Ash's sobs wracked his body as he clung to Gary, his emotions spilling over. "I’m so dumb, Gary. I always mess everything up. I’m a loser. You shouldn’t even be spending time with me. I make everything harder for you," he gasped between breaths, his voice trembling with self-loathing. "You’re so much better than me. You could have any other friend, any other person to hang out with... but instead you’re stuck with me. I don’t know why you even put up with me."

Gary’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger rising in his chest. He had always been patient with Ash, always had his back, but hearing his best friend talk down about himself like this—it wasn’t something he could just let slide. He gently but firmly tapped Ash's thick skull with his knuckles.

"Ash, buddy," Gary said, his tone sharp, though not cruel. "Calm down. Take a deep breath for me."

Ash hiccupped as his breath hitched again, his chest rising and falling erratically. "I just... I don’t know how to fix it, Gary. I don’t know how to stop being... me," Ash whimpered, his eyes full of distress.

Gary was about to say something, but then he paused. He could see how worked up Ash was getting—how his words were spiraling and making things worse. Gary took a deep breath, fighting to keep his own frustration in check. He knew Ash wasn’t being unreasonable, just overwhelmed. His best friend didn’t realize how much he truly meant to him.

"Ash," Gary said firmly but with tenderness, "You’re not dumb. You’re not a loser. You’re my best friend, and you mean the world to me. Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that. Okay?" He waited for Ash to look up at him, but when Ash didn’t meet his gaze, Gary’s voice softened. "You need to calm down. Breathe in slowly, buddy. Just listen to me and take a deep breath."

Ash tried, but his breathing was still shallow and erratic, and his eyes were wild. His chest kept heaving with each sob, his whole body trembling.

Gary sighed in frustration, but this time, it wasn’t anger at Ash—it was frustration at the situation. He knew Ash needed to calm down, needed something to ground him. The panic was just too much for Ash to control in his current state.

Gary quickly lifted his sleeve and grabbed a small wipe from the counter, wiping his arm quickly before preparing a syringe with a calming agent. "Hey, Ash, listen to me," Gary said, his voice gentle but firm. "This is gonna help you calm down, okay? It’ll only take a second, and then we’ll breathe together, alright?"

Ash shook his head, his tears streaming down his face. "No, Gary, no more needles... please... I—"

"Trust me," Gary cut him off softly but firmly, his voice insistent. "You’re getting worked up, buddy, and that’s only making things worse. You’ll feel better once you calm down. I promise."

Ash looked up at Gary with wide, panicked eyes, his breath coming out in frantic gasps. But there was something in Gary’s steady, unwavering gaze that made him hesitate.

"Please... just... be quick," Ash mumbled, his voice broken.

Gary nodded and, without hesitation, quickly injected the calming agent. Ash stiffened, a sharp gasp escaping his lips, but Gary didn’t pull away. He kept his arm around Ash, rubbing his back softly. "Breathe with me, Ashy. You’re gonna be okay. Inhale slowly, and exhale slowly. That’s it... keep going."

Ash’s breaths began to slow, though his body still trembled. The calming agent was already starting to work its magic, soothing his frayed nerves.

"That’s it, buddy," Gary murmured, continuing to rub his back as Ash took a few deep, shaky breaths. "You’re okay. You’re always okay when you’re with me. We’ve been through a lot, you and me, and I’m not going anywhere."

Ash’s chest heaved once more before his breathing began to settle. He still felt small and vulnerable in Gary's arms, but he felt something else too: a sense of safety, of being cared for. His heart was no longer pounding so violently, and the tight knot in his stomach slowly began to unravel.

Gary's voice was calm and soothing. "You're not a burden to me, Ash. I’ll always be here for you. You're not messing anything up. You’re just going through a rough patch. And we’ll get through it together, just like always."

Ash sniffled, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "I just don’t know what’s wrong with me sometimes... why I get so worked up..."

Gary shook his head. "There’s nothing wrong with you. You're human, Ash. We all have our moments. You’re allowed to feel anxious or scared, but you’re not alone. You’ve got me. You’ll always have me."

Ash let out a shaky breath, and for the first time in a while, he felt like maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

"Thanks, Gary," Ash whispered, his voice still hoarse. "I’m sorry for freaking out."

"Don’t apologize," Gary said firmly, his voice steady. "You’re allowed to feel however you need to feel. Just don’t hide it from me next time, okay? I’m always here, buddy."

Ash nodded, his heart still heavy but lighter than before. He could feel the weight of his emotions lifting, slowly but surely. He wasn’t alone in this. Not now. Not ever.

Gary smiled, giving his shoulder a playful nudge. "Now, let’s finish this check-up, Ashy-boy. I think you’re finally ready to take it like a champ."

Ash gave a small, grateful smile, his eyes meeting Gary's. "Yeah... I think I’m ready now."

And for the first time in a long time, Ash felt like everything was going to be okay.