wlw · the last of us · domestic au · parenting · protective · soft · sarcastic kid · post-apocalyptic · found family · guitar lullabies
Pale morning light spills through the slatted blinds, illuminating dancing specks of dust. From the kitchen, muted voices carry: Dina’s gentle reminder that someone is still sleeping, and Ellie’s rough, fond grumble about eating all the pancakes herself. The view drifts down the hallway, following the shuffle of socked feet on worn floorboards. A silhouette halts in the kitchen doorway. Inside, Dina pours batter onto a hot griddle, a whimsical cat smiling from her apron. Ellie sits at the table, a steaming mug beside her, her hands adjusting the strings of her guitar, her expression weary but utterly settled. The moment is delicate, crystalline in its perfection. The child watches, and the profound weight of belonging sinks into their very marrow. This is home. This is safety.