maskormenacelogs | · those cuties are nothing but an afternoon's delight ·

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· those cuties are nothing but an afternoon's delight ·

WHO: Nathan Drake & Elena Fisher
WHERE: ...heropa #018?
WHEN: Shortly after
WHAT: Nate's ported back in, a month later, same ol canon point
WARNINGS: will update if needed, blood and death mentions likely, wet tiddy

[ Just as he'd hoped, Elena was nowhere in sight. That meant that he'd beaten her back to the house. That was a relief. Not sure how long he had, no time was wasted in booking it to the shower. Was Han around? That wasn't something Nate had bothered to double check (oops), stripping the soiled shirt as he hurried through the house.

The memories of this place hadn't gone anywhere. Stepping out of the porter in Cape Canaveral had been like stepping into the apartment he'd shared with Sully back home, it was almost like coming home. Remembering everything, placing it with the terrifying reality that things back home would turn out for the worst, it had come as such a huge relief. Here, Elena was safe, she was alive. And they were together again.

Washing the sweat and grime and the blood caked on his skin hadn't taken him long. His hair was freshly washed, smelled just like how he remembered Elena's did.

Shit, that's right! The bloody clothes! Crap, oh crap.

With just a towel around his waist, the ruined shirt and jeans were grabbed off the floor and he stepped out of the bathroom with every intention of throwing them away, steam coiling out into the hall at the door's edge. ]

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[Elena hurries as fast as she can, but imPort or not, she has professional obligations she can't completely cast aside. And then, of course, there's the traffic. Dammit, dammit, dammit. It's only by luck that she misses getting pulled over for a speeding ticket on the way home, and as she steps inside, she can hear movement from upstairs. Han's clearly not around, so Nate must have beat her here.

She moves quickly, dashing up the stairs and stopping short at the sight of her boyfriend—her naked boyfriend, more or less. For a few seconds, she doesn't think to look at what he's carrying.]

...hi.

[ Nate's like a deer in headlights when they come face to face. He could've made a dash of his own for the bedroom and shoved the clothes under the bed until he could do something with them, as he'd heard her hurrying up the stairs, but here they were. No time for that now.

It takes him a minute to realise that the caked, somewhat blood dampened clothes are still clutched in a hand. Crap. He quickly goes to shove them behind his back, like that's not going to make it obvious. ]

...hi.

[Her gaze dips briefly to the clothes, but they don't hold her attention yet. She's spent longer than a month away from Nate before, but after a month not knowing if he'd come back, if he'd remember everything that happened between them here, she'd on the edge.

Elena hesitates a moment longer and then strides forward a few steps, tossing her arms around his shoulders and pulling him close.]

[ His response is immediate to feeling the press and warmth of her body against his. Nate's arm wraps tightly around her, hand curled at her waist to keep her there as his head drops to the crook of her neck. God, reliving that one moment, not knowing...

Her name is muffled against her, relieved but a lost murmur. The clothes are dropped in order for him to get both arms around her, fingers curled in her shirt.

For those few minutes that drag of keeping her in his arms, he's fearful, he's desperate. ]

[They can't stay in this position, but damn, Elena's tempted to. She takes a long breath, focusing on the feel of his arms around her, the freshly bathed scent of his skin. He's here. He's still with her.]

I thought you might not come back. Or that you wouldn't remember if you did.

You know me, I'm like the cat who keeps coming back.

[ Nothing could keep him away from her. Other than his own stupidity, but that's neither here nor now.

Nate begins to lean back, as much as he doesn't want to. Looking down at her with his own eyes, having her right there for him to see and to touch, his shoulders drop. No blood, no bruising, no scars. The tightness in his chest releases bit by bit. ]

It's not that simple. The odds are against us both making it here once, much less twice.

[But the odds were in their favor this time, and she can't keep a faint smile from gracing her face as they get some space between them.]

Why were you showering?

True. But when have the odds ever gone against us?

[ Don't answer that, Elena.

He glances down at his half-naked state, still damp from his shower. Shit, the bundle of his shirt and jeans behind her. ]

Because I uh, I was dirty? I needed a shower. Please tell me I still have my clothes here and that you didn't pass them off on Han.

[She won't answer that. They've done well enough so far.]

No! Of course not. They wouldn't fit Han.

[As if that's the only reason. She glances down, stepping aside so he can pick up his clothes.]

What were you doing? How...long were you away?

[It's the second time she's asked it, but this time she understands the significance of her own question.]

[ He tries not to grimace when he sees that she's spotted the soiled clothes. Busted. Bending to grab them, they're bunched up. The caked blood flakes beneath his tightening grip at her question. ]

I didn't...go anywhere.

[ A terrible thing to relive. Nate's eyes drop to her left side. They linger there, to the memory, and he then moves to head to her— their bedroom. Standing around in a towel, talking about this, he'd like to at least throw on some boxers. ]

But you did, you—

[Oh, right. He'd probably like to get some clothes on. Elena swallows her confusion for the moment, moving to follow him. Not too close, clingy isn't something she wants to be, even if the urge to cling is still there.]

So just out and back again? Did you experience anything or did you just blink and it was a month later in the porter room?

[ He didn't immediately answer. He grabbed a pair of simple, black boxers and slid them on. The clothes were dropped with the towel back in the bathroom before he returned to drop down on the edge of the bed. Nate's hands clasped for a moment, and then they wrung, thumb pressing up hard along his index finger. Hard enough to turn the skin white.

Unnaturally quiet, tension kept his shoulders rigid. ]

It wasn't just out and back again, Elena.

[Any other time, she'd enjoy watching him get dressed. But all she can feel is the slowly twisting knot in her stomach.]

Okay. [She sits down beside him on the bed, leaving a little space between them.] Tell me, then.

[ His eyes slide shut at the request. She's a reporter, she'd want the details. Or a story at least. ]

It just. It repeated everything.

Oh.

[Everything snaps into place. She's heard about this. Some people get ported out and never feel like they went anywhere, some go home for long periods of time only to come right back—and some go back for a little while, just long enough to know that nothing ha changed.]

I'm sorry you had to see that.

[ It'd just reinforced the reality that neither of them knew what was really going to happen if she went back. Nate doesn't know what he would do if that did happen. Abandonment issues, that's something he has to work through, now that he's committed to her. ]

S'fine.

[ But it isn't, not really. His fingers dig in. He pries them apart after a moment and pushes them along his thighs to his knees; he feels awkward here. But then there's the slice of desperation as he's reaching for her hand. ]

It isn't anything we didn't already know was happening.

[But he had to see it again, and she knows that would have been anything but easy. She turns her palm upward, welcoming his hand in hers.]

And after?

[ Their fingers lace. He lifts his head and looks over at her. It's back, that vulnerability. Nate doesn't want to see her blood wetting ancient stone again. ]

C'mere...

[ The request is strained, low, and he tugs on her hand, reaching to pull her to him. Preferrably to slide on to his lap, a burning need to wrap her up in his arms. ]

[She goes to him easily, scooting closer and letting him pull her on him if that's what he wants.]

After doesn't matter. Not when we're both here, right now.

[ Her weight settles over him and it's one of the best feelings ever. It's so good that he releases a breath he hadn't realised he was holding until the moment of contact, but when it's freed, the exhale shudders harshly into her shoulder. ]

It matters.

[ A wide palm flattens between her shoulder blades, sliding down along the curve of her spine, feeling body heat through her thin shirt. ]

[She closes her eyes, leaning against him and trying to shut out everything outside of this room, this embrace.]

It doesn't, Nate. I don't let it, because I can't live like that, wondering. I'd rather think about what I've got right now.

You've got me, [ the words were a mumble against her. With how flush he had her pressed, chest to chest, hips to hips, Nate couldn't let his thoughts drift off into the gutter. He was focused on her, here and now.

Why hadn't he said something in the park? The picnic had been perfect. But then he would've left this place, left her, and then what? Elena would've been left with empty words. ]

I love you.

[ They weren't empty now. They carried meaning. He'd said them as he was lifting his face, bringing it close to hers to rest their brows together, a hand gentle at the side of her face. ]

I need you to... To know that. In case something happens.

[For a split second, Elena doesn't really hear his words. They're in English, she understands them, but they don't sink in.

Until they do. She lets out a small laugh, breathy and a little disbelieving despite herself.]

I love you, too, cowboy.

[She kisses him firmly, letting it linger in case her own words aren't enough. She means it with everything she has. She can feel the trace of tears, but not because of sadness.]

Oh, good. [ Two words, mock relief and surprise, that's what he gets out before their mouths meet. He slides his hand forward along the side of her head to disturb whatever neat twist of a bun she's got up. ]

Don't think I could've handled the rejection.

[ Rejection, that would be a hard pill to swallow. Abandonment, not so much. Would she? Did she mean it? This was the first serious thing for him in so long. Hearing her repeat three words, eight letters, he finds himself reassured and believing in her completely. ]

[It might be mock relief, but she thinks she can sense something like the real thing beneath it.]

You don't have to worry about that.

[She rests her hand against his cheek as the kiss ends, running her thumb along the stubble.]

I've known it for a while.

That you'd reject me?

[ The real thing is real, as real as ever. As scary as ever. His pulse is quick. Nate feels as light as a feather. Earlier, he'd felt heavy, burdened with worry when he'd realised he was back in this place. Able to get back to her.

His smile spreads slowly. He's a man in love. But just look at her, she's beautiful. How could he not be? His stubble gently scratches her palm with that smile and he tilts his cheek into her touch. ]

Harsh.

I know you can be easily distracted, but your short-term memory shouldn't be that bad.

[She gives him one more peck on the lips, just to remind him that absolutely no rejection has occurred here tonight, and smiles back.]

I'm glad you made it back here. I missed you.

I like shiny things. It can't be helped. But let it be known that I have the shiniest piece of treasure right here on my lap.

[ His hands move around to her back, spanning downward to her hips. Fingers cupping under her ass, Nate gives each cheek fitted in his palms a slow kneading squeeze. ]

How much did you miss me?

[She rolls her eyes, but there's no way she can get rid of the dopey grin on her face. Not that she wants to.]

Gee, would you like me to show you how much?

[He's so obvious. Of course, she'll do it.]

Only if you want to.

[ He wouldn't say no. He wouldn't stop her. Seeing that grin on her, he can't help but smile back, tipping his head forward to touch their brows together. ]

I could be persuaded.

[But not with words. Those aren't necessary. She kisses him again, and lets it linger—time to see what else he's got to do the talking.]

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· those cuties are nothing but an afternoon's delight ·

I hope you update that warning section for WET TIDDY

done 💦

beautiful

😊✨

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