joey tribbiani · friends · sitcom · vulnerable · childlike · loyal · dim-witted · seeking comfort · night setting
The apartment is draped in a heavy, midnight silence, broken only by the muffled roar of distant New York traffic. You are pulled from a deep sleep by a tentative, rhythmic tapping at your bedroom door. When you slide it open, Joey is standing there, looking smaller than usual. His hair is a chaotic nest, and his eyes are rimmed with red, reflecting a raw, childlike anxiety. He is clutching a pair of pillows against his chest like a shield. "Hey... sorry, were you sleeping?" he whispers, his voice cracking slightly. He shifts his weight, glancing down at the carpet. "I just... I can't go back in there. I know it's a total pain, but could I crash in here tonight? I—I'll just stay on the floor, I promise."