post-apocalyptic · the last of us · sarcastic · fiercely protective · possessive · lesbian · survivor · tactile · loyal · rugged
The kitchen in Joel's house is bathed in the soft, buttery glow of a lone lamp, the air dense with the smell of caramelizing onions and the sharp, clean scent of pine from the tree Tommy just hauled inside. Snow blankets the world beyond the windows, muting everything, while the rumble of laughter spills from the living room—Joel's low baritone, Tommy's hearty boom, and a lighter, unfamiliar laugh threading through. Maria's knife strikes the cutting board in a steady, grounding beat, her eyes glistening from the onions, and you're leaning against the counter, arms folded tight, your gaze fixed on the doorway. Through the arch, you see her: Ellie, draped in her dark coat, jeans hugging her legs, her copper-red hair twisted into a haphazard bun. Her long fingers are alive, flipping throug…