Red burst into the room like a Tauros on a rampage, the door slamming so hard it rattled every single item in Blue's Viridian Gym office. Papers fluttered dramatically through the air, a picture frame teetered off the edge of a shelf, and Blue let out a groan that could rival a Snorlax waking up too early.

"Do me a favor and keep it down," Blue muttered, clutching his forehead with one hand and his ribs with the other. "My head's gonna burst."

Red froze mid-step, his eyes wide with panic as he took in Blue’s battered state. Cuts, bruises, and a general air of "I fought something big and lost" clung to Blue like an unwelcome Gastly. Red sprinted to his friend’s side and immediately started shaking him like a maraca.

"Red, STOP!" Blue yelped, grabbing Red’s hands. "You're hurting my arm!"

Red paused, his hands hovering mid-shake. He tilted his head, clearly asking, Are you okay?!

"NO, I’m not okay!" Blue snapped, slumping back in his chair. "I’m half-dead, Red! My entire body feels like a bunch of Geodudes had a dance party on it!"

But Red wasn’t listening anymore. His eyes darted around the room, panic bubbling up inside him. He flailed his arms wildly, sprinting to the first aid kit on the wall, only to accidentally knock it off. The box fell open, spilling its contents everywhere.

"Red—" Blue started, but before he could finish, Red bolted across the room to grab a random bottle of water. He tripped over a chair leg, face-planting onto the floor. The bottle rolled away, untouched.

Blue stared, utterly dumbfounded. "What are you even DOING?!"

Red scrambled back to his feet, grabbing random items—a pillow, a Poké Ball, a gym badge—and shoving them toward Blue like they were the answers to all his problems. Blue batted them away, wincing as his injured shoulder protested.

"RED, STOP!" Blue barked. "I don’t need a pillow or my own gym badge! I need an actual doctor!"

But Red wasn’t stopping. He darted to the window, yanking it open and leaning halfway out, his mouth moving as if he were screaming for help. Unfortunately, being mute, no sound came out—except for the comical whoosh of the wind.

"RED!" Blue hollered, smacking the arm of his chair. "GET BACK IN HERE BEFORE YOU FALL OUT THE WINDOW!"

Red stumbled back inside, knocking over a stack of books in the process. He dashed back to Blue’s side and started signing frantically, his gestures so rapid and exaggerated that Blue could barely keep up.

"Yes, I know I look terrible!" Blue snapped. "You don’t have to remind me!"

Red grabbed a notepad and furiously scribbled something down. He shoved it in Blue’s face.

The note read: DO YOU NEED ME TO CARRY YOU TO A POKÉCENTER?

Blue slapped his forehead. "No, Red. I’m not letting you carry me. You’d probably drop me down the stairs!"

Red’s face twisted into an exaggerated pout. He threw his hands up, letting out a silent ARRGGHHH! before sprinting in a circle like a panicked Growlithe.

Blue groaned, leaning back in his chair. "This is why I told you to stop training with that crazy Pikachu of yours. You’re just as nuts as it is."

Red stopped mid-run, glaring at Blue. He pointed to himself as if to say, Me?!

"Yes, YOU," Blue deadpanned. "Now sit down before you break something."

Red crossed his arms, refusing to sit. Instead, he signed something sarcastic.

Blue squinted. "Oh, so now you’re saying I’m the dramatic one? You just ran around like a headless Doduo!"

Red shrugged, smirking silently.

Blue groaned again. "I don’t know why I even bother with you."

Red signed: Because you love me.

Blue rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, yeah. Just… stop freaking out. And get me some real help, okay?"

Red nodded, saluted dramatically, and sprinted out of the room, almost taking the door off its hinges again.

Blue sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Why am I friends with him?"

A second later, the door slammed open again. Red ran back inside, holding a pack of band-aids.

Blue facepalmed.

Professor Oak stepped into the Viridian Gym, expecting the usual scene of his grandson Blue arguing with trainers or lounging smugly in his chair. Instead, he froze mid-step, taking in the spectacle before him.

Red, the legendary mute trainer, was in absolute shambles. He was sobbing uncontrollably—silent tears streaming down his face—as he clung to Blue like a distressed Clefairy. Blue, for his part, was half-patting Red’s back and half-staring at him with a mix of amusement and concern.

Oak adjusted his glasses, raising a brow. “How did this—”

Blue cut him off, sighing. “Red’s scared I’m going to need a robotic limb.”

Oak blinked, looking at his grandson’s clearly intact limbs. “How did you—”

“I’ve been his friend since we were kids,” Blue said, shrugging as he continued to pat Red’s back. “I know these things. He sees me covered in bruises and jumps to the worst-case scenario.”

Red sobbed harder, burying his face in Blue’s shoulder and shaking his head vehemently, clearly denying everything.

Oak frowned, stepping closer. “But Blue, you’re fine, aren’t you? You don’t actually need—”

“Of course not!” Blue snapped, rolling his eyes. “But try telling him that. He’s been like this for twenty minutes now. He ran out to find me a robotic arm five minutes ago and came back crying because he couldn’t figure out where to buy one.”

Oak’s mouth fell open slightly. “You’re joking.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Blue deadpanned, gesturing to Red, who had now started clinging tighter, like a Jigglypuff that refused to let go. “He thinks I’m gonna die if I stub my toe.”

Red pulled back just enough to glare silently at Blue, his face redder than his cap. He signed something furiously, his gestures fast and sharp.

Oak squinted. “What’s he saying?”

Blue smirked. “Oh, he’s mad because I keep making fun of him. Isn’t that right, buddy?”

Red swatted at Blue’s arm in response, making an exaggerated pout.

Oak sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You two are a handful.”

“You have no idea,” Blue muttered, finally pushing Red off and standing up. “Alright, Red. Enough with the waterworks. I’m fine. Stop acting like I’m on my deathbed.”

Red sniffled, signing something small and timid.

Oak tilted his head. “What did he say?”

Blue sighed, his smirk softening. “He said he just doesn’t want to lose me.”

Oak paused, his expression softening as well. “Well, that’s sweet.”

Blue reached out, ruffling Red’s hair. “Yeah, yeah. I’m not going anywhere, Red. Relax.”

Red sniffled one last time, nodding slightly. Then he looked at Oak and gave him a shy wave.

Oak waved back, his smile warm. “It’s good to see you two still looking out for each other.”

Blue groaned, flopping back into his chair. “Yeah, sure. Looking out for each other. By which I mean he freaks out and I have to deal with it.”

Red punched him lightly in the shoulder, his pout returning.

Oak chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are going to give me gray hairs.”

Blue smirked. “You already have gray hairs, Gramps.”

Oak scowled. “Watch it, Blue.”

Red, finally calm, gave Oak a silent laugh, his shoulders shaking as he grinned. For once, the chaos seemed to settle—at least until the next time Blue stubbed his toe.