crux_fleet | (no subject)

Who: Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer
What: Discussions
Where: Street of Gods
When: backdated to before the event
Warnings: dumb treasure hunters

[Nate has spent the last week or so waiting, watching his arm heal from the shot gifted to him by Lazarevic. Since the incident (and, of course, due to their history prior to it) there's no great interest in helping him whatsoever, outside of keeping himself and his partner alive. Its a joke, really. He is pretty certain that if he told anyone who understood exactly what was going on, they'd think it was an elaborate joke.

They would also probably not find it very funny. Even Nathan Drake, who found humor in most everything, was finding himself frustrated by the feeling of being cornered. But Nathan Drake also never stayed cornered for long.

He's ignoring all "duties" today to walk the Street of Gods, though he's taken a seat in a more secluded corner to sketch what he's learned so far from his excursions into different houses of worship. Somewhere in between, he had shot a ping to Chloe, to try and convince her to wander down his way and play hooky before checking in with the boss for the day.

Or after. It didn't really make a difference to him -- and if she didn't show, he'd just go and find her, just like last time.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, piss off. [It's said through the hard edge of her teeth as she fights the pull of her own lips. As she does a sorry job of not breaking just the slightest smile.

Christ.

Chloe shoves him off with her palm at the dead center of his chest. Gentle force and nothing more.]

[He chuckles and takes the shove, letting go of her when she does it. He got the smile -- that was all he really wanted.]

Hey hey, none of that. I'm an excellent secret keeper.

[She keeps her hand at his chest for a moment longer, registering the contours of the ring tucked away just beneath the surface of his shirt. The last time they'd left one another there was little time for contact-- comforting or otherwise.

This time that's still a constant, but for the moment, Chloe's content to pretend it isn't.]

So you are - amongst other things. [Regardless of that statement's potential, it's genuine. And chaste.]

[Bleeding heart that he is, Nate senses her desire for contact and very nearly reaches out again to try and ease it.

But if he's learned one thing about Chloe, it was always better to let her lead that dance -- not to mention the fact that he still has so much to learn about Chloe who's aged away from him. So he just lets the smirk soften at its edges, doesn't bother removing her hand.]

You'll have to sit down and remind me some day. The only thing ringing in my head is "bastard". Something about "ass", maybe.

[To avoid repeat context of his previous joke, he reaches up to set his hand on her's over his chest, patting it reassuringly.]

[If circumstances were different she might go soft under the gentle press of his palm. Atop the warm heat of his chest and the dull, steady thud of his heartbeat. They're not, though, and as if remembering herself or more accurately the image of herself that exists out of necessity, she draws back barely a breath later. Fingers slipping out and away from his own.]

Tch. It's just the ass that matters, anyway.

[He lets her shrink back and purposefully drops his eyes downward after her cue before letting them snap back to her face.

Well, he was trying not to go there.]

If only we were all so shallow.

If only.

[She says with the delicate curve of a smile, hands settling down into her pockets again as she turns purposefully on her heel and starts the lengthy walk home.]

See you the day after tomorrow, yeah?

[He folds one arm across his chest and gives a lazy mock salute in her direction. After all, he's not ready to loop back home just yet.

He has a job to do.]

Count on it.