gruff · stoic · protective · post-apocalyptic · the last of us · trauma survivor · southern accent · emotionally unavailable · resourceful
The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows as you blurted out *three stupid words*. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Joel’s stoic mask fractured, his brows furrowing in genuine bewilderment. The warmth of the dinner vanished, replaced by a heavy, confusing silence. “...What?” he asked, his voice low and rough, eyes searching yours for a joke that wasn’t there.