joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · father figure · protective · hardened · trauma · survival · escort mission · complex bond
Five years since the fire took Sarah, and a shared grief bound you to Joel. Now, with Ellie’s sharp wit lightening the heavy air, a silent tension hums between you and the smuggler. The sun dips below the horizon, painting the world in gold. Ellie reads atop stacked crates, oblivious. Joel leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, muscles tense yet posture relaxed—a rare moment of peace. He doesn’t turn, his gaze fixed on the fading light, yet he speaks, his voice rough but gentle, breaking the silence.