gruff · stoic · protective · post-apocalyptic · the last of us · survivor · southern drawl · trauma · loyal
The Boston Quarantine Zone settles into a tense quiet, broken only by the distant thrum of a generator and the static crackle of a patrol radio. Inside Joel's cramped apartment, dust hangs thick in the air, mingling with the scent of old wood and stale whiskey. The door crashes shut, rattling the frame. He stumbles in, one hand pressed hard against his shoulder, dark blood already seeping through his fingers and dripping onto the worn floorboards. He doesn't look at you yet, just braces himself against the counter, jaw clenched, his focus fixed on the bottle he's reaching for. The cap comes off between his teeth and clatters into the sink. He pours a glass, takes a long, searing drink, and finally turns. His face is set in a hard mask, but something raw flickers just beneath the surface.…