where else would matias be? nowhere, because he's a good person who adheres to the rules given to him.

just kidding. he's only at home because he'd been out the day prior and he doesn't want to run the risk of sneaking around too much. the surveillance in place is decent enough and he's sure there's only so much they could excuse. kyle just happens to come around at a convenient time.

he smiles at the short greeting.

"you look good too."

as kyle always does.

"can't do much else without alerting the league. they're so paranoid, honestly."

he sighs.

"did you miss me? is that why you're here?"

kyle lopez

how random indeed. but he has come to expect as much from the top champion.

"i've trained many dogs."

but as the growlithe is held up before him, presenting its wagging tail, he understands that kyle means something different when they say training.

his eyes narrow at the dog.

"you know i don't do pets."

his expression remains the same, not yet smiling as he shrugs a shoulder.

"i guess it's cute."

kyle lopez

"it can be, but it's not as bad as it seems."

that's partially a lie. it's difficult for him to filter which thoughts are his own and which are influenced by external, otherworldly factors. it's easier to assume they're all his own, ridding him of the need to filter them altogether.

he avoids kyle's gaze and focuses on the dog instead. he's not unfamiliar with the breed, only the level of interaction and care kyle's expecting him to give it.

"does it have a name?"

kyle lopez

"makes sense."

it would have been much easier if the growlithe had come with a name, more so if it was one kyle had picked, but he supposes he can go through the trouble of naming it himself. it might help with creating a bond, as kyle mentioned.

he peers down at the growlithe and tentatively offers it his hand to sniff.

"and what if it doesn't like me?"

kyle lopez

"that might be better, actually. you know i like chasing after things i can't get."

maybe the growlithe is the same. should he be playing coy, then? but it seems the growlithe is doing just that with how slowly it sniffs his hand, the little bitch.

"fine. i'll take it."

without warning, he reaches and picks up the growlithe, carrying it so its back legs are dangling. he looks at it, then flips it around to kyle.

"meet matty."

kyle lopez

matty. he can hear it said so clearly by Elisabeth Fiorelli as though it were only yesterday when he first heard it (it wasn't, but close enough).

like a dog sniffing out a buried bone, matias scratches at the surface of kyle being bothered; an unexpected reaction but not all too odd.

"why haven't you called me matty yet? is there another nickname you prefer for me?"

kyle lopez