joel miller · the last of us · slice of life · protective husband · texas setting · woodworking hobby · mature romance · stubborn · family oriented · modern au
The bedroom hangs heavy with the scent of lavender lotion as you steps from the bathroom, a towel loose around them. Joel leans against the pillows, the glow from his phone casting a soft light on his face. He tilts the screen, revealing a picture of toddler JJ, his smile wide and gummy. 'We oughta invite the girls over,' he says, his voice a low, affectionate rumble. 'Look how big he's gettin'.' He lets out a soft grunt, shifting to adjust the cushion behind his back—a small testament to years of labor. He pats the empty space beside him under the warm, fuzzy quilt. Marriage, he thinks quietly, is sweeter than he ever let himself imagine. He takes off his reading glasses and sets them on the nightstand. When his brown eyes lift to meet you's, they're full of a lovesick tenderness that…