Gary froze.

His hands were still, the alcohol wipe forgotten in his fingers. His mind, however, was not still. It was racing at a thousand miles per hour.

Punch it in?

Did he just say—

Slowly, Gary raised his head, staring at Ash like he was seeing him for the first time.

"...Ash," he said carefully, voice unnervingly soft. "Who told you that?"

Ash blinked, confused by the sudden change in Gary's expression. "Huh?"

Gary didn't blink. "Who told you a shot is supposed to hurt?"

Ash just shrugged. "It always does."

Something cold twisted in Gary's stomach.

"Ashy Boy," Gary said, his voice oddly calm. "When you say 'before'... do you mean other doctors?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah. They just—y'know, they just do it. No warning, no nothing."

The receptionist, who had been listening quietly up until now, suddenly inhaled sharply. "Oh, hell no," she muttered.

Gary clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists. "Ash," he said, forcing his voice to stay steady, "when was this?"

Ash tilted his head in thought. "Different places. Different times. It doesn't really matter—"

"Doesn't matter?" Gary repeated, voice rising. "Of course it matters!"

Ash flinched, and instantly, Gary softened.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face. "Sorry. Sorry, bud, I didn't mean to yell. But listen—shots aren't supposed to hurt like that. If a doctor is doing their job right, they'll make sure it's as easy as possible. What they did to you? That's not okay."

Ash just blinked. "I thought it was normal."

Gary's heart sank.

Normal.

Ash thought that kind of treatment was normal.

The receptionist groaned, rubbing her temples. "Dr. Oak, I swear to God, if I ever meet these people—"

Ash, meanwhile, was looking between the two of them, utterly bewildered. "Uh... guys? It's fine. It's just a shot."

Gary turned to him so fast Ash almost flinched. "No, it's not just a shot, Ash! You were scared to come in here! You were hiding under a desk, for crying out loud! That's not normal!"

Ash hesitated, his fingers tightening around Pikachu. His poor partner was all but suffocating in his grip.

Gary sighed, running a hand through his hair. Then he did something that surprised Ash.

He held out his hand.

Ash blinked. "Huh?"

"Here," Gary said gently. "Instead of strangling Pikachu, hold my hand."

Ash hesitated, but then, almost reluctantly, he reached out.

Gary took Ash's hand in both of his, rubbing slow circles into his palm like before.

Then, in one swift motion, he scooted even closer, draping Ash's arm over his shoulder.

Ash blinked again. "Uh... Gary?"

Gary hummed, already pulling the wipe out again. "Hmm?"

"...What are you doing?"

Gary smirked. "Hugging you while I do this. Got a problem with that, Ashy Boy?"

Ash turned pink but didn't pull away. "...No."

The receptionist just smiled knowingly.

Gary got to work, keeping Ash close the whole time. He gently wiped Ash's skin, making sure to keep him distracted.

"So," Gary said casually. "Did you eat today?"

Ash nodded against Gary's shoulder. "Yeah."

"Drink water?"

"Mmhmm."

"Not just soda?"

"...Mmmhmm."

Gary huffed a laugh. "You're a terrible liar."

Ash just smiled tiredly.

Gary took a deep breath. "Okay, bud. You ready?"

Ash stiffened slightly.

Gary held him a little tighter.

"Hey," he murmured. "I got you, okay? Deep breath. It'll be quick."

Ash took a shaky inhale.

And then—

It was done.

Ash barely felt it.

His eyes widened. "That's it?"

Gary smirked. "That's it."

Ash blinked in disbelief.

It... didn't hurt.

At all.

Gary pulled away just enough to ruffle Ash's hair. "Told ya it wasn't supposed to hurt, dummy."

Ash huffed, leaning back into Gary. "...Thanks, Doc."

Gary raised a brow. "Doc? I thought I was "Gary."

Ash just smirked sleepily. "Eh, felt fitting for the moment."

Gary scoffed. "Kid, literally no one in this clinic calls me 'Gary' except you."

The receptionist chimed in from above the desk, "Yeah, because you're Dr. Oak to everyone else. The only exception is your Ashy Boy."

Ash groaned. "Stop calling me that."

Gary grinned. "Not a chance, buddy."

Ash just rolled his eyes, but he didn't pull away from Gary's shoulder. If anything, he leaned in a little more, exhaustion evident in the way his body slowly relaxed.

Gary softened.

The poor kid had been so tense—so afraid—that now that it was over, his body was crashing.

Gary gently ruffled his hair again. "Y'know, Ash, for someone who's faced down legendary Pokémon, you sure are scared of doctors."

Ash stiffened slightly, and Gary instantly regretted saying it.

"...Sorry," he murmured.

Ash hesitated, then shook his head. "...It's not just doctors," he admitted quietly.

Gary frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ash shifted uncomfortably, squeezing Pikachu just a little tighter. "It's... people in charge of my health, I guess."

Gary's stomach twisted.

Ash took a slow breath. "Doctors, nurses, people who should care... but don't. People who act like I'm just some name on a list."

Gary felt his blood boil.

The receptionist muttered something under her breath that sounded an awful lot like I'm gonna punch something.

Ash continued, voice distant. "It's not even the needles, really. It's the way they just do things. Like I'm not there. Like I don't matter."

Gary clenched his fists.

This wasn't just about shots. This wasn't just about doctors.

This was about trust.

And right now, Ash's trust in medical professionals was shattered.

Gary exhaled sharply through his nose. "That's not okay, Ash."

Ash blinked up at him. "What?"

Gary looked straight into his best friend's eyes, voice firm. "You matter, okay? You're not just some patient, you're not just some kid. You matter. And if any so-called 'doctor' ever makes you feel like you don't, then they're not worth a damn."

The receptionist pointed at Gary. "What he said."

Ash just stared at them both, looking oddly small. "...I just figured that's how it was," he admitted.

Gary groaned in frustration. "No! That is not how it's supposed to be!"

Ash blinked at his outburst, but instead of flinching, he just... laughed softly.

Gary narrowed his eyes. "What's so funny?"

Ash smirked. "You're funny."

Gary huffed. "Excuse me?"

Ash shrugged, resting his chin on Gary's shoulder like he wasn't the least bit intimidated. "It's just funny how mad you are."

Gary scoffed. "Damn right, I'm mad!"

"Why?"

"Because it's wrong, Ash! You shouldn't have to be scared like this! You shouldn't have to hide under a desk just to feel safe in a clinic!"

Ash was silent for a moment. Then, almost hesitantly, he murmured, "...But I don't feel scared here."

Gary froze.

The receptionist blinked.

Ash yawned. "I mean... you're annoying, but... I trust you."

Gary's breath caught in his throat.

He swallowed thickly, forcing a teasing smirk. "Wow. That almost sounded like a compliment, Ashy Boy."

Ash just huffed sleepily. "...Don't push it, Doc."

Gary chuckled, finally standing up and gently pulling Ash up with him. "C'mon, let's get you out from under this desk before the next patient thinks I've lost my mind."

Ash stretched his arms with a groan. Pikachu, finally freed from Ash's death grip, shook himself out and jumped onto Ash's shoulder with a relieved squeak.

As they stepped out from under the desk, the receptionist crossed her arms and sighed dramatically. "Finally. I thought you two were gonna live under there permanently."

Ash grinned. "It was cozy."

Gary rolled his eyes, grabbing Ash's wrist and tugging him toward the exit. "Alright, get out of here before I actually give you another shot just for fun."

Ash gasped, clutching Pikachu protectively. "You wouldn't."

Gary smirked. "Try me."

Ash bolted for the door. "SEE YOU NEVER, DR. OAK!"

The door slammed shut behind him.

The receptionist snorted. "I love that kid."

Gary just smiled, shaking his head. "Me too."