Imagines and One-Shots (Book Three)

Feeling Different (Joel Miller)

word count: 1477
requested by: none
pronouns: she/her
warnings: talk of death/apocalypse-typical stuff, guns, ellie being a pest, joel being a grump, others being creepy, everything i know about this show/game is what i've read in fics (that's basically my brand at this point)
fandom: the last of us, pedro pascal
au type: apocalypse
summary: you always knew joel didn't really care for you, but you didn't realize just how much he was willing to do to make you feel safe
inspired by: dream
authors notes: formatted this one a bit differently so i hope it's still easy to follow along!!! (pretty sure this is called headcanons??? but i'm still not sure if i even did it right lol)
other parts: none

❀・・・❀・・・❀・・・❀・・・❀・・・❀・・・❀

❀ joel doesn't really trust you all that much but he allows you to tag along because of ellie

❀ ellie absolutely adores you and finally feels like she has someone to talk to apart from the grumpy old man she's been with for the last few years

❀ and it wasn't like you meant to force yourself into the pair's dynamic

❀ you'd been wandering around the freezing forest, looking for shelter. it was around 10pm – though, who really knew what time it was anymore? – and you were stumbling around in the darkness, your flashlight having died the night before. your eyes had adjusted to the lack of light, sure, but they still couldn't see the makeshift trap you were about to walk into

❀ you let out a sharp yell when you tripped on the rope, your hands shooting out in front of you and getting cut up on the forest floor. you tried to get up, but your ankle was caught up in the trap

❀ you heard footsteps running in your direction, only causing you to become more frantic and the rope to get tighter

❀ "i told you i could do it!" you'd heard a girl's voice exclaim excitedly, followed by a man's low grumble

❀ your eyes widened when they came into view, the girl's gun pointed right at your head. but before she pulled the trigger, she gasped in surprise. the three of you stared at each other in disbelief until she huffed

❀ "you're not a rabbit," she frowned, lowering the weapon. you furrowed your eyebrows

❀ "...thank you?" you replied

❀ "how did you get here?" she asked

❀ "i... i was looking for somewhere to sleep"

❀ "well, find somewhere else," the man griped

❀ "joel!" the girl hissed, "be nice!"

❀ "sh'ruined our food trap, ellie! n' all this talkin' ain't gonna bring any more!"

❀ "i- i have food," you'd offered softly, making the two look back at you, "i was- i took it from some grocery store yesterday, but it should be good still"

❀ "no thanks" "what kind of food?" the man and girl – now known as joel and ellie – spoke at the same time

❀ "ellie." joel's voice was low, a warning tone laced throughout

❀ "she has food!" the girl replied defiantly, "and she's bleeding! i'm bringing her with us!" you looked down at your – indeed – bleeding hands, only took turn your head when you felt hands at your ankle

❀ ellie was trying to undo the rope, but couldn't quite get it. she looked up at joel expectantly, the two seeming to have a staring contest for a moment, before he grumbled under his breath again. he pulled a knife out of his pocket and kneeled down, cutting the rope and freeing you