Channeling Your Love; Chapter 1
Mind you, this is video game Joel, everything that happens in this story means the pandemic started in 2013 so all the songs are "canon" until after September of 2013, IM SORRY PEDRO PASCAL FANS!!!
Description; You're a music radio show host for Jackson with a hidden past in the apocalypse. What more can I say?
Warnings: Future smut, for now its just meet cute fluff; PTSD for future chapters: it gets real dark guys, this is my first time writing Fanfic so bare with me....
âAlriiight Jackson, it's time to rise and shine! How about we start our day with some positive energy and a good old classic, Conga by Gloria Estefan!â The music playing loudly through the living room, Joel was immediately irritated. âChristâ he mumbled
âEllie! Turn the radio off!â
âWhy?â she yelled backÂ
âI hate this song, it's too damn loud.â He replied
âThen leave! I'm having fun!â
âNope! Get grumpy somewhere else, old man.â
Joel sits for a minute, shaking his head âI have had enough of thisâ he decides, picking up his jacket making his way to the door.
âWhere are you going? I was just joking when I said to leave and the song is almost over yâknow!â Ellie yells out shaking her body along with the music
âIâm going to that damn radio station, gonna tell them how I feel about their early morning music choices and hopefully change their mindâ
Ellie scoffed âgood luck ruining everyone's fun dinosaur.â continuing to dance along to the music
Joel scoffed back at her and exited their shared home
After a five minute long uphill walk, Joel spots the radio station Tommy had told him about, stomping upwards to have a word with the radio show host. He knocked loudly on the front door before entering, trying to appear polite at least to have the upper hand, but after a minute of no answer he decided to let himself in, walking up a narrow staircase, following the sound of music, not caring what song was playing even if it was something he likedÂ
âYou can ring my beeellllllllâ Was heard reverberating through the walls walking up, finally entering the studio apartment that connected to the radio station room with a glass wall to suppress noise from the outside world. The first thing he sees is you, shaking your hips and ass along to the song, eyes closed never noticing him there. Looking at you he recognized seeing you around town, thinking you were surprisingly fit for someone who doesn't go on patrols, realizing why you were as he watched you. He couldn't help but focus his attention on your ass, the way your hips moved along with the rhythm.Â
âShitâ he mumbled to himself, lost in thought looking at you as you swayed by yourself, like no one was watching.Â
You open your eyes for a moment noticing the man standing in your studio apartment, immediately freezing in your tracks. âHow long has he been standing there?â you thought to yourself, chest heaving, making unbroken eye contact with your stranger. Oh god, he's handsome too you thought, cheeks reddening.Â
Joel sees you see him, witnessing you completely stop what you were doing, and gulps.
âKeep going.â He says, feeling rude for interrupting you, but mostly embarrassed, thinking youâd caught him in the act of leering
âW-what?â You respond, having trouble hearing through the glass panel separating the two of you and loud music, gesturing to the glass and record player so he could understand.
Joel understood, and got all the more embarrassed, huffing towards the ground to gain some courageÂ
âKeep dancing.â He says louder now, and does an awkward little shimmy before pointing to you to make his message more clear. His cheeks start growing red from further embarrassment. âThe hell did I do that for?â he questioned himself quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
You understand him, but the song was almost over at this point, and it's your cue to go back to the live recorder and continue onto the next song. You jolt over to the mic as the final note fades out âWell, ha, that was Ring My Bell from the one hit wonder, Anita Ward everybody! I hope you guys had fun with that one!â You say into the mic, hiding exasperation in your voice. âUp next is-â You look down at your handwritten list of songs scheduled for the day âLast Night by The Strokes!â you announce with fake excitement. You didn't hate the song, but you had just heard it too many times before. Still, it was important for the future to hear as much music as possible as you thought.
Joel is still watching you at this point, impressed by how quick you can turn your heel. You exit the room, into your own studio apartment, facing the man before you, straightening your back and raising your head to meet his hazel green eyes. âCan I help you with something sir?â
âUh yeah, I umâŚâ Joel felt completely lost, he came here to complain, take out his anger on you, maybe even teach you a thing or two about âthe real worldâ, but all those thoughts he had racing up the hill to confront you had muddled after actually seeing you. He didn't know what to say.
âAsh?â you both hear from downstairs, you sighed in relief, recognizing the voice âWhat's up Eugene?â you yelled down, starting to feel wary of this strange quiet man in your presence.Â
âWas just checking if you were okay, I saw the door was open so,âÂ
âThat's my fault, sorryâ Joel yelled down in admission, recognizing Eugene's voice as well, Tommy had introduced the two and grew to respect the old man on patrols with him.Â
Hearing footsteps up the stairs Eugene enters the room, âOh hey Joel, didn't know you were a fan of Ashâs stationâÂ
âUm, no I'm not, I meanâŚâ Joel pauses, trying to find the right words, âSo your name is Ash?â he dodges the question retorting back to youÂ
âNoâ you respond bluntly âOnly Eugene calls me that.â
Eugene looks between the two of you, feeling the uncomfortable energy in the air.Â
âWhat do I call you then?â Joel asks, slight frustration he can't control in his voice, trying to stay civil.
âCall me whatever you want, host, radio person, I don't really careâ You responded honestly, sensing his frustration, feeling like pushing his buttons. âWhy are you here, Joel?âÂ
âWellâ he starts âIf Iâm being honest, I find your music to be obnoxious.â
âIt's not âmy musicâ, Joel, it's just music, and if you don't like it you can just turn off the radio or cover your ears if your missus appreciates it more than you do.â You have a smug grin on your face, knowing you have the upper hand âBesidesâ You start âNo one else in Jackson has complained to my face about what I decide to play, the first exception being you.â You cross your arms.Â
Before Joel can say anything, Eugene interrupts âAlright you two, how about I let you just sort this out amongst yourselves. Ash, if you need anything, just gimme a holler. Joel.â he looks at Joel giving him a respectful nod, getting out of there before he can get involved âThanks Eugene, sorry to worry you.â You wave him goodbye as he books it downstairs out the front door waving back. You're left alone standing with your new âacquaintanceâ feeling ready for whatever he might throw at you. Joel sighs. âAlright look, first of all I donât gotta âmissusâ like you call it, just a very annoying 14 year old who does whatever the hell she wants if it canât be helped. So you can imagine the strain of dealing with that alone every morning, and then I have to hear the damn Conga song at 9 in the morning trying to enjoy my coffee in peace because it's the only point in the day I can get some time to myself. So forgive me if my much wanted peace and quiet interrupts whatever you have going on here.â You stare at Joel, appreciating his honestyÂ
âWhat's her name?â you ask. He looks at you in surprise for a second, breaking his avoidance towards you.
âEllie, uh, her nameâs Ellieâ He responds
âPrettyâ you say, fully taking her name in to get an image of her in your mind. âWhy donât you send her up here sometime so I can take her off your hands in the morning? Iâve been meaning to find a young apprentice who's passionate about helping me with the work I do around here. If sheâs got a lot of energy I think this would be perfect for her.âÂ
Joelâs still holding eye contact as you see his eyes widening, taking in the idea. âYou don-You don't have to do that really. I love the kid to death but- she can be a real handful honestly.â Joelâs embarrassed at this point, surprised at your compassion to help.Â
âShe sounds like a great kidâ you confess, âI can promise you with the work I do sheâll be tuckered out by the time she comes home to you. Plus, with my schedule sheâll be too busy to bother you in the mornings, so you can start enjoying your coffee in peace.âÂ
Joel thinks on it, starting to consider the pros and cons of the idea. âIâll have to ask her if sheâd even want to first.â he replies, it would be nice if she had something productive to keep herself busy he thinks to himself.
âThatâs alright, if she wants to she can just stop by whenever she likes. Today even, Iâd be happy to start showing her the ropes, whenever sheâs ready.â You smile at him, realizing you mightâve just solved the problem between you two, wanting to start things off civilly with this gruff but shy handsome man you were meeting for the first time. âOkayâ He agrees, scratching his beard after making his decision. âGreat!â You respond âTell her she can stop by anytime after 9 am and before 9 pm. Iâm excited to meet her!âÂ
Joel chuckles, âYou don't even know if sheâs gonna say yes to this whole thing. Don't get too excited.â he explains.
âWell, based on your description of her, and the fact that sheâs 14, Iâm guessing sheâs feeling pretty bored without much to do around Jackson. Besides helping the community, I'm sure sheâd be excited at the idea of a creative outlet.â You say in confidence, smile almost giddy remembering how you felt around the same age. âYou got a point there.â he responds, smiling back, blushing at the thought of how cute you look when you're excited.âIâm uh, Iâm glad we could talk this out. Iâll go and see her right now.â he starts making his way down the stairs to the doorway.Â
âHey Joel!â You speak out, stopping him in his tracks to look up at you, âDonât be a stranger, stop by sometime to tell me what music I should play for your morning coffee. Or any music, really.â Joel starts to blush again, surprised by you reaching out to him for company.Â
âIâll think about it.â he says, knowing he will come back again just to see you dance again when he works up the courage. He waves you goodbye. âNice meeting you!â You reply âYeah, You too.â looking up at your pretty little face one more time before leaving. Making his way straight to Ellie to tell her the news.