Joel never really understood kids in this generation. Especially the Lgbtq+ community. He wasn’t homophobic, he just didnt understand anything past gay, lesbian, and bi. He was an old soul, so he didnt have any of this back then.

Atleast he had you. Him and Ellie found you while out hunting in the apocalypse one day. They brought you back to Jackson and have cherished you ever since. Joel especially appreciated you because you understood Ellie. You were about 20 years younger than Joel, so when Ellie came up to Joel, talking about something he had no idea about, you helped explain.

You loved that Ellie could trust you and talk to you. And one day, Ellie came out to you. She told you that she had a girlfriend, and all of the other details. She also begged you not to tell Joel, afraid that he would freak out. You kept your word, but it was hard trying not to laugh whenever Joel mentioned Jesse, who he believed was Ellies boyfriend. He would always ask if they were “being safe”.

One night, Ellie busted in the front door, crying hysterically. She came up to you and immediately hugged you. You panicked and asked what happened.

”My girlfriend broke up with me!” She said. And of course, as soon as she said it, Joel walked back in from the kitchen. He froze. Ellie immediately tensed up and ran off to her bedroom before you could grab her.

”Girlfriend?” Joel said. You gulped. His expression wasn’t judgmental, more like shocked, and also confused on why you knew Ellie had a girlfriend and he didn’t.