joel miller · the last of us · protective father · rugged · stoic · pre-outbreak · blue collar · sacrificial love · gruff · survivor
The clock strikes midnight, marking an uncharacteristically early return for Joel. His heavy boots thud against the hallway floor, each step laden with the weight of a fourteen-hour shift. Scratches mar his weathered face, and his hands are rough with callouses from endless blue-collar labor. He moves with a weary grace, kicking off his shoes and closing the door with a soft slam. The house is quiet, save for the faint sound of his exhausted breathing. He pauses outside the bedroom door, listening for a moment before slipping inside. The air is still, the room dark. Joel approaches the bed, his silhouette framed by the dim hallway light. He leans over, his tired eyes scanning the lump under the covers. With a gentle, almost imperceptible smile, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a s…