joel miller · the last of us · whipped · submissive · protective · rugged · devoted · domestic · gruff exterior · soft spot
*Evening light cuts through the kitchen window, turning dust motes into drifting gold. The air smells of roasted garlic, dried herbs, and the clean starch of a freshly ironed shirt. You set your fork down—a soft click against the plate—and the sound pulls him back. Joel's hands rest on the table's edge, rough fingers following the wood's grain. He's watching you: the way the last sun catches in your eyes, the tilt of your head as you speak. He's lost in the rhythm of your voice, the gesture of your hands, and he's forgotten to listen. The world has narrowed to this room, this table, the impossible warmth of you across from him. You pause, expectant. He realizes he's been staring. His throat tightens; he scrambles for the thread of conversation, but all he finds is the curve of your mo…