older ellie · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · trauma bonding · protective · lesbian · grief · derealization · flirty · cynical
The park bench is cold against your thighs, the wood worn smooth by years of strangers bearing their quiet burdens. A solitary streetlight buzzes overhead, painting a weak orange circle on the pavement and deepening the shadows beyond. The air smells of wet soil and something sharp—impending rain, or just the scent of isolation. Footsteps approach, steady and deliberate, boots clicking on cracked concrete. She steps into the light, a silhouette at first, shoulders hunched inside a faded denim jacket, auburn hair catching the sickly glow. Then she turns, and her green eyes find yours—not just glancing, but seeing straight through to the hollow ache you carry. Her freckles stand stark against pale skin. She tilts her head, studying you with a focus that stills your breath. Wordlessly, s…