Chapter Text
Rafe awoke with a start his body trembling. It had to be early morning, clouds loomed overhead and a swift breeze blew strands of hair in front of his vision. He was currently curled in Nathan's lap, his arms wrapped firmly around the older mans' torso. Blinking sleep from his eyes he noticed the younger mans' eyelids twitch before opening his eyes looking just as lazy and confused as Rafe.
" s'cold" Nathan shivered, shocking Rafe by pulling him closer, resting his chin upon his head, "So much for body-heat"
Rafe shrugged in Nathan's grasp offering a halfhearted, "Yeah" while listening to the beat of Nathan's heart. The younger man gently grazed his fingers over Rafe's wound, whistling fondly, "Christ, for a little guy you sure are a trooper"
That long and awaited moment of safety and content had vanished and Rafe found himself scrambling off the Drake brothers' lap causing the lifeboat to jerk and sway, "Ah shuddap" he grumbled, seating himself, "So where's this trusty first aid kit of yours?"
"Alright, alright, you're a little sensitive I get it" Nathan chuckled, rummaging under his seat pulling out the first aid kit which dripped with slime and seaweed. The two men cringed but proceeded to open the kit anyways.
Nathan's eyes lit up causing Rafe's heart to miss a beat, "Wh-what is it?" he asked sounding like an awestruck teenager. Nathan pulled out a dripping plastic baggy which contained a radio and a flaregun, "Let's hope these remained dry- and don't throw these in the ocean like you did your shirt" Nathan warned, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. Rolling his eyes Rafe turned his back on the brother and winced hearing the hiss from the other man, "Is it really that bad?"
"Uhhmm" Nathan stalled, eyeing the peeling skin around the gaping wound. A yellow scab had began to form over the gash and the skin that had began to peel around the edges were moist and inflamed, "I mean it could be worse but you need to get stitches and head to a hospital. The plank- or splinter, as you called it, pierced the skin and is going to leave a nasty scar- could get infected if help doesn't arrive soon."
Rafe felt a wave of nausea crash down upon him, his heart dropping to the pit of his stomach and his blood running cold. He chewed his lip not bothering to reply to Nathan and mewled as the man began to bandage his shoulder. His shoulder spasmed, a great deal of pain surged through his veins as the bandage tightened. His chest grew warm and fuzzy as Nathan gently shushed him, "Nearly done, bud" he uttered, piercing the safety-pin through the bandages trying not to hit Rafe's skin.
One finished the boat rocked as Nathan took a step towards his shirt he had discarded the night before. It had dried overnight but bits and pieces were still damp. He slid his shirt on unaware of Rafe's gaze, watching Nathan's muscles ripple as the shirt glided over his tanned back. Clearing his throat Rafe nodded toward the flare gun and radio, "We gonna do this or what?"
"I-I don't know how to use a radio" Nathan confessed sheepishly.
Rafe scoffed, "Nathan Drake, a legend, doesn't know how to work a radio" he chuckled and nudged Nathan teasingly, "C'mon, Nate. That's not what I expected from you"
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"Come on, try again just turn the dial to the left a little more or something!" Nathan begged, missing Rafe's frustrated scoff.
"Nathan, Sully won't pick up not when we're in the middle of no where. If anything we're better off looking for another signal coming from a boat off the coast" he scratched his chin wincing at the stubble growing, "I could really go for a shower and a shave right about now" he turned to Nathan with a smile, "What about you huh?"
His smile faltered seeing Nathan's eyes dull, almost lifeless. They weren't gleaming with mischief, smiling, or flirtatious. They were downright dull. A his face was lined with scrapes, some in which managed to gleam through his steadily growing facial hair.
It was sickening to see someone as adventurous and happy as the Drake brother to look so devastated. Rafe realized that Nathan had lost his brother but what finally hit him was that Victor Sullivan was all Nathan had left- a father figure whom had no idea where he was. Did he even care?
Rafe grit his teeth. Of course the man didn't care, Nathan was an adult who needed to- to grow up.
Or was that thought just triggered by jealousy? Rolling his shoulders Rafe sighed, "Alright, I'll try again and see if we can hear something"
"Thanks" Nathan rasped, wrapping his arms around himself looking pale and sickly. Determined to try and reach contact Rafe switched the dial the slightest bit and-
A buzz.
Nathan and Rafe gasped audibly.
"Hello?" Shouted Nathan, nearly shoving Rafe overboard, "Hello can you hear me? Can you hear us?"
As silly as it seemed Rafe chimed in as well, the two shouting into the radio with parched throats and beating hearts. "Hello- come in, who is this?" grumbled Victor.
"Sully! It's Nathan I need you to come-"
"Nathan is that you?"
"Yes, can you hear me?"
"Hello?" the radio began to die causing the two to panic, "Sullivan, listen we're stranded off the coast of-" the light turned off and all went quiet. The only sound audible was the gentle waves lapping against the edge of the boat and the panicked breathing coming from Nathan.
They had to stay calm and not risk losing their heads. It's possible Victor heard them and could track them down. There was still hope a boat would pass by or an airplane or-
Rafe felt his body begin to tremble uncontrollably. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm he repeated to himself desperately trying not to break down or scream or launch himself into the ocean and drown himself. Paranoia was setting in and it was only the second day stranded. How much of this could he take- could Nathan take? The younger man had began hyperventilating, head bowed, a heavy stream of tears rolling down the sides of his cheeks.
His one known family member. Dead.
Sullivan. Out of reach.
His mother. Dead.
Father. Unknown.
"Nathan" Rafe spoke calmly, despite fear ebbing at his being, "Look at me"
Nathan chewed his lip and glanced up at Rafe pitifully. He shook with rage and anguish and sadness, "This is your fault" Nathan hissed, "If you wouldn't have stabbed Vargas -Sam would have been alive! Maybe we wouldn't have even been in this fucking mess!" he bellowed, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. Rafe pressed against the edge of the boat, eyes round and flashing with fear,
"Now hold on a minute he had a gun-"
"He was bluffing"
"And how would you know?" Rafe spat, his blood running cold as Nathan inched nearer, the boat rocking with every move.
Nathan paused, his cheeks stained with tear tracks, tips of his ears pink and his cheeks red. He shuddered and collapsed causing the boat to lurch violently. The younger man sobbed uncontrollably as Rafe watched alarmed and unsure of what to do. He respected Nathan's space and stood up on wobbly legs, stepping over the body that was now laying in the fetal position and plopped down at the other end of the boat with a sigh.
If only I could take the pain away.......