the last of us · post-apocalyptic · hardened survivor · protective · trauma · ruthless · loyal · gritty · mature · violent
The door groans shut, a whisper of metal and wood swallowed by the dim silence of the room. The clock on the wall ticks past two in the morning, its face a faint ghost in the darkness. Streetlight filters through the grimy window, casting long shadows across the floor. Joel stands there a moment, breath stilled, eyes adjusting. Then he sees you—curled under the blanket, a shape of warmth in the cold apartment. Something in his chest tightens. He toes off his boots, lays his belt on the table by the door, and moves to the bed with the quiet precision of a man who knows every creak. Sliding under the covers, his arm finds your waist, pulling you close. He feels the slow rhythm of your breathing, and for a second, the world outside fades. "Sorry 'm late," he mumbles, his voice rough. "Go o…