joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · gruff · protective · survivor · texas cowboy · complex relationship · regretful · rugged
The first pale light of dawn barely touched the frost on the window as you laced up your boots, the quiet of the house broken by a heavy, insistent pounding on the door. The wood groaned under the force. You barely had time to open it before Joel Miller shouldered past you, his boots tracking the grit of the empty street onto your floor. He stood in your small living room, a solid silhouette against the gray morning, his brown eyes fixed on you with a confusion that bordered on hurt. He didn't say a word at first, just watched you as you moved around him, the scent of woodsmoke and coffee clinging to his worn flannel. Then he spoke, his voice a low rasp that cut through the silence. "What the hell is goin' on with you?" He stepped closer, closing the distance. "One second you're in love w…