Professor Rowan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yes, it's Ash."

Gary groaned loudly, dragging his hands down his face. "Of course it is. Who else would be this stubborn?"

"He refuses to get treated," Rowan continued, crossing his arms. "He insists he's fine, but I suspect he’s avoiding medical attention for a specific reason."

Gary grumbled, already swinging his legs off the bed. "Yeah, I bet I know what that reason is." He stood up, stretching his arms before shaking his head. "Alright, where is he?"

"Out in the training fields."

"Of course he is," Gary muttered under his breath. "Where else would he be? Resting? That'd be too easy."

With that, he stormed out of the room, making his way towards the training grounds.

As expected, Ash was exactly where Gary thought he'd be—out in the field, giving orders to Pikachu as if he wasn’t sporting a bruised cheek, bandaged fingers, and a noticeable limp.

Gary stopped in his tracks, hands on his hips, and stared at him.

"...Unbelievable."

Pikachu noticed Gary first, ears twitching before nudging Ash. Ash turned—and froze the second he saw Gary.

"Oh. Uh. Hey, Gary," he greeted, giving a small, guilty smile.

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Don't you 'hey, Gary' me," he said flatly. "You know why I'm here."

Ash's smile immediately disappeared. "No, I don't."

Gary let out a short, mocking laugh. "Oh, really? So you're gonna sit there, with your busted leg, bruised face, and bandaged hand, and tell me you have no idea why I'm here?"

Ash shrugged, turning back to Pikachu. "I'm fine, Gary."

"Oh, sure," Gary scoffed. "Yeah, you look fine. Limping? Totally fine. Grimacing every time you move? Completely fine." He threw his arms up. "Man, I should write this down! 'Ash Ketchum, medically invincible.'"

Ash huffed. "You're exaggerating—"

Gary marched forward. "No, I'm not. You're hurt, and you're not getting treated, and I know why."

Ash's posture stiffened. "...No, you don't."

Gary gave him a look. "Ash."

Silence.

Gary crossed his arms. "You're scared that if you let me treat you, I'll tell you to stop training, right?"

Ash winced.

Gary sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Damn it, Ash."

Ash crossed his arms. "I don't want to stop training!"

"No one is telling you to!" Gary shot back. "Arceus, Ash, we're not that heartless!"

Ash shifted, avoiding Gary’s gaze. "...I just thought—"

"You thought wrong," Gary interrupted. "I’m your friend, not some villain trying to ruin your dream. You think I want to take Pokémon away from you?"

Ash hesitated. "...No?"

"Exactly."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Ash sighed, rubbing his arm. "...Fine."

Gary blinked. "Fine?"

"Fine," Ash repeated, before looking up. "You can check me over. But if you tell me to stop training—"

"I'm not going to," Gary cut in, rolling his eyes. "Geez, it's like arguing with a brick wall."

Ash grinned weakly. "Yeah, but I'm a determined brick wall."

Gary shook his head with a smirk. "C'mon, idiot, let’s get you fixed up."

Professor Rowan sighed. "Yes. It’s Ash."

Gary pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course it’s Ash. Who else would be so stupidly stubborn?"

Rowan crossed his arms. "He refuses treatment. He won’t even let the nurses near him."

Gary exhaled sharply and swung his legs over the bed. "Where is he?"

"In the Pokémon Center's waiting room."

Gary didn’t waste a second. He shoved on his shoes and practically ran out the door.

When Gary got there, Ash was exactly where Rowan said—curled up in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, arms wrapped tightly around himself, face pale but determinedly neutral.

Gary clenched his fists. Of course.

He strode over, stopped in front of him, and crossed his arms. "Okay, moron. What’s your excuse this time?"

Ash blinked up at him. "I—what?"

"Don’t play dumb," Gary snapped. "Why aren’t you getting treated?"

Ash looked away. "I... don't need it."

Gary stared at him. "Ash."

"I'm fine, Gary."

"You're literally shaking."

Ash tightened his grip on his arms. "I just... I don’t want to."

Gary squatted down, lowering his voice. "Why?"

Ash swallowed hard. He still wouldn't look at him. "I just—it's nothing, Gary. I'll heal on my own."

Gary studied him carefully, then narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Ash hesitated.

Gary's gut twisted. "...You're scared, aren't you?"

Ash flinched. "I—no! I mean, not—it's not like that—"

Gary reached forward and gently pried Ash’s arms away from his torso. Ash didn’t resist, but he still wouldn’t meet Gary’s eyes.

Gary’s voice softened. "Ash. Tell me why."

Silence.

Then, in the smallest, most pathetic voice Gary had ever heard from him—

"...They’ll tell me I can’t train anymore."

Gary's brain short-circuited. "What?"

Ash finally looked up, his eyes glistening. "If they see how bad it is, they’ll say I can't train. They’ll tell me to stop."

Gary's chest ached. "Ash..."

He didn't think. He just grabbed Ash and pulled him in, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

Ash stiffened. "G-Gary?"

Gary didn’t answer. He just eased them both onto the floor, holding Ash close and rocking him gently.

After a long moment, he sighed. "Listen to me."

Ash tensed.

"Nobody—nobody—is going to stop you from training. Not me. Not Professor Rowan. Not Nurse Joy. Not anyone."

Ash bit his lip. "But—"

"No buts." Gary squeezed him tighter. "You are the most stubborn, determined idiot I have ever met. You think anyone could stop you?"

Ash let out a shaky breath. "I just... I don’t wanna lose it, Gary. It’s all I have."

Gary felt his heart break.

He rested his chin on Ash’s head. "You’re not gonna lose anything, buddy. I promise."

Ash gripped Gary’s shirt. "...You mean it?"

Gary nodded. "Yeah. I mean it."

Ash sniffled.

Gary just kept rocking him. "But," he added, "you gotta let us take care of you, alright? You’re not invincible, Ash. You need help sometimes."

Ash was silent for a long time.

Then, finally—

"...Okay."

Gary let out a breath of relief.

"Good."

And he didn’t let go. Not yet.