Flicker||TLOUII {Joel x Reader}

•10•

(Y/N) stands in Ellie's room, looking around at the various untouched objects. Her hands stretches out to take a photo or run her fingers over the strings on the guitar. She stops herself, clutching her wrist to her chest as if anything she would touch would destroy the memory of Ellie.

"Honey, can you come downstairs?" Joel asks, his voice soft around his fragile wife. She nods and hesitantly walks towards him and he grabs her hand, gently leading her downstairs.

Maria stands on the opposite side of the table, clutching a letter. Dina sits on the chair and Joel places himself beside her. (Y/N) stands behind him, crossing her arms and raises her eyebrows.

"Maria, I'm headed to Seattle. I wish I could let it go, but I can't. I have to bring these people to justice. (Y/N)'s gonna try and come after me but stop her. Take her guns. Lock up the horses. Maybe lock her up. Buy me some time so I can end this. I can't stand by and watch Joel go through this pain of losing another daughter. Love you always, Tommy."

Maria stops reading and looks at (Y/N), conflicted feelings portraying in her expression. "He's gonna get himself killed."

"He should've taken me with him." (Y/N) grits her teeth. "You should've given us a group to go after those fuckers!" She yells.

"(Y/N)." Joel chides.

"I wish I could." Maria tells her.

"You gonna try and lock me up?"

"The state you're in, I prefer you stay -"

"That is not gonna fucking happen."

"(Y/N)!" Joel's voice raises, his body turned in his chair to look up at her and he slightly shakes his head.

"What? You're okay with your brother going and not me? Not us?" She asks and Joel sighs, going to say something but Maria speaks before he has chance:

"I prefer you stay but I know you better. Are you going with her?" Maria questions Joel, who nods. "Of course."

Dina, who had been silent the entire time, leans forward in her chair. "I want to go."

(Y/N) eyes her, her lips pursued. "So you just gonna sneak outta here?" Maria states and the ex firefly places a hand on her hip, shrugging. "Yeah."

"On foot? The way that you two are in?"

"Yeah."

Maria sighs, leaning on the table and Joel exchanges a knowing look with his wife, who rolls her eyes and ignores his stare.

"I told the stable to let you out with your horse. Grab some ammo too." Maria says and Dina looks to the two adults, who say nothing.

"Thank you, Maria." Dina says.

"Just uh, do me a favour and bring my dumbass husband home in one piece, please." She stares at (Y/N) as she says this and the woman nods in understanding. "Of course."

"All right then." Maria whispers, her voice pained. "Get going, you're... you're losing light." She looks out the window, no longer keeping the eye contact as she walks out of the room.

***

Joel leans against the doorway, watching his wife study her pistol, holding it heavy in her hands.

"Me and Dina can handle it. You don't have to come." He suddenly says and she chuckles slightly.

"I was the one that wanted to go in the first place."

"Need I remind you that you are carrying our child. I've already lost two I will not stand by and lose another."

(Y/N) lets that sentence sink in and turns to him, her expression soft and her lips pursed ever so slightly. "I can handle it." Is all she says, making Joel roll his eyes.

"I don't doubt that, but I'm not letting you do this."

"You don't get to say what I can and can't do." (Y/N) reminds him, placing the gun on top of the bag.

Joel pushes himself off the side and crosses his arms over his chest. His silence slightly scared her and she turns to him, slowly making her way over. She takes his hands, placing them delicately on her stomach and her own hands go to his cheeks.

"You'll be there to protect us." The ex firefly whispers, reminding him that he was there for his family.

Hesitantly, he sighs and nods. "Fine. But if anything happens -"

"You can say I told you so. Like you always do." (Y/N) cuts him off, jokingly and Joel smiles. "Exactly."

She places a kiss on his lips. "Let's go save that brother of yours then."