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You winced, sitting on a chair in the empty kitchen of your momentary ‘home’.
Just last night, you tripped while running from some hunters in the city, falling forward and using your hand to stop yourself as instinct. Unfortunately for your hand, it not only didn’t break your fall, but it also caused a large wound on your palm.
After attempting to catch yourself, your palm sliced itself on a sharp rock, leaving you to bleed as you got up quickly, and running away from the large group of angry men.
Once you came back to you, Joel, and Ellie’s house you all invaded, the food you’d stolen from the hunters was dropped onto the table.
You put it away quickly, tired but forcing yourself to keep yourself awake as you chose to sit on the kitchen counter, pulling out some medical supplies.
You pulled back your sleeve to inspect the mark better, sucking in a sharp breath once your fingers meet the cut.
“What happened?”
You jumped, turning to the intruder. It was Joel.
You and him had known each other for years now, maybe 14, 15? You and your group had a run in with his and his brother’s, eventually coming together. After a rough few months, and a harsh experience, you both became somewhat friends. As the years past, your relationship increased, leading to you being the most trusted person he knows.
After not hearing from Tommy for a while, you, him, and Tess plan to head out to look for him. Things didn’t go as you wanted, the trio having to smuggle a child named Ellie out of the QZ. Sadly, a harsh combination of events occurred, Tess sacrificing herself to help us after revealing her bite.
Now, you were currently in a city near Jackson, almost fully there. You’d all needed a rest for a week and settled down in a small house.
You held a hand over the mark on your palm, almost shielding it away from Joel’s sight, as if revealing it would cause him to break.
”It’s nothin’, don’t worry ‘bout it.”
Joel squinted at you, his eyes flickering down to your hand, “Doesn’t look like nothin’.”
You sighed, letting him finally see it clearly as he reached out to grasp your wrist, holding it closer to him, “Seriously, Joel, it’s just a scratch.”
He scoffed, dropping your wrist and reaching for the heap of medical supplies, “Last I checked, a scratch doesn’t require stitches.”
He searches through the kit, pulling out a few items; a needle, thread, rubbing alcohol, and a bandage.
”Joel, you don’t have to—“
He cut you off by lifting your arm, subconsciously stroking the area above your wrist.
Slow, calculated, steps move toward you. His body settling between your legs.
You don’t even realise you’ve sucked in such a sharp breath until he peeks up at you momentarily, looking back down with the smallest smirk imaginable.
Joel shook his head, grabbing the rubbing alcohol and cleaning your cut with a small towel.
Grinding your teeth together, you groan quietly, though it’s muffled due to your mouth remaining forcibly closed.
He stops for a moment, “Sorry, I know it stings.”
He finally finishes cleaning it, grabbing the needle and threading the wire through. He softens his grip on your arm, gliding his fingers down toward your hand, gently.
Looking between your hand and the needle, he bites his lip, sighing, “This is gonna hurt.”
Suddenly, you felt the sharp tip of the needle entering your skin, then it pulled out, the threat filing through. It felt incredibly uncomfortable and stung uncontrollably.
You closed your eyes shut, scrunching your face up and hitting the cabinet behind you with your head.
”I know,” muttered Joel, speeding up the process while stroking small circles on your wrist.
Finally, the stitch was complete, Joel wrapping it with a bandage, tightly securing it.
He ties a small knot over your palm, and let’s it go, ensuring its hold is strong enough. His hand reaches forward again, holding the top of your hand so that the palm is facing up.
His thumb rubs small strokes, again, stilling when your fingers curve over it, entrapping it carefully.
Your thumb begins to stroke his own, a soft whisper exiting your lips, “Thank you for helping me.”
He looked around offhandedly, “S’fine, just a few stitches.”
Your lips turned up slightly, a small smile forming as you gazed up at him in appreciation, “Better than what I could’ve done. Knowing me, I’d of ended up giving myself infection and having to cut off my own hand.”
He smirks amusedly, a small hum leaving his lips. He shook his head, “You gonna tell me how you did it yet?”
You whine, dropping your head down, accidentally landing it on Joel’s chest.
You don’t move your head, letting it rest for a moment as you explain your experience last night.
Half way through the story, he sighs, lifting one of his hands and stroking your hair comfortingly.
After you finish your story, you both bask in silence, your head finding itself tucked into Joel’s neck, breathing in his scent.
His other arm snakes around your waist, hand stroking up and down your spine, “Y’need to be more careful.”
You sigh, “I know, I’m sorry.”
He frowns, pulling you away slightly, “Why’re you sorry?”
Unable to look away from his pouty face, you press your lips together guiltily, “Cause ya always panic when I come home with a new mark.”
He swallows, moving the hand in your hair to your cheek, “I care about your safety, can’t have you dying on me,” he whispers.
You gasp in faux offence, unable to conceal your grin as you spoke dramatically, “I could never do such a thing! Don’t you know? I’m bound to you for life. You’re gonna hate it.”
Joel chuckles, eyes crinkling as he stares at you with a new emotion in his eyes.
You almost feel your heart stop when your eyes meet again, hearing your blood pumping in your ear as his thumb caresses your cheek.
”You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he whispers, staring in, what was like, disbelief.
Heat found its way to your cheeks immediately, Joel chuckling again once he saw it.
Mustering up more confidence, you lifted your own hand, grabbing his jaw lightly, “You’re one to talk, surprised the women at the QZ never dropped dead in front of you.”
He laughed, dropping his forehead on yours, “Shut up.”
Once his laughs cooled, you both stared, inspecting each other’s faces, and caressing the other’s cheeks.
The look in Joel’s eyes shifted and he moved closer, his nose brushing against yours, “This okay?”
You felt breathless, a small gasp leaving your lips as the warmth of his breath fanned against your lips, “Yeah.”
With that, his lips moulded against yours. It was slow and passionate, and he wanted to savour the moment as much as he could, caressing your body lovingly.
Your lips parted, and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into your mouth, exploring you.
The kiss got deeper, Joel pulling you as close to him as he could, grasping onto you as if you were his lifeline.
Unfortunately, you both needed to breath and, hesitantly, parted, panting into each other’s mouths.
He rested his forehead in yours again, and ever so slowly, both of you cracked open your eyes, staring at the other with a loving look. After fifteen years of knowing each other, this had to be the best moment shared together.
With an adoring smirk, Joel gazed into your eyes, “I’m a bit rusty in the kissing field but by seeing that pretty look in your eyes, I’m guessing it was okay.”
A small laugh falls from your lips, joyful eyes staring up at Joel, “It was more then okay.”
His smirk melted into a smile, hands moving down to squeeze at your waist as he took you in, hoping this meant he could now call you his.
”Good.”