started eating, too. He took a bite of his fried rice like it was easy. Like he wasn’t counting anything.
Mike looked at the two soup dumplings staring at him from the plate.
Finish this and you can get rid of it.
The soup dumpling felt gross in his mouth. There was too much of it. The second one was worse.
Mike had been avoiding looking over at Harvey, but he finally turned his head. Harvey was just finishing his egg roll, his plate almost clean except for some rice. Mike’s gaze dropped to his lips-
No, you’re not doing this, get it together
Mike turned away sharply. Harvey finished his food and looked at Mike, really looked. His tailored suit- Rene really did work miracles- fit looser than before.
“You know you can talk to me, right?”
His voice was gentle, like he was scared Mike would spook.
“I’m fine, Harvey,” Mike replied. Liar.
Mike could feel the food sitting in his stomach. He had to do something. He needed to get rid of it. He was so full right now, disgustingly so.
He stood up, his vision darkening at the corners before focusing.
“Where are you going?”
“Bathroom,” Mike mumbled.
He walked out of the office and made sure to keep his pace casual, waiting until he was out of sight from the glass walls before breaking into a sprint. He needed to undo this.
He pushed open the door and locked himself in a stall. His knees dropped to the floor, and his finger found the not-so-unfamiliar spot in the back of his throat.
In five minutes, he was done and staring at himself in the mirror. He lifted his shirt up, and Mike could swear he looked bigger than the day before. He should’ve just left when Harvey suggested they get food. Then none of this would’ve happened.
Mike wanted to just go home, but he remembered his phone and all his stuff was still in Harvey’s office. Reluctantly, he headed back.
He was greeted by the sight of Harvey back at his desk, though not working on anything.
Harvey’s eyes ran over Mike again, then met his gaze.
“What did you do?”
Harvey’s voice made it clear he already knew the answer. Mike wasn’t one to give up without a fight, however.
“Using the bathroom? You know, like a human?”
“Bullshit. You took thirty minutes to eat three dumplings, and as soon as you finish, you disappear?”
Harvey stood up from his desk and took a step towards Mike.
Mike tried to breathe, but it hitched, broken. His head was fuzzy. He tried to look at Harvey, but his vision blurred.
His knees buckled.
“Mike!”
He fell into strong arms, wrapping around him.
Harvey guided him to the floor.
“Mike,” Harvey repeated, his voice softer. “Look at me.”
Mike opened his eyes, horrified at the sight of Harvey kneeling next to him.
He sat up quickly, setting off a wave of dizziness.
“Lay down,” Harvey told him, concern bleeding into the command.
“I- I’m fine, Harvey.” Mike’s words did little to reassure Harvey, whose associate was currently on the floor. “Seriously,” he added after Harvey’s incredulous look.
“You call this fine?”
“I stood up too fast. Come on, that’s all.” Mike attempted to stand up, immediately regretting the decision, but too stubborn to sit down. He swayed, his hands trembling, before clenching them into fists.
“You’re shaking,” Harvey watched in horror.
Mike grabbed his phone off the table, the world tilting. Harvey grabbed his arm.
“I’m leaving. Goodnight.”
“No, you’re not, Mike.”
Mike tried to walk away, stuck in place by Harvey’s grip.
“I’m calling Ray, you’re coming home with me because I don’t trust you to be alone," Harvey started, forcing the sound of authority back into his voice. "And if you don’t, I’m telling Donna everything." Clearly his threat worked, judging by Mike’s resigned expression.