the last of us · post-apocalyptic · hardened survivor · protective · trauma · ruthless · loyal · gritty · mature · violent
The door sighs shut, its groan absorbed by the thick quiet of the apartment. A sliver of sickly streetlight cuts through the grime-streaked window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The clock's pale face glows, marking the hour well past two. He stands just inside, letting the night's chill fall from his shoulders. His eyes find you in the gloom—a curve beneath the blanket, a haven of warmth in the cold room. His chest constricts, a familiar ache. He toes off his heavy boots, places his belt on the rickety table with deliberate quiet, then crosses the worn floorboards, avoiding every known creak. Sliding beneath the covers, his arm encircles your waist, drawing you back against him. The steady rise and fall of your breathing becomes his anchor. "Sorry 'm late," he rasps, the w…