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fairyde222 · 1 year

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Hiiiiii!!!

This is my first attempt at a The last of us fanfic, I just finished the show and I just absolutely fell in love with it & Joel Miller.

(Nothing belongs to me expect Carmen Ramos and added characters all right go to Craig Mazin Neil Druckmann).

This is just a general note of the book.

1. I’m following the story line of the show/game but just adding my own little flavoring in there.

2. Trying to attempt slow burn but also feed you guys good

3. Yes my OC is 35 and I’m well aware Joel is in his 50s but like you wouldn’t be here if that was a concern to you.

I really just hope you enjoy this as much as I do writing it :)

You can read the book at my A03

Face claim: Adria Arjona

The last of us

Carmen Ramos was only 15 at the start of the outbreak and after losing both her parents early on she joins a platoon of fireflies that take her to Boston. After 20 long years she’s now 35 she’s moved high in ranks leading her to become head patrolman and very close friends with queen firefly Marlene. When she’s tasked with the help of known smuggler Joel Miller to get Ellie out Bostons QZ and to a small task team awaiting on the outskirts to take her to Wyoming. She thinks she’s doing her platoon, friend and the world a favor. But when things go sideways and she finds herself along side Joel having to move Ellie themselves. She starts to find herself facing infected, past trauma, raiders and the soul crushing undeniable fact that she is falling in love with Joel Miller.

Chapter 1

Meeting Joel Miller

***

Carmen sat across from Ellie looking at her watch again. “What’s wrong” Ellie asked noticing this was the fourth time in a half an hour Carmen had looked at her watch.

“It’s nothing” Carmen answered looking at the young girl, but Carmen couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. ‘She should be back by now’ Carmen thought. Marlene had gone to meet Robert and had given her instructions to watch Ellie until she was back.

Shots suddenly rang out in the hallway outside the room and Carmen jumped up quickly. She pulled her gun out of her holster attached to her waist and cocked it. She stood in front of Ellie protectively. “You stay behind me” Carmen barked at Ellie. She lifted her gun in front of herself preparing to pull the trigger at anyone who walked through the door.

She had met Ellie 14 years ago but had only known her for 3 weeks. She had been put into a military school where she had been most of her life. She had came back into contact with the fireflies after the death of one of her friends Rylie. Both girls had been bit from an infected but Ellie hadn’t transitioned. Carmen was tasked with monitoring Ellie everyday and at first Carmen and Ellie hadn’t hit it off but once they warmed up to each other the past few weeks together Carmen felt had been the best since the outbreak. She couldn’t deny Ellie had reminded her of her brother who had passed and she felt naturally drawn to protect her and when Marlene told her she was going to smuggle out of the city she didn’t hesitate to demand she was going too.

The shots had stopped and she could hear muffled voices from out in the hall. “Carmen come out here” Marlene called from the hall. She sounded strained like something was causing her pain. “Bring Ellie with you” She called out again. Carmen lowered her gun but didn’t put it away. Carmen turned to look at Ellie. “Get your bag” she told her advancing to the door and opening it. She peered out and there was Marlene holding her side tightly. She was standing in front of a man she’d never seen before. Carmen put her hand up to tell Ellie to stay there.

She stepped out of the room into the hall. Marlene turned to her and leaned against the wall holding her lower side. Dark blood spilled between her fingers. “Holy shit Marlene” Carmen said rushing to her. But Marlene put her hand up to shush her. “I’m fine, look there’s been a change of plans” Marlene groaned slightly glancing at the man in front of them. “What happened, who is he and where’s Robert” Carmen asked looking at Marlene up and down. She had been fighting someone, her hair was a messy and she had blood on her face. Carmen figured it wasn’t the man he stood there unscathed and annoyed. “Look Robert screwed us and this man so we’re going to make things right and he’s going to transport Ellie out of here” Marlene said taking a deep breath wincing grabbing at her side tighter. Carmen gave her ‘do you really think we can trust him’ look and Marlene nodded.

“His name is Joel, he’s a known smuggler and a damn good probably the best if you ask me” Marlene explained. Carmen glanced at the man and mauled him over. He was roughly 5’11 and had black hair that was greying slightly. He had a full grown in beard that also had slight greying in it. He had hazel eyes and a deep scowl plastered on his handsome face. He wore a green button up and dark jeans.

“Joel this is Carmen Ramos, my head patrol guard she’s going to go with you to transport Ellie” Marlene explained taking a deep breath. “No I only agreed to take the girl not a whole damn lot of fireflies” Joel snapped emphasizing his disgust at the word ‘firefly’. Marlene shook her head knowing Carmen was about to tear into him. “No you’ll take Carmen too, she’ll go off with Ellie after you find the task team on the outskirts and she will secure you’ll get your weapons back” Marlene snapped back wincing again.

She looked at Carmen and nodded. “This is it alright, everything we’ve been preparing for happens here today” Marlene said exhaling deeply. She placed a hand on Carmen’s jaw. Carmen nodded understandingly. “I’ll take care of her don’t worry and we’ll see you soon” Carmen said. Carmen looked behind her at Ellie and motioned for her to come out. “Take him down to the weaponry and then from there it’s up to you two to get her out of the city” Marlene said looking between Joel and Carmen. The three of them started down the hall as Carmen heard Marlene call over her walkie for medical.

Carmen had known Marlene for almost 20 years. She had met her a little over a year after the outbreak. She had just turned 16 and Marlene was 25. Marlene had taken the girl in under her wing and helped her grow strong and go up in ranks quickly. She taught her how to hunt, shoot and fight for that she had always felt in debt to Marlene. She knew she had to protect Ellie and do this for Marlene.

As the three of them reached the weaponry she banged on the door and a man opened the door slightly. “Marlene said you’d have something for us” Carmen asked. The man nodded and went to grab a bag. He handed it to Carmen and glanced at Joel and Ellie before shutting the door. Carmen opened the flap but Joel snatched it from her quickly.

“Hey” Carmen snapped at him but he cut her off. “Just plain stupid, don’t go lookin around here let’s go” Joel said slinging the bag across his shoulder. Carmen glared at him before huffing her breath and extending her arms dramatically motioning Joel to lead the way. “We’ll go to my apartment and wait it out for nightfall” Joel said starting to walk down the sidewalk, Carmen and Ellie didn’t reply but followed behind him causally. Ellie looked around the city in awe and Carmen couldn’t help but look at her with a smile.

They finally arrived to the door of an old apartment. Once inside Joel sat the bags down and collapsed on the couch. Carmen sat her bag down on the kitchen table and looked around the shabby apartment. It was cold and lifeless in here, the wall paper was peeling off the walls and had pictures from the previous people who had actually lived here. There was a couch next to the window and a casket dresser with a radio sitting on top beside the arm of the couch. Ellie grabbed a book and began to flip through it, but Joel snatched it from her and sat it down on the coffee table in front of them. Ellie narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms looking towards the window.

“So where’s her parents at” Joel asked looking at Ellie. She was just a kid, a very young one at that. So he wondered why she was alone with a group of fireflies. Ellie looked at Carmen uncomfortably. “They’re dead, they passed awhile ago” Carmen answered for her. Joel nodded solemnly. “What’s the fireflies want with her, what’s so special about her” Joel asked shifting his attention to Carmen. He sat back and leaned against the couch extending his arms. “It’s best we don’t discuss it” Carmen answered flatly.

Joel rolled his eyes and shrugged laying back on the couch, “that’s the best part of my job I don’t gotta know I just deliver” he said nonchalantly lacing his fingers together and laying them on his chest. Carmen rolled her eyes at his remark and leaned back in her chair as well. “Your watch is broken” Ellie said looking at the watch on his left wrist. It had a hole in it and the surrounding glass was broken as well, Joel grunted not saying anything to her. Carmen looked at her own wrist a the silver chain that laid against her skin but she didn’t allow herself to slip away, instead she pulled a book of her own out and began to flip through it until she found the page that had a flipped corner and began to read. Soon the room was filled with soft snores coming from Joel and Ellie grabbed the book that he had snatched from her and Carmen looked up and shook her head chuckling softly.

Ellie soon fell asleep leaning against the window beside her. Carmen stopped reading her book as the sun fell and darkness engulfed the apartment and leaned over switching a lamp on beside the couch. She heard Joel’s soft snores turn into low gasps and muttering. She watched as his body jerked and his face twisted. She strained her ears to hear what he was saying that might give away his dream but she couldn’t hear his words clearly. He suddenly jerked away and took a few deep breaths coming out of his dream state to reality. He sat up and look over at Ellie and then to Carmen. She tried to look at her book quickly hoping he didn’t notice her watching him. He exhaled deeply “We’ll leave soon” He said shifting and putting his feet on the floor. “Okay” Carmen replied placing her book into her bag. “What are you reading” Joel asked looking at her and catching a small glimpse of a red book cover before it disappeared into her backpack.

“Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy traded it for some old batteries I found, pretty good read so far” Carmen said shrugging. “Never heard of it” He said flatly. Carmen nodded rapping her fingers on the table. “Did you always live Boston” She asked trying to break the ice as well. He looked down at his hands and shook his head no but didn’t elaborate any further. Carmen felt for a moment she had over stepped. “Texas” He finally said looking back up at her. “Florida” Carmen replied back to him. He nodded and stood up clearing his throat. “We should probably get moving” He said stretching awkwardly.

Carmen woke Ellie and they all gathered their things and the three of them started on their way towards the outskirts. Once they got to the street they ducked behind dumpsters in alleys and parked cars on the street. They found themselves following Joel down an Alley and through a hole in a metal fence. Once on the other side of the fence Joel announced they were out of the city. Ellie laughed looking around at the world around her. “I’ve been outside before but never outside the city” She smiled looking at Carmen. “Well don’t start celebrating too early we still gotta get through the city and that’s the real problem” Joel said in a gruffly tone. Carmen rolled her eyes at him. “Oh lighten up she’s been looked in that building for 3 weeks she’s just excited” She teased lightly.

Joel was about to say something when they heard a voice call out behind them. “Hey-hey I see you out there stop” A patrol man yelled. “Shit” Joel cursed looking towards the man. He stalked over his gun aimed at them. “We don’t want no trouble” Joel said taking a step in front of the girls. “I didn’t ask, Put your hands on your head and get on your knees” He demanded. Ellie looked over at Carmen fearfully but Carmen nodded for Ellie to do as he said. The three of them got onto their knees and placed their hands on their head. “Really man” Joel said in an annoyed tone as the man pulled the scanner out. “It’s protocol” He said shrugging. The man scanned Joel and once the screen flashed green he moved onto Carmen, Ellie fidgeted nervously next to Carmen. He scanned her neck and the scanner beep happily sensing she wasn’t infected. The man moved to Ellie and Carmen pulled her hunting knife out of her waist band. Joel watched her carefully wondering what the hell she was thinking.

The patrol man scanned Ellie’s neck and a bright red light flashed on his face. Before he could react Carmen was on her feet tackling the man to the ground. The two of them struggled and wrestled. Carmen got the high ground pinning under her with her knife to his face. He didn’t react to the knife instead he grabbed her shoulders yanked her face into his roughly. Her forehead connected to his face gear shaking her vision blurry and he threw her off him. He stood up quickly and pointed his gun at Ellie. Joel stood in front of her quickly putting his hands up and the patrol man. The man hesitated slightly and Joel saw his opportunity. He rushed the man quickly bringing him to the ground wasting no time connecting his fists down on the young patrol man’s face. Carmen sat up breathing heavily Ellie rushed to her side and they both sat watching Joel bring his locked fists over the patrol man’s face. Carmen watched as splatters of blood soaked Joel’s face and hands. His shirt had flecks of blood splattered on it as well.

Once he felt the man’s feet had stopped kicking he stood up and looked at the girls wiping his hands on his jeans. “Thank you” Carmen said standing up dusting herself off but Joel stared at the pair. “You’re infected” He said pointing at Ellie breathing heavily. “I’m not really it’s because of this” Ellie answered pulling her sleeve up to reveal the healed bite. “I saw it flash red and that means infected” He said to her and then looking at Carmen. “She isn’t infected but she has been bit, that’s why we’re moving her to Wyoming” Carmen said trying to make him understand.

She knew it sounded crazy and unbelievable but part of her hoped he just listen and keep going with them, “that bite is three weeks old, we found her after she was bit and we monitored her everyday. If she was infected she would have turned already and you know it” Carmen explained taking a deep breath. Joel started to shake his head and protest but the sound of heavy foot steps and yelling caught their attention. A group of military officers were quickly approaching them and Carmen looked at Joel pleadingly. “Please help us, we won’t make it without you” She pleaded. Joel’s jaw twitched and he exhaled deeply. “Alright follow me” He snapped rushing towards the outskirts of the city. Carmen grabbed Ellie’s hand and they rushed to follow behind him.

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