Get out

Shooting at Dusk

Alex set the empty beer can down as he stretched, “I guess we should begin, hmm?”
He eyed the targets on the trees, burning it to his brain. If he could see it in his mind, it helped him understand his relative location to them. Especially if he couldn’t see them at some point, he needed to make an educated guess on the facts he did know. Luckily he still had his sight so he could be more accurate.

“Hmm.. guess so,” Victor nodded, emptying his can and pushing himself up on his feet again. The sun had for the most part set now, but it hadn’t really become properly dark yet either. It was just that warm glow across the sky that made everything look all soft. At least Victor thought Alex’ features looked quite soft in this light.

Alex cracked his neck, tilting it to both sides to make sure he got it good, “Want to see what I got first or do you want to show me?”
He shifted his weight from foot to foot, trying to forget his worry for Eddy. Brett promised to take care of it, even if he had trust issues, Brett seemed reliable. Right now it was about teaching Victor how to shoot and to show off.

“I learn well by observing,” Victor stated, scratching his chin a bit. He felt a bit uneasy. Or, not really uneasy, but like standing still was difficult. But it was kind of in a good way. “Maybe you can show me?”

Alex nodded to that, carefully putting his ear protection in with a hum.
“Sure I’ll show you first,” Alex shrugged, carefully shifting his feet about a shoulder width apart as one leg jutted forward, kind of making an L shape. One foot pointed straight as the other pointed at a 45 degree angle. Like speed he pulled his gun from his holster, one hand settled under the magazine to steady it as the other wrapped around the grip with his index finger on the trigger. Still targets were the easiest.

Victor had barely had time to blink before it was over, the trees having fresh bullet marks where Alex had hit. Perfect bullseye, of course, and Victor was beyond impressed.
“You shoot so quick,” he remarked with a hint of teasing emerging in his voice. “I couldn’t learn anything, as I couldn’t see it.”

Alex carefully took his ear plugs out so he could hear better.
“I held my first gun when I was three, I sure hope I’m fast,” Alex chuckled with a snort, before his features softened, “I’ll take a more hands on approach to teaching you then, how about that?”
A smirk toyed on his thin lips.

“Hands on?” Victor asked, raising an eyebrow. He thought showing him was pretty hands on, if he was honest. Maybe this was some English he hadn’t picked up on? It kind of looked like Alex was teasing him. “What do you mean?”

“I’mma make you do it and pose ya, “ Alex would let Victor show him what position he would typically get in. Then he would use his hands probably to help adjust what needed to be fixed. That way Victor could see, feel and learn from just doing it.

“Alright,” Victor nodded, drawing his gun. It was still empty, for safety reasons. “So, I copy you first?”

“Yes, copy what you saw and understand at least,” Alex hummed, although it sounded more like a purr, “I’ll help ya out no worries when need be.”
He rolled his shoulders back as he turned the safety back on, then slipped his gun back into its holster.

It felt weird, having his cheeks warm up just like they had back when he was a kid in a classroom that hadn’t been remodeled since 1937 with his teacher, Mrs Trintsukova, telling him off for not being able to read the text in front of him without mixing up his words and stuttering. It was extra weird because the feeling connected to it was very very different. He had no clue what the feeling was, but he didn’t mind it. A nervous, kind of happy feeling.

He assumed the stance he had seen a moment ago, though, despite his brain making a little jump back to his childhood in rural Russia. One foot in front of the other, half sideways. Both hands on the gun. He felt quite ready to shoot, but one glance at Alex made him sure there was something to fix about his stance.