North || Nathan Drake

15

Dante seemed more himself by the time they had reached the resort. He had seemingly pulled himself together and when they found the reception desk, he was all flirty smiles at the clerk. Nate frowned as he watched Dante lean over the desk and run one hand through damp curls. His clothing still soaked from their swim in the sea. It was a miracle the blood soaking his tshirt had faded into brown stain and was partially washed out by seawater. The trio looked a mess but Dante was still managing to make the clerk smile. "I am sure your service will be lovely. Thank you so much". His smile was shiny. 

The clerk, a young man with dimples when he smiled, seemed bashful as he tore his eyes from Dante to the rest of them. Chloe was glancing around at the white clothed employees and rich holiday goers. Nate was frowning, seemingly unintentionally. "Who will be paying for this suite?" 

Dante turned to the others and shot them a wide eyed look where the clerk couldn't see. He had left all his belongings on the plane, including his precious camera and his wallet. Nate blinked. "Oh that would be me". He fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a shiny credit card. Dante's charming smile was replaced by a smaller, weaker, genuine one. 

"Is that Sully's?" He leaned closer to Nate to whisper in his ear. The other man's response was a sly smirk that briefly widened Dante's smile. 

"Thank you Mr Sullivan. Your suite is right this way". The clerk handed Nate back the card and began walking through the lobby. Chloe giggled as Nate winked at the two of them, sliding the credit card back into his pocket. Dante's smile faded as soon as the other turned away. 

The clerk led them to a wooden beach house with a thatched roof. The hotel seemed to be one main building with individual rooms while the suites were stylised huts nearer the beach. It was all designed to look like a tribe located on the shore of the island. History and luxury for the filthy rich. Dante lingered at the back of the group, not paying much attention to anything. He kept on zoning out, mind elsewhere. He was distantly wondering what Jo would do with his father's body. Would she throw it out into the ocean? Would she have him moved off, pass it off as an accident and keep it for a funeral? He doubted the second one. She would probably have it disposed of and hidden away. 

"Here are your rooms", the clerk used two key cards to unlock the door and it swung open. He gestured towards it with a smile. 

"Thank you once again", Dante forced the charm back on. It felt rigid and as plastic as a mask.

"Have a pleasant stay. If you have any problems then call reception or room service". With that, the clerk was leaving them along. He was glad to see the man go, his charm was cracking at the seams. 

Chloe was first inside and she whistled at the decor. "Nice place". She began opening doors and cupboards as they closed the front door behind them. The inside was modern with tones of stone grey and marble white. The main room was a lounge with a dining table facing balcony windows to the beach beyond. Two identical white doors led off on the right and left presumably to bedrooms. Chloe had disappeared into one and Dante got a glimpse of a four poster bed covered in plush blankets and pillows with the same colour scheme. "How are we doing the rooms?" Chloe reappeared as Nate set the map on the dining table. 

"I don't care", Dante sighed as he made for the other bedroom door. "I am going to have a shower and get my father's blood off me. These clothes need to be burnt. Someone order food and new clothes by the time I get back". He paused, one hand on the door handle as he realised that his tone was more ordering than asking. "Please". The one word came out much more vulnerable than he intended when his voice cracked. He ignored it and opened the door, barely glancing at the room before striding to the ensuite. 

The bathroom was half shiny black tiles and half white walls. The shower was a big thing of glass with an overhead spray while the bath was basically a jacuzzi. Dante turned the taps on warm and began stripping from his clothes as the bath filled. He got in and let it the almost too hot heat flush his skin. The Filipino sun had been scorching but there was a bone deep cold in his frame that was lingering. He knew that it was from the shock and the trauma from the last day, but it didn't stop him from turning on the jets and submerging himself amidst the bubbles. 

The sensation of the warmth and the bubbles was just enough to sooth his fragile senses. They weren't the same as being cradled, hugged and held safe, but they would do (and is he was craving to be held again, like how Nate had held him on the crate, then that was a traitorous part of his mind that he was ignoring). The hotel staff had left a tray of soaps and bath mixture tasters in tiny little bottles. He chose one that smelt of lavender and poured it all in. Immediately foam began to fill the bath and he leaned back with a sigh. Dante closed his eyes. 

The light through faded into red tinged sunset and lit the bathroom in a warm glow. Dante must have dozed off. The water had grown cold but he didn't want to move. A knock sounded on the door. The first one had been the thing to waken him. Dante rubbed his tired eyes

 "Dante?" Nate called through the wood. "Are you okay? Can I come in?" His voice was concerned. Dante didn't know the time but he must have been in there for hours. "Dante?" 

unedited