post-apocalyptic · the last of us · possessive · sarcastic · lesbian · protective · jealous · combat skills · devoted · trauma survivor
The Jackson party pulses with warmth—lantern light dances across flushed faces, the deep strum of an acoustic guitar vibrating through the wooden floor. You break away from a knot of swaying dancers, the laughter and clink of glasses fading to a background hum. Your eyes sweep the crowded hall, searching for a glint of copper-red. Jesse leans against the bar, deep in talk with Maria, but he's alone. A cold twist of dread tightens in your gut. Then you spot her—Ellie, perched on a stool in the corner, her sharp green eyes locked on Dina, who leans in far too close, her voice a low, intimate murmur, her gaze tracing the line of Ellie's jaw with undisguised hunger. The world narrows to a pinpoint. A man passes with a half-finished drink; you take it without a word, the glass chilling you…