Salt Lake City

During their travels, Ellie was always so animated. Even when death could meet them at around any corner, she always found a way to lighten things up. Whether it was humming or a little singing, whistling, or telling a pun she always knew how to loosen any tension in the air.

It was irritating at first, but Joel soon grew to like it. He even expected it from time to time.

But right now, his expectations weren't being met. Not in the slightest.

Ellie was silent. She had been ever since Joel found her in the restaurant tearing David several new faces. It was strange to see her so broken and it broke his heart. He tried to have her open up about what happened but she always avoided the questions.

Probably too soon.

In his eyes, this girl was fearless, far more than a fourteen year old girl could be. She took things head on but did not take anyone else's shit. She was an enigma that really made Joel wonder if she was really fourteen. But then again, in this day and age, children had no chance or time to act their age. But sometimes, Ellie gave a middle finger to that and acted her age, whenever the opportunity arose.

But today, Joel didn't see that.

Ellie was distant, quiet; her usually bright green eyes were gloomy and full of sadness.

This is supposed to be a joyous time. After going through hell, they're finally seeing the light. They finally reached the end of the road. At long last they were going to find the fireflies. And all of this would be over.

But Ellie remained unfazed, just focused on getting to the fireflies and nothing else. Joel was fine with the silence at first but it soon became deafening.

He needed to do something about this.

"Ellie?" Joel said.

Ellie ignored him (again) and kept walking.

"Ellie!" He tried once more.

"What? Sorry, what's up Joel?" Ellie asked.

"If this doesn't work then I don't know what will."Joel thought.

"You sure you're okay?" Joel asked. But he already knew the answer.

'"Y-yeah, yeah. I'm good." Ellie responded.

"Bullshit." Joel stated. "You're quiet. Too quiet for my liking believe it or not." Joel reached around into his bag. "Here we go."

"Sorry-"

"No don't apologize; I'm going to fix it." Joel said his smile growing as he felt the object he was looking for. "I'm sensing a lot of tension in the air, mainly on your part."

Ellie still looked apologetic. Before she opened her mouth to utter another apology, he put his hand up cutting her off.

"So, I'm going to lighten the mood." Joel pulled out the book and opened it.

Ellie's eyes brightened a bit.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ellie said.

"You tell me." Joel flipped through the book to find a good joke to start with.

"Wait, hold up do you have a camera on you? I need to document this. Joel, the man who can take out runners with his bare fists, is going to tell a joke." Ellie said.

"You know it, kiddo." Joel said. "I used to be a banker, but I lost interest."

Ellie let out a giggle. "That one's good."

"Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It's very time consuming."

"Ha-ha! Nice one!"

"I relish the fact that you've mustard the strength to ketchup to me." Joel couldn't resist chuckling at the play on words.

"Oooh, very clever!" Ellie chuckled.

"I try wearing tight jeans, but I can never pull it off."

"Oh god! Please promise me I'll never see that sight." Ellie laughed.

"Noted. Far too old for that anyway." Joel responded.

"You got that right."

"Some people's noses and feet are built backwards: their feet smell and their noses run."

"That's so true!" Ellie exclaimed, her smile growing wider.

"That it is kiddo." Joel responded. "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

"Ehh, not really feeling that one." Ellie said.

"Yeah that one ain't too strong." Joel agreed.

"Booo!" Ellie jokingly jeered, giving a thumbs down.

Joel shook his head. "Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? "

"He's all right now!" Ellie finished, laughing.

Joel laughed. "Yep."

"I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it."

"Oh! I get it!" Ellie laughed.

"He said I was average - but he was just being mean."

"Ugh, I hated math."

"Yeah, math wasn't my strongest suit either."

"When the fuck was I going to use that whatever the fuck that triangle formula was to take out the infected?"

"Maybe they thought you wanted to do it at an angle?" Joel suggested. The possibility couldn't be ruled out.

"Okay, now my head's hurting." Ellie said.

"Let me fix that." Joel said. "I'm bad at math, so the equation 2n+2n is 4n to me."

Ellie let out a loud laugh. "Okay, as much as math sucks, THAT was good!"

Normally Joel would scold her for being so loud, but right now was about letting loose.

"There was a fight in the candy store. Two suckers got licked."

"What the hell?"

Joel feigned innocence. "It's in the book kiddo."

"That could branch off in so many directions but please don't." Ellie shuddered.

Joel smirked. "I get my large circumference from too much pi."

Ellie groaned. "Oh Jesus Joel!"

"Hey, not my fault you got your mind in the gutter."

Ellie blushed. "Oh piss off."

"Better than being pissed on." Joel responded.

Ellie snickered. "Very true."

"Alright, that's enough out of this book, but I got one more for you." Joel tucked the book away in his bag.

"This one's home made. I used to tell Sarah this one all the time. C'mere." Ellie walked closer to Joel and he knelt down, looking into her eyes.

They were as bright as ever.

"You ready?" Joel asked.

"Hit me."

"What type of dance does a ghost do?"

"Umm…" Ellie pondered for a moment. This sounds like a really good one but a really bad one at the same time.

She was looking forward to it.

"I don't know what?"

"The booogie!" Joel leapt forward and tickled Ellie's stomach causing her to let out the loudest laugh and squeal he'd ever heard from her.

And it was music to his ears.

Joel continued to tickle her into oblivion until he decided he should be merciful. If he continued on, she could be the first ever case of someone being tickled or even laughing themselves to death.

Ellie's laugh eventually died down and she was able to catch her breath. Joel stood up and offered her his hand. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

"Thanks Joel." Ellie muttered, with a wide smile on her face, complimented by her now bright eyes.

As it should be.

"Anytime, baby girl." Joel responded, affectionately patting her head.

"Now let's get this over with so you could tell me more of those riveting jokes." Ellie said. "Where did you learn to be such a comedian anyway? Your timing on each of those was perfect." Ellie asked.

"I learned from the best." Joel smiled.


I couldn't resist. I had to do this. Joel and Ellie give me all the feels. All the feels man :'D

Yes, this takes place just when Joel and Ellie arrived in Salt Lake City. I swear if something like this happened at that scene, this game would have gone from 100/10 to 10000/10. But that's just my opinion XD

Thanks for reading & please review! I'm thinking of doing a part 2 =D

Note (Disclaimer): I got most of these jokes/puns from Tumblr. The best place of course =D