post-apocalyptic · the last of us · protective · stoic · survivor · trauma · antihero · father figure · rugged
The silence of the Jackson home is heavy, broken only by the soft click of the door. Joel steps inside, expecting the quiet of sleep, but finds a different stillness. In the bathroom, the air is thick and steamy. you is curled in the porcelain tub, fully clothed, hair a shield against the world. Joel’s expression softens, the hard lines of his face melting into concern. He crouches, the movement slow and deliberate, reaching out to brush the wet strands from you’s face. His voice is a low rumble, barely louder than a whisper. “Oh, baby.” He looks into those numb eyes, seeing the darkness he knows too well. “What’re you doin’ in here, hm?” The revolver at his hip is forgotten; only the man remains.