"Uh."

Shit, where were his pokeballs? He had been stripped of his clothes for the surgery, looking around cluelessly- until Kazzy presented them to Matt. "Thanks, bud. Still not used to being big." He teased, ruffling his head tuff. "Now you're a big tough guy, protectin' me and all." He knew his pokemon were upset. Kazzy even handed him his cell phone with a face.

"Thaaaanks." He huffed. Kazzy gave him a look, crossing his arms. "Oh don't act like Nana at me." Huffing, he went to return the arcanine, and staring at his phone. It was late and he doubted Nico was even awake, so he sent a message.

'You up?' To nicodemus unken

If he didn't answer soon he'd call, and get yelled at, whoohoo. Then he turned serious. "When I find out who shot me I'm kicking their ass all the way into the fucking meteor and leaving them there."

Isaac Merlo Josh Devlin

Even after evolution, it still seemed Kazzy had the young heart of a Rockruff, fetching both Matt's belt of Poké Balls and his phone. Josh looked impressed when Matt's aim, despite his condition, was true enough to withdraw his Arcanine through the window. Those two truly did have a special relationship.

After the sound of an ambulance driving away from the hospital drowned out the ambiance, Josh heard what had happened. "Arceus me," he frowned. "You too?" While his weren't gunshot wounds, the stab wounds of Luck & Pluck were still bad. They would be for weeks, and likely leave scars that would never fully heal. "First I get backstabbed by a Doublade while on the job, then you get shot? What is Hoenn coming to?" It seemed like the situation in the region got more and more dire with every passing week. Perhaps he didn't notice just how many high crimes were going on until his new position as Gym Leader thrust him into the fray of Hoenn's politics. "Isaac, mind filling me in?" he asked his close friend, blissfully unaware of the young man's second identity...

Matt looked at Josh, frowning at what he was saying. His eyes flickered to Isaac, then back. Falling silent, he didn't see a text yet. Tch. But he put the phone down for now, rubbing his eyes. He decided to step up and make the fib for Isaac.

"I was chasing down some rocket scum. They got away, then next thing I know I was shot from behind. I don't know if it was someone with the rocket or if someone thought I was one too and fucked off once they realized they fucked up." He shrugged, making the cover up.

God he hurt, and now felt dizzy, so he laid back. ".... How did you even get here, Josh?" He didn't even know.

Isaac Merlo

So it was a Rocket goon that shot him. Josh still felt bad for Matt, but at least his heart was in the right place. There was no place in Hoenn for Rocket. They needed to own up to their mistakes, or rot behind bars until being confined to a cell for months on end got them to change their ways. "That's Team Rocket for you. There's not a single one of them that fights fair. Which is why I'm glad you're on the right side. You're still a top-notch Ranger in my eyes, no matter what anyone like Raziel Beckett or Laurence Anderson says. And don't you forget that." His eyes drifted toward the blank TV. "Hey, can you turn on the football game on PSPN, please? It's the Cyclones-Wizards game and should have just started."

Josh was going to explain how he got to the hospital, but Isaac had already done that for him. "Nana picked me up, and I don't really remember a lot after that. She was flinging me around like nothing I'd ever been on before. It was all a blur. I think I'll be fine, just was really shaken up was all." Of course, he still had to contact a repairman for his front door. He wondered how hiw Pokémon were doing back home. The League wouldn't be too happy about the property they were paying for being left wide open, after all!

Matt held his tongue as Josh assumed. Though it was... possible. A look was shot to Isaac, before he looked around for the remote. Flipping on the tube and grunting as he settled back down.

"Of course she did. She ran like a zubat out of hell to get you, probably." Rubbing his face, he felt so tired. "Being shot was not on the bucket list, but at least I get a cool scar out of it."

Was he trying to lighten the mood? Yes, absolutely, looking up at the TV, snorting at the pokemon cheerleaders. "A Machamp cheerleader is probably the best thing I've seen all day."

Though at the mention of Razz's name, Matt's entire mood soured. He hated that damn man. "Fuck him."

Isaac Merlo

Matt bringing up his scar reminded Josh of his own. The arm-width PSYCHO CUT scar clearly visible at the end of his left sleeve and the larger, belly-width one hidden under his shirt were two permanent reminders of his perils in the Cloud. He would never forget. "The Olivine Cyclones are known for that," Josh added. "Most of their staff are from Cianwood, which is why they have so many Fighting-types in their squad. It's about all Pokémon can do there. Wouldn't be fair if the Pokémon could play football, too; who would be able to tackle a Machamp?" No one. Not one soul.

Through his facial expression, it was easy to tell Josh's own resentment of Razz, though he did not make any remarks verbally. "Oh, speaking of Razz, did I tell you I'm going to be going for my blue uniform in a couple months?" he half-bragged to his coworker. "It won't be easy, but I can assure you that I'll make a far better Elite than he ever could be." Elite Ranger Devlin had a nice ring to it.

Josh's eyes shifted toward the game, "Yoooooooo!" he cried a little louder than he need to. "Ruben coming through with the pick six!" he continued as a touchdown was announced for Cianwood... though it was reversed by the officials due to an offensive foul. "No. Nooooooooooo. That is not Pass Interference! No way!" His smile quickly turned to a scowl. "I swear, the refs just insert themselves into some of these games..."

Matt rolled his eyes about the news about Razz. "Hope he fails." He muttered, sighing as he rubbed his eyes. "I hate to be rude guys, but I do need to call Nico. I rather not talk with y'all in the room, if y'all don't mind? It's gonna get emotional."

And Matt did not want them hearing Nico getting mad and emotional at him, last thing he wanted! "Once I'm done you're welcome back in, but if you two want to head home, I get it." It was late and he already got Josh sore and felt bad about it.

Josh Devlin Isaac Merlo

"No, not him," Josh tried to correct Matt. "I'm going to be taking the written and practical exams for my blue uniform. Doesn't 'Elite Ranger Devlin' sound great?" The weight of his words sunk in. It would make the two, as far as rank was concerned, equals. Elite Rangers were called Elites for a reason; there weren't many of them, and the testing to become one was grueling. Many gave up after hearing what the test would entail. Deep down, Josh was nervous; some of the assignments he had been given as a Senior Ranger were quite risky, and he even had to enter the Shark's Maw atop Meteor Falls himself, a place Rangers were not obligated to rescue victims from. Plus, with both of them being Elites and primarily in supervisory positions, the two would likely never see each other again on a mission.

"While I would never wish failure on anyone, even Razz, it would be for the best if we never had to work together again," Josh voiced his concerns aloud. "I wish I could go home, but they want to observe me overnight before they let me leave. But sure. You call Nico and let me know when you're off the phone. We an always watch the game together. Say hi to him for me, okay?" he asked, joining Isaac as the young man stepped out, leaning against the door once he was in the hallway. He was still a bit woozy.

At the very least, Josh wouldn't have to miss a play; while he couldn't watch the game on his phone without a premium subscription to PSPN, he could at least see the results of every play from their website. Once the two were uotside the room and the door was closed, Josh took a deep breath. "I owe you and Nana big time," he said to his friend (and, unbeknownst to him, bitter enemy), noticing the red in his eyes when he mentioned he was sleep deprived. "I'm gonna stick around and watch at least the first half of the football game with Matt. I'm sure I'll wind up sleeping in. Thankfully my Gym's closed tomorrow, so I can actually do that. Plus I need to call someone to install a new front door to my apartment. At least I'll be able to sleep in for a change," he chuckled, trying to dwell on the positive over the negative.