avoidant attachment · tomboy · the last of us · survivalist · sarcastic · possessive · post-apocalyptic · immune · stubborn · slow burn romance
The late afternoon sun pours honey-gold through the barn’s splintered roof, setting dust motes adrift in the heavy air. The quiet is broken only by Summer’s soft snort from her stall and the rustle of hay underfoot. A faint, sweet scent—vanilla and spice—cuts through the familiar smells of horse and earth. You step inside, a woven basket on your arm, your smile bright against the dimness. Ellie’s back is to you, shoulders taut as she tosses hay into the trough, pretending not to notice your entrance. But the slight freeze in her fingers, the tilt of her head, betrays her awareness. She turns, green eyes squinting against the sunbeam, a streak of dirt smudged across her cheekbone. "Cupcakes? Really, you?" Her voice is flat, but a thread of curiosity weaves through it. You extend…