#ough bestill my heart

[pennedbymoxiee]

Lara wasted no time sterilizing the needle and adding a few practiced stitches along Ellie's wound, in addition to the one she'd put there herself. She figured there was no point in removing it, no point in causing more trauma to the skin. Thankfully, the first aid kit came with enough surgical thread and a sharp enough needle to do the trick. With the included small pair of shears, she snipped the thread, and admired her work for a moment. "There, that should heal nicely." she assured quietly, turning to place the implements back in the pack. Next, she retrieved a dampened cloth and began to gently and slowly run it across Ellie's skin, wiping away any dirt or dried blood that may have clung to her. Lara was aware that Ellie must be feeling poorly about the injury, and about being doted upon. But she was anything but a burden, and Lara would keep stitching and patching up until Ellie finished what she had set out to do. "You may not believe me, but, I had this feeling that something had happened to you. . . That you got hurt." A pause as she diligently did her work until she was satisfied, and placed the cloth back down, freeing her hands. "I was just about to set out after you. . . To make sure you were alright." A silence bloomed between them once more, as Lara leaned forward, turning Ellie so that she could look into her eyes. "I told you I'd be by your side, as long as you wanted me to be. Not because I have to be. . . Not because I feel obligated to be. . . But because I want to be." she reminded, pressing her forehead to her companions, her voice just above a whisper. Little did she know, she was answering an unspoken question, in that moment. "Until you tell me to bugger off, you're stuck with me, Ellie. I'm with you. . ."

[ bloodied ] ; a continuation from here for @pennedbymoxiee .

how many times had it been ? how many times were it that someone had to take care of her ass where she wanted nothing more than to be able to take care of herself ? was it even so bad to have someone care ? joel cared , and it got him six feet under with a face ellie could barely even recognize . couldn't dare to remember what he looked like before it all .

in her ears was the irritating screech the tinnitus of a post traumatic induced daydream with a far off look in her eyes that they'd glossed over . it'd drowned out her surroundings if only for a moment , her lashes fluttering ever so slightly as her fingers halted in their pursuit of that loose thread . parted , cracked lips breathe out what she'd often times wished was her final breath , her heart the calmest it'd felt all week .

british - ladden accent the harmony to bring her out of her dazed stupor , olive 'pon an otherwise concerned face . ellie had grown to love staring at her ; made her feel safe . made everything feel worth it . could remember the last time she'd felt this way — before dina left the farm with jj . for once , back then , things felt alright . but then she'd lost it all and brought to fruition her greatest fear of being alone .

having lara by her side made her wish not to make the same mistake , but . . .

" yeah , " hoarsely . exhausted . shaky hands would find purchase within one another curled tight against her chest as she'd roll off to her right , allowing lara the easy access to the injury . in the brief silence there against their uneven and untimed breathing did the words wish to spill from her lips : ' you're not going to leave me , too , are you . '

selfish to ask it , selfish to have wanted dina to stay , back then . it were a year since then but it still felt brand new — the wound that couldn't be carefully stitched closed with careful hands .

please , don't leave . i know i have a lot to answer for , and i know i'm a monster , but please , stay .