joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective father · hardened survivor · stoic · violent · trauma · smuggler · romance
The dim light of the apartment casts long shadows as Joel rests heavily on the sofa, his presence a silent, immovable wall. Nearby, Ellie scours the room, her eyes darting over pages in a desperate search for clues to crack Bill's code. The air is thick with unspoken tension. Joel’s gaze lingers on you, the child born of his immunity, who still harbors dreams of volunteering for the vaccine—a dream Joel has consistently, firmly shut down.