Uncharted Drabbles (Reader x Various Characters)

Random Drabble #42 (Rafe Adler x Reader)

#41"You did all of this for me?" 

*I made this little drabble on the angsty side because I have two more Rafe prompts lined up that are super sweet. So I wanted to write something that was a little different. I hope you like it!

You cursed the day that thoughts of Henry Avery and his treasure ever crossed Rafe Adler's mind because it brought nothing but ruin. Rafe was by far the most intelligent and passionate man that you had ever met but that passion could prove to be dangerous. You loved Rafe with everything that you were and for a time you believed that such devotion was reciprocated; the two of you had known each other for the greater portions of your lives. There were moments that you could see and even feel Rafe's love for you with perfect clarity; it was in the small gestures and gentle smile that he reserved only for you. However, those smiles were increasingly difficult to come by as more time passed and his passion bordered on madness and obsession.

You swore not only to yourself but to Rafe that you would stand by his side through it all but the last two and a half years had been particularly difficult. You had eagerly hoped that Rafe had put the notion of treasure hunting behind him years ago when his arduous searches yielded nothing but an empty cathedral. Yet two years ago Rafe had discovered that someone you had both assumed to be dead was in fact alive and being detained back in Panama. Rafe hadn't told you the extent of what had happened back in that prison; the only knowledge that you were privy to was that Samuel Drake had died. It wasn't as though you weren't happy that Sam was alive but his presence at Rafe's side had succeeded only in reigniting his dark obsession to find Henry Avery's treasure.

Naturally, when Rafe had put his newly hatched plans to claim the elusive treasure that had escaped, so far, everyone that had any stake in finding it and claiming it as their own, you were by his side. Yet betrayal was the one thing that Rafe had never counted on but its sting was felt just as potently when Sam ran off just days before the auction in Italy. You hadn't known Sam the way that Rafe had but Rafe didn't seem surprised at the betrayal; he was furious but he seemed as though he knew that it was coming. You stood by Rafe at every turn and you were with him through each new stop offering what little support you could. The damn treasure took you all around the world from Italy, to Scotland, to Madagascar, and beyond.

With each new destination you watched as Rafe drifted further and further away from the man that you knew and loved; his obsession was turning him into someone you didn't recognize. Rafe's anger and frustration were growing each time the Drake Brothers got the best of him. Rafe's cool and somewhat jovial demeanor when Nadine's life was threatened; with a gun pointed at her head by a man who looked like he was at the end of his rope was a warning sign. And yet, he continued to push Sam further until he actually pulled the trigger. Thankfully, Sam's brother, Nathan was able to push the gun away in time before dropping it on the floor altogether. It didn't stop there, Rafe walked right up to Sam and slammed the barrel of his pistol across Sam's face; knocking him to the ground. He proceeded to tell Nathan the real story of how Sam had gotten out of that Panamanian jail and when Rafe listened to Nathan's proposal things escalated. Rafe concluded that he only needed one Drake brother to get him what he wanted and aimed his gun at Nathan. You screamed at Rafe hoping he would listen you, "No, Rafe please-"

He didn't even spare you a glance before he pulled the trigger, you screamed as you watched Sam push Nathan out of the way; taking the bullet intended for his brother whom then fell off of the Cliffside. You were overcome with sorrow, you had known Nathan, perhaps not as well as Rafe had but he didn't deserve this; he didn't deserve Rafe's misguided ire. The delicate golden band on your left ring finger had never felt heavier; the weight continued to grow as you all treaded towards Avery's treasure.

Sam was the only reason that you, Rafe, Nadine, and her men were able to get through Henry Avery's twisted network of trials and traps. Now that you were traveling through some dark and damp caves you had lost sight of Sam but you reasoned that he was just up toward the front of the group while you had drifted to the middle. Then there were deafening explosions going off all around you; you heard the helpless screaming and felt the searing heat touching your skin. You were thrown backwards and you collided with a rock wall hard enough to ensure that you bruised if not broke a few of your ribs. As the dust began to settle you noticed an opening ahead that was letting light slowly into the cave.

You could hear Rafe shouting something even through the now tame ringing in your ears you could distinguish his voice and the anger it held. You gave a weary sigh as you eyed Rafe, it astounded you that he could have just as easily died not moments ago and so could you for that matter but his concern lied in the fact that Sam was now closer to the treasure. It was pitiful really for you to be moping over Rafe and his obsessions but it was still difficult to see how far he had fallen. But it was harder to realize how far you had slipped from Rafe's attention and from his heart.

In the midst of your sullen ruminations you barely noticed the arm extended in front of your face; silently offering aid. You looked up to find Nadine standing in front of you, you gratefully grabbed her hand as she hauled you off of the floor, "Are you alright?"

You gave a sad smile, "I'll survive... Thank you Nadine." She nodded her head before practically pushing past Rafe who looked to be still irrevocably upset over Sam slipping from the ranks once again. When Nadine brushed past him he seemed to notice your presence and he came stalking over.

His hair was disheveled and his voice was aggressive but his eyes still held traces of concern, "Y/N, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

You tried to plaster on a smile as you ran your hand up and along Rafe's arm, "I'm okay... What about you? Are you okay?"

He scoffed but relaxed into your touch nevertheless, "I'm fine... Damn it all! We need to pick up the trail toward Avery's ship before that backbiting two-bit thief gets to it."

You pulled your arm back as if you had held it toward an open flame; still after everything that you had both been through... his heart was set upon that treasure no matter the cost. It was that revelation in that very moment that caused you let go of a watery sob, your voice sounded impossibly small, "I can't do this, Rafe... not anymore."

He eyed you questioningly, his attention now fully directed at you, "What do you mean? Y/N, we're so close the treasure is within our grasp."

You tried to repress your tears as you realized just how much this treasure had taken from you, "I don't mean the treasure... not entirely."

His eyes widened as he started to comprehend what you were saying, "Y/N, you can't be serious... Everything that I've done was for you. All of this was for you and now you want to walk away."

You could help the bitter scoff that slipped past your lips, "You did all of this for me? Rafe none of this was for me... This was all for you!"

He seemed visibly agitated now, "No, it was for you, just like anything I've done in my life... it was for you. I've searched for years for this treasure so that I could have something to my name that I had earned on my own. I did it so that you could be proud to stand by my side and call me your husband."

Your heart was shattering into pieces as he continued to speak but you couldn't help the way your voice raised into a bitter yell, "There was never a moment that I wasn't proud to stand by your side... I was always proud of you, Rafe! I would have been happy just to be by your side for the rest of my life but that wasn't enough for you..."

Rafe seemed to reflexively reach out to you, "Y/N, you can't just throw this all away... this could be everything that we've ever wanted..."

Youshook your head and bit back more tears, "All that I've ever wanted was youRafe... This treasure was never what I wanted. If I wanted anything it would havebeen your love and for you to be truly happy. Don't insult me by saying thatthis treasure was ever a part of my desires. I just wanted you... I needed youbut it's clear that our desires aren't the same; not anymore."