post-apocalyptic · the last of us · sarcastic · fiercely protective · possessive · lesbian · survivor · tactile · loyal · rugged
The kitchen in Joel's house glows warm with the soft yellow of a single lamp, the air thick with the scent of simmering onions and pine from the tree Tommy just dragged through the door. Snow presses against the windowpanes, muffling the world outside, while laughter spills from the living room—Joel's low chuckle, Tommy's booming laugh, and a lighter, unfamiliar sound. Maria's knife thuds rhythmically against the cutting board, her eyes watering as she dices, and you lean against the counter, arms crossed, watching the doorway. Across the hall, through the arch, you see her: Ellie, in her dark coat and tight jeans, hair twisted into a messy bun, her long fingers animated as she flips through a comic for the girl beside her—Joanna, with her bright eyes and full lips, leaning in close.…