Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 10

"Are you gonna fight Nathan with that spear if it comes down to it?" Paul asked, "I do not doubt that he would be able to defeat you with that sword of his."

"Nathan could..." Heidi started, swallowing her pride. "Nathan could kill me in a second if he wanted to, with or without a gun."

"And if he touched you, there would be a crater where where last stood," Paul simple replied.

Heidi sighed. "See? If you blow up everyone that overpowers me, there's no point in my learning how to shoot a gun. Besides, Nathan'd kill me before I could get a shot off, anyway."

"This isn't about Nathan anyways," Paul sighed, "what about the common person?" Paul asked, "if there's a major fight, things can get ugly. Other people have guns too, Heidi."

"I've survived this long. If I'm gonna get shot, I'm gonna get shot. A gun is not a magical anti-bullet shield, Paul," Heidi stated.

"But it is a good deterant and a good distraction," Paul said, then paused. "Okay, I have an idea. I'll teach you to use a shotgun. It's simple, effective, and you can put a bayonet on the end like a spear, should you lose your own."

Heidi groaned. "Fine. Do what you want."

Paul frowned. "You don't even have to use it very often," Paul said, "it's literally aim and shoot. You don't even have to aim up close."

Heidi grunted, folding her arms and glaring at the ground.

Paul took Heidi's gun and handed her a pump shot gun. "You stick the shells in the underside, pump it, and pull the trigger. Simple as that. Don't worry about aiming exactly; if you shoot in the target's general direction, the shot will hit it's mark."

Heidi frowned. "I guess I'm gonna need shells, then."

Luke was a bit taken aback by Kira's stern tone, though it was a happy surprise since it meant she was overcoming her confidence issues, at least a little bit. He nodded slowly, his normal blue eye looking back at hers.

"Yeah. You're right. I'm better now," he nodded.

A soft smile settled itself on Kira's face as she continued to hug Luke. She didn't want him to ever doubt himself; he deserved better than that.

Luke was happy to see the smile back, and smiled again himself, feeling reassured for the moment.

"Do you want to fire it now?" Paul asked, "O should I just go pick up a box right now?"

"Isn't the point of you handing me the gun so I can fire it?" Heidi asked, frowning.

---

Kira giggled, hugging Luke tightly. She liked that he was warm, it made her feel safe.

"Well how does it feel? Is it too heavy? Too off balance?" Paul asked.

"Feels like I'm holding a gun," Heidi stated.

Luke hugged her back happily, though if it was possible he might have had trouble breathing from Kira's surprise hug.

"You make me feel safe," Kira told Luke quietly. He was always warm, and warm was safe.

"Really?" Luke asked, puzzled but happy. He wasn't very good with words, so he didn't really know how to respond. "Well that's good."

Kira laughed, pulling away from Luke and leaning against the back of the shelter, watching it rain.

"What's the weather like during the winter?" Luke asked. It was usually dry in the summer, it seemed, aside from that day, so he was wondering if it was wet during the winter or only less dry.

"Cold and wet...usually spring is pretty damp, too, and then it dries out in summer and fall," Kira answered, frowning in thought.