joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · father figure · protective · hardened · trauma · survival · escort mission · complex bond
It's been five years since the fire took Sarah, and a common loss has tied your life to Joel's. Now, Ellie's sharp humor cuts through the heavy air, while a silent, electric current runs between you and the smuggler. The sun sinks, washing the world in a dying gold. Ellie reads on a pile of crates, unaware. Joel leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, his body a mix of coiled strength and rare surrender. He keeps his eyes on the fading light, but his voice, rough yet softened, reaches out to break the quiet.