Lex was quiet for the most part, listening intently as Forest gave his lessons, a serious twist on his boyishly handsome features he didn't wear all too often. He wanted to get this right. He wanted to learn, to be useful, not just a breathing sex doll for Mason to use at his leisure. It may have started out that way, Lex offering himself up in exchange for protection and company, but Mason was taking it all too far these days. Even with plenty of food and shelter to house them when the sun sank beneath the horizon, Mason was becoming more possessive and violent with each passing day. He thought perhaps the best way to remedy this was to eliminate his need for Mason altogether, but a small, paranoid voice inside of him wondered if that would just make the situation worse. If it did, at least Lex would have a way to protect himself if Mason came for him again.<br/><br/>"It would be quite marvelous if we had never stumbled upon a testy situation requiring an explosive solution," Lex mused, cradling a pistol in his hand. He lifted the gun as Forest had instructed, aiming for a target, clearly placed up here many, many years ago. Rounded and littered with bullet indentations, the painted bullseye in the center chipped off and faded. "But things are never so simple. We did our best to avoid trouble when we could, mostly because I didn't wish to be wrapped up in all kinds of fights day in and day out, but when you're scrounging for supplies to keep you alive and hundreds of others are doing the same, you're bound to encounter a bit of conflict."<br/><br/>He pulled the trigger, feeling the recoil shoot up through his arms. The bullet skimmed the edge of the target. Not close enough to be considered a real success, but perhaps enough that it'd stop some intruder in their tracks. The sound was louder than he could have ever anticipated, leaving his ears ringing. He wondered how even the dense mountains could contain such a noise.<br/><br/>Lex sighed heavily, his eyebrows knit together. "I don't know," he replied solemnly. "I don't like hurting people," he continued. "I don't have that kind of fire like Mason has. Perhaps that's a good thing, or it would be in move civilized society. I feel no need to attempt to dazzle you with false bravado, love. I think, maybe, if someone were attacking you or Wallis, even that lout Mason, and I had to shoot to save you... maybe then. But impossible to know until it happens, isn't it? Admittedly, I don't ache for my resolve to be tested."<br/><br/>He was holding up the pistol again, arms straight and long as he stared at the target once again when Forest's question slithered into his ears. He faltered, bringing the gun back down and letting it hang at his side, barrel pointed away and toward the ground.<br/><br/>"I... I can't say for sure," Lex murmured. "There was one time, before Wallis, Mason and I were scavenging through an abandoned house outside of the city. Picturesque little thing it was once. The family had all died from the virus, cabinets still stuffed with dry goods, so we were collecting what we could. Someone else had the same idea, sneaked in behind us. We weren't smart then, didn't learn Mason needed to be on guard while I picked cupboards clean. The guy grabbed me from the back, held a knife to my throat, and..."<br/><br/>Lex could feel a lump grow in his throat as he spoke. He swallowed, but everything felt dry. "Mason got him off of me by smashing a can of baked beans against the bloke's skull. Mate fell to the floor, and instead of running, Mason just kept with it, beating his face in until it was a bloody, mashed up mess. Practically unrecognizable. I was screaming at him, telling him we needed to go, pulling at his clothes and trying to drag him away but it was like the lad was possessed.<br/><br/>"When he finally stopped, the man wasn't moving. I just... I just pulled Mason away and we ran. Dunno if the lad survived or not, but I doubt it."