The last of us x reader one shots

picture perfect - J.M

Description- despite his grumpy acts of protest, you keep snapping pictures of him <3
FLUFF 💗

Warnings- none

Date published- 4/7/24 (HELL YEAHHH RIGHT AMERICANS? (4th july) 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Word count- 1015 words

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

(second person)

Joel isn't exactly the most.. open person to say the least. but you find yourself loving his grumpiness anyways; honestly you just find it funny at this point.

you both are patrol partners, getting on each others nerves a lot, yet you always make up quickly, arguments never lasting more than a day. you also are Jackson roommates and you've grown a lot closer over the past couple of years when you met to take Ellie across the country to the Fireflies.

about a week ago on a patrol you found a polaroid, and you've been bugging him with it ever since. you've always been mildly into photography so this is like heaven for you, especially since there's nothing to do these days.

joel stands looking over the patrol schedule that Tommy gave him that morning, his elbows on the kitchen counter while his eyes scan over the page, too focused to realise you've came in.

you stand leaning against the doorframe, grinning as you pull out the polaroid and bringing it to your eye, snapping a photo of him looking so focused.

his eyes snap to yours as soon as he hears the sound of the camera, watching the photo come out the bottom, you shaking to develop it.

"i told y'to stop that." he says in his signature grumpy tone, giving you a gruff glare.

"mh?" you smirk mockingly with a slight smug head tilt as you wave the photo in your hand, the picture slowly developing.

"i ain't joking." he lets out a small huff of air, turning round to where you're standing, his elbow propped up against the kitchen counter.

"oh shuttup. you look beautiful." you tease, joel's mouth twitching like he's about to say something before he just shakes his head with a clenched jaw.

"look." you just grin and hold up the photo to him, a slight pout on his lips.

"you're gonna run out of that damn film soon enough." he scoffs.

you walk over the the counter next to him and hop onto the kitchen island, your legs dangling besides him.
"yeah but there's an old store that hasn't really been clear a couple miles east. has loads of camera equipment shit still in there apparently. we could always hit it if we needed." you tease.

"we've got enough patrolling to do today. we're leaving in 5, make sure you're ready." he scoffs and shakes his head in a scolding tone.

"sure we could spare an extra hour or so. and okay, maybe not today, but another time." you snort and shrug, walking next to him.

"peelin' my patience every time y'take that damn thing out." he mumbles, his tone gruff but holding no real threat behind the words, gesturing to the polaroid in your hand.

he watches you hop onto the island next to him, he's not moving any closer to you but he is still standing relatively close.

"i only do it because you look so... peaceful when you ain't trying to pretend to be so tough and grumpy." you roll your eyes, not a hint of actual anger in your gaze.

he looks slightly amused when you say he looks peaceful and he rolls his eyes a little, but the small smile on his face gives away that he really did like the compliment.

"i wasn't focused on anythin' special." he mutters, looking back down at the paper on the counter.

"it ain't about what you're focused on, dumbass." you lock eyes with him, a small little grin threatening to play on his lips.

but soon he seems to remember himself and cough awkwardly, his gaze returning back to the patrol schedule in front of him, his forearms resting against the cool surface of the counter.

"we're on quite a few patrols this week. tuesday, thursday, saturday and sunday." he tries to quickly change the subject.

"and go get your ass ready for this patrol. leaving in 5." he speaks sternly.

"okay okay." you chuckle and hop off of the counter.
"but first.." you smirk checking and quickly raise the polaroid to your eye before he can protest, snapping a picture of his cute little pout.

"you're a dick." he speaks bluntly in that texas accent of his that seems to make your knees weak.

"shut up." you smirk and stuff the photo into your pocket.

"seriously, grab your weapons and shove y'boots on." he shakes his head scoldingly.

you can't help but stare slightly at his furrowed eyebrows and subtle pout on his lips, it clearly fading off of his face as you two just... stare.

you two both clearly get caught in the moment, a vulnerable expression on his face that you haven't seen since... well who are you kidding he's never been vulnerable.

your heart races as you fight yourself on what to do before just saying 'fuck it'.

what's the worst that can happen.. yolo, right..? for the plot?

a soft breathe escapes your lips, taking a step forwards before cupping his cheek with your hand, the stubble contrasting against your soft hand, pressing your lips to his.

as you hold silently the kiss for a couple of seconds he just completely freezes but leans into it after a moment of pure panic, his eyes fluttering shut

you pull away after a few seconds, that feel more like tears, his jaw practically on the floor in shock.

"get your stuff together too, my little muse." you have this small little lovesick smile on your face as you turn around to try and suppress it.

before he can even speak, you practically run out of the room, leaving his mind racing and his heart pounding faster than it ever had before.

a couple seconds later of him just being frozen in spot, a soft grin appears on his face too as he stares at polaroid, shaking his head as butterflies course through him and just grabbing his backpack...