Suspecting nothing more than business as usual, Gavin offers the admin a tight smile that doesn't go as far as his eyes. Not cold, but stressed, as Killian seems to understand based on the comment he greets the underboss with.

"Always," he replies, shrugging off his shirt as he steps inside the training room.

Corded muscles are marked with the scars of Rocket's tyranny but displayed without shame as he stretches, working the stiffness from his limbs. He'd been sitting at his desk for far too long, going over reports until the words ran together. He was eager to hit something.

"Did you want to train, or just talk?"

Gavin cracks his knuckles and cants his head, curious.

Killian Decker

"You sound like my boyfriend." The smile gives way to a smirk, quicker but more genuine in the way it crinkles around his eyes before it fades. "I can't. We're so busy, with the upcoming expedition..."

Gavin blinks curiously at the admin when he extends his arm. He doesn't have to remain curious for long. Fascination turns quickly to horror and back again as Killian's flesh becomes something other, something alien.

Quite literally, it would seem.

He's quiet a moment as he processes, then asks, "The Pokemon, or its power?"

Not all avatars had their patrons at their side and not all those with legendaries could call themselves avatars. What, then, was Decker?

"Congratulations," is belated, then, curious, "Does that hurt?"

It looked like it did, and Killian was sweating, though the underboss wasn't sure if that was from exertion or agony.

Killian Decker

He might've been quick to inquire about seeing Deoxys if Killian hadn't been even quicker to explain. To his credit, Gavin shows discomfort only in a brief press of his lips before the mask of composure regains its place.

Inside of him. Unfortunately, it makes sense to Gavin in ways he'd rather not comprehend. It's like Chu-e. Though he suspected Killian hadn't licked any rocks for this one.

Against its will? Interesting.

Gavin doesn't miss the wince, frowns. "Does it not want me to know?" A tilt of his head, as if considering. "They?"

He'd called Lugia it for a long while before accepting her preference, insofar as he could tell. His respect for the legendary that had granted him her boon led him to view others, too, with a level of respect he'd never held before. But what did you call an alien?

"When?"

Killian Decker

"It's an alien," Gavin points out with a shrug. "How should I know?"

All he knows is that he's come to respect Hoenn's legendary Pokémon for their power, their influence, and the least he can do to prove it is not unintentionally insult one of them before they've even met. How far he's come from the arrogant youth who'd have spit in the face of those the world would name gods.

"Attacked?"

This, more and more, is reminding him of what was happening to Chu-e Choi.

"Well. It didn't kill you. I suppose I should thank it for that." His lip quirks. "You'd be a hard man to replace. Can you tell anything of its intentions while it's...?"

He trails off, gesturing with a hand. Possessing you from the inside?

Killian Decker

It's been the better part of a year since Lugia had chosen him and yet Gavin can remember it all as if it were fresh — the swell of miasma, the surge of power in his chest, the soothing timbre of words meant only for him. His lip twitches at the memory.

He had felt a great many things. Overwhelmed, overjoyed... but never suffocated.

"You sure you'd call that bonding?"

It sounds more to Gavin like attempted murder, but if Deoxys wanted Killian dead then it could surely finish the job from inside of his head. No, it definitely wanted something... but a partnership? Gavin has his doubts.

Still, this is power, and in Rocket's hands.

"Any idea what it wants to hide from?" His brow furrows. "The assassins, maybe? From the Soiree?"

They seemed like the type that might hunt down a powerful alien.

Killian Decker

"No," Gavin agrees grimly. "It isn't."

Given enough time, Hoenn will be the end of all of them.

"You said you wanted to train, too." The muscle mass of Rocket's underboss wasn't inconsiderable, but he doubted it would hold up long against — whatever Deoxys had done to Killian. Still, "Against me, or my Pokémon?"

On a hook hangs a black leather belt decorated with luxury balls. His shadow Pokémon, Killian might be able to surmise, the ones that were always kept with him no matter the occasion. Lugia's beast ball is absent; Gavin doesn't trust it out in the open. He might be underboss but this was a den of liars and thieves. His shadow Pokemon would maim any who dared attempt to steal them but the empty beast ball would be an irresistible lure for some.

Killian Decker

"You want to kick my ass now that you can't lose." The accusation is dry, but amused. "All right."

Rocket had taught him to fight to the death. He was scrappy, vicious, and quicker than he looked. That wasn't going to help if Deoxys was half as strong as that stunt with Killian's arm had made it look, but he'd give it a shot. With his own avatar power, he was quicker to react at least, reflexes heightened. He could dodge a fair number of blows, he thinks.

The mention of his sister draws his attention away from inner thought.

"We can communicate through thought," he offers, "but I don't know what she's thinking unless she tells me. I think that works both ways?" He'd never exactly asked Lugia if she could hear his thoughts when he didn't direct them at her, but if she could she'd never responded to any of them even if they involved her. "As for feelings..."

Gavin hesitates. He didn't like to admit any sort of shortcomings, but...

"Well, if she's angry it affects me, too. It can be overwhelming. I don't know if that works both ways, either." His shoulders lift in a shrug. "That might not be helpful, but it's what I can offer."

Killian Decker