Once Bitten

It's Not A Coincidence (18)

Silence followed on their little rooftop, MK enjoying the rest of his melting ice cream slowly as he stared out at the chaos, thoughts running wild in his head. 

It was peaceful up here. The first real moment of rest he'd had for a long time and he leaned back, laying down and staring up at the sky and the clouds that passed by lazily. 

Looking up like this, he could almost pretend nothing was wrong. Almost. The groaning and wailing down below ruined the effect.

"Do you think things will ever go back to normal?" He asked suddenly, knowing that even with how vague he'd been Wukong would know what he meant.

"Pfft, I doubt it." The older laughed, and MK turned to see him shaking his head, staring down at the zombie still below them before leaning back and joining MK in lying down, his arms behind his head comfortably. 

"Besides, who wants normal anyway? Normal's boring." He huffed out and MK went back to watching the clouds, lips pulled into a thin line. 

"I guess." He muttered but it was obvious he didn't agree.

"...Hey kid, you ever held a gun before?" Wukong asked suddenly and MK turned to look at him, titling his head at the out-of-the-blue question. 

"Uh, no?" When would he have ever had the chance to hold a gun? 

"Great, then I'll show you, c'mere." Before MK could ask about that Wukong was sliding in close, pulling out his gun and holding it in front of him so MK could see.

"This here is the safety lever, so flip it down before you fire it." Wukong explained.

"And you hold it like this, with your trigger finger here so you don't accidentally press the trigger." He demonstrated and MK watched carefully, soaking up the information eagerly. It was so cool seeing the gun up this close, admiring the designs on it.

"Want to hold it?" Wukong asked then and MK blinked, mind slamming to a halt and then leaping for joy when he realized what had been asked.

"Really?" He gasped, excited as Wukong nodded and set the gun carefully in his hands, MK taking it from him with reverent cautiousness.

"So to aim you just hold it steady, great- put your thumb a little lower. Now look down the nose of the gun and aim where you want to shoot it." MK looked down, following the end of the gun and moving it down slightly so that it was aimed at the plant pot settled on the railing of the building on the other side of the street, his tongue poking out as he tried to keep his arms steady.        

"Good, now when you're ready you just pull the trigger. Make sure to keep your wrist straight and hold it tightly so it doesn't recoil-" 

Bang! 

The sharp noise cracked through the area, MK yelping as his heart thundered in his chest like a drum, his ears ringing with the noise as he sent his startled look towards Wukong.

"...nice! Good job, Kid. Not too shabby for your first try, huh? Check it out!" MK followed his finger pointing at the potted plant MK had been aiming for. It hadn't hit, but MK could see a mark in the wall behind it, a grin growing on his face as he realized how close he'd been. 

"Hey I almost got it, did you see that, it's so close! That was so cool." He laughed out, giddy with his excitement and Wukong laughed alongside him, nodding his head as he ruffled the top of MK's head. 

"Sure did, kiddo. You're a natural. Of course, it helped that you had such an awesome teacher to show you how." He snickered and MK nodded wholeheartedly. 

"I did! Your aim is the best, and you're really good at showing people what to do as well!" MK beamed, easily praising him and feeling confused when Wukong blinked with that startled look again, only appearing for a second before he was snorting and bringing his arm around MK's shoulders in a one-armed hug.