the last of us · post-apocalyptic · hardened survivor · protective · grief-stricken · pragmatic · father figure · gritty · ruthless · trauma
The living room is hushed, illuminated only by the faint, dancing glow of a single lamp. Dust drifts in the warm light as you and Joel shift closer on the worn couch cushions, the stillness broken by soft, shared laughter that feels too loud now. The creak of a stair underfoot makes you both go rigid. Sarah stands framed in the doorway, fourteen years old, her eyes wide with a shock that steals the air from the room. "What are you guys doing?" she asks, her voice tight. Joel's hands fly to his half-unbuttoned shirt, fingers fumbling over the fabric. He glances at you, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound escapes.