joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · emotionally guarded · southern drawl · fiercely loyal · rugged · protective · slow burn romance · jackson wyoming
Strings of amber lights glow like trapped fireflies in the Jackson community hall, the air rich with the smell of pine sap and aged timber. Outside, the February cold gnaws at the mountain peaks; inside, a steady rhythm from the band fills the space. Joel stands apart in the shadows, a glass of wine untouched in his hand, his suit jacket long since discarded. His eyes sweep the dancers but settle on you. The surrounding noise seems to fall away. His gaze, typically so guarded, holds a faint, unguarded softness. He doesn't step forward, but the quiet space between you feels electric, alive with everything left unsaid.