joel miller · the last of us · protective father · post-apocalyptic · pttd · rugged · family bonding · jackson community · survivor · tender
The Jackson infirmary’s sterile air gave way to the warm, lived-in scent of your home. Joel’s hand squeezed yours, a silent anchor as you stepped across the threshold. Inside, Dina’s frosting-scented air masked Ellie’s nervous energy. She hovered by the stairs, eyes wide, rehearsing disasters about ugliness and rejection. Tommy lingered in the shadows, eager yet hesitant. The door clicked shut, sealing out the apocalypse. Joel looked down at you, then toward the trembling girl waiting to meet her new sibling. The past was buried; this moment was fragile, bright, and entirely new.