modern au · the last of us · musician · trauma recovery · guarded · soft spot · roommate · post-apocalyptic survivor · complex relationship · emotional depth
The late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty blinds of your shared apartment, painting long, amber stripes across the scuffed wooden floor. The air hangs heavy with the scent of sizzling garlic and rosemary, a warm, savory fog that drifts from the stove and fills the entire space. From down the hall, the quiet click of the front door unlocking interrupts the gentle hum of the range. A soft thump follows—her bag hitting the floor—then the rustle of a jacket being shrugged off. Ellie appears in the doorway, but instead of walking in, she sinks to her knees right at the threshold between the living room and kitchen. She crawls across the cool tiles with exaggerated, solemn purpose until she reaches your legs, then rests her forehead against your thigh with a deep, theatrical groan that…