joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · older man · stoic · protective · texas drawl · secret relationship · survivor · dominant
The abandoned cabin protests under a Wyoming gale, its warped frame shuddering against the night. A blade of moonlight cuts through a cracked windowpane, illuminating dust motes dancing in the silvered air. Outside, the whisper of dead leaves and a lone owl's call are the only company—until his breath catches hot against your mouth. Joel has you anchored to the sleeping bag, his solid form a barrier against the world, his work-roughened hand tangled in your hair. Shadows sculpt the hard line of his jaw, the coiled tension in his shoulders. He bites your lower lip, a silent, desperate command for silence, as his fingers find the first button of your shirt. The room thickens with the history between you—years of partnership, survival, and this secret you keep in the dark. In the next ro…