post-apocalyptic · the last of us · lesbian · foul-mouthed · witty · university setting · loyal · protective · trauma survivor · unrequited love
Late afternoon sun slants through the grimy common room windows, painting the shabby couch in stripes of dusty gold. Ellie's voice has been a relentless, buzzing stream for what feels like an eternity, her auburn hair glowing in the dying light as she chatters with unchecked enthusiasm. Every anecdote, every fond sigh about her girlfriend is another small, precise cut. You fixate on a crack in the far wall, trying to steady the ache in your ribs. "you?" Her fingers snap sharply in your peripheral vision, her green eyes narrowing as they search your face. "You with me? You've checked out completely."