Silent Loyalty
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
dbf!Joel Miller x Female Reader
dbf!Tommy Miller x Female Reader
Warnings : Childhood Trauma, age gap (huge) reader is 20 Joel is early/mid 50's Tommy is mid/late 30's when things start to happen.
You're 20 now. Home for the summer after your first year of college. Everything feels a little different, but not in the loud, obvious ways. Just... quieter. Like someone rearranged the furniture in your life while you were gone. Jacob’s taller. Your dad’s is a little bit nicer which surprised you, he offered you to stay home during the summer and you and him could spend some "quality time" together. Something felt off about it though. After all these years he only wanted to mend stuff now? You never really thought of his house as your 'home', you only really chose to come back here for the summer to visit Tommy and Joel, they were the only ones to treat you right.
Joel and Tommy are still around, like clockwork. You’ve always been fond of them, but now that you’re older, you notice that more. The way Joel’s eyes crinkle when he smiles. The way Tommy’s hand lingers on your shoulder just a beat too long when he says goodbye.
You’re in their garage one afternoon, helping Joel with a busted mower blade. Your hair tied back, your hands smudged with grease, and you’ve got dirt on your jeans. He glances over at you, smirking.
“You’ve gotten pretty handy.”
You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the smile that pulls at your lips. “You say that like it surprises you.”
“It does,” he says, voice low and amused. “In a good way.”
Tommy pokes his head in from the door leading to the backyard, holding two cold sodas. “You givin’ her a hard time again, Joel?”
“Nope,” Joel says, tossing you a rag. “She’s doin’ alright.”
“She’s doin’ more than alright,” Tommy says with a grin, handing you the soda. “I think you’ve officially upgraded from spare part to MVP.”
You laugh. “Well, it only took a decade.”
Joel leans back on his heels, watching you with that thoughtful look of his — the one that says he sees more than he lets on. “Its good to have you back kiddo.” he says quietly. Then, almost like an afterthought
“Well I only have a couple months” you say, standing on your feet “we might as well spend some time together”
That earns a small smile from him, soft and slow. “Good.”
Later that evening, you sit with them on the porch steps as the sky fades into Gold. Tommy’s telling some ridiculous story about a fishing trip gone wrong, and Joel sits beside you, just close enough that your elbows brush.
And then he bumps your shoulder — not rough, not teasing. Just enough. Just a small reminder that even though he calls you kiddo, he sees the woman you’re becoming.
But now? He’s trying. So is Tommy. And even if your house still feels like a place you don’t quite fit, sitting on that porch with them feels like home in a way it never did before.
You want to move in with them after college because you dont know how you'll deal with his yelling everyday and him constantly nagging you of shit to do while Jacob just sits around and does nothing all day but playing video games. but you dont know how to ask them. You dont know how to bring it up to them without feeling like a burden
The porch door creaks open as you all step inside, warm air from outside trailing in behind you. Joel walks into the kitchen and you lean against counter as he gets dinner started, grabbing out the jar of pesto and milk from the fridge.
"We're having Pesto Pasta tonight" He states "Your favourite" he looks at you and smiles with a wink
Tommy grabs a beer out of the fridge, cracks it open and takes a swig
You linger by the counter, soda can still in your hand. “Can I ask you guys something?”
Joel glances over his shoulder. “’Course you can, kiddo.”
Tommy sets the magazine down. “Everything alright?”
You nod, fingers fidgeting with the tab on your drink. “Yeah, I just… I’ve been thinking. After I finish college, I don’t want to move back in with my dad. I know I’ll have to figure stuff out — a job, money — but I don’t think I can go back to that house. Not after everything.. y'know”
Joel turns the stove down and lets the pasta boil in hot water and wipes his hands on a dish towel. He doesn’t speak right away — just looks at you for a long moment, like he’s letting the weight of what you said settle between you.
Tommy breaks the silence first. “You wanna move in with us?”
You blink, caught off guard by how easily he says it.
“I mean… if that’s okay,” you say quickly. “I wouldn’t be in the way. I can pull my weight with rent, groceries, anything you need. I just… I want to be somewhere that feels like home.”
Joel steps closer, resting one hand on the counter, his voice low but sure. “Of course it’s okay, y'dont needa worry about payin rent or nothing kiddo, we own the house and got plenty of money for all that shit” He laughs
Tommy grins from the table. “You’re family, champ. You’ve always been.”
You feel something in your chest loosen, the kind of ache you’ve been carrying for years. You set your drink down, arms crossing over your chest like you’re trying to hold yourself together.
Joel nods, soft but firm. “We’ve got the spare room cleaned out already. Shit. We were hopin’ you’d ask.”
You laugh, a little breathless. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” he says, offering that quiet, crooked smile. “You belong somewhere you’re wanted. That place with your dad… it never was.”
He pauses, then adds, more quietly, “Your dad may be our friend, but I don’t like the way he treats his only daughter.”
You glance down, eyes stinging, but you don’t let the tears fall. Just the acknowledgment — just that someone saw it — means more than you can say. Before you can look up Tommy pulls you in for a hug. It lasts for a good minute, before he pulls back. his hands on your biceps smiling at you
Tommy stands “And hey, you’ll never have to tiptoe around here. You want quiet, you got it. You want noise, well, Joel plays old man music, but we’ll figure it out.”
Joel chuckles and grabs a wooden spoon. “Keep talkin’, Tommy, and you’ll be eatin’ cold beans for dinner.”
You smile and wander into the kitchen, bumping Joel’s arm with your own. “You know, if I’m moving in, I’m claiming the good bathroom.”
Joel gives you a sidelong look. “We’ll see about that.”
But he doesn’t argue. He just keeps stirring the pot, the scent of something familiar and warm filling the space between you.
And for the first time in a long time, you feel like you’ve finally found the place where you belong.
-----------
Dinner is ready. You sit at the table waiting.
“What are you doing?” Joel asks, carrying two bowls of pesto pasta in his hands. “You don’t have to sit at the dinner table, kid. Come sit on the couch.”
You stand up slowly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind your ear, and walk over to the couch. You settle down right next to Tommy, so your thigh and arm are touching his.
Joel sets the bowls down on the coffee table, then disappears into the kitchen for a moment. When he returns, he’s carrying the third bowl, which he places in front of him before sitting down beside you. His thigh presses lightly against yours as he reaches for the TV remote and turns the screen on.
Tommy grins at you, nudging your shoulder playfully. “Looks like you’re stealing the prime spot.”
You shrug, feeling the warmth of the pasta and the comfortable closeness. “It’s nice to be close for once.”
Joel smirks, eyes glinting in the dim light. “Don’t get used to the couch hogging, kiddo.”
You glance up at him, smiling softly. “I think I like it.”
Joel’s expression softens. “Good. We like having you here.”
Tommy leans back, stretching his legs out. “Seriously though, this beats sitting at some cold, lonely dinner table.”
You nod, the tension from earlier fading away. “Yeah, it does.”
Joel’s hand brushes briefly against yours as he reaches for his bowl, and you don’t pull away.
For the first time in a long while, you feel like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
-----------
Dinner passes with easy conversation and the clinking of forks against bowls. The kind of quiet companionship that doesn’t need to fill every silence. By the time you're finishing your last bite, the weight of the day starts catching up with you.
You place your bowl on the coffee table, then stretch out your arms with a small yawn. Without thinking too much, you lean gently into Tommy’s side, resting your head on his lap. Your legs stretch out across the couch, your thighs on top of Joel’s. His hand instinctively reaches out, steadying the throw blanket bunched at the end of the sofa and tossing it lightly over your legs. His hand under the blanket caressing your thigh
“You tired already?” Tommy asks, amused, running his fingers absently through your hair.
“It’s just… nice,” you murmur. “Quiet. Feels like I can breathe here.”
Joel’s voice is soft. “That’s what home’s supposed to feel like, kiddo.”
Neither of them says much after that. The TV hums in the background, but your eyes grow heavy as the warmth from the blanket and the rhythm of Tommy’s hand through your hair lull you toward sleep. Joel doesn’t move away either — his presence, solid and silent, a steady comfort at your side.
--
You must have drifted off.
The voices on the TV are faint now, distant. The warmth of the blanket still lingers, but something’s different — you’re not on the couch anymore.
You stir slightly, your body cradled in strong arms. There’s the soft creak of a floorboard underfoot, the quiet rhythm of someone carrying you with careful, practiced steps. You blink once, slowly, the room dim and blurry around the edges. The hallway light is off, but a lamp glows faintly down the hall.
You shift just enough to glance upward.
It’s Tommy.
His jaw is set in that calm, focused way he gets when he’s being careful. His eyes flick down as he feels you move.
“Hey,” he murmurs, voice low and gentle. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
You manage a small, sleepy smile. “M’fine… I could’ve walked…”
“Sure,” he says with a quiet chuckle. “But you didn’t.”
You let your head rest back against his chest, not protesting further.
The door to the spare bedroom swings open with a soft push, and Tommy nudges it with his shoulder. He steps inside, moving quietly in the low light. The hum of the house settles around you as he lowers you gently onto the bed, one hand bracing your back as the other guides the pillow beneath your head.
He presses a gentle kiss to your forehead and brushes a bit of your hair behind your ear, he quietly steps out of your new room leaving you to rest.
----------
The soft hum of birds outside the window is what stirs you first. Morning light slips through the half-closed blinds, casting slow golden stripes across the spare bedroom wall. You blink against it, stretching beneath the covers, the scent of coffee already drifting faintly down the hall.
You sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. The house feels peaceful — lived-in and warm. For a moment, you just listen. There's the creak of floorboards, the low sound of a radio playing something soft and old-school in the kitchen. You step up to walk out of the room but unexpectedly run into Joel who had just got out of the shower, and is now in just a towel wrapped around his waist
"Shit sorry honey" He says putting his hand on your arm
You pause for a moment
Holy.Shit. Joel fucking Miller is shirtless in front of you. His hair dampened from the shower, The towel tightly wrapped around his waist, if only he would drop the towel right this second it didn't take you long to snap out of your dirty thoughts.
"No it's okay Joel, Good morning." you say looking up at him and smiling.
Joel chuckles, shaking his head like he’s amused by your sudden blush. “Well, good morning to you too, kiddo., How'dya sleep?”
He reaches out and gives your shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze—a simple touch that somehow feels grounding.
You clear your throat, trying to focus on anything but the fact that Joel Miller your friend, your family..is standing there just casually like this. “I was just… uh, checking to see what everyone’s up to.”
He steps aside, towel still secure, and gestures toward the kitchen. “Tommy’s already on breakfast duty. You coming?”
You nod, following him down the hall, your heart still doing a little jump every time you catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of your eye.
He steps into his room as they walk down the hall and quickly tells you he gonna get into some clothes and feel free to go talk to Tommy. So you do.
The house feels alive with that quiet morning buzz—the clink of pans, Tommy humming an off-key tune, the smell of eggs and coffee thick in the air.
"Good mornin sweetheart, how was your sleep?" he asks hoping for a good answer
You smile at him feeling welcomed.
"I slept- way better then expected Tommy how bout you?"
He had told you he slept good and proceeded to tell you about a story of Joel and him when they were kids.
You catch the way Tommy’s eyes light up when he talks about those old days, how easy and carefree things seemed back then. But your mind drifts, replaying the brief moment this morning--the look of Joel’s damp hair, the warmth from the towel wrapped around him, and that quiet way he apologized like it was nothing. But in that moment, you wanted nothing more then for Joel to pin you against that wall and make love to you.
Tommy’s voice pulls you back. “Hey, you okay? You’re miles away.”
You blink, forcing a smile. “Yeah, sorry. Just… thinking.”
He nods, understanding in his eyes. “It’s been a lot, hasn’t it? Coming back here, figuring out where you fit.”
You shrug, feeling the weight of it settle in your chest again. “Yeah. Sometimes it feels like I’m caught between two worlds.”
Tommy leans back in his chair, cracking his knuckles. “Well, you’ve got us. We’ve always got your back.”
You look at him, grateful, but your thoughts keep drifting to Joel—the way he looks at you, the quiet care behind his gruffness.
“Thanks, Tommy. That means a lot.”
He grins, raising his coffee mug. “Anytime, kiddo.”
You take a deep breath, ready to face the day, feeling a little less alone than yesterday. Joel walks out his room and you all eat breakfast, making conversation.
"So I was thinking, maybe we could all do something like- I dont know camping or wait! oooo! what about a road trip?" you say excitedly with a smile on your face
Joel looks up from his coffee, a slow smile spreading across his face. “A road trip, huh? That’s not a bad idea.”
Tommy nods enthusiastically, wiping his hands on a towel. “Yeah, I’m down. Could use some fresh air and a break from this town.”
You lean forward, feeling the excitement bubble up inside you. “Exactly! Just the three of us, no stress. We could hit the coast or maybe find some quiet spot in the mountains, wherever we end up.”
Joel chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re full of surprises, kiddo. I like it.”
Tommy grins, “Well, if we’re doing this, I call shotgun.”
You laugh, the warmth in the room making everything feel a little lighter. Joel finishes up his plate and steps away from the counter to put it into the dishwasher.
"I got work in an hour, Tommy you gonna drop me off?"
Tommy nods his head to Joel finishing his food and grabbing your empty plate from you
Tommy grabs your empty plate, setting it gently in the sink. “Yeah, I’ll drop you off”
Joel nods, standing up and stretching. “Appreciate it, man. Can’t be late today.”
He gives you a quick smile before heading toward the door. “You two behave while I'm gone alright?”
You laugh softly. “No promises.”
Tommy shakes his head with a grin. “She’s trouble, Joel. You know that.”
Joel just smirks, pulling his jacket on. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t start anything without me.”
You all head out to the car and Joel opens the back door of the 2018 Holden Colorado LTZ RG for you to hop in. You've always love this car, it's perfect for road trips and big enough to lay down in the back when you get tired. You say a quick thank you and hop into the middle seat of the ute and put on your seatbelt
--