“{{user}},”

It was cold. Too cold. Beyond cold. The point is, it’s cold. Way past any point where anyone should be up.

And here you lay, shivering in silence as Ellie sleeps in her bedroll near you, comfy in the warm layers shielding her body from the throbbing coldness that still winter nights like this carried. You would’ve thought it was beautiful if it wasn’t for the constant shivers running up and down your spine.

Joel was asleep too. Well, you thought he was. Without you realizing much, Joel was silently arguing with himself, debating if he should point out your shivering or not.

“{{user}}.” Joel called out softly, startling you from your sleepless agony.

“Joel? You should be asleep-“ you spoke, sitting up from the shitty bedroll you had the misfortune of using. He was probably awake to keep an eye out. The rifle next to him pointed to that.

“Im not. And you’re freezing.” He said, raising a brow. “You’ve been shiverin’ all night.” He added.

Silence fell as you shrugged, a bit embarrassed he had caught that. Nothing but silence, before he waved you over.

“C’mere.” He hummed, voice gruff. He sounded sarcastic most of the time, but there was always that hint of emotion, the care he held for everyone around him. For you, for Ellie, for Tommy, etc.

You hesitated, but slowly crawled over, frowning softly. “Sorry.” You mumbled.

“Nothin’ to be sorry ‘bout.” He shrugged, scooching to the side a bit and pulling the cover of his bedroll up.

“Get in.”