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[sketchycharacter]

[The face that appears on the network is a familiar one—Nate's a chatty guy, and he made a grumpy address not long ago. But something's different this time—he looks a little disoriented, a little older. A little beefier.]

Hey. [He raises a hand in a casual greeting.] Sorry if I freaked anyone out. Complete accident, I swear. By the way, that cryo slime is incredibly gross. Don't get it in your mouth if you can help it.

[Ha, ha. This is no big deal, right?]

It's been a while. Three days for you guys, I guess? More like...three years for me.

[He smiles weakly. He's not freaked out! He's not freaked out!!]

Nice to see everyone again.

[It's been three years since Nathan Drake set foot on Avagi, but he still remembers his way around. ...mostly. Once he's got some of his bearings back, he makes a circuit of the accessible areas of the facility, re-familiarizing himself with his way around.

And eventually, he makes his way back to their quarters, plopping down in the common area and trying to digest.]

Back in space. How about that.

Comments

living the dream we are

[tearsinajar]

Nate.

[ Ignoring the slimy texture she moves in and reaches to take him by the forearm and push the limb back down. It'll slip her notice that he definitely feels more sturdier. Elena would rather focus on getting him grounded again, and out of the pod. Not because of a naked husband. Or maybe it is.

A heavy sigh. ]

I guess you missed the part about the IV. Here— [ A towel is passed to him. ] For your face. Wipe.

[sketchycharacter]

[He goes along with it and lets his arm go down, partially because it hurts less this way and partially because he's helpless against her in the end.]

Thanks.

[He takes it and swipes at his face and hair, getting rid of enough goo so that it won't drip down in his face. Then he focuses on trying to climb out of the pod, glancing sidelong at her as he does.]

Where the hell are my clothes? Where are we?

[It'll come to him. Give him a couple more seconds.]

[tearsinajar]

[ Not sure how much help she'll be in assisting him out with how much goop is covering him and slipping away, she reaches out anyway. ]

You haven't been in there long to feel the full effects but... Be careful.

[ A pause, she glances at him. Three days, that couldn't have affected his memory. No way. Elena frowns; at least he hadn't forgotten her. ]

I got your clothes. As for where we are, we're... We're on Avagi. You know, space, the final frontier?

[sketchycharacter]

[If nothing else, she helps him keep his balance and avoid slipping as he gets out. Once he's standing on the floor, he lets go to avoid getting any goop on her, and starts swiping at the rest of his body with the towel.]

Avagi...?

[No, they're supposed to be on Libertalia. He frowns, not getting it—and then suddenly he does, all the memories come rushing back. Like it was yesterday and three years ago at the same time.]

Oh, shit. Yeah. We're back here?

[His eyes dart back and forth, then settle on her again.]

[tearsinajar]

You mean you're back. I never left.

[ Knowing that he's stable and isn't in any danger of slipping, she moves away to get e cotton ball and some medical tape, returning a short moment later. There's less slime on him now, makes it easier for her to see all of him. ]

Arm up. I'll take out the IV. [ Elena waits until he does as asked, stepping in close to have the cotton ball at the ready as she pulls the needle free. ] Press down. [ Instructions for him as she goes to discard the needle safely, a strip of tape readied to replace his fingers. ]

...what happened?

[sketchycharacter]

You never...?

[He trails off and shakes his head. Get it together, Nate. He remembers how this works from the outside. It's just weird as hell being the one who left, but also didn't.]

I woke up back on Sully's plane, headed back from Yemen. Never knew I'd left. [He presses down, ready to oblige her in whatever she needs him to do.] We went home. Patched things up. Bought a house.

It's been three years, Elena.

[tearsinajar]

What..?

[ She pauses in handing him another towel. That makes no sense. ]

No, you were only in there for three days... [ A house? Holy shit. Elena now eyes him— all of him. The whole package ] Is that why you now look like a beefcake?

My god— a house? [ The question then slips out: ] Who are you?

f u

[sketchycharacter]

[He takes it, trying to dry off completely. No cryo goop in the crevices, please.]

A what? [He looks down at himself, then bake at her helplessly.] I look how I always look?

[But that last question stings. It's a joke, not a wounded jab from someone he'd wounded far worse. But he can still hear the echo of that motel room in Madagascar.]

It's me. I'm me.

[But instead of being separated by days, it's years.]

flower grin emote

[tearsinajar]

You got hairier? And you gained muscle mass? Were you on a strict protein only diet?

[ Elena frowns at his response. She doesn't know what he knows. She has no idea what her words could mean. ]

Well, yeah. I know you're you. I just...didn't... [ Her head shakes and she lets it drop. ] I'll need to go over your vitals and then you're probably going to want a shower.

[sketchycharacter]

Wow. Look at you, sounding like a doctor.

[He smiles, a little chagrined by his own words.]

Which I guess you kind of have been here, huh. Sorry. It's just—strange, to know what you've been doing here and what you've been doing at home and they're both real.

[tearsinajar]

I haven't completely taken over Adrien's position but I do what I can with what he and Angela taught me.

[ She nods, taking up a towel to wipe her hands off on. Damn all that goop. ]

Different lives, I guess. I imagine much has changed back home? You said a house, you got beefier, but what about...me?

[sketchycharacter]

[What about her? He's almost surprised she has to ask, but...maybe not, knowing what the last she knows of their real lives is. And what he knows about their future.]

You're good. We're good.

[He catches her cheek in his hand and leans in to kiss her softly.]

Let me get some clothes on? And I'll figure out where to start.

[tearsinajar]

[ Her automatic reflex to the kiss would be to close her eyes and lean in. This time they stay open, blink, and she leans back seconds after their lips brush. ]

Well, I mean, you don't have to get dressed. [ A pointed downward glance follows her reply. And then Elena touches the damp hair over his lower belly. ] Seriously, Nate, you're so hairy now. I could probably braid some of this.

[ Though, all she does is twirl the hair around her finger. ]

Shower first. Then clothes.

[sketchycharacter]

[It might not be a romantic moment, but after everything that's happened—after nearly dying again—he needed it.]

First, that's weird. Second, I need some clothes to get to a shower, unless you want to walk in front of me.

[Wait.] Unless there's a shower in this section. Is there a shower here?

[tearsinajar]

How is that weird? Why are you married to me again? Clearly because I'm weird. Clearly.

[ She gives the hard gut of his a gentle smack and then laughs, pointing off to the side. ]

Of course there are showers here. There's two. Over there.

[sketchycharacter]

Oh. Well, it was hidden behind...equipment and stuff...

[He sighs.]

I'll shower, you make sure I've got something to cover up with after.

[And he plods over to the shower. Enjoy the butt look.]

[tearsinajar]

Sure.

[ And don't worry, she's definitely enjoying what she sees. In fact she's biting her lip and half wondering if she should join him,
y'know, in case he slips.

Instead, when he disappears, she turns to clean up, making sure the pod is set to self-clean once the wires have been put away and she goes off to fetch him some fresh clothes.

Already she knows his shirts are going to be a little snug. Not a problem for her though. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[He feels better by the time he steps out of the medical shower ten minutes later. A little less off-kilter. Giving her a nod of thanks, he reaches for the clothes and starts to dress.]

So...what'd I miss?

[Yes, he's aware of the irony in him being the one to ask.]

[tearsinajar]

In three days? [ She raises her brows, turning in the chair she'd seated herself in, a datapad in hand. She'd left his clothes within reach for when he was done with the shower. ] Uh. Not really much?

But apparently a lot happened in three years. [ Elena eyes him as he dresses. ] Good Lord, are those abs?

[sketchycharacter]

[Already, with the smack talk? Wow.]

Excuse you, I had abs before! [Seriously, she's the rudest wife.] Do I really look different? I don't feel different. I guess working marine salvage has kept me in shape?

[Along with the rock climbing and the marathon she made him do and all the rest. He's had a lot of energy to work off.]

[tearsinajar]

[ What kind of wife would she be if there wasn't any? ]

You did, yes, but they were nothing like this. I mean, Nate, I feel like your hip dents could cut glass, and that's not really a bad thing.

[ Elena tilts her head. There has to be so much he can update her on, now she wants to really know more. ]

You're working in the marine salvage business...? But... [ A hand goes up. ] Wait. You have a job? Like, nine to five?

[sketchycharacter]

I feel objectified.

[Not that that's really a bad thing.]

And—yeah. Not those hours, though. But I have a job.

[He's on a sabbatical of sorts at the moment, but Jameson is an understanding guy. He'd let Nate go take care of his 'family emergency' without questioning it; his job is still waiting for him.]

Remember when I told you I was thinking of getting out of the business? I...did.

[tearsinajar]

If you're offended, I can stop.

[ An elbow leans on the desk and she crosses a leg, foot bouncing idly. ]

You...did? [ There's a pause as she has to think back. ] When did you tell me that? Are you sure you don't have your different time wife swaps mixed up?

[sketchycharacter]

It was a while ago. Back on the Moira.

[He shrugs. Maybe she didn't believe him. He might not have believed him, either.]

After everything, I was burned out on it. It wasn't worth what it.

[Clothes pulled on, he leans against the desk, not sure what to do with himself.]

So we made a promise. I got a legal job, you started doing freelance work instead of reporting from war zones. Moved to New Orleans and bought a house and a hybrid.

[And then he broke his promise.]

[tearsinajar]

Oh... Sorry.

[ The Moira. She remembers now. The talks they'd had. Elena had believed him. And here he was telling her that he'd actually followed through on it? ]

Was that something we had both agreed on? Me leaving behind the war zones? [ New Orleans... ] From Florida to New Orleans, we really did move on, huh. And a hybrid?