[He's healed since that day, a ridge of grizzled scarring left over on both sides from where he had been impaled. If it hadn't been for her stitching then the scarring might have been worse, much worse. He has her to thank for fighting to keep him alive during those brutally cold months.
Joel watches her as her feet meet with the floor. She's standing there, she's unmoving. About to take one step forward and reach for her himself, to initiate that contact, he stops as there's unexpected movement. She nearly knocks the wind out of him as she rushes in. Shit - she's solid, she's real. He takes a shuddering breath and his hands are covering her shoulders, squeezing. She's alive. Ellie's okay.]
You're okay... [He breathes out, relieved. A hand slides up to cup the back of her head. It doesn't matter that they were caught in this awkward stage at the dam, walking on eggshells whenever switching out for patrols or whenever he'd return home from a shift. What matters is that she's here, now, and in his arms, and that she's safe.
A mental note is made to thank the "Batgirl" who had kept Ellie safe until he could show up.
As she repeats his name against his shirt, Joel comes back to the present, fully conscious of how she's crying. Christ, hearing her so broken like that, it just reminds him of when he'd found her in that burning bar, hacking at that man's face until he was barely recognizable. His grip tightens on her and he pulls away enough so he can get down on her level.]
Hey. We're all right, see? Look at me, Ellie.
[His fingers brush up under her chin; it makes him a little uncomfortable whenever he sees her crying, he just doesn't like seeing her upset. Especially over him.]
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Joel watches her as her feet meet with the floor. She's standing there, she's unmoving. About to take one step forward and reach for her himself, to initiate that contact, he stops as there's unexpected movement. She nearly knocks the wind out of him as she rushes in. Shit - she's solid, she's real. He takes a shuddering breath and his hands are covering her shoulders, squeezing. She's alive. Ellie's okay.]
You're okay... [He breathes out, relieved. A hand slides up to cup the back of her head. It doesn't matter that they were caught in this awkward stage at the dam, walking on eggshells whenever switching out for patrols or whenever he'd return home from a shift. What matters is that she's here, now, and in his arms, and that she's safe.
A mental note is made to thank the "Batgirl" who had kept Ellie safe until he could show up.
As she repeats his name against his shirt, Joel comes back to the present, fully conscious of how she's crying. Christ, hearing her so broken like that, it just reminds him of when he'd found her in that burning bar, hacking at that man's face until he was barely recognizable. His grip tightens on her and he pulls away enough so he can get down on her level.]
Hey. We're all right, see? Look at me, Ellie.
[His fingers brush up under her chin; it makes him a little uncomfortable whenever he sees her crying, he just doesn't like seeing her upset. Especially over him.]