Don’t Leave (Joel X Reader)
(I do not own this image)
Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader(Female)
Warnings: Swearing, blood, death
“I’m starving,” you heard Ellie groan from across the camp fire. She tossed a stick into the hungry flames as they danced in the moonlight.
Not responding, Joel stood at the edge of camp, surveying the surroundings with a careful eye. The woods were quiet and still. No sign of lurking dangers hidden in the shadows. The soft crunch of leaves and twigs gave away the older man as he walked back towards the warm glow of the camp fire.
Joel sighed deeply as he sat down on the ground next to you. His face was worn and aged, his eyes drooped from exhaustion and his mouth seemed to form a permanent frown. Even though sleep danced at your eyelids, this was the perfect moment to just relax along side your man.
You leaned into Joel, nesting your head on his shoulder and sliding your slender fingers into his rough hand. You felt his fingers softly clamp around yours’, then Joel rested his head on top of yours as the two of you sat quietly near the fire.
“Perfect,” you heard him mumble.
“Uh hello,” Ellie blurted while waving her hands, “what about food?”
Another sigh responded to Ellie’s question. Her face scrunched up when no one replied.
She stood up abruptly and grunted. “Fine I’ll go scrounge up some grub in the dark forest,” she muttered, grabbing her knife and bow.
“No way Ellie,” Joel countered, then he stood up and made his way towards the girl. You got up as well, sleep suddenly disappearing as fast as it came.
“It’s okay, Joel,” you say as you near the two. “I’ll go out there. I’ll be fine.”
He stared at you with disbelief, his frown growing larger by the second. Joel shook his head, disagreeing with your proposal.
“That’s also a negative for you too,” Joel ordered, yanking the bow out of Ellie’s hands. “It’s too dangerous out there.”
You press against Joel’s chest, staring up at his concerned eyes, and smile warmly. Your lips brushed against his, slightly parted, teasing him to make the first move. Joel resists the bait, but you quickly press your mouth to his, embracing him and you feel his tenseness give in. As he kisses back, you slide your hand around the bow and tug it free from his grasp.
“Thank you,” you say and give him a fast peck on the cheek.
Ellie laughs as you saunter towards the edge of camp, leaving Joel stunned in the same place you left him.
“Please be careful, Y/N,” you hear him plead. Now facing Joel, you give a small smile, reassuring him.
It seemed like hours, but finally you had managed to bag a deer. The trail of blood led deeper into the woods, making the glow of your campsite smaller and smaller as you walked along. Pushing aside some bushes, you discovered a clearing, where the blood trail finally stopped. You jogged up to the large body and knelt beside it, brandishing your knife.
The woods around you grew eerily silent. You gulped and promised yourself you were alone. Nope, not even close. From the shadows, a familiar growl broke the silence. Your heart began to race, beating like thunder on a stormy night. Slowly, you gazed up, only to find yourself face to face with a grizzly bear.
The beast growled again, warning you to step away from the carcass. You tried to move, but your feet were frozen to the ground. All you could do was stare the beast down. Suddenly, it let out a ferocious roar, deafening you in the process.
One large paw raised up. Your eyes went wide with fear as the paw swiped towards you. A scream rose from your chest as the beast’s paw collided with your body. Your world went black.
Joel found himself standing near the place where Y/N had entered the forest, quietly hoping she would be all right.
Across camp, Ellie sat on a mossy log, carving a stick to a sharp point and occasionally jabbing the air with her new weapon. She glanced at Joel, standing very still, almost like a statue.
“She’s fine, Joel,” Ellie reassured, now looking at the older man. “Y/N’s a tough one.”
Joel sighed, turning back towards the welcoming fire. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
A shrill scream broke the silence, sending Ellie backwards off her log.
“Y/N!” Joel grabbed his nearest gun and took off running into the pitch black woods. Ellie stumbled up from the ground, also grabbed a gun and sprinted after Joel. “Hey, wait for me!”
Your consciousness faded in and out as you lay on the ground, cold and bleeding from the gash on your chest. A gunshot ring out and your ears picked up shouting before you slipped back into blackness. When you awoke, firm hands clenched your sore body and the scent of pine and musk filled your nostrils. Joel.
Your eyes opened, light filling the dark and you blinked to regain a clear sight. Joel appeared into your vision, his mouth shouting, but no words formed. You reached out to touch his cheek. Damp. You watched as he rested his hand on top of yours and his face contorted, sending new tears trailing over both of your hands’.
“Joel,” you breathed weakly, taking and squeezing his other hand in yours.
You see him inhale sharply and mouth the word “yes” above your crumpled failing body. You smile feebly, knowing you had lived a good remainder of your life alongside the best people, your beautiful Joel and sweet little Ellie. They would be okay.
Joel lets out another sob, lifting your body closer to him. You feel his warm embrace all around you, reminding you of all those sleepless nights. You smile once more as your hand slowly loses strength to hold onto Joel’s. Your hand falls limply at his side, dangling loosely in the breeze, showing no life.
Joel weeps quietly, still clutching your lifeless shell. “Please don’t leave me too,” he cries as he examines your still face.
A single tear falls free and glides down your cold cheek. You were gone.
Author’s Note: WHY MUST I DO THIS?!