#joel introduced him and then ran away and that was it

[jolteonmchale]

joel's william shatner story

(joel introducing william shatner)

#i can't remember where joel told this story but he met william shatner once and introduced himself and he refused to shake his hand #anyway this is my roman empire and i'm very excited that joel got to introduce william shatner at the saturn awards tonight #even though nothing happened really #joel introduced him and then ran away and that was it #maybe there was a fight at the after party #this video is from last year's saturn awards btw #when william shatner wasn't there

[alltheirdamn]

DECLINED | Mechanic!Joel x f!reader

PART 2

Summary: After a summer away, you decide to pay a visit to your favorite mechanic. Rating: 18+ Explicit Word Count: 3.7k Warnings: Pre-outbreak (AU), mechanic!joel, car sex, oral (f receiving), fingering, squirting, semi-public sex, multiple orgasms, slight overstimulation, light nipple play, unprotected piv sex, size kink, dirty talk, praise kink, pet names (darlin', babydoll, cowboy), cock riding, rough sex, creampie, joel once again being irresistible and disgustingly sweet, light sprinkle of fluff, porn with no plot (kinda) A/N: I have zero self-restraint and couldn't stop thinking about mechanic!joel soo... you could say, it was so nice she had to come twice ;)

PART 1 | Masterlist | Ko-fi

It wasn’t like you were actually planning on pulling off the highway to head toward that mechanic shop… except you totally were. Summer came and went, and after a few months spent in Tallahassee, it was time to go home. You weren’t in a rush this time, though, so you could afford a quick pit stop at a small mechanic shop. Nothing needed to be fixed in your car, but maybe you’d pop a screw loose just for the hell of it.

Pulling into the familiar garage, your heart thumped in your ears as you threw the car in park and nearly ran inside. The waiting room was disappointingly empty minus a handsome man standing behind the counter…one that wasn’t Joel.

His black curls were slicked back, and with just a white tank top and flannel on, you could tell he was built just like Joel. At your sudden entrance, he glanced your way, giving the cigarette in his hand a quick flick over the ashtray on the counter he leaned on.

“Can I help you with somethin’, miss?” He asked. He had that same drawl in his voice as Joel did.

Taming down your flyaways from the humidity, you walked over to the counter with a friendly smile. You didn’t miss how his eyes did a once-over on your body.

“I was just coming through town, thought I’d stop in to say hi to Joel,” you explained.

He took another drag of his cigarette, the cherry burning at the bottom. After a long inhale, he puffed out an air of smoke, filling the space with that stinging smell of nicotine. You weren’t completely opposed to the smell, and you most definitely appreciated him blowing it to the side so that it didn’t creep up into your nose.

“Joel’s just up at the mini-mart grabbin’ some beers. M’sure he’ll be back soon,” he shrugged. “I’m Tommy by the way, his brother.”

He extended his free hand, and you met him halfway to give him a friendly handshake, introducing yourself as well. Tommy donned that same lopsided grin as Joel; it must be that Southern charm and hospitality.

“So,” he drawled. “How y’know my brother?”

You shifted your weight between legs, trying to come up with some stupid lie to explain how you did know him. Short answer: he fixed your car. Long answer: he gave you the best orgasms of your life. 

“I, uh, came through town a few months ago to get my car fixed, and—.”

“Hey, Tommy! Come help me with the beers, man!” A voice shouted from the side door.

Tommy gave you an apologetic grin, rounding the corner to meet his brother outside. You leaned against the counter, drumming your fingers against it as you waited for them to reemerge. Tommy was walking back through the door moments later, a six-pack of beers in hand and Joel in tow. 

“C’mon man, I told you no smokin’ in the damn shop,” Joel grumbled, smacking the back of Tommy’s head.

Tommy only laughed at his brother's annoyance, walking around the counter to give Joel a clear view of you standing there. As his eyes set on you, Joel stopped in his tracks, a wild grin splitting across his face.

“Well, would y’look at that,” he beamed. “If it ain’t my favorite customer.”

A warmth crept up your skin, your cheeks blushing at his words. He approached you, leaning against the counter to mimic your stance. He still wore that worn-down black t-shirt, the fabric thinned out and stretching over his muscles. You wondered how long those scratches stayed on the skin of his back after you both…

“Ohhhh,” Tommy interrupted, forcing your eyes to tear away from Joel’s. “You’re the girl that’s got my brother out $500!”

Snapping your head back to Joel, you smacked his bicep in embarrassment.

“You told him?!” You shrieked.

Joel doubled over in laughter, clutching the arm you had just whacked.

“Calm down, darlin’. I ain’t ever think I’d see you again! S’all in good fun.”

You buried your face in your hands, letting out a small groan. Of course, he’d tell his fucking brother about you; the girl that didn’t have any fucking money for a car and slept her way out of the debt. You could bet Tommy probably didn’t believe Joel when he told him the story, either.

“Aw, c’mon now babydoll,” Joel crooned, peeling your hands away from your face. “I ain’t meant no harm in tellin’ the story.”

“He hasn’t told another soul,” Tommy said. You glanced over to see him raise a hand in defense. “Scouts honor.”

You smack Joel again for good measure, eliciting a howling laugh from Tommy on the other side of the counter. 

“Tommy, I’ll close up the shop tonight,” Joel said, raising an eyebrow at his brother. “Why don’t you head out and grab Sarah for me? M’sure I’ll be back in time for the game.”

“Fuckin’ better be,” Tommy tossed back. “Ain’t tryna lose my money to you again.”

“Seems like he needs that money,” you chimed in, rolling your eyes.

This time Joel shoved at you playfully, a hearty laugh rumbling through his chest. 

“Now she’s got jokes!” He teased. 

“Ha ha very funny,” Tommy said, scooping up the six-pack into his arms. “Nice meetin’ ya miss. Don’t run up your tab too high while you’re here.”

Tommy was just as good with the jabs as you were, so you threw him a quick smile and wave before he slid out the back door and disappeared. With only Joel and you left, that nervous feeling crept back in. 

“Got another tire blown out or did y’miss me?” Joel teased.

“Don’t let your ego get too big, cowboy,” you said. “I’m just rollin’ back through town.”

“Pretty sure I’m big everywhere, babydoll, but y’already know that.”

Joel took a step towards you, twisting a strand of your hair through his fingers. You could see the midday sun reflecting in his brown eyes, making them sparkle the longer he stared. Your gaze flicked down to his lips, that pouty bottom one quipped up into a slight grin. 

“You’re just so sure of yourself, aren’t you?” You laughed.

“Sure enough to know that pretty pussy is just soakin’ your underwear right now,” he drawled. 

He grabbed your hips, pinning you to his chest with an arm braced around your back. Dipping his hand between your bodies, he slid a finger over the seam of your zipper, teasing your already throbbing clit. Your eyes fluttered shut at the feather-like touch of his finger, your body aching for him.

“Fuckin’ knew it,” he whispered in your ear.

Your breath hitched as he popped open the button on your jeans and tugged down the zipper. Slipping two fingers between your skin and underwear, he drew lazy circles over your clit, watching you with rapt attention as you tried to stifle a moan.

“Mhmm,” he crooned. “Been dreamin’ ‘bout this pussy ever since you left town, darlin’.”

“Yeah?” you exhaled, rolling your hips against his fingers as they worked faster.

“Ain’t ever had my cock so wet.” Joel pressed a kiss against your neck as his fingers slid between your wet folds and teased your entrance. 

“Christ, Joel,” you exhaled. “Maybe we should take this somewhere else.”

Joel glanced around the empty waiting room and shrugged.

“No one’s here, darlin’.”

“Your shop windows are glass,” you argued. “Anyone can see us if they drive by.”

Teasing your wet folds, Joel slid a finger inside you, slowly curling it in an attempt to shut you up—which did work, unfortunately. You leaned into his broad chest, your head resting on his sternum as he continued the movement in slow strokes. 

“Joel,” you whimpered, clutching the fabric of his shirt.

“What, babydoll?” He asked innocently as if he didn’t fucking know what he was doing to you.

“Take me to the garage,” you breathed. “Please.”

“Only ‘cause you asked so nicely, darlin’.”

Pulling his hand out of your jeans, Joel bent to scoop you up, drawing your legs around his waist to carry you out of the waiting room. You wound your arms around his neck, dipping your head down to kiss along the stubble of his jawline. His hands squeezed your ass as he walked you both through the door to the garage, situating himself at the workbench. Still positioned in his lap, you wasted no time and pulled him in for a long, passionate kiss. You could feel the smile on his lips as he kissed you back, his hands roaming up and down your body as you devoured one another. 

“Jesus, babydoll. Y’really did miss me, huh?” he muttered against your open mouth.

“Maybe I did, cowboy.”

Grinding your hips on his lap, you felt the strain of his cock beneath the worn-out fabric of his work jeans. Joel nipped at your bottom lip, groaning as you circled your hips harder. 

“Easy now, darlin’,” he warned. “Don’t wanna ruin my jeans like some middle school boy.”

You laughed and doubled down on your movements against his cock, each drag of your body forcing him to tense up. Joel’s hand came up to cup your breast through your bra, squeezing hard enough to make you whimper. 

“Y’gonna be a good girl for me, babydoll?” he questioned.

You snuck a glance at his face, seeing his pupils blown wide with lust. Nodding quietly, you stilled your movements and focused on the feel of his fingers pinching your hardened nipple through the fabric. Your jaw went slack as he toyed with you, coaxing humiliating sounds from your lips with each twist.

“Hmm,” he mused, leveling you with a dangerous stare. “That's how I get you to behave, huh?”

“Joel,” you whined breathlessly. 

“Use your words, babydoll.”

“I need you to fuck me,” you begged, leaning into his touch.

“Where’s those manners, darlin’?” he taunted.

Giving him the biggest pouty face you could muster, you pushed your bottom lip out and sealed the deal by batting your eyelashes at him.

“Please, cowboy?” 

Joel rolled his eyes and chuckled, bringing his hand down on your ass to deliver a sharp slap. Hoisting you back up, Joel spun your body back against the wall of the garage, shoving your shirt up as he pressed you against it. He wasted no time in dragging down your bra, ravishing your skin with kisses and bites, leaving a trail of marks down your breast and sternum. You ran your hands through his curls, feeling the humidity of the air dampen them the longer you both stayed in the garage. Neither of you seemed to mind, though; you were so wrapped up in each other there was no telling of what was happening in the outside world. 

He took your nipple between his teeth, biting it softly and rewarding your behavior with another trail of kisses back up your chest and neck. He mumbled a slew of curses under his breath as you mewled against his touch, his mouth hot against the underside of your jaw.

“Quite the mouth on you, cowboy,” you teased. 

“Y’already know what this mouth can do, darlin’. Don’t tempt me.”

“Why don’t you remind me?” you asked, a smug grin teasing your lips.

“Fuck, babydoll,” he groaned.

Setting you back down on your feet, Joel nodded towards his black truck, silently instructing you to move. With the truck bed already down, you did a little hop and shimmy onto it, settling back against the warm metal. Joel grabbed a clean towel off his workbench and stalked towards you with a devilish grin.

“Afraid to get your truck messy?” You smirked.

“I already know you’re gonna have the entire bed of it soaked in damn near a minute,” he responded.

Letting impatience get the best of you, you worked yourself out of your jeans and underwear, slingshotting it directly at Joel’s chest as he neared the edge of the truck. Catching it with one hand, he pocketed the black lace effortlessly, offering you the towel to situate yourself onto. Sliding your body into the towel, you dropped your legs open, giving Joel a perfect view to ogle at.

“Like what you see, cowboy?” You giggled, trailing your fingers down your abdomen and towards the wetness between your thighs. 

“Damn right I do, darlin’.”

Joel pressed up against the truck bed, bending over to kiss down your stomach where your hand laid against your aching clit. He brushed his lips over your fingers before drawing them into his mouth, sucking on them gently. Your breath hitched as your eyes connected, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. Joel pulled your fingers from his mouth and guided your hand through his hair.

“Give them curls a tug if y’need it, darlin’.”

Then his mouth was on you. Devouring you. Lapping at you. Every flick of his tongue sent shockwaves through your body, your veins coursing with an indescribable need to explode. Joel didn’t let up for a single second, his tongue and jaw working at you until your thighs quaked around his neck. He was pushing you closer and closer until that coil inside your stomach was ready to snap. You cried out as he flattened his tongue against your clit, putting pressure at just the right spot to make you see stars.

“Right there… oh my God, Joel,” you whispered, panting as you felt that build-up in your body begin.

With another long draw of his tongue and the brush of his nose against the sensitive bud of your clit, that coil snapped. Hot, warm liquid gushed out of you, covering the entirety of his open mouth and chin. Joel groaned as he continued lapping at you, the disgusting sound of your wet cunt drowning out the heartbeat thudding in your ears. Aftershocks of your orgasm coursed through you, your body pulsing with pleasure with each press of his mouth against you.

You tugged at his curls as he instructed, and Joel lifted his face to reveal what a dripping mess he had become. Your cheeks reddened at the sight of his hooded eyes and wild smile; the look of sheer bliss painting his features. Exhaling, you sagged against the metal of the truck, your chest rising and falling as you tried to regain some semblance of control.

“God, I sure did miss this pussy,” Joel hummed, nudging his nose against your dripping cunt. 

You squirmed against his face, too afraid another orgasm would surge through you and drench him again—which he obviously wouldn’t be opposed to. But you needed his cock buried inside you, now.

“Joel, climb up here,” you said, patting the metal beside you.

“What if I ain’t ready yet?” he argued, kissing the inside of your thighs.

“Joel,” you demanded.

“Alright, alright,” he sighed. “Don’t get all impatient on me now, darlin’.”

Hauling himself onto the truck bed, he crawled over your limp body, kissing up the side of your neck. Using what little strength you had left, you maneuvered yourself over him, flipping you both until you straddled his lap. Joel’s hands came up to your bare hips, his thick fingers squeezing and kneading the supple flesh as you rolled against his hardened cock.

“Gonna let me ride you, cowboy?” You asked.

“Fuck, darlin’,” he groaned, his eyes rolling back. “Boutta be the best ride of my goddamn life.”

Giving him a wink, you hurried to undo his belt and jeans, letting his cock spring free. Christ, you forgot how big it was. Joel chuckled at the way you stalled a moment, bucking his hips upwards in an attempt to get you moving.

“Calm down, cowboy,” you warned. “I’m gettin’ there.”

Wrapping your hand around the base of his cock, you positioned it at your entrance, slowly sinking down until your clit brushed against the curls at the base. Even dripping wet, you were forced to stretch around him, the fullness leaving you breathless for a moment. 

“Y’look so pretty like that, babydoll. S’fuckin full of me,” Joel hummed.

You whimpered at his words, moving your hips up and down finding the right tempo that sent you both into oblivion. The press of your knees against the metal wasn’t the most comfortable thing, but you could ignore it so long as he enjoyed himself. You picked up the pace, your body bouncing up and down as you forced his cock deeper inside you. Joel’s jaw went slack as he watched you, enraptured with the way you moved above him. Your bodies slapped together with each drop of your hips, and his fingers flexed against your waist as he pushed and pulled your body until you were grinding against him. 

“There ya’ go, babydoll,” Joel murmured. “Feel how deep I am?”

You only gave him a pathetic moan, letting his hands guide your body as you pulsed around his cock. You were so fucking full, the tip of his cock spearing up into you with each drag of your hips. Snaking a hand down your body, your fingers found your clit, drawing desperate circles as you tried to chase the orgasm threading through your muscles. 

“Fuck,” Joel groaned. “You’re just desperate to cum again, huh?”

“Yes, Joel,” you whined, putting more pressure on your clit as he drove himself deeper.

“S’fuckin’ pretty like that,” Joel exhaled. “Gonna drench me again, huh? Let’s see it, babydoll, cover me with it.”

Your mouth opened with a soundless cry, your cunt flexing around his cock as another orgasm ruptured through you, soaking your thighs and seeping into his jeans. Hauling you down against his chest, Joel positioned his knees upward, pistoning his hips against yours at a violent pace. 

“Fuck!!” You sobbed as more liquid gushed out of you, the strength of your orgasm amplified at this angle.

“Good fuckin’ girl. That’s it, c’mon,” Joel praised, his lips pressed against your ear. “Keep goin’, babydoll. I know y’can give me more.”

“I—I can’t!” You stammered.

Your orgasm wouldn’t let up, though. Joel’s cock drove into you with such force, that you continued soaking him over and over again despite your wailing protests. Joel continued praising you and talking you through each ripple of your orgasm, hushing you as you cried harder. 

“Just like that, babydoll. Shh… Doin’ so fuckin’ good for me.”

Joel kept a brutal pace, wrecking into you as he chased his own release. His hips snapped up one final time before he was spilling into you with a choked groan falling from his lips. 

Falling limp against his body, you stared at the sides of the truck bed with glazed eyes. Tremors still wracked through your body as you settled into his embrace, his hand rubbing soft circles over your shoulders. Craning his head to the side, Joel captured your lips in a soft kiss, his tongue dancing over yours slow and sweet. 

“Doin’ alright, babydoll?” he asked, breaking away from your lips.

You nodded mindlessly, too blissed out to form words. Nestled into his body, you let your fingers wander up his bicep and over his shoulder. Joel placed a soft kiss at the crown of your head, his muffled words lost in your hair.

“Hmm?” You asked.

“S’nothing,” he whispered. “Just enjoyed the ride, that’s all.”

You rested your head on his sternum, giving him a questioning look. 

“Sounded like you said something else,” you said, cocking a brow.

Joel huffed a laugh, his head falling back against the metal with a soft thud.

“I don’t know, darlin’. Guess I kinda like you.”

“Guess I kinda like you too, cowboy.”

Rolling off of him, you situated yourself against the side of the truck bed, resting your legs over his stomach. Joel’s hand kneaded into the tight muscles of your calves, working at the knots in your legs. His head leaned to the side to catch a glimpse at you, a smile breaking across his face.

“How long are y’staying in town?” he asked.

“I was only passing through,” you sighed.

His smile faltered a moment, that glimmer of hope flickering out in his eyes. Suddenly, the thought of leaving didn’t sound so nice.

“Why don’t y’stay the night?” he offered. “Got myself a big enough bed to sleep in, babydoll.”

“How much is it gonna cost me?” You teased, rubbing your foot over the softest part of his lower stomach.

“I’m thinkin’ a good blowjob,” he mused.

“Whatever you want, cowboy. Count me in.”

You spent a few moments in harmonious silence, basking in the circumstances’ simplicity. After a while, you found yourself climbing off the truck in search of your jeans and underwear. Joel worked his way down, too, stuffing his cock back into his pants and gathering the damp towel off the truck bed.

“You still have my underwear,” you grumbled, shaking out your jeans to slide into.

“And I’m gonna keep ‘em, darlin’,” Joel said, grabbing you by the waist to reel you in for a kiss. “Need me a lil’ souvenir.”

“You’re unbelievable,” you chuckled.

Foregoing underwear, you stuffed yourself back into your jeans and followed Joel to the passenger side of the truck, where he had the door already propped open for you. Helping you in, he reached over to secure your seatbelt, kissing your cheek softly before shutting the door and walking to the driver's side.

Turning the key in the ignition, Joel glanced over at you, his eyes roaming over your messy hair and rosy cheeks. 

“Y’sure are beautiful, babydoll. Wish I could keep ya here,” he sighed.

You rested your chin in your hand, leaning over the center console. 

“I don’t know, cowboy. Your negotiating skills are pretty damn good. Might talk me into staying with all those sweet words.”

“Oh yeah?” he perked up. “Y’know you still got a hefty bill to pay off.”

“Shit, you’re right,” you agreed. “I might have to stay a while to settle that debt.”

Joel cracked a smile, lifting up the console to haul you closer to him. Backing out of the garage, he navigated the truck onto the main road and towards wherever home was for him. Settling into his side, your fingers danced over the zipper of his pants as you waged your brows at him.

“Think I should start paying off that debt now?” You asked.

“I ain’t arguing with that, babydoll,” Joel grinned.

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller fanfic #joel miller one shot #joel miller smut #joel miller x f!reader #mechanic!joel #joel x reader #tlou #tlou fanfiction #one shot #joel miller pre-outbreak

[juletheghoul]

friendly neighbourhood handyman

Gif by @manny-jacinto

Authors note: I just want to live in a world where Joel and Sarah are alive and well. So I wrote it, please enjoy being Joel's neighbour! (Thanks to my bestie @wheresarizona for encouraging me and to my literal wife @foli-vora for being the bestest cheerleader)

Pairing: Young Joel Miller x F!Reader

Word count: 4.3k

Warnings: 18+ no minors, piv sex, dirty talk, creampie, oral (both m & f receiving) let me know if I missed any!

Masterlist

---

It was the dog that led you to him, running out the door once you’d pulled it open, powerless to do anything but yell with your first big run of groceries in your arms. 

“Goddamn it, Tucker!” You all but tossed the groceries inside the house, hoping against hope that the carton of eggs was still intact as you ran towards your dog. Luckily he’d stopped at the house opposite, jumping up onto a dark haired man standing outside his truck. 

“Oh god I’m so sorry! Tucker, get over here!” The man was smiling at the dog, thankfully. A young girl came out, no doubt to investigate the noise. 

“Oh!” She squealed happily, “Hi there!” The dog moved from the man to the girl, jumping up rudely, trying to lick her face. 

“He doesn’t bite! I’m so sorry.” You finally made it over to where his tail was wagging wildly. “Tucker, Jesus Christ, get over here.” You gently pulled him away, catching your breath while staring daggers at the dog. He was nonplussed. 

“He’s so cute!” The young girl came over to pet him where he stood beside you, “Hi Tucker.” His tongue lolled, ecstatic at the attention. 

“You’re alright.” The man finished up behind the truck and walked towards you, he was tall and broad, dark eyes to match his dark hair. He was very handsome. “You just move in?” He scanned behind you.

“Yes, moved in last night.” You smiled, introducing yourself to him. “It’s nice to meet you-“

“Joel.” He shook your outstretched hand, shocking you with how warm his grip was. “My daughter, Sarah.” He gestured to the girl petting the dog at your side. 

“Hi!” She smiled, giving the dog some more love before moving away. He fiddles with the keys in his hand. “Come on Sarah, we’ll be late.” He nodded his head, signaling he couldn’t stay. “I know that house. Garcias used to live there, they had some trouble with the deck if I recall. You have any issues, come see me. I’ll fix it up for you.” He smiled before getting into his truck, letting you walk your unruly dog back to your house. 

It was hard not to look out for him after that. Not failing to notice the lack of a wedding ring. 

From then on every rumble of a truck crawling down the street made you glance out the window. Whenever it was him getting home you’d stare, lip caught between your teeth as you watched him make his way into the house. He always had a quick word for whichever neighbour was out, always a gorgeous smile on his lips. 

You thought about taking him up on his offer, about asking him to help with projects around the house, but then what? What if he had a relationship? How could you find out?

The answer came a few days later while you were out on the front lawn, tackling the disaster that was your garden bed. Denise, the friendly woman next door, had come over to say hello. She was commenting on your flowers when Joel’s telltale truck rumbled towards you. 

You tried not to stare, tried to keep your eyes on Denise, keep your attention on the words she spoke but he caught her attention as well.

“Hey, have you met Joel yet? Joel!” She called him over and it made your stomach drop off a cliff. Your blood buzzes with giddy excitement, reducing you to a schoolgirl with a crush. You couldn’t help but smile at him as he walked over. Tucker was tied to the porch with a long leash to stop him from running out into the street again, and he’d been laying in a patch of sun calmly but that went out the window once he noticed Joel walking over. He bounded over to him and was greeted with a friendly welcome. 

“Hey boy, you behavin’?” He patted him firmly on the flank before reaching you both, “Yes, dog made sure we met.” He smiled. “How’s that deck treatin’ you?” He had a squinty smile on his handsome face. One of Denise’s kids came out then and practically dragged her away, leaving the two of you alone. 

“It’s seen better days, whole house has really.” You turned to look at the house from his perspective. “I take it you're a carpenter?” He moved to stand beside you, both of you facing the house. 

“My brother and I work construction, but I know enough to get by. What’s wrong inside?” 

“Well, the banister is loose, wobbly when you go up the stairs. Couple of loose floorboards and the bathroom could use a new sink. Aside from that-” 

“New coat of paint on the outside wouldn’t hurt either.” He was frowning at the exterior. “You all alone in there?” He turned to face you, “Aside from the dog I mean, anyone to help out?” 

You shook your head no. 

“Just Tucker and I, what about you? Just you and Sarah over there?” You gestured towards his home. Probing. 

“Just us, and occasionally Tommy. My brother.” He pulled the phone out of his pocket to check the time, “Can I take a look at your stairs? Sounds dangerous.” 

“Sure–come in.” Your heart raced as you walked up the porch steps, opening the door for him, making sure to untie Tucker and let him in with you.

He made his way in, wiping his boots off as best he could on your welcome mat, Tucker rushed past you both and made his way over to his favourite spot. 

You definitely hadn’t planned on having visitors. 

“Don’t judge me–I’m almost done unpacking.” There were still a few boxes littering the almost set up living room. Shelves that were halfway filled. Books scattered on the floor. 

“Oh don’t sweat it. You should see the way my place gets sometimes.” He smiled, making his way towards the stairs. “Okay, let's see what we’re workin’ with.” He curled his fingers around the banister and gave it a firm shake, swearing under his breath when it almost came off in his hands. “Okay that is really unsafe. Give me a sec and I’ll grab my tools.” He turned to head for the door. “I can’t fix everything tonight, I have to get dinner started but I can do this.” 

“Oh, please if you’re in a hurry it’s okay!” You rushed out after him. “Really, it’s okay–” 

“No it isn’t, I'll be right back.” He jogged quickly across the cul de sac, reaching into his truck for his tool belt and what looked like a drill. “Okay, I’m going to tighten this up and make it safe, and then later on if you want to replace it or update it or what have you, we can do it.” The way he said we almost let you believe that you were an item, and it thrilled you. 

“You’re too kind Joel, really.” You watched him with hearts in your eyes, eating up the sight of him working away, the way his arms flexed when he pushed on the drill to tighten up some loose screws, when he put a few new ones in. It was a warm day, and you could see the evidence of it as a drop of perspiration rolled down the back of his neck, down past the collar of his shirt. All of him a taunt. 

“Okay–I think we’re in business.” He was up and testing the bannister faster than you would have liked, testing it and smiling, happy with his handiwork. “You free tomorrow?” He was tucking his drill into a loop on his belt. 

“Yes, I get home just after four.” You fiddled with hem of your shirt, your hands itching to circle around his neck. 

Jesus woman, get a hold of yourself. 

“Perfect, I’ll get Sarah to go next door–” He caught you staring at his arms, your lip between your teeth, every dirty thought you’d had about him no doubt plain on your face. You looked at the bannister quickly, too quickly. “...Okay if I just park in your driveway?” He crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. You could almost hear the smile on his lips along with the pounding of your heart in your ears. 

“Uh, yeah. No problem.” You smiled big. You tried to glance at him quickly but he held your gaze, his head swiveling when you moved. 

“Well okay then.” He smiled big, his dimple the cherry on top. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?” He winked and then left. Tucker let out a sigh as the screen door banged behind him. 

“Tell me about it boy.” You spoke to the dog, watching Joel as he walked away. 

—

You’d gotten home early, and spent it tidying up the living room, hoping to have it all cleared away by the time Joel came over. 

You’d just managed to put away the last few things and change into something a bit nicer than work clothes when his truck rumbled down the street. Tucker bolted to the screen door, barking happily as Joel unloaded his things. 

“Hey boy.” Joel put down his toolbox and shut the screen door, making sure Tucker didn’t get out. “How you keepin’? He gave the dog those flank pats he loved, moving up to scratch behind his ears.

“Thanks again for doing this Joel-” He looked up at you with something like surprise. 

Was the dress too much?

He smiled wide, giving you a not so subtle onceover. 

“It’s no trouble at all.” He straightened up, running a hand through his hair. “Let's see if we can straighten this place out.” You couldn’t help but smile back, his dark eyes lively with something that looked like mischief. 

He did a walk through of the house, noting the things that needed repairing and once he had assembled the mental list he got to work.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Tucker was standing near his bowl, pawing at it to get your attention. “I have beer, water, could make a pot of coffee.”

“Coffee would be great, if you make some for yourself. Don’t just make a pot for me.” You heard tools being set down, the general rummaging noises of a handyman. 

“I could have some coffee.” You set about making it, pouring a pot full of water into Tucker's bowl, and then into the machine before adding the filter and the grounds. It was nice to have something to do instead of standing there gawking at him, 

“So—how are you likin’ the neighbourhood?” His voice carried, deep and friendly. 

“It’s great, nice and quiet.” You called back, reaching for a couple of mugs. 

“And the neighbours?” There was something in his voice, something playful.

“They’re alright.” He laughs before you hear drilling sounds.

When the coffee was ready you poured two cups, and fixed yours the way you liked it. 

“How do you take your coffee?” You called out.

“Just black please darlin’.” Your heart raced at the endearment, making you smile privately before heading towards him. “Thank you kindly, this smells amazing.” He took a greedy sip, seemingly unbothered by the temperature and let out a deep groan. 

“Good?” Pride swelled in your chest to see him enjoy it so much, thankful now that you’d remembered to buy coffee on your first grocery run.

“Fantastic. I can never get it to taste this good. Might knock on your door before work.” He set the mug down after gulping down almost half the cup. You laughed, enjoying your own a little bit more now. 

The sun was making its way down as he worked, patching up all the little problem areas of your home. Sanding the edges off so to speak. He talked a lot, asking questions about you, about Tucker, about family and spilling about his in turn. He was so easy to talk to, his voice easy to get lost in and more than once you got the sense that the conversation was a little more flirty than you’d expected it to be. 

He’d catch you staring at his neck, his arms or his mouth and smile to himself. You’d turn and catch him staring at your legs, at your ass but mostly, his eyes drifted down—to your cleavage. 

Eventually the chit-chat stopped, the only sounds were the sounds of his tools, the jingle of Tucker’s collar, cicadas outside. There was something else though, an energy, a vibe flowing between the two of you, shy smiles were exchanged, his hand brushed softly against yours when he handed you the empty mug. He laughed softly to himself after catching you staring yet again. 

“Darlin’, are you givin’ me the eyes?” His tone was playful and you felt your face heat up under the intensity of his gaze. 

“Maybe.” You played with the hem of your dress. “What if I was?” Your ears were burning, the words almost getting caught in your throat. 

“Well,” He turned to face you, hands on his hips, “I’d have to say I’m givin’ you the eyes right back.” Your heart kicked it into overdrive, brain buzzing with giddiness. “I’d have to confess that I’ve been thinkin’ about what you’d think about me kissin’ you.” He took a tentative step closer, his tools forgotten on the ground. 

“I’d be very agreeable to that.” Your voice was steady despite the adrenaline flooding your veins. 

He closed the gap, his big hands landed on your hips and then he went for it. Pressing his lips softly against yours. 

The kiss was lovely and chaste, until it wasn’t. 

Your hands rested on the arms you’d been staring at, sliding up up up past his shoulders, finally curling through the soft waves on the back of his head. He smelled like clean laundry, mixed with something citrusy, something spicy. Mouthwatering.

He pulled you closer, pulling a surprised gasp from somewhere in your throat. His tongue slid along your bottom lip, begging for entrance that you readily gave. 

It was his turn to groan, your fingers tugging at his hair, pressing yourself closer. 

He pulled away after a moment, coming in again to press more kisses to your lips, feather soft and devastating. He pressed his forehead against yours, the both of you catching your breath. He had lit a fire in your belly, awakened a heartbeat in your cunt and made it weep for him.

“Would you think less of me if I took you to bed?” You watched your own hands as you said the words, holding them against his chest, bringing them down slowly and savoring the solid feel of him beneath them.

“I’d love to–” A trilling noise sounded from his pocket and he answered it with an apologetic frown. “Yes baby girl, what’s wrong?” He stepped away for a moment, sighing quietly and hanging up quickly before coming back towards you.

“Dad duty?” You kept your voice neutral, ignoring the way your panties stuck to your body. 

“Dad duty, but–would you be okay with me comin’ back after I put the kiddo to bed?” 

“Of course, I’ll be waiting.” You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him down for another kiss, licking into his mouth before pulling away. “Don’t forget about me.” You smiled sweetly. 

“Keep the door unlocked, this kid is going to bed in record time.” He pressed another quick kiss, and gave your ass a sharp swat that had you squealing into his mouth. He hurriedly gathered his tools and left. Tucker barked excitedly when the screen door slammed behind him. You couldn’t help but laugh as he practically ran home.

-

Hours passed and the blood settled down from an unbearable heat, to a slow simmer. Tucker retreated to his bed, the last few remaining chores were completed by the time the sun had fully set. With nothing to do but wait, you took a nice, long shower. You fantasized about him surprising you while the cool water flowed over your heated skin, butterflies in your stomach fluttering wildly at the thought of his hands on you again, moving down your arms and over your hips, sliding between your thighs to find you wet and wanting. 

The shower ended without any surprises, which left you to dry off and enjoy the still of the night around you. A soft breeze blew through the open window, the cicadas were singing loud as ever and with a growing sense of doubt you saw that the hour was getting late. Maybe he’d fallen asleep. Maybe he’d been so tired from all the little projects he’d done, not to mention his full time job, and the kid he took care of–

There was a quiet tap on the door that had Tucker’s collar jingling. Your heart raced as you all but sprinted to the front door. 

“Good christ woman.” He was staring at your nightie, “You tryna kill me?” made his way in, careful not to trip over the dog on his quest to lay his hands on you. 

“You like my nightgown?” It was simple, but it complimented you nicely. 

“Like?” He shut the door with his foot before pulling you into his arms, his mouth finding yours with an urgency that made you groan. “Darlin’ I love it.” His facial hair tickled the sensitive skin of your neck when he kissed you there, making a shiver run down your spine. Your hands were restless, moving to feel as much of him as you could. The muscles in his arms flex under your palms when you slide them towards his neck, the skin of his back was warm and he all but purred when you scratched at it lovingly. 

Your confidence grew with every press of his lips. 

“I want you in my mouth Joel–” He surged up to capture your mouth, his tongue obscene, making you ache with arousal. 

“That so?” He herded you up the stairs, the two of you giggling as you made your way into your room. “What else do you want honey?” You pulled his shirt up and off tossing it onto the floor with a grin. 

“I want you to show me how much you like my nightgown.” You bit your lip, pulling him by his waistband towards your bed, you sit close to the edge and look up at him through your eyelashes. His desire for you was obvious. Hard and heavy and tenting out the front of his sweats. 

“Go on Honey, open up that pretty mouth of yours.” He pulled the front of his sweats down and your eyes widened at the sight of him.

“Yes sir.” You do as he says, opening your mouth and sticking your tongue out, your hands moving to pull him closer. He groans at the sight of you there and takes his cock in hand, taps it against your tongue a few times and you can’t help but moan at the salty taste of his arousal beading on the reddened tip of him. 

You move one of your hands to hold onto it, noting with nervous excitement at the size of him. He moans when you place open mouthed kisses to the sensitive underside, moving to the base to give him a wide lick all the way to the tip. Repeating it until he whines. 

“Come on sugar, stop teasin’ me.” He reaches down to put the straps of your nightie down, palming your breast before holding onto the hinge of your jaw, guiding your movements gently. “Can you take me a little deeper?” You nod around the tip of him, hollowing your cheeks and taking him as deep into your mouth as you can, swallowing around where he's hitting the back of your throat. He groans deep in his chest when you keep him there, eyes watering, spit spilling around the girth of him, gagging and sputtering. 

“Jesus christ woman.” He says it like he’s in pain and you preen. “Fuck, fuck that’s good.” His thumb presses softly into the plump apple of your cheek, angling your mouth the way he wants it. 

You know you must look a mess, spit dripping down your chin and onto your chest, tears streaming down your face and yet still, Joel is looking down at you like the sun shines out of your ass. 

“Keep this up and I’m gonna fill your mouth.” The words come out strained and despite how much you love having him like this, the ache between your legs is growing unbearable so you give it one final kiss and pull away. 

“My turn.” He pulls the rest of everything off, smiling wide as you scoot back onto your bed, your nipples tightening almost painfully. “God I bet you taste good huh?” He kisses your knee, swearing under his breath at the site of the wet spot between your legs. He curls his fingers around the waistband of your panties and you lift your hips to help him pull them off, his big hands parting your thighs the minute they’re sliding off your ankles. 

“Look at that.” You rest on your elbows watching him get comfortable between your spread legs. “Been thinkin’ about this since the first day I saw you.” He presses a kiss to your mound, then your thigh, sinking his teeth into the meat of it before he nudges at your plump little clit with the tip of his nose. 

You thread your fingers through the dark waves of his hair, smoothing out his eyebrow with the pad of your thumb. 

“Come on baby, who’s teasing who now?” You wiggle your hips a bit, trying to get closer and he laughs, drunk on your excitement.

He dives in, wide licks from the rim of your opening up to the sensitive bundle of nerves. He groans, moving down, sliding his tongue as deep as he can to drink you down straight from the source. 

You watch him through the haze of arousal, breathing hard as he sucks your clit into his mouth, eyes closed in his unabashed enjoyment of the act. His hands squeeze your thighs for a moment before they slide up to pluck at your nipples while he devours you. 

It spreads through your belly like a wildfire, the pleasure building and building until your hips are chasing his tongue, grinding onto his face, your whole body a string being tightened until it finally snaps. 

You shudder, falling back onto the bed, your body practically bowing under the intensity of your climax. 

He presses another kiss to your mound before he crawls up and slots himself in the cradle of your thighs, his cock hot and heavy pressed up against your cunt.

His kiss now is aggressive, all teeth and tongues, breathing hard while he grinds against you—his cock slotting itself between the lips of your sex. Coating himself in you.

You reach down between your legs and line him up, pulling his hips in slowly while his mouth is pressed against yours, both of you sharing a moan when you pull him flush against you. 

“Good god Joel, you’re splitting me open.” You wrap your arms around his neck, biting at his lip and relishing the rumbly groan your comment garners. “So fucking big.” You love how wrecked he is to hear it, so you keep telling him. “Need to be really wet to be able to take you baby—“ he starts off with shallow thrusts, short jabs that make you pant into his mouth. “Hear how fucking wet you made me?” You barely get the words out before his tongue is in your mouth again. 

He slides one knee up for leverage, slipping his forearm under your thigh to hold you open for him and it knocks the thoughts right out of your head. Your mind blanks with every punch of cock and your arms cling to his neck for dear life. 

“Touch yourself baby, need you to come for me.” He looks down, watching the place where you’re joined and you hurry to obey, sticking your fingers into your mouth before bringing them to your clit and he shuts his eyes tight, sweat gathering in his hairline and yours, a thin sheen of it covering you both., 

It only takes a few perfect circles and you're clenching around him with a scream. Your legs try to close automatically but he keeps them open, fucks you through your orgasm until his rhythm stutters. 

“Inside Joel, I wanna feel it—“ he groans, seizing up for a moment before he grinds in deep, filling you to the brim. 

“Fuck.” He collapses onto you, his face buried into your neck while you both catch your breath and it’s only now that you notice your nightie is still around your middle like a belt. You ignore it though, instead focusing on the warm weight of him, comforting and solid on top of you. 

He lifts his head, a blissed out mischievous grin on his face.

“You know, if you didn’t have the money to pay for my handyman services we coulda worked something out—“ you slap his shoulder playfully and he laughs full-throated. The sound is almost more exciting than anything thus far. 

“You’re hilarious.” You push his hair back away from his forehead, smiling to yourself. “A regular comedian, this guy.” 

“I try—“ he pulls out with a hiss, “—you busy this weekend?” He pulls you close, finally divesting you of the nightgown turned belt. 

“Nothing planned yet, why? Are you planning on asking me out?”

“Was thinkin’ about it. Would you say yes?” He skims his nose along your neck, raising goosebumps in his wake.

“Yes. Yes I believe I would.”

—

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#joel miller x f!reader #joel miller fic #joel miller x reader #joel x reader #joelyyyy #young joel miller #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal #hbo tlou #tlou fanfiction #the last of us

[sempersirens]

raising hell all over town

pairing: best friend's dad!joel x f!reader

summary: you've been a friend of sarah's since you were old enough to steal bottles of her dad's whiskey for parties. sarah was always the sensible one in your friendship, getting you out of the trouble you usually started. but now sarah has gone off to college, who else but joel could pick up the pieces?

content/warnings: 18+ mdni. alcohol. drugs. age gap. violence/fighting. smut: unprotected p in v, spanking

a/n: inspired by this gif set, and the wonderful @amanitacowboy & @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin for introducing me to that yellowstone scene kind of nervous about this, my first proper smutty fic - i find smut really difficult to write for some reason (weird because i'm feral horny 24/7) so this was kinda out of my comfort zone but i hope you all enjoy! PSA: i no longer have a taglist! feel free to follow my updates blog @sempersirenswrites and turn the post notifs on to be notified when i post a new fic :)

Friday nights in Austin felt incomplete without Sarah by your side.

For years, she had been the epitome of your partner in crime; dragging you back to her place or putting you in a cab before the cops were called.

Had it not been for your fierce loyalty and protectiveness over Sarah, you're sure her dad would've barred you from the house years ago. Sarah was smarter than you in almost every way. Academically, emotionally, you name it.

Joel knew this, and he trusted the two of you together knowing you both balanced the other out. Watching the two of you reminded Joel of a younger version of himself and Tommy, always thankful that Sarah had followed in his footsteps as opposed to her uncle's.

Your relationship with your parents was rocky, to say the least, and the Miller's house had always been a safe haven for you. Joel had patched up your split lip or bloody nose more times than he wanted to admit for a girl your age. He swore he'd kill your old man one day for the states you'd turned up to their house in.

Still, he couldn't help but feel the urge to grab you by the shoulders and shake some sense into you from time to time. As much as his heart broke for you, it was also in your nature to be a damn brat. Joel had endured countless stifling days spent by the pool forcing himself to not let his eyes linger on the curves of your hips. He struggled to look you in the eye when he saw you sat on the kitchen counter waiting to leave for a party, your mini skirt riding dangerously high on your thighs.

There had been times when he had been reckless. Times that he'd had to pull himself away from your invisible grip on him and relieve his tension in the bathroom, fisting his cock onto the shower floor, biting down on the shape of your name on his tongue.

When he'd re-emerge into the living room, he knew that you knew. You'd look through your eyelashes at him and smile. His cheeks flushed, shame setting in at the speed at which he'd cum from the thought of your pussy clenching around his shaft.

He would never let it show, but something would rush through his body when he'd ask Sarah what the hell she do this time? He remembered one time in particular, as Sarah relayed the events of the night that had led to your bloody nose, he'd looked over at you perching on the counter. With blood leaking down your cupid's bow, you'd locked eyes with him and ran your tongue across your lip, revelling in the remnants of your victory.

Still, you had fine enough nights out with the girls from work. They just didn't get you the way Sarah did. They would shoot you judgemental glances from across the bar that lasted until the Monday back at work for whatever you had done this time that they disapproved of.

"They're just dull. You should see the way they look at me for literally just hooking up with guys." You had lamented to Sarah over the phone while you were both getting ready for your respective nights out on separate sides of the country.

"It's probably because they've seen you get through an entire friendship group before your second drink."

"Well, they should be taking notes. Tell me nobody at college is as fun as me." Jealousy tore through your chest at the thought of Sarah spending her time with new friends.

"Nobody here is as fun as you. They're very... reserved." You scoffed at her politeness.

"Babe, just say they're boring."

"I'm giving them a chance. Anyway, gotta go. Text me tomorrow and tell me the damage. Love ya!"

"Don't have too much fun without me. Love you too."

Despite their judging looks, you were always the first person they called upon to finish any mess they had gotten themselves into. Still, you were happy to oblige, even if it meant a few awkward minutes of silence at the coffee machine on Monday.

The group of you had poured out of an Uber into the busy bar around nine o'clock, buzzing with the confidence of your pre-drinks. Rounds of shots were ordered and consumed at a dizzying pace, and soon enough, bags of powder were discreetly distributed across the table.

"Bathroom?" Hannah, one of your closest and least judgmental co-workers nudged you.

"Thought you'd never ask." The two of you sauntered away from the table, hand-in-hand, quickly bundling into a tight cubicle.

The bathroom filled up as the two of you tried to be as silent as possible, scooping your pinky nails into the small bag.

"Hurry the fuck up!" Someone from outside the cubicle called, thudding her fists against the door.

"Get fucked." You called back, muttering this bitch under your breath to Hannah.

As the two of you packed your things back into your handbags, the cubicle door jolted half open, smacking Hannah in the shoulder.

"Are you fucking serious?" You shouted at the small brunette on the other side of the door, checking Hannah over for injury.

"You hit me, you bitch." She straightened herself up, rubbing her shoulder.

"I'll do worse if you don't fucking move." The brunette hissed in her face.

You screwed your face up and shoved her, making her stumble backwards into the sink. The other girls in the bathroom grabbed their bags and scurried to the exit, evidently not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

"Apologise." You said, moving toward the girl who was now pulling herself up with the help of the basins on either side of her.

"Fuck you." She spat, saliva hitting your cheek before she lunged forward.

Your fist connected with her nose before she even had time to swing, and your right hand secured a tight grip on the back of her hair.

"I said, apologise to my friend."

"I'm sorry." She choked, pathetically. Her face shrivelled in fear and pain.

"Not so fuckin' big now, are you?" Hannah said, which was ironic, considering the girl who had bruised her was now quivering under your fist.

Content with her apology, you released your grip on her and re-entered the bar with Hannah trailing behind you. As you both rejoined your table, you felt a tap on your shoulder.

"Our friend said you just attacked her in the bathroom." Another petite girl looked up at you, one hand on her hip.

"She hit my friend, here. Was just trying to teach her some manners."

The entirety of your group was now turned to face you, exchanging harsh whispers of your name followed by just leave it.

"You broke her nose!" The girl shrilled. You looked over her shoulder to the girl doubled over, clutching her bloody nose with an ensemble of people crowding around her.

"No, I think it just looks like that."

You grinned at the rage growing behind her eyes, your smile unfaltering even as her fist collided with your cheek.

"Harder." You shouted, rolling your neck from side to side.

"What?!"

"Come on, hit me harder. I know you got it in you." She didn't take much convincing; her next punch knocked you backwards onto the table as everyone rushed to tear the two of you apart.

You stepped forward to finally let her have it when a pair of strong hands pulled you back.

"Get off!" You shouted, kicking against who you assumed to be security throwing you out. You just hoped they weren't calling the cops, too.

"C'mon, doll. You've had enough fun for one night." A familiar Southern drawl cooed, dragging you out into the warm night. "Now, that wasn't very ladylike of you, darlin'."

He let you go from his grip and you turned to face him. To your surprise, you were met with the smirk of the younger Miller brother.

"Tommy." You breathed, "I didn't see you in there."

"Well, lucky I noticed you ain't it." He grinned.

Spending so much time at the Miller's had you well acquainted with Sarah's uncle Tommy. He'd seen you in much worse states than this, and in turn, so had you.

"Didn't need you to swoop in and save me, Tommy."

"Wasn't saving you, sweetheart. Was savin' that poor girl." You both smiled at the tone of pride in his voice.

"You got somewhere to go, trouble? Don't think you should be hangin' round here for too long."

"Can't exactly go home bleeding from my face." You sighed, realising you probably hadn't thought this through. You missed Sarah.

Tommy fished around in his pocket for his phone before raising it to his ear.

"Hey, big brother." Your stomach flipped. "No, no- it's not me. Joel, listen." You could almost hear Joel on the other end of the phone, witnessing it in person more times than you could count. It's not even ten o'clock yet, don't tell me you're locked up already.

"Our favourite little troublemaker needs a place to crash tonight. I'd drive her over but I've already had my fair share of beers. Okay, great. I'll tell her."

Once he'd hung up, Tommy told you that Joel was on his way to come and pick you up. You could feel your heartbeat in your stomach. You'd never been alone with Joel for longer than a couple of hours at most, let alone spending the night at his while Sarah was out of town. Something inside of you twitched in excitement, a warm rush settling deep in your belly.

You told Tommy to go back into the bar, that Joel wouldn't be long and you'd walk down the street to meet him in case those girls came out looking for another round.

As you made your way underneath the streetlights toward the direction of the Miller's house, you pulled your compact from your bag and touched up your make-up, re-curling your lashes and dousing a thick layer of clear lipgloss onto your lips, not bothering to tend to any of the blood trickling down your skin. You spritzed yourself with perfume and ran a brush through your hair, smiling at the thought of Joel seeing you waiting on the curbside for him.

Right on cue, his truck pulled around the corner. You raised your hand and wiggled your fingers, a small smirk spreading across your cheeks.

You were grateful for your earlier decision to wear your knee-high boots with a denim mini-skirt, adding a little extra sway to your hips as you made your way to the passenger side of Joel's truck. You climbed in and turned to face him, flashing him a toothy grin, well aware of the blood staining your teeth.

"You're a damn mess, princess." Something deep inside of you came to life at his words, causing you to visibly clench your exposed thighs together. "S'there I was, thinking to myself how thankful I am for a peaceful night after workin' lates all week. When my phone rings, just as I'd sat down and made myself comfortable."

"Peace is overrated." You replied.

"So, what did you do this time? Steal another cop car? Break into a hotel pool? Make out with someone's husband?"

You played with the hem of your skirt as he spoke, blushing as he listed a few of your past activities he'd either bailed you out of or heard about from Sarah.

"I didn't start this one." You said, a slight whine in your voice. "Someone hit my friend, I was just looking out for her."

"Your friend can't fight her own battles?"

"You never have a problem when it's Sarah I'm throwing punches for."

He scoffed. "Now, you know I've always taught her to never start a fight but always to finish one. You on the other hand, I don't think nobody's taught you anythin' of the sort."

"And are you gonna be the one to do that, Mr Miller?" You mimicked his Texan accent, which was much thicker than yours, and parted your legs in your seat ever so slightly.

"If I didn't know you better, darlin', I'd think you were tryin' to get me in some sort of trouble."

He pulled into the driveway and switched the ignition off before jogging to your side of the truck and holding the door open for you, as well as offering you an outstretched hand.

"Always such a gentleman." You smiled, looking at him through your eyelashes as you stepped out, hand in his.

He exhaled out of his nose, shaking his head softly as he slammed the door shut behind you. His hand moved to the small of your back, guiding you into the house.

"Sarah's bed is all made up, I'm sure you know where her clothes are f'you wanna change into something more... comfortable." His eyes trailed down your figure, your clothes hugging all the right places.

"Do you not like my outfit?" You pouted, holding your hands behind your back and sticking your chest out, swaying from side to side.

"Course not, y'look real pretty. Just thought you'd wanna watch TV before going to sleep is all." Joel brought a hand to the back of his head, rubbing his neck nervously as his eyes shifted to the floor.

For such a handsome man, he was so damn insecure. Maybe it was the gentleman in him, thinking that it was wrong for someone his age to want someone the same age as his daughter. He knew you didn't think like that, Sarah had told him multiple stories about the older men you'd hooked with at the bar.

He'd even caught you making out with a kid from your school's dad a few years ago when he'd come to pick you and Sarah up from a party. Joel had seemingly known the man, and you remembered how he'd stalked out of his truck and toward you both, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and warning him that his wife wasn't going to like hearing about this.

So, you kicked off your boots and took yourself upstairs into Sarah's bedroom. Not bothering to close the blinds, you peeled your clothes off and looked at yourself in the full length mirror.

The warmth of your earlier drinks still coated your inhibitions. You knew you looked good in your black lace set, breasts sat perkily on your chest and your ass cheeks the perfect handfuls.

Fuck it. If he wasn't going to be ballsy enough to make the first move, maybe you should.

You kissed the tips of your fingers and pressed them against a framed photo of you and Sarah giggling at whatever was going on behind the camera.

"Sorry, Sarah." You whispered, before making your way down the stairs.

Joel heard you coming but was too preoccupied fighting with the TV remote control to turn around and face you just yet.

"If I can get this damn thing to work I think they're showin' Scarface at ten, I know you said you ain't seen it so thought we could watch it."

"Sounds good," you spoke, your voice more honeyed than usual. "Hey, Joel. Do you think this will be comfy enough?"

He whipped his head around quickly, ready to give you the same kind of answer he did whenever Sarah asked for his opinion in a changing room. It took a second for him to register what he was looking at, but when it clicked he dropped the remote to the floor and turned his whole body to face you.

"What the hell," his face turned bright red, unsure what to do with his hands. You could give him a few ideas.

"You not like it?" You asked, voice low as you walked slowly in his direction.

His trousers began to tighten around his hardening cock and you smiled, glad that you were indeed on the same page.

"Course I- I, what the hell are you playin' at?"

"Come on, Joel. I gotta make up for interrupting your peaceful night somehow."

You closed the gap between you both and placed a hand delicately on his chest, tracing circles with the tip of your long, manicured nails.

Joel swallowed hard.

"This ain't right." He said weakly, his eyes betraying his words as they devoured the sight of your body before him.

"Cut the shit, Joel. I know you want me, and I want you."

He didn't answer, but instead threw you over his shoulder and carried you up to his bedroom, placing a couple of firm smacks on your ass as you wriggle against his strong grip. Your stomach did backflips, exhilarated at the prospect of what was about to happen.

Upon entering his room, he threw you roughly onto the bed and worked at undoing his belt as you scrambled onto your back, resting on your elbows.

"Y'know what I really thought when Tommy called, tellin' me I needed to come pick you up?" He said, although it didn't sound much like a question. "I thought, this dumb slut needs some sense fucking into her."

You moaned at his words, basking in the side of him that you knew always existed.

“Thought t’myself, she needs teachin’ some fuckin' manners f’once.”

Joel stalked around the side of the bed and sat and patted his lap. Wordlessly, you shifted your weight next to him and dangled your legs over the side of the bed.

He brought his right hand in between your thighs, making you shiver at the feeling of his coarse fingers grazing your skin. He ran his fingers up and down the length of your thigh, each time stopping short of the hem of your skirt.

"This is what you want, ain't it sweetheart?" He spoke lowly, voice gravelly and as rough as his touch. Each night spent tangled and alone in your sheets, fingers grazing your soaked folds with his name on your lips felt redundant. Nothing could come close to the feel of his skin on yours.

Pulling you from your trance, he slapped your inner thigh hard when you didn't respond. "Need t'hear you say it."

"Yes,' you moan through gritted teeth, surprised you can even find your voice. "This is what I need."

Sick of his incessant teasing, you clamber onto his lap and hook your fingers around the back of his neck.

"But I think you need this just as much, Mr Miller. You must get so lonely in this house all by yourself. Sarah always tells me how you never have any lady friends hanging around."

You straddle his lap and grip his neck for support, softly grinding yourself on the hardness of his lap. He moves a hand from your waist to roughly seize your chin, tipping your face down to meet his gaze.

"Your old man must've forgot to teach you some manners, little girl." His low voice tore through your body.

Joel hoists your skirt up to your waist and flips you underneath him in one swift motion. His body looms over yours, fingers trailing a rough and jagged line down to where you need him most. He moved at an antagonising slow pace, but you can't bring yourself to give into his little game by begging for more.

"Here's what we're gonna do, darlin'. You're gonna be a good girl f'me and tell daddy exactly what happened tonight." The mouth on him.

The way your body writhed and squirmed at his words didn't go unnoticed. With no warning, he plunged two thick digits inside of you and held them deep in place, his face inches away from yours.

"N'if you stutter, or lie, or say anythin' I don't like for that matter, you'll be over my knee, red-raw," his fingers curl inside of you and you bite back a moan, desperate to not let him have the upper hand.

"No matter how much you cry those pretty little eyes out, I won't quit 'til you've learnt somethin'. Understood?"

You suck a breath in through your nose, a sharp sting reminding you of the open wound still decorating your face.

"Yes, sir."

part 2 coming soon

taglist: @cool-iguana @nostalxgic @chaotic-mystery @beardedjoel

#my fic #the last of us #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x reader #tlou fanfiction #joel tlou #joel miller x female reader #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal fanfic #dee rambles #pedrohub #joel miller fanfic #joel miller #joel x reader #no use of y/n #the last of us hbo #the last of us fanfiction #tlou hbo #tlou #joel miller smut #the last of us series #tlou series #dee writes

[elliesstrapon]

Swan princess

!Asshole Ellie Williams x Princess Reader ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

✧˚ · . Summary: Your parents had you to be wedded by the time you each turned 20, they had you meet every summer until then, but you just couldn't stand her.

✧˚ · . Warnings: Ellie is a douch bag, rough sex, enemies to lovers, slow burn, erranged marriage, drinking, swearing, oral, over stimulation, eventual genuine wedding, Soulmates, Ellie hates you up until your both adults, major flashback, readers bipolar but i feel like this was me projecting, sorry 😭, NOT proofread.

I need all you to know this is pretty fucking long, feel free to take your time or skip <3

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Your first summer out of the castle when you'd turned 5. Your father held onto your hand reassuringly, pointing out at all the wonderful things you had yet to experience. His words you so vividly remembered along the lines of, "one day, this will all be yours to take care of" so sadly, the frown on his face one of the worst parts from those core memories. The rays of light hit your pearl pink dress, the sparkles shifting as you rode on the horse through what now had been the forest. "Papa, where are we going?" Your head turned back up to look at him, a cheerful smile upon your lips, your teeth crooked and white. "We, my dear daughter, are going to meet the one you shall marry one day." His eyes focused on the muddy path way, as you held onto your perfect dress so tightly in fear of it getting ruined by nature's mishaps. The memory had stopped, where what begun was the hatred between you and Ellie Williams.

For you remembered the look on her face when she'd met you. Your father pushed you towards the tall man with the girl behind him, urging you to say hello. The man'd done the same, an overjoyed toothy grin flashing on his face. "Who might this lovely young lady be?" Your dad inquired, just as happy as the man infront of you, "young princess Ellie, no doubt " He urged you again. You furrowed your brows at him angrily, taking the slightest step forward to the taller little girl who stood infront of you. "I'm Y/n" You gritted through your teeth, biting your bottom lip upsettingly, curtseying at everyone disposal. "It's a pleasure to meet you." You finished, a fake smile plastered on your face, pleading eyes for your father to take you back home. Ellie eyed you disgustingly, uninterested rolling her eyes back, the taller man pushing her forward closer. "Go on" he said angrily. "Joel!" She yelped. "Ellie." He eyed her. She scoffed, her attitude already unbearable. "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance.. Princess Y/n.... Ellie" she said poorly, introducing herself, her pinky finger digging in her ear, eyeing at it like it was all she had left to do. She turned back before the man flipped her around, roughly shoving her closer, his patience limited now. She sighed, going back to grab your hand, gently, something you hadn't expected from her insignificantly terrible mannerisms, her finger tips soft, she kissed the back of your hand, your heart had fluttered, from what you remembered, only for a slight second before she pulled away, sticking her tongue out and wiping her mouth, "Ugh, gross!" She cried. You rolled your eyes, the moment of whatever romance that'd be destined to start, passing like the speed of light.

The two of you stood there, your father's smiling at the "perfect match." all you could think about was how unpleasant she was, how she wouldn't understand you, how you absolutely despised her existence. The summer growing to be what you thought was the worst of your life span, the constant bickering and her heavy insults. You ran through the halls of her castle. Joel and your father having not understood nor notice the two of you constantly at eachothers throats. Your dress getting caught in the doors, and tripping over your slippers when she'd attacked you. "You're such a goody-two shoes!" She argued, your cheeks burning red from the running. "Shut it, Ellie" you spit at her. Your dress torn at the hem and your pink slippers stained with shoe marks on them from tripping over your feet. The rest of the summer lasted the exact same, every little thing she said annoying you, and every action you took, she wanted to intervene.

Soon enough more winters and summers went by before you were 12, hiding at the top of the tower, in your room dreading this summer. "Y/n! We can't keep Princess Ellie waiting any longer!" Your father called from the carriage at the bottom of the castle. "Ugh, please, she's barley even a princess!" You shouted angrily, eyeing him from the window, your hair tied into a braid and your nightgown hadn't changed. "I haven't even washed my hair nor changed"you gestured to your hair and clothes. "Gives you all the more reason to hurry" you heard the grin in his voice, causing you to smile the slightest. You redid your braid, finishing it off with a blue ribbon at the end, and quickly slipping on one of you're too many owned dresses. You pranced through the long historic hallways, waving small goodbyes to the servants who'd helped around the castle, leaving out the door to the garden. "Are you ready to leave?" Your father asked. "Yes" you sighed sadly, having to see Ellie again making you feel as if the world were ending. "I don't get why you dislike her so much, she's really such a lovely young lady." He frowned, entering the carriage with you. "Sure, if lovelys the word you wanna use." You groaned, "half the time the only thing she's doing is jumping at me every chance she gets to make my life horrible." Your dad smiled at you, saying you were over doing it. The ride to the neighboring kingdom was joyful, the sound of your laughter echoing through the windows. Once you'd arrived, you'd seen Ellie once more, no better than the previous summers, still as horrid as you remembered. "Hello, princess" she rolled her eyes, whispering into the ear of another girl beside her, it so clearly about you. "Princess Ellie." You gritted. "And who's this?" Your father smiled, Ellie's attitude being replaced with the innocent act she'd always put up to make you seem as if the bad guy. "This, is the friend I made last winter" she grinned. "Dina" she introduced her. You nervously waved at her, not earning much in return but a dirty look from Ellie, you clutched your dress, suddenly feeling very self conscious. "Well, what're we waitin' for? Les go!" Joel said with his thick accent, following him back to the all too familiar grand castle, lifting your dress as you walked over the muddy ground. You followed Ellie around the rest of the day, the two girls continuesly looking back at you as you acted like a dog, scolded if you sat out in the permanent room you had here during the summer. The sun reflected your shadows ever so often, "does she have to follow us around?" Dina turned around suddenly, weirdly annoyed with your presence, her red dress swaying with her hips as she turned. Ellie looked back, her ill-fitted dress steady as her shoes stepped on the hems. Tearing it like colored paper. "I wish she didn't, it's a shame I have to marry her" she said angrily, grabbing Dina's hand, pulling her along to show her the tree house that was supposedly in the field behind the castle, whispering about it as if you couldn't hear them.

You followed them to the tree house, far behind, you almost didn't wanna go into the tree house, till you saw it, it hadn't been there last summer. You ran softly on the grass, attempting to catch up to the girls, finally getting to the ladder, it began to float up, realizing the girl with a dark haired messy ponytail was pulling it up. She darted her eyes at you. "Snowflakes aren't allowed up in this treehouse" she said distinctively. "Oh, fuck you!" You yelled. Giving them the finger you walked off annoyed. "What's her problem?" Dina raised her brow at Ellie, "Dunno, she's like short tempered or whatever" Ellie chuckled, watching you storm off.

When you turned 17, you had your first royal ball, "Ellie!" You called, walking to her room at the very end of the hallway on the very last floor of the castle, you turned the door knob, opening the door aggressively to see her in her loose dress as it'd always been, practicing her archery on an ill drawing of you from when you were 10. "Oh, real mature" you said angrily. "Yeah whatever." She stuck her tongue out at you, you walked towards the target of you, your blue and fancy ruffley dress following closely behind you as your heels clicked hollowly against the old floors of the castle. Your hair effortlessly soft. You ripped it off the wall. "Hey!! What the hell's your problem?!" She spat. "You're a fucking child is my problem." You rolled your eyes tearing it. "What do you even want?" She got up angrily. "The ball" you muttered. "That's tonight?" She gasped. "Yes, everyone knew that" you fixed the straps of her dress unconciously, her breath hitched, suddenly flinching your hand away "get out, I'll fix it myself, I wasn't even gonna wear this" she muttered. "Jeez fine, the one time I try being nice and all you ever do is be a total douche." You outed the room, flattening the lacey blue ruffles of your dress, adjusting your gold heart shaped locket and your finished hair. You walked down the hall once more, waiting for your fiance to open her eyes and act like the princess she really was whether she liked it or not. You found yourself at the entrance of the castle, a strongly built woman guarding the gate. "Strong arms, huh?" You smirked up at her, her face flushing, "Princess." She averted her eyes, meanwhile Ellie watching from afar with Dina. "God she's always flirting with those damned guards" she huffed, the giggling of you and the guard filling the room. "Why care so much? What, you like her?" Dina said, brushing the lose strands of hair from her face. "God no" she said annoyed, fixing her new suit. "Sure seems like it" Dina scoffed. "She can flirt with who she wants" Dina defended you. "Whatever" you turned to see the girls eyeing you warily for you had no clue as to why. You brushed your hand off the guards arm, kissing her cheek. "Guys let's go, we'll be late." You waved your arm at them, calling them over as they obeyed. "Alright Papa! We can go" you shouted to the topless carriage outside. "Perfect, darling!" He smiled, patiently waiting, you carefully lifted your dress running to the cart. Leaving Ellie behind. "You like her" Dina teased. "Oh fuck off, I've hated that ‘ Little Ms. Perfect ’ since I was 5, thats not about to change now just because she went from some annoying ugly duckling to a fucking goddess...or.. whatever." Dina chuckled, "like a swan?" She pressed. "Yeah whatever you wanna call it." She walked to the cart quickly behind you now to catch up, smiling at your father. "Took you long enough" you said. "Shut up" she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "We're already to leave!" Your dad called to the people in front, controlling the horses.

You drove up to your palace, the towns people, hundreds, of them cheerfully smiling, waving, throwing flowers from their own gardens, you couldn't help but flash a toothy smile, waving back and holding the hands of the little children being held upon shoulders of their parents, a few sending weird stares at you as Ellie stuck up her two fingers behind your head, mocking you, making some of the kids laugh. "Hey!" You turned, arms over your chest, "will you quit it?! God your frustrating" you sighed, melting back into the leather seats of the carriage.

Soon you'd pulled up at the gates of your castle, the horses in the stable causing a racket, and the ball gowns visible from the windows you'd seen from outside. The dim lights romantic, Ellie exited the carriage after your father, Joel waiting for Ellie to turn and help you down, she ran her hands through her hair annoyedly, grabbing your hand gently helping you down. Your heart fluttering the same the day you'd met when she kissed your hand, despite the hatred you had towards her, your locket glistened under the moon light, and the pins in your hair reflecting the moon itself. "Thank you, but I could've done it myself" you pushed her hand away. Walking alone to the entrance, walking in as the guards at the door opened it for you, you winked at them, the beads of sweat rolling down their heads. "Such a beautiful young women she's becoming" Joel smiled, Ellie turning her head from your direction, the poof of your dress following the move of your hips. "Indeed she is" your dad agreed.

As you entered the ball room, royal families you'd thought close to you came to greet you, compliments being thrown from every direction, the colours of the gowns bright and warming. "So... you and Ellie, huh?" A girl in green said. "Not as charming as everyone thinks" you rolled your eyes. "She's absolutely horrid." Your hands rested in your hips, suddenly warm breath tickling your neck. "Horrid my ass," she came from behind you, aggressively whispering in your ear her complaints. "Attitude problems I tell ya' " she pushed you aside gently. "You would think someone as pretty as her has a pretty personality too, but wasn't raised right... clearly " she sheepishly smiled at you. Your hands fisting the fabric of your dress in the palm of your hand as the girls gawked at her disrespect towards you, throwing shame at your name. "Fuck you" you mouthed to her, walking away annoyed.

You found yourself flirting with the princesses of every country, each one of them better than the last much like the last glass of wine you drank unsupervised. The shawl on your shoulders slipping off, the freckles and goosebumps appearing so clearly. "Look.. I'd give anything to sleep with you, but aren't you betrothed to her excellency, Ellie?" The girl respectfully asked concerned. "Who cares, everyone knows it won't work out." You grabbed her slim waist, suddenly your father tapping your shoulder. "The slow dance, dear." He grabbed your available hand, you measly let go of the girls pink dress, a look of dismay on her face. You internally yelling inside your head at the thought of marrying this woman. Your dad helped you your way to Ellie, her tall muscular build in the center of the room, standing there dreading your hands on her body. "Now don't make a scene, be professional" your dad warned, placing your hand upon Ellies shoulder, taking the empty wine glass from you, "fine... god" you looked up at Ellie, her gaze away from yours as her hands slid down to your waist, holding you firmly. Your hands only placed hesitantly on her padded shoulders.

"Sorry" she apologized, moving her hands gesturing she didn't mean to be weird. "Ellie Williams, THE Ellie Williams apologizing" you teased, her look still distant "would you look at me? No one'll believe your poor excuse of whatever the hell this is" you complained, your hand cupping her cheek, pulling her face to look at you as the band played a soft spoken song. "This is shit" she whispered. "Yeah, well they're all watching, so shut up and pretend you love me for the next annoyingly long 3 minutes of our dumb lives" you said, moving your feet slowly with hers in sync. She looked into your eyes, you realizing just how vivid her green eyes were, suddenly just noticing all the small details of her face, like the mole under her eye, or the scar on her eyebrow, even how uneven her side part was, you almost laughed in her face.

You upside down smiled, cheekily looking away, "what now" she asked, her brows furrowing. "Nothing, nothing" you waved your hand dismissively. "Yeah whatever" softly laughing along with you, not helping herself. For a short period her hands on your hips sent butterflies surging through your stomach, her breath upon your forehead giving you goose bumps as you twirled and spun around the room, your dress swinging satisfyingly as you forgot the crowd of people around you. "You know, your presence currently is... slightly more tolerable than usual." You whispered, "That so true, now?" She widened her eyes, spinning you into a dip on the slow and steady beat of the song. "Surprisingly." You giggled, admiring the equivalent of stars splattered across her scab cut face from training, your heart increasing every so slightly. You almost felt yourself falling for her like a fool. "If you weren't such a massive whore and flirt to every girl you met I might've actually been in love with you by n—"

"Excuse me?" You interrupted her. Angrily, stepping on her foot. "Ow— what the fuck?" She yelped. "'No what the fuck'd you just call me?" You let go of her immediately. The gaze of people returning to just you. "Well I'm not wrong." She admitted honestly. "Oh yeah— as if you don't do the same, Ellie!" You cried, pushing her away, almost tripping over your dress. "Why do you always do this?! What's your fucking issue? Can you not act like a decent human being for once?" You rolled your eyes, crossing your hands over your chest as she stared at you almost fearfully. "The only reason you're fucking dance with me is because if you didn't we'd both get shit for it! To think I almost fell for that shitty act of yours." Your eyes started to swell up with tears glistening in the light threatening to spill. "No fucking shit! Why'd I like you if you're always being like this?"

You scoffed, "Fuck you, Ellie." You pulled your laced shawl back up your shoulders, holding it firmly as you ran to your room.

That night you watched Ellie shamefully leave in her fathers carriage, Dina beside her worriedly holding her hand in attempt to relax her, a frown on your face as you'd waved goodbye, you entered inside, your father calmly rubbing your back. "I want to break off the engagement." You said sternly. "But—"

"No!" You bursted, the tears rolling down your cheek onto your already tear stained ball gown. "I don't care about out legacy— we'll get someone else to take over, I refuse to wed her. Do you not understand the severity of what she said to me, father?!" You cupped your mouth, muffling the sobs, your breaths quick and weak.

"At least just give it another year, my love, please consider" your father frowned, the wrinkles on his face increasing by the years. "Love has it's ups and downs, this is bound to happen through your marriage" he tried to reason. "Not when you refuse to do what it takes to fix it." You wiped your nose. Your cheeks red and your eyes puffy. "I'll give it another summer" you reckoned, "but one more slip up of hers and I'm done for." You darted your eyes, your tone serious.

"Very well, my dear" he hugged you, whispering a low "I love you"

"I love you too" you hugged him back, holding back the frustration tears.

You wanted to lose your mind atleast a hundred and fifty times before meeting Ellie again. The dreaded summer you'd not been waiting for, not by a long shot. Your father repeatedly thanked you, the carriage dropping you at the front gate of the castle with your dad. Joel standing smiling at you, Ellie up in the castle possibly spying on your every move, and if she was, you wouldn't have been surprised. "I'm really, really sorry for the way things endin' " he apologized, hugging you closely. "Don't worry Joel, it was a misunderstanding.. You know.. like Papa says.." you chuckled, the stupidity of last year's events getting to your head. You stepped foot inside the castle, barley missing anything about it but the guards. "Ellies up inner' room if you wanna go.. y'know" he pointed to the grand staircase. Your father gave you the look, where you didn't have to go, but if you didn't, the disappointment would be unbearable.

You went up the steps to the last floor, out of breath your 2 inch heels making you wobble, you found yourself hesitating at the door, unable to turn the knob before you heard the sound of suckling, heavy breaths, and deep sighs, you almost felt you were about to throw up. The anger boiling inside you, you could've just left, slept it out, or argued with her, tiring her out instead. You aggressively pushed open the door, nearly breaking your nails, the sight of a woman on top of Ellie, her nightgown barley even worn on her body anymore and the soft fingers of Ellie's you'd felt one too many times on your body for your comfort on the girls hips. "This just keeps getting worse and worse, doesn't it?!" You exclaimed angrily. "Fuck." Ellie sighed, her eyes wide as the woman got off top of her, adjusting her lingerie before rushing out clumsily. "What the fuck do you want?" She got up, sitting straight, all left of her, her loose strapped bra. "What do I want?" You mimicked her, suddenly stomping towards a pair of clothes, throwing at her almost bare chest, you grabbed her as she finished clothing, gripping her forearm tightly, you dragged her downstairs, the sound of your loose dress waving in the air and your breaths heavy, you stopped at 2 of the 3 dining rooms until you found your father. "I'm out!" You complained. "I refuse to marry her, I'm done." Your tiara crooked off the top of your head, Ellie gave you a dirty look. Pushing you off of her. "But —" you continued. "I'm not going to marry someone who doesn't love me" you hallored. Throwing her an angry and disapproved look. "I want to leave, and I never want to see her face again unless it's news of whoever she's betrothed to next cause they're in for a rude awakening." You insulted. Not a word escaping her lips, but a few gasps from Joel. His heart along with your father's crumbling to the ground like a shattered plate. "I'm sorry Papa, but I can't." You sighed. "I'd like a carriage to bring us home as early as possible, we have important decisions to make, I'd rather be in the comfort of our castle rather than a scums." You walked to your room. Packing the things you'd left during the winters for the summer, all of it coming to an end. It almost made you upset, you were overjoyed, yet angry, at how you almost fell for her, if she hadn't said what she did that day at the ball, you would've sworn you'd forgotten the rotten history of your past.

The next morning you left, concluding the last time you had seen Princess, Ellie Williams, your ex fiance.

You hadn't seen Ellie in two years, and if you were being honest, your life had become healthier. It was like it'd always been but without the stress of Ellie constantly making your life a living hell, you'd been in a few relationships, none of them lasting and neither one of them being ‘the one’, you picked up on your hobbies, helped your father around the town, rebuilding the castle and re-doing your room, and at the very best making friends of your own.

"Princess" the guards entered the dining room as you read a book, munching on freshly picked strawberries from the garden out back. "Yes?" You smiled, turning your head to look at her. "One of your friends are here, requesting to see you" the guard said. "Oh thank you, tell her I'll be there in a second" you stood up, patting your pink dress of the strawberry seeds, closing your book. "Very well, your excellency" the gaurd rushed away, leaving you adjusting you hair before walking through the halls rapidly to see your bestfriend.

"y/n!" She shouted, waving at you, her pale dress falling beneath her ankles and her cardigan slipping off her shoulders. "Elisa!" Your lips growing into a grin, "I didn't know you were coming!" You ran towards her, engulfing her in a well needed hug, "you didn't get my letter?" She giggled. "Goodness, no." Your arms fell from her waist, playing with her hair. "What a surprise!" You squealed. "No! The surprise is what I have to tell you!" She grabbed your wrists, her smile wide. "I just had to tell you in person!" She said. "Must be important, huh?" You said, pulling her inside the castle, your dresses meshing against eachother. "What is it?" You asked, taking her out to the garden. "Well.." she began, you took your seats at the small table centered with a bouquet of lilies. "The neighboring kingdom.." she began, your heart skipping the beat at the sound of it. "Y'know.. King Joel, princess Ellie.." you scoffed. "Some princess" you rolled your eyes. "No, but, listen!" Elisa waved her hands, "they're hosting a ball, every royal, andd towns people invited she exclaimed excitingly, her, herself just a wealthy towns person. "Oh, goodness," you paused, "in what honor?" You asked curiously, "Princess Ellie hasn't found someone to marry yet, Kind Joel's saying there hasn't been one perfect match since.." she trailed off. "Not surprised." You tucked your hair behind your ear. "What's it to do with me, though?"

"wanna come as my plus one? Just for fun! Of course" she asked overjoyed. "Elisa.. I don't know.. you know how things ended—" you said, resting your head on your hand. "Please! We'll stay away from her at all costs." She begged you. You pondered over the decision, looking for reasons you should and shouldn't be going before deciding it might've been fun. "Fine!" You said warmly, "but if anything goes wrong.."

"I know!" She smiled. "Alright," you agreed "it's tomorrow night, you might want to get ready" she said, getting up quickly. "Now I've got to go get prepped. I'll see you tomorrow?" She pushed in her chair. "Sure will, need me to see you out?" You asked. "Nope, all good, I've been here so many times I know the hallway like the back of my hand...... Sort of" she waved you off as a guard took her away. You stared into the distance, watching the geese and doves fly profusely over the sunset, suddenly feeling like going for a late night walk in the woods outside the town.

You found your way around the castle to your father, asking him for a dress fitting early tomorrow. Afterwards going onto put a long warm coat, white fluff fulfilments along the rim of the sleeves and hoodie, a moon stone as the button that clipped at the top. The coat itself a heavenly blue. You'd left the castle, quietly walking through the town, street lights flickering and the youngest little children running around in packs as their parents watched over them, curstying after you.

You watched the constellations ever so brightly in the sky, everyone of them dusted across the midnight blue, the sparkles of them vividly reminding you of Ellie's freckles, you subconsciously counted them the summers you met her. It made you sick. Moreso the thought of having to see her again rather than counting the freckles new every year. In some ways, you felt crushed by how you so easily could've moved on from the one you were ‘destined’ to marry, break it off, and still not have found love. It was like a curse, thinking of how in every universe, you hated her guts.

You're gaze softened at the lake you'd come to just through the forest , 2 swans tangled in eachothers embrace, their feathers white as snow, a heart lazily untangling as they swam side by side, neither one of them moving further apart than 3 inches from eachother. You sighed. Looking at the locket you'd owned since 15, it heart shaped, a swan engraved on it. "Oh how I love swans" you whispered. You made your way up to the castle a little more than an hour later, the moon fully above, it reflecting off of windows you stepped by.

Once you woke up in the morning, you'd gotten your dress fitting done, choosing a baby blue ball gown, the sleeves falling elegantly off the shoulders, lace and jewels falling across the corset of the dress, pearl necklaces to go with the locket you held so dearly, and glittery high heels. You'd gotten your hair done not far long after, your white and silky house coat sliding against your hair softly, the maid had put your hair in a half up-half down look, strands of hair still lazy left out, framing the shape of your face precisely the way you had liked it, she finished it off with a jeweled tiara matching your gown.

The day'd passed the sunset almost upon you, as you looked into the vanity in your room, your heart beating fast as you slipped on your gown, you maid behind you tightening your corset, tieing elegant bows, you adjusted your sleeves, "Miss, are you alright?" The maid asked, concern in her voice as she massaged your shoulders, watching as your gaze became saddened and saddened the more time went on. "Oh, no I'm fine.. Please, tell the guards to tell Elisa that I'll be down as soon as possible when she gets here." The maid left the room, you put on cherry red lipstick, focusing so quickly on making it perfect, you watched your lips move around blending it out to be softer. "I can't believe I'm doing this" you groaned, slipping on your heels gently, walking out to see Elisa in a bright pink dress, a boa slinking off her shoulders the radiant white fluff falling across her chest, diamonds hanging from her neck and ears. Her hair in a clean bun. "You ready to go?" She said, grabbing your arm as you walked up to her. "You look beautiful" you smiled. Dismissing the question. "Thank you" she blushed. "I was hoping I'd meet someone there tonight, it means a lot you think that" "no of course, I get it" you rubbed her arm with your thumb, circling in the same spot. You hoping you'd meet someone as well.

The carriage drove you through the dark night passing the same lake with the partnered swans, from the night before. "You looking to settle down?" you asked, hands resting on your lap. "I think so, I wanna have children so bad, and I need their future parent to treat them just as well as I would" she stared at her hands "all I really want is a family" the cold coming from her mouth. "I'm betting you'll meet someone amazing" you assured her. The trees swayed in the winds, your hair blowing along with the rhythm of it all, strolling through the ghost town that you'd remembered so full when your enemy wasn't foolishly inviting every person to exist to this horrid ball. You found yourselves at the gate. The castle lit and decorated with bright and gorgeous lanterns. You both thanked the guards.

You shivered walking to the big doors that's been open. Guards greeting every new person to have walked in. "They'll be here all night" you whispered to Elisa. "Sure will" she said, sorry for them.

You walked in the ball room, Elisa disappearing from your arm as soon as you did. "Typical" you sighed. Walking measly around the room, your gown brushing against the others. Feeling small in the crowd. You stood at the food table, eating the crab cakes like your last dinner, stuffing in two at a time before catching a glimpse of a tall build, her hair short, the same hairstyle as you, and her suit dark, a blue rose in her pocket. Talking to a few of the females, the freckles and eyebrow scar unmistakable. You're breath hitched, gulping down the remaining crab cakes, you felt faint, she looked so mature, her smile bright, yet her eyes hiding a subtle hint of pain you'd only notice if you'd known someone for years, regardless how much you hated them. Tucking the loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes suddenly widening before you realized she'd seen you. "Shit" you muttered, she waved off the women excusing herself to walk towards you.

She stopped a few inches from you, averting her eyes from yours as she bowed, a gasp escaping your coated red lips. "Princess" her voice cracked. "Yes— uh, Princess... Ellie" you curtseyed. "You look... Beautiful" she breathed. Gently grabbing your hand to kiss it softly. "Thank you— Did you happen to hit your head or something" you pulled your hand away quickly away from her lips. "You're acting... Strange" you let out a breath you had no clue you'd been holding in for so long. "How so?" She raised a brow. "You're not acting like you hate my guts." You said. "Who said I didn't?" She crossed her arms. "What? So that's changed now cause I'm, ‘beautiful’?" You spat. " 'That such a bad reason?" She scrunched her nose subconsciously, wiping it with her hand. "Get your head out of the gutter Ellie." You stomped away, "fuck" she whispered.

You still unable to wrap your head around when she'd become so.. odd? You flew around the ball room, every 30 minutes seeing her eye you from across the room. As if some kind of snack, you began to feel creeped out, her whispers to an oh so grown up Dina always beginning after she saw your face. Soon you found her asking you to dance. "Ellie, if you're only going to like me because of my looks.. I don't want you to like me at all" you sighed, taking a step back. "Especially considering our history, I mean what is this? 15 years of constant torture and insults being thrown at me for it to just suddenly change? I can't do it Ellie, I really just can't" you said, turning around for a split second, before she hooked her slender hand around your forearm, the slow dance beginning as she pulled you into her, her hand firmly on your waist and the other holding your other hand just above your shoulders. You sighed, "Ellie —" annoyed. "What else?" You said, she held you close, deja vu hitting you like a carriage door, while she span you around the room, the crowd almost not there, you gazed deeply into her eyes. "What else?" She raised a brow confused. "Is beauty all that matter to you?" You asked, pained. "What? No—" she choked on her words. "That's not—"

"Then what else?" You grip on her hand tightening significantly. "I don't know— I mean—" she bit her bottom lip. "No Ellie— save it." You stopped her. "You don't get to do that" you darted your eyes at her, the hatred building up with every step you took, you began to feel frustrated. "Do what?!" She raised her voice ever so slightly, no one heard over the band. "You don't get to like me because I'm fucking attractive now to you. That's just not fair." Before you could react, she grabbed your arm painfully, pulling you of the crowd of people, she dragged you down the hall, unable to free from her grip, you tripped over your gown. "Ellie what the hell!!" You cried, playing with her hand to get you off just before you'd got thrown into the tea room you'd remembered not to fondly, she locked the doors. "Ellie open that goddam door—"

"Would you just listen to me?!" She yelled, you quickly walked up to her, stumbling over your heels as you grabbed the collar of her suit, the blue rose falling from it. "You don't get to have me listen to you! Ellie, I hate you! And you threw this ball so you could find a wife, I am not going to play that roll again, just becau—"

She threw you onto the couch, your big dress wrinkling against it as she pinned you down, her arms caging your head from escape like an animal. You let a gasp escape your mouth. Your heels falling off of your feet in the uncomfortable position. "It's not because of your fucking looks! Y/n!" She confessed. Her one arm falling to her side. "It's the fucking history" her lips trembled. "We spent our whole lives together knowing one day all thats around us would be ours to rule, together." she said. "You know my worst fears, goddamn it, and you threw it away just like that." Your breath hitched. "And I know everything there is to know about you, whether I hate you or not." Her arms at your hips now, subconsciously caging you in again. "Those two years I didn't see you, I thought I missed messing with your fuckin' head and flaring your anger up like I was those 15 years, but I really just missed seeing the one person I spent every summer with up until I turned 18" you felt offended, her back handed compliments confusing you. You sat up warily, watching her gaze turn to guilt as you propped your elbow up against the head of the couch. "What the fuck" you breathed. Her face just inches apart from yours that you could feel her heavy breaths up against your lips. "Ellie—" you groaned. "So what are you saying? You're in love with me? After all that?" You scoffed in disbelief. "Yes!" She cried. Your heart pounded at your chest, the warmth between you suddenly growing hotter. You couldn't understand anything, grasp the situation at hand before you reached your hand up to her cheek, cupping it softly before connecting your lips that were inches apart just a few mere seconds ago. You roughly bit down on her lip, the sexual tension flying off the walls. "What're you doing?" She muffled a moan into the kiss, surprised as she gripped your hips. "Fuck you" you whispered, shoving your tongue in her mouth exploring every inch of her as she delicately whined, her embrace tightening. You lazily pushed her down, hovering above her, "all that shit just for this" you breathed, hooking your lips onto her soft freckled skin, leaving a wet trail across her neck, while you undid her button up, the sounds of her heavy breaths and sighs filling up the room, you sucked at her skin. "Fuck" she whined. Messily gripping a handful of your hair as the sticky path of saliva continued down her collar bone, stationd between her breasts. You abruptly stopped, struggling to undo the bows of your corset. Ellie looked up to you with pleading eyes, "lemme—" she heaved, flipping you over, your clothed ass up on her crotch while you held your hair to your shoulder, her fingers unintertwining the ribbons. You sat on your knees, she trailed kisses down the back of your neck, each and every one rougher than the last, your dress slipping off by the second before she threw it to the ground leaving you with only your panties left. "Shit" she whispered as you turned over, pulling her in desperatly, tugging at her lips between your front teeth. "You're so beautiful" she admittedly whispered between breaks. "Thank you" you, you smirked against her lips. You sat on her lap, sucking at her tongue, her hands roaming your body entirely, she played with your boobs, all the thoughts leaving your mind as you threw your head back. "Fuck, Ellie" you moaned. Her wet kisses filling the room with sinful noises.

Her tongue flicked at your hard bud, it only standing more as she sucked at it, toying with the other one while she still squeezed your plush hips.

"I need you" her lips meeting your stomach, butterflies in your lower abdomen began to scour, the heat between your legs only growing stronger as she praised you, worshipping your body like a goddess. "Why are you like this" your jaw dropped, her hands suddenly palming you through your panties, already soaking, moans escaping from your red stained lips, that matched the pair all over Ellie's neck and jaw.

"Lay down" she demanded, squeezing your ass cheek. You immediately layed yourself beside her, her head stationed between your legs as she looked up at you hungrily, a face you'd never seen her make at you before, she kissed the inside of your thighs, biting at them like dessert as her fingers gently rubbed at your throbbing pussy, your panties still unmoving, "mmh~" you muffled, the hickys between your legs butterfly shaped, she continued to rub at your sweet spot, playing with the tangles in your hair as she kissed you softly. Your heart collapsed in on itself, the gentleness something youd never experienced before. "You're being so... So sweet" you heaved into the kiss, staining her lips in lipstick as she rubbed faster. "You deserve it" she smirked against the kiss, leaving more around the rest of your face. The ball room music faintly heard from outside, your mouth formed an ‘O’ as she lowered her head again. Your conversations severly uncoordinated, responding to questions with only moans and whines. She slipped off your panties, only lowering them as far as your knees, "I'm gonna make you never want to leave this room" she kissed your hickey covered thigh again, before nuzzling your clit with her tongue, you flinched at the contact, an overwhelming pleasure washing over you as your legs shaked, leaving her holding your hips down. You felt your walls tighten, she swirled her tongue, every muscle causing you to tense up, her tongue only deepening. "Oh god—" you reclined back, her teeth softly nipping your pussy. "Feel good, princess?" She said. Rubbing your inner thigh reassuringly as she suckled "fuck, yes, Ellie" you whined. The pressure in your stomach building up, "I'm so... Fuck—!!" She slid against your walls, you cupped her hair, thrusting your hips into her tongue, desperately wanting to release the knot. Your wet folds quivering. "Please, Ellie—" you begged, vibrating underneath her touch. She fingered your clit, eating you out both at once. "Ellie, Ellie, Ellie, Ellie!!" You cried you repeated her name like a god. Giving into your pleasurous desires, the creamy white substance leaking down your thigh "shit!" You cried, all she did praising you through your orgasm, just for her fingers to not lift off once. Still her slender fingers pounding inside of you quickly, the slaps of skin filling the room like paddy-cake.

She sat you on her lap again, grinding your hips over her hand, having you ride her as she moved your waist herself, you too weak, for your second orgasm to wash over you, the couch damp in your liquids. "You're doing so good" she whispered, your fingers digging into her skin like daggers. Your heavy breaths drawn over the music. You came again. Your head falling into her shoulder, she tucked the strands of messy hair off your face, tears staining your Rosey cheeks, and her clothes stained in your cum.

"Oh god.."

PART 2?

I got so lazy towards the end out of fear people would get impatient!! Especially since I promised to post yesterday!! Either way, I will edit eventually if people want me too! I'll be posting part to in the next few days! <33

#tlou #tlou2 #the last of us #ellie tlou #ellie williams #reading #ellie the last of us #dina tlou #ellie x fem reader #ellie x reader #princess reader #ellie smut #smut #tlou smut

[iiseor]

⋆𐙚 ₊ summer strikes . . . (2)

synopsis: forced by joel to spend the summer in a small town consequent her agreement to get sober—ellie's acceptance towards the situation grows significantly the moment you cross paths . . . masterlist

cw/notes: alcohol/drug topics (kinda heavy, this is ur warning). mental health issues for both reader and ellie, ellie is not Joel's daughter in this AU she just stays with him, implications of family member loss. fluff + hurt/semi comfort(?), Abby appearance who cheered ^_^ , shifting more towards readers pov in comparison to the last fic. . . wc: 3.2k tags: @boobdrug @seraphicsentences @amberputh @gato-chino @sourgummywormsss @shiimer @ellieusedtampon

soft sunlight beams through the lightly draped windows as birds set the morning temper. ellie's quilt draped over her body—half on the bed half slipping onto the floor. The night hadn't been exclusive, thoughts pondered her mind making it harder to fall asleep as the hours went by, a few wolves howling from afar in the moutons here and there, the sound of tommy — or maybe you, walking throughout the hall, and the lingering wonder of what joel was doing in that very moment scattering her thoughts until she dozed off.

as the morning crawled in and thoughts crawled out, tranquility filled ellie's body as if she was a new born child. It was the first time in months, maybe even a year since she had woken up without a hangover headache, spiking a nearly nostalgic like feeling. Rolling off the low mattress, she picks up her phone before sighing intensely.

no service

she rolled her eyes before throwing both her hands and phone over her head as she lied back down, still on the cold hardwood floor with her blanket slightly tucked beneath her. The birds had shuffled back into their nests silently and the wolves were hidden from the warm sunlight, ellie lays down for a few minutes before finally standing up, about to stumble out of her room to get washed up before tommy comes pushing through the door.

she jumps back, caught off guard by his sudden appearance. "Oh hey kid ur awake" he says before looking her up and down slightly, ellie rubbing the back of her head in response. "Just came here to tell you to go get washed up, breakfast is on the table then y/n will show you around the farm and whatever, I gotta head into town so I'll see you later" he added. "got it, thank you sir" she said as he tuned to walk away, before he turned back for a second to add another word, hand still on the door knob "tommy is fine, don't use sir..... it makes me feel old" he laughed and she reciprocated before they went their separate ways.

Ellie washed up, staring at herself hard in the mirror after her shower for what felt like eternity as she tried to convince herself this was good. it's all good, and she'll be okay. before she made her way downstairs to eat another full meal, something she remembered looking forward to again after dinner and during her pre-sleep thoughts.

"Hey els!" You greeted her from the table while she came down the stairs. 'Els'... you already gave her a nickname ? She questioned to herself, trying to hide her blushed face. "Hey.." she breathed out in response, you smiled at her in return while she made her way towards the table. "Help yourself! I already finished eating and so did tommy.. did Tommy tell you the plans for today ?" You spoke, picking ur plate up and walking to the kitchen. "Uhm .. no" Ellie replied placing food onto her plate, amazed at the variety and bright colours of fresh vegetables + fruit.

"Oh I figured, I'll take you out to the lake so we can catch some fish for dinner ! I'll also introduce you to the animals if you'd like" you replied washing up your plate. Ellie's response was slow as she swallowed a big fork filled with fruit salad—"yea, that sounds good" she smiled. "Oh perfect!" You smiled back, "I'll go get ready, take ur time though!" You shouted as you ran up the stairs in excitement.

It had been a few months since you had last had people over, let alone people willing to go fishing with you. Your dad was always there, but it felt odd without your mother there to join. When Tommy had informed you of ellies suspected arrival, you spent nearly an hour planning places around town to take her—fishing being at the top of the list.

About an hour passed as Ellie finished the rest of her breakfast, savoring every bite and heading back upstairs to wash up. You eagerly got dressed in your prettiest sundress and shorts, not necessarily the best fit for fishing—but you were so excited it didn't matter.

"Here!" You said pulling a hat off the rack as Ellie came down the stairs towards the front of the door. "This is Joel's, he left it here the last time we went fishing ... which was like a year ago but we still wash it!" You said placing the hat on her head. Ellie's eyes dragged from yours to your lips as you adjusted the velcro cap, fixing her hair as a gentle smile was plastered across your face. "There, perfect" you added as you turned around to grab a sweater and car keys. "T-thanks.." she choked out, watching you in admiration—your pretty flowy dress and sweet scent making her face become flushed.

She followed you out of the house and into your car parked at the end of the curb. Ellie's eyes were flashed with the bright interior of your small yet beautiful car. Decorated with fake plants, lightly pink yet slightly grey covers, and a lili scented air freshener. "I'll take you to see the animals first!" You said buckling up as ellie did the same, "sound okay?" You questioned noticing her awkward posture. "Oh, Uhm.. yea" she answered, distracted by her thoughts of not Joel and everything else that flooded her thoughts the night before—but you as well.

The drive was short and quiet, the farm was close but you drove to avoid being attacked by mosquitoes. You pulled into the rocky driveway as you noticed a barn door open, to your surprise as everyone was supposed to be off today. "I think one of the workers might've left the barn door open" you told ellie as you looked out of the window trying to catch someone in your view. "I'll go check" you replied, ellie was about to protest that you probably shouldn't go alone but you had already left before her words could come out.

She unbuckled her seat belt, sitting anxiously as you went out of sight and disappeared into the barn for nearly twenty minutes. Once you finally emerged from the darkened doors, ellie was met with the sight of you—and a buff women with her hand wrapped around your waist. Fuck, she thought looking at the image as you two walked towards the car. "It's all good" you said opening ellies door for her to step out.

ellie felt short, small even, the moment she was faced to face with the blonde that stood beside you. "This is Abby! She's one of the workers here during the summer, abby this is ellie! she's staying with me and my father" You informed. "Oh, hi" ellie greeted quietly, avoiding eye contact with Abby. "Yea hi" Abby replied in a dismissive tone, her arm still wrapped around you as she turned to your face. Caressing it, she spoke again. "Well I'll let you two do your thing, I was just heading out anyways"

"Alright!" You replied as her grip turned. bitch ellie thought to herself about abby, as she watched the blonde walk away—you still standing with a smile on your face, oblivious to ellies mind. "Cmon ! The horses are around here!" you grabbed Ellie's hand and dragged her around to the stables. Once inside, you noticed how she cringed at the stench—letting out a giggle as she whipped her nose. "You'll get used to it!" you told as she laughed in response—the first time you'd heard her laugh since she got here. "look over here!" You added dragging her by the arm. The two of you stumbled towards the gate as a big, beautiful white haired horse moved its face in your direction. "hi pretty" you spoke softly as you reached to pet the horse, "this is starlight, my favorite one" you whispered leaning towards ellie "she has sensitive ears so we whisper around her. . . Go ahead, pet her" you smiled.

Ellie hesitated, looking towards your direction for confirmation. Once she saw that gentle smile on your face, she lifted her hand and planted it across from yours. Her fingers sunk softly into the horses hair while the two of you caressed it. "She's beautiful isn't she?" You whispered, "yea.... she is" ellie responded — her body being filled with a sudden sense of tranquility again, before your words broke her trance. "Let me take you to see the chickens" you whispered, dragging her away once again towards the chicken coop. "Hi sweetheart" you spoke squatting down to pet one of the chickens, still holding onto ellies hand as she stood watching. You stood up and walked a bit further towards the coop, picking up a baby chick, standing up and turning towards ellie. "She's a new one!" You told, Ellie starring in amusement. "Name her" you added looking up at her, "w-what?" she replied, her eyes becoming soft in confusion. "Name her! I'm always the one coming up with names ... it would be fun to have someone else with one" you hold the chick out for ellie to take into her hand, "here, hold her" you say, ellie placing her hands in the shape of a basket as the chick jumps from your hands to hers.

She admires it, the soft and ticklish feeling as it moves around her palm. "What do you think she is" you questioned, satisfied with ellies fascination with the chick. "Um..." Ellie let out as she thought hard before answering. "Maybe .... um... maybe lily?" She said hesitantly, thinking back to that lili scented air freshener in your car—was all she could come up with. "Oh! That's so beautiful els!" You replied. There goes that nickname again she thought—trying to hide the butterflies forming in her stomach. Ellie handed you back lili and you placed her on the ground, "there's not much else to see honestly, judging by your reaction to the horses I think we should stay away from the sheep! And the pigs will be even worse..." you teased, Ellie laughing back with a "yea probably". "Well, let's get fishing then!" You added dragging her, yet again, this time to the car.

The drive towards the lake was short as well, just a few feet from your house. Luckily for you two, the water was unoccupied and seemingly calm. You unloaded the fishing rods from the trunk and guided Ellie towards the canoes. Struggling to flip it over, ellie lended you a hand. "Thank you so much ... my mom always did this for me" you smiled at her again, "no problem" she responded. The two of you loaded the fishing rods into the canoe and set off into the lake, leaving behind everything besides your sweater, the bait, and her hat.

"So, first ill show you how to put the bait on the rod" you informed, lifting up a light grey rod and the can of bait. Ellie watched in silence, nodding as you showed her how to do exactly what you said you would. "Got it?" You asked in excitement, making eye contact with Ellie—which she was quick to break once she replied. "Yea, thanks" she said, picking up a rod and doing what you had showed her. You stood up and walked to kneel at the edge of the canoe and waved for ellie to come aswell. Once she does, you positioned your rod and swung it into the lake, "just copy me! It's easier than it seems" you watched her as she obeyed, positing her rod and swinging it the same way you did. She held it in the lake as you did, "wait until you feel a tug, then pull hard!" You directed.

The two of you waited a few minutes before Ellie was shaken by the feeling of hee rod being tugged. You lifted your rod out of the lake and lended her a hand as she struggled to lift her own, tugging at it before your grip helped bring it onto the boat. "Woah!" You raised your voice in excitement, "a trout, good job!" You said removing the hook from its mouth and handing it to ellie. "Here! Hold it up!" You said, walking away towards your sweater you had taken off and pulling out a camera. "Smile!!" You squealled as ellie stood and awkwardly smiled for the camera. "How cute" you chuckled, taking the fish from hee and placing it inside of the small cooler kept on the canoe. Ellie blushed in return, and you noticed this time.

She sat down and rubbed her neck before building the courage to speak "Are those edible? Like ... trout?" Ellie questioned in confusion, she was unaware of the diversity within fish—only eating sardines growing up. You laughed at her confusion as you removed the bait from your rod, "nearly all fish in this lake is edible, trout is similar to salmon.. like we had last night!" You informed before sitting across from her. "Oh.. I see" she replied. "It's good for your first time!" You said, paddling around as ellie admired the view of the slowly setting sun, and you—was it that late already? "We should head back soon, so I can cook it for us!" You said, guess it was late. "Unless your tired of fish already.. then I can cook something else" you suggested, ellie immediately protesting that she was fine with whatever and wouldn't mind eating fish for the rest of her life—now making you laugh. How could she possibly give up the chance at another fresh, filling meal? One cooked by you especially.. she'd be crazy she thought.

"Dad?" You called as you and ellie entered the seemingly empty house. "He's most likely not coming back till morning, so it'll just be us eating" you informed ellie through a sigh—catching her off guard with your change in mood. "We should get washed up" you suggested, taking off your sweater and placing it on the rack, ellie doing the same with the hat she had worn. "Oh, you can keep that haha" you told her, picking the hat back up and handing it to her. "Joel probably won't come back for it anytime soon" you added, walking past her and upstairs to change and shower.

The night fell cold with the sunset and crescent moon appearance. You had showered and changed into some pyjamas before heading downstairs and preparing food. The freshly caught trout with mashed potatoes and lightly grilled asparagus being plated before you called ellie down, who without hesitation came to sit with you at the table. shocked by the beautifully set up food, ellie sat across from you at the table. The sight, almost like a restaurant date—if it wasn't for your unstyled hair and pyjamas. The two of you sat in silence for a few minutes before you got up and offered ellie a drink, pouring her a glass of water—you broke the awkward sound. "So..." you dragged on, "how do you like it here so far?" You asked, biting into your food while waiting for a response.

"It's ... nice, calm" ellie responded, the two of you not making eye contact as you spoke. "That's good.... tommy says ur from the city?" you added onto the conversation. "Yeah" she replied again, you slightly scoffed in response—"why would u come out here?" You questioned with a concerned tone. "What?" She replied with confusion. "Not in a bad way ... I just mean, the city seems cool you know!" You added on changing your tone, attempting to hide the previous one. "Oh... I just ... needed to get away i guess" she answered truthfully though trying to conceal details, before you pressed for more. "Away from what?" You questioned deeper, genuinely curious. "Uhm..." ellie hesitated, taking a sip of her water as your eyes were on your plate, about to take another bite. "Just bad influences .... alcohol and that shi-stuff". She answered again, fully revealing with as little detail as she could contain.

Ellies words made you freeze for a minute, caught off guard by her words—you lifted your eyes to her face, already pointed towards her plate. You paused, thinking of what to say, you spoke softer this time. "I'm.. sorry els.... that sucks" you were careful with your words, trying hard to be sensitive. "It's all good, I'm getting better" she smiled, finally making eye contact with you today. You smiled back before taking another bite. Your mind debated what to say next, what was appropriate to say next, before you let the words come out.

"I get it though..." you lowered your tone again, Ellie's eyes became wider as she coughed a bit before replying. "You do?" She questioned, caught in a befuddled state. "Yea ... i mean, kind of ... obviously not personally like, you in a way ... but my mom struggled with alcohol as well, so I can kinda tell where your coming from.." you rambled on, avoiding eye contact as you spoke while ellies eyes were glued onto you. "I sympathize with you ellie" you added on, now meeting her eyes. "I can't understand fully, but I want you to recover, get better you know ... you're cool" you spoke lastly, catching yourself before rambling on even more.

Ellie caught on to why you had implied. Connecting the previous mentions of your mother with the current one, her vision of you softened with commiseration. "Thank you y/n.... and I'm sorry.... about your mom" she spoke more confidently, separate emotions covering up the anxiety she was drowning in only moments before. You flashed her a smile, "of course..." you replied, standing up to take away your now empty plates in order to avoid another fall of awkward silence between you two. "I can wash these, you already cooked" she said taking the plate from your hand as you were about to pick up the sponge. "Thank you" you replied, smiling at her, and then at yourself as you noticed ellies sudden change in comfort around you, so quickly yet so effective. She was more gentle, and less tense .. all after one conversation.

You walked up the stairs and your bedroom, turning on your fan to drown out the sounds of running water from downstairs before flopping down on your bed. You sighed, pushing yourself towards the headboard and crawling under the covers. Shutting your eyes yet not falling asleep, your mind was crowded. now reminiscing about the day with ellie, you were caught off guard by sudden negativity. You shouldn't have told her about your mom, you shouldn't have pushed with questions, you shouldn't have let your tone slip. Thoughts piled upon thoughts drenched your head making it impossible to fall asleep for a while. You were stuck, upset with yourself for dumping something so heavy onto ellie, and even more upset with yourself for almost slipping back into the disgusting attitude you worked so hard to get rid of.

Had she noticed? Does she see you differently now? Did you ruin this all for her so quickly? Did you trigger her by pressing so much? Fuck was all you could think of in response to your own question. You were supposed to be healed... better at all of this... better at making friends and talking to people. It wasn't ellies job to feel sorry for something like this, you shouldn't have brought it up, you lectured yourself. In truth beneath the surface, turmoil was still present for you. Tommy knew it, though you were adamant about being better. You knew everything still ached every once in a while—more than you'd admit, but you fully believed it was under your own guidance and responsibility that all of it would go away. One way, or another. You drowned out your thoughts with muffled tears as the overwhelming feelings fazed your heart. Falling deep into sleep as everything dissapeared from consciousness, you were sound asleep from dusk till dawn for the first time in weeks.

#🫧 sena #ellie x reader #abby tlou #ellie x fem reader #abby x you #ellie x y/n #ellie x you #tlou #abby the last of us #abby x reader #ellie x abby #ellie the last of us #joel and ellie #ellie williams x y/n #ellie williams tlou2 #ellie williams x reader #ellabs x reader #ellie williams #ellie tlou #abby anderson x y/n #abby x fem!reader #abby anderson x female reader #abby anderson imagine #abby anderson x reader

[lu-vin-it]

Baby Momma | 2

── ⋅⋅⋅ ────꒰ ୨ ♡ ୧ ꒱───────

PART 1 | Rest of series here

Summary: You and Ellie introduce baby Sarah to Joel, Tommy, Maria, Dina, and Jesse.

Pairing: Ellie Williams X Reader

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 778

Warnings: none

A/N: Thanks to @stqrfishluvr for proofreading ily bff. Also!! I kinda wanna make this into a little series so.. send in some requests for this universe for like little moments throughout Sarah’s life and mayyyybe I’ll write them 👀

This time, you drove to Jackson. Ellie held baby Sarah in her arms and pointed out things in the window as you passed them. It was honestly the cutest thing ever. When you arrive at Jackson, at around lunch time, you go straight to Joel’s house.

“I thought y’all left yesterd— is that a baby?” You laughed a bit at his puzzled expression.

“Can we come in please?” Ellie asks. Joel nods, still not tearing his eyes away from the baby, he moves to let you in. You walk over to the couch and sit down.

“Where’d you find a baby?”

“On our way back home yesterday the car ran out of coolant and when we got to that gas station down the road there was a woman—“

“Alice. She had been bitten and she asked me to take care of the baby.” You cut in. Ellie walks over to you and hands you Sarah.

“Um— okay.. are.. uh..you keeping it?” You grin and nod.

“Guess you really are a grandpa, huh?” Your girlfriend says patting Joel’s shoulder with a chuckle at her own joke. Joel glares at her.

“Careful there, you’re getting old too.” Ellie’s jaw drops.

“Fuck you!”

“Ellie! There’s a baby present!” You chastise.

“She can’t speak yet!” You glare at her and she raises her hands in defeat.

“So what’s her name?” Joel sits down next to you slowly. You hand him the baby and glance up at Ellie. Joel coos at the baby in his arms.

“Her name is Sarah.” Ellie says, the graying man looked up at Ellie and you could see tears forming in his eyes.

“That’s.. that’s nice.” You smile at him. He looks back down at Sarah and softly smiles at her.

“We didn’t name her that, it was—“ Ellie starts, her nervousness showing through her voice.

“I said it’s nice. Suits her.” Ellie walks over to you and puts a hand on your shoulder. You grab onto it. “She’s beautiful, you two.”

“I know right? She’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen. Sorry JJ.” You say with a chuckle. A knock at the door tears you away from the moment. Ellie walks over to answer, before she can say a word, Tommy barges in and rushes to where you are.

“Oh my god!” He says. “A baby!” He sits on the other side of Joel and takes Sarah from him. Maria, Dina, and Jesse walk in, all of their jaws dropped.

“Tony said that y’all weren’t alone when you came in— but—“ Maria starts, skeptically.

“Who’s baby is that?” Dina cuts in.

“Ours.” You say with a grin.

“We found her yesterday on our way back home.” Ellie walks over to you and sits on the arm of the couch. You intertwine your hands. Dina hands JJ to Jesse and walks over to Sarah.

“What’s her name, oh my god she’s fucking adorable.” She gushes.

“Her name is Sarah. Uhm— her Mom was still breathing when we found her.. she was bitten though.” Ellie scratches the back of her neck. You rub circles into the back of her hand with your thumb.

“Hey, little Sarah!” Tommy exclaims, bouncing Sarah on his knee. You thought his face was going to rip when he smiled wider due to Sarah giggling. “Oh aren’t you just the cutest thing? You love your Uncle Tommy, don’t you?”

“Tommy, don't be a baby hog.” Dina growls, making grabby hands at Sarah. Tommy glares at her and dodges her advances.

“You have your own!” You stifle a laugh. “Back off.”

“You can have him whenever you want, let me see Sarah!”

“Bite me!” Dina grabs Tommy’s arm and goes to actually bite his shoulder.

“Woah okay! Chill out!” You say, taking Sarah out of Tommy’s arms. “Take turns, she’ll be here all day.” They both turn to you and look at you as if you’ve just murdered their families.

“Take turns?” They both spit.

“What are we? Six years old?” Tommy sputters out, throwing his hands in the air.

“Well.. you’re sorta actin’ like it right now..” Joel says.

“You keep actin’ like this and you won’t get any turns.” You say, glaring at Tommy and Dina. They both shrink in their chairs. “Are you gonna act like adults?” They nod. “Okay then, Dina, you get ten minutes.” Dina grins as you hand her Sarah.

“What? I didn’t get ten minutes!” Tommy crosses his arms.

“Tommy you’re actin’ like a child.” Maria chastises. He huffs.

“Wanna hold JJ?” Jesse asks, the younger Miller brother sits up straight and nods.

“I get to hold Sarah next!” Jesse yells. Tommy gapes at him.

“You tricked me!”

── ⋅⋅⋅ ────꒰ ୨ ♡ ୧ ꒱───────

#the last of us fanfiction #the last of us x reader #ellie williams x you #ellie williams imagine #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams x y/n #joel miller x child!reader #joel miller x reader

[cowgurrrl]

Literally any Joel and reader dancing to “you’re so good when your bad” by charley pride. I know he slow dances like a mf

You’re right and you should say it

You’re So Good When You’re Bad

Pairing: no outbreak!Joel Miller x fem!reader

Author's note: OH IM SO HOMESICK

Summary: "He looks like he works with his hands and smells like Marlboro Reds." — Our Lord and Savior Ethel Cain aka this ask [1.8k]

Warnings: June pushing her Texas agenda, Joel gets both his daughters in this one because I said so, flirting, alcohol, i think that's it??

Contrary to popular belief, it's actually pretty easy to love Texas. The longhorns grazing in big green pastures while the sun shines on a clear summer day is enough to capture anyone's heart. An outsider might find the ten-gallon hats and sturdy cowboy boots obnoxious or strange, but you've grown to love them. Maybe because with that acceptance, you've found your own cowboy to love. One part of Texas culture you haven't grasped yet is the dancing. Your boyfriend, Joel, however, loves it.

You met Joel when he and his brother came to do some work at your father's ranch. Honestly, it could've been anything from cutting down a tree to trying to tame a rowdy stallion. You ended up in the garage with him hunched over your car's engine as you worked together to identify where the weird sound was coming from. Joel came in to ask a question about a tree, blueprint, or something when his eyes fell on you. "Oh, 'm sorry, ma'am," he took his hat off in a true form of Southern manners and held out his hand. You met him halfway and introduced yourself before you looked back at your car. "Got a problem?"

"It's just making some noise. We're trying to figure it out, but Dad's eyes aren't as good as they used to be."

"Watch it." Your dad teased, and you and Joel laughed. He stepped a little closer to look under the hood, too. With him that close, you spotted the freckles that dotted his skin and the patches of grey in his beard. When he met your gaze, you felt caught and suddenly way too hot, like a teenager with a crush.

"Mind if I take a look? Might be able to help."

"I thought you were a cowboy, not a mechanic."

"I've done my fair share of both. Thanks to Tommy, we've run through almost every engine problem in the book," he said. "Unless you want to rely on your old man's vision." He was the right amount of teasing and kindness that the sentiment didn't offend your dad. It only made him laugh. He encouraged Joel to take a look and went inside to catch the last half of the UT game, leaving you and Joel in the garage.

You explained more of the problem, handed him tools when he asked for them, and tried to ignore how his biceps flexed when he maneuvered around the machinery. You noticed he was a little bit older than you, but the crow's feet and the salt-and-pepper hair did nothing to deter how your heart pounded when his hand brushed against yours or the way he said, "Thanks, darlin'" when you got him a glass of sweet tea.

"It looks like just a loose part," he said as he leaned away from the open hood and wiped his stained hands on the red bandana hanging out of his pocket. "Go 'head and try it now."

"That's all it took?"

"You don't believe me?" He smirked, and you shook your head.

"I just can't believe it would be that easy."

"What? Your boyfriend couldn't figure it out for ya?"

"Do you really think I'd still come running to my daddy's house if I had a boyfriend?" You raised your eyebrows at him in a silent challenge, knowing you made an opening for him, before walking to your driver's side door and sliding into the seat. Sure enough, when you turned the engine over, the sound disappeared, and everything ran as it should've been. "Alright, maybe I underestimated you." You said as you turned off the car and got out. He gave a faux bow and closed your hood, his big hands lingering on it before he turned to look at you.

Without the hood's shadow in your way, you could fully take in his full lips, messy brown curls, and the oil stain on his cheek. You giggled and pointed to your own face. "You got somethin'," you said, and his hand shot up to the opposite cheek, somehow smearing more on his face. You laughed and grabbed a clean rag from your dad's workbench. "Do you mind?" You asked, raising the cloth halfway to his face, and he blushed.

"Not at all." He said. With a shy smile, you wiped the black marks off his face. A gentle hand on his jaw helped you turn his face this way and that to make sure you got all of it. You remember thinking he was surprisingly pliant at your touch and almost leaned into how your fingers held him. You didn't realize how close the two of you were until your knee bumped against his, but neither of you jumped away.

"There you go," you murmured in a raspy voice, your throat suddenly dry. "Good as new." You lingered there for a few more seconds before you stepped back and threw the dirty towel back when you found it. "So, what do I owe you? For fixing her up?"

"Don't worry 'bout it." He waved you off, and you gave him a look.

"What? No. I can't let you do that."

"It was really nothin'. A loose part, like I said."

"But you still fixed it. I can't let you walk outta here without paying you."

"Tell you what," he said, stepping into your space again. "Let me take you out to dinner, and we'll consider it settled." His eyes twinkled with something mischievous, and you couldn't look away.

"You ask all your client's daughters out?"

"Just the pretty ones." You laughed at how quick he was with it.

"Alright, cowboy. I'll get out with you, but you better make it worth my while."

"Yes, ma'am." He promised. Of course, Joel made good on his promise and treated you to one of the best dates you'd been on in a while. That was six months ago, and somehow, he's still finding ways to give you amazing dates even in between cattle driving and fixing old Mrs. Calahan's rickety porch swing. And, of course, his beautiful teenage daughters, Sarah and Ellie. He hasn't let you down all these months, but you have to admit you were a little skeptical when you first walked into the bar/dance hall. A live band is playing on the stage, and a crowd of people is dancing before them, clad in leather cowboy boots with belts to match. It smells like tobacco, and the warmth from the kitchen makes everything a bit too hot and sticky.

"I don't know about this, Joel." You say when he settles in the seat across from you with two drinks in hand. He gives you a sympathetic look before glancing at the couple's two-stepping around you.

"Look, we don't have to dance. I just thought it'd be good to change things up. We always go to the same places." He reasons.

"Because we like those places." You're a little whiny, but he leans over and kisses your pout away anyway.

"A little adventure never hurt anyone, baby." He's right, but it doesn't make you feel any better. He sighs when he sees how unconvinced you are, but he doesn't give up. "I'll make you a deal. We'll have a drink here, and if you still don't like it, we'll go anywhere you want."

"Okay." You agree, almost certain you'd be able to drain your drink and go somewhere you were more familiar with. But if there's one thing Joel Miller is not, it's a quitter. He distracts you with affection, sweet words, and entertaining stories that he's already up and ordering another round by the time you realize your glass is empty.

Your next two drinks settle your nerves and make the room spin pleasantly around you. Joel, as usual, gets extra clingy when he's had a few and needs to have some point of contact the entire night. His hand roams from yours to your knee to your hair, but you love it. The only time he's willing to let you go is when you get up to go the bathroom, and even then, he pouts until you kiss him and scurry away before he can snatch you back. When you return, Joel is right where you left him with a smirk on his face, and you smile as you step between his knees.

"What're you so giddy about?" You ask. His hands find your waist, and he shakes his head.

"I just like lookin' at ya." He says, and you roll your eyes at him.

"You're drunk." You accuse, but there's no malice in your voice. He shrugs and pulls you closer.

"Now, this one goes out to a friend of ours who requested a very special song for a special lady. Hope y'all enjoy." The guitarist of the country band announces into the microphone. You could be just as drunk as Joel, but you swear he's looking in your direction. There are a few more seconds of silence before they break into the melody, and you immediately recognize the tune. "You're So Good When You're Bad" by Charley Pride was one of the songs you and Joel danced to at Tommy and Maria's wedding. You hadn't heard the song in forever and practically dragged Joel to the dance floor, and it, somehow, became your guys' song.

"Was this your doing?" You ask, and he shrugs as he stands and takes your hand.

"Must've been luck." He says simply and walks you to the dance floor. You're aware of all the eyes on you two and get a little anxious, but when Joel pulls you to his chest, it all fades away. He's sturdy against you. His calloused hand holds yours, and his other hand guides your waist while your fingers rest against the fabric covering his broad shoulder. He chuckles when you step on his toes but doesn't complain. He just redirects your footsteps and quietly sings the words into your temple, his lips brushing your skin in the process. He smells like pine wood and leather, and you find yourself pressing closer to his warmth.

Slowly and like you're the only people in the world, you guys dance in your own little circle, with Joel throwing in an occasional spin or kiss. You remember him telling you stories about getting dragged into quinceañera courts and debutante balls when he was a kid, but you never expected all that dancing to rub off onto Joel. You realized it when you first danced with him at Tommy's wedding but didn't think much of it. Now, as he holds you firmly and helps guide your drunk feet, you see it so clearly. He's a perfect partner, and all you want to do is stay wrapped up in his strong arms like this forever.

So, maybe you could master the art of Texas dancing if Joel's there to help. You think you could do anything with your cowboy and his heart of gold on your side.

TAGLIST: @abbyhaslongshorts @kiwiharrykiwi @sumsworldz @myloveistoolittle @anavatazes @marantha

#joel miller fluff #joel miller the last of us #joel miller one shot #joel miller series #joel miller au #joel miller fic #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x reader #joel miller #the last of us #the last of us x reader #joel tlou #cowboy!joel miller

[lincolndjarin]

my sister lives in the attic.

main masterlist

joel miller x reader

warnings : angst, death, child loss, grieving, denial

a/n : i've never written something like this but i'm in a weird place and this idea has been following me for quite some time now so i decided to take a few minutes and write it, i'd love some feedback on it since this style is kinda new to me !!

He didn’t like to talk about his children. 

“Do you have kids?”

“Two daughters.” Was all he said.

That’s what he had told you on your first date. He was so abrupt about it that you didn’t ask about them again, instead opting to wait until he told you on his own terms. 

On your fifth date he told you that Ellie got in trouble for cursing in gym class that day. 

On your seventh date he told you Sarah was away at college, and that he missed her terribly and wished she would visit. 

On your eighth date he told you that Ellie made him a card for his birthday. He even brought it over to your house to show you. It was a drawing of the two of them floating through space. The inside said:

i love our family to the moon and back!

You didn’t ask why Sarah wasn’t included in the crayon family portrait. 

On your ninth date he showed you the photos in his wallet. A baby girl with her curly dark hair up in two little buns sitting in the sand. The one below it was a girl who looked to be about five, giving the camera a toothy grin, standing next to Joel in a courthouse, holding up her adoption papers. 

On your twelfth date he finally invited you over for dinner, you happily accepted. 

Joel introduced you to an extremely energetic seven year old. He gave you a tour of the house (only the first floor.) and you smiled at every family photo hung on the walls.

“I invited Sarah but she couldn’t make it, she’s got midterms but I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.” He tells you before leaving you with Ellie, going to pick up a pizza for the three of you. 

Ellie tells you about school, about her best friend Riley, and about playing soccer in the backyard with her father. 

And then she says the strangest thing. 

“My sister lives in the attic.”

“Excuse me?” You had given her a confused smile but she carried on as if it was the most normal thing in the world. 

“My sister, Sarah, lives in the attic.” She said it so plainly. Taking your hand and dragging you up the stairs, pointing up at a staircase on the second story that led to a singular door, pink paint peeling from it with little wooden letters spelling out SARAH, the sight of it put you on edge. 

“We shouldn’t go up there honey, let’s wait until your father gets back.” You had put up a bit of resistance but she ran ahead of you, you watched helplessly from the bottom of the stairs as Ellie pushed open the door and ran inside. 

“It’s okay, dad says I can talk to Sarah whenever I want as long as I don’t touch her stuff.” She had shouted, already inside. Despite every nerve in your body singing for you to go back downstairs and wait, you knew better than to leave a child alone so you climbed the steps and entered the room. 

Nothing strange, nothing frightening, no secret nightmare. 

When you look around all you see is a room, albeit a child's room but a room nonetheless. 

Ellie sits in a love seat, suddenly repeating everything she told you about her day to seemingly no one as she stares at Sarah’s bookshelf. You walk around, trying to recall when Joel said she left for college. Everything is covered in a thick layer of dust but strangest of all this is clearly not a teenager's room. 

This is a childs room, for a girl about Ellie’s age. Every photo on her desk doesn’t show her older than what looks to be twelve. 

“Ellie, honey, when you said your sister lived in the atti-'' She doesn’t stop talking from behind you, ignoring you entirely but her words stop you dead in your tracks. 

“Dad keeps saying you’re coming home for Christmas but he also said you’d be home for his birthday, he keeps telling me how much we’re gonna get along but I just tell him we already get along fine.” 

It sends a chill up your spine, you aren’t superstitious but in a moment of weakness when you turn a part of you almost expects to see a ghost.

Of course that isn’t the case.  

When you look Ellie remains in the loveseat, seemingly the only thing that isn’t covered in dust up here. Her eyes trained on the highest shelf, when you follow her line of sight all of it starts to make sense. The shelf is covered in books and toys and trinkets, all of which are showing signs of age and disuse but the top shelf is neat and tidy, it even looks recently dusted. 

Only two things are on the top shelf. 

A beer bottle with the label ripped off, a lilac sits within it, a few stray petals lay in a halo around the makeshift vase. 

And a dark purple urn. 

You struggle to swallow the lump in your throat, unable to tear your eyes from it. 

“One time Uncle Tommy told me she was an angel.” She whispers when you stare in silence for far too long. “Dad got so mad we didn’t see Tommy for like a month after that and when we did see him again everything went back to normal.”

“What happened to her?” You can’t stop yourself from asking, she only shrugs in response.

“It was before I lived here, I never ask, I’m worried he’ll send me to live with Uncle Tommy if I do.” 

“Oh, honey.” You crouch down beside her, she hugs her knees to her chest. “He wouldn’t do that.” 

“I’m still not gonna ask. He doesn’t talk about her that much, only when someone else brings it up or if I ask to come up here to see her.” You nod slowly before holding your arms out to her, she wraps herself around you and you carry her to the door, eager to leave the tomb you’ve stumbled upon. “Bye Sarah.” She mumbled against your shoulder as you closed the door, the sentiment sent shivers down your spine. 

When Joel returns with the food it’s as if you never were in the attic at all.

Ellie runs to him, wrapping herself around his leg as he laughs, trying to kick her loose. 

When the three of you sit down for dinner she never says a thing to him about any of it. 

She asks if she can go to her friends house after dinner, their mom is going to take them to the arcade, Joel grins at you, asking if she was good while he was gone and you put on a smile, nodding. 

“Then you can go.” He ruffled her hair before she ran off to get her backpack. When it was just the two of you he took your hand, mentioning something about catching a movie while she’s gone, you nodded absentmindedly when he gave your hand a gentle squeeze you finally looked him in the eye. 

You’d never noticed it before but there is a permanent sorrow behind the dark expanse of his irises, as if he’s never really happy, he’s sometimes just less sad. “Everything okay?” He asked. 

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” 

You don’t bring up the attic at the dinner table.

Or in the car.

Or at the movies. 

He just needs time, you tell yourself. Maybe he’ll tell you on your thirteenth date, maybe it won’t be until your hundredth date. Until then you won’t tell him that you know who lives in the attic and you’ll nod with faux disappointment when he says that his eldest won’t be home for the holidays this year. 

And you’ll take extra care of him on days when he comes home with fresh lilacs.

a/n : yeah so uhhhhhhhhhh tell me how y'all liked this haha idk if i'll write anything like this again it was just sort of something for me to vent with, hope everyones having a good day and thank y'all for reading <3

#lincolndjarin #one shot #joel miller x you #joel miller #joel miller x reader #tlou joel #joel tlou #the last of us hbo #the last of us #tlou #joel the last of us #the last of us fanfiction #joel and ellie #sarah miller

[huntingingoodwill]

texas reznikoff (j.m.)

masterlist

pairing: college roommate! pre&postoutbreak! joel x reader

desc: joel promises to build a home, for you and with you, during the days of naivety and innocence before the outbreak. after reuniting years later, you discover that joel always keeps his promises. (tooth rotting fluff a bit of angst and a happy ending <3)

“I could lie here forever,” you hummed.

You reached out toward the water, fingertips growing numb as your hand delved beneath the surface of the pond. Curious guppies swirled past your fingers, their slippery bodies a shifting iridescent.

“Do it. I’ll be right here with you,” Joel’s calloused fingers ran through your hair, skimming the silky locks that tumbled upon his thigh. Your head was a comforting weight in his lap, the soft skin of your cheek pressed against the rough denim of his jeans. 

“You make it sound so simple,” you sighed, tilting your head to meet his gaze. The deep brown of his irises were honeyed in the golden sunlight that haloed the park. “But, there’s school. And work, for you.” 

“Screw school and work,” he drawled, deep and deadpan.

You dissolved into giggles, managing to break through his serious countenance for a moment as you felt his laugh, a rumble deep in his chest. 

“Screw school and work,” you echoed his words. It was your dreary university lectures and his shift at the construction site that had kept you away from each other all day. 

You had been waiting in anticipation for your classes to end so you could meet him. When you were together, the world seemed to pull into soft focus, muted and sweet. The two of you had agreed to meet here as you both left your shared apartment that morning. He had taken your books from your grasp, tucking them under his arm as he carried them for you, allowing you to trail behind him, still rubbing the sleep from your eyes. 

Throughout the gruelling lessons, your mind was preoccupied with the place you had agreed on, the plush green expanse of grass beside the pond, a quiet place in the park where you could watch the fish swirl through the water, hypnotised by the ripple of the clear surface. A place where the world around you seemed to vanish, leaving the two of you behind, cool in the shadow of a tree. 

“When I graduate, I want a home with a pond,” you sighed, dream-like. “I’d lie out there and watch the fish swim all day.” 

“And where would this home be?” Joel asked, indulging in your fantasy. You closed your eyes, a little future blossoming behind your eyelids. 

“...Somewhere by the ocean. Close to the water,” you could almost hear the rush of waves, your heartbeat picking up as you pictured the clear blue sea washing over you.

Your eyes fluttered open, meeting his dark gaze, the gleam in his eyes set alight by the sunlight. You looked at Joel, drinking in his silent, serious beauty. Your finger traced the sharp line of his jaw. 

“Scratch that,” you whispered, “Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s with you.” Home is where you are.

You thought of the apartment you shared with him, a tiny thing with creaky second-hand furniture and a too-soft, sunken mattress. You loved living with your previous roommate, Maria, but she really did you a favour in introducing her boyfriend’s brother to you. In doing that, she found you a home. 

His heart pounded, a rush of heat thrumming through his veins. 

“A home with a pond,” he muttered, deep voice lilting in an accented rasp, considering the idea. “I’ll build it for you.”

“Really?” An uncontrollable smile spread across your face.

“Didn’t get into construction out of high school for nothing,” he chuckled, fingers grazing the smooth skin of your brow as he brushed away the hair that had fallen across your face. “Might as well put my skills to good use.”

You sat up, lacing your fingers behind his neck. Your hands brushed against the soft curls at the nape of his neck, relishing in the warmth that emanated off of him. You leaned in, lips brushing against his as his hands sailed down the length of your back,  warm palm steady  as he kissed you, lips plush against yours. You felt a dip in the pit of your stomach, that feeling of free-falling, the feeling of love. You held each other beneath the scattered shadows of the leaves. 

“Play me something,” you implored.

Reluctantly, his hand slipped away from its space on the small of your back, reaching for his guitar,  the wood gleaming in the grass. 

The sticky-warm air gave way to a gentle breeze, cool against your skin. Joel, solemn brow pinched in concentration, strummed gently across the strings. You leaned against his shoulder, the stubble of his neck grazing your skin. 

“It’s beautiful out today,” you mumbled. His hand left the neck of the guitar to search for your hand, fingers lacing through yours as his thumb skimmed the ridge of your knuckles. “I’m happy I’m spending it with you.” 

“Joel?” Your voice echoed through the empty apartment as you walked through your doorway the next day, keys clattering in your hand. 

His work boots were absent from their space beside the door. You remembered, then, that he had told you he wouldn’t be home until later that evening.    

Screw school and work. 

You strode into the living room, preparing to flop down on the couch when you froze, the glint of light off a sheen of glass catching your eye. 

You kneeled to the floor, finger skimming the cool glass of the brand new fish bowl that wasn’t there before, perched atop your coffee table. Guppies swirled within their little glass world, their wide eyes tracking the movement of your finger.

You reached up to pull off the yellow post-it attached to the surface of the glass, Joel’s handwriting, a messy scrawl, sending your heart soaring. 

“A home with a pond. This will have to do for now. Love, J.”

You held the note to your chest, a warmth blossoming within you. 

It seemed like the end of the world, at the time. 

The initial excitement had dissolved almost instantly. You had gotten what you wanted. An offer for your dream job, straight after graduation. One in a city, near the sea. Far away. 

You clung to Joel, hating the idea of having to leave him. He wouldn’t have any of it. He even drove you to the airport, your parting kiss sweet under the dark fluorescent glare of the terminal. He smiled the entire time, only letting the mask fall when he was back in his truck, alone, the air still smelling of your perfume. 

After, when the outbreak hit, he was the first person you tried to reach. You had tried, over and over again, the dull beep of the dial tone stuttering in time with your panicked heart. By then, the beautiful seaside city that had never quite felt like home had turned into just one of the many infected wounds on the face of the country. 

The only remnant you had of him was his note. Years and years of hunger, fatigue, struggle, violence, smuggling, flew past. During those long, sleepless nights that couldn’t go by fast enough, you’d take it out, the paper torn and wrinkled, his words faded and smudged. Every breath you took was laced with the memory of him. 

You grew restless after years of fighting to survive within your city’s QZ. That itch to leave grew unbearable, the borders of the zone seeming to close in on you. 

Then, you wandered. State lines seemed to blur into each other as you drove, finding refuge in the shade of dense forests. A part of you knew why you kept on the move. You knew who you were looking for, who you held out hope to find. 

Maria’s bullet had barely zipped past your temple when she found you out on patrol one day.

You swivelled around, hands held up in surrender, barely able to hold your stance as a flash of recognition burned through your eyes. 

She dropped the gun, practically lunging at you as she ran up to you, crushing your ribs in a tight hug. 

You froze, heart in your mouth. You couldn’t believe she was here. Your arms shook as they wrapped around her, shoulders shuddering as you drew in a deep breath, trying to ground yourself. 

“Joel’s gonna be so happy to see you,” she mumbled into the crook of your neck.

Your muscles seized once more, legs almost giving way beneath you as the rush of blood roared in your ears. Joel was alive. Your heart pounded in your chest, fingers digging into the worn fabric of Maria’s jacket. 

Joel’s chest heaved with exertion as he ran toward the gate, pushing past a crush of people, eyes scanning the road frantically. 

The news had travelled quick, Maria bumping into Ellie near the gate and sending her to find him. 

“Joel,” she had huffed, cheeks red from the dash over, “Maria says she found someone. Someone you know.” 

He hadn’t even replied, feet slamming against the ground as he ran, in time with the name that played on repeat in his head, a silent chant, like a prayer.

The crowd parted, and a figure came into view, a bright sun breaking through clouds that had loomed overhead for far too long. 

He had only seen you in dreams for years, your presence a blurry, warm memory. He had always woken up cold. Now, that same heat he had known when you were with him came rushing back, shooting through his chest. 

You turned, the walls you had spent years building crumbling as you locked eyes with Joel. He was paralysed, rooted to the floor. Afraid that if he’d reached out, you’d disintegrate, slipping through his fingers like the mirage of you he had come to know. 

You walked toward Joel, somehow mustering the strength to put one foot in front of the other. Your trembling hand reached out to graze the side of his face, the rough salt and pepper that flecked his jaw. You had feared that you would have forgotten what he looked like after so many years apart. It was the one thing you didn’t want to forget. You had always worried that one day you’d wake up, and he’d be a distant memory, his face a fog of features. But you had remembered. It was still Joel, beautiful Joel, his strong brow creasing helplessly as his dark eyes peered at you with glassy disbelief. 

He melted into your touch. You were real. You were here. 

He held you tight against him, close to his chest, sure he’d never let you slip away again. The both of you felt your hearts thrumming in tandem against each other. He buried his nose in your hair, the world seeming to fall away around you, like it used to. 

“I have something to show you.” He took your hand, leading you through Jackson. The weight of his hand in yours sent relief flooding through your veins. You never wanted him to let go. 

The surface of the water gleamed like a mirror. 

You gasped, hand darting up to your mouth as you saw it, a tiny pond, out of place in the unkempt expanse of his backyard. You stumbled toward it, kneeling beside it. A small pocket of water, clear and rippling with life. Tiny fish sliced through the water. 

“They’re from the river,” he muttered, moving to sit next to you in the grass. 

You turned to him, a cool breeze tousling his hair. You tracked the grooves of age that had dug into his skin, the greying hair, the eyes that had found a new depth, that had seen unspeakable things. Those eyes met yours in the look of love. So much time had passed, but you still loved each other like nothing had changed. 

“I had hope.” He muttered, and it was as simple as that.

You kissed him, fingers tangling in his hair as you held him close. He was almost unsure, hesitant after years of living in a world where affection was scant. Then, it was just like all those years ago, hidden in the tall grass, the wind swaying the trees. He pressed his lips to yours, beard grazing the soft skin of your cheek as he held you tight against him. 

You were finally home.

#joel miller x you #joel miller x reader #joel miller angst #joel x reader #joel miller #joel tlou #tlou hbo #the last of us hbo #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller imagine #the last of us #tlou #joel miller x y/n #joel miller the last of us #joel miller au #the last of us fluff #ellie williams #tlou fanfiction #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal x y/n #pedro pascal imagine #pedro pascal #pedro x reader #pedrostories

[nonexistent-introvert]

Paper Stars

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Word count: 2.5k

Content: Childhood friends, angst, unrequited feelings, takes place before Joel's marriage, missed opportunities

A/N: There may be a part 2 but we'll see. Was just thinking rlly hard about childhood friends to lovers but settled on whatever this is

Looking at the half-filled jar of paper stars, you could only sigh at the sight of it. You weren’t even aware of when it truly started when you started being more conscious of yourself around him. how your heart paced whenever you saw him and how your eyes seemed to shine with excitement when interacting with him. Every paper star represented a time when you felt like you liked him a little too much for a friend, every paper star only further proved that you were seeing him as someone who is more than a friend, and truth be told, you were terrified. 

    Joel and you basically grew up together. He was a year older than you while Tommy was the same age as you. Being neighbours who were close in age, your family easily got themselves acquainted with the Millers and that was how you found yourself getting closer to the Miller brothers. You told yourself it was a crush, but then it lasted a little too long, felt a little too overwhelming and that was how you found yourself in this situation, folding paper stars. When the jar eventually gets filled, you promised yourself to muster up the courage to tell Joel how you felt about him, and if it doesn’t ever get filled, then it would be just a crush. Running a hand through your hair, you thought about his reaction. What if he only saw you as a friend, a younger sister? You would have single handedly ruined everything and the friendship you couldn’t bare to lose with Joel, fuck, you would never be able to survive the embarrassment of seeing him around, his younger brother being your best friend certainly erased all hopes of just avoiding him after too. 

    There were too many things that could go wrong, too many risks. Honestly? You kind of wished it was a crush, something that you’ll look back and laugh at on but deep down you know, the feelings you had for him ran a little too deep for it to be just a crush. 

—------------------------------------------------------------

     The jar was three quarters filled. It hasn’t been touched for a while, remained like that for almost a month. The small part of you relieved to know that it was a crush after all, that you wouldn’t have to ruin anything or risk facing rejection, sometimes you wished you knew yourself better. The feelings never went away, it was just suppressed by fear, unknowingly, you had spent the last month avoiding Joel. It wasn’t hard, considering Joel was hardly ever around, spending more time with his school friends , and when you did see him, turning your back on him and pretending you never did seemed to work a little too effectively. 

     Then everything went downhill. 

     “Hey come in.” Joel opened the door, you tensed up before stiffly nodding. Your eyes frantically searching for Tommy in the living room. “Tommy!” Joel shouted, Tommy’s voice travelling back in acknowledgement. “Been a while since I saw ya.” Joel started. “Yeah” you shrugged, eyes noticing the unfamiliar woman who was sitting at the dining table, in her arms was Joel’s prized guitar. 

     Joel touched the back of his neck, a look on his face that you couldn’t decipher. He shuffled to the dining room. “Um.. this is Lorraine.” Joel introduced. You awkwardly greeted her while introducing yourself as Tommy’s friend. 

    “Joel’s girlfriend.” Tommy teased, making his way down the stairs. Joel clicked his tongue in annoyance, shooting Tommy a glare. Lorraine simply laughed, “We aren’t dating…yet.” She added as a joke. Tommy laughed while you clenched your jaw, a knot forming in the pit of your stomach. Lorraine is an attractive woman, her hair the perfect length to frame her face and fall gracefully over her shoulders, her eyes big and bright unlike your eyes that had dark eyebags decorating it. You will never be like someone like her.

    Tommy putting his arm over your shoulder broke you from your trance, he guided you to the couch where he had already set up the controllers to play the video game the both of you decided on. “Joel insists that he is just teaching Lorraine how to play the guitar, I think its bullshit if you ask me.” Tommy let out another cackle, “Apparantly she asked him, Joel is clueless when it comes to women, it’s obvious she’s into him.” You forced a smile, the knot in your stomach tightening. 

   “Where is this wrath coming from?” Tommy questioned, watching his character get absolutely destroyed with yet another combo from you. Truth be told, you were angry, everything seemed to be getting on your nerves and you were desperate for an output, trying your best to focus on the game fully. Another series of giggles erupted from the dining room, you couldn’t help averting your eyes to glance at Joel and Lorraine. His arms was around her’s, gently moving her fingers around the fretboard in an attempt to teach her, sitting closely at her side as he took his guitar back from her to demonstrate. How she seemed to giggle at everything Joel says  and act like a damsel in distress at the smallest inconvenience. It was getting onto your nerves. 

    “Fuck this.” You placed your controller down and swung your backpack over your shoulder. Tommy staring at his character get brutally murdered with a finisher. “No. You’re not going anywhere, how are you so scarily good today?” Tommy stood up in a rush, catching up to you as you opened the door and left his house. 

    “Hey hey, talk to me. Is there something bothering you?” Tommy questioned, observing the scowl on your face. “She needs to shut the fuck up.” Tommy tilted his head, before it finally clicked in his mind. He stopped in his tracks, too shocked to move. The abrupt stop made you turn back to look at Tommy, his jaw agape. “Shit, are you jealous?” you furrowed your eyebrows even more, looking at him with a baffled look. “No.” You stated confidently, doubt clouding your mind as soon as the word left you. Tommy gasped dramatically, “It all makes sense now… shit.. I didn’t know Joel was your type.” 

    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

—--------------------------------------------------------------------

    The jar was practically filled to the brim, your eyes staring at the lone paper star on your table that seemed to be the last paper star to fill the jar. How did it come to this? You laughed internally at yourself, thinking of your recent interactions with Joel. 

   “I’ll walk you home.” 

    Why is your heart fluttering at such a small comment already? “Joel, there’s no need.” You argued, manoeuvring your way through the crowded halls. Joel struggling a little more witb his bigger build. “We haven’t talked much lately, let’s fix that.” You smiled at him, “If Tommy said anything to you Joel, he’s sprouting bullshit.” Joel raised his eyebrow, “So Tommy knows something?” Your mind raced back to how Tommy found out about your feelings for Joel outside his house, embarrassment filling you, you had made Tommy swore not to spill but if he did, that man would be six feet under. You inhaled, finally escaping the densely packed school and onto the street, deciding not to answer Joel instead. 

    “Does Tommy know why you’re avoiding me?” Your pace dropped significantly, Joel was looking down at the floor, a frown on his face, his pace slowing too as he slowly met your eyes. “I’m not avoiding you, Joel.” You insisted, “Mhm yeah. Making a 360 whenever you see me, leaving the moment we’re in the same room, responding to me with nothing more than a sentence. We grew up together for fuck’s sake.” Joel listed, sounding exasperated towards the end. You pursed your lips, you never thought Joe noticed. 

    “I…” you trailed off, trying to find the right words. “I’ll talk to you about it, I’m just not ready now.” He sighed, hurt evident on his face. “You know you could tell me anything right?” You nodded, thinking back on the jar of paper stars. 

    “I’m terrified that we’re drifting apart. I don’t want to lose this…friendship we have.” Joel admitted 

   Friendship. If he only knew how much those vulnerable words of his hurt you, 

  -——•———

     “Happy birthday.” Joel thrusted the box into your hands. You muttered a “thanks”, opening the box. “Joel-no.” “Put it on.” He encouraged, ignoring you. 

    In the box sat a simple bracelet, a small moon and star charm on the middle of the bracelet. “Please? I swear it doesn’t cost as much as you think.” He pleaded, picking up the bracelet. It didn’t cost much, but he still saved up for weeks to buy this bracelet, he was just a high school student afterall. You glanced at Joel, knowing that you wouldn’t win this fight against him considering his stubborn nature. Letting out a defeated sigh, you gave him your arm. He grinned, delicately placing the bracelet around your wrist, making sure to adjust it properly. His fingers traced the bracelet on your wrist, you bit on your lip, mentally scolding yourself when you felt yourself leaning into his touch. 

  “I knew it.” He laughed, looking up to meet your eyes. “It’s perfect for you.” You smiled, admiring the bracelet on your wrist. “It is pretty.” You admitted, letting the sunlight reflect of the metal. 

   “You’re beautiful,” he complimented, a light flush colouring his cheeks and yours. You cleared your throat, too flustered to reply to him. 

    That was the last nail in the coffin, the last paper star to fill the jar. 

    You had to tell Joel. 

 —--------------------------------

      Tommy ran as fast as he could. “Hey.” He panted, bending over to catch his breath. One of his palms still against your room’s door, supporting himself. You jumped at his sudden intrusion, “Fuck Tommy, you could have given me a heart attack.” Tommy tiredly closed the door to your room before sitting down on the floor, wiping the sweat off his face. He kept quiet, using the tissues you offered him to wipe his sweat, unsure of how to break the news to you. 

    “What’s up Tommy?” You asked. Tommy closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. 

     “Joel has a girlfriend.” He announced. You felt numb for a split second, unsure of how to react. Your eyes fell on the filled jar of paper stars, your heart clenching, flexing your jaw in an attempt to lose the tension in your body. “Lorraine?” Tommy nodded, you bit your lip, your hands clenching into fists by your side. Tommy’s eyes shot up at you in concern, you were laughing, at yourself? At the situation? He didn’t know. 

    “It has always been just a crush, Tommy. I’m fine.” Tommy didn’t buy it, not a single bit, but he didn’t pursue it any further. He wanted to punch Joel, wanted to hurt him, if only he knew earlier about how you felt towards his older brother, maybe he wouldn’t have to break the news to you now. 

    It’s like the universe was literally screaming at you that you stood no chance with Joel. It felt like some cruel joke. Looking at the boxes that sat in the corner of your room, urging you to pack them, that you would be leaving soon. It was also the reason why you put off your plans on confessing. “I have something to tell you too.” Tommy gave you a concerned look, “Tommy, I’m-I’m moving away.” His eyes widened, “No, what for? Over Joel? You gotta be kidding me.” Tommy spat, it was unfair, unfair how his brother got a girlfriend and he is losing his best friend. “I only knew two days ago, we’re moving back to the city, closer to family.”Tommy shook his head, running his hands through his hair. “Fuck, even now you gotta one up me.” He laughed, “I delivered some devastating news and you had to deliver some depressing news of yours too.” You smiled sadly at Tommy, “I leave this friday.” 

      Tommy seemed to notice the boxes in the corner of your room. He sighed, “Well, do you need any help packing then?” He tried to act unbothered, like you did too, you could tell from his slumped shoulders. You stood up, pulling the things from your drawers out. “Thanks Tommy.” You didn’t know what else to say, pretty sure there was nothing you could say. He cradled the picture of the three of you. You stood in the middle, Joel and Tommy by your sides, big grins on all your faces, a picture taken by your mum. A picture taken when you had gone with the Millers to Disneyland. Tommy laughed, all of you were wearing a Mickey Mouse headband, the headband that Joel refused to wear initially. Tommy leaned over to you, showing you the picture while the both of you reminisced. 

    Everything felt bittersweet at that moment. 

    “We’ll keep in touch right?”

   “Of course Tommy.” 

—-----------------------------------

    Joel’s eyes searched the airport, his eyes landing on the departing screens. Panic filled him entirely, he only found out that you were moving away today. Surprised to know that Tommy had woken up earlier than him, a rare occurrence. His mother had informed him that Tommy had woken up at dusk, leaving with you and your family, wanting to see you off. Joel had bolted out the door in the next minute. 

   He dashed towards Tommy’s figure, having spotted him. He caught a glimpse of you just before you turned the corner and vanished from his sight. “You’re too late brother.” Tommy said to Joel. Joel swallowed, anger rising in him as he grabbed the collar of Tommy’s shirt. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did no one tell me?” Tommy placed his hand over Joel’s hands, shoving him away from himself. “You’re causing a commotion.” Tommy seethed, glancing over Joel’s shoulder where authorities seemed to be giving them looks of warning. Joel ran his hands through his hair, “I had the right to know.” Joel said. Tommy rolled his eyes, scoffing at his older brother. “Do you?” Before Joel could say anything, Tommy continued, the feelings he had suppressed bubbling onto the surface. “You’re so busy dating, hanging out with everyone else. Are you really surprised that no one told you? Maybe because we never got a chance? Nor did you bother to check up on her.” Tommy berated, he would never understand how you fell for Joel, in Tommy’s eyes, you deserved better. 

    Tommy stomped off into the crowd, deciding it was better to leave his brother than let anger get the better of him. Joel stood there, dumbfounded, he never realized how much time had truly passed. Scolding himself internally for not spending more time with you, if he pursued you that day about you avoiding him, he wondered if you would have told him you were moving away or if there was something bigger bothering you. He took out his wallet, tracing his fingers over the picture that was kept safely in his wallet. The very same picture you had, the same one from the trip to Disneyland. 

   “Too late,” he muttered to himself. 

#joel miller tlou #joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x reader #tlou #pedro pascal x reader #tlou x reader

[adora-but-ginger]

scrawled in sand

pairing: joel miller x gender neutral!reader

summary: a fight leads to a mistake that may be costly, and Joel might lose someone, again.

word count: 4.5k(ish)

warnings: typical tlou violence and the warnings that come with those, nothing in detail but some sexual thoughts so 18+, weapons/knives, mentions of the loss of children, joel is kind of being an asshole at some points, angst, fluff at the end though, reader is like a feral cat joining a group of feral cats, swearing, hallucinations kind of, spoilers for episodes eight and nine, talking of death, no y/n used, umm i think that's it

masterlist

a/n: please don't ask me what this is, i don't have an answer. i chugged it out on a whim yesterday and make some edits today to fit the story better, and i'm currently trying to fill the hole that the end of the show has left so here this is! pedro as joel truly makes my brain go brrr, this series is fr consuming my life oh my god. thank you for reading! <3

one more thing! don't repost my stories, because only those who don't cover their cough or sneeze do that, and frankly that's embarrasing.

enjoy!-ella

credit to gif owner!

Joel,

The letter started, and he felt the all too familiar feeling of guilt pool in his gut. The argument from earlier that morning back had ran through his head on repeat since you left him standing alone in the middle of the street, with nothing but the horses in the near distance remaining as his company.

He didn't know why he said what he did, or at least he didn't want to admit it. The ghosts of his past had been haunting his every waking moment the closer he got to you, after Ellie had asked you to come with them in Kansas City. To say you were a force to be reckoned with would be an understatement, and he frequently glanced to your features and saw the same fires that burned the kindle of broken memories in himself.

You were dangerous, fearless, and morally questionable. This meant that Ellie nearly fuckin' worshipped you, and that Joel followed not too far behind.

The fact that you were nearly breathtaking to him was also an added benefit. Had he met you before, Tommy definitely would've chastised him for fawning after someone so out of his league.

You were brutal, and had made your grand entrance by saving Ellie and his life when he thought he had failed once again. Even months after you had joined their little duo, he still hadn't figured out how he hadn't seen you in the shadows. You had gotten rid of the person holding the weapon to Ellie's head just as they were about to pull the trigger, the shock of this third unannounced party granting you the time to take care of the one suffocating Joel.

Apparently, you drew a line of morals somewhere, but the line must've been distinct only to you. You had introduced yourself to the two after making sure they were both okay enough to continue, and it didn't take him more than another twenty-four hours to know that somewhere along the line, you had lost a child too. He had never expressed his inference out loud, but only someone who personally knew the pain of losing a child like that would save a kid like that.

From then on, he could tell that his silent vow to protect Elle at all costs was shared with another--an unspoken agreement going between the two of you.

It didn't take long for his 'crush' (as Ellie called it) to develop for you, though he denied it at any and all costs. How could he not? You could take out a clicker in the most agile way he had ever seen, and still walk away looking saccharinely angelic. His angel of death, he called you, after a night of too much stale alcohol surrounded by the sounds of crackling embers and an audience of the stars. You had laughed, and it was the first time he had made you produce that sound.

To say that the thought made him a little weak in the knees would put it mildly, and he thanked the onlookers of dust and ice above him that he was sitting down.

You had told him that that was probably one of the nicest nicknames you had been gifted by another in the last two decades.

He responded with a small smile, one that hadn't seen the light of day in much too long.

You said you liked it, the way his eyes looked with the little crinkles, and got up to stand watch. He noticed the scar that adorned the length of your collarbone for the first time, and let his eyes travel downward for the briefest of moments, before he lectured himself on why he couldn't think like that, of you, of anyone.

Your guard slowly went down for him after that night under the stars, but that didn't mean that you were any less brutal. You plowed through infected with so much as a blink of an eye and a scoff, and could bring a person to their knees, in want of lust or life, often taking the latter.

You two had become close after the winter that he nearly died at the University and Ellie and themself had gone through some of the most trauma one could experience. In fact, the caring whispers you and him had shared during those weeks, well, he damn near thought he made them up out of how unreal they seemed. He remembers the feeling of your lips against his cheek, of you falling asleep on one side of him with Ellie on the other while he nearly bled to death.

He knew he loved you then, but chalked it up to his dying mind.

And then the incident with the hospital happened, and even though you had barely the slightest clue as to who these firefly folks were, you had informed him afterward that when you woke up and pestered Marlene into telling you what was happening with Ellie you blacked out--that there was a reason as to why he had given you that nickname all those moons ago.

Because even if these people thought they could make a cure, who was to say that it worked? These scientists, with barely any resources to perform the necessary tests, had no guarantee that they wouldn't fuck it up, or that they would even did the surgery right had they performed it. No practice on what to do, no clue as to if they even acquire the correct sample. In fact, the only thing that they could guarantee would be the blood of a fourteen-year-old on their hands.

Joel had met you halfway through his sweep of the first floor, the fireflies making the dire mistake of keeping you two on the same level.

He decided to lie to Ellie about what had happened earlier then, and you respected his decision to a point, but you told her that you couldn't speak for him, and that you had found the two of them through no innocent manner.

So now here the three of you were, in Jackson, Wyoming, with him head-over-heels for you, and you feeling quite the same. A home was given to you all, and Tommy had rightly taken up his role of annoying younger brother, reminding him that not only did he know those who were ordained within the town (should the time come for you to become him and Maria's sibling-in-law), but that it would contain the looks that those of all genders gave you.

Like he said before, you were breathtaking, and now he wasn't the only one who knew that.

You had let your guard down a little sine you all returned, but he could tell you were struggling with it. Acting as a parental figure to Ellie had come easy to you, which meant that Tommy wasn't the only one constantly pushing him to make a move on you. He wouldn't be surprised if Ellie and his brother had a damn bet going on as to who could get him to say something first. And even though you two shared a room and a bed, nothing was set in stone. You would only really go out when the other two were, besides patrols, which you damn nearly craved according to Tommy.

It was hard for you and him, but the effort was there. He would see a more relaxed version of you in the nights, with the musings spoken between you and him after the sun had set only heard when your arms were around him in bed and the lull of sleep was around the corners.

So, when you both came back after a significantly rough patrol and something within him snapped at your recklessness, the feeling so long subdued came out from the depths of both of your hearts.

"You need to start being more careful of your surroundings!" He had sharply huffed at you after you had gone in with your usual guard and lack of self-care. The shock at his sudden outburst on your face spoke for the both of you. He didn't know why he was so upset, this was nothing new, but his fears had started to best him.

"Pardon me?" You had said after removing the saddle from your horse.

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about." He gritted his teeth and crossed his arms, your actions soon mirroring his. "You can't just go into spaces we haven't checked alone all because you feel up to it."

"I went in there because I knew that there were infected, I don't get why this is anything different than the usual." The shock had quickly faded into confusion at his accusation. As much as he knew your readiness for conflict of the physical, he knew that you were never one for that of the verbal. That was one difference between the two of you--you insisted that problems were to be figured out and dissolved as soon as they arose, for there was no point in letting an argument brew.

"It's just--" he shut his eyes and took a breath, trying to keep himself in check, recognizing the fear that still remained from how fast you bolted into the abandoned barn. "We're a family now, you n' Ellie n' I, and you have to start caring more about what you do and your safety."

"I have been, Joel. So a stalker got a jump on me when I turned my back, but it's happened to the best of us. I wasn't bit, I'm okay." You had reached for his arm, but he moved his stance back just enough for you to halt your motion.

Something hardened in his eyes at that, feelings of what could've happened if you were bit flashing across his mind like a bad movie. "What if we hadn't been on your six? Huh? What would've happened if you did get bit? I couldn't live with myself, and you know damn well that Ellie wouldn't take the news well either. What you do doesn't just impact you anymore. That's all I'm saying."

You had sighed, nodding. "You have to see where I'm coming from too though, love." Pet names had flowed relatively frequently between the two of you since the beginning of the winter, but he still wasn't used to them. He liked em', loved em' even, but a little voice in his head always told him he was getting too close. You both hadn't said those three words, but he was terrified that he would push you away the moment they entered the air.

"I just, never mind." He turned to walk away, which was his first mistake. He knew you wouldn't let the subject just go like that.

"No, no, let's talk this through. You have done the same thing countless times, hell I've had to pry those fuckers off of your back more than I should, but you still continue to do it."

He spoke with his back still turned. "Yeah, but with me it's different."

Mistake number two.

You had both moved to the street now, the lights of early morning filling the colour palette surrounding you both.

"What do you mean it's different? What, you think I'm weaker than you or somethin'?" Your voice held more bite with the claim, and he screwed his eyes tight. He knew that your ability to hold your own was a touchy subject at best, after you explained your amount of loss long ago, but it didn't even cross his mind that his words could've been interpreted in a different manner.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." He was getting annoyed, he was tired, but he turned to face you nonetheless. It was too early for a disagreement, but alas, here you both were.

"Yeah? Because that's not what it sounded like."

"Listen," your name tumbled from his lips. "You know that I know you're not weak, I have never doubted your strength and I never will. Goddammit. I just think that you go in over your head sometimes, thinkin' that you can handle more than you can."

Mistake number three.

"I know damn well what I can and cannot handle, Joel." Your chest was starting to raise faster, and he could tell that you were getting fed up, but so was he.

"Can you just listen to me for once?!" his tone became louder with every word. Memories of his life before ran through his head, alongside your image. If you wanted to be so stubborn, he could too. Maybe that's why he said what he did next. "You know what? No. I can't do this."

"Do what?"

"For the past how many patrols, you've come back with some sort of scratch because you don't care about what happens to you, and I'm sick of it--"

"--I've been working on it, and you know that. This isn't an easy change for me."

"But you're not workin' hard enough!" his voice was raised now, and he saw your resolve start to break. The dam had opened, and now the flood was rushing in. "If you're goin' to go and get yourself hurt, go do it away from me. In fact, it might just be better if you go on and leave, save us the trouble of worryin'." The words were leaving his mouth before he could even realize what he was saying, and he regretted every word that he processed.

"You don't mean that." He could see your breath hitch, your chest stumble as you spoke.

"I'll be damned if I don't. Can't have us thinkin' you're not gonna make it back if there's no back for you to come to."

"Joel, I am trying to work on getting better at it." Your voice matched his tone now, the anger seeping through you. "You don't see me pointing out every one of your flaws, and goddammit you have your fair share. You know I love you regardless, and--"

Mistake number four.

His body tensed up at your accidental confession, and your eyes widened as you realized what you had said.

"What did you just say to me?" He was too fired up to process his emotions healthily, and all the alarms to run were blaring loud and far. Did he feel the same? most definitely. Did he know how to express that in the slightest? Not at all.

But you held your ground. You knew him and how closed up he was, hell, you were nearly on par with his level there, but you had said it nonetheless. "You heard me, and I've got the feeling that you've known it for quite some time now."

He couldn't stop though. "Don't come home tonight. I don't want you there. Hell, you should've gotten bitten, for all I care."

--

You cursed yourself for getting close to that old grump. You didn't mean to say it, but you meant it, and you thought he felt the same. You left him there, then, not allowing him to see just how his words affected you. It was ridiculous really, how you let him get to you, but you liked the normalcy of Jackson, no matter how bad you were at it. You felt bad for leaving Ellie, but you thought it was best. Joel was right in that manner, she deserved a guardian that could keep themselves alive.

So that afternoon you talked to Tommy about taking your horse for a little joyride that evening, and though he wasn't too happy with your push for it, he obliged. It was past midnight when you came into the building you used to call home. You got your little belongings together, those consisting of a photo of the three of you, some flasks of water, some flasks of a liquid that was not water, some food, some weaponry, a journal, and went downstairs.

You scribbled a little note for Joel and went on your way. You couldn't look back, because if you did, you'd stay. Part of you broke as you imagined Ellie's reaction come the morning, but you continued on.

You didn't know where you were going, but you didn't really care.

--

After talking with Ellie that afternoon about what happened once the guilt had consumed him, Joel sought you out. You hadn't come home that night, and though in his fury he told you to do exactly that, he didn't expect you to actually do it.

He had checked the spare bedrooms but found only empty spaces. His heart started to drop as his hopes to see you dwindled. It was when he walked to the kitchen table was he met with someone. Ellie sat there, eyes glued to the small piece of paper in her hands, a tear slipping down her face. At the presence of Joel, she whipped her head towards him.

"I thought you were going to fucking talk it out." Her eyes were red, and she spoke with a bite. "Go get your fucking stuff, we're bringing them back." She stood up and went to go gather her stuff he assumed, leaving the paper on the table. He walked over and picked it up, the guilt returning as he read his name in your handwriting.

Joel,

Guess it really all was just one sided. You were the first person in years that I let myself care about, and I guess I'm facing the consequences. Like you said, you can't worry if I don't come back if there's no back to go to.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he felt his heart become erratic.

Ellie,

I'm sorry. I hope you forgive me for leaving, but please don't hate me for it. If I were to stay, it would just be awkward between Joel and I, and eventually you probably wouldn't see much of me anyways. Love you, kid.

I'm sorry.

--

Yeah, this was a mistake. You'd been with people for too long that you grew to be rusty by yourself, and it was costing you, big time. You had been on foot for who knows how long now, but it was dark and sleep was slowly lulling you to its call, so you didn't hear that someone caught onto your trail and began to follow you. It wasn't until a twig snapped no more than fifteen feet behind you that you caught on, and by then it was too late.

A short fight later, death had found another, and there was a nasty stab wound in your shoulder.

You had thought to bring food and water, but why you forgot a med kit was beyond you. So, here you were, your horse waiting by the creekside, while you tried to find something that would hold enough pressure to prevent you from passing out. That was quickly coming to no avail though you realized, and you cursed at yourself for being so torn by rage from your fight with Joel to prepare properly.

You could see drops of your blood reflect in the morning dew that coated the grass. This wouldn't be lethal if you found a way to patch it up, but you were losing hope by the second.

Being agitated enough to find a solution, you decided to press on the wound with your hand, causing your sight to briefly black out in pain. A groan surpassed you, and you begrudgingly dragged yourself to your horse, doing your best to keep the reins in place via a bigger rock, and slumped down against it. If you could rest for just a few minutes and regain your breath, then you could focus better on what was around you that could help. Just a few minutes, you promised yourself, and the darkness overcame your shutting eyes.

--

It was the sound of another horse that jostled you from your unconsciousness. Looking around, it took you a half a moment to recognize where you were, a part of you aching for the comfort of your shared bed. But that's when everything came flooding back.

Joel. The fight. The note. The stabbing.

You looked skyward and groaned when you saw the paint of warm colour canvasing the blue. With a curse and a deep breath, you pushed yourself up, barely making it to a standing position before the pain overcame you again. You risked a look to your clavicle, and to your dismay, it was looking a whole (no pun intended) lot worse. You figured that you should've known that sleeping it off wouldn't heal a literal stab wound, but what the hell, it was worth a shot. The blood loss caught up to you making you lightheaded, and as you stumbled to your horse, you thought you were hallucinating, because you could swear that you heard Joel's voice.

The version of him that your mind had cruelly made up was coming closer, and jesus christ you were hallucinating Ellie's voice now too. The trees around you started to spin, and when you saw them turn towards the crest of the hill you looked up from, you actually laughed.

You were about to possibly die, and your mind had to punish you for it.

Calling up to the false images, you got their attention with slurred speech. "Shit, you can't even let me go in peace, can you?" Another sour laugh followed your accusation, and the hallucinations had their own conversation before rushing down to you.

Getting off Callus, Ellie slapped Joel's chest at the sight of your shoulder. "Holy fucking shit, guess we know what the blood trail led to." She moved to you after that with Joel not too far behind, but you put all the remaining strength into stepping back from them.

"I know you're both not real, but I don't know why you're still here." This must have been the precursor to death's entrance because that could be the only rationale for this. "You clearly got your way, Joel, now go away so I can please die with some closure."

It was a shame that this is how you went really, with a wound from a dirty blade, but alas. Fake-Joel crossed the distance between the three of you, grabbing onto your good side with eyes wide, examining the injury. "When did this happen?" His eyes sought yours, and you rolled yours in response. "Ellie! Get the bandages from my pack!"

You gave a poor attempt at backing away. "Can't you just leave me be? You told me to go and made it quite clear how you felt about me." You were slipping, and could feel the darkness whispering your name.

"I'm real, this is real honey."

The little amount of push in you snapped, because you scowled in response. "Don't call me honey." You glanced at his hands, noticing that they were moving to the wound. "Plus, if you were real, I wouldn't want to speak to you. So what, I said that I loved--" A gasp caught the end of your sentence, the pain clearing your sight as he started to put pressure on your shoulder. "--love you, but you knew it anyway. We were a family, like you said, and I let my guard down for you--" You had used more energy than you thought on that last sentence, with nothing more than a whisper allowing itself to get through for any other words you had.

Ellie had given Joel gauze by then, and he started packing the wound as best he could. "El, get the horses together, we're takin' them back." He spoke your name then, and you wanted to cry out to the universe for making you think this up. "Bet that felt real, yeah? Listen, I know I said some things earlier, but I really didn't mean them. I'm not that good with bein' vulnerable yet, and I'm still learnin', but I shouldn't have acted that way." Your name spilled from his lips again, and why was he saying all of this now? He continued to talk, but you didn't hear anymore, your eyes unfocusing and starting to shut, the darkness finally coming to claim you.

--

It had been nearly a full day that you were out, and even though Joel knew that it was partially due to whatever the doc had given you, he was damn near terrified. All of the day's events seemed like a blur, and by the time he was given the okay to stay in the room with you, he had had his fair share of tears. Ellie sat next to him in the chairs he brought up from the dining room, the temporary cot in his room that held you looking extremely out of place.

He had apologized to you more times than he could count while you were out, but the guilt that still racked him rang strong. He had failed, again, this time because he was too bull-headed to talk it out.

Ellie's nudges brought him out of his train of thought, her voice saying your name as your eyes opened. A string of cusses flowed from you as you came to, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Once he had offered you some water, he saw your features twist into skepticism.

"If I'm dead, this is not what I was expecting."

Of course you'd say something like that, trying to diffuse any awkwardness of the situation. Joel played off of it, because he'd prefer this to anger any day. "Yeah, we're actually angels."

That got a snort out of Ellie, and a weak smile from you, one of his own following not soon after.

A few seconds passed in the welcomed silence of each other's presence, but all too soon things became real again.

"I don't know how much you remember from out there, but you gave us a real scare." His hand gingerly reached for your arm, silently asking for permission to hold it, sighing a breath of relief when you nodded. You weren't one for physical touch, especially after an argument, so this felt like a hopeful sign "I really am sorry about what I said to you. I shouldn't have, and I didn't mean a lick of it. I care about you more than I have for nearly anyone else, and I--" The words caught in his throat, and your eyes followed his as they searched the room for an answer.

"Joel," you murmured, eyes on him. "Shit happened, we can talk about it all later, yeah? You don't have to give any confessions now." You kept trying to break the tension there, and he could assume it was due to Ellie being there.

He pushed through though, because Joel Miller was a stubborn man, and damn it if he hadn't been working up the courage to say it since you all re-entered Jackson's gates. "No, no, I want to say it, and I mean it."

"I love you too."

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x you #joel miller x reader #joel miller #joel miller fluff #joel miller apologist #joel miller angst #the last of us #tlou #tlou fanfiction #tlou hbo #the last of us fanfiction #ellie williams #the last of us spoilers #tlou spoilers #tlou hbo spoilers #pedro pascal

[theplumsoldier]

aftermath [5]

summary: after having finally found Jackson, Joel rushes to the infirmary to meet you, where he offers you to stay at his house, with him and Ellie—he says it's the least he can do, but secretly he just wants to keep you close by and help you adjust in this new world.

pairing: joel miller x reader

word count: 3,9k

warnings: vulgar language, reader injury, mention of cannibalism and killing non-infected, mutual pining, slow burn, angsty feelings and reader's self-doubt. pls let me know if i missed any <3<3

series: aftermath [4] + series masterlist

With a poorly treated wound and a heavy sword secured at your waist, what should have been a one-day journey ended up spanning over three days. You had clipped your wound closed with a stapler from home, and you were beginning to feel the importance of washing with spirits.

The map Joel had given you indicated you'd cover something around 19 miles by now, but your hurried leave had made your bad condition slip your mind. Your water supply ran up on the first day and although its absence unburdened you with some weight, you were forced to take several breaks due to fatigue.

When your weary eyes finally caught sight of the stronghold there was no doubt: You had arrived in Jackson. From the outside, it looked massive. Your mind must have registered the sight of it as an indication that you were safe then for your knees buckled under your weight and you collapsed, blacking out immediately.

Luckily for you, Jackson was heavily guarded and someone on patrol had seen you, sending two dogs to sniff you out, before they were followed by a small group riding horses.

You stirred awake as you felt the dogs licking your face and hands. Bewildered, you pushed them away to lean on your elbows, then noticed the group shuffling and yelling. While your senses came back to you, you stared dazedly at the dogs. You hadn't seen one since you were a child.

"She's infected!" someone barked.

That made you exert your last strength, and a panicked expression formed on your face. "No, no!"

Opening your jacket, you revealed to them the wound in your stomach. One of the dogs curiously sniffed closely at the wound, and for a second you feared it might dig in right then and there, shred you before you could convince them you were not infected—but instead, it sat with a thump beside you, looking up at one of the men as if telling him all was good. You decided that was exactly what was happening, for the tall man's cautious expression seemed to falter.

Another man, broad shoulders draped in a tight-fitting, denim jacket and slicked back jet-black hair, threaded his oiled locks with a tentative hand and spoke, "that don't look too good."

He was right. There was no bleeding, only a coarse layer that looked almost burnt from dark blood, it looked infected with bacteria, a yellow hue in the center lined with several small metallic clips.

You hadn't realized the man held out his hand before he asked you if you could walk. His southern accent was deep and it immediately reminded you of Joel's. You nodded, both answering his question as well as in a gesture to the stronghold behind them. "Is this Jackson?"

For a bit, he looked hesitant, but then something changed and a glimpse of a twinkle that reminded you of hope in a child's eye on Christmas Eve flashed in his dark ones.

"Sure is ma'am," he chuckled as he helped you up to your feet. He spoke your name curiously, hoping his assessment had been accurate. Joel and Ellie had mentioned you, you guessed, and he went on to tell you he'd heard all about you. Then he finally introduced himself: "I'm Tommy."

. . .

As it turned out, Tommy's drawl reminded you of Joel for a reason; they were brothers, reunited again after many, many years.

They had brought you to the infirmary and they had done a good job at making it resemble a typical visit to the doctor back in the day: the equipment was as modern as could be; a box-shaped monitor was hooked up to a clamp on your finger to observe your pulse, a pole with a bag attached with tubing connected to your arm, a silver tray was on the bedside table, clippers, scissors, and tweezers hiding under bloodied sanitary wipes and rags.

You had been given painkillers and penicillin, which made you wonder whether such things didn't have an expiration date, and if so, how it was manufactured in the new world. But that was not a pressing matter—as you had realized on your way to Jackson, stapling together a wound without proper care would likely lead to an infection.

The doctor, Clive Olson, insisted it was nothing that should trouble you for long and that you should rest until tomorrow—Tommy Miller promised to have some sort of lodging arrangement sorted out by then. It all seemed unreal, this place that a group of people had made their home, the community they had created, and their kindness toward a complete stranger. Were they really going to just take you in? Let an outsider roam their safe haven?

Perhaps they had deemed you harmless the minute they had seen you pass out from exhaustion, or when you had begged for your life in the snow. Maybe they underestimated your capabilities and neglected to comprehend the danger you might pose.

No, you thought. That couldn't be it. They would not have made it this far in life by misjudging situations. They had probably endured a lot to simply get by and fought a whole lot more to keep their people alive. The thought made you scan the room one over, looking to locate your sword and a rush of panic struck when it was nowhere in sight. It made sense for them to remove your weapon, but it didn't make you feel any less anxious.

You couldn't stay here until tomorrow, not when you were surrounded by strangers, not when you had no clue as to what they might do with you.

It wasn't the first time you had been in a settlement. During one of the first years after the outbreak, you found yourself coerced into joining a group. It consisted only of 30 people or so, but they offered food and shelter, and warm clothes, which was an offer you couldn't turn down as the winter ahead seemed like it would be cold and cruel. Looking back, the leaders were far worse than that winter, for the seasonal change caused a scarcity in food supply and some began to stir commotion within the community, which in turn made the leaders lock them up. In secret, the leader agreed they had to resort to cannibalism in order to survive—one less mouth to eat meant one less mouth to feed. The scarce amount of prisoners meant that at least one new person was imprisoned each week, and the remains of the tribe became increasingly suspicious when they were forbidden to see the people who had been locked up. There had only been around 13 people left when you were picked out. An opportunity presented itself and with an underhand attack you were able to escape. That was also the first time you killed someone not infected and you never joined another group again.

You found a nice piece of land that winter, hidden cozily away in the woodscape, and got to work on it in the summer.

Now you were here.

Before you could contemplate a plan of escape, you had swung your legs over the edge of the firm mattress, and having failed to realize how weak your body was, you landed on the ground with a thud.

It wouldn't have been loud enough for anyone to hear, but the IV bag that hung on the wheeled pole was connected to your arm by tubing and clashed beside you a second later.

You cursed, both from the sharp pain that strained in your side and your clumsiness.

Someone definitely heard that.

A moment later Clive Olson rushed in and Joel Miller tailed right behind him.

"What're you doing? I told you, you need to rest!" Olson grumbled irritably but hurried to help you back up into the bed nonetheless.

He was a scrawny man of about 70 and his back would never have made it without Joel helping out. You stared bewildered at Joel while the doctor's back cracked as he bent down.

It shouldn't have surprised you to see him. After all, this was where he and Ellie were headed after leaving a couple of days ago. Still, anything could have happened to them on the way, and you sighed a breath of relief knowing they had made it unscathed.

A heat crept up your neck and warmed your cheeks. Say something, a voice in your head urged and you tried but your lips failed to comply with the thought and instead, you settled with a firm nod of recognition, as if greeting an acquaintance you didn't quite care enough about to learn the name of.

Doctor Olson spoke your name pointedly. "Please, stay put now." Then he looked at Joel, then at you, then he left. You swung your legs back over the edge of the bed but stayed seated this time.

Joel had cleaned up since you last saw him. Tamed salt and pepper beard and clean hair no longer covered in hints of the wilderness. He looked nice in his dark blue washed jeans and green lumberjack flannel, his broad frame poking at the seams of the shoulders. You wondered if he had a girlfriend or a wife here. It wouldn't surprise you, and the possibility made a pang of guilt hit you as you recalled drooling over him while you had hunted together.

Clearing your throat, you managed to find your voice. "They took my sword."

Joel scoffed and pulled his hands out of his pockets. In long strides, he took a seat on the opposite side of the small room.

"You don't trust them."

You gave him a look.

A small sound escaped him, something between a chuckle and a huff, and he shook his head. "'S okay. I don't blame you. But I'm glad you decided to come 'round."

His admission made something twitch inside you and you couldn't bring yourself to tell him what had made you do so—not when he was glad. You looked away from him and hoped he didn't notice the blush in your cheeks.

"Anyway, Tommy, my brother, said you'd be staying—believe he's tryna fix you up somewhere right now, but I wanted to offer you to stay at my place, you know, with me 'n Ellie," Joel said lowly. You felt the little coil in your chest tighten with perturbation and your heart leap with excitement. Did he want you there? He had to have noticed the redness in your face by now. "You know, 's the least I can do. Since you let us stay at your place."

You nodded slowly. That makes sense. The thought didn't bother you as much as it probably should have. Perhaps that was because you had already shared a space with them before and found that once they had left, it was just unbearably hushed without them. You thought what it would be like and imagined quiet mornings, sipping coffee by the fire with Joel. It was cold but you would be wrapped up in a cozy blanket, finding peace in the crackle of the fire and Ellie's soft snores. But you were a realist and therefore a pessimist, and remembered that you were no good in social settings. Without the effects of weed coursing your system, you would make the situation way too awkward for comfort.

You swallowed. "'S just you and Ellie living there?"

"Just me 'n Ellie," he confirmed.

That would be good. They had spent enough time with you to know what to expect, and still, Joel offered you to stay with them. Did he want you to stay with them? Was he merely being polite? His hands fidgeted and the thought struck you: Was he hoping you would turn him down? He might already be regretting his offer. Your jaw ticked with apprehension and you parted your lips to speak, but couldn't muster up anything. A joint would have been nice right about now, you thought.

Joel sensed your hesitation. He moved back in the seat, which made him appear smaller; his broad frame presented him toughened, but there was a comforting mien to it like he offered you protection.

Then he stood up again, but his hunched shoulders made you realize that he was not overthinking the situation as you were. "Think about it, will ya? We've got a spare room, you can still have privacy."

The recent connection you had made with Joel helped you understand you would rather stay with him and Ellie than in this room. So you gave in, "okay, but I'll come with you now."

He looked surprised and scratched his beard. "I'll have to talk to Olson. Said he wanted to keep ya overnight and check—"

"No," you interrupted with resolution.

Joel shifted the weight from his left foot to the right. His lips were parted and brows furrowed, somewhat taken back by your tone. It dawned on him that you felt safer with them, with him, than with these strangers and he couldn't blame you. As far as he knew, you had come to Jackson because of his offer and the safety he promised—not for the strangers who had patched you up and taken away your only sense of security.

Licking his lips, he nodded agreeingly. "Get ready then, I'll handle Olson."

Disappearing out the door, Joel left you to gather your things. You still wore your bloodied jeans and tank top, but your jacket, sweatshirt, and boots had been removed and bundled up on the side table in the corner. As you crouched down to put on your shoes, it stung in your side. You hissed in pain and didn't notice the door opening.

"Might wanna be careful with that."

Looking up you saw a small woman with fair hair tied up in a ponytail, a pointed nose, and a thin smirk. The nurse removed the tubing from your arm and cleaned up the tray with medical supplies. With her back turned to you, she said: "So... you're Joel's friend?"

You instantly assumed she was a friend of his and not simply a curious nurse baffled by the fact that Joel "The Grump" Miller had friends.

The question threw you off though, suddenly wondering if that was what you were. "Friends" seemed too endearing, but "acquaintances" was just too not it.

You just nodded, hurriedly slipping into your sweatshirt again, pulling on the jacket as if it would help you hide away. You liked the idea—you hadn't had a friend in a long time.

"Cool," she said, a little too enthusiastically. The blonde looked as if she might burst with excitement, her own nosiness hardly containable. Her hand struck out so fast you flinched. "I'm Tiff."

Recovering, you shook it awkwardly and mumbled your own name.

There was a moment of silence before Joel practically barged in and you breathed out a sigh of relief. Your sword dangled from his right hand in an ungainly manner.

There was a tense expression on his face, one which — if you had been any better at reading faces — you might have considered protective. His wary eyes scanned the room and though the nurse posed no threat, he hurried you along. "Come on."

You followed him out the door and accepted your sword once outside.

The air was cold and in no way refreshing, the icy wind scraping at your warm cheeks as it blew by, clawing at your exposed skin. It felt cruel and unforgiving but gladly received when it tore through your throat, feeling like an itch scratched.

While you fastened the sword at your hip, you noticed the bag Joel was holding onto. He noticed your gaze and put the paper bag between his teeth while he slipped on his lined leather gloves. They made his hands look massive in comparison to your own. A comfortable warmth spread through your body when he placed a gloved hand on the small of your back, ushering you in the right direction.

"Goodiebag's filled with penicillin and painkillers. Half a pill two times a day," Joel relayed the information casually as you walked.

"Fun. Never done hardcore drugs before," you snorted and watched him from the corner of your eye for a reaction, hoping the joke landed right.

There was a brief lopsided grin, but then his eyes searched around him and it faded. It was enough to satiate your bleeding heart and bring a blush to your cheeks.

The walk wasn't far, still, you were out of breath by the time you reached his house. It felt a tad odd to be in Joel and Ellie's home. A house was sure to tell just about everything about the people residing in it. It was personal, a structure mirroring the traits, good and bad, of people living there so naturally you felt out of place.

Joel told you to have a look around and although he likely didn't mean for you to scour and assess the place in order to find out just what type of people they were, you did.

It was grand but homely, resembling the home of a lumberjack, or at the very least, what you imagined the home of one would look like. There was a warm atmosphere, like it had been lived in for many years, like many laughs nestled in every creek and crevice. A cozy mess was spread out on the coffee table, some candles, a mug of day-old coffee staining the wood, a comic book left open with the cover turned upward. There were books sprawled on every surface, and you wondered if Joel was as much of a bookworm as Ellie.

You silently prayed Joel would read your mind and tell you where Ellie was so that you would not have to interrupt the quietness. He seemed to have read you like an open book up until now, which you were thankful for, but nevertheless, it made you worry. You felt comfortable in his presence. You didn't tense up the same way you had when they had first entered your own little heaven—while it felt natural and, really, just plain and simple nice, it also felt wrong. Maybe that was because you had been so accustomed to being alone, constantly adding bricks and stones to harden your walls. Years and years had been put into the effort of making that same guard utterly impregnable, and yet here it was, smoldering at the hands of Joel. But was that a bad thing? Did it feel dangerous only because it was alien to you? And did that mean you were not as strong as you had thought? It was hard to believe it could be bad when it felt so good.

"Ellie won't be here for 'nother couple of hours," Joel said as he handed you the mug. There had been no quarrel, but it felt like a peace offering accepting it. His eyes dropped to the mantelpiece you stood by. "Whenever I'm on supply runs I bring something back for Ellie. Spaceship's her favorite, I think."

There was an assortment of little toys displayed atop the mantelpiece. Several plastic cars and animals, a Tintin-style spaceship, and Legos; all fallen victim to violent play and years of decay. It reminded you of your own room back in your parents' house, the chaotic scene of a pre-teen.

Joel crouched down on one knee, preparing the fireplace with fresh wood from a woven basket by your feet. You watched his arms flex beneath his shirt, the worn fabric looking as if it might tear from his muscles.

Inhaling sharply, you cleared your throat and took a seat on the couch.

. . .

Joel was surprised to find you having already dozed off while he had gotten the fire started. He supposed it made sense—from what he had heard you hadn't rested much at the infirmary since you had been brought in. He cursed himself for giving you coffee to wake up instead of offering an actual bed to sleep in. He felt like a bad host, allowing you to sleep on the couch in an upright position when there was a perfectly suitable bed in the spare room they had. Knowing himself, his body would pay for falling asleep in such an awkward position. Regardless, Joel decided it would be too bizarre for him to carry you to bed, so he covered your body in a blanket instead and carefully placed a pillow under your arm currently serving as one.

At least you had found the energy to put the mug next to the one he hadn't finished this morning on the coffee table. 

Joel felt awful shushing Ellie when she returned utterly psyched from school, but he only had to nod in the direction of where you were fast asleep on the couch for her to understand.

"Ooh." Her eyes widened, scrambling to get her boots and jacket off. "When did she get here?"

"This mornin'. Showed up outside the gates, bleedin' from your needlework in her stomach," Joel replied.

A confused look twitched Ellie's face. "Thought you were supposed to work."

He was. For the last week or so he had been helping doing reparations around the sheds on which the winter had been particularly harsh. Tommy went to see him after having identified you and told Joel to take the day off if that was what he needed—which really he didn't as he was told you were out cold, still, when Joel had mentioned you after his and Ellie's return to Jackson, he might have let on you were more than just a stranger to him. It was deceitful of him, but when he told the white lie he didn't care, after all, there was a grain of truth in it. No specifics had been mentioned, but Joel had subconsciously expressed his troubles with leaving you alone out there.

It led Tommy to believe that his big brother had finally allowed himself some happiness and Joel wasn't bothered nearly enough to get into details. Joel let Tommy believe what Tommy believed, justifying it by reminding himself his brother was the one drawing conclusions from half-assed answers.

So today, when Tommy had found Joel and informed him that "his secret lover" had shown up on their doorstep, Joel realized he couldn't possibly let someone who was more than a stranger — as he had divulged when Tommy asked — wake up in an alien place.

"Got off," Joel shrugged and crossed his arms, leaning against the counter.

"To take care of her?" Ellie teased, jabbing her elbow into his side.

Joel knew she was joking, but he swore there was a hopeful glimpse in her eyes. It made him wonder if they were both more fond of you than they were letting on.

"Quiet fucking 'round, kid," he warned and hid his grin behind the coffee cup. "How was school?"

"Fine, good, cool—so, she stayin' here?"

Joel nodded. "Yeah. For the time being. Dunno, haven't really had the chance to talk much. She seemed pretty shaken up when I got to the infirmary."

Ellie liked to think she could read Joel better than anybody and in that second, she decided he was worried something had happened to you, something that made you come here in such a state. She wasn't far off.

"Give yourself a break, old man, she probably just wanted to see you again," Ellie skipped off, leaving Joel to munch on the obnoxious kissing sounds she made.

One thing was sure—Joel was sure as shit going to have a hard time figuring out how he was feeling about you with Ellie putting thoughts into his head.

#joel miller x reader #theplumsoldier #joel miller #joel miller imagine #joel miller fic #joel miller tlou #pedro pascal #the last of us #pedro pascal characters #tlou imagine #tlou #joel tlou

[xoxoavenger]

Only With You

pairing: Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

summary: Joel and Y/N are together before the apocalypse, but lose each other on outbreak day. They finally are able to meet up four years after the world went to shit - but things are different for both of them.  

word count: 5040

warnings: canon typical shit, mentions of rape and forced relationships, hurt and comfort

masterlist

birthday celebration masterlist

"Happy birthday." Y/N muttered as she ran a hand up Joel's stomach to his chest, sighing when he turned away. He grumbled, turning off his alarm before flipping over, making her laugh.

"Ya know what I want for my birthday?" Joel asked, holding Y/N close to his chest, her back pressing against him.

"To sleep in?" She questioned, grabbing his hand and bringing it to her lips.

"To sleep in." He repeated, kissing down her neck to her shoulder.

"I don't know why you try," She whispered, hearing Sarah's footsteps getting closer to the door.

"I don't know either." Joel grunted as Sarah banged on the door, yelling at Joel to wake up.

"Y/N, if you get him to wake up I'll give you the best pancake!" Sarah enticed, causing Y/N to chuckle and Joel to grumble. It hadn't been that long since Joel introduced Sarah to Y/N, who was so excited to finally have a woman figure in her life. This was the first time Y/N had spent the night on purpose and not snuck out early, but they hadn't told Sarah, so she wasn't sure how the young girl know she was there.

"She's too smart." Joel said, as if reading Y/N's mind.

"She is your daughter." She said, turning in his arms to face him. "We have to get up." She gave Joel a small kiss, giggling when he tried to chase her lips as she pulled pack before he wanted her to.

"It's my birthday," He told her again, tightening his arms and pulling her closer.

"It's also Friday. A workday." She pushed against him to get up, ignoring his groans as she began to get dressed, thankful she had planned the stay and brought clothes for work instead of having to wear the same clothes as she had the day before.

"I should have just called out." He told her, getting up and changing his clothes.

"We all live with the consequences of our actions." She joked, slipping out the door before he had even put a shirt on.

"You didn't have to make breakfast." Y/N told Sarah as she came down the stairs to see the young girl at the stove.

"If we wanted to actually eat then yes, I did." Sarah smiled, plating the eggs.

"I'm not that bad of a cook." Joel said as he zipped his fly while coming down the stairs. He went straight for the coffee

"Debatable." Y/N and Sarah said at the same time, the two of them laughing softly.

"I actually have to get to work." Y/N said, grabbing the coffee Joel had just made and the plate from Sarah's hand, walking away quickly while Joel yelled after her to give his "goddamn coffee back!"

"Your shirt is on inside out!" She yelled over his protests, smirking as he groaned.

"Please remind him to bring a cake home!" Sarah called after her, and Y/N put up the hand with the plate in acknowledgment as she grabbed her purse and walked out the door. She was coming back to the Miller house that night anyway, so she wouldn't need to worry about the dirty dishes.

"Hey, Tommy," Y/N smiled at Joel's brother as he got out of the truck. Tommy nodded and smirked at Y/N with a knowing look.

"Happy birthday to Joel indeed." He muttered with the tip of his hat, causing Y/N roll her eyes.

"Have a good day." She said as she got in her car, putting her food on the passenger seat and her coffee in the holder. She took a deep breath as she started her car.

Today was going to be a good day. As soon as she was done with work.

~

"You could call him." Sarah said, causing Y/N to chuckle.

"He's only an hour late." She told Sarah, moving a puzzle piece into place. This was the second puzzle they had done, and Y/N was trying to let herself calm down - for Sarah. "If he's not here in fifteen minutes, I'll call."

"Did you remind him to get a cake?" At Sarah's question Y/N winced, because she hadn't talked to Joel since she left this morning.

"No," She started, hating the feeling of letting Sarah down. "But, I'm sure he remembered." The two girls both looked toward the door as the sound of the door being unlocked.

"Finally learned how to lock the door." Joel grumbled as he opened the door and walked in, looking exhausted.

"Did you bring the cake?" Sarah asked, putting a puzzle piece in place and not looking at her father. Y/N frowned as Joel let out a sad sigh, showing his empty hands.

"I forgot. I'm sorry." He told her, and Y/N wished she had just grabbed a cake on her way home from work.

"It's okay." Sarah said, her voice childish in a heart wrenching way.

"Sarah grabbed a movie for us to watch." Y/N smiled as Joel came over.

After Sarah gave Joel his present (which she had used his money for) the three of them settled down on the couch, Joel feeling content with his arms around both his girls. The three of them had fallen asleep during the movie, Sarah ending up laying across their laps, Y/N leaning into Joel's chest as he leaned back on the couch.

Everything was perfect. Until Tommy called.

"Where're you goin?" Y/N asked, rubbing her eyes as she woke up.

"Tommy's in jail again." Joel whispered, letting Y/N move so he could pick Sarah up and bring her to bed.

"I'll stay here with Sarah." Y/N told him, giving a small smile to show that it was okay. Joel put Sarah down in her bed, tucking her in with a forehead kiss and then quietly exiting her room.

"Thank you." He whispered, grabbing his arms and kissing her forehead. She smiled, letting him peck her quickly before he left.

She went to his bed, heart racing for some reason as she laid down. After trying to sleep for half an hour, she eventually grabbed a book and turned on the beside lamp. She wasn't sure how long she was reading before she started to hear the planes.

"What the fuck?" She asked, putting the book down and looking outside. She let out a yelp as she pulled back the curtain to hear a large explosion lighting up the sky.

"Dad?" She heard Sarah call out, and she immediately left Joel's room.

"Sarah!" She called, seeing Sarah already downstairs and looking at the TV.

"What's happening?" Sarah asked, shaking as another explosion went off, the planes rattling the house.

"I don't know." Y/N muttered, heart racing as she tried to stay calm for Sarah. Her heart jumped to her throat as they heard a scratching on the door, the two of them flipping their head toward the sound.

"What was that?" Sarah asked, but Y/N just shook her head, walking closer as she put a hand out for Sarah to stay back. At the sound of a bark, they both let out a small sigh of relief.

"It's just Mercy." Y/N said as she opened the door, seeing the dog crying out. Y/N moved to bring the dog inside, not wanting to go out, but the dog was not willing. She smiled sadly as she went to close the door, but Sarah caught it.

"What are you doing? We have to take him back." Sarah said, but Y/N just shook her head.

"Sarah, it's the middle of the night and there are government planes flying over the house." Y/N wretched the door out of Sarah's hand to shut it and lock it, only feeling slightly bad at Sarah's crestfallen face. "We aren't going anywhere."

"Where's my dad?" Sarah asked, and honestly Y/N was surprised it took her this long to ask.

"He had to go help your uncle. He should be back soon." Y/N took note of the late time, hoping that Joel was already on his way back.

"What's going on?" Sarah whispered, tears flooding her eyes. Y/N grabbed her and brought her close, holding her tightly. She wasn't sure who she was trying to comfort.

"I'm not sure." Y/N muttered, allowing herself one second to feel impending doom before taking a deep breath. She was going to stay strong for Sarah, because she was an adult and Sarah was only a kid. Sarah didn't deserve this. "But, I'm sure we'll be fine. I mean, we don't live in a big city, which is good." She wasn't sure if it was good or not in this situation, since she had no idea what was going on, but a little lie to calm Sarah down wasn't going to do any harm.

A pounding on the door next to them caused them both to scream and jump.

"Girls! It's me, Joel! Come out, we're leaving!" His voice was frantic, making Y/N even more nervous. She grabbed her shoes and gave Sarah her shoes before opening the door, seeing Joel with a crowbar in his hand.

"What's going on, Dad?" Sarah asked as she grabbed her dad, who just began leading her to the car. Y/N felt sick as she looked around, fire and explosions marring her vision. People were outside, the distant sounds of screaming present when the droning of the planes wasn't happening.

"There's some sort of disease." Joel said as he got Sarah into the backseat, Y/N following. As soon as Joel was in, Tommy hit the gas.

Everything was a whirlwind. Sarah was asking questions, too many questions, until Y/N finally grabbed her and brought her into a tight hug while shushing her; it was clear the young girl was terrified. Tommy and Joel were arguing in the front seat as they bumped through a field, and Y/N hoped Sarah couldn't hear how fast her heart was racing.

"We're gonna be okay." Y/N told Sarah as they made it down town, but there were too many people everywhere in the street. They couldn't go anywhere.

"Go!" Joel yelled at Tommy, and Y/N winced as more people flooded the street from the cinema. Everyone turned when Tommy began to back up, all of them watching out the back window as he hit a couple of zombie like people. In the midst of all the people, Y/N saw a plane crashing down, coming toward them with alarming speed.

"Joel!" She called out, beginning to freak out as the plane continued getting closer. Joel was screaming at Tommy, and Sarah hid herself in Y/N as the plane crashed down behind them, sending their car flying. Everything happened so quickly that Y/N hadn't even realized that she was protecting Sarah's head with her arm.

"Are you okay?" Tommy asked as he helped lift Y/N out of the backseat, Joel on the other side picking up Sarah. Y/N shook her head as Sarah was lifted off her arm, which was twisted the wrong way and bleeding. She gaged as she turned away, letting Tommy help her out.

Just as she had gotten out of the truck, a government vehicle crashed into it, sending everything in flames.

"Joel!" Y/N called, trying to catch his gaze through the flames. "Joel, we'll meet you by the river!"

"I'm not leaving you!" He yelled to his lover and his brother, the two most stubborn people he knew.

"We'll meet you by the river! Just get Sarah out of here!" Tommy assured him, and Y/N smiled sadly as Joel turned his wide eyes to her, Sarah shaking in his arms.

"I'll see you soon! Get her to safety!" She called, watching Joel set his face and nod once.

"I love you!" He told her over the fire, and Y/N tried to hold back the tears. She watched as he turned and began to run, and then she let out a gasp of pain she had been holding back as she felt her arm seize.

"We'll get you to safety." Tommy told her, helping her along as they tried to find a new path to the river.

4 YEARS LATER

"Was he always like this?" Tess whispered to Tommy, who was sharpening his knife in the corner. Joel was pacing the floor, talking to himself and pulling at his hair.

"Only today." Tommy answered, knowing without a calendar that today was September 26. He wasn't even sure why he was in Joel's apartment, since his brother tended to take everything out on him today. It wasn't like he thought he didn't deserve it, because he knew he did. He just wished Joel would take his anger out in healthy ways instead of the one day a year when he went crazy.

Then again, everything was better than the time they spent in the pop-up medical area after he tried to shoot himself.

"Do you ever do anything about it?" Tess asked quietly, concern showing blatantly in her eyes as Joel stopped and let out an angry huff, looking at the floor.

"I try not to." Tommy liked Tess - she was a no-nonsense survivor, but she still lived enough to lighten the mood that Joel usually put a damper on. "You should go. He'll be fine tomorrow."

"I'm not sure if he's ever fine." Tess didn't know a lot about the brothers, but she knew that something happened to them that was worse than just the outbreak. So she left, hoping maybe one day her questions would be answered.

"How could you let it happen?" Joel asked as soon as the door was closed. Tommy sighed as he stood up, the ache of guilt a familiar feeling. He knew what Joel wanted, what he needed to hear, so he began where he always did.

"We were almost to the field, running through town." Tommy was suddenly transported back there, to the concrete buildings and the groans of the Infected all around them. Back then, they hadn't known what was going on, only that they needed to get as far away from people as possible. "Her arm was broken, probably worse. She had protected Sarah when the plane crashed." When he first retold the story, he wasn't sure if he should have included Joel's late daughter. After three years of this, he knew that Joel wanted to hear everything.

"She was bleeding everywhere." Joel muttered, as if he had been there too. Sometimes, Tommy wondered if Joel actually thought he had been with them, with the amount of times he had his brother go over every step of what went wrong.

"She heard a baby crying, I don't even know where. But then she ran. She told me she'd meet us by the river, that I should go because I had a gun but she couldn't leave the baby. She was gone before I could even protest." Tommy was used to this, could get through it without crying, but he could still feel the fast beating of his heart as he relived the worst day of his life. "I hesitated. I waited for a second, because I didn't know what you were going through, but I knew she wasn't going to make it through the building alive. And then I heard Sarah scream." This was where Joel fell to the ground, every time, head in his hands as he silently sobbed.

"We couldn't find her." Joel whispered, replaying everything in his head. Once Tommy had pulled him away from Sarah, they had gone to the building to try and find Y/N. They found blood everywhere, but never a body. Joel knew this was worse. They never found the baby either. The building had been so close to where they were, it was ridiculous. They had been so close.

"We can't save everybody." Tommy tried, not knowing what to say. This is where shit got a little worse, where he wasn't sure how to calm Joel down because everything he said was wrong.

"Bullshit." Joel grabbed his jacket and got up, leaving, and Tommy just let him go. He'd never been able to stop Joel in the past, and he knew he'd come back eventually.

Tommy would never stop thinking about if he had made Y/N come with him, if he had gotten there just a little bit quicker to kill the solider before he murdered his niece.

The what ifs killed him.

~

Joel was walking around the old city, knowing exactly where to go and where to step to make it safely. It was still light outside; he hadn't realized how early he had freaked out. The fresh air made him feel better, the city that was starting to crumble making him feel only slightly better. As terrible as it might have been, seeing that everything was suffering made him feel marginally better.

He had gone along the outskirts, since he knew the Infected still ruled the city. He longed for the day when they all died out, when somehow he could walk around the ruins without having to worry about waking the whole hive up. For now, however, he'd stick to the safe buildings all the way to the forest.

He sat down under a tree, leaning his head back as he thought about four years ago. It was supposed to be his birthday today. What good was a birthday if the people he wanted to celebrate with weren't there to celebrate? If the day was marred by the worst happenings of his life?

Sarah's death was still fresh in his mind. It still claimed all his dreams, assaulted him any chance it could. He was almost grateful he hadn't had to see Y/N die or be turned. Not seeing her after the fire meant there was no material for his brain to turn into nightmares. It didn't hurt any less, knowing that she was either killed or turned and dead. He hoped it was quick for her, cursed her for having to save the baby.

"Why couldn't you have just gone with Tommy?" He cried softly, letting the tears flow. In the QZ, he didn't let anything out. He worked and saved and knew that somehow, someday, he'd get out of there for good. Until then, he'd go on the stupid runs with Tommy and Tess for the stupid fireflies and work his way through all his pain.

He went silent when he heard a rustle.

It was far away, far enough that he had enough time either sneak his knife out or get away. He had yet to be given a gun - the fireflies didn't have guns to spare - but he knew that soon enough, he'd have one in his hands. Soon enough, he'd be able to kill these fuckers.

The rustling was sloppy, sounding almost like a clicker, but too human, in a way. Clickers jolted around, but this sounded like struggling. Maybe an Infected that had been barely missed.

Joel heard it coming closer and went into survival mode, holding his knife close to him as he peered around the tree, expecting to see some gross fungus-person stumbling through the woods. This was just a real person, however, and it stunned him so much he forgot how to move.

It was a girl, gasping for air as she moved. She looked familiar, but Joel knew that everyone from the QZ looked familiar. She had probably been thrown out, infected. But why would they throw her out when they could just kill-

The girl lifted her head slightly, and Joel's heart was instantly caught in his throat. It was Y/N.

"Y/N?" He muttered as he stood, putting his knife away. The girl looked up at him, dirty and exhausted. She looked starved, as well, and the paleness of her face told him that she was dehydrated.

But it was definitely Y/N.

"Joel?" She whispered, freezing where she stood. "I thought you were dead," She muttered, swaying back and forth. Joel grabbed her shoulders, holding her steady as she blinked slowly.

"I thought you were dead." He repeated, and she shook her head quickly. "Are you hurt?" He asked quickly, looking her over. She didn't look like she had gotten into any trouble, but he knew she wasn't going to make it far if he didn't get her some food and water.

"I'm okay," She said, voice scratchy and soft. "I need water." She said, head lolling as he supported more of her weight. It seemed like her body fell into old habits, relaxing at Joel's touch.

"I'll get you back." He told her, helping her around the forest and to the city, back to the QZ.

It took longer than he thought it would, having to practically carry her back. It seemed like with every passing second she was getting worse, and by the time he was able to somehow sneak back into the QZ, he was exhausted and she was practically passed out.

"Tommy!" He yelled, pressing the door open. "Tommy, I need some help!" He was able to get Y/N onto the bed, hoping she was still awake enough to be able to drink some water, otherwise there was no way for him to get her rehydrated.

"Holy shit," Tommy whispered, hands carding through his hair. "Is that Y/N?" He was at her side, eyes wide.

"Get me some water." Joel directed, pointing at the window where they kept the bucket for when it rained. He pushed Y/N's hair back, just reveling in the fact that she was alive.

"Here, I'm putting it in a cup." Tommy used a ladle to put the water in a cup, then handed it to Joel.

"I need you to drink this, baby." He held her face up by her neck, pouring water into her mouth. When she swallowed, he felt a breath of relief, heart starting to slow. She drank slowly, having to pause every few seconds to take a large breath.

"Joel," She reached out to his face, hand still shaking, and Joel felt something he hadn't felt in four years - calm.

"I'm here, baby." He told her, kissing her forehead and squeezing her hand. "I'll be here when you wake up." And with that, she fell asleep.

~

When Y/N woke up, she realized she was on a bed. Not a comfortable one, but it wasn't the wet ground she had been sleeping on for days. It took her a moment to realize where she was, that she was still thirsty but her head wasn't pounding anymore. She moved around as she squinted into the light seeping through the windows.

"You okay?" This was Tommy, who was sitting on a couch in the corner. Y/N's heart raced in anticipation as she remembered how she had been saved by Joel.

"How are you alive?" She asked, smiling when Tommy's eyes widened.

"How am I alive? How are you alive?" He got up to sit on the edge of the bed, and she scooted up to lean against the wall. She realized she was in one of Joel's shirts, which made her heart calm immensely. Some things never change, no matter how much everything around it has. "Last time I saw you, you were bein' a hero, savin' a baby." He knew he couldn't tell the rest of their story without Joel, and he just hoped she wouldn't ask about Sarah.

"Oh," Y/N had honestly forgotten that she had split off from the boys because she was trying to save a baby. Everything about that night was blurred in her vision, and just thinking about it made her heart pound. "I think I should wait for Joel to explain everything." She didn't want to have to explain everything twice, and she knew having Joel with her would make everything better.

"Perfect timing then, huh?" Joel asked as he walked through the room, looking happier than he had since the outbreak. Tommy smiled, glad to see his brother finally in good spirits again. He knew it wouldn't last forever, that the next time Joel had to burn bodies he'd probably be back in square one, but having Y/N there helped.

"What do you guys know?" Y/N asked, trying to breathe deeply as Joel sat on the bed next to her.

"We know that you were with Tommy, but you left because you heard a baby crying." Y/N nodded at Joel's words, trying to take herself back to that day. She swore that after this, she was going to forget all about it.

"I heard the baby crying, and I knew I had to help. But I saw Tommy's hesitation; I knew he had to go with you." She was instantly transported back to that day.

She ran into the building, listening to the sound of the baby's screams getting closer. Before she could grab the baby, however, a light was shining on her.

"Don't move!" Someone screamed, and she put her hands up.

"Please, there's a baby." She begged, eyes squinted as she stared into the light.

"Are you out here alone?" It was a solider talking to her, and she shook as her heart raced. Her eyes adjusted slightly, and she saw there was a gun pointed at her.

"Yes," She lied, hoping the man would let her go.

"A sweet thing like you shouldn't be all alone." He walked toward her, and she shook even more.

"What's going on?" She asked, trying not to show the fear on her face. Her arm was throbbing in pain, and she didn't want to look at it. She wondered at this point if it would need to be amputated.

"No one knows yet." The solider dropped the gun and pointed the flashlight slightly away. "Now, if you wanna live, you're gonna come with me and do what I say." The man had a thick Texan accent, and he skin crawled.

"I-I can't," She started, breath heaving. The baby was screaming.

"Why? You said you were alone." And fuck, she had said that.

"The baby," She pointed toward the sound, but the man just stepped closer to her.

"The baby's gonna die anyway." His voice made her shudder.

"What?" She flinched as he grabbed her arm, and she slid out of his grip.

"You're coming with me." He smirked, and she knew what he wanted.

"If you let me bring the baby, I will." She said defiantly, hoping this wouldn't kill her. She silently said goodbye to Joel, because whatever happened, even if she didn't die, she wasn't seeing him again. "I'll do whatever you want."

"Fine." The man said, letting her grab the baby and then come over to him. "Let's go."

"He took me to their base for the couple days while the QZs were being set up. Fixed my arm, thank God. The first time I slept, the baby was gone. He told me they took her to a specific place for kids, but," Y/N felt the tears well up, as if this was a fresh wound.

"What did he do?" Joel asked, starting to understand.

"What do you think?" Y/N asked, turning to him with a sad face as a tear ran down her face. "He only wanted me for one thing." She knew that Tommy and Joel would know what she was talking about.

"Why didn't you leave sooner?" Tommy asked, but Y/N just shook her head.

"I couldn't. I didn't know anyone - no one wanted to talk to the girl that was sleeping with FEDRA, even if it wasn't my choice." She shrugged, watching Joel get up. He was going to get some water for her, knowing she still needed more. "I couldn't find anyone to help me get out. I knew there was a way, that there was some sort of underground rebellion or at least people who couldn't take living in the same place for years, but I never found a way."

"How'd you leave?" Tommy shifted, interested in her story.

"The Maryland QZ fell. I saw it coming for awhile, but the solider didn't believe me." Joel noticed how she never called him by his name, which made him angry. If it was that bad, he was going to kill this guy. "I escaped by sheer luck. Started with a group of us, but we lost almost everyone. My guess is they're dead." She looked far away, and Joel took a deep breath as he handed her some water. She took large gulps, and Joel rubbed her back. He couldn't believe she was here, that she was alive. He couldn't believe what she went through.

"So for four years, you were in the Maryland QZ?" Tommy asked, brain trying to wrap around this idea. "For four years, you were sleeping with some solider and you couldn't even check where we were? If we were alive?"

"I did what I had to in order to survive." She said, hysteria starting to creep into her voice, finishing the water. "I thought you guys were dead."

"I know." Joel muttered, pushing her hair back and kissing her forehead, letting her curl into him as he put his arms around her. He gave Tommy a dirty look.

"What happened with you?" She asked, watching Joel's face harden.

"I don't wanna talk about it." Joel told her, becoming icy again. Tommy stood, taking that at his cue to leave.

"We don't have to talk about it," She said, putting a hand on his face and tilting his head to hers. "But I really need some food." She wasn't stupid. She knew that something happened to Sarah, the way Joel's eyes went dark and he seemed to retreat into his mind when she asked what happened to them.

"When was the last time you ate?" He asked, getting up and grabbing some jerky.

"Oh, gosh." She laughed, but it was not very funny. "I don't know. Ran out of food before the rest of the group was even gone." Joel gave her the jerky, and she ripped into it.

"I'm glad youre here. I don't think I would have been able to keep going without you." He said, and she just shook her head.

"You would have kept going, because you're Joel Miller." She leaned in close to his face, finally kissing him for the first time in four years. "The strongest man I know." She said, when they pulled away.

"Only with you, baby. Only with you."

//

tags: @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @roxaya

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us #joel miller fanfiction #the last of us x reader

[kaiandels]

Two Hearts pt. 6: Ellie Williams x Reader

🐚

part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6

warnings: mild swearing and just reader and Ellie being flirty with eachother.

p.s: this is more of a short chill part. Not proofread.

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

It was a cold night, you and Ellie had been driving. The crickets chirping and the cold air gently blowing on your skins. It was quiet, too quiet. After you and Ellie made love, she hadn’t uttered one word. And it was scaring you. Were you bad? Did she fake it? Did she think YOU faked it? Or there was just something bothering her.

Ellie had a firm grip on the steering wheel, sighing as she was stopped by the red light. “You okay babe?” You asked, keeping your stance calm. You were nervous, you thought you did something wrong. “I’m fine babe.” Ellie said, her eyes glued to the road, placing her hand on your thigh. “Did I do bad?” You whispered, fidgeting with your fingers.

“What?” Ellie asked. Her tone laced with disbelief. “No baby.” Ellie turned her head to face you. “Why would you think that?” Ellie frowned, noticing your glum aura. “You’re just really really quiet today. I thought I did something wrong.” You pout, your hands placed on your knees. You felt so little. Ellie having that power over you made you weak.

“It’s just really late, Babe. I’m so tired after the things we did back there.” Ellie chuckled, turning the steering wheel as you both were about to arrive at your shared apartment. As you arrived, you both got out of the car. Ellie opening the door for you. “I’m gonna go rest. Okay?” Ellie nods as she watched you walk in your shared bedroom.

She let out a sigh as she grabbed her phone out of her pocket. Finally opening the message that scarred her for life.

Ellie sighed, finally putting an end to whoever Cat was in her life. Just by one click. Just by 3 words. ‘Block This Caller’. It was done, it was erased. It was non-existent. “Fucking hell..” Ellie huffed. Standing in the middle of your shared living room. She ran a hand over her face as her knees felt weak, plopping down on the couch.

As for you, you were standing near the entrance of the living room. Gulping as you observed Ellie. “I can’t.” You heard Ellie say as she stood up grabbing her phone. You saw her almost pull up someone’s contact, but then retreated and threw her phone on the floor. She turned around, her eyes meeting yours.

“Hey.. why are you-“

“Was that Cat?”

Ellie’s eyes widened as she felt like she was eating her own words. “It was.” She hesitated. You sighed and walked up closer to her. “I’m sorry.. If I ruined it for you both.” Ellie furrowed her eyebrows, grabbing your hand.

“Don’t fucking say that please.” Ellie whispered as she leaned her forehead against yours. “I love you. I have always loved you, ever since I saw you I loved you. Fuck, even when I was still in my Mom’s womb I loved you.” You laughed, playfully shoving her away. “Let’s just forget about Cat okay? We’re done. Forever.” You nod pushing her on to the couch. Ellie smirked as she beckoned her hands, indicating for you to sit on her lap. You sat down, your thighs straddling her lap as you leaned over and kissed her lips. Feeling the warmth of eachother’s bodies.

“So… Joel will be back in town this week. Finally, after 5 years.” Ellie started as she softly caressed your thighs. You smiled, giving her a small peck. “Really? That’s awesome! You must be excited.” You said with half-lidded eyes. Getting tired as it was already 4am. “I know you met him already, since we are childhood bestfriends. He was basically also your Dad but… this time, I wanted to introduce you as my girl.” Ellie smiled as she watched you lean on her chest, smiling weakly. “You sleepy?” She asked her knuckles gently brushing over your cheek.

“Nooo..” you whined, lifting your head up to kiss her neck. “Baby, what are you doing?” Ellie chuckled, taken aback by the sudden affection. “I’m just really glad you’re mine. Only mine.” You said softly biting her skin, leaving love marks. Ellie’s breath hitched as she pulled you closer to her, accepting the fact that you’re marking your territory. “Minneeeee..” you said dragging a soft whine as you moved to her chin, placing more love marks. “Baby, we need to sleep.” Ellie’s breath hitched once again as she felt your tongue drag against her skin. “I don’t need to sleep when I have this.”

Ellie groaned as she picked you up from the couch, carrying you to your shared bedroom. Laughing as she threw you on the bed. “Ellie!” You squealed. She towered over you smashing her lips against yours. You both moaned as your lips and tongue moved in unison. “Fuck, I love you. I love you… I love you so much.” Ellie whispered in between kisses, it felt as if she was trying to reassure you. You whined as your hand found her nape, pushing her deeper in to the kiss.

Your mind went blank, feeling euphoric while kissing Ellie. You used to remember the time where you just wanted to kiss those lips you were kissing right now. How you beat yourself up everytime you get those thoughts about Ellie running her hands through your body. How you beat yourself up just because you thought it was wrong. “God only made Men and Women for a reason.” That was the thought that has been fed in to your brain, the thought that sinked you in to a void. You felt like screaming everytime Ellie would talk to you. Because you wanted to tell her that you loved her but in the back of your head, it was your parents voice. The voice constantly pulling you down, condemning you.

But now? This feeling is completely different. You finally realized that God did not only create Women and Men, but he also created Love. And if loving Ellie was a stairway to hell, then you would burn. You would burn for her. You would gladly accept the faith that would be brought upon yourself. If you had to feel the ripping ache because you had to love someone. Then fuck it. Hell it is.

Ellie’s like the apple from the Garden of Eden. Fuck, you just need to get a taste.

You opened your eyes. Realizing that you and Ellie had stopped kissing a few moments after, and now she’s laying on your chest. Snoring. You laughed and observed your girlfriend’s face.

Ellie had slowly woken up, batting her eyelashes at you. You thought, ‘how can someone be so handsome and so beautiful at the same time?’ Ellie groaned smiling at you. “What are you doing up?” You tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m just happy.” You whispered seeing Ellie smile with her eyes closed. “You should go sleep. You’ve been up all night.” Ellie said, her voice getting lower as she fell asleep on your chest.

Ellie Williams. The girl who helped you solve your math homework, the girl who listened to your boy-talks, the girl who picked your outfits for you, the girl who you practiced kissing with. Was never just a friend.

This is the time where you finally realized, that this is only the start. You have a lot to go through with this girl. And no matter what it takes, you’ll always be by her side.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

#ellie tlou #ellie williams #ellie x reader #ellie x fem reader #ellie x y/n #the last of us #female reader #lesbian #tlou #lgbtqia #ellie williams the last of us #tlou2 #tlou fic #tlou fanfiction #lgbt fanfiction #tlou joel

[diaispunk]

CARDIGAN

Pairing: Jackson!Joel x F!Reader

Insp.: Cardigan by Taylor Swift

Word Count: 2.2k

Description: Joel promised you he would go on a date after patrol one late November evening. However, when you show up to the bar, he’s not there. Where could have gone? Did something happen to him?

Warnings: established relationship, lack of communication, overworked Joel, description of a panic, attack, tears, fluff- like tooth rotting fluff, making out- Joel being emotionally stupid. Joel is scared of the dark because I said so.

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Carmel colored leaves danced through the late autumn air, the sun kissing the horizon as it set, as you made your way down the main street of Jackson, gentle chilliness nipping at your face. It was peaceful in Jackson, it was safe. When you had stumbled across this place, it was terrifying. Having spent so many years running, finally being able to take a breath and relax was easier said than done. However, as you adjusted to the paradise that was Jackson, Joel Miller came barreling into your quite little life. His broad…everything became something of a safety net. His soothing air of gunpowder, woodsmoke, and pine. Joel was always there.

Walking through the door of the bar, The Tipsy Bison, your smile grew. The atmosphere was always so beautifully calming, an extension of you. As you made your way to the bar, several familiar faces waved and bid hello. Tommy and Maria were there on a date as well, your heart warming as you saw how far along Maria was in her pregnancy. You had given up on the idea of falling in love, and having a family years before the outbreak happened. However, now that you had Joel, you felt a small yearning for a child. To give yourself that sense of normalcy.

Looking around the room, you expected Joel to be leaning against the bar, cradling a whiskey, or sitting in a booth with Ellie. However, you were very quick to notice that Joel wasn’t even there. Tommy was very quick to notice the pure confusion painted on your face. Giving Maria a quick kiss on the cheek, he got up and walked over to you. His hand gently landing on your shoulder, giving a light squeeze.

“Howdy, trouble. Everything alright? Reckon you’re looking for my lug of a brother?”

He asked, a kind smile etched on his lips. Tommy had been the first person you met after he discovered you hiding away in a cabin, a short distance from the commune. Soon after meeting Tommy, he had introduced you to his wife, Maria. Maria has been an absolute angel to you since you showed up, despite others, being a bit uneasy about having someone new. Maria had put you in the house next door to Joel’s with the logic that giving a neighbor to the grump would cause him to open up a little bit.

“Hey there Tommy. Yeah, you seen him.? He promised me we would go on a date after patrol.. I barely get to see him anymore. He’s constantly on patrol or checking up on Ellie… Tommy he is so tired.”

You sighed, very clearly disappointed when Tommy said he had no idea where Joel was. It was deeply unlike your boyfriend to  completely stand you up. Sure he wasn’t the best at communication when it came to his feelings but you had that man wrapped around your finger. Joel was loyal through and through. However, something about this situation made you deeply uneasy. A nauseating pit forming in your stomach as your mind ran through every single possible thing he could be doing. What if he was with another woman? As you began to spiral into a cave of terrified thoughts, Tommy’s voice cut through the loudness in your mind.

“I’m sorry, sugar. I reckon he forgot. He ain’t the type to cheat. So how about you go look for him, and I’ll take him off patrols for the next month Damn fool’s never been able to give himself time off.”

Tommy huffed, speaking nothing but truth about his big brother. That was the first thing you had ever learned about Joel Miller. He was a worker. Always had been. From patrols, to little things around the house, Joel had taken it upon himself to help you with absolutely everything. Even things as simple as carrying the laundry upstairs or heaven help if you complain about something being too heavy. He was always there. However, if Joel had any flaws it all, it was his terrible fear of communication. He never wanted you to worry about him. He always wanted a smile on your face. It broke your heart when he wouldn’t let you do the same for him.

After bidding farewell to Tommy and Maria, you made your way back out into the crisp autumn evening. You could see small clouds of water vapor puff off of your lips as you breathed. It was so quiet that night, as the moon barely peeked out from over the horizon. As your boots crunched along the street, you found your mind drifting to memories of Joel. Your first date. Where you first met. Your home. That’s what Joel Miller had become for you. Home. However, as you became lost in thought while walking, clouds quickly covered the evening sky. Raindrops gently beginning to fall. Flipping your hood up, you huffed as you began to walk faster. The rain began to make you wonder if Joel got stuck out there. Sure he was perfectly strong and capable but something about the love of your life being stranded in the woods..terrified you. Before you knew it, your quick walking begin to turn into a run. Bolting down the street, a heavy sigh of relief escaping your lips when you came up on Joel’s doorstep.

Making your way up the creaking wooden steps to his porch, you quickly became aware of the fact that the door was ajar, and all of the lights were off. You had always known Joel to make sure to lock the door, not to mention his deep hatred of the dark. Slowly and quietly, you pressed your palm up against the door and pushed, filling the empty living room with a loud creak. Looking around, quickly noticed that his rifle was leaning against the couch. He would never do that. He always kept his rifle in the room with him. Your breathing became shaky as you stepped further into the house. You knew better than to call out his name just in case someone was in there, waiting. Watching. Centering your mind, you creeped into the kitchen. Nobody. Not a single fucking light on. Your confusion and fear began to grow as you silently began to make your way up the stairs, a hand resting on the handle of the hand gun tucked away in the waist line of your jeans. As you made your way up the stairs, your gaze fell on a new picture. A new photograph that wasn’t there the last time you visit your boyfriends house. It was you and Joel sitting on the dock at the lake, feet dipped in the crisp blue water. Your head rested on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around your waist. However, you quickly tore your attention from the picture and creeped up the rest of the stairs.

However, as you turned down the hallway in the direction of Joel’s bedroom, it hit your eyes. The bathroom light breaking through the darkness of the hallway. Your brow knit together in confusion as you creep towards the door. As you gently opened the mahogany door further, you noticed a small orange bottle sitting on the countertop. A pill bottle. One that used to be filled with the sleeping pills that the doctor in Jackson prescribed Joel to help him with issues he refused to open up to you about. Your mind quickly snapped to the worst possible situation as you through the door to the bathroom open and ran down the hallway to his room, tears filling your eyes as you prayed that he would be perfectly fine.

Just as you thought, the bedroom door was shut. Seemingly dark as you couldn’t see any light coming from under it. However, you could hear the sound of crying. A deep, warm timbre echoing beneath the sound of sobbing. Joel. Worry pulsed through your body as you slowly opened the door, any anger about the date completely subsiding when you saw him curled up by the bed, oblivious to you entering the room. Your heart broke at the sight as you set your knife and coat down on the bed, what could’ve done this to Joel? In that moment the warrior you knew wasn’t there. Vulnerability radiating off of the man you fell so deeply in love with.

“Honey..?”

You gently spoke, feeling your heart shatter when you saw how he looked at you. His beautiful brown eyes, wide with fear as you stepped closer. Almost as if you didn’t recognize you. However, as you gently put your hand on his shoulder, he seemed to come back to.

“D-darlin’? What are you doing here? Our- our date ain’t another hour…”

He spoke, his usually strong and commanding voice, now reduced to something almost pathetic. Terrified. However, when you looked at him, he glanced out the window behind you. Dark. Obviously long past when he promised you he would be there. When he noticed his mistake, Joel began to ramble about how sorry he was. However, even through all of the apology, he was never clear on what exactly had happened. Sitting down next to him, you put yourself in his strong arms. You knew that whenever he was afraid, holding you always made him feel better. It gave him someone to protect. Someone to look after. Although you never quite knew why he desperately needed to protect you, you new it called him down. Nuzzling your face into his neck, you took him in. It was all Joel.

“Joel. I’m not angry with you. Dates can be changed…what happened out there?”

You questioned, feeling his arms tighten around you. Keeping your voice level and soothing, wanting to give him nothing but comfort. Keeping yourself in his lap, you pulled back and gently rested your palms against both sides of his face. It was then that you got a good look at him. He looked tired all the time, sure, however, the bags in his eyes seemed extremely prominent. Several new cuts and bruises adorning his beautiful face. He quickly noticed how concerned you were, his strong hands gently squeezing your hips.

“I was on patrol this morning. Came across a group of infected…”

Joel spoke, pausing before taking a deep breath. It was quite confusing to see him struggle about talking about infected. You quickly realized that something had to have happened. He had to have seen something to get him this shaken up.

“They were… they were devouring a woman…she looked like you…”

He choked out, his arms tightly wrapping around you, and pulling you against his chest. You could feel the rapid beating of his heart against your cheek as he embraced you. So this is why he was so afraid.. he was afraid of losing you. Taking a deep breath, you gently set up and wiped his tears away. This is the Joel you knew. Beautiful. Vulnerable. Trusting.

“Honey… I promise you I ain’t going anywhere. There is nothing on this planet that could take me away from you.. I have you to protect me..”

You whispered, your delicate palm, gently caressing his cheek as he looked up at you. His deep eyes sparkling with love and a hint of fear. If there was one thing Joel Miller was terrified of, it was losing his loved ones. Losing you. He had already fought like hell to get to where he was, to save Ellie, to save you. He couldn’t lose it. If he ever were to lose you, he would surely lose himself. You were the light that he heard the fireflies speak of. You were the cure to the infectious depression that had weaved it’s way into his life. You were his life and hearing you speak of how he protected you, caused him to break down even further.

Wrapping his arms around your waist, he pulled you into a deep, longing kiss. He was kissing you is if he hadn’t seen you in forever. As if he had lost you. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you gently weaved your hand into his hair. Grounding him. As your lips danced with his, you felt your Joel come back. Having Joel hold you like this felt as if he had wrapped the most comfortable cardigan around your shoulders. He made you feel as if you were reborn. At one point you were an old cardigan under someone’s bed, then, when he came into your life he put you on and you became his favorite. Pulling away, Joel’s forehead rested against yours, tears making his eyes sparkle in the moonlit room.

“Tommy said he’s gonna take you off patrol for a month…”

You whispered, scared that Joel was going to hate that idea. However, as you spoke, you felt him relax underneath of you. As if all of the stress in the world have been lifted off of his shoulders. He was finally, truly relaxed. Finally, the poor exhausted man had time. Time to spend with the love of his life and Ellie, the girl he considered his daughter.

“Promise me you’ll go to bed with me at night… I’ve missed you..”

Your soft voice spoke, soothing him even more. In all honesty, you had never seen him so relaxed and himself. Only with you.

“I promise sugar..I love you so much.”

He spoke, pressing his lips to yours, relishing in your sweet taste.

“I love you too, Miller.”

———————-

A/N: I really hope y’all enjoyed this! It took me a while :)

#joel miller fluff #joel x reader #joel miller #the last of us #pedro pascal #naughty dog