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“Chloe”The woman stopped and turned around as her name was called. When Sully caught up with her, she chuckled.“I was just, uh, wondering if you know some place where I can have a drink.”“Oh, that’s what you’re here for?” She grinned weakly. “Uhh, let me think. Here in the middle of a remote village in Tibet, yeah-- right there around the corner must be the nightlife district.”She gestured past the mountains and both chuckled.“Heading back?” he asked.“Yeah. I guess I’ll have to arrange a pick-up somehow.”“I can give you a lift if you want.”“What about the other two?” Chloe nodded towards where they came from. Sully waved it off.“They’ll figure something out.”“I like your way of thinking.” She said and then turned around halfway, waiting for him to follow. “You coming, then?”“Yeah. That way.” He pointed into the distance and they walked off.All the way back they kept mostly quiet, only speaking the occasional word here and there. As they were approaching the airport, Chloe looked out of the window.“Looks like we’re there.”“Yeah. Look, I hope you’re not taking all of this too hard.”She looked away from the window and towards him as he finally stopped the car and the engine was turned off.“What do you mean? One of my business partners died, no treasure, lots of debt but oh well, I guess I’ll live. All in all not too bad.”“That’s not what I meant.”She looked away, shaking her head eventually.“Nah. It’s fine. They deserve each other. And I’m not made for that kind of life anyway.”“You’re sure?” Sully asked.“Absolutely.” She forced a smile at him, then shrugged. “Even if I was. Nothing I can do. But hey, thanks for the ride.”“Sure. If you ever need anything, call me, okay?”Chloe laughed, but at last smiled and nodded softly.“Anyway, I’ve still got some time to kill.” Sully announced casually. “So you’re up for a drink before your flight or what?”“How could I possibly say no?”--
Hi Chloe, it’s been a while. Are you up for another gig?
Chloe stared at the e-mail in disbelief. Nathan Drake? Was that the Nathan Drake? Or had someone just taken his spot after he went MIA? Last time she heard about him it was Sully who informed her that he had gotten married, to Elena of course. After which she had actually decided to cut that tie and block Nathan’s number. Not that anything worthwhile came from him anyway.
Just you and me? What’s the pay?
She answered after thinking it over for a few minutes. Strictly professional.In the evening she checked her mails again.
Well no there’s Sully, Charlie, me and you. That’d be 25% for each of us. I tried calling you about this but I can’t get through.
My phone is broken. So just the four of us? Where?
Several hours later as the sun went up on her side of the world she received a reply.
Yeah. We’ll be heading to London. You in?
She sat in front of her laptop, having her morning coffee at her apartment in Australia while thinking it over.
London? Well that won’t break the bank.
We can chip in and get you a flight. You can pay it back from your share later. And before you ask: yes it will be worth it.
Chloe chuckled at the determination, finishing her coffee. How could she possibly say no.--As they sat in Charlie’s apartment discussing their plans for the next night, Chloe stole a few glances at Nathan.“Alright, Charlie’s got the van parked around the block already. Let’s catch some sleep before it’s showtime.” Nathan concluded.“Yeah, you look awful, mate.” Charlie taunted.“Oh I’m sorry I am not looking fresh enough for your liking. A red eye flight will do that to you.”“Let’s just go to bed already. I can’t wait to stretch my legs out tonight.” Sully sighed, stretching on the chair before standing up. Chloe caught his gaze quickly, Sully acknowledged it briefly, knowingly, but eventually walked towards the door. Charlie’s hand was already on the handle, ready to guide them downstairs where they would part.“Nate” Chloe finally spoke up as they were already at the door. He turned around.“Yeah?” he asked. The other two turned around as well.“You have a second?”“Sure.” He nodded, looking at Charlie and Sully. The two caught onto it, looked at each other and proceeded, leaving the room. Nathan approached Chloe again.“What’s up?”Chloe shrugged, but kept looking at him. As he did not speak up, she walked towards the kitchen counters and turned her back to them, her hips against them, her hands settled onto the cold ceramic.“Why didn’t you text me back?”“When?” he asked, confused.“Today. When I arrived at my hotel. I called you. Sent two texts. I thought you said you wanted to see me before we meet tonight.”Nathan looked into space, then his fingers found their way to his forehead.“Right… Sorry, I guess I forgot, with the flight and all.”Chloe breathed out in a condescending chuckle.“We’ll catch up when this is over, alright?” he suggested.“Sure.” Chloe said in defeat, her head sinking. “Whatever.”
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“That’s what he said? He wants to meet you at your hotel? Alone?”“Yeah. Let’s catch up before we meet with everyone. Give me a call when you arrive.” Chloe spoke, stopping in the middle of her packing to show Sully the text on her phone. Once Sully took the phone from her hands, she continued stuffing her bags for the trip to Syria.“Huh. Kid’s got crazy ideas.”“That’s what I was thinking. I thought you said he had gotten married?”“Yeah well he did.” Sully confirmed, putting the phone down on the bed next to him, his other hand holding a mug filled with coffee. “For a while at least.”Chloe’s was hunched over her bag trying to push some more clothes in, but then as she heard the answer she straightened up, looking over.“For a while? How long are we talking?”“Argh, I don’ t know the details. You don’t wanna know either.” He waved it off, but was met with her persistent gaze. “A few months maybe. Not much longer.”“I just-- I don’t understand why he says call me and then he never picks up.”“From what I heard you didn’t pick up either when he called you for the job.” Sully reminded her.“Yeah but that’s different. I’m the victim here.” Both of her hands pointed to her heart. Sully chuckled.“You really want to keep this up with him?”“Keep this up? He started it.”“Well I heard different things there, too.” He said and drank the rest off the coffee.“You know what? Whatever. I’m not doing this anymore. -- You want another coffee?” She walked over to the little tray on the side table next to the TV that had one cup, a kettle, instant coffee and several wrapped tea bags stacked, then rustled through them, holding two of the sachets up. “Okay, coffee is out. But I can offer you some, uhh” She read the label, “British luxury tea.”“Nah, don’t worry.” Sully answered, holding the empty mug in his hands. “Look kid, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”“Hey, don’t kid me” She pointed at him menacingly.“Kiddo then?”“Mhh no, not that one either. And you know, I already got hurt long ago. He made his choice. I don’t care anymore.”“Don’t you think you might have hurt him a little too?”“So what, maybe I did? Maybe I didn’t do everything right.” She walked towards her bags again and squished the clothes inside, then started to zip it up. In the middle of it, she stopped, sighing and letting go. “He’s a grown man, he can take it, right? It’s not like he can’t forgive me.”“Did you forgive him?”“I did. Sort of. Not the point.” She shook her head.“Look, why don’t you just try to talk to him?”“Talk? To Nathan Drake? I can barely get a word out of him.”“Yeah, he’s like that these days again.” Sully sighed.“All in his head? He was never any different. He’s a stubborn man-child and I can never get through to him.” Chloe commented.“Yes, right now it might seem that way. But you just give him some time.”“You think it’s because it didn’t work out with Elena?” Chloe asked. Sully shrugged.“Probably. You know how he is. With his pride and all.”“Huh” Chloe sat down on the other bed next to her bags, across from Sully. “You might be right. There’s no point talking to him now.”“That’s not really what I said.” Sully cautioned.“No, but you’re right anyway.” She smiled in that sly fashion that was typical for her and grabbed her phone from the other bed, unlocking it. “And since we’re not talking, well, we’ll actually not be talking.”Sully leaned over to catch a glimpse at her phone but as soon as Chloe realized it, she pulled back with the phone close to her chest.“You know, I don’t really like the sound of that.”“Oh he knows what’s coming.” she reassured, “He’s practically been begging for it. And he knows perfectly well how to deal with it. All he has to do is talk to me.”Sully sighed wearily.“Oh you kids these days.”