Professor Oak paused in the doorway, his eyes taking in the unusual scene before him. Red, the stoic and silent legend, was openly sobbing, his face buried in Blue’s shoulder as if the world had just ended. Blue, meanwhile, sat on the edge of his bed, half-amused and half-concerned, awkwardly patting Red on the back like he wasn’t quite sure how to handle the situation.

“Uh…” Oak began, clearing his throat. “How did this—?”

Blue cut him off without missing a beat. “Red’s scared I’m going to need a robotic limb.”

Oak blinked, his brow furrowing. “A what?”

Blue shrugged, his patting continuing with a mix of resignation and humor. “I mean, I don’t blame him. Look at this mess,” he said, gesturing vaguely at his bandaged arm. “But, you know Red. He’s a drama magnet even when he’s mute.”

Oak stepped further into the room, his expression a mix of bafflement and concern. “And how, exactly, did you figure that out?”

Blue smirked, though there was a softness to it that betrayed his genuine care for his friend. “Come on, Gramps. I’ve known this guy since we were kids. I can read him like a book. He gets that look, like a kicked Growlithe, and then it’s all downhill from there.”

Red let out a muffled sob, clutching Blue tighter as if to emphasize the point. Blue winced but didn’t push him away. “Yup, there it is. Classic ‘Red thinks the world is ending’ mode.”

Oak sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Red, my boy, Blue is going to be just fine. Technology these days is incredible, and his injuries are being treated by the best. There’s no need to get so worked up.”

Red, however, didn’t seem convinced. His grip on Blue only tightened, and his sobs continued unabated. Blue glanced up at Oak, a mix of exasperation and humor in his expression.

“Yeah, Gramps, I don’t think logic is gonna work here. Once he gets it in his head that something’s wrong, it’s like trying to stop a Tauros stampede.”

Oak crossed his arms, frowning slightly. “Well, we can’t just let him stay like this.”

Blue raised an eyebrow. “What do you want me to do? Push him off? The guy’s built like a Machoke, and if he thinks I’m in danger, he’s not letting go.”

Oak considered this for a moment before sighing. “Well, I suppose this is… one way of showing how much he cares.”

Blue snorted. “Yeah, great. Love you too, Red, but maybe tone it down a notch?” He paused, then added with a wry grin, “At least I’m not the one who has to deal with his breakdowns most of the time.”

Oak shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. “You two really are something else.”

“Yeah, well,” Blue said, rolling his eyes. “It’s a package deal, isn’t it? Me and Red. Drama and more drama.” He glanced down at Red, who had quieted slightly but still clung to him like a lifeline. “Hey, buddy. I’m not going anywhere, okay? You’re stuck with me, limb or no limb.”

Red sniffled, finally pulling back enough to give Blue a watery glare that seemed to say, Don’t joke about that.

Blue chuckled, ruffling Red’s hair. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re a big softie under all that silence.”

Oak watched the scene with a fond expression, realizing that, for all their quirks, these two had a bond that could withstand anything. Even robotic limb fears and Red’s rare emotional breakdowns.