Joel Miller x Reader

Six

"The storm is settling.", Joel said and threw a glance out of the window.

The silhouette of the landscape was slowly pressing through the wall of white and ice, making it possible to know where to set foot. A few more minutes and it would be calm enough to step outside again.

The surroundings seemed not completely familiar, but for somebody who was living in Jackson for quite a while it wouldn't be too much of a hassle.

"When you leave, make sure to remember your way. In case you get lost, you can always return to a tree that is nearby. It's quite easy to find.", you said and threw a checking gaze outside yourself. "Works like an anchor in the sea. Also gives shelter if you don't make it back here."

Unsure, but amused Joel nodded.

"How kind of you to offer your charity a second time."

You rolled your eyes, annoyed by how comfortable he was around strangers. If you were fully honest you didn't trust his attitude in the slightest.

It gave you the creeps, making every single hair on your neck stand up straight. No stranger would be this friendly towards another stranger.

You knew that being friendly usually meant to be betrayed or killed. You did not wish to experience neither of those.

Not again.

"If you return a second time, I won't let you get this close.", you said to him, making it sound like a warning. "Stay in the main hall instead."

"Or what?", Tommy asked, grinning boyish and resting his arm on the car.

You pulled a face, putting on a sour expression.

"Or I'll consider you intruders.", you said. "I might not wish to slaughter people like others do. But I am also no fucking charity. Once doesn't count. Two times is too much."

His eyebrows rose as he mouthed an understanding sound and swallowed. All of a sudden he looked uncomfortable.

"How charming.", he mumbled and threw a quick glance over to Joel.

But his brother just shook his head.

"Nothing wrong with that. We can consider ourselves lucky that we are allowed to be here.", he turned to you, offering a handshake once again. "Besides, we don't want to exhaust hospitality. We'll be gone as soon as the storm stops."

Satisfied, you nodded, but crossed your arms in front of your chest to make it clear that you were still not willing to shake hands with a stranger.

"You should check on your horses.", you said instead. "The animals might did not make it through the cold."

Surprised by your statement, Joel briefly raised his eyebrows. Then he narrowed his eyes, skeptical.

"How do you know we had horses with us?", he asked, leaning back.

He probably thought you wouldn't notice, but it was obvious.

All of a sudden he distrusted you.

Not that he had trusted you before, but at least he had been neutral. Now his image of you seemed to slowly turn into the one of an enemy.

You noticed how he let his hand disappear in a pocket of his thick jacket, probably to grab a knife. Just in case of emergency.

As if it couldn't be more obvious, you stared at the hidden hand until he noticed it himself. Then your eyes slowly wandered up, over his chest, to the broad shoulders and finally stopped at his face.

Your (E/C) eyes locked with his hazel ones.

"It's rude to threaten your host.", you said, not making any decency to feel threatened. "I am not an enemy, I thought I had already made that clear. Just because I don't want to make friends it doesn't mean you need to think of me as someone who'd try to kill you."

With a harsh expression on his face, Joel looked at you. His lips twitched. He wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat as a muffled growl.

"Then how do you know we have horses with us if you haven't been spying on us?", he asked.

You rolled your eyes and let out a bored sigh. With a gesture of your hand, you expressed that it was obvious.
But he just eyed you like a poisonous plant.

"Jackson is very far from here, at least on foot. Without horses, the way up the mountain is much too strenuous. Especially in this weather, you would have frozen to death long ago.", you finally explained. "So the only logical explanation is that you rode here. Horses are relatively fast, even in the snow, and persistent. Winter doesn't bother them that much. I had one myself once, was very useful. And they don't need gasoline, which is hard to find here anyway. Any more issues that you have with me?"

With slightly parted lips, Tommy nodded, walked up to his brother's side, and tapped him on the arm.

"I hate to say it, but that logic is infallible.", he hissed in Joel's ear. "Now let go of the knife, or it might get nasty."

Joel growled. With obvious reluctance, his grip loosened, he slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket and cleared his throat.

"Forgive my caution.", he looked at you, not really regretting what he had been about to do.

Indifferently you shrugged.

"I don't mind. Strangers shouldn't be trusted easily, I understand that. Better safe than sorry, I'd say.", you huffed in an amused manner, pointing a finger at the windows. "It has stopped snowing. Time for you to leave."

Hurriedly, Tommy glanced outside.

"Ah, you're right.", he grinned in a pained way to excuse him and his brother. "Then we'll say goodbye now. Thank you very much for your help. Maybe we'll see each other again one day."

He dragged his brother with him to the exit.

Just as the two of them slipped through the crack in the doorway and an icy wind danced across your face, a bitter shimmer lit up in your eyes.

"Hmpf, you know what they say. You always see each other twice in life...", you muttered. "Ha. Hopefully not."