North || Nathan Drake

19

Nate woke to sunlight on his face and an empty bed. For a second he ran his hand over the spot he knew he had left Dante the night before. The other man having been lighter than he had expected as he carried him into the bedroom. The mattress and duvet was cold. Dante was long gone. A sting of hurt pulsed in his chest and he let out a deep sigh of disappointment as he rose. He had expected that from Chloe but he had thought that Dante North was different. He scooped up his tshirt from where he had discarded it on the wardrobe handle and slipped it on as he left the bedroom.

"Chloe?" he called curiously as he peered through the open door into the second bedroom. It was empty, the bed rumpled. There was a clatter from the living room. He turned his head, hope rising in his chest as he stepped out of the hall.

Dante was dressed in a new shirt and trousers. The cotton button up was un buttoned to show of golden collarbones and the grey cargo trousers clung to his legs. He was stood at the full length windows across the room with a cup of coffee in one hand and a discarded teaspoon on a little table next to him. As Nate entered he shifted his gaze from the beach to the other man. "She's gone. Took the coordinates you wrote down. I didn't stop her".

"You didn't go with her?" Nate asked.

"No. She offered. I did not want to". Dante turned his gaze back to the beach, hands cupping the mug. "I got you some coffee. It's in the pot". He waved one hand in the direction of the kitchen without turning around. "I stole Sully's card from you to buy some new clothes and order breakfast. It's with the coffee. I've already eaten".

He is shy, Nate noticed with a smile. Dante North was shy because he chose to go and buy him new clothes and breakfast instead of going after the gold. If that wasn't charming then he did not know what was. "Dante".

The sound of his name made Dante turn. It was warm, soft and spoken with care. He watched as Nate approached him. Gently, the coffee cup was removed from his hands and set down next to the spoon. Then Nate was reaching up to cup his face with one hand. "Can I kiss you?" The question was spoken with a smile.

"Why are you asking?" Dante had never been asked before. Normally it was a spur of the moment thing. Right timing, right feeling. The question made him blink.

"Because I want you to know that I want to. But I will back off if you are not ready right now. I don't want to pressure you in any way". Nate explained, voice speeding up slightly as anxiety infused his words.

Dante let out an amused noise. "You know, Sam gave me a similar speech the first time we slept together. You Drake boys. I am not delicate you know. In fact, many people will argue otherwise".

Nate rolled his eyes. "Please don't remind me that you have slept with my brother when I am trying to kiss you".

Dante laughed at the groan. "No feelings there, Nate. I promise. I am all yours".

Nate smirked. "Good. Also, you are not delicate. You're so strong. You are definitely the strongest person I know. But even the strongest people deserved to be treated like they are precious and I get the feeling that no one has ever treated you like that before. Dante, let me". The last words were soft and reassuring. It was silly how much those words paired with Nate's warm brown eyes unravelled him.

Dante took and shuddering breath and let himself relax into the other man's hold. Nate held him up as his eyes slip shut. Arms coming up to loop around the other's waist as they both leant in. Nate kissing Dante like he was a poem that he wanted to memorise the shape of on his mouth. It was scary, thrilling and careful. It was unspoken promises that did not need to be said aloud. Dante knew then, from the way he was being held and kissed, that Nate would always choose him. Their lives maybe dangerous and wild, but right here Nate was promising to be his.

Dante had never felt more seen and more vulnerable than in this moment. It was like the other man had read exactly what he needed. It was terrifying. It was consuming. It was dangerous. He was falling in love with it.

They parted and Nate opened eyes eyes to trace his thumbs across golden tanned cheekbones. Dante's lips slightly open as his eyelashes fluttered, dark eyes finding brown as a blush rose to his cheeks. "Will you date me?" Nate asked.

"Do you give that delicate speech to all the boys and girls?" The familiar teasing note was back in the curly haired man's voice. Nate was relieved to hear it.

"First time using that speech. I don't think my usual tricks would have worked on you. I can promise you a lot more than that if you date me".

Dante grinned at him. "I don't usually date you know. But I guess Drake boys are just my weakness. First Sam practically adopts me and now this? I swear you guys have a cheat code".

"Or maybe I just stole the key to your heart".

Dante burst out laughing. He rested his forehead against Nate's shoulder as his chest shook. "That is so cheesy".

"Hey! It works".

"Unfortunately. It's almost as bad as your dad jokes".

"My jokes are amazing I'll have you know".

"Sure".

Silence fell and it was comfortable. They stood there wrapped in each others arms and savouring each other's warmth. After a minute, Dante spoke. "Do you really want to date me? I am riddled with trust issues you know. I have ruined many a good thing".

Nate sighed slowly. "We may end up ruined. But I want to give this a go. Besides, you were offered ships full of gold and yet you chose to stay here with me. I trust you". If Dante squeezed him a bit more tighter at that, then neither mentioned it. "So. Will you be my boyfriend?"

Dante extracted himself from the hold. "You're going to regret it later", he warned with a frown. "I am a certified menace. I am a spoiled brat with too many issues to count and bags worth of trauma".

Nate shrugged again. "I am afraid of nuns because I was raised by them for eight years of my life. I have issues and trauma as well. I guess we'll just have to figure it out as we go along. We survived falling out of a plane yesterday. I guess we are good at that. But if you want me to wait a while, then I can do that. Just don't shut me out".

Dante groaned. He was fighting a loosing battle and he knew it. "Sully is going to complain so bad when he finds out were together", he exhaled.

Nate beamed. "I will take that as conformation. Thank you. Where shall we have our first date?"

Dante stared at him. "I thought you wanted to get the gold. I let Chloe go hours ago. We are never going to catch up to her now".

Nate's smile turned smug. He let go of his new boyfriend to walk back to the glass coffee table. Dante watching curiously as he picked up the glass bottle from then night before and tugged out a roll of paper from where it had been stuck in the neck. He un rolled it and held it up. "True. If the coordinates she took were the right ones", he declared proudly.

Dante laughed. "A treasure map in a bottle? Really?" Then he was striding across the room to kiss the smirk off Nate's face.

unedited

they kissed! finally! was it worth the build up?

Vote. Comment. Follow.