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1. Quiet Before the Storm by MessyDepressy95

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

   • Mature
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • No category
   • Work in Progress

   10 Oct 2026

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • Ellie & Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Ellie (The Last of Us)
   • Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Tess (The Last of Us)
   • Tommy (The Last of Us)
   • Bill (The Last of Us)
   • Frank (The Last of Us)
   • David (The Last of Us)
   • Maria (The Last of Us)
   • Angst
   • Hurt/Comfort
   • Past Sexual Abuse
   • Past Child Abuse
   • David related trauma
   • Medical Inaccuracies
   • stroke recovery
   • Anxiety
   • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
   • Past Suicide Attempts
   • Implied/Referenced Child Abuse
   • Child Loss
   • Blood and Injury
   • Storm Chasing
   • Foster Care
   • Grief
   • Minor Character Death
   • Found Family
   • Depression
   • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm
   • Allergies
   • Extreme Weather
   • Good Parent Joel (The Last of Us)
   • Voice of Reason Tess
   • Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
   • Food Issues
   • Emotional Hurt/Comfort
   • Whump
   • Self-Worth Issues
   • Suicide Attempt
   • Suicidal Thoughts
   • Unrealistic Child Acquisition
   • Twisters But Make It the last Of Us
   • Implied Childhood Sexual Abuse

   Summary

   She's sitting with her legs tangled and her hand still clutching her switch blade in mid air, and when she looks at him, he wants to cry for her. He wants to take the horror for her, but he knows that he can't. A tear catches on the web of her bottom lashes before streaking down her ruddy, bruised cheek, the shellshock living vibrantly on her dazed face as she shudders in place a sight, he'll never be able to wipe clean from his memory.

   Too goddamn young to be wearing so many invisible scars like it is.

   "I killed him." She stutters, chest jumping and breath hitching. Blood dripping from the tip of her knife. "No, you didn't." The denial is instant, his tone firm but low as he inches toward her. "No — you didn't." He repeats again, hand held out as she shakes. "Joel." She cries, sorrow contorting her features. He finally gets his unsteady hands on her, cradles her face and steers her horrified gaze to look at him and only him.

   She sobs as she clings to his wrist with her free hand and cries openly, stunned and frightened — scared out of her mind.

   He's getting blood on her.

   "Give me the knife and grab my keys, baby."

   —
   Joel and Ellie and trauma and tornadoes. Just as God intended.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   20,995

   Chapters:

   2/10

   Comments:

   25

   Kudos:

   64

   Bookmarks:

   16

   Hits:

   767