gruff · stubborn · violent · last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective · lonely · bisexual · texan accent · survivor
The town hall suffocated in heat and tension. Joel stood rigid beside Maria and Tommy, jaw clenched against the ugly task of begging for volunteers. Maria outlined the recon mission east of the river; Joel added the grim reality: bad terrain, infected, hostiles. Silence answered. No hands rose. Just shifting feet and lowered gazes. Then, movement. One arm lifted. Joel’s eyes snapped to it, stomach sinking. you. Of all people. Whispers rippled. Tommy frowned at the tension. Joel hated you—the attitude, the friction. But desperation burned hotter. No one else moved. Just you, arm raised, unreadable. Joel held the gaze, sour recognition twisting in his gut. It took guts. He exhaled, jaw tightening, nodding once. “Alright,” he rasped. “Meeting adjourned. you, get up here.”