Welcome to Marvey Secret Santa (currently running: the 2018 edition)! For the timeline, see below (Important Dates). Here's our sign-up form. And here are the submission guidelines. Important: Because many of the gifts may contain Explicit/NC-17 material (text, images), you must be 18 years or older to sign up. Please state your age in the sign up form. Participation is a two way street (aka this is a gift exchange): If you want to receive a gift you have to be a Secret Santa in return. You can wish for / create fanfic, fanart (gifsets, manips/edits, drawings, paintings etc.) and fanvids. If you sign up we’ll match your wishes with what the other participants are willing and able to create as well as possible. We will ask you for your second and third wish, though, just in case. Participants must provide an e-mail address that we can reach you at. After the reveal of the Secret Santas’ identities each writer, giffer, artist… is free to post their work elsewhere (tumblr, AO3, their own lj etc.). Please state that you created your gift as part of the 2018 Marvey Secret Santa and who was your recipient. There is an AO3 collection you might want to add your work to: marvey_secret_santa_2018. It is a moderated collection so it might take us a moment or two to approve your work so it is included in the collection. If you post your work to your tumblr after the reveal and tag it with marveysecretsanta2018 (first tag!!) we (fuckyeahmarvey, sal-si-puedes) will reblog it. All stories... • should be 2000+ words in length • should be beta-read • must include: title, rating, warnings, summary, word count All gifsets… • must be giffed by the giffer themselves • should consist of at least 4 gifs • may have added captions / text (but don’t have to have them) • must include: rating, warnings All fanart… • must include: rating, warnings • cannot be water marked unless it is the name of the gift recipient (this is due to the secret part of secret santa) All edits/manips… • the screencaps must be made by the artist themselves (or the source must be given and the artist must have explicit permission to work with the source material) • if photographs are used the source must be clearly stated All videos… • must be a minimum of 1 minute and 30 seconds • music used must be credited to the artist • must include a tittle • must include a disclaimer
Would anyone be interested in taking part in a Marvey Secret Something this year???
Maybe it’s already a little too late for a Secret Santa but how about a Secret Valentine? That would give anyone who‘d like to take part a little more time and Erin and I would have a little more time to set things up and organise shit....
Thank you so very much to all the amazing Santas of 2018!! You did exceptional, marveylous work and you made your giftees incredibly happy!
@Santas: You’re now free to post your work elsewhere if you want to. It would be great if you could add a reference to Marvey Secret Santa if you do! You can also publicly thank your betas now all you want! :D
Extra big thanks go to our pinch hitter, @frivoloussuits for stepping in and saving the day once again this year!
Hope to see you all again next year!
Aqua & Erin
PS: You can view the masterlist by clicking on the purple part in the middle section of the bar right below the header of the Santas’ page. And the 2015 2016, 2017 and 2018 masterlists are linked on the tags page.
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for boomboxgeneration
Merry Christmas, @boomboxgeneration!!!
Title: The holiday surprise
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 2813
Summary: Harvey is about to spend Christmas alone. Or is he?
Notes: Dear giftee, I hope you will enjoy my gift full of marvey fluff and holiday cheers.
*****
On the 23rd of December, New York City was in full Christmas mode. The snow was falling slowly, leaving a thin layer of white powder everywhere. Tourists spent their days appreciating the beauty of the city and new yorkers were going around at their usual fast past, making their last purchases in the different shops in Manhattan.
On the 50th floor of a building in Midtown, the firm of Zane Specter Litt was almost empty. The employees had left in the early afternoon, making sure their jobs were done as early as possible to be able to spend as much Christmas time with their family as possible. The only person left on the floor was Harvey Specter. He was walking around the office, doing his best to spend as much time as possible before going back home, to his empty condo in the sky.
Summary: A Chuck AU. When important government secrets are leaked into the brain of Mike Ross, he has to navigate through the literal and figurative minefield that is the world of the CIA. Of course when his handler is quite possibly the most beautiful man alive, what's a Mike to do?
Notes: Hey Joni, I adore your fics and was honored to be able to create something for you. I hope you enjoy it! Hope your holidays are magical this year <3
****
The drag of his feet across the pavement makes one thing extremely obvious. Mike Ross is not meant for this life.
His knees protest every second, his back is in sore need of an adjustment, and he can’t help but wonder if he’s remembered to save his Fallout progress.
Vaulting himself across a rooftop, he lands on his hands and knees across the barrier.
“Well, that was kinda sick,” he tells himself before promptly puking his guts behind the dumpster. If only he had a time machine, Mike might never have opened that stupid email from Kyle.
His earpiece fell on his run, so he scrambles to grab the cellphone, groaning when he sees twelve missed calls from—
Harvey Specter Calling
He presses the answer button and holds the phone up to his ea.
Title: Hope Vs. Experience - Wherever They may Lead Us
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: Warnings: Brief, mild description of a patient in a hospital ICU under treatment. Nothing too awful, but if you have a hospital/health/surgical procedure squick, be aware.
Wordcount: 7199
Summary: Experience and fresh emotional bruising have taught Harvey not to entertain ‘Hope’ too much where Mike Ross is concerned. But when illness lands him hard on his ass, Mike is back; and Harvey can’t ignore the feeling of it knocking, asking him to let it in just once more.
Notes: I hope you enjoy your gift!
****
Friday
Harvey Specter had entered the post-Mike Ross phase of his career with no illusions about it: How often he may be tempted to murder Louis Litt. He knew the number would come damn close to double digits per week. He hadn't expected those feelings to drag him around by the collar for months, though, nor could he have foreseen all the reasons they would bubble up.
Especially this one; Louis acting like a goddamned mother hen.
"Will you get... the hell off of me? For cripe's sake, Louis..."
"Harvey, stop.. this...unggh...this is for your own good. I'm doing this... for the ...ahhhh.....for the firm."
Harvey stopped fighting his colleague-turned-octopus: Louis standing behind Harvey's office chair, pining him to it with both arms - one of them half over Harvey's face pressing a children's forehead thermometer film to, well, Harvey's forehead.
Technically, he could have managed to throw Louis off of him, but it would have taken enough effort and propulsive force in directions he wasn't facing to maybe land them both on the floor in an ungraceful heap. Harvey wasn't chancing that anyone might not get an iPhone snap of that.
Plus, if he was honest with himself, he didn't physically have it in him.
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for thesightlesssniper
Merry Christmas, @thesightlesssniper!!
Title: All Alone on Christmas
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 2796
Summary: Harvey doesn’t have big plans for Christmas this year, but sometimes plans don’t work out.
Notes: I hope you enjoy this and that it's what you wanted!
****
“Merry Christmas Eve.”
Harvey looked up to see Donna leaning in his doorway, her coat already on. He glanced back down at his watch. Two minutes past midnight. “Oh, so it is. Merry Christmas Eve.”
“I’m going home,” Donna announced. “You should too. Even the associates are gone, Harvey, and I think they actually live here. I saw one of them brushing their teeth here the other morning.”
Harvey waved her off. “Maybe I wouldn’t be here so late if someone hadn’t insisted we close the office early tomorrow? Today. Whatever.”
She rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was smiling. “Okay, Ebenezer Scrooge. Have a good night.”
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for aspirateur-killeuse
Merry Christmas, @aspirateur-killeuse!!!
Title: Coffee Cart-Client Privilege
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: Canon-typical drug use and criminal activity
Wordcount: 7852
Summary: Mike runs a coffee cart. The coffee cart.
Notes: Dear aspirateur-killeuse,
Happy holidays! Though you're not the biggest fan of coffee, I hope you still enjoy this twist on a coffee shop AU. I promise the coffee isn't the most important substance that this barista sells ;-)
****
Mike can’t help it; his brain just does it. “It” is short-circuiting every time a particular bastard strides past Mike’s coffee cart.
Trevor pointed him out the first time. “Look at this clown,” Trevor said, and Mike answered with a quip about how said clown had a rod stuck up his ass, and though Mike was doomed from the subtext right there, he didn’t realize exactly how doomed until he caught sight of the guy’s exquisite, divinely gorgeous face.
Goddammit.
But the guy is a classic capitalist bastard; he leaves no question about the matter between the wide ties and the pinstriped shirts, between the haircut that probably costs more to maintain than Mike’s apartment and the designer sunglasses he whips out on 94% of clear-skied mornings. He’s undoubtedly evil. Mike’s calculated far too many statistics about him.
He must work in the office building right in front of Mike’s cart; every weekday he saunters in and out, entering on average at 9:13 A.M.— surprisingly late, at the tail end of the morning coffee rush. To pull that off without getting fired he must be a rainmaker, a so-called “closer.” But that building has fifty-nine floors stuffed full of traders and lawyers and analysts, all grabbing money in slightly distinct if consistently unethical ways, so Mike hasn’t figured out exactly which profession lays claim to this stranger. This peculiarly glorious and sadly nameless stranger, who never orders coffee from a mere cart and will therefore never play any real role in Mike’s life.
Summary: “You ordered an ‘extra-hot, extra-wet cappuccino, single-origin, properly layered, to-go and ready five minutes ago to make up for your service speed or lack thereof.’”In which Mike is a barista, Rachel is a lawyer, and Harvey is paid excessive amounts of money to plan their joyous Christmas wedding.
Notes: Dear Sway, I love your writing, and I really hope you enjoy this story!
****
Love is just a particularly socially accepted form of fraud.
It’s a series of increasingly complex and fragile deceptions between two or more people and, more alarmingly, between each participant and their own deluded subconscious. This is one of Harvey Specter’s cardinal rules, sandwiched neatly between “always let the client think they’re right” and “assume the client is never right.”
Right now, in this overpriced mall coffee shop, Harvey takes a second to remind himself of that rule.
Summary: Oh, but in case I stand one little chance, here comes the jackpot question in advance...
Notes: I hope you enjoy your gift!
****
Monday, December 31, 2018
The thing is, Harvey isn’t actually trying to be a dick about it.
He knows his own track record, thank you very much, but he really, honestly isn’t interested in making Mike feel any worse than he already looks, sunken-eyed and chapped-lipped, misery rolling off of him in palpable waves, slumped against the door jamb of Harvey’s penthouse at close to eleven o’clock on New Year’s Eve when he’s supposed to be on a plane (for the third time) headed back across the country.
It’s not like he’s surprised, or anything—far be it from Harvey to even register the feeling, especially after all of this—but he’s not going to act like I told you so personified.
Instead he holds the door as wide open as he can, flattens his body back against it, and ushers Mike inside with a warm palm pressed to his back. He isn’t sure what kind of words he’s supposed to use in this situation so instead of trying any he pulls a couple beers from his fridge and holds one out over where Mike’s sprawled on the sofa. Their eyes meet for a single, serious moment and then it’s Mike who breaks the silence.
Summary: When Harvey's brand of suppressant is recalled, he's left with a choice: face a rut alone for the first time in fifteen years, or hire a companion. As it turns out, there's a silver lining to drug recalls, one by the name of Mike Ross.
Notes: Hello there, Secret Santa! Merry smutty Christmas to you! I hope you enjoy it. ♥️
****
"What do you mean you can't give me another prescription?”
The doctor looked at him steadily, as though he delivered this kind of life altering information on a daily basis. But then, considering his profession, he likely did.
“Given the nature of Rutnull's recall and the fact that you've been on those for nearly ten years - and suppressants in general for almost fifteen - I cannot, in good conscience, prescribe you another. You're at too high a risk for side effects and may lose the ability to have children entirely if you continue.”
Harvey sobered at that. His life had never shaken out to the point where having kids was feasible. He hadn't met the right person for that, nor had he the right lifestyle to manage it on his own. That didn't, however, mean that Harvey didn't want children at all. The thought of the possibility of that being taken away from him altogether was sorrowing.
His sadness was quickly overtaken by anger. “I'm going to sue their asses to high hell.”
“There's already a class action underway and I strongly recommend that you add your name,” his doctor supplied, grimly.
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for thecuriouscrusader
Merry Christmas, @thecuriouscrusader!!!
Title: This Has To Be Good
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 2022
Summary: And it is. Everything is good.
Until everything falls down around him, and he has to rely on Harvey for this thing called 'emotional support'.
Notes: Hopefully this satisfies that itch for something hurt/comfort! Happy holidays!
****
Mike assumes that Harvey let him make the first move.
Which in all honesty, is a horrifying thought when you know Harvey Spector. He doesn’t play well with others, takes what’s his, and fights to keep his ground even if he might be wrong. Which, are all traits that Mike has stupidly fallen for.
He kissed Harvey first, but Harvey admits he may have slightly goaded him into it. If Mike’s being fair (which he rarely ever is) he lets Harvey think that, when really, he knew he wanted that pompous yet incredibly attractive lawyer when he first accidentally stumbled into that room.
And because of Harvey, he’s grown and learned so much. Moved on from taking SATs for other people and actually applying that knowledge for Pearson Hardman. He wants in, he wants to go to court and mop the floor with the fools that consider themselves better lawyers. Mike is the living proof that his ability can outsmart any degree from any Ivy League school. He’s proud of that. There's something insanely good about watching other lawyers falter when he bests them in court, standing side by side with Harvey.
It’s allowed him to grow a little too comfortable.
Summary: Mike is marrying Rachel for real this time, and Harvey will employ any means necessary to stop it from happening.
Notes: Merry Marvey Christmas! I hope this is what you wanted.
****
Harvey charged into Spell Craft, sending the bell over the door rocking and jangling out a shrill warning. His heart pounded in his chest, which barely contained the panic percolating inside him since he’d gotten the news. He scanned the store frantically for Sebastian, and spotted him stocking shelves in the far corner. As Harvey strode back to confront him, the thick scents of copal resin, sage and sandalwood assaulted his nostrils.
“Mike’s getting married,” he choked out.
Sebastian’s startled grey eyes regarded him through the scratched lenses of his thick, black glasses. Half a dozen boxes of tarot cards slipped from his grasp and tumbled to the floor. “That’s impossible. The binding …”
“Was crap, as it turns out. I should have known better to believe in any of this … this bullshit.” Harvey waved an arm violently around the occult store.
“W-wait. N-no. No, no.” Sebastian held out a hand, as if he expected Harvey to take a swing at him. “That binding spell was perfect. S-some of my b-best work.” He took a step away from Harvey, backing into the shelves and sending more cards and books to the floor.
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for frivoloussuits
Merry Christmas, @frivoloussuits!!!
Title: World Upside-Down
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 17264
Summary: Mike is senior partner at Pearson Hardman.
Harvey is not.
Reverse!AU.
Notes: When you wrote Role Reversal as one of your wishes it was like Christmas came earlier for me, because I’m always down for some good old reverse!AU. This fic is like a gift for two people, because it means that much to me. Hope you’ll love reading it as much as I loved writing it <3
****
“Don’t you think it was a little bit too early to make him senior partner?”
The voice cut through the serene atmosphere of the office like a hot knife cutting through butter. The woman who was standing in front of the wide glass windows, that gave away to a beautiful view over the subjacent streets and the hundreds of skyscrapers that lined up along them like rows of dominos, and tilted her head; knowing that the man who had asked the question would elaborate further without her having to voice her own thoughts.
Never say more than you needed. Always let others fill in the blanks. It gives you power. It gives you control. It makes you untouchable.
“I know what you’re thinking…” the man continued. The woman raised one eyebrow questioningly, because she seriously doubted that statement, but she let the other continue. “That it was me who pushed for it, so shouldn’t I be happier, but I didn’t actually think that it would happen so soon.”
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for lesbianchrispine
Merry Christmas, @lesbianchrispine!!!
Title: Upside Down
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 6528
Summary: In which Mike bumbles through the motions of courtship without realizing it, but that's okay because Harvey's charmed anyways.
Notes: Happy holidays! I tried my best to fulfill the prompt. Hope you like your gift <3
****
It's a little more than two hours past midnight when Mike finds himself plastered against the wall of the elevator, hard enough that it will probably leave a rather artistic imprint of his face on the glass afterwards.
Harvey, being who he is, comments on it with a sigh. "If you would kindly detach yourself from my elevator, that would be much appreciated."
Mike, being who he is, just ignores his boss and keep his eyes glued to the glass. He's never been particularly keen on maintaining social decorum even in the best of times. And now, with one half of him intoxicated from sleep deprivation and the other half virtually dead from the hectic activities of the entire month, he finds his limbs both loose and heavy at the same time. His self-restraint is more than a little impaired - which is probably why he is doing what he is right now, plastering himself up against Harvey's glass elevator wall like it holds the secret to life.
Which it probably does, knowing Harvey. The man has a private elevator after all. It's not that big of a stretch for him to have also hidden the secret of life away from the mere mortals who clamors around him, deeming them to be too beneath him to care. Although that's not really fair. Mike is fairly certain that Harvey does care about him in some vague and obscure fashion, or at least enough to not toss him off a building - though the growing scowl that Harvey is sending him puts that into some doubt. He gives their surroundings an evaluating look. Harvey wouldn't toss him off this building, he decides, because that would involve breaking the glass of his precious elevator - which, again, it's a private elevator! It would cost a fortune to fix.
Mike mentions this to him, just in case he doesn't know.
Marvey Secret Santa 2018 - Gift for harveylovesmike
Merry Christmas, @harveylovesmike!!!
Title: Poppies
Rating: Mature
Warnings: none
Wordcount: 7955
Summary: fic, WWI AU, Mike and Harvey fall in love in French trenches
Notes: I hope you will enjoy reading my gift as much as I enjoyed writing it. I visited what was left of Northern France trenches just as I was searching an idea for this exchange, and the fic wrote itself... I hope you won't mind the AU too much. Merry Christmas!
****
February 1916
It was freezing, and damp, and muddy, and Harvey didn’t think he’ll ever feel warm and dry again.
He would give about anything to be back in London, with his bachelor flat and his Law firm and his cars and his club.
But he stupidly volunteered back in 1914, when Lord fucking Kitchener, convinced overwhelming manpower would be decisive, set a nationwide campaign to encourage men to enlist. More than half his Oxford year joined by a few days–in corporate London, not to volunteer despite the ultra-patriotic atmosphere would have been a social suicide for Harvey, who had been famous for his athletic prowess as a student and his strong will as a young shark in London business.
Warnings: violence, mentions of abuse, mentions of human trafficking
Wordcount: 12527
Summary: "Word somehow gotten out about it. A month after the crash, they’d had a knock on the door, and Grammy had been bullied into a corner, threatened with unspeakable things until she had given him up to them. Kicking and screaming, he was dragged out of the house and thrown into the back of a black van, and eleven-year-old Mike Ross disappeared off the face of the planet."
Notes: Hey there! Happy holidays! Hope this fic gives you at least one thing you hoped for, and that you enjoy it! <3
****
When Mike Ross’s parents died in an accident when he was eleven years old, Grammy had never wanted to sell him. He had been born with an obvious marking, covering the left half of his collarbone and pointing towards his shoulder like a distorted arrow. The only people who had known about it were his teacher and his two best friends, and all of them had been sworn to secrecy about the Mark.
Word somehow gotten out about it. A month after the crash, they’d had a knock on the door, and Grammy had been bullied into a corner, threatened with unspeakable things until she had given him up to them. Kicking and screaming, he was dragged out of the house and thrown into the back of a black van, and eleven-year-old Mike Ross disappeared off the face of the planet.