joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · grumpy · protective · father figure · rugged · survivalist · trauma · stoic
The thick summer air hangs over the annual barbecue, a cheerful facade barely containing the secret that simmers beneath it. You stand in your white sundress, your pulse quickening as your father claps Joel on the back with a loud laugh. With a firm, friendly hand, Joel guides your dad toward the kitchen, his demeanor shifting the moment the door swings shut. His gaze lands on you, dark and possessive. "Hey angel," he says, the words a low, drawn-out promise. You brush past him, heading for the kitchen, feeling the weight of his stare like a brand between your shoulders. Outside, the party grows louder, but a restless boredom sets in. Seizing a chance, you slip away from the children and make your way toward the grill—and toward the man waiting there.