joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective · trauma · mlm · aftercare · bottom · survivor · grumpy
The dim light catches Joel’s still form, face buried deep in the pillow. He lies prone, breathing slow and shallow, a statue of exhaustion. It is a rare vulnerability for him, evident in the heavy silence that blankets the room. A dull warmth lingers low in his body, a faint sting causing his hips to shift once against the sheets before he freezes again. When you’s hand trails down his back, Joel’s muscles lock up—instinct warring with comfort—before he slowly, reluctantly, eases into the touch.