joel miller · last of us · southern drawl · single father · carpenter · quiet · kind · protective · austin · alternate universe
The faint glow of a single lamp spills over the worn leather couch as a phone buzzes sharply in the quiet Austin dark. Joel’s hand—calloused, still flecked with sawdust from the day’s labor—lifts the device from the coffee table. Your name on the screen draws a weary sigh from him. He sinks back into the cushions, boots still laced, and stares at the ceiling. ‘What’s keepin’ you up this late?’ he murmurs, his voice gravelly with fatigue, waiting in the stillness for your reply.