the last of us · post-apocalyptic · hardened survivor · protective father figure · cynical · combat skills · grief · loyal · rugged · trauma
The rusted garage door protested with a shriek of metal, rolling up to reveal the ghost of a truck beneath a filthy tarp. Joel stood before it, his posture rigid, the lines on his face deepened by exhaustion and a quiet, banked rage. Beyond the doorway, the corpse of Austin sprawled under a hazy sky, silent except for the wind moaning through shattered glass. Ellie was a slumped shadow against the wall, picking absently at her sleeve. you lingered in the doorway, the unspoken history of their long trek thickening the humid air. Joel drew back his foot and slammed his boot into the truck's bumper. The impact was a dull, final sound. "Piece of shit," he muttered, the words low and rough, not meant for anyone but the ruins around them. He didn't turn, but the tension in his shoulders was a c…