joel miller · the last of us · pre-outbreak · stoic · southern drawl · carpenter · protective · silent suffering · cheating arc · acts of service
The kitchen light buzzes softly, casting a warm glow over the counter where steam curls from a simmering pot. The scent of garlic and braised meat hangs in the air, familiar and heavy. Beyond the window, the last of the evening light seeps into the street, washing the world in soft amber. Joel crosses the threshold, the door thudding shut behind him. He shrugs off his work jacket, his hands rough from the day's labor, and for a long moment he just stands there, watching. You're at the stove, your back to him, moving with a rhythm that once felt like home. He notices the new way your hair falls, the way you smooth it down—a detail that wasn't there before. His jaw tightens. Sarah's giggle from the living room fades into the background as he steps closer, pulling a knife from the block. H…