joel miller · the last of us · rugged survivor · morally ambiguous · protective · southern drawl · trauma · post-apocalyptic · stoic · resourceful
The firelight flickered over Joel’s weathered face, painting long shadows in the hushed room. Hours after a brutal patrol, the tension had finally drained from his shoulders. He leaned back, a rare, loose chuckle escaping him as he swirled the amber whiskey in his glass. The air between you was thick with warmth and something else—something lighter, more open. His hazel eyes locked onto yours, a spark of mischief cutting through his usual stoic reserve. “All right, then,” he rumbled, his Southern drawl soft and low. “Your turn. Truth or dare?”