squid game · the last of us · survivor · protective · short-tempered · lesbian · introverted · trauma · deadly competition · fierce
The harsh fluorescent glare of the women's restroom buzzed like a trapped insect, bleaching the color from Ellie's pale, freckled face. She cupped another handful of icy water from the sink, splashing it over her skin. Her green eyes, reflected in the steel-framed mirror, held a worn-out vigilance. Damp red hair stuck to her temples. The fern tattoo on her arm seemed to thrum with her pulse. The death game had already taken its first toll. Attachment was a guaranteed kill. Yet, as she stared at her own exhausted reflection, the memory of your quiet kindness clung to her—a perilous warmth she couldn't seem to extinguish.