Hi there avid fanfiction readers, I am the mysterious forestgimp. Having traveled over the far and distant planes of the fanfiction world I have chosen to brave the waters and attempt to give life to my many dying creations (or old Word Documents for those of you who wish to skim the dramatics) and hopefully give birth to a masterpiece.

I do not hold ownership of The Last Of Us and this work is a piece of pure undulated fiction scraped from the pit of my imagination (May God have mercy on your soul).

Of course, I checked it to the best of my ability but I am renowned for my truly astonishing skill of missing glaring errors so if you do find any let me know.

Thank you for taking an interest in my work and feel free to browse at your leisure.

forestgimp（＾∇＾）

Chapter one: The Buck

"Goddamn it Tommy, put your back into it," Joel yelled at his sandy haired brother as the two fought with the latch on a locked barn. They had been scavenging through a mainly farmland based part of a run-down town just outside their little haven when they'd come across a suspicious but promising looking out house.

Unfortunately, the latch had been wielded shut, which first led Joel to think it was suspicious but promising, while numerous bolts and bits of metal had been locked in place. They'd been chipping at the main latch for a good hour now and as Joel yanked it out Tommy was to pull it to the left, bringing it out of its restraints and thus opening the huge metal door. "I'm doin' my damn near best here Joel!" Tommy called back through huffy breathes.

The two heaved it forward another inch and frustration ripped at Joel's rational thought as he stood back with a sigh. Dropping his giant wire cutters to the ground, "Jesus..." Tommy muttered but it was more directed at Joel's negative attitude than the latch itself. He too, stepped back and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

For him to be the younger of the two, you wouldn't have been able to tell. Joel remained calm and pristine throughout the battle with the door in the boiling sun while Tommy melted away in the heat. Obviously having two young children was really beginning to grate him down, "What's crawled up your ass and died today?" Tommy asked, voice tight with shielded concern as Joel grunted and stared at the man, his thick arms folded over his chest as he evaluated the latch for the hundredth's time, "Nothing... It's nothing," silence filled the air as the two stood watching the latch.

About then Tommy found a really interesting patch of dirt to kick at while his fingers tapped at his chin, deep in thought. Probably about Maria. Or the kids. Or his job. Or all the other stupid family things he had to contend witH, Joel thought while he just thought about the latch... And the other thing, "Fine. Don't tell me," Tommy said it as a challenge but it just came across as petty and obvious to the point of being gleeful at not having to listen to Joel's problems.

"It's just this young buck," Joel heaved, clenching his teeth as the anger threatened to spill out over the top again in a burst of broken plates and glasses and chairs and car bumpers and Maria's bookshelf and that bar stool and even Glen's prized hunting knife. Oh dear, Joel thought as he relaxed through his nose meanwhile his anger seethed away like a red hot piece of coal on a fire.

"Again with this Joel? She's almost eighteen, you've gotta let her do her own thing," Tommy cried out, swishing his arms in huge flamboyant movements, "He's not right for her Tommy," Joel muttered, collecting his axe from his rucksack on the ground and hanging it over his shoulder, "He's... He's just not right," Joel lined the axe up with the latch, readying himself to swing with all his might.

"He's a good kid, treats her good as far as I've heard which is more than- hey wait, are you gonna hit that?" Joel stopped for a minute, confused by Tommy's question as a dark frown crumpled up his face, "The buck?" He inquired, still frowning. Axe momentarily forgotten at his side.

Tommy sighed, his whole body going limp before he laughed and said, "No dipshit, the latch?" Joel grunted in response and dragged the axe up, ready to slice the latch in two once more, "Joel, you're not gonna cut through it I'm tell-" Joel swung the axe down and clang! The metal split and fell to the floor.

Tommy stood open-mouthed and even Joel shrugged with surprise not actually able to believe he'd achieved what he wanted to do. Of course he mentally patted himself on the back for still having it in him to achieve such a manly feat. Obviously he wasn't done and dusted just yet. Collecting up his rucksack, Joel put away his tools and the two men progressed into the barn's inky depths.

"Yeah, but I hear Derek is actually a pretty decent kid," Tommy reiterated but Joel tensed up at the sound of the boy's name. Despite Joel's protests, after moving back to Jackson Ellie had blossomed into a beautiful and fantastic young woman who was ready to explore the world around her.

He gave her more and more freedom but she had continued to stick to him like glue, choosing to go almost everywhere with him. To be honest, it had been the best time of Joel's life. Not only were they safe and free to do as they pleased without fear of going hungry, getting lost or having to fight off hunters or infected. But they had continued to do everything together and there was nothing they didn't do. Happy to live within the walls of Tommy's Dam, they did odd jobs here and there while they went about living half-decent lives. Ellie started smiling a more while Joel managed to find some sort of feeling close to ease or content in the life they had made for themselves.

That was until Maria had insisted that Ellie enrol in the town's educational system. The whole idea was Maria's to begin with and no amount of arguing from Joel, Ellie or even Tommy had convinced her that Ellie didn't need an education.

The course Ellie was set to do wasn't anything too strenuous and focussed on her mathematics and sciences. The course was only meant to take up a year or so at most, just so Maria could say Ellie had gome through some form of further learning to the townsfolk who were suspicious enough of the young, energetic brunette and her 'immunity' that they had almost had them chucked out of the town on pure principle alone.

Unfortunately, Ellie's course meant she was away quite a lot of the week and she was always busy with clubs or homework or projects at weekends. Then the social life thing came along and though Joel was happy for her to mix with people her own age it unnerved him to be away from her so much, Ellie was never home; too busy with her new found 'friends' which eventually, two months ago to be exact, resulted in Derek. Ellie's first boyfriend. He was awful. A monster. A creep. And Joel hated him.

"Search the place, make sure we're alone," Joel said but he was gripping tight at his anger as he recalled the events of the past few days. Ellie had been acting more openly about her relationship with the lanky, dark-haired teen. Bringing him to their little two bedroom house and even convinced Joel to let him come hunting with them last weekend. It had rubbed Joel up all the wrong way. He didn't like it that Ellie was growing up enough without her being openly affectionate to some guy.

What pissed Joel off the most though was that it wasn't fatherly-protectiveness that ignited the flames of anger inside him but jealously. Joel was jealous of Derek. And more than just a little bit. He despised and hated the boy for being able to do the things he did. To touch Ellie the way he did, kiss her, embrace her. For a moment, Joel had come within reach of that. All those nights when Ellie had cuddled into his lap, her face snuggled into the crook of his neck as she snoozed through the lazy, warm evenings. But then Maria's damn educational system came and Ellie discovered the exciting world of teenage hormones and boys all in the same night she got her first period and her perky breasts.

Joel had always had these strong feelings of love and protection for Ellie but it hadn't been until sometime after her sixteenth that he'd realised he loved her in more than a father-daughter way. He felt sick and ashamed of himself when he had finally accepted his feelings. It was disturbing for him considering it was a taboo people still didn't like or want in their sheltered, survivalist societies.

He knew it was wrong and stupid of him, he particularly raised her. She was so young and naive, while he was old and worn down with a life of survival and violence. It could never work, it would only spoil a sound relationship and Joel didn't want that, he didn't want to lose Ellie over some lame feelings he got around her. He wouldn't take advantage of her like that, abuse the relationship to satisfy is sick, twisted affections. It was these hienous feelings that fuelled Joel's mind around her and he was set on cleasning himself of the whole darn thing. He wanted to be a good friend, an even better source of knowledge and guidance but most of all, he wanted to be someone Ellie could always trust and rely on to protect her no matter what.

But saying that, it was harder and harder for him to deny his feelings with each passing day. Joel was not only extremely attracted to the tough, little brunette but willing to spend the rest of his existence with her.

He wished to worship and love her in the most intimate way and only he knew this. Too condemned with fear of prosecution to admit it to anyone.

Tommy scouted around the far wall of the barn, chucking bits and pieces as he went while Joel picked his way through the darkness on the opposite side. Meeting in the middle they discovered an almost perfect working car engine. Evidently this was what was being protected.

The two men began to gather up supplies from the surrounding boxes and work benches while also sorting out any useful materials and making arrangements to come back with a pick-up to collect the engine before walking out and closing the barn door.

They two stood in content silence, peering at the horizon to check for hunters, runners and any other horrible things that might be lurking in the growing darker evening but it was all quiet, "You should give Derek a chance," Tommy spoke softly, as if to a wild animal as the two men made their way back to town.

"Ellie says you're giving him a hard time just now," Tommy fiddled with his back strap but suddenly came to a stop when Joel spun round and glared at him, "Ellie spoke to you?" He questioned and Tommy just shrugged in a sort of, 'yeah so what?' manner. Joel exhaled loudly, hands on his hips as he looked out over the town, little glowing lights turning on here and there, "I'm not giving him a 'hard time'," Joel mumbled but his tone was dark and tense. "I just want what's best for her,"

"And you'd know what that is how?" Tommy retorted but suddenly looked down at his feet after he realised what he'd said, "Sorry," he focused on something far off in the distance but Joel could see that glint of anger and disappointment in Tommy's eyes that was solely directed at himself.

"It's okay, I know alright!" He replied, "What would I know? It's not like I had a little girl to look after before," Joel laughed ironically but it held no humour. "Just believe me when I say this Tommy, Derek is wrong for Ellie... I just get this feeling in my gut," there wasn't anything else he could add to that so nodding. They agreed to disagree and walked back into town.

Continues next chapter, hope you liked it! Leave reviews if possible and thanks for reading.