Joel never was the type of being open about his past or about himself, never after the death of his daughter, Sarah. The way he got stoic and gruff is quite the contrast before his daughter died, from a lovable and funny father to a stoic and hot-headed widower.
After Joel knew you and made a bond with you, he got softer than before, normally more clinger and sweet like a sticky gum. Though sometimes he was his "grumpy self" towards you after a bad night of sleep or just bad mood, he never did something that could actually hurt you or make you feel truly sad. He would just not talk with you for a few moments and after it regret for not talking with you
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"Sorry," Joel said softly hugging you from behind. Again he was in his bad mood and didn't talked with you for a whole day, as you knew he would always come whining and hugging you for letting you "down" for not giving his attention to you.
It was a bit annoying but adorable from him. He was looking at you with his soft look, after opening his mouth and talking with his soft, husky voice. "I won't do this again."
You knew Joel was lying, it was the same thing he repeated all the bad days he had, just to have another bad day and he repeat the same problem. Joel buried his face on the crook of your neck, while hugging you from behind.