Gary hummed thoughtfully, gently rubbing Wisty's back as she burrowed against his chest. "Still sore, huh?"

The little girl gave a small nod, her fingers fisting into his shirt.

Gary shifted her slightly so he could take a look. "Lemme see, Wisty."

She hesitated but finally pulled her tiny arm out from where she'd been cradling it against her chest.

Gary examined the injection site, running his fingers lightly over the area. It was a little swollen and warm, but nothing alarming. "It's just a little inflammation, kiddo. That happens sometimes after shots."

Wisty pouted. "Why?"

Gary smiled, tapping her nose. "Because your body's working hard to keep you healthy. It means the medicine's doing its job."

She scrunched her nose at that, still unhappy. "It huwts..."

"I know, kiddo." Gary kissed the top of her head. "Wanna know a secret?"

Wisty perked up slightly, looking at him with big, curious eyes.

Gary grinned. "If we put something cold on it, it'll feel a lot better."

Her little lips formed a tiny 'o' as she processed that information. "Weally?"

"Really," Gary confirmed. "Wanna go get an ice pack?"

Wisty hesitated, then buried her face back into his chest. "Mmm... later..."

Gary chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and leaning back against his pillows. "Alright, later. We can just sit like this for a bit."

Wisty sighed contentedly, snuggling deeper into his warmth. "Gawy's comfy."

Gary smirked. "Don't let Ash hear you say that. He'll get jealous."

Wisty giggled sleepily, her small hands relaxing against his shirt. "S'okay... I'll cuddle him later..."

Gary shook his head fondly, running a hand through her dark hair as she started to drift off.

He figured Ash wouldn't mind sharing this time.

Gary gently rubbed small circles on Wisty's back, letting her settle in his lap. "Your arm's hurting, huh?" he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Lemme take a look, sweetheart."

Wisty hesitated but nodded, sniffling as she pulled back just enough for Gary to push up the sleeve of her tiny pajama top. Her little arm trembled slightly as she held it out for him.

Gary's brows furrowed as he inspected the injection site. It was a little swollen and pink, but nothing out of the ordinary. "Looks like it's just a little sore, Wisty," he said gently, pressing around the area with practiced care. "Does this hurt?"

Wisty flinched slightly but didn't pull away. "J-just a lil'..."

Gary hummed and gave her a soft smile. "That's normal, sweetheart. Shots can make your arm sore for a little while, but I promise it'll go away soon."

Wisty pouted, rubbing her face against his chest. "Don't like it..."

"I know, honey," Gary cooed, pressing another gentle kiss to her hair. "Tell ya what, why don't we put a warm washcloth on it? That might help."

Wisty peeked up at him, her big eyes still watery. "... Will you stay wif me?"

Gary's heart melted on the spot. He cupped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "Of course, sweet girl. I'll be right here the whole time."

Wisty sniffled again but nodded, her tiny hands curling into the fabric of his shirt.

Gary smiled. "Good girl. Now, let's go get that washcloth, okay?"

Wisty nodded again, and Gary easily scooped her up, carrying her off to help her feel better.

He figured Ash wouldn't mind.

Gary adjusted Wisty in his lap, wrapping his arms securely around her small frame. He could feel her little body trembling slightly, and when he looked down, he noticed her rubbing at her upper arm where he had given her the shot earlier.

"Still sore, huh?" he murmured, rubbing gentle circles over her back.

Wisty gave a tiny nod, pressing her face into his chest. "Mhm... Hurts..."

Gary frowned sympathetically. "Aww, kiddo... I know it does." He shifted slightly, adjusting her so he could get a better look at her arm. "Lemme see, okay?"

Wisty hesitated but eventually pulled back just enough for Gary to roll up the sleeve of her pajama shirt. Sure enough, there was a small, red mark where the needle had gone in, and her skin looked a little puffy.

Gary sighed. "It's a little swollen, but that's normal." He gently poked around the area with his fingers, checking for anything unusual. Wisty flinched and whimpered, gripping onto his shirt tightly.

"Shhh, it's okay," Gary soothed, pulling her close again. "Just checking, sweetheart."

Wisty sniffled, clinging to him. "Dun wanna get 'nother one..." she mumbled, her voice muffled against his chest.

Gary chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "Don't worry, kiddo, you don't need another one anytime soon."

Wisty let out a relieved little sigh but didn't move from her spot, still snuggling close.

Gary smiled softly. "Y'know, Ash was a total baby about his shot, too," he teased lightly.

Wisty blinked up at him. "Really?"

"Oh yeah. He whined about it for hours," Gary said with a grin. "And don't tell him I told you this, but I had to hold his hand the whole time."

Wisty giggled, her mood lifting slightly. "Ashie's a baby."

Gary smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

Wisty smiled sleepily, still cuddled up against him. "Gawy?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"...You're warm."

Gary chuckled. "That's 'cause you're a little heater yourself." He patted her back gently. "Want me to stay like this for a while?"

Wisty gave a tiny nod. "Mhm... Feels better like this."

Gary softened, tightening his arms around her. "Okay, kiddo. I gotcha."

And just like that, Wisty drifted off, safe and sound in her big brother's best friend's arms.

Gary wrapped his arms securely around Wisty, feeling her small frame tremble slightly against him. He rubbed slow circles over her back, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"Your arm's sore, huh?" he murmured, shifting her a little so he could glance at her upper arm. He carefully pushed up the sleeve of her pajama top and examined the small bandage covering the injection site. The area around it was a little red, slightly swollen—normal post-shot soreness.

Wisty sniffled, nuzzling deeper into his chest. "Mhm. Hurts..."

Gary smiled softly. "That's 'cause your body's working hard, getting stronger. But I can help, okay?"

Wisty peeked up at him through damp lashes. "Weally?"

"Really," Gary assured, gently massaging the muscle around the injection site with his thumb. "This'll help loosen it up a bit."

Wisty whimpered but didn't pull away. Instead, she shifted closer, clutching his shirt in her tiny fingers. "Gawy..."

"Yeah, sweetheart?"

"Will you stay wif me 'til it stops?"

Gary chuckled softly, giving her a little squeeze. "Of course, Wisty. I'll stay as long as you need."

The little girl sighed, snuggling into his warmth. "...You're the best."

Gary grinned, pressing another kiss to her forehead. "I know."

Gary frowned as he gently rubbed Wisty's back. "Your arm's still hurting, huh?"

Wisty gave a tiny nod against his chest. "Mhm... It feews all sore 'n stuff..."

Gary hummed in thought, shifting her slightly so he could get a better look at her arm. "Lemme see, kiddo."

Wisty hesitated but extended her tiny arm for him to inspect.

Gary carefully peeled back the sleeve of her pajama top, revealing the little bandage from the shot he had given her earlier. The skin around it looked a little red and warm to the touch, but nothing too concerning.

"Looks like it's just sore from the medicine," he murmured, rubbing his thumb gently over her unbandaged skin. "That happens sometimes, but I promise it'll go away soon."

Wisty pouted. "But it huwts..."

Gary smiled softly. "I know, kiddo. I know it's not fun." He gave her a comforting squeeze. "Wanna know a trick?"

Wisty blinked up at him. "A twick?"

"Yeah." Gary booped her nose, making her giggle slightly. "If you keep moving your arm gently, like lifting it up and down, it'll help the soreness go away faster."

Wisty looked at her arm, then back at Gary, skeptical. "Weawwy?"

Gary nodded. "Really."

She hesitated, then slowly raised her arm a little before lowering it again. "Wike dis?"

Gary grinned. "Exactly like that! You're a natural."

Wisty giggled again, lifting and lowering her arm a few more times. "It feews funny..."

"That means it's working," Gary assured her, wrapping his arms around her in a snug hug. "By tomorrow, you won't even feel it anymore."

Wisty sighed dramatically, snuggling back into him. "Mmkay..."

Gary smirked. "Hey, since you're already here, wanna read manga with me?"

Wisty's eyes lit up. "Yes pwease!"

Gary chuckled and grabbed his comic, flipping it open so they could read together. Wisty stayed curled up in his lap, her little fingers still occasionally wiggling as she moved her arm just like Gary told her.