Joel Miller x Reader

Twenty-Five

The car was crappy as a car could be, with dusty windows, rust all over and tires that had been fixed so many times that it seemed concerning.

At least the engine sounded fine and as you threw a quick glance under the hood everything seemed presentable.

"Then let's see if the baby will start.", Joel slid into the driver's seat and turned the keys.

The engine stalled, painful noises sounded. Then the sound of a working engine rang out and the tires began to roll.

You were worried that it would fall apart halfway, but after twenty minutes the worry subsided.

Relaxed, you leaned back in the passenger seat and closed your eyes to get some rest.

Joel had to smile at the sight.

"Take a nap, you have to drive when I get tired.", he informed you.

You grinned and pretended not to hear him while your one open eye wandered over the dashboard.

Most of what you found was trash, snack wrappers that had been expired for years and crushed cans. Curious, you rummaged through the garbage and found a pile of stained, old paper.

"Huh?", you frowned and let your fingers gliding through the pages.

"Find anything?", Joel gave you a curious look out of the corner of his eye.

You nodded and wiggled the stack in the air.

"Notes."

"Do they look important?"

"Hm. Not really. A list of groceries... city names... Ah, a map.", with a flick of your wrist you unfolded the map and breathed a sigh of amazement when you realized everything was marked on it. "How convenient. Stupid of them but very convenient for us."

You laughed.

With an amused groan, Joel rolled his eyes.

"Don't tell me they marked everything.", he grumbled.

You nodded.

"Bingo. It's all there, the location, which city they secured, even the roads leading to it. Holy crap, how careless can one be?"

He shrugged.

"So, where do we have to go?", he tried to take a look at the map, but quickly steered the car to the right again to avoid hitting a tree on the other side.

Your eyes narrowed.

"Hm, if I knew what road this was, then...", you turned the map. "I need to know if to drive north or west..."

"The 76.", Joel suddenly said.

You blinked in surprise.

"Huh?"

"It's 76. There.", he pointed to a yellow sign on the side of the road.

"Perfect. I must say, this is getting better and better. So we just need to drive this road until we see a road leading left. If this keeps up, we can sit back and relax."

Shrugging, he grumbled.

"I can't relax until we get Ellie back."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. The father is desperate to get his daughter back. As cute as I think your relationship is, though, I have to disappoint you."

His eyebrows rose. He looked at you for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

Studying the card, you leaned back in your seat and dropped your shoes into the footwell.

"There is no we.", you mumbled, tracing a line on the map with your finger. "You're going to take Ellie and go back to Jackson with her. I will take care of my business."

"Kill Abby."

You nodded.

"That's right."

For a moment he let his eyes wander over the road, which just cut straight ahead through the trees.

A heavy breath left his lips. It sounded like his chest was quivering.

"Why is there no we?", he asked suddenly.

Irritated, you frowned and looked at him.

"Why should there be one?", you shrugged your shoulders. "We are strangers."

"Not anymore. We just killed two people. Together. I don't usually trust strangers to kill for me."

"Then we're what, exactly?"

"Partners?", he looked at you with a smirk on his bearded face.

Your eyes locked. Suddenly your heart jumped. Heat rose in his cheeks and a light blush appeared.

Embarrassed, you turned your eyes away again and pretended to look out the window.

"Partner...", you mumbled. "That sounds... acceptable. Partner for a time."

Chuckling slightly, he shook his head and turned his attention back to the road.

"I think it could be for a longer time."

You had to laugh.

"Oh yeah? You think I'll move to Jackson with you and Ellie as soon as this is all over? Are we going to live as a happy little family until death do us part?"

The way you described the future, sounding as disgusted as possible, made him laugh out loud.

It surprised you that he could laugh like that, so lighthearted and almost like a young man.

The laughter had a pleasant sound, deep and like a rough melody of the sea. As his laughter filled your ears, goose bumps sprouted on your body.

With a gentle smile you watched him be at ease.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to.", he gasped, still grinning. "It sounds so much like a cheesy novel. Happy endings and perfect families."

"Disgusting.", you joked, sighing heavily.

"Well, it is, but not unrealistic."

Grinning, you squinted your eyes and shook your head.

"You think you have a chance?"

Innocently he shrugged.

"We've already kissed."

You gasped indignantly.

"That was an emergency situation!"

"You could have killed him instead."

"You didn't give me the time to!"

"So it's my fault? Strange, I could have sworn you did kiss me back..."

"Joel!", you hit his shoulder. "Don't overestimate yourself. You're not my type."

Now he was the one to gasp.

"Excuse me?", he flashed you a puppy eye look. "I'm not a bad catch."

"Says who, grumpy grizzly?"

"Me?"

"Doesn't count. I'd say I'm not bad either."

"Then what about Ellie?"

You shook your head, crossing your arms in front of your chest.

"Nah, she's your daughter. She'd say anything to make you happy."

"Ha! You clearly don't know Ellie. She's a little brat."

"Sounds fun. Introduce her to me when we get her back, will ya?"

For a moment, the two of you fell silent, both smiling and enjoying the playful conversations. The silence didn't feel weird, it was just not the time to exchange words.

Carefully, you cast a glance from the corner of your eyes into his direction.

Joel, did the same.

Your eyes met. (E/C) melted with the brown shade of his eyes.

He smiled, but did not break the enjoyable moment with a word.