The next morning, Ohm and Fluke had carefully packed their gear and the supplies they had scavenged.

Apple pocket pies with hot French pressed coffee were Fluke's idea of a simple breakfast. Ohm had to laugh. Fluke looked at him with a raised eyebrow over the edge of his coffee cup.

"Sorry. Thank you. The breakfast is delicious. I laughed because you called it simple." Ohm grinned. "Cop simple is microwaved whatever on your way out the door with black coffee that's most likely instant."

Fluke couldn't help the way his nose wrinkled in distaste, which just made Ohm laugh some more.

Fluke smiled. Ohm's eyes still held sadness in their depths, but they no longer looked utterly exhausted. His posture was more upright. His reactions felt more natural. Less forced.

'If necessary, I'll say I need to stop early. He'll get more rest and I can cook him a reasonable meal.' Fluke thought.

Ohm smiled back before taking another bite of apple pie. He wasn't sure if it was especially delicious because it was fresh or if it was because Fluke made it for him.

Maybe it was both.

When he finished chewing and had a good-sized swallow of coffee, he looked over at Fluke serenely drinking coffee while staring out the window.

It almost felt normal. Like the world wasn't devasted and he would be headed to the station for his shift any minute.

It was an odd feeling. Had anyone truly appreciated what they had? He doubted it. He certainly didn't. Not until it was all snatched away by a virus.

He looked down into his coffee, took another swallow, and let himself appreciate now. That exact moment in time. The sunshine as it graced the backyard. The tickle of scents - coffee and apples and spice - hanging fragrantly in the air. The freedom of having escaped from Boss and his mindless mob.

He took a deep breath and half smiled.

Fluke watched him with his own smile. Ohm's shoulders had relaxed. The tightness around his eyes had eased.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked softly.

'Appreciating the moment." Ohm was still wearing a small smile as he looked out the window. "Didn't really appreciate what I had before. I don't want to do that anymore."

He turned his gaze back to Fluke.

"If the world is starting over, maybe we can change a few things for the better."

"I think that's a wonderful idea! Hmmm... I think Christmas trees should stay up all year." Fluke nodded to himself firmly, making Ohm laugh again.

"All year?" he asked with a grin.

"Mhmm. Studies show Christmas decorations lift our spirits." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I have no idea how I would dust it though."

A laugh broke through his thought process.

"It would never occur to me to dust a tree, but I'm sure you'll find a way, Fluke." Ohm couldn't help but smile fondly. "Are you still up for firing a couple of the pistols this morning?" Ohm took another bite of his apple pie.

"I am. Let's finish eating, practice with the gun, and go. Sound reasonable?" He topped off both their coffees with the last bit in the French press.

"Sounds like a plan!"

The urge to leave this small haven in an uncertain world faded into the background as warm sunshine shifted into the kitchen. It was another thirty minutes before either of them made a move to leave. Coffee long gone. Content to merely spend these few moments in quiet.

Fluke tidied the kitchen. His chef soul unwilling to leave a mess in a place he had cooked. He had rinsed the cups, dried them and put them back in the cabinet. His French press was cleaned, dried and carefully repacked in its travel case. Everything else had been packed and loaded earlier.

They slipped into their jackets.

"I want you to wear it, please." Ohm said seriously as he held out his mother's pistol in its holster. "We don't know who we'll run into or if they'll be decent human beings. I won't risk us if I can help it."

Fluke nodded.

"I don't really know how to wear one. Just what I've seen on TV, and I question the accuracy of that source." he answered with a small smile.

Ohm leaned down and wrapped the holster's belt around Fluke's slender waist. He was so close, Fluke could smell the scent of him. For some reason, it felt incredibly intimate having Ohm willing to do this to ensure his safety.

He watched as Ohm tugged the gun into a position he was satisfied with and then took a step back to look over him critically.

"I've set you up with a cross draw. You are left-handed so the gun sets against the right side of your abdomin and your right hip. As you sit on the bike, it will naturally shift to point outward. Away from me. It is also an easier pull, so you'll be able to get the pistol into a firing position more quickly. How does it feel?" he asked, still looking at Flukes hips and the holster.

"Weird. A little awkward." Fluke bounced on the balls of his feet. "I think it's okay?"

"No pinching? Not too tight?" Ohm shifted the holster slightly again.

Fluke shook his head. "So far, so good!"

"If it's uncomfortable or rubs, tell me. I don't want you facing a friction burn or blisters. It usually takes a few adjustments to get it just right so say something if it's uncomfortable. Okay?" Ohm looked at Fluke.

He was awfully close, which did weird things to Fluke's heart as he looked into eyes so filled with concern.

"I will. Promise." he nodded, unable to look away for a moment.

Ohm suddenly looked away as he cleared his throat.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yep. Ready!"

Outside, it was a perfect day. Blue sky with fluffy white clouds grazing with the wind like contented sheep.

It took about ten minutes for Ohm to find a suitable target. It was a junk car sitting on cement cinder blocks.

Ohm turned to Fluke. "Stay with the bike. I want to make sure there's no one here. Don't want to shoot someone on accident."

Fluke nodded and waited by the bike partially hidden by a garage. He always hated this part. Being separated. He understood they couldn't leave the bike unguarded but fear always chewed at him. Afraid Ohm wouldn't return.

Twenty minutes later, Ohm was back.

"No sign of anyone. We'll do three shots from the Derringer. I'd love to do more for you but we don't have the ammo."

Fluke nodded. "Seems reasonable."

Now that it came down to it, he was nervous about shooting.

Ohm had picked out a distance for Fluke to shoot from. Ten feet with the derringer.

Ohm looked at Fluke. Noticing the nervous fluttering of his fingers as they tapped against his leg.

"Hey." Ohm said quietly and grabbed the hand closest to him.

Fluke looked up.

"We got this." Ohm said softly.

"Okay." A deep breath and he smiled.

"You know how to do this so get ready to fire." Ohm said. He adjusted Fluke's stance and hold a bit. "Fire when you're ready."

Another deep breath. Fluke closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

Ohm couldn't help the chuckle.

"Not bad!" The shot hit near the outer edge of the door. "Okay, do that again but with your eyes open this time."

It hadn't been as bad as he feared. There was a kick but it wasn't as jarring as he thought it would be.

He fired again. With his eyes open.

'That wasn't so bad!' he thought with no little sense of satisfaction. The bullet was much closer to the center this time.

He had a huge grin as he turned to Ohm.

"Much better!" Ohm smiled. "One more shot then we should leave. We'll find another place to shoot down the road. Safer."

Fluke nodded, removed the two spent regular .410 shells, slipped in two more and turned toward the door.

Out of nowhere a thought occurred to him.

'I might have to do this to save Ohm's life some day.'

It was a splash of ice water on his happiness for a close shot.

He aimed for the chip in the paint a third time.

It wasn't a bull's eye but if he had been aiming at a human, he would have hit them. He felt pride. With some work, he would be able to protect himself and Ohm.

That felt good. The following smile was different. Strong and with a sense of purpose.

"Fluke? Ready to go?" Ohm was watching him. Wondering what had changed.

Fluke removed the spent shell, slipped it into his pocket with the other two and reloaded. He handed the pistol back to Ohm.

"I need practice if we can manage it but I think I can help you protect us." Fluke smiled and Ohm realized the what the change was.

Fluke was proud. He had worried he was a burden in the past and Ohm knew it. Someone to be protected rather than a partner. Now he felt like he could at least help if they had to defend themselves.

"I know you can." Ohm agreed.

Ten minutes later, they were on the road again.

Both of them were smiling.
~♡~♡~♡~
Well, despite popular opinion, I haven't disappeared or consigned A Saint's Tale to a never ending unfinished limbo.

It's been both an amazing and truly tough year.

I can't guarantee consistency but I'm hoping for an update a week. I'll try my best!

HUGS and Much Love.

This World needs all the Love it can get right now.

❤️🍫🫖❤️