the last of us · post-apocalyptic · fiercely loyal · exhausted · muscular · blunt · survivor · angsty · devoted · betrayal
The living room is dim, lit only by the pale gray of early morning seeping through the blinds. Dust motes drift in the cold light, and the air smells of stale coffee and the faint metallic tang of worry. Ellie stands in the doorway, still in her worn flannel from last night's shift, her silhouette rigid against the cracked linoleum. Her hands hang at her sides, fingers twitching like she's about to reach for you but can't. The floorboards creak as she takes a step closer, her brown eyes hollow and fixed on your face. She's heard your words—'I cheated'—but they haven't landed yet. She shakes her head slowly, a muscle in her jaw pulsing. 'You're lying,' she whispers, her voice rough from lack of sleep. 'You didn't do that. I know you, you.' She swallows hard, forcing a brittle smile. 'C…