The Last of Us (Joel Miller x Female!Reader)

20 Years Later

"Fuckin' bullshit." I grumbled under my breath as I make my way to mine and Joel's shared home. I pull out the key, unlock the door then slammed it shut. I walk over to the table which had a full bottle of whiskey and an empty glass, I poured a glass as I see a white rag next to it. I pick it up just as I hear footsteps.

I look up to see Joel walking out of the bedroom and enter the room.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty." I said then I hold up a glass of whiskey. "Want one?" I asked him. "No, I don't...want one." He grumbles as he turns his back to me. "Well, I have some interesting news for you." I said after I take a sip of the drink.

"Where were you, (y/n)?" Joel asked me, angrily, as he turns back to face me. "West End district." I replied and he let's out a sigh. "Hey, we had a drop to make."

"We. We had a drop to make." He said, gesturing between me and him. "Yeah, well, you wanted to be left alone, remember?" I reminded him as I brought the rag up to my face and start to dab at the fresh cut I received on my face. 

"So you decided to go by yourself?" He asked me, annoyed and angry. I snicker and said. "I'm not suicidal yet, Joel. Tess went with me." He grunts then turns away from me.

Tess is a friend of ours that Joel and I team up with from time to time when we go out and do our jobs as smugglers. 

"So, I'll take one guess. The whole deal went south, and the client made off with our pills. Is that about right?" He asked me and I laugh. "Deal went off without a hitch. Enough ration cards to last us a couple of months -- easy." I said as he turns to look at me and I hold up the ration cards to show him.

"You want to explain this?" He asked, gesturing to the cuts and bruises on my face. "Tess and I were on our way back here, and we got jumped by these three assholes, alright? Yeah, they got a few good hits in. But...Look, I managed." I replied as I dabbed the rag on my face again, hissing in pain.

"Gimme that." Joel said as he walks up to me, takes the rag out of my hand, lifts up my face, with his pointer finger and thumb, to get a good look at the cut then begins to clean it.

"Are these assholes still with us?" He asked me and I smile at him. "What do you think?" I asked, perking up an eyebrow, and I could see little bit of a smirk appear on his face.

"Did you find out who they were?" He asked me. "Yeah, look, they were some nobodies -- they don't matter." I said as I grab his wrist and, gently, move his hand away from my face. "What matters is that Robert fucking sent them." I informed and he gives me a look of shock.

"Our Robert?" He said, in disbelief.

"He knows that we're after him. He figures he's gonna get us first." I said as he turns around and throws the rag ar the counter. "That son of a bitch, he's smart." He growls. "No. He's not smart enough. Tess and I know where he's hiding." I said.

He faces me again.

"Like hell you do." He replied, disbelieving. 

I smiled again.

"Old warehouse in Area 5 -- can't say for how long, though." I replied, shrugging. "Well, I'm ready now. Yeah?" He said as he walks up to me. "I figured you would be. Tess is waiting for us by the checkpoint, they're still open." I said as we head towards the front door and he opens it up then let's me go through first.

"Only got a few hours left until curfew." He remarks as he shuts the door behind him and we start to head outside. "We better hurry up then." I said.

"Attention. Citizens are required to carry a current ID at all times. Compliance with all city personnel is mandatory." The lady's voice announced over the loudspeakers as Joel and I walk outside and onto the streets.