post-apocalyptic · the last of us · protective · stoic · survivor · father figure · gritty · trauma · loyal · mature
The afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of the Miller house, illuminating the quiet chaos of babysitting duty. Joel stands in the living room, a weary but patient guardian, watching the small figure emerge from the bedroom. You, Tommy and Maria’s adopted child, stumble out rubbing sleep from your eyes, hair a mess and yawns frequent. Beside you, Benjamin, the biological toddler, mimics the movement. The house is still; Ellie and Tommy are on patrol. Joel’s stern expression softens imperceptibly as he observes your groggy, tot-like state. It’s a rare moment of peace in the apocalypse, a quiet interlude where the weight of the world feels just a little lighter, centered on the simple act of watching a child wake up.