Gary’s report hit the bed immediately.

“What.”

Ash, standing in the doorway, sheepishly lifted his arm—or at least, he tried to. It barely moved.

Gary’s eyes locked onto it. Sure enough, Ash’s entire forearm was purpling.

“…Ash,” Gary said slowly, standing up, “how long has it been like this?”

Ash bit his lip. “…A while?”

Gary marched over. “Define ‘a while.’”

Ash shrank back. “Uh… a day? M-maybe two?”

Gary grabbed Ash’s wrist, gently but firmly. “And you’re telling me now?!”

Ash winced. “I-I thought it’d go away…”

Gary ran his fingers along Ash’s arm, feeling how unnaturally cold it was. His gut twisted. “Can you feel this?”

Ash blinked. “Feel what?”

Gary swore. “Okay, sit. Now.”

Ash whimpered but obeyed, perching himself on the bed.

Gary’s mind raced. The color, the lack of movement, the numbness—it was all oxygen-related. A compression issue, a circulation block, something. But—

“Why didn’t you come sooner?!”

Ash looked away, mumbling something.

Gary narrowed his eyes. “What?”

Ash squirmed. “I… I thought…” He sucked in a breath. “I thought you’d say I needed a prosthetic.”

Gary froze.

Ash fidgeted with his good hand, avoiding Gary’s gaze. “I-I mean, my arm wouldn’t work, a-and it looked all weird, and I thought—”

“Ash.” Gary grabbed his shoulders, making him face him. “Listen to me. You are not losing your arm. Got it?”

Ash blinked. “…I’m not?”

“No!” Gary said firmly. “This is a circulation issue, not necrosis. It just needs blood flow. We’ll fix it.”

Ash swallowed. “But—”

“No buts,” Gary cut in. “Your arm is not dead. Your nerves aren’t shot. You just cut off circulation somewhere. I’m fixing it. Now.”

Ash bit his lip. “…Is it gonna hurt?”

Gary hesitated. “…A bit.”

Ash’s shoulders tensed.

Gary exhaled and sat beside him. “Ash, it’s either that, or you won’t be able to move your arm at all.”

Ash whimpered, still stiff.

Gary sighed. Then, after a moment, he stuck his arm out.

“…You wanna hold on?”

Ash blinked. “W-what?”

Gary rolled his eyes. “You’re gonna freak out. Might as well let you cling to something.”

Ash hesitated. Then, slowly, he reached out and wrapped his good arm around Gary’s.

Gary huffed. “Alright, drama queen. Let’s get this over with.”

Then, with expert hands, he pressed.

Ash yelped, his grip tightening.

“Easy, easy,” Gary murmured, working his fingers down Ash’s arm, feeling for the block.

Ash whimpered, tucking his head against Gary’s shoulder.

“Almost there,” Gary assured, pressing firmly near the elbow. “Three, two—”

There was a faint pop.

And suddenly—color.

Ash gasped as warmth rushed back into his arm. “W-whoa—!”

Gary sighed in relief, watching the purple fade. “There we go.”

Ash wiggled his fingers. “I—I can move it!”

Gary smirked. “Told you it wasn’t dead.”

Ash beamed—then froze.

“…Wait. You didn’t count to one.”

Gary snickered. “Nope.”

Ash gasped in betrayal. “You tricked me!”

Gary shrugged. “And? It worked.”

Ash huffed, crossing his very much alive arms. “You’re so mean.”

Gary ruffled his hair. “And you’re a dummy for waiting two days.”

Ash pouted.

Gary just grinned. “C’mon, let’s go get some snacks. You owe me.”

Gary snapped his head up so fast his neck nearly cracked.

“What.”

Ash, standing in the doorway, awkwardly lifted his left arm—or tried to. It barely moved.

“I said,” Ash repeated, his voice way too casual for the situation, “is it normal for my arm to be purple?”

Gary was off the bed in an instant, grabbing Ash’s arm before the idiot could flinch away. His stomach dropped.

“…Ash,” Gary said slowly, voice a little tight, “how long has your arm been like this?”

Ash blinked. “Uh. I dunno. A few hours?”

Gary froze.

A few hours?

Gary inhaled through his nose, trying not to lose his entire mind right then and there.

“And you didn’t say anything?”

Ash squirmed. “I—I thought it’d go away…”

Gary glared. “Ash.”

Ash winced.

Gary ran a hand over his face. “Can you feel anything?”

Ash tried flexing his fingers. His hand didn’t so much as twitch. “Uhh… no?”

Gary cursed under his breath.

“Sit down.” He shoved Ash toward the bed, already pulling on gloves. “Now.”

Ash yelped as he stumbled onto the mattress. “O-okay, okay!”

Gary gently—yet firmly—held Ash’s forearm, pressing a few spots. “This is oxygen loss,” he muttered, more to himself. “Blood flow’s cut off somewhere… I can fix this…”

Ash did not like the way Gary was muttering under his breath like that.

“…I don’t need a prosthetic, do I?”

Gary’s head snapped up.

“What?”

Ash’s voice was quiet. “I… I didn’t come sooner because…” He hesitated, then admitted in a small voice, “I was scared I’d lose my arm.”

Gary stared at him for a long moment.

Then he sighed, rubbing his temple. “Ashy Boy,” he muttered. “You absolute idiot.”

Ash pouted. “Hey—”

“You are not losing your arm,” Gary cut him off. “Your blood circulation’s just messed up. I can fix it.”

Ash blinked. “Oh.”

“Oh? OH?” Gary gave him a look of absolute exasperation. “You nearly let your arm die because you thought I’d have to cut it off, and all you have to say is oh?”

Ash whined. “Well, when you say it like that—”

“Dude.”

Gary grabbed Ash’s wrist and started massaging the area near his elbow, trying to get the blood moving again. “I swear, if you ever keep something like this from me again, I’ll—I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Ash asked, smirking weakly.

Gary glared at him. “I will knock you out and forcefully fix you.”

Ash’s smirk died.

“…You can do that?”

Gary raised an eyebrow. “You wanna find out?”

“…No.”

“Then don’t be an idiot next time.”

Ash huffed but stayed still as Gary worked. Soon, sensation started to return—first a weird tingling, then a horrible pins-and-needles sensation.

“Agh!” Ash yelped, trying to yank his arm back. “Why does it feel like that?!”

Gary held firm. “Because your blood is finally circulating again. Don’t be a baby.”

“I’m not—” Ash gasped as more feeling returned, making him shudder. “I hate this!”

Gary rolled his eyes. “Well, maybe next time, don’t wait hours before telling me your arm’s turning purple.”

Ash groaned, flopping back on the bed dramatically. “This is the worst.”

Gary smirked. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Ash huffed but muttered, “Thanks…”

Gary ruffled his hair. “That’s more like it, Ashy Boy.”