Well that was one thing off Matt's list. Isaac was fine and he didn't... mean to really hurt Josh. Did he have a relationship he wasn't aware of with him? Hmm.... Things he would think about later!

As Isaac went about his way, Matt turned to start heading back to the city. That's when the goggles lit up- a warning. A fire arm! It had scanned it when he turned and saw someone standing in the distance pointed towards Isaac. Who the fuck- why the fuck-

Matt's brain short circuited. He knew it wasn't pointed at him- rather the back of Isaac. Was this someone with a grudge against Isaac? Or was it a ranger or someone in the league thinking they were about to catch the guy who almost blew up a gym!? Either way, he didn't deserve to be shot because of it!

The gun popped off- and without a second thought, so did Matt. He flung himself in the direction of the bullet.

It didn't hurt.

Right?

no, no, it hurt.

It hurt a fucking lot.

The pain started in his side- burning like he had been touched with a hot frying pan. Then it traveled like electricity up his side, overcoming his entire body as he doubled over. Kneeling to the ground as he coughed, shaking in pain. There was some unprocessed words from the shooter- along the lines of 'oh fuck I fucked up' or something. Matt wasn't sure.

His vision was blanking- the only next thing he heard...

Was a howl. The howl of a wolf.

Kazzy had watched helplessly as his trainer got struck by some- weird steel move? He fell to the ground, bleeding, and in pain! Rage.. a emotion Kazzy experienced before. It bled into his veins like poison. Burning him alive as he started to snarl. Those once blue eyes full of life now replaced with a dangerous red- pure rage.

His body mutated, bones reshaped, everything changed all at once for the pup. No, he was no longer a pup. He was a Wolf. The Lycanroc stood over it's trainer, looking panicked at the bleeding. The only thing he knew to do- was get help. Going down to heave his master onto his shoulder, the canine started to head towards the direction Isaac had went off too.

Signaling a loud bark, hoping that would drag Isaac's attention back, along with the mournful howling as he felt Matt grow weaker in his hold.

Isaac Merlo

Another playful shove towards Isaac. "Should beat your ass, have the whole man shook up. I don't need both of you dead." Shaking his head. "It's all over the news and the news and the rangers won't shut up about it." At least it wasn't talk of the damn asteroid for once.

"But it's late... Nico's gonna be worrying why I haven't called him. I just wanted to check on you." At least he was being honest about it. Pal just wanted to make sure Isaac was okay and not hurt from recent events. "I'll catch you later, Kazzy tell him bye."

All Kazzy did was bark and run around Isaac, before going to settle next to Matt, watching Isaac with some fierce eyes! Trying to show off he could be super serious too!

Isaac Merlo

He put his blunt out, shoving it into his pocket. Thinking about how he wanted to phrase what he was thinking. "Like, all this good, but can't even agree to work together with things half the time. It's... I dunno, I just don't like the plan."

Then his eyes narrowed on him. "Oh right.." He walked over, and went to smack him in the chest. "That's for fuckin' with my friends gym, ya jerk." The arms crossed. "Should arrest you right here!" He sounded so serious! But Isaac could see the huge grin over his face as he said that. Obviously joking.

"More trouble than your worth." He went to take the goggles back, placing them back on his head. "That's all I really had for you tonight. Also just was checking up on you." Aww, he gave a shit.

Isaac Merlo

Matt looked up as Blackjack just. Appeared. A brow arched, as he took another drag, letting the smoke bellow from his lips. With his red lights reflecting in the moonlight, he almost looked like a demon there. Staring at him for a long hard moment- it was only the goggles that really made the effect of him being evil.

"More like got some intel for you." He took the goggles off and tossed them over towards him. "Fancy as shit. Tells you all about the stuff around you. I don't know if it got some fancy tech to tell who is wearing it... pretty sure it's registered to me, so don't like, steal it." That last part was a tease.

"I got promoted." He shrugged at that, looking up to stare at the sky. "Put on a fuckin' probation then promoted. All because I stopped being me and kept my head down." He spat, it made him angry. "... Eh. Whatever, this all feels wrong, nothing makes sense. I just- I don't want to see you on the news dead." Another shrug.

"I feel like I'm hurting them, but I feel like they're hurting us. It's a whole bunch of stupid emotions." Grabbing a pokeball, he let out Kazzy. The dog perked his ears, sniffing- wait. That was the real Blackjack! An excited bark, bounding over and running around him, trying to get up to him.

Isaac Merlo

Smoke bellowed from his nostrils, the smell of weed heavy. The blunt in his hands was hit again. It was one of the few things taking the edge off his mind lately, besides his boyfriend. With a relaxed sigh, he leaned his head back. Blowing another smoke ring into the air.

In this city, it was like it was near impossible to find anything with actual nature in it. So that's why he was just outside the city walls, taking drags off his blunt on one of his late night patrols. If one wanted to call it that. He was just here to see Blackjack. Having sent him a message to request seeing him. He had... some news, for him, after all.

That news? Those funky goggles over his head. Reading the information that passed through them, scrolling through several things. He rolled his eyes. Even with his promotion... he was still angry. Nothing sat right in his soul, his core. The whole idea felt wrong. He may not support them... but he had people to protect. For now.

Giving a little information never hurt, right? Maybe Blackjack was one of those diamonds in the rough that could make a difference, like he was trying to do.

Isaac Merlo

After settling his stomach and listening to Josh's words, he frowned. It sort of lined up with Isaac... well, sorta. Not all. Josh had the true heart of a ranger. Only time could tell where he would sway.

"But yeah, so we're flying from here?"

Going to check on Nana, making sure her paws weren't hurt, or that she hurt anything. Once he affirmed she was good, he returned the canine to her pokeball.

Josh Devlin

Matt gave a fake laugh, but he relaxed on top of Nana, going to practically lay on her like a bed. Showed how much trust the canine had within him to let him prop himself that way. He was checking his phone, scanning over texts. Sending a quick one to nicodemus unken 'I love you. Miss you, wish you here.' Putting his phone away, he tilted his head.

"Can that pokemon even agree on a direction to go?" Matt was very misinformed or honestly just had no idea how that pokemon worked, so it wasn't a rude question, at least he didn't think so.

"Nana was stubborn at first, but after I while she got used to me. I can't imagine three heads.." There it was, the real Matt peeking his way through. But soon.. he sighed. "Hey Julia? Um, sorry- for you know." a motion, looking very ashamed. "I get it if you don't like, like me or whatever." He had moved closer so she could hear and not everyone hear him apologizing.

"I got Josh in enough trouble... I don't want to cause more by making his friends uncomfortable, yeah? so just, let me know or whatever."

Leaning away from her, he went back to burying his face into Nana's mane. Staring off with a vacant look, before they looked back to Josh. "You just don't want me to whip your butt across this field showing off." That was a real smirk there on Matt's face, he loved teasing Josh.

Julia Davis Isaac Merlo

Only the sound of rushing wind filled his ears. Eyes squinting as he watched the terrain in front of them to help guide Nana if needed. With a grunt, he angled his foot down, hooking it onto another strap- Matt had attached his own anchor to the gear in an attempt to keep himself stable on top of the fastest things on Earth.

The grip he had on the reigns had his knuckles turned white, arms tensed and ached to stay ahold. Thighs burned from the tightening grip of Matt's legs. But he had to keep going. To not fail in front of Josh, not again. If he did again... what was the point? That made tears well up in his eyes, being blinked away. Good thing they were racing, Josh couldn't see.

But the pain was becoming intense the further they went. Who knows how fast or how far they gotten but Matt had to stop. Digging his heel into Nana's thigh, he was signaling her to stop. Nana let out a howl, to alert the others. Claws started to dig into the earth, kicking up after her as she dragged herself into a sluggish stop.

Okay, he wanted to puke. But.. they didn't fall. Oh good they didn't fall- oh god- he was going over to a bush to vomit.

"Sorry bro, urgh... couldn't feel my hands."

Josh Devlin

SIGN-UP WAIVER

Participant Name: Matt Vice [break]

Age: 20[break]

How Easily Scared Are You: Not easily (Very easily)[break]

What is Your Biggest Fear:Partner leaving him, pokemon death, failing his family[break]

Isaac was right. Matt clammed up real quick. He was still hurt. Wounded from before, but he was finding it behind a casual mask and don't care attitude. It was working so far, even if sometimes the bitterness came in at weak moments.

A brow rose at Josh. Was he trying to get him to join the race? "Return," Oto came back to his ball, placing the ball back as he accidentally touched Kazzy's ball, the rockruff appearing and shaking out it's fur. Blinking, seeing all the new people!!! Running towards Julia, nuzzling her leg, then bounding towards Isaac.

He paused and stared at him for a very hard moment. Squinting as his fur stood on end, fangs baring, backing up.. then turning to run back to Matt. Who blinked at the dog, looking very baffled... returning the dog quickly, then tossing out Nana's pokeball. The Arcanine prancing and and shaking out her fur.

"Heh..."

Julia Davis Isaac Merlo

Honestly Matt did not think he would place. It was just for fun and here he was in third. Well, huh. That was a surprise. A little awkward, but a surprise. No reason to sweat it! Always next year or whatever.

Smiling at Josh he gave him some finger guns. "A'ight dude. Catch you later, I gotta get on back to Nico."

Josh Devlin

Nana evened out of the turn and they slung forward once her claws got a hold of the dirt. Racing forward as Nana's ear twitched towards Josh. Snarling and thrashing her head so Matt would look and see what was going on.

With the blur that was going past them, he certainly knew what was happening. Growling to himself, he dug his heels into Nana's sides, taking her reigns, lowering his head. "Extreme Speed!"

The sound of wind came first, clenching his eyes shut for just a moment to begin his thoughts.

Josh Devlin