His Young Heart
"I think it best we stay away from the big cities," Petyr shared as he took a meaningful glance at Anais, if only it was for a few seconds. His eyes ultimately went back to the map of Ohio in front of him. "Going south, as far south as we can."
"Why south?" Anais asked quietly. She was thinking. She was a thinker. That was the only reason she was quiet all the time. Petyr had grown accustom to that fact. And he appreciated it most times. Other's he would kill for her opinion.
"Power grids are out, Anais. Think about it. When winter strolls along we're not going to have heating when we hunker down. The farther south we go, the less heat we have to worry about getting when winter does roll along."
Petyr's reasoning was sound. Anais made a little hum before looking at the map. "We should get off at Loveland, hit state route 48 and go around the outskirts of Cincinnati then."
"So 48, then we run into 28 and hit up 132 and the others until we're south enough of the city and get back onto i-75."
"That is if it isn't crowded and blocked," Anais motioned with some assurance. "Either way we've got to find a way over the Ohio River."
The back of the car was filled with medication, food, blankets and pillows and assault weapons that they had raided from a gun shop. Neither knew how to use them but Petyr wasn't too concerned considering they were trying to keep out of sight and mind of the creepers. The bat and crowbar Anais had in her car were good enough for the mean time.
"You know this area pretty well," Petyr remarked. The tension in Anais's jaw would slacken and tense again as she continued to think.
"This was my hometown," she said quietly. Petyr gave a slight smile. "I'd ask you if you wanted to stop home but I feel as if we've already passed it haven't we?"
Anais's silence was Petyr's answer again. There was a slight guilt in his stomach but Petyr had to just smile, for her sake. They had been traveling together since Columbus. It was amazing how must Petyr didn't have to tell her on where to turn. But now that they were leaving the familiar and entering the unknown, Petyr would start to realize how much Anais would have to rely on him.
"When we get into Kentucky we're going to have to be on alert. Going into the Newport and Covington area will be dangerous."
"How 'bout we just follow the river east until we find a bridge," Petyr suggested as he looked down at the map again. "That way we won't have to worry about the city."
Anais nodded, "I would feel much better about that."
"Then we're aiming for Augusta, Kentucky." Petyr agreed.
The silence continued through the rest of the day. Petyr liked the sound of the girl humming next to him. It was comforting, such a simple sound. Every once in a while she'd ask if he'd want to listen to music. The first time he said it was okay, they didn't have too. But it was more for himself; he liked to listen to her. But then after the second time she asked, Petyr realized the music she was asking for was more for herself, something of a comfort. Petyr agreed to listen.
And so Anais slipped in a cd and the music played, Anais hummed, and Petyr smiled.
…
A/N: Most of these chapters I've found I really enjoy writing out the growing relationship between Petyr and Anais. Their relationship is a key one for me, mainly because it's a resemblance between my brother and I but also because I find it amazing how people band together and grow strong relationships in these very terrible situations. This also was a small reminiscence of home, of not being able to go back but longing for it – memories, and thoughts of it. I find nostalgia can be a nice thing but in the end it will never get you where you need to be for the future.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Walking Dead, just Anais and Petyr.
