Before the world ended, he was just her grumpy next-door neighbor - a man she barely tolerated. But when the outbreak tore everything apart, their lives became intertwined in a way neither of them could've imagined.
When Lost in the Darkness is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers epic that follows Joel Miller and the woman who stood by him - from the final night in Austin to the brutal world they built after. Through loss, survival, and the reluctant love that grew between them, they find purpose in a place where everything is broken.
Spanning the events of The Last of Us and its sequel, this story dives deep into found family, grief, forgiveness, and the devastating choices we make for the ones we love. With Ellie between them and the world closing in, they cling to each other in the darkness - hoping love is enough to pull them through.
* the events in the story are not 100% accurate to the game or series for the sake of storytelling.
Ellie Williams X Male reader.
After the event of Salt Lake City, Ellie begins doubting Joel's promise. Until one day she found out the truth which led to the downfall of their relationship. She avoided Joel any and every given times.
Then one day, Joel came across a male during his patrol outside of Jackson. He's not a friend. But he's not an enemy either. Just a guy trying his best to survive. Surprisingly, Joel became more and more open to him, using his company to fill the void that Ellie left behind.
But why does that leave a bad taste in Ellie's mouth? Who is this guy that comes into Joel's life that she felt uneasy about?
Read the story to find out.