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justsomerandomfanfic · 4 days ago

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I Did This All For You - Rafe Adler X GN Reader

Title: I Did This All For You

Rafe Adler X GN Reader

Additional Characters: Nadine (Mentioned), Nate, Sam, Rafe's parents (Mentioned), Captain Avery (Mentioned), and Tew (Mentioned)

WC: 3,410

Warnings: Canon Uncharted 4 violence, very brief suggestiveness, italics, Rafe's obsession for the treasure, betrayal, brief heartbreak, weapons, guns/swords, death mentioned, mentions of blood/injuries, crying, fire, confession, cursing (one word), angst, and fluff

Everything had led to this moment: the lies, the risks, the impossible choice between love and survival.

You had met Rafe at a truly extravagant party three years prior to the Avery disaster. It was a night filled with rich laughter and champagne. You had been drawn to him. Not by his money or his charm, which he had an abundance of, but because of the look in those seafoam eyes, a look that betrayed something far deeper than the polished facade he presented to the world.

At first, it was nothing more than flirtation. You teased him, he teased you. It became a game, one neither of you cared to really put a name to, but were both so eager to play. His sharp remarks were met with your quick comebacks, and though you often rolled your eyes at his arrogance, you couldn't deny the spark that ignited every time he smirked at you.

He wasn’t used to being challenged, and you weren’t used to letting your guard down, but something about him made it feel… Thrilling. The continued stolen glances, the lingering touches, the way his voice would soften ever so slightly when he spoke to just you… It was becoming more and more dangerous the more you spent time with him.

You told yourself it was harmless, that Rafe Adler wasn’t the kind of man you could fall for. But somewhere down the line, between the late-night rendezvous, wrapped up in his arms, his fingers in your hair, the way his lips felt against yours, all logic fled from your head. He made you feel things, and those feelings made you want to do anything to keep him close. To be selfish, just once, to take advantage of the feeling.

It stopped feeling like a game.

You saw pieces of him no one else did. The frustration he buries beneath his charm and the ache for something he could never quite reach for the past how many years. You weren’t blind to the danger of it all. Rafe was ambitious, relentless, determined, and wholly unpredictable. But when he asked you to come with him to find Captain Avery’s treasure, you couldn’t refuse.

At first, it had been easy to ignore and brush off the growing red flags. His obsession with the treasure seemed driven more by pride than anything else - a way to prove himself to a world that never truly appreciated him. You understood. He had told you about his childhood, about growing up with a father who basically trained him to someday take over the family business, and a life where everything was handed to him on a silver platter. He wanted to prove himself, show that he could earn something for himself. You understood.

But as the journey went on - going from Paris, to Italy, Scotland, and then to Madagascar - you began to see the cracks. The long nights where his temper would flare, his focus shifting away from adventure and into revenge. The treasure wasn’t just a goal anymore - it was consuming him, and the man you had come to care for was slipping further and further away.

You tried to reason with him, to remind him that there was more to life than this. That there were other ways of getting recognition, other treasures to find. He would just smile, kiss your forehead, and assure you it would all be worth it in the end. But you could see it in his eyes… They used to be filled with so much amusement, affection, and ambition. But now, it was all madness and desperation.

And still, you stayed. Partly because you wanted to believe you could bring him back. Bring back the man that wouldn’t hide himself away in his office for hours. The man that used to laugh with you, smile with you, hold you close, and kiss you senseless. Was it wrong for you to wish for such things? Were they even real? You didn’t know anymore.

But despite everything, against your better judgment, you loved him.

And it scared you just how much you did.

~~~

Now, standing on the ship, surrounded by the gleaming and sparkling treasure that had driven Rafe to this point; madness…

His voice echoed through the air, wild and taunting. “I told you, Sam,” He sneered, a smug grin pulling at his lips. “I told you I’d win. All this time, all that effort, and it’s mine now. Avery’s treasure is my treasure.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Sam’s gaze was hard, unwavering, “Nate will be here soon.”

Rafe scoffed, shaking his head as if the mere thought of Nate still standing a chance was laughable. “Huh, yeah, I don’t think so.” He kept his gun trained on Sam, “Nate fell from the cliff, remember?”

Sam didn’t back down, his voice calm but with an edge of frustration, “You ever wonder how Nate even got this far in the first place, Rafe? It wasn’t just from our knowledge.”

Rafe scoffed once more, in disbelief, looking at Sam incredulously. “Nadine? No, she wouldn’t have helped you.” He shook his head, “She wouldn’t do that. You know, my partners don’t betray me…” He cut himself off, his words trailing off as he slowly turned his head to face you. His eyes narrowed, “You,” He began, his voice quieter now, accusatory, “You’ve been helping Nate, haven’t you?”

You glanced at Sam behind Rafe’s shoulder, your stomach twisting, your heart pounding in your chest. There was no hiding it now. The truth had been exposed, and the man you tried to protect was staring at you with that look in his eyes - a look that sent chills through you. You had never seen him look so cold.

And you hated it.

“I-” You swallowed hard, trying to steady your voice, “I did it for you, Rafe.”

Rafe’s laugh was low, guttural, and void of any amusement. He looked down, as if trying to process your words, before he snapped his eyes toward you. “For me?” He gestured his gun at himself, his voice laced with disbelief and growing fury. Before you could even blink, he was stalking toward you. You barely had time to react as he grabbed your arm and roughly pressed you up against the ship’s wall. “You were doing it for me?” His voice was deadly, dripping with venom. You could feel the heat of his body close to yours, his breath hot against your face. His eyes, once filled with so many more positive things, were now empty, consumed with rage. The world seemed to slow down as he pressed the cold barrel of the gun to your temple. “After everything we’ve been through, after everything…” His voice was rough, low, each word clipped, “And this is how you repay me?”

He trusted you. He told you his secrets, his life. He let you in. He let down his walls for you. You were everything to him, and you betrayed him.

You could only stare at him, heart racing, breath shallow. His finger hovered dangerously close to the trigger. Your eyes welled with tears, “Are you going to kill me, Rafe?” The question slipped from your lips before you could stop it, your voice surprisingly calm but tingled with heartbreak.

Rafe didn’t answer. His gaze, cold and unwavering, locked onto yours, but there was something else there now - something deeper, more conflicted. His jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as if he were fighting something inside himself.

For a moment, his eyes flickered - just a brief flash - but you saw it. The man you knew, the man you had loved, was still there, hidden behind the madness and desperation. But then, like a flicker of a dying flame, it was gone, replaced by that icy determination.

He growled, a low, guttural sound, before his lips parted as if to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. His grip on the gun tightened, and for a split second, it seemed like he might lower it. You saw it in his eyes, the internal battle waging inside him. He still cared… He still loved you…

You held your breath, praying that whatever was left of the man you had once known would rise above the madness and the revenge, but before you could make sense of it, an explosion rang out.

And just like that, everything went black.

You woke with a start, coughing violently as smoke filled the room. Your eyes burned, and your vision swam as you struggled to sit up. Pain shot through your side, sharp and unrelenting. You pressed a hand to your ribs, the ache growing with each passing moment. It felt like a dream. You were disoriented, your body numb, but the fire around you was all too real.

You blinked through the haze of smoke, your heart hammering in your chest as you tried to focus. The heat in the air was suffocating, but there was something else - sounds. The clash of swords echoed through the room. You turned your head, eyes widening as you saw the two figures at the far end of the room.

Rafe and Nate. They were locked in a duel, their swords flashing in the dim, smoky light. You let out another cough, your chest tight as you winced from the pain. Your gaze moved quickly to Sam, who was pinned beneath a large piece of wood. He was struggling to move, but the debris kept him trapped.

You coughed again, a more desperate sound now, as you watched the two men fight. Nate was trying to talk to Rafe, pleading with him, but Rafe was so far gone. “Rafe!” You called his name, your voice cracking with urgency, but he didn’t even flinch. He didn’t even turn to look at you, as if you were nothing more than a distant echo, lost in the chaos of his anger.

You tried to push through the pain, pushing yourself up a little more, but your legs were shaky. Still, you couldn’t look away. The sound of their swords clashing grew louder, each strike more violent than the last.

With a quick swipe, he pushed Nate aside, knocking him to the ground. “So long, Nathan Drake,” Rafe muttered, preparing to deliver the final blow. But before he could strike, he saw the cold steel of a sword pointed directly at his chest. Rafe froze.

His breath caught, his gaze flickering to the sword’s wielder. And there you were - standing, sword in hand, blood dripping down from a cut on your cheek, but your grip firm and determined. You could see the hesitation in Rafe's eyes, just for a moment, before it disappeared, swallowed by the rage again. But you held your ground, your chest heaving with effort. You weren’t going to back down. Not now.

The air between you two thickened, every second dragging out as you locked eyes. His chest rose and fell, the tension in his shoulders visible even through the haze of smoke that filled the room. Your sword remained steady, pointed directly at him, though your free hand shook from the pain in your side.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Nate struggling to push himself to his feet. He stumbled but made his way toward Sam, who was still pinned under the wreckage. Your focus wavered just for a second, but it was enough for Rafe to speak, his voice cold and dark.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" He sneered, his gaze hardened, his grip tightening on his sword. "Now, don’t do anything stupid.”

“Do you want to know why I did it?” You asked, and Rafe opened his mouth to speak, but you didn’t give him a chance to answer. You took a step forward, your sword held steady in your grip, "I did it because I could see it, Rafe. I could see how this treasure... How it was taking over your mind. Consuming you. Corrupting you just like it did for Avery, just like it did for Tew. You think you're invincible, but you're not. This thing - this treasure - is ruining you. It's not worth it. There will be more adventures and treasure to find out there. You can give this one up." You paused, your breath shaky, and the words poured out of you.

“Y/N! The ship’s going down!” You heard Nate by the latch door, you ignored him.

"I wouldn’t have helped Nathan if it wasn’t affecting you like this. I did it for you. Because I care about you…" You took a step closer, holding his gaze, your heart pounding in your chest. "I love you, Rafe," The words trembling as they left you, "I love you so much that it scares me. I would do anything for you. Anything. But I can’t stand seeing you like this. It’s going to kill you.” You could physically feel your heart breaking as you continued, "You have two choices. One is to drop the sword, take whatever treasure you’ve already got, and go home. Or…" You trailed off for a moment, gathering the courage to finish your plea, "Or you can stay. And if you stay, I’ll follow you. I followed you to Paris, to Italy. To Madagascar. To this goddamn ship. Everywhere. And if I have to, I’ll follow you to the bottom of this ocean, Raphael. I’ll go down with the ship with you in it if that’s what it takes. I’ll be there. But you have to choose." You raised your sword once more, tilting your head slightly, "So… What will it be?"

For what felt like an eternity, Rafe didn’t move. His gaze remained locked with yours, and for a fleeting moment, his sword wavered in his hand. His expression was unreadable, a complex storm of emotions flickering in his eyes - anger, confusion, fear. You held your breath, unable to tear your eyes away. Your heartbeat echoed in your ears, louder with every passing second.

Rafe’s eyes shifted toward the treasure, then back to you. His jaw tightened, his grip on the sword faltering slightly. He looked down at the sword in his hand as if seeing it for the first time. And then, he lowered it. He didn’t speak. He didn’t move - just stood there, staring at you, his gaze now softer but no less conflicted. A silent understanding passed between you. No words were necessary. It was in the way he exhaled, the way his shoulders slumped.

And then, without saying a word, he dropped the sword and turned. And you followed him. Wordlessly. As you walked toward the exit - propped open by Sam and Nate - the finality of the moment settled in your chest. The treasure, the madness, the violence - it all stayed behind. You didn't remember much from the boat ride back to shore. The motion of the waves was a quiet hum beneath the silence between you and Rafe. You were lost in your thoughts when your gaze drifted over to him.

Rafe sat with his back slumped, his eyes fixed on the burning wreckage in the distance. The flickering flames danced on the horizon, a reflection of the chaos that had once been his life. He didn’t say anything, didn’t move. It was as if he was trying to process everything. His expression was a mix of exhaustion, regret, and so much.

You noticed the small shake of his head, the way his eyes lingered on the smoke until it finally disappeared from view. Only then did he turn, his gaze meeting yours. The raw emotion in his eyes made your chest ache. It was the first time in so long that you saw him - truly saw him. You watched the shore get closer, the small boat gently rocking with the current as you neared the land. A sigh escaped your lips, a mix of exhaustion and relief. You stayed in silence, neither of you speaking, the only sound being the gentle lapping of water against the boat as you pulled up to the shore.

Finally, without a word, you silently moved beside him, sitting down next to him. He didn’t raise his head, his gaze still distant, eyes locked on the horizon. You didn’t need him to acknowledge you. You just needed to be there beside him. His hands, bloodied and raw from the fight, sat limply in his lap. You reached over, taking one gently into your own, your fingers tracing over the calluses, the rough skin. The warmth of his hand was grounding, steadying you, reminding you that he was still there. Alive. You were so scared that he was going to die on that ship. After everything…

You watched him, searching the side of his face. Your free hand slowly raised to brush his hair away from his forehead, fingers softly grazing the dark strands. You smiled sadly when his seafoam eyes met yours at the contact, eyes filled with so much, too much, that you couldn’t begin to unravel it all.

"It's going to be okay," You said, your voice barely more than a whisper, but steady. "We’ll get through this. Like we always do. Together."

Rafe didn’t answer, but his gaze softened, and for the first time in a long while, he didn’t seem so lost. The weight in his shoulders seemed to lift, just a little, but it was something. He stared at you for a long moment, his hand hesitantly raised, cupping your cheek. His thumb brushed below the cut on your cheek, and both of you closed your eyes, leaning your foreheads together.

The world seemed to pause as your breaths synced, and in that fleeting silence, Rafe finally spoke.

"I never said it back."

You sighed softly, a small, gentle smile spreading across your face as you cupped his cheek in your hand. "You don’t have to say it right now," You whispered, the sincerity in your voice clear. "I know, Rafe, I know…"

For a moment, neither of you moved. The distance between you, so vast before, now felt small, barely there.

~~~

It wasn’t instant. Healing never was.

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after the incident with Avery’s treasure that you started to notice the progress Rafe was making. It wasn’t huge, not all at once, but it was there. You could see how he was trying, and you were so proud of him.

One of the first things he did, though subtle, was start showing up for you. He didn’t just give gifts, although he did that, too. The gifts were personal, thoughtful, not his usual fancy and expensive gifts, but a book you mentioned months ago, a piece of jewelry you admired in passing, a painting from a local artist you had said you loved. But more than the material things, it was his time that mattered most.

Rafe began taking you out of the house. He would plan small trips to places he knew you’d enjoy. Vacations that weren’t for hunting for treasure. Vacations that were for spending time with each other and relaxing. Breakfast on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, museum dates in Athens, admiring the Northern Lights in Iceland…

When he wasn’t whisking you away on small, romantic vacations, he was right there by your side, always looking for ways to be present. No more constant running off to his home office after work. Sometimes it was as simple as sitting with you on the couch, watching a movie with you. Or learning how to make your favorite dish together.

Then there were nights when he would pull you into his arms, holding you close, his hand resting against your back, fingers trailing along your spine, his lips gently brushing your forehead. Nights where your faces would be so close, that you could feel his warm breath ghost over your skin. Nights where he would press soft kisses to your lips, or your cheeks, or anywhere he could reach, leaving you breathless. It was then that he would whisper his apologies, sincerely, softly, surrounded by you, your love, and the darkness of your shared bedroom. For only you to hear. And, you knew his words to be true.

Rafe still had a long way to go, and so did you. The wounds were still there, scabbed over, but there was still hope. Hope for a brighter future, together.

~~~

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