Gary immediately sighed, placing the tray down on the bedside table before stepping closer. "Ash..."

Ash tore his eyes away from the tray and looked up at him with a mix of dread and betrayal. "Three?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Gary softened. "Yeah, buddy. Three."

Ash's shoulders hunched. "Why?"

Gary pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. "Because you need them. Two vaccines and a blood test."

Ash's fingers curled into the blanket. "Can't we just... skip one? Or two? Or, you know... all of them?"

Gary huffed out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Nice try, Ashy Boy. Not happening."

Ash groaned, slumping down further against the pillow. "I hate this."

"I know," Gary murmured, reaching out to squeeze Ash's arm. "But you trust me, right?"

Ash glanced at him, hesitant. "Yeah, but..." His voice wavered. "It's three, Gary."

Gary nodded. "I know, bud. But we'll get through them together. I'll go slow, talk you through it, and you can hold onto me if you need to, okay?"

Ash fidgeted anxiously. "I don't wanna."

Gary chuckled. "And I don't wanna be the one stabbing my best friend three times in a row, but here we are."

Ash glared weakly. "That doesn't help."

Gary smirked. "Didn't think it would, but hey, worth a shot—no pun intended."

Ash groaned dramatically and buried his face into the blanket.

Gary sighed and rubbed Ash's shoulder. "Tell you what. We'll do it one at a time, and between each one, I'll let you take a break."

Ash peeked up at him. "How long of a break?"

Gary shrugged. "As long as you need."

Ash hesitated. "...You swear?"

Gary placed a hand over his heart. "On my honor as your totally amazing best friend."

Ash sighed. "Fine..."

Gary smiled. "That's my boy." He reached over, snapping on his gloves. "Alright, which arm are we working with?"

Ash groaned, reluctantly rolling up his sleeve. "Just get it over with..."

Gary grabbed an alcohol wipe. "Alright, deep breath, Ashy."

Ash squeezed his eyes shut. "I hate you."

Gary chuckled. "I know, buddy. I know." 

Gary worked quickly, swiping the alcohol wipe over Ash's arm. "Cold, I know," he murmured as Ash flinched.

Ash exhaled sharply through his nose, gripping the blanket in his free hand. His leg bounced anxiously. "Gary..."

Gary's voice was soft but firm. "I'm right here, Ash. Just focus on me, okay?"

Ash swallowed. "How bad is it gonna be?"

Gary tilted his head. "Like a quick pinch. Then it's over."

Ash groaned. "Liar. You always say that."

Gary smirked. "Because it's true." He picked up the first syringe, keeping his movements calm and steady. "Alright, buddy. First one. Just take a deep breath and—"

"No, wait, hold on—" Ash grabbed Gary's wrist in a panic, his grip shaky but strong.

Gary sighed. "Ash."

"No, just—gimme a second—"

Gary set the syringe down and placed his free hand on Ash's shoulder. "Hey. Look at me."

Ash didn't move, eyes locked on the tray as if willing it to disappear.

Gary gently squeezed his shoulder. "Ash."

Slowly, Ash turned his head, his eyes glassy with nerves.

Gary gave him a small smile. "I promise I won't do it until you're ready, okay?"

Ash swallowed. "You mean it?"

"Course I do."

Ash bit his lip, looking away. "...You're too nice."

Gary snorted. "I know. It's a curse."

Ash sighed. "Okay. Just—just let me hold onto you."

Gary immediately took Ash's hand and placed it around his wrist. "Squeeze as hard as you need, buddy."

Ash clenched his fingers, taking a shaky breath. "Okay... okay, now you can—"

He barely finished the sentence before Gary acted fast, pressing the needle in and injecting the first dose.

Ash yelped. "GARY!"

"All done," Gary said smoothly, already pulling the needle out and pressing gauze to the spot.

Ash gaped at him. "What?!"

Gary smirked. "Told you I'd go fast."

Ash scowled. "I wasn't ready!"

Gary arched a brow. "Didn't you just tell me to go?"

"Well—yeah—but I wasn't mentally ready!"

Gary chuckled. "Too bad. One down, two to go."

Ash groaned. "Ugh, I hate you."

Gary grinned, wrapping an arm around Ash's shoulder and pulling him into a quick, reassuring hug. "I know, kid. You told me before."

Ash sat rigidly, eyes darting between Gary and the tray like he was staring down a mortal enemy. He still had two more shots to go, and he was not handling it well.

Gary sighed, squeezing Ash's shoulder. "You're doing great, Ashy Boy. Just two more, then you're home free."

Ash grumbled. "I don't want two more."

Gary smirked. "Yeah, well, I don't want to be stuck in a room with your whining, but here we are."

Ash shot him a glare. "I will bite you."

Gary laughed. "Then I'll just have to give you a tetanus shot too."

Ash groaned and flopped back dramatically. "This is the worst day of my life."

Gary rolled his eyes. "Okay, Drama King. Let's just get this over with."

Ash sat up immediately. "Wait! No, no, I'm not ready!"

Gary tilted his head. "You sure? 'Cause I can just—"

"NO—" Ash scrambled back on the bed, gripping his stuffed Larvitar like a shield. "Give me a minute—just a minute, okay?"

Gary nodded. "Alright, alright. Minute granted."

Ash took a few deep breaths, his fingers still tight around Gary's wrist. "Okay. Okay. I can do this. Just... just do it fast again, okay?"

Gary smirked. "Wouldn't dream of doing it slow."

Ash groaned. "Don't say it like that, it makes it worse."

Gary just chuckled and quickly swiped another alcohol pad over Ash's other arm. "Alright, ready?"

"No."

"Too bad."

Ash barely had time to react before Gary pressed in the second needle, injecting the dose swiftly.

Ash yelped again, his entire body jolting. "GARY, I SWEAR—"

"All done."

Ash blinked. "Again?!"

Gary smirked, pressing gauze to the site. "Again."

Ash groaned and slumped against him, burying his face in Gary's shoulder. "I hate this."

"I know, buddy. But you're doing great." Gary ruffled Ash's hair before pulling back. "One more, then you never have to see another needle until your next appointment."

Ash grumbled. "That is not comforting."

Gary chuckled. "Come on, last one. You got this."

Ash sighed dramatically. "Fine. Just... Just let me hold onto you again."

Gary didn't even hesitate. He took Ash's hand and placed it around his wrist again. "Alright, squeeze away."

Ash took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay. I'm ready. Just—"

The needle was in before he finished his sentence.

Ash screamed. "GARY YOU—"

"All done," Gary said cheerfully, already pulling the needle out and pressing gauze over it.

Ash gawked at him. "I HATE YOU."

Gary grinned. "You already said that."

Ash whined, hiding his face in his hands. "I'm never forgiving you."

Gary smirked and tugged Ash into a quick side hug, ruffling his hair. "Yeah, yeah. You say that every time."

Ash just groaned into his Larvitar. "I mean it this time."

Gary just chuckled and patted his back. "Sure you do, buddy. Sure you do."