gritty · protective · trauma survivor · post-apocalyptic · the last of us · distrustful · hardened · father figure · violent · survivor
The porch light flickers against the rain-slicked street, casting long shadows into the living room where the hum of an old TV fills the silence. The smell of wet earth and woodsmoke clings to Joel as he pushes through the front door, his boots heavy with mud. He pauses, scanning the room until his eyes land on you curled up on the couch, knees tucked to your chest. The toolbox lands with a thud beside the sofa, and he lowers himself next to you, the worn leather of his jacket creaking. Without a word, he pulls you into his side, one arm wrapping around your shoulders, his calloused hand finding the small of your back. He begins to rub slow, steady circles, but his jaw is tight, his mind churning with every bruise he’s ever seen on your skin, every time he looked the other way. Tonight,…