Gary stood next to the examination table, clipboard in hand, as Ash sat nervously on it, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. He could feel his heart racing, the pounding in his chest matching the nervous tap of his foot against the metal leg of the table.

"Okay, Ash," Gary began, his voice calm but laced with a mischievous undertone. "Time to listen to your heart and lungs. Nothing too crazy, I promise."

Ash stiffened. "R-right. Sure." His words came out shaky, and his fingers were already twitching with nerves.

Gary chuckled softly, but it wasn’t mean-spirited. "Ashy-boy, calm down. It's just a check-up. I'm not going to bite you... unless you're into that kind of thing." He raised an eyebrow, teasing.

Ash let out a nervous laugh, though it was weak. "I-I’m fine." His voice cracked slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Gary grinned and motioned for Ash to sit still, then placed his clipboard on the counter. "Alright, let’s start with your heart." He grabbed his stethoscope, the cold metal tips of the chestpiece making a soft clinking noise as they touched together. "I’m going to listen to your heartbeat, okay? Just relax."

Ash tried to force his muscles to relax, but the tension remained in his body. "O-okay..." His heart was already beating fast—too fast—and he wasn’t sure if it was from the anxiety or something else entirely.

Gary lifted the stethoscope, the earpieces slipping into his ears with a soft click. He reached over, gently lifting Ash’s shirt just enough to expose his chest. Ash immediately felt a jolt of discomfort, and his breath hitched as Gary's hand brushed against his skin.

"Don't freak out," Gary said, noticing Ash’s tension. "This is routine."

Gary placed the chestpiece of the stethoscope directly on Ash’s chest. The cold contact made Ash flinch slightly, but he forced himself to stay still.

"Okay, take a deep breath, Ash," Gary instructed. "Inhale... exhale." He listened carefully, noting the sound of Ash's heartbeat. It was rapid, almost unnaturally so. Gary furrowed his brows slightly but didn't say anything. Instead, he moved the stethoscope to a different spot on Ash’s chest, the subtle shifts making Ash’s body tighten with every second that passed.

After a few moments, Gary pulled the stethoscope away, looking at Ash with a small, almost amused smirk. "Your heart's racing, buddy. How long have you been this nervous?"

Ash's face turned bright red. "I-I’m not nervous!" he protested, but his voice was thin and shaky. "Just... just get it over with."

Gary let out a soft laugh and gave Ash a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I’m just messing with you, Ash. Relax, okay? We’re not done yet."

Before Ash could respond, Gary moved to the next part of the examination. "Let’s check your lungs now. Deep breaths, okay?" He placed the stethoscope back in his ears and positioned it near Ash’s side, a bit lower this time.

Ash complied, his chest rising and falling as he sucked in a breath, and then exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. But each time he inhaled, his breath felt shallow, almost forced. His heartbeat was still too fast, but he didn’t want Gary to know that.

Gary listened for a moment, adjusting the chestpiece a little higher, then moved it lower on Ash's back. Ash shivered as the stethoscope’s cold surface pressed against his back, but Gary didn't notice.

"Good... now keep breathing, Ash. In... out..." Gary’s voice was soft and focused as he listened carefully to the sounds of Ash's lungs.

Ash did his best to breathe deeply, but with each inhale, he felt his anxiety rise. Was Gary hearing something wrong with his lungs? Was he going to tell Ash that something was wrong with his breathing? Ash had no idea what he was looking for, but the more Gary listened, the more paranoid he felt.

"Okay, that sounds good," Gary said, finally moving the stethoscope away from Ash’s back. "Lungs are clear. No issues there."

Ash let out a breath of relief, his body sagging a little, though he still felt jittery.

Gary didn’t waste time, and before Ash could even process it, Gary moved to check his stomach. "Alright, Ash, last part. Your stomach."

"Wait, w-what?" Ash stammered, looking at Gary in confusion. "Y-you’re... really going to check my stomach too?"

Gary gave him a sly grin. "Yeah, buddy. Got to make sure everything’s functioning properly. You did eat that giant sandwich last week, didn’t you?" he teased.

Ash let out a nervous laugh, but it was hollow. He could feel the sweat forming on his brow, and his fingers dug into the sides of the table for something to hold on to. He was starting to feel light-headed from all the nervous energy.

Gary, sensing the rising discomfort, placed a hand on Ash's shoulder to steady him. "Hey, relax. I’m just going to press here," Gary said calmly, pressing gently on Ash’s abdomen.

Ash stiffened as Gary’s hand applied pressure. "O-okay," Ash mumbled, trying to ignore the growing sense of panic inside him.

"Does it hurt here?" Gary asked, pressing gently against a spot on Ash's stomach.

Ash shook his head quickly. "No. No pain."

Gary nodded, moving his hand in circular motions, feeling for any unusual tension or discomfort. "Good, good," Gary murmured, keeping his touch light and careful. "Everything’s checking out. You’re in pretty good shape, Ash."

Ash exhaled slowly, relief flooding his body as the examination finally came to a close. He still felt jittery, but the worst was over.

Gary pulled his hands back and took the stethoscope off. "Alright, Ashy-boy. You survived. Not so bad, right?"

Ash gave a shaky grin, still feeling his heart race. "I guess... Thanks, Gary." He paused. "I, uh, didn’t think it’d be... like that."

Gary laughed and patted him on the back. "It’s never what you expect. But hey, you did great. Now, let's get out of here before you turn into a nervous wreck."

Ash nodded and stood up, the tension in his shoulders easing as they left the exam room. The check-up was over. But something told him it wouldn’t be the last time Gary would tease him about it.

"Yeah, Ashy," Gary said with a grin as they walked out, "next time you better relax. Or I'll make you come back for more."