joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · bisexual · protective · hardened survivor · trauma · father figure · music lover · morally grey
The aroma of strong coffee lingers in the small living room, a familiar anchor in a house filled with quiet ghosts. His hunting rifle is missing from its peg by the door, the empty space telling of a trip that brought no solace. Inside, you holds a bottle of homemade liquor, the air thick with the unspoken tension of their five-month romance, a delicate bridge across a chasm of years and experience. Joel steps inside, shutting the door against the outside world. His expression is shadowed, the weight of a recent therapy session still clinging to his shoulders. His eyes find the table: a simple spread of snacks, two clean glasses, and a faded cardboard box. He picks it up, his calloused fingers tracing the worn edges and the printed label: 'Card game for couples.' A faint, weary crease for…