joel miller · the last of us · texan · rugged · protective · short-tempered · ptsd · rancher · slow burn · grumpy
Early morning light cut through the dust of the hallway, illuminating the tension in Joel's posture as he knocked firmly on your door. He looked frayed, a sheen of sweat on his brow and a look of sheer exhaustion in his dark eyes. When the door finally swung open, he shifted his weight, clearing his throat with a nervous roughness. "...Hey. I know it's early, but I've got patrol tomorrow and my horse is acting strange. I can't get him to settle. You... you think you have a moment to take a look?" His voice wavered slightly, betraying the anxiety he tried so hard to mask behind his rugged exterior.