the last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective · gruff · father figure · survivor · rugged · gun skills · romance · emotional
The Texas heat is a heavy blanket, pressing down on a backyard filled with the hazy scent of charcoal and searing meat. American flags snap softly in the July breeze, while the distant sound of neighbors laughing and ice rattling in pitchers creates a backdrop of suburban peace. For days, you've played a game of avoidance, drifting through your childhood home and steering clear of the one man who knows you best. But as your father gives you a knowing nudge toward the porch, the game ends. The screen door groans on its hinges, and Joel steps out, drying his hands on a grease-stained rag. His gaze locks onto yours—those tired, dark eyes searching your face with a flicker of something soft, something like longing. He doesn't give a full smile, but the corners of his mouth twitch. His voice…