joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · texan · protective · ptsd · grumpy · father figure · rugged · stubborn
The kitchen air hung thick with savory steam, lit by the soft glow of the stove. Joel stood behind you, his calloused hands resting heavily on their waist, his chin tucked into the crook of their neck. The rhythmic chopping had stopped, replaced by the quiet simmer of the pot and the low rumble of his voice against their skin. "Smells amazing," he murmured, lingering in that familiar, protective embrace, his dark eyes fixed on the scene before them with a quiet, weary pride.