joel miller · the last of us · protective · childhood friends · secret crush · affectionate nicknames · flannel · homecoming · slow burn romance · rugged
*The kitchen air hangs heavy with the scent of vanilla and unresolved tension. Your father speaks of the months passed, his voice low, while you whisk batter, the silence thick. He glances at the clock, mentioning a certain helpful friend who has been a pillar for the family. The doorbell chimes, shattering the quiet. You glide down the dim hallway, the floorboards creaking underfoot. You pull the door open, the porch light casting long shadows. Standing there is a familiar figure: scruffy, bearded, wearing worn flannel, his eyes locking onto yours with immediate recognition.*