A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Surprisingly enough, in spite of Gun's intermittent sarcastic remarks, Off very patiently managed to fend them off and to reply with amazing grace. His replies to Gun very cleverly somehow answered Gun's questions about his real situation without ever revealing that he was a priest in the making, that he was only a year away from ordination, after which it was good bye permanently to the secular world.

Gun discovered that he and Off had the same interest in many things, especially music and books.

They enjoyed each other's company so much that the lunch date turned into a movie date and then into a dinner date.

They parted at the Italian restaurant parking lot where Gun had left his car. 

Off asked if Gun was coming to the karaoke the coming Friday and Gun said "most likely".

Gun managed to convince Off to sing a song at the karaoke pub the following Friday.

"I enjoyed your company so much," Off said with a grateful tone of voice.

"Likewise," Gun replied.

They found themselves leaning towards each other for a hug and Gun found himself being hugged tightly by Off.

"I'll meet you at the pub on Friday evening then," Gun said moving away.

With busy work schedules for both of them throughout the week, they did not realize that Friday had come upon them. They did send each other friendly texts during the week and on Friday Off sent a reminder text to Gun that he would be waiting for him at the pub.

Why won't you let me pick you up at your place this evening?  Off texted Gun close to the end of office hours, adding a thinking emoticon at the end.

Gun ignored the text for two reasons. He was busy tying loose ends before ending his work day and work week because he did not want the weekend manager to call him for any questions or problems during the weekend. Second, even though he enjoyed Off's company, there was still this intuitive thought to take things slow with him, to not let him get too close but he did not want to offend Off by saying so.

The dinner date at the karaoke pub turned out to be lots of fun.

Gun knew that it was childish of himself but he felt a bit resentful that after Off finished singing his song there was prolonged applause in the house which Gun had never received during all the Fridays that he had gone to the pub.

Gun did not know until many months later that the reason Off had something close to a professional singer's voice was because of his years of voice training at the seminary. All seminarians had to receive voice training in preparation for when they had to officiate at high mass as a priest. A high mass was a church ceremony where almost all the prayers were sung instead of recited. No applicant for the seminary would be accepted unless they had a good singing voice which could be polished some more with voice training.

"You shone tonight," Gun said to Off at the end of dinner.

"You don't look too happy about it," Off said in a teasing tone.

Gun ignored the remark and said he was ready to go home.

"Can I follow you home?" Off asked.

"How about can I  follow you home," Gun countered.

"Absolutely," Off replied, trying not to feel offended. 

Was Gun actually married and did not want his spouse to know that he was seeing someone?

Off glanced at Gun's fingers. He was not wearing a wedding band, but still who knows. Off wondered if Gun would get offended if Off were to ask him if he was in a relationship.

After Off parked his car in the curb outside his father's house, he got out of his car to meet Gun who was already stepping out of his car which Gun had parked right behind him.

Gun looked up at the two story house. One glance at the size told Gun it probably had at least eight bedrooms and five bathrooms and probably a large formal dining room.

"How many siblings do you have?" Gun asked.

Off laughed. "I had a lovely evening, thanks to you, Gun."

"I'm sorry for being curious," Gun apologized. "I won't ask again unless you volunteer the information."

Off stepped forward and placed both hands on Gun's shoulders. Gun's instinct was to step back a little.

"I'm an only child, Gun," said Off, looking deeply into Gun's eyes. "My father is so much in a hurry to marry me away so that he can have an addition to the family, and hopefully many more after that."

Gun shook his head sadly at the information.

"I hope all the empty spaces in your house are not inhabited by ghosts," Gun said.

Off laughed. "I don't believe in ghosts."

"I had a lovely evening as well," Gun said, "except for one tiny spoiler."

"And what is that?" Off asked, looking suitably alarmed.

"The person in charge of karaoke will now be looking forward to someone else to sing their songs," Gun replied.

Off put his arms tightly around Gun but his chest was shaking slightly from silent laughter. Then Off parted from Gun ever so slightly and asked, "I would like to kiss you, may I?"

"As long as you sell your voice to Ursula," Gun replied.

"I will," Off said and started to kiss Gun but because Off's laughter was interfering with the kiss he had to stop.

"Why are you such a brat?" Off asked helplessly.