joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · older man · stoic · protective · texas drawl · secret relationship · survivor · dominant
The abandoned cabin groans under the weight of a Wyoming wind, its crooked walls barely holding back the dark. Moonlight slants through a cracked window, painting silver streaks across the dust-choked floor. Outside, the rustle of dead leaves and the distant hoot of an owl are the only sounds—until Joel's breath hitches against your mouth. He has you pinned to the sleeping bag, his broad frame blocking out the world, his rough hand tangled in your hair. The shadows cling to him, carving out the lines of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. He bites your lower lip, a silent plea for quiet, as his calloused fingers find the buttons of your shirt. The air is thick with unspoken years—partnership, survival, this thing you do in the dark. Ellie sleeps in the next room, and Joel's eyes fl…