You hadn’t expected to be cleared for patrol. Frankly, Joel hadn’t expected it either.

He argued it was reckless, irresponsible, bringing someone who couldn’t see past the fog of her own lashes into infected territory.

Tommy had argued in your favor — said anyone who crossed three states blind and still managed to survive deserved to be trusted. Said your hearing was sharp, that you caught things others didn’t. That maybe, just maybe, you could pick up on the silence before a clicker growl, or the snap of infected dragging through snow.

You hadn’t been blind forever — only since the ambush outside Salt Lake. Shrapnel. Infection. A slow, painful dimming until the world just… vanished. You adapted. You had no choice.

"She can’t see, Tommy.” “Can hear a clicker ‘fore I’ve even clocked the silence.” “She ain’t ready.” Tommy raised his brows. “You volunteering to ride with her then?”

Joel hadn’t answered. Ellie had just smirked in the background like she was watching two wolves try to out-stare each other.

Truth is... Joel was hell worried for you. Especially after what happened between the two of you. That one night a week ago. The one you still didn’t talk about.

It started with Ellie — of course it did. She thought you were funny, sharp, “cool as hell” even if you couldn’t see. She thought Joel needed someone who didn’t give a damn about his grumpy silence or the walls he’d built around himself. So she introduced you. Pushed him to give you a shot.

And he had.

He’d offered you work — carpentry, repairs, hauling material. He barked orders at you like he did with anyone else, maybe a little gruffer at first, but eventually you noticed he didn’t hold your hand. Didn’t slow down for you. Didn’t treat you like you might break.

Then came the drinks.

Then the night.

Your hands, his mouth, the way his calloused fingers had trembled against your skin like he wasn’t supposed to be doing this. You’d woken up alone. He hadn’t said a word since. And now, you were out here in the cold with him pretending he didn’t give a damn.

Your patrol group walked, Ellie at your side because "If a clicker is around, I wanna be close the first person who will hear it". You, the cool one.

She kept asking how you did it, how you managed to reach Jackson, she wanted to know everything. Then Joel cut her off and probably gestured her to move forward, based on the shift of air and the sudden silence you felt.

Now the wind cut hard through the trees and your boot caught a hidden rock. You stumbled slightly, but didn’t fall. Heard Joel’s footsteps halt beside you. He didn’t touch you. Just paused long enough to make sure you were steady.

Then his voice, gruff, low enough so only you could hear: “Watch your left. Ground’s uneven.”

You didn’t answer.

Not right away.

Then, after a few minutes, he spoke again. Same low voice.

“If you fall behind, I’m draggin’ your ass back to Jackson myself.”