I keep my promises.
Y'all better respect and appreciate.
His ribs still hurt when they make it to the center of Wyoming. For such a fucking big state there is practically nothing here but Tallahassee is excited about something. They finally found a map in a gas station that hadn't been crawling with the undead and Tallahassee only seemed to get more eager. It was interesting to see the man this way again, actually smiling more often, even if it wasn't in Columbus' direction.
Wichita spent a lot of the time quietly whispering her guesses in his ear at night. Even if every one of her assumptions are so wrong and far out there, Columbus is glad for the attention. He's sure Tallahassee noticed the sudden change and he often caught the man staring at them suspiciously. The idea that Tallahassee might be jealous gave Columbus a twisted, smug satisfaction.
Today they've reached a crossroads. All around them is forest and an almost literal fork in the road. Plans had been, very vaguely, to head north and keep heading north until all the zombies were popsicles. Except when they stop today, Tallahassee has a new route.
"Now, kids," he announced across the fire. Wichita looked up from the cans of beans she's been rotating by the fire, her eyebrow shot up on her forehead. Little Rock is a chilly bundle next to Columbus, shivering occasionally and burrowing deeper into the blanket wrapped tightly around her. She doesn't stir at the announcement, possibly already asleep. "I know we're headin' north but I've got a suggestion for a worthwhile detour."
"A detour to where exactly?" Wichita asked as she sat back and wrenched the oven mitt off her hand. "We're in the middle of nowhere."
"Not exactly," Tallahassee scoffed, as if offended. "We're near the greatest national park."
"Oh," Columbus said in realization but not with much enthusiasm, it earned him a glare from Tallahassee. He looked to Wichita. "Yellowstone."
"Ohhh," Wichita said with exaggeration and an overly shocked look. She chuckled at her own joke and looked back down at their dinner, sending Tallahassee an amused glance from under her eyebrows.
Tallahassee didn't appreciate either of their behavior, his arms crossed over his broad chest. "I wondered what the fuck was wrong with y'all," he grouched. Columbus shared an amused look with Wichita. "There ain't nothin' to lose by taking a quick trip through. After all, we went to yer amusement park."
"I'd like to go," Little Rock spoke up, her eyes shining from within the cocoon of her blanket. Wichita shrugged in silent assent and then Tallahassee's eyes turned onto Columbus. There was an unidentifiable emotion in his eyes, accusing Columbus.
"Sure," he finally said uncomfortably. Wichita hadn't missed this interaction and her eyes were narrowed, darting between them. She opened her mouth to comment when one of the cans exploded baked beans everywhere and instead only a noise of frustration came out.
*
The change in their route didn't really do much in regards to their plans. There was no schedule or time limit, and if things continued as they did, they could honestly risk staying Stateside a little longer. Getting there proved tackling a few more mountains. The van gave up the goat on the tenth mountain they'd subjected it to. Thankfully it was carefully timed by Tallahassee and the van broke down just outside a small town nestled in a valley.
This town was void of zombies. They searched high and low for any signs of life, undead or not, and found little beyond a few unfortunate house pets and rats. Finding this town was something of a godsend, though, because it had a brand new car, a huge old navy Suburban and enough supplies to survive them through a jaunt in Yellowstone.
On their first night there, Columbus wandered the streets. He trailed his fingers over abandoned car hoods and pressed his face against the dusty windows of storefronts. The thought of how he'd liked to have lived in a place like this took hold of him and choked him. It caused him to wander over to a bench and drop down heavily, elbows on his knees as he pressed his face into his hands.
The hand on his shoulder startled him and he reeled his head upward. Wichita is frowning at him, her dark eyes worried in an open expression Columbus rarely sees from her. "You alright?" she asked and her voice sounds too hushed. Maybe this town has gotten to her too.
"Yeah, I just," he started and then sat back with a heavy sigh. "I don't know this town is kind of like the one I grew up in and it's…" he paused, head tilting to the side as he searched for the right word. "Making me disgustingly nostalgic."
Her smile is small but somehow a relief to Columbus. She wrapped one hand around his, their fingers threading together and he reveled briefly in the natural feel of it. He thought he loved her once, and on this park bench in a town named Hope, he kind of does but not in the way he fooled himself before. Wichita is his sister now, he can see it in her eyes that she knows it too, that she is becoming the same strong force she is for Little Rock.
"I think," she begun loudly, her voice echoed amongst the empty street. He noticed then that it was getting dark and wondered how long he'd spent being so lost but her eyes caught his and all thoughts like that flee his mind. "That it's okay for you to feel a little nostalgic." Wichita leaned toward him, her forehead resting on his shoulder, her warmth spreading through him. "At least you're brave enough, too." This admission is quiet against the cotton of his shirt and he reached up to brush her hair behind her ear, turning to press a chaste kiss against her temple.
*
Eventually they walk back to the hotel they've camped out in. Out front is Tallahassee, who has the suspicious look again. There isn't any smug satisfaction this time and he stopped outside. Wichita sent him a curious look but he shrugged and waved her on. She frowned but didn't argue, disappearing into the darkened building. Columbus walked over to where Tallahassee stood and leant against the wall, staring blankly at the buildings across the street.
"We're just friends," he has to clarify. Tallahassee didn't seem to expect anything like this and turned toward him, his mouth set in a firm line. Columbus realized suddenly, with a gripping fear, how wrong that might sound. "Wichita and I," he hurriedly clarified.
He is admittedly shocked when Tallahassee's eyebrows slowly rise upward. "No shit, Sherlock," the man retorted and the particular way that 'Sherlock' comes out in that slow drawl made Columbus' insides crawl. Tallahassee shouldered his rifle and loped over where Columbus leaned against the wall. He came close, right into Columbus' personal space.
Columbus' heart gave a sudden thrill, speeding up fast enough and throbbed dully in the bruises that still decorated his back. "You take first watch," was all Tallahassee said before he moved away, hand briefly wrapping around Columbus' wrist before the touch was gone all too soon. In the past two weeks, the only touch he'd gotten in nearly a month, the sensation of it was enough to make his skin heat even more. He hoped, almost believed, that there was a promise in that touch.
*
Morning brought a startling surprise: a dog had somehow slipped into sleep with them during the night. It was some sort of an mix between German Sheppard and Collie, or at least that's what Little Rock insisted. Columbus was surprised by how much she had taken to the dog, never before having mentioned any inflection towards animal life they'd come across before.
But, Columbus had to admit, there was something heart wrenching in the soulful brown eyes as they stared up at you. The dog's name was Denver, an irony not lost on any of them, and he knew how to sit, shake, roll over and play dead. A dog didn't come at much use, though, in these times no matter how cute he was. Little Rock shockingly only encountered resistance from Wichita. Tallahassee liked the dog enough to think they could risk taking him along, Columbus felt neutral about it (much to Wichita's annoyance). Taking the dog wouldn't hurt them that much and if Tallahassee's enthused promises of buffalo steak had any merit, it wouldn't be that hard to feed the dog.
So, Denver accompanied them as they set off from Hope at toward Yellowstone. If Columbus let himself really reflect on it, the dog's presence did more than keep Little Rock happy, he also seemed to make everyone feel just a little bit better. On the second day they stopped at some sort of RV camp on the way to Yellowstone. They found four zombies almost comically stuck in one of the RV, took care of them, and then raided the other abandoned ones that remained. Pickings had been slim but the place provided a water well where RVs could connect their showers to and they took full advantage of this.
"Oh sweet Mary and Joseph," Wichita sighed as she stepped out of the RV, hair still freshly wet from the shower. She smelled of lavender and chamomile strong enough Columbus could smell it from a few feet away. He was not surprised by her near literal bathing in nothing but the flowerliest of the soaps they could find. "That was probably the best thing ever."
Tallahassee appeared, covered in oil and grease from where he had been manipulating what he could from the RVs engines and gas tanks. "My turn," he growled at Columbus who held up his hands in surrender, perfectly fine with being the last to shower.
Wichita took him by the hand and dragged him over to the picnic table area where Little Rock was busy washing Denver. They sat on one of the many tables, pushing aside the left remains of a rotten meal and watched. Columbus hadn't honestly seen the girl this happy before. She was chasing Denver around the bucket of water and laughing loudly, already soaked and muddy even though she had taken a shower. He knew they could afford to let her take another shower without much harm.
"She's always wanted a dog," Wichita sighed and leaned against Columbus' shoulder. He glanced at her but she wasn't looking at him, her eyes tracked Little Rock's every move. "We just never could afford to keep one and I don't see how things are any different now." Her voice isn't resentful or annoyed anymore but resigned.
He patted her thigh. "Things are different," he argued and her head swiveled toward him, eyes narrowed. "Really, I mean," he grinned at her slightly. "You're not the only one looking out for her anymore." Wichita eyed him speculatively for a second longer before she grinned in return, ducking her head.
"Yeah, I suppose so," she huffed and pushed off of him, her hands rubbing together before she dropped them between her thighs. "So, I don't have to ask about you saying something terrible to Tallahassee about his son, right?" Columbus balked at the idea and Wichita laughed without much mirth. "Okay, sorry. I've kind of only just realized you're actually an adult."
"I resent that," Columbus replied without much conviction. She rolled her eyes expressively at him and smacked him upside the shoulder. Wichita turned and started when she noticed Little Rock standing with a panting Denver beside her, watching them both with her wide blue eyes.
"I'm tired," the girl said and climbed onto the table to squeeze in between them, ignoring Wichita's indignant cries. Columbus laughed freely as Denver jumped up to join the mess. His heart gave a jump when broad arms wrapped around their shoulders and the fresh, clean scent of Tallahassee assaulted his senses as the man pressed against his side. They all laughed then, feeling adjunct and distant from the broken world outside the sanctuary of the forest around them.
Notes: Okay, so like, this is kind of where I had originally intended to go with this but if anyone actually pays attention to the promises I make about next chapters they'd find I don't exactly follow through all the time. Sorry, this story kind of writes itself and I don't have much control over what happens most of the time. Hopefully you guys are SATISFIED now as I amp up the UST. Also, Wichita deserved some more respect because I think I neglected to really give her some.
To be continued!
Next: Yellowstone.
