Description: Nathan Drake is not the exact definition of an unhappy man. His job is steady, his friends still see him from time to time, he plays football, but his marriage is his main problem. Many things will change when a special person comes to his life.
BEFORE READING THIS PART, PLEASE, ACKNOWLEDGE THIS: I love Elena and Nathan, along with their weird idea of romantic, with all my damn heart. They are one of the best couples in current media altogether, and I mean it. Their love is so strong and beautiful, I literally grew up watching them finally find their happy ending in one another… Aw, I smile just thinking about it. But this is kinda what the series was slowly getting to - an unhappy marriage that wasn’t working for either of them, distancing, heartbreak, coldening, falling for someone new… Yeah. I wanted to make it human and full of emotion, which I hopefully captured well enough - my goal isn’t to make either of them a villain of the story. Elena was unhappy, but she didn’t tell Nate cause she didn’t wanna hurt him - but that was exactly what drove him away, and he wanted to live his quiet life, not really wanting to travel the world all the time (I mean, in this AU), which drew Elena away from him also. See? It’s complicated.
And about whom Elena fell for… Yeah, I fucking did it. The idea was a crackhead one in the middle of the night merely a year ago when I was talking to my one and only @missdictatorme about what I wanna see in that story and I kinda told her. I don’t remember exactly what she told my crackhead ass, but I remember that her reaction was good enough for me to actually commit… Year later.
One last thing: If you’re careful enough, you’ll notice that I was trying to mirror Mike and Elena’s POVs as well as Nathan and the reader’s which was honestly a nice concept to work around. I hope it won’t be too confusing to read tho. Love y’all!
Part Summary: The dinner with the Drakes finally came - yet even before it starts, it’s already so much more complicated that what all the parties involved expected.
property of: nathan drake (a Spotify playlist): H E R E
You were quick to set the date and the spot of your hangout with Nathan and his wife - even Mike felt more confident in his shoes ever since he learned that the mysterious Elena is not only real but also present and ready to meet both of you. The more time you spent with Nathan, the more jealous Mike was becoming. Yet after everything he had done to you in the past (and what he was currently up to), he couldn’t just lash out at you because you hung out with your best friend. Plus, you always showed him pictures from your trips, seeing both you and Nathan being socially distanced and laughing always. As he saw you putting the earrings on while making sure that your lipstick is perfect, Mike couldn’t but sit on his bed and wonder; how it must’ve felt to be the perfect guy? You literally never talked bad about Nate, it was only Nate this and that - according to you, he was really funny, attentive, caring, and smart, he was obviously working really hard for everything he had ever achieved, remembering all the smallest details you ever told him and on top of all that - Nathan was making you laugh all the time. That guy knew every last damn thing there was to know about cooking, he was financially stable and had amazing friends (Michael heard everything about Sully and Ms. Carter)… If he wasn’t married, he seemed to be the perfect partner for you.
Compared to Nathan fucking Drake was Mike always distant, struggled to remember the things you liked, haven’t taken you out on a proper adventure in months, it almost seemed that you laugh less around him ever since you met Drake. But knowing Drake’s wife is real, that was a really good consolation prize. And the way Nate appeared to be was also what was making Mike see red - the sole thought of Drake making a move on you made him mad. Mike already knew that during the dinner that was about to go down, he’ll be searching for every green light or indication of you and Nathan being more than just friends… And if he fucking finds it, you sure as hell were up for one crazy ride.
In a cozy, spacey apartment on the other side of the town, Nathan was struggling to tie his tie properly. He was furrowing at himself in the mirror, trying to keep his palms steady and not sweaty, muffling curses under his breath. That was when Elena approached him with a snarky smile, putting up the collar of his shirt. “That’s 1:0 for the tie, your biggest enemy.” - The woman joked, untying the mess her husband managed to make. “Oh haha, very funny.” “I can set a timer, you know?” - Elena teased Drake a bit more, having the man roll his eyes with a smirk, making two elegant loops with the piece of fabric. - “If you’ll tie the knot under ten minutes, I can do the dishes… You absolute chicken.” - After a moment, she heard her phone buzzing while finishing the process. With a proud smile, she bent the collar back down and smoothed his shoulder. - “Looking great, tiger… But I really have to pick this up. It’s my boss.”
As Elena grabbed her phone and turned away from Nathan, the smile faded away from her lips as she felt her heart sink a bit deeper. Something had changed and honestly, she wasn’t the one to wonder about what it could be. She could name all the factors, she understood and even though she already counted on such a huge shift, even before Samuel talked her down to talk it all out with Nate, it hurt more than Elena ever imagined. She furrowed upon closing and locking the bathroom door, picking the call as she leaned her forehead into the wooden door, cursing under her breath. The woman felt tears filling up her eyes as she sobbed, putting her shaky palm in front of her mouth to shush all of them down. Slowly, she leaned her back into the door, sliding down until she sat on the ground.
Nathan Morgan Drake. The legendary so-called “two-bit thief” who was actually even greater than the legend itself. Elena clearly remembered the first day she met Nate; she was mesmerized by his charm and witty, situational sense of humor, by his overconfidence, and overall personality. When she first looked into those baby blue eyes, she knew that under all that sex appeal, there is a heart of gold and a loyal, loving, and fragile soul. Nathan felt safe, the man felt like home to Elena. And that’s why she fell in love - or, at least she thought she did until she discovered differently. And the discovery was pretty random and pretty decent, in her defense. With the other guy, the one she was spending the last three months with, she finally discovered what true love feels like for her. Elena was all over him, he was all she was able to think about, he completely filled up her head and made her feel feelings she had never felt… So the man being his very own brother was what was making everything even more fucked up. In the back of her head, Elena knew she’ll have to talk to Nathan about all of that. And until she came home a few days ago, she was confident and calm. They had to talk. Nathan was still her best friend and Elena knew that a clear-cut will be the best solution in this situation. Yes, Drake will hate her for a bit, but he’ll let his heart heal much faster. That was what she planned on doing - until Nathan looked her in the eyes.
The change struck her immediately. Nathan was… Pulling away instead of trying to reach for her, his mind was gone, wandering somewhere around the city, there was sadness present in his eyes as well as in the entire flat. And that woman wasn’t stupid - she figured him out before Nathan got the chance to greet her back home. Which was also caused by that small pearl earring she found in the sheets… And which certainly wasn’t hers. Instead of this making everything faster and easier, it somehow confused the ever-living fuck out of Elena. Who did Nate spend the night with? Was she pretty, or just a random one-night stand? Were there more of them? The next clue was the shine in his eyes when she asked about his new friend Y/N - suddenly, at least a part of the old Nate was back as he excitedly talked about her - it was at that moment when her heart stopped beating for a second.
Elena never wanted to make Nate suffer - they were adults when they met, they thought they were right for each other and they got married - it was as simple as that. It wasn’t her fault that things didn’t quite work out for them and it wasn’t Nathan’s fault either. It was evident that both of them loved someone else, that their heart belonged to someone else, that their happiness lies in someone else… She never wanted to make Nate suffer, but she already did and the realization hit her like a truck when she entered their apartment. For two years, two fucking years, Nathan was sitting tight, waiting for Elena to come back home. Sometimes, he went on a thrilling adventure with Cutter, Chloe, or Sully, but mostly, he was living his nice, quiet time in his safe apartment (which he loved, by the way. Nathan adored simple day-to-day life). The man waited for so long, he was hoping, in love, full of trust - until it broke inside of him. Until he started to fall in love with someone else.
And for all of that, Elena hated herself. She should’ve talked to him way back in the day, the first moment she realized that a simple life might not be what she longed for. It was late to take it all back now. Elena already made his life miserable enough for those two years. Truth was that she bumped into Samuel back when she arrived for her Thailand gig. He was stoked to see her there, excited to spend some time with his sister-in-law. The man was there on his gig, but they managed to see each other pretty regularly and travel across Thailand together - Samuel was showing Elena around, enlightening her about a lot of local traditions, which was exactly what she needed to keep herself contained. She was born to live thrilling life full of adventure that never stops and she was not ready to settle down just yet. This type of adventure might’ve not been as dramatic as Nathan’s thrilling car chases, explosions, lost cities, and civilizations, or shooting guns, but it was the life Elena was suited for.
And it didn’t have a single flaw with Samuel - he was funny, both book smart and street smart, susceptible, charming and handsome, a perfect partner for a life of everlasting adventuring. The guy was honestly very easy to fall for.
It happened one evening without either of them predicting it - they were just standing under a tree, it was raining heavily and Elena was showing Samuel the latest batch of the photos she took while he held an umbrella over their heads. The woman was absolutely stoked about them, pointing her fingers there while talking happily, turning her head to look at Sam. And that was when it happened - the man met her lips halfway as he let the umbrella go, grabbing both her hips so he could press Elena closer to his body. And she was now about to tell Nathan.
Exhaling, she finally accepted the all as she dried the tears, sitting on the bathroom floor. Sam’s voice, as usual, made her heart fill with happiness and love, making her a bit calmer as she listened to him talk.
“Hey there, baby girl, I was just thinking about you and I needed to hear your voice, even tho I promised I won¨t call you when you’re there. I was just wondering about how’s it going back there… Did you talk to him already?” - The man asked, taking a drag from his cigarette. “No, not yet…” - Elena mumbled defeatedly, letting out a shaky breath. - “It’s so hard, you know? To find the time to discuss a serious topic like this. I just can’t bring myself to do it to Nathan, fucking Christ, he’s one of the best people I ever met in my entire life. What if he’s going to hate me? What will I do then? I don’t wanna lose him completely.” - After this confession, Elena started sobbing once more, hiding her face in her palm. Hearing such words made Sam’s heart shatter a bit, especially due to Elena’s heartbreaking tone and paralyzing fear, yet he knew that this was something they both had to go through. It wouldn’t be fair to Nathan to hold him in such a relationship. “My brother isn’t like that and both you and I know that, El. He’ll be upset, that’s for sure, and it will take him some time to get over that, he’ll need to heal… But he won’t be able to hate you. He loves you too much to do that - and I’m sure that he’ll let you go if that’s what you wish for.” “I think Nate… I think he…” - Elena laughed nervously, calming down even more as she looked at the hair products lined up on a shelf in the shower. - “I have the feeling that he loves someone else. Shouldn’t that make me feel better about all of this? Why do I feel like a fucking piece of shit?” “I honestly don’t have a clue about how all of this works, angel. All I know is that you two have been in a fucking pickle for two years now and it’s time for you to set you both free. You can do it and Nathan is adult enough to not break down. Now remind me who’s my big strong woman?” “I am.” - Elena mumbled, feeling as weak as never before right before ending the call just to lean the back of her head into the door for a bit longer.
Pulling herself back together and checking on her make-up felt bittersweet as she then proceeded to walk past all of the framed photos of her and Nathan; those where they were frozen in time, still in love and intact. Now, they were two estranged people living two separate lives due to her incapability to confide in Nathan. All she wanted was to protect him, not to feel flawed because of her not being able to slow down and live a normal life. Yet all she did was cause more harm in the process. “Are you alright?” - The man slowly approached her, running his warm palms along her shoulders before bringing her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. She wasn’t alright, she was in shambles, paralyzed with fear and worries. But she didn’t say anything, she just hugged him back, taking in his scent. Elena snuggled up a bit closer with her eyes closed, realizing that this might as well be one of the last moments when she’ll feel Nate’s raw, warming love.
As soon as you locked your apartment, you knew that the whole dinner will be one hell of a mess. Without a doubt in your mind, you knew that Mike holds a grudge against Nathan - one so huge that you only barely understood. And as for you, you already knew that you won’t be able to take your eyes off of that man. You haven’t seen or heard him in two weeks and just the thought of him being close again made your cheeks warmer and your heart skip a beat. Funnily enough, it felt like you were about to come back home. You couldn’t wait to see him again. Nathan was rather nervous the entire time he was leading El to the restaurant, holding her palm in his. She didn’t wiggle out of fear of hurting him more when he caught her palm and as the time passed, she calmed down and started talking about everything that was on her mind. The city managed to change a lot when she was gone and in a sense, it was calming to be back home, where she knew it the best with a person that knew her even better than she was to know herself.
It was as you walked down the street when you saw the other couple, holding hands just like you and Mike were. And holy motherfucking mother of God - there was so much going down inside your head. First off… Nathan was strikingly handsome in his own, adorable way. He looked so good that it sucked all of the air out of your lungs as your eyes hungrily scanned his appearance. The way the shirt hugged his frame, the black necktie, the black formal jacket, and pants that appeared to be a bit too tight for his amazing, beautiful ass… Unknowingly, you dug your nails deeper into Mike’s skin as your heart skipped a beat. The view alone made your knees weaken, the memories were immediately taking you back to two weeks ago, to the moment you held that man’s head between your thighs, moaning his name… Aaaand there it was; now, you were also wet and horny. What a great start. Secondly - Elena was way more beautiful than the pictures showed you. Standing in front of you in person, giving you a bright smile, you had to admit that Nathan’s wife was simply gorgeous. From her big hazel-nut brown eyes, nice smile, tanned skin, and the perfect dress to the way she carried herself on the heels she was wearing, she looked amazing. She was as brilliant as her husband. So this was his wife… Wow. Next to her, you looked like a fucking scarecrow, didn’t you? That led you to the last point… Nathan’s eyes started to shine as soon as he realized it was you. Just like your breath got shallow and your cheeks felt super hot, he was suddenly appearing way happier. It meant that whatever reason he had not texted you in the past two weeks, there were some feelings inside of him as well. And you already knew that no matter how happy it made you, it wasn’t a good sign at all.
“Oh, hi!” - Elena exclaimed happily, laughing as she let Nate’s hand go, opening up her arms to bring you into a hug. So… This was you, huh? The woman that made Nathan finally crack and fall head over heels for her. And looking at you, Elena understood everything a bit better - you were undeniably attractive, you had this spark in your eyes, your smile was warm and welcoming, you oozed friendliness and patience… Something Nate desperately needed after being alone for almost two years. “I couldn’t wait to meet you, Nathan told me so much about you guys.” - Elena mumbled as she gave you a tight, friendly hug before introducing herself to your boyfriend, giving you a moment to say hi to Nathan. And… Yep. As soon as Mike opened up his nasty mouth, Elena could sense something weird about him. His aura wasn’t quite checking out, but she was unable to put a finger on it. Yet she laughed at his joke, chit-chatting with him a bit more.
When you walked up to Nathan, you were about to have a heart attack. You felt so happy that you almost started crying, you were shaking, hot, and your head was spinning blissfully. Looking into his eyes, you knew he was feeling exactly the same thing as you did. Your presence made his day better, it made a bright smile appear on his face. Not being able to contain yourself any longer, you launched into a tight and desperate hug, almost bringing Nate to the ground in the process. The guy snickered unbelievable, bringing you even closer, taking in the smell and warmth of your body. Fuck, he missed you so much. - “You look incredible tonight.” - Nathan mumbled into your ear before letting you go, straightening as both Elena and Mike approached you.
The establishment Nate chose for the occasion was amazing. It was one of the high-class restaurants with an intimate, elegant setting… Even tho the prices might’ve been a bit too high for your liking. In the end, Mike was paying for you, so why would you care? The interior was grandiose - from two floors to an enormous glass chandelier to the golden ornaments and furniture made out of black, shiny wood, everything had its purpose and place. It was one of the restaurants you’d see in a rom-com; the one where the main hero proposes to his love interest, making her cry and the whole restaurant cheer for them. The waiters and waitresses have been dressed accordingly to the dress code, bringing deliciously looking food on silver plates. You’ve never been at a place like that and to be fair, you were pretty nervous about it.
“It’s amazing to finally meet you, Elena.” - You said honestly as you entered the restaurant - you and Elena walked in first, letting the guys talk for a bit. This comment made the blonde smile at you, entwining her elbow with yours as she led you to the reserved table in the far corner of the restaurant - the one with the best view of the sea. Nate always reserved this table specifically. “Same goes for you. Nathan speaks incredibly high of you… All the time. Never heard a single bad word when it came to you, Y/N.” - With that, you looked into Elena’s big, brown eyes, feeling your stomach tightening into a small ball. Fuck… If you haven’t slept with her husband, who was your best friend, and if you wouldn’t fall in love with him, you and Elena might’ve been great friends. She seemed easy-going and interesting, someone you’d simply love to befriend. “That sounds like Nate. But he speaks highly of everyone, doesn’t he? He’s too nice to hold a grudge.” “Oh, no, no, no.” - El chuckled, letting your arm go as you reached the table - both of you sat opposite each other while the guys ordered you some drinks. - “This man can curse when it comes to it and when he really doesn’t like someone, he’s a goddamn swearing machine. Saying the word, how’s Victor? Haven’t seen him in months.” “They are doing great…” - You smiled, opening the menu. It was luxurious, coated in black leather with drawings and details made out of golden metal. The woman looked up, perplexed about what ‘they’ is supposed to mean. - “Him and Florence, I mean. Never seen a couple more strange, but, hey - it’s working out for them. Have you met her yet?” “Ah, of course. No, we didn’t meet yet, that’s why I got so confused. My brain still didn’t catch up with the fact that Victor found himself a girlfriend. I always knew Sully as the dictionary definition of a 'ladies man’, so…” - At that, you both giggled. Talking to Elena, it could be heard that she is a journalist and that she also knows her friends well, that she cares deeply about them. She was smart and funny, but there was just something… In the way, she spoke and structured her sentences. - “What’s she like? She must be a piece of art if she managed to tame the big ol’ Sullivan himself, let me tell you that much.” “Ah, Florence is simply great. I really enjoy being around her… To be fairly honest, I might not know Sully that well, but I’d say she’s the feminine version of him, yannow? There’s this thing that just seemingly clicked between them. That woman’s also very, very smart and knowledgeable when it comes to history. I think you’ll like her.” “If she’s similar to you, I’ll certainly will…” - Elena smiled kindly, hearing both men finally joining your table. For a moment, you couldn’t bring yourself to break the eye contact with her, staring at her with a small furrow. It could’ve been just a simple statement that didn’t even mean much, but the sparks in her eyes were telling you that whatever was she trying to get across, it was far more profound than that. As if she was giving you a blessing to do something… But what? Without a clue, you stared at her, seeing her smile even wider as tears appeared in her eyes for a second. - “I’ll certainly will.” - She repeated, winking a few times to hold the tears back.
As time passed by, Elena started to like you more and more. You, in your entirety, were a wonderful person. Both you and your boyfriend listened to her storied eagerly, being mesmerized by some of the photos Elena decided to you, wondering about what her life must be like - it seemed wonderful. The entire night, you were trying to keep up a good conversation with her, yet each time she talked to Mike or Nathan, your eyes immediately turned to the man sitting next to her. His presence was calming you down the entire time - he was there with you and for you and there was nothing that had the power to change it. When Elena wasn’t talking to him, his eyes were glued to you; yet only when Mike didn’t pay attention to him. Ever since you met up for the dinner, he could feel the bitterness Mike was radiating toward him. That guy fucking hated him to bits. But honestly - he was right to do so. In the end, Nate not only fallen for his girl, but he also made love to her.
Seeing Elena enjoy your company, just as you enjoyed hers, left him wondering about how things could’ve been if stuff was less complicated. What if he was still in love with Elena and she was in love with him? Could you all be just a group of great friends? Nate liked to think so since the two of you clicked so well straightaway. At that moment, he felt grossed out by his own actions; he should’ve suppressed his feelings for you somewhere deep inside of him, somewhere where they’d be intact and safe while not growing or changing - he shouldn’t have acted based on his desires and he should’ve turned you down. But… It was too late for that now, wasn’t it? Now, Drake already knew how you tasted, how your touches felt, and how wonderful it felt when you trembled in his arms, when you moaned his name, or fell asleep with your head on his chest. And it was too late to erase those precious memories.
At the end of the night, everyone seemed to be contained - all of you had some delicious food, were just tipsy enough for it to be enjoyable you and Elena hugged like two old best friends and the two men shook hands with smiles on their lips. Yet as soon as Elena offered her palm to Mike, there it was again. The sense of insecurity, the strong distaste in her mouth. This guy was not a good person, she was sure of that - his looks towards you had a possessive, proprietary character as if he had to do his absolute best to control himself for some reason. She disliked the guy in his entirety. Yet, same as before, she simply smiled at him and wished him a wonderful night. And indeed, Mike had to keep himself in check, cause he felt the tension between you and Nathan. If you thought he didn’t notice the subtle smiles and looks, you must’ve been fucking stupid. The guy almost bawled his eyes out while looking at Mike’s girl. That’s right - you were his and he wasn’t willing to let you go. For a guy that cheated on you multiple times, he was extremely possessive, jealous, and selfish - it wasn’t even funny at that point. He was to do whatever he pleased, but if you’d only think about anything like that… Boy oh boy. He was outraged when you left the restaurant, yet as you walked home, everything started to boil inside of him. Mike was completely furious by the time you reached your flat, and as soon as he slammed the door behind both of you with great, brute force, you remained frozen in place. - “We need to fucking talk, Y/N, you hear me?!”
Elena was furrowing the entire way home, holding onto Nate’s elbow as she carried her high heels in her other palm. At that moment, she was soaking her feet in the cold salty water of the ocean, feeling the wet sand between her toes. Nate was walking next to her with the jacket thrown over his other elbow, holding his shoes in his palm as well. Suddenly, Elena stopped and looked at the ocean and the moon, sighing. “I didn’t like that guy she was with.” - Elena mumbled worriedly, looking at Nathan’s silhouette, seeing the blue eyes looking back at her. - “There’s something off about it him, I just… Something’s nagging me about him.” “He’s a fucking asshole, that’s what’s nagging you about him, El. He hurt her multiple times, cheated on her with various women and Y/N is still choosing to stay by his side, fucking Christ.” - Nathan laughed sourly, warning the waves crashing at his feet. Elena tightened her grip on Nate’s elbow, leaning her temple into his shoulder as she listened to the sounds of the beach - the waves crashing, people talking in the distance, the crickets in the tufts of grass… And suddenly, it slipped past her lips. - “We need to talk, Nate. ”
So where does that end, Frank? Because I look at you and my heart breaks because all I can see is just this endless, echoing loneliness. I’m not lonely, Karen. Bullshit. We are all lonely. I sometimes think that that is all that life is, we’re just- we’re just fighting not to be alone. So what do you want, Karen? What should I do? Should I let it go?No, but I want there to be an after. For you.
More Month of May-bel!! The theme for Week 2 is Relief of Trauma and I’m sad now ;^;
I imagine that once Weirdmageddon is over there’d be a pretty significant increase in waking each other up for late night hugs. Nightmares are a lot easier to deal with when you’ve got somebody there to help, after all.
