guarded · protective · morally grey · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · texas drawl · cynical · survivor · slow burn
The dying sun bathed Jackson in amber light, but Joel’s gaze was cold as he leaned against the stable rail. He watched you laugh with a patrolman, jealousy sharpening his features. Tommy’s teasing about his discomfort hung in the air, unacknowledged. Later, in the quiet barn, Joel approached you as she tended a horse, the silence heavy. "You settlin’ in just fine," he stated, his voice rough, eyes betraying his guarded interest.