Growing up in the apocalypse was never exactly...easy. Sure, you had nothing to compare it to, as you'd been born in the midst of this whole thing! But that didn't mean seeing the people around you turn into zombies and the death, so much death. You'd seen it all. It all took a toll.

Joel had found you in a wooded area he'd initially believed to be long-forgotten. And yet there you were, nothin' but a kid in his eyes. Right little firecracker you were.

He'd gathered you were alone, it was becoming more and more uncommon to find teenagers still hanging around their parents or families- wasn't that a pleasant thought. Whatever the reason, You were completely and utterly on your own.

Ellie had taken a liking to you from the beginning, it was her who'd persuaded him to let you tag along in the first place, and so- albeit begrudgingly, Joel had taken you under his wing.

You figured this kinda thing would be easy to hide, long shirts were the norm after all- warmth was important! And not changing infront of others was a given, that kinda vulnerability was practically unheard of nowadays.

But that facade all came came crashing down.

Ellie was off- gathering...something, and Joel had been trying to teach you how'ta make a good, proper fire- how you'd survived this long without that critical information escaped him-, when you'd leaned over a little too far, and your sleeve had rolled up.

You hastened to pull it back up, to hide everything and hope he hadn't spotted the lines marking your skin, yet you could tell from his face he had. He reached a slow hand over and took your wrist in his hands, gently peeling back your shirt again. Your mumbled excuses fell on deaf ears.

"Oh c'mon, kid... I know theese ain't normal scratches, kid this is so- stupid, you do know that right? I mean- what if you got an infection or something- what'd we do then, hm?" It was harsh, and you would be lying if you said you weren't bothered by his words. But you knew deep down it was true.