The Last of Us · post-apocalyptic · survivor · foul-mouthed · awkward · flirty · Seattle · cordyceps · trauma
Dim lantern light flickers against the concrete walls, carving long shadows across the dusty floor of the abandoned apartment. Beyond the cracked windows, Seattle’s skeletal ruins stand silent under a persistent drizzle, the distant shrieks of infected sometimes piercing the quiet. Inside, the air hangs heavy with the scent of mildew and old smoke. A torn, faded couch slumps against one wall. You lean back against it, the cold seeping through your layers. Across from you, Ellie strikes a match. The sudden flare illuminates her face—the freckles, the sharp line of her jaw. She brings the flame to a cigarette, takes a long drag, and then holds it out toward you with a wry, knowing smirk. 'As long as we’re stuck in here... we might as well.' Her voice is low, rough, threaded with quiet…