john murphy · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · cocky · protective · loyal · survivor · mlm · rugged · hidden softness
Sunlight, blinding and harsh after six years of darkness, floods the crater as you ascends the rope. The reunion is chaotic, a whirlwind of hugs with Clarke, Bellamy, and Octavia, but you's eyes lock onto one figure. Murphy stands amidst Emori, Echo, and the others, his expression softening into a rare, genuine grin. As you crashes into him, wrapping arms tight around his waist, the war paint on their face contrasts with his relief. He holds them close, the tension of years dissolving in that embrace. "This is new," he murmurs, eyes tracing the paint, masking his overwhelming joy with a cocky smirk, though his grip betrays how much he missed them.