Ash sat stiffly on the examination table, his hands gripping the edge so hard his knuckles turned white. His leg bounced uncontrollably as if it had a mind of its own, and he couldn’t stop his heart from hammering in his chest.

Gary chuckled softly as he watched his friend. "Ashy-boy, you’re trembling like a leaf in a storm. You’re not facing a horde of Gyarados. It’s just me, remember?"

Ash swallowed hard and glanced at Gary, who had an almost irritatingly calm demeanor. "Yeah, I know," he mumbled, his voice shaky. "It’s just… I hate check-ups."

Gary leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his smirk softening into something more genuine. "Yeah, I remember. I was there when you had your first meltdown at four years old, remember? Screamed so loud the nurse almost quit on the spot."

Ash groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why do you always bring that up?"

"Because it’s funny." Gary pushed off the counter and grabbed a pair of gloves. "Alright, buddy, let’s get started. The sooner we do this, the sooner you can stop worrying."

Ash hesitated but nodded reluctantly. Gary stepped closer, putting on the gloves with a practiced snap. "Okay, first up—eyes. Look straight ahead."

Ash blinked nervously as Gary pulled out a small flashlight. "Follow the light, Ashy-boy," Gary instructed, waving it slowly back and forth in front of Ash’s face.

Ash tried, but his focus kept faltering. The light felt blinding, and his breathing grew shallower.

"Hey," Gary said, pausing. He put a hand on Ash’s shoulder, his voice softer now. "You’re gonna be okay. It’s me, Ashy. Just me. You trust me, don’t you?"

Ash hesitated, then gave a small nod, his leg still bouncing uncontrollably. "I trust you," he whispered.

Gary smiled faintly, stepping back to let Ash collect himself. "Good. Let’s keep going, then."

Once Ash had calmed down slightly, Gary resumed the eye check, his movements steady and unhurried. After a few moments, he straightened. "Eyes look fine. Now, ears. This won’t hurt—I promise."

Gary grabbed an otoscope and gently tilted Ash’s head to the side. "Hold still," he murmured, peering into one ear, then the other. "Clean as a whistle. You’ve been keeping up with hygiene, huh?"

Ash huffed a small laugh. "Yeah, I guess."

"Good. Mouth next," Gary said, grabbing a tongue depressor. "Say 'ah.'"

Ash opened his mouth reluctantly, and Gary inspected his throat. "Perfect. No issues there. Now, let’s move on to the big stuff—heart and blood pressure."

Ash tensed immediately, his leg bouncing faster. Gary sighed and crouched slightly to make eye contact. "Buddy, I can’t do this if you’re freaking out. Take a deep breath for me, okay?"

Ash tried but failed miserably. His breaths were shallow, his shoulders trembling. Gary shook his head and climbed up onto the table behind Ash, wrapping his arms around him in a firm but comforting hug. "Breathe, Ash. I’ve got you. Just focus on me, okay?"

Ash froze for a moment, then leaned back slightly into Gary’s embrace. "I... I don’t like this," he admitted softly.

"I know," Gary said gently. "But you’re doing great. Just a few more checks, and we’re done."

Ash nodded reluctantly, and Gary slowly let go, reaching for the stethoscope. He placed it on Ash’s chest, the cold metal making Ash flinch slightly. "Deep breaths, Ashy-boy," Gary instructed.

Ash obeyed, his chest rising and falling under Gary’s watchful eye. After a few moments, Gary frowned slightly but said nothing. "Okay, heart sounds good. Let’s check blood pressure."

He wrapped the cuff around Ash’s arm and began to pump it up. Ash winced slightly at the pressure but stayed still. When the reading appeared, Gary’s eyes widened. "Whoa, Ash. Your blood pressure’s through the roof. It’s over 400."

Ash panicked instantly. "What? Is that bad? Am I dying?"

"Relax," Gary said quickly, placing a calming hand on Ash’s knee. "It’s probably just nerves. Let’s try again in a minute, okay?"

Ash nodded, trying to calm down, but his leg kept bouncing. After a moment, he glanced at Gary, his voice barely a whisper. "G… Gary?"

"Yeah, buddy?" Gary replied, looking up from his notes.

"Could you… maybe…" Ash trailed off, looking embarrassed.

Gary immediately understood. Without a word, he climbed back onto the table and pulled Ash into another hug. "Oh, buddy," Gary said softly as Ash buried his face in his shoulder, trembling slightly.

"I hate this," Ash muttered, his voice muffled. "I hate check-ups. I hate feeling like this."

"I know," Gary said, rubbing Ash’s back gently. "But I’m here, okay? You’re not alone. I’ve got you, Ashy."

Ash sniffled softly, clinging to Gary like he was a lifeline. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then Gary pulled back slightly, smiling down at his best friend. "Let’s finish this up, huh? You’re stronger than you think, Ashy-boy."

Ash nodded, wiping his eyes. "Okay… let’s get it over with."

And with Gary by his side, he somehow felt like he could handle it.