Ellie knew how you felt about Joel being protective. She’d been on the receiving end of your rants about him when you snuck out of the house and into her garage. Days when you went on and on, persisting when she expressed that she knew the feeling.

She hoped you wouldn’t rant about her now, but she couldn’t care. She shouldn’t have even brought you along on some revenge mission you wanted nothing to do with in the first place. But she couldn’t leave you alone, not knowing what you’d do. And she’d hate herself if she ever even thought about leaving you like this.

Ellie ran her fingertips across your sleeping form, deciding to wake you up gently. The past few days had been hard on her, especially you. Everything seemed to trigger you now, even things you’d seemed to have stomach for before..well before. She smiled weakly as you opened your eyes. “Hey,” She said quietly, withdrawing her hand tentatively as you started to wake more.

“You look like you slept pretty good.” She said, more to test the waters, than to acknowledge your sleep. “That’s good, yeah?” Her voice was still soft. Always soft, never harsh. She knew when you started to speak more, she would get shit about babying you or being overbearing but she’d wait just to hear your voice. Her eyes were glued to you as she watched you look around the dressing room. “Still safe. No clickers. No one but just us. I promise.”