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1. Somewhere in the Middle by Light_Mage

   Fandoms: The Last of Us (Video Games), The Last of Us (TV)  

   • Explicit
   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con
   • F/F, F/M, M/M
   • Work in Progress

   24 Jul 2025

   Tags

   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • Rape/Non-Con
   • Joel Miller/Original Male Character
   • Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Ellie (The Last of Us)
   • Original Characters
   • Original Male Character(s)
   • Tess (The Last of Us)
   • Other Characters
   • TV Show & Game
   • Henry (The Last of Us)
   • Sam (The Last of Us)
   • Kathleen (The Last of Us)
   • The Infected (The Last of Us)
   • Tommy (The Last of Us)
   • Maria (The Last of Us)
   • Dina (The Last of Us)
   • Joel Miller/Original Male Character - Character
   • Protective Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Ellie & Joel Bonding (The Last of Us)
   • Joel is Bad at Feelings (The Last of Us)
   • Soft Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Joel Needs a Hug (The Last of Us)
   • Ellie Needs a Hug (The Last of Us)
   • Bi-Curiosity
   • Minor Joel/Tess (The Last of Us)
   • Joel Has a Big Dick (The Last of Us)
   • Joel has a big heart
   • Canon Compliant
   • Action/Adventure
   • Drama & Romance
   • Slow Burn
   • Slow Romance
   • Cute
   • Romantic Fluff
   • Joel Miller/Original Male Character - Freeform
   • Age Difference
   • Sexuality Crisis
   • First Kiss
   • Emotional Hurt/Comfort
   • Pining
   • Protective Joel
   • Bisexual Joel Miller
   • Soft Moments in a Hard World
   • Post-Outbreak Feelings
   • Canon-Typical Violence
   • Found Family

   Summary

   Joel never expected to feel anything again — not after Tess, not after the world broke.
   But then there’s Adrian: clever, soft-spoken, and insanely good at getting under his skin.
   He’s younger. Smarter. Warmer. And for reasons Joel can’t explain, sleeping in the room next door makes him forget how to breathe.

   A slow-burning romance built in shared glances, quiet confessions, and one kiss that changes everything.

   Joel’s not sure what this makes him.
   But he knows it makes him feel something real.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   232,387

   Chapters:

   17/?

   Comments:

   181

   Kudos:

   160

   Bookmarks:

   31

   Hits:

   5,030