HBO TLOU x Male reader

Chapter 8

Ellie and Jack woke to the smell of Joel making coffee.

Jack got out of the sleeping bag, but Ellie stayed in it and waddled to the coffee pot.

Ellie: UGH!!! What the fuck is that?

Jack: You've never had coffee?

Ellie closed the lid to the coffee pot. And rolled over.

-

They were once again in the moving truck.

Ellie: OH, Jack. I meant to ask you. When we arrived at that boneyard, you said "welcome to the city of the dead", the same thing the song said.

Jack: I think that's where the saying came from, but I'm not sure.

Ellie asked Joel and Jack if that's what the Starbucks in the QZ used to sell?

Joel: Well, theirs was a lot fresher than what Bill saved up, but that's what they sold.

Ellie: Smell's like burnt shit.

Jack: It's good once you get used to it.

Jack and Joel continued drinking their coffee.
Joel told Ellie to keep her eye's on the map.

Ellie: 76 west and then, 70 west for, like, ever. Where in Wyoming did you say your brother was?

Joel: Last contact came through a radio tower close to Cody.

Ellie looked at the map.

Ellie: Cody, Cody. Ah, man. That is deep up in there.

Jack: That's what she said.

Joel: Jack...

Ellie could hear the sheer shock in Joel's voice.

Ellie: What does that mean? Who is "she"?

Joel: Nothing.

Jack leaned to the front and whispered what it meant into Ellie's ear.

Ellie gasped and Joel asked Jack why he did that.

Jack: She had to learn somehow.

Joel sighed and something clicked in his brain.

Joel: On a non sexual note. Jack, know what day it is?

Jack: Monday?

Joel: Yeah, but... screw it. Happy birthday, Jack.

Jack completely forgot it was his birthday.

Jack: Oh.

Ellie: Happy birthday, dude!

Jack: Thanks. But I'm wondering, where would he be if he's not where we expect?

Joel: Probably near a settlement, probably closer to another city out there. Ain't too many in Wyoming.

Ellie: Chee-Yen.

Joel corrected her on the name and Ellie continued listing city names before asking Joel what his brothers name is.

Joel: Tommy. Used to be a Firefly with Jack and his brother.

Ellie: Younger or older.

Joel: Younger.

Ellie: Why isn't he with you?

Joel said it was a long story.
Ellie said they had twenty five hours. She is too curious.

Joel: Tommy is what we use to call a "joiner". Dreams of becomin a hero.
So he enlisted in the Army right outta highschool. A few months later, they ship him off to the Desert Storm. It's what they called that war. It doesn't matter. Point is, bein in the Army didn't make him feel like a hero. Cut to twelve years later, outbreak happens. He convinces me to join a group makin their way to Boston, which I did, mostly to keep an eye on him, keep him alive. It's where we met Tess, and the Jacks. And that whole crew, we--