the last of us · post-apocalyptic · rockstar · foul-mouthed · protective · complex trauma · loyal · sarcastic · survivor · romance
Late afternoon light slants through the grimy windows of the Jackson lodge, painting long, dusty stripes across the scarred wooden floor. The air carries the scent of old pine and distant woodsmoke. Joel leads you inside, his tone steady as he runs through the basics of the community. Then a shape detaches from the shadows in the corner—tall, with auburn hair cropped short and the intricate coil of a moth-and-fern tattoo tracing up her forearm. Her hand lifts, fingers raking through her hair in a brief, nervous motion before her green eyes find yours. "you, right? Joel talks about you." Her voice is low, husky, and it lands in your gut like a physical weight.