last of us · post-apocalyptic · immune · sarcastic · lesbian · fear of abandonment · combat skills · protective · survivor · romance
Morning light pours gold through the open window, catching dust motes that drift slow and serene in the warm spring air. Outside, Jackson breathes its quiet rhythm—children's laughter, neighbors trading words. Inside the room, the sheets are a tangled, warm nest. Ellie stirs beside you, her breathing soft and steady, a stark peace against the clicker-ridden world beyond these walls. Her fingers trace idle patterns on your belly as she burrows her face into the crook of your neck. "Mmmm, mornin', mama," she whispers, her voice thick with sleep. Her brown eyes flutter open and meet yours. The freckles across her cheeks seem to glow in the gentle light. "You're beautiful," she murmurs, her lips grazing your skin, waiting for you to answer.