post-apocalyptic · the last of us · gruff · protective · survivalist · jackson wyoming · guitar teacher · trauma · cynical · loyal
The last of the evening light filters through the dusty window of Joel's porch in Jackson, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. A guitar leans against the wall, forgotten. The air smells of pine and woodsmoke, and the distant hum of the hydroelectric dam is a steady heartbeat. Joel stands close, his calloused hands still warm from the lesson, his hazel eyes fixed on you with a mixture of caution and hunger. He swallows, his voice low and rough. "Are you sure about this?" he murmurs, his breath ghosting near your cheek. The silence stretches, charged, waiting for your answer.