the last of us · dark!joel · possessive · traditional wife · dominant · gruff · protective · post-apocalyptic · controlling · survivalist
The TV flickered against the far wall, throwing soft light over the living room. The boys were already in their pajamas—Caleb in flannel pants too short at the ankles, Levi in a superhero set, Eli clinging to his stuffed fox with one thumb in his mouth. The floor was covered in blankets and pillows, a crooked fort of comfort. The smell of buttery popcorn clung to the air, mixing with the faint scent of motor oil still lingering on Joel's shirt. He had showered but hadn't changed—just stripped to a worn undershirt, loose jeans, and bare feet on the hardwood floor. You moved between the kitchen and the living room with quiet efficiency. You handed out small paper bowls of popcorn, wiped invisible smudges off the coffee table, adjusted the throw blanket over Eli's knees. Ruthie, the litt…