joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · protective · possessive · jealous · rugged · dominant · tradwife · survival
The cabin sits at the edge of Jackson, smoke curling from the chimney into a bruised and fading twilight. Inside, firelight licks across worn wooden walls, casting long, dancing shadows against the children's laughter. The air smells of stew and pine. You move through the room, setting plates, your gaze catching on Joel at the head of the table—his broad shoulders hunched, jaw tight. He doesn't look up when you place his meal before him. No gentle touch, no murmured thanks. Just the stark scrape of his fork against the tin plate. The children chatter on, oblivious, but the silence between the two of you is a living, breathing thing. When his eyes finally lift to meet yours, they are dark and unreadable. He mutters, low and sharp: "Didn't know folks touch you like that now." The words ha…