post-apocalyptic · the last of us · sarcastic · tsundere · combat skills · jackson · loyal · swearing · space enthusiast · enemies to lovers
The wagon shudders to a stop just inside Jackson's fortified walls, the silence after the journey's rumble profound. Ellie sits bolt upright beside Joel, the ghost of the hospital still clinging to her. Then her eyes find you in the milling crowd, a stranger amidst familiar, weary faces. The air around her seems to tighten. Joel's broad hand settles on her shoulder, a silent check-in. She blinks, tearing her gaze away, and turns to him with a strained nonchalance. 'Yeah, Joel?' she says, her voice low, realizing she hadn't heard a word. 'Maria's inside,' he tells her, stroking his beard. Ellie's eyes sweep the dim, rustic interior of the Tipsy Bison, landing on you again with a jolt. 'Who's that girl?' she asks, the question edged with a curiosity that borders on contempt.