I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you

[sketchycharacter]

Who: Nathan Drake (sketchycharacter) and Elena Fisher (tearsinajar)
When: One fine evening on Vacation Planet
Where: A fancy establishment
What: Mr. and Mrs. Drake try to take the "strange" out of "estrangement" by having a first date 2.0 3.0
Warnings: Hideous romantic grossness. Bring a toothbrush. Also references to married adult activities and maybe some angst.

[It's been a long, long time since Nate's gone on a first date, and he doesn't remember the experience of preparing for it making him so nervous. Granted, he hasn't gone on a lot of first dates that actually mattered, but still—he's a grown adult, not a clueless teenager, and he shouldn't have sweaty palms, jitters or the need to check his suit for stray lint every few minutes. But check, check and check, he's got every one of them.

It doesn't actually help that he's married to the woman he's taking out on this particular first date. Considering the circumstances of what led to it being a first date and how much he has to lose if this goes badly, it actually makes things worse. And it's not like he can look back to their original first date, which was running around on cursed zombie island or marathon sex in a Panamanian hotel, depending which one he decides to count, for inspiration. The first option would be very hard to replicate and the second wouldn't do much to fix their problems.

So all right, he's doing this without a net. What else is new? At least the unlimited credits allowed him to buy a (pretty sharp, if he says so himself) new suit so he doesn't look like a complete schmuck unworthy of the gorgeous woman he's taking out, even if he is. Nate checks his watch, takes one last look at himself and heads over to Elena's room. It's time.

At least next door isn't very far to walk. He steadies himself and raps on the door.]

Comments

[sketchycharacter]

[That's unsettling in a way that it shouldn't be, because that's the thing—he hasn't always been good to her, and he made vows saying he would. This date is only one step in the right direction.

But Nate knows she wouldn't want that to bring him down when this is going so well, so he does his best to put the thought out of his mind and focus only on his wife. It's easy enough to steer them around the dance floor while leaning into her touch.]

Find anything you like?

[tearsinajar]

Mm... I think so.

[ It really is easy to let him lead while she keeps on looking over his face, gaze roaming. She smiles faintly, another scar brushed under her thumb. ]

You can tell your skin's been through a lot. Maybe you should consider exfoliating.

[ He must've missed a spot, her nail scrapes over a tiny patch of dark stubble at the edge of his jaw. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[That makes him laugh.]

I've never done that in my life, why start now?

[God, she looks good when she's smiling. It lights up her whole face. She's so beautiful.]

Then again, maybe I should follow your lead. Because you look amazing.

[tearsinajar]

You're never too young to start on your wrinkle phase. Better start now before it's too late.

[ Her smile widens, entire palm smoothing up the side of his face to comb her fingers through his hair alongside his head. ]

There you go again with the flattery. You of all people know what my daily night and morning routine is. It's nothing special.

[sketchycharacter]

Then you must be the special one.

[As if there were any doubt of that. Nate twirls the two of them around a little, just cuz.]

Would wrinkles be so bad? A few fine lines might make me look wise and distinguished. Fake a few people out.

[tearsinajar]

You aren't exactly faking anyone out with the gray hair coming in.

[ She teases, hand at his shoulder when the twirl comes. She can feel the coarse skin of his fingers brush the naked skin showing in the low-cut back of her dress and she tries to ignore it, pretending to look closely at his face for any of those fine lines. ]

[sketchycharacter]

The gray hairs are real, the wisdom and distinguish...ment...are not.

[He's going to blame the gray hairs on people like Lazarevic. And Marlowe, And the entire El Dorado thing.]

Good thing that's not a dealbreaker for you.

[Plenty of other things about him could serve as that. He's glad they haven't. His hands tighten on her ever so slightly as he pulls her closer.]

[tearsinajar]

There may be one or two things.

[ Elena feels her breasts brush his chest, the touch drawing a small shudder from her, and still she plays it off. They haven't been this close in...a long time. It's a harmless dance but there's a sexual tension underlining the surface.

She says nothing else, fingers tracing up the side of his neck and around to the back, teasing. ]

[sketchycharacter]

As long as it's just one or two.

[He's distracted from whatever it is he's saying by the feel of her body against him and her fingers on his neck. God, it has been a while. He ducks his head so he can murmur into her ear, breath tickling her skin.]

Thanks for coming out with me tonight.

[tearsinajar]

[ Her eyelids lowered. She almost closes them to the ticklish sensation, head tilting to nudge her ear gently against his lips. Without realizing it, her hand cards up slowly into his hair, her body pressing in closer, his body heat transferring.

Elena had almost forgotten what that felt like. ]

Thanks for asking me to come.

[ A double entendre, murmured back, the music soft in the background and around them. Who knew if that was on purpose or not. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[His lips curve into a smile, but he doesn't comment on the could-be-a-double meaning of her statement. Who knows if it was even on purpose. Plus, there's something about the moment that he doesn't want to interrupt with a joke, a charged feeling in the air that he wants to linger.

Earlier, in her room, he'd wanted to kiss her but known it wasn't the right moment. This, this is the right moment.

Releasing her with one hand, he tilts her chin upward and bends down to kiss her gently.]

[tearsinajar]

[ She'd wanted this since earlier that evening when he'd come to her room to pick her up. Leaning into the embrace she slid her other hand up to cradle his jaw. A gentle kiss, it was the best way to start things off, like a nudge toward something greater and reminding her of old moments shared between them. Tender moments.

Elena sinks into the warmth of his lips, letting it linger before pressing for something more firm, deeper.

They've come to a stop in their dance, and Elena isn't paying any attention to the other couples. She's too focused on being reminded, of how his mouth tastes and feels. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[It's so familiar but so long since he's felt this. Nate has almost forgotten they're not alone as they kiss, his lips parting slightly.

He pressing himself closer against her, hands running up and down Elena's back, fingers tracing drawing lines on her skin.

It would be so easy to lose himself in her, and Nate almost does, but then another couple accidentally (or not) brushes shoulders with him as they slow dance past, and he remembers where they are and pulls away. Just a little.]

[tearsinajar]

[ Of all the sounds her ears pick up on, aside from his breathing and the rush of blood pounding in her ears, Elena catches on the gold chains getting knocked by his trailing fingers.

He pulls back and it takes everything she has to not lean forward and chase him for more, her breathing shallow and uneven from the kiss. Every part of her felt warm and tingly, other areas left aching.

Thanks nameless couple. ]

Please tell me you mapped out where all the available broom closets were.

[sketchycharacter]

[He has to laugh, though it has a slightly wistful note. Boy, if only.]

Sorry, I didn't think I needed to case the joint when I was coming here as a paying customer.

We could get out of here if you want, though. Find that moonlit spot on the beach to have another dance.

[Actually, he already has a spot scouted out. Very private, very romantic. Perfect for an extended makeout session.]

[tearsinajar]

I was just about to suggest another dance, first. I like your idea better.

[ Dancing outside on the beach under the moonlight? That was hella romantic in Elena's books. She almost didn't think he had it in him. Then again...dancing on the beach was something they'd done the night of their wedding. The memory softens her expression and she reaches up to brush his jaw. ]

It's getting a little hot in here anyway.

[sketchycharacter]

[The very idea is incredibly sappy, and under normal circumstances, the odds that he would suggest it are not high. But the circumstances are as special as she is, and moonlight dancing sounds like the best thing they could possibly do.]

Then let's get out of here.

[Before they can, though, he leans in for one more gentle kiss.]

[tearsinajar]

[ One more kiss for the road. She's smiling against his lips and loops an arm over his shoulders to lean in. It lingers until she pulls away first, smiling still.

Elena's in love, it shows. ]

Yeah. I like the sound of that.

[ Already she can imagine how the sand will feel between her toes and under her feet. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[They've gone so far off course, dealt with so many of his mistakes, but right now Nate is sure that none of that is going to matter in the long run. He loves her and she loves him and they're going to be just fine, he can feel it. They're going to be amazing.]

Me too. C'mon.

[He moves out of her embrace but just as quickly slips his arm around her waist.]

[tearsinajar]

Okay but...we should probably wait for the waiter first and pay. Doesn't make a good impression if we just— [ Her voice lowers and she leans in. ] —dine and dash.

[sketchycharacter]

I know that. I'm not always a thief. [He laughs.] But given the service so far tonight, I have a feeling that's going to take about three minutes.

[It's two, because the waiter is there almost immediately after they get back to their table.]

[tearsinajar]

[ Two minutes. What a waiter, she's going to encourage her husband to tip him and tip him well. ]

And now?

[ Once that's all taken care of, she slides over to his side and slips her arm inside his jacket to loop at his waist behind him. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[He tightens his arm around her shoulder as they walk, and the look he gives her can only be described as "adoring."]

Now we go find a place to dance.

[tearsinajar]

Hopefully I'll have the sand to cushion my feet when you step on them.

[ The smile she gives him back in return can only be described as teasing and loving all in one. Her hand squeezes his side. She's so ready to slip off her heels. ]

[sketchycharacter]

I'll try to be gentle.

[Gentle, and good to her, and as loving as he can be. Everything she's wanted in a husband, everything he hasn't been enough of. This is it, a second chance for them, and Nate intends to prove to her that he cherishes it.]