Chapter Text
April 16, 2017
"Alright," you continue, hand on the disarmed rifle. "We want big prey, so I'm teachin' you rifle stuff. You might wanna learn a shotgun eventually but this will do. I took the mag out, but I'll show you how to eject it too. Maybe I'll even teach you how to handle Ahab's eventually, but lasers are a lot more unwieldy, an' even I don't have the firmest grasp." You've already gone over the safety and some basic points on storage-- ammo always separate from the gun.
Nepeta is sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of you. It'd taken a little convincing before you'd caved and let her in on the secret, but it had also been necessary. She's the hunter of the friendgroup, and she's good at it too, even if she's used to melee, for some reason. It's your job to teach her how to handle a gun so you can pool your resources.
It hadn't taken much, either. She'd hopped right on the gunwagon as soon as you'd suggested it, even though you'd warned her repeatedly how illegal it is for a minor to hunt with a gun, even if the minor has a hunting permit. She had grinned at you and used third person to refer to herself, again. She seems to do that the most with people she trusts, so you had decided to let it slide after the third subtly threatening request that she stop. Nerds. You're not sure if she and Feferi would get along or hate each other. You think it'd be different from when you were younger, and they mostly ignored each other. You don't know if they did because of your presence. Before you realized that making doomsday devices was considered completely unacceptable. Vriska had been so upset when you'd cut that off, the bitch. She didn't even get a mark on her record for her trouble either.
"First off," you say, patting the muzzle of your AR. "You're gonna wanna pay attention to your muzzle discipline. Never point a gun anywhere you don't wanna shoot it. The ground and the sky are good options. Even if it's unloaded an' all that shit, never point it anywhere you don't want it shot."
"And don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire," she says.
"Yes, good," you sit up a little straighter, glad to have a real respectful apprentice. "I think I'll teach ya how to dismantle this bad boy and clean it when we get home from the range." You pick up the beauty in your hands and point it out the window towards the sea. "See how I'm holdin' it? Lotta people get the front grip wrong." You tuck your hand right into the grip and hold the muzzle. "The grip is just designed for your pinkyfrond palm muscle. Say- are you left or right handed?" You glance at Nepeta.
Nepeta shrugs.
"You don't know??"
"Both maybe?" Nepeta says. "Does it matter?"
"It most certainly does matter--" You sigh. "I'll teach you the right handed method then, more guns are built that way." You lower the gun to point at the floor again, before holding it out to Nepeta.
You hear the door close a floor below as Nepeta points the gun out the window. "No, put your thumb webbing right up into the handle. Yeah, like that." She peers through the scope.
The door to the office opens, then, and Karkat's voice rings out, "I knew she'd look good with a gun," as he and Feferi step inside. Fef is wearing absolutely horrendous pink camo pants and an equally terrible pink camo jacket.
"Fef. you cannot wear pink camo. This is a travesty. Do you know the point of camo," you say.
"I knew it was going to make him mad," Karkat mutters.
"It was super cute and cheap and I just had to get it!" Feferi says, spinning around. There's really nothing loose on her person but her braid, so all she does is thwack Karkat with her hair. He flinches a little and takes a step away from her, arms crossed.
"It's a travesty," you repeat, because it is. "Camo is supposed to be camouflage. Pick, either pink OR camo. this is horrible. This is insulting."
"Lighten up," Feferi says. She's grinning a stupid grin. You let out a long breath, deflating, because she's hard to argue with.
"He's right, your outfit is stupid," Nepeta says cheerfully. She's still holding the gun, properly, with the muzzle at the floor and no finger on the trigger. You feel a swell of pride. You're the one with a pupil now, and she's shaping up well. You guess it's somewhat mutual - you're going to feel so stupid when she finally takes you out and teaches you to hunt. You've started with gun training because it's easier to do on short notice, all you need is your father's guns and your father's range and your father's car, and not a certain kind of day or any of the other confusing stuff Nepeta mentioned. Maybe guns are more confusing to her than to you, but she'd agreed, so you're probably right.
It's odd, having friends again. It makes the hole where Cro used to be easier to bear.
You sit up a little straighter and scowl at Feferi.
"We're not going hunting today," Karkat points out. "Just to your father's range."
"Fine, but I draw the line at wearin' pink out hunting," you say.
Feferi grins even brighter.
"Alright nep, show me how to pack it, and then we'll go," you tell Nepeta. She gives you a toothy smile.
You turn back to Nepeta, nodding. You maybe even crack a smile.
"Show me how to unclip the mag?" Nepeta says, and you demonstrate clicking out the button, aware now of the eyes on you. You help her put away the gun in a bag and go digging through Cro's gun closet for a second one to bring. You spend about twenty minutes muttering to yourself trying to pick the most optimal handguns for demonstration purposes before Feferi starts getting impatient. You put them back in the cabinet and just grab another rifle.
You glance at Karkat, still standing near the door, and he smiles too, almost businesslike except for the calm that settles around his eyes. He's a funny guy - and undeniably your best friend.
It's good to have friends.