Gary falling because Ash was holding him hehe

This.

Dragging him away because he's ridiculous

Oh dear

Someone is angry.

Ashy sneaking up to Gary

Gary being evil for no reason

Ash fumbled with his words, his mouth opening and closing like a Magikarp out of water. "I-I’m not nervous, Gary," he muttered, though the slight tremble in his voice betrayed him. His foot bounced uncontrollably, tapping against the metal of the examination table, his leg vibrating as if it were attached to a motor. His heart was racing, thudding so loud in his chest that he was certain Gary could hear it.

Gary raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, still leaning against the doorframe with that infuriatingly smug smile. "Sure, Ashy-boy. Whatever you say."

Ash tried to force out a chuckle, but it came out strained. He tugged at his hat, adjusting it for the fifth time in the past minute. His fingers twitched nervously, and his eyes darted around the room like a wild Pidgey searching for an escape route.

Gary’s smirk faded slightly when he saw just how nervous Ash really was. He walked over to Ash and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Hey," he said, his voice softer now. "Look at me."

Ash hesitated, but when he finally met Gary’s gaze, he saw something that made him pause. Gary wasn’t mocking him. There was no smugness, no teasing gleam in his eyes. Instead, there was concern. Real concern.

"You’re fine," Gary said, his tone steady and calm. "It’s just a check-up. You’ve been through way worse than this. Remember when we were kids, and I came with you to your first big check-up? That didn’t go so well, but you made it through."

Ash’s mind flashed back to that day when they were four. The cold, sterile smell of the doctor’s office, the unfamiliar equipment, and how it all sent young Ash into a full-blown panic. Gary had been there, a little less smug back then, but still teasing him to distract him. It hadn’t worked entirely, but the fact that Gary was there had helped. Sort of.

Gary seemed to notice Ash’s leg still bouncing up and down uncontrollably. He placed his hand on Ash’s, halting its anxious movement. "Hey, Ashy-boy," Gary said softly. "Calm down. I’m not going to dissect you or anything."

Ash’s eyes widened, and he jerked upright. "WHAT?!" He instinctively reached for a Poké Ball, his fingers curling around the cool surface. "Pikachu, I cho—"

Before he could even utter the command, Gary grabbed Ash’s hand and gently but firmly pushed it back down. "Whoa, whoa! Calm down, buddy. It was a joke," Gary said, a grin tugging at his lips. "No need to sic Pikachu on me."

Ash blinked, looking down at the Poké Ball and then back at Gary, his face flushing with embarrassment. "R-right… a joke." He mumbled, sliding the Poké Ball back into his pocket. His fingers fidgeted restlessly again, his heart still pounding in his chest like a drum.

Gary let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he pulled out his stethoscope. "Alright, let’s just get through this, Ashy. It’ll be quick, I promise."

Ash nodded weakly, though his mind was still racing. He watched Gary approach with the stethoscope and felt his heart rate spike even more. He was practically trembling now, his teeth chattering slightly, though he tried his best to suppress it.

Gary gently placed the stethoscope on Ash’s chest, his expression focused. "Deep breaths, Ash," he instructed.

Ash tried, but his breaths came out shaky and uneven. Gary sighed, giving him a reassuring smile. "Come on, Ashy. You’re not gonna faint on me, are you?"

Ash shook his head, though he wasn’t entirely sure. He was sweating now, and his whole body felt tense. As Gary moved to check Ash’s eyes with a small flashlight, Ash’s gaze darted away. His eyes didn’t even focus on the light, too distracted by his own spiraling thoughts.

Gary sighed again, more out of concern than frustration. "Ash, I need you to look at the light."

But Ash couldn’t. His ears felt hot, and when Gary moved to check them, the trembling in Ash’s body made it nearly impossible for Gary to see anything. "Man, you’re shaking like a Joltik on a power line," Gary said with a small grin, trying to ease the tension.

"You could even hear his teeth clacking," Gary muttered to himself, placing the flashlight down. He ruffled Ash’s hair, something he knew would get under Ash’s skin but also comfort him. "Calm down, Ashy-boy. I’m not here to torture you."

Ash forced a weak smile, his leg still bouncing up and down like it had a mind of its own. "Yeah… sure…"

Gary grabbed Ash’s hand again, more firmly this time, and sat down next to him on the examination table. "Hey, buddy. Look at me." Ash’s leg slowed its bouncing as he turned his head slightly toward Gary, but his heart was still racing like crazy. "Take it easy. You’re alright. I’m not gonna do anything bad. Just calm down."

Ash bit his lip, scooting a little closer to Gary, as if the proximity would help him steady himself. And maybe it did, because Gary wrapped an arm around him, pulling him into a half-hug. "Take it easy, Ashy. You’re fine."

Ash’s trembling slowed just a bit, but it was still there, and his heart continued to race uncontrollably. Gary sighed and grabbed the blood pressure cuff. "Alright, let’s check this, but I’m betting your blood pressure is through the roof."

Ash winced as Gary wrapped the cuff around his arm, the sensation of the tightening band not helping his nerves in the slightest. As the machine beeped, Gary’s eyes widened. "Ash... your blood pressure’s in the 600s. That’s not normal, buddy."

Ash’s face flushed even more, and he squirmed, but Gary held onto his hand to stop him from fidgeting. "Hey, hey. Calm down. You’re gonna be fine," Gary said, giving Ash a little nudge. "We’ll figure this out, okay?"

Ash nodded shakily, but he couldn’t seem to stop trembling. His mind was still racing, and even though Gary was there, trying to calm him down, the check-up felt like it was going to go on forever.

Gary squeezed Ash’s hand reassuringly and ruffled his hair again. "You’re tougher than this, Ash. You’ve faced legendary Pokémon, for crying out loud. A little check-up shouldn’t scare you this much."

But even with Gary’s teasing, Ash couldn’t shake the fear. It wasn’t just the check-up; it was everything. The tension, the unfamiliarity, and, maybe, the fact that it was Gary—a person who knew him better than anyone—who was seeing him like this.

Gary sighed softly, not letting go of Ash’s hand. "Alright, Ashy-boy. Let’s finish this up quickly. You got this. I’m right here."

Ash nodded, feeling a bit more reassured, but still, the nerves wouldn’t leave. Gary's steady presence helped, though, and as the check-up continued, Ash managed to keep himself from completely falling apart. But he knew one thing for sure—he hated check-ups. And Gary, for all his teasing, was the only one who could get him through them.

He hoped.

Ash's heart raced as he tried to form a response to Gary’s teasing smirk, but his mind was all over the place. His hands trembled, and he felt his pulse thudding in his ears. His leg bounced uncontrollably as he fumbled with his words.

“I’m n-not nervous,” Ash stammered, though the quiver in his voice betrayed him. “It’s just... it’s just a check-up, right?”

Gary chuckled softly, crossing his arms as he leaned in a little closer. "Ashy-boy, you’re shaking like a leaf. Come on, I’ve known you forever. You don’t have to pretend."

Ash bit his lip, feeling a bit embarrassed that Gary could see right through him. He tried to control the jittery movement of his leg, but it was no use. His mind kept racing. What if Gary was up to something? What if he had some strange experiment in mind?

Before Ash could spiral further, Gary stepped forward and placed his hand gently on Ash’s. “Hey, look at me,” Gary said, his voice much softer now.

Ash hesitated but finally raised his eyes to meet Gary’s. His heart was beating way too fast, his chest tight with anxiety. His leg kept bouncing, his body refusing to calm down.

“Breathe, Ashy,” Gary said, giving his hand a light squeeze. “You’re gonna make yourself sick if you keep this up.”

Ash swallowed, trying to steady his breathing, but his nerves were shot. He glanced nervously at the medical tools again, still imagining the worst-case scenario. He hated check-ups. Ever since that one horrible doctor visit when they were four, when Ash had freaked out and Gary had been there to support him, these visits always made him uneasy.

Gary knew all of this. He had seen Ash at his worst when it came to doctors. So, seeing Ash this nervous now wasn’t exactly new, but it still made him sigh in frustration.

“Relax, buddy. I promise, I’m not gonna dissect you,” Gary teased, but his tone was softer this time.

Ash’s eyes widened, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed a Pokéball from his belt, holding it out as if it were a shield. “What?!”

Gary’s reflexes were quick. He grabbed Ash’s wrist before he could even release his Pokémon, pulling it down with a firm yet gentle grip. “Ash, calm down. I was joking!” Gary laughed, shaking his head as he kept Ash’s hand in his grasp.

Ash blinked, realizing how ridiculous he must’ve looked. He let out a shaky breath, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. “Oh... yeah, of course you were.”

Gary, still holding his hand, sat down on the stool next to the examination table and faced him. “You gotta trust me, Ashy. This is just a normal check-up. Nothing crazy.”

Ash nodded but was still too on edge to speak. His leg was still bouncing, and his trembling hadn’t stopped. He knew Gary was right, but his body refused to calm down.

Gary sighed, grabbing a small flashlight from the counter. “Alright, let’s just get this over with. First, your eyes.” He turned the small beam of light toward Ash’s face, but Ash flinched and looked away immediately.

“Ashy, hold still,” Gary instructed. But Ash’s nerves were getting the better of him, and he couldn’t focus. His eyes darted away again.

Gary frowned but didn’t lose his patience. “Alright, we’ll come back to that.” He put the flashlight down and moved closer. “How about your ears?” He gently reached for Ash’s head, but Ash was still trembling so much that Gary couldn’t get a clear look.

“Man, you’re shaking too much. I can’t see anything in here,” Gary muttered, pulling back for a moment.

Ash’s teeth were even chattering now, the sound faint but noticeable in the quiet room. The tension in the air was thick. Gary put the tools down, turning his attention fully to his friend.

“Hey,” Gary said again, softer this time. “Ash, you’ve gotta calm down. You’re safe. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”

Ash nodded weakly, but his body refused to relax. His leg kept bouncing, his hands wouldn’t stop trembling, and the anxiety was building up so much that he felt light-headed.

Gary, seeing this, sat beside Ash on the examination table. “Come here,” he said quietly, pulling Ash closer to him in a side hug.

Ash, still trembling, leaned into Gary, feeling a slight bit of comfort from the warmth of his best friend’s arm around him. “Take it easy, Ashy. Just breathe. You’re okay.”

They sat like that for a moment, with Gary rubbing small circles on Ash’s back. Slowly, Ash’s heart began to slow down, though the nervous tension was still there.

Gary finally pulled back a little, still keeping a hand on Ash’s shoulder. “Alright, let’s try again. But if it’s too much, just tell me, okay?”

Ash nodded, feeling slightly more in control of himself now. “Okay.”

Gary went through the routine—checking Ash’s ears, his mouth, and his reflexes. But when he got to Ash’s blood pressure, the numbers made Gary’s eyes widen.

“Ash, your blood pressure is through the roof!” Gary exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern. “It’s in the 600s...”

Ash gulped, his anxiety creeping back. “Is that... bad?”

Gary sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s not great, Ashy. But it’s because you’re so worked up.”

Gary ruffled Ash’s hair, trying to ease the tension with a small smile. “Relax. You’re not in any danger, alright? Let’s just calm down a bit more.”

Ash nodded, still feeling the remnants of anxiety clinging to him, but he trusted Gary. He let out a long breath and tried to focus on that—just breathing.

Gary gave him a playful nudge. “See? You survived. No dissections necessary.”

Ash managed a small laugh. “Thanks... Gary.”

Gary smirked, ruffling his hair again. "You know it, buddy."

Ash's heart was racing faster than a Rapidash in full sprint, and his mind was swirling with all sorts of irrational thoughts. His leg bounced up and down as he sat on the examination table, his fingers fidgeting with his cap. Gary, always calm and composed, stood with a smirk plastered on his face as he observed Ash’s nervous state.

" What's the matter, Ashy-boy? You look like you’ve seen a Gengar," Gary teased, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. His voice was lighthearted, but it didn’t help Ash’s nerves one bit.

"I-I’m fine," Ash stammered, his voice shaking. "Just… just thinking."

"Thinking, huh?" Gary walked over and placed a hand on Ash's shoulder. "You’re trembling, Ash. Come on, it’s just a check-up. You’re acting like I’m gonna throw a Seviper at you or something."

Ash's heart skipped a beat at that, and his eyes widened. "W-What if you did?" he muttered, more to himself than to Gary. "You’ve got all these Pokémon, Gary. What if one of them—"

Gary cut him off with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Ash, buddy, I'm not going to poison you. It’s not like I’m gonna dissect you or anything."

"Dissect?!" Ash yelped, his panic flaring up instantly. Before he could stop himself, he grabbed a Pokéball from his belt and held it out in defense. "Pikachu, I choose—"

Gary quickly reached over and grabbed Ash’s hand, pulling it down before he could release his Pokémon. "Whoa, whoa, calm down, Ashy-boy!" he laughed, giving Ash’s hand a firm but reassuring squeeze. "I’m joking! No dissections today, promise."

Ash’s eyes darted around the room, his breath coming in quick, uneven bursts. He was trembling so much that Gary could hear the faint chatter of his teeth. Gary could see just how much this check-up was getting to him. He remembered when they were four, and Ash had freaked out so badly during a doctor’s visit that they had to leave early. Gary had been there, trying to calm him down even then.

"Hey," Gary said softly, his voice losing its teasing edge. He put a hand on Ash’s and gently turned him to face him. "Look at me, Ashy."

Ash hesitated, but he turned his head slightly, his eyes still darting around nervously.

"Take a deep breath," Gary said, keeping his tone calm. "Come on. In and out."

Ash’s leg was still bouncing uncontrollably, but he tried to focus on Gary’s voice. His chest rose and fell, though his breaths were shaky and uneven.

Gary let out a small sigh and sat down next to Ash on the examination table. "You’ve gotta relax, buddy. It’s just me, okay? I’m not gonna let anything happen to you."

Ash scooted a little closer to Gary, still trembling, his leg bouncing so hard that the table rattled beneath them. His heart pounded in his chest like a stampede of Tauros, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t get it to slow down. He felt Gary’s arm wrap around his shoulder, pulling him into a side hug.

"Take it easy, Ashy," Gary whispered, his voice soft. "I’m right here."

Ash’s breathing started to slow just a bit, the warmth of Gary’s embrace easing some of the panic gnawing at him. But it wasn’t enough to stop the relentless thumping of his heart. His fingers were still cold, and his entire body felt jittery.

Gary noticed this and reached down, taking Ash’s trembling hand into his own. "Here," he said quietly, holding on tight. "Just focus on my voice. You’ve got nothing to worry about."

For a moment, Ash’s head dipped slightly, leaning against Gary’s shoulder as if searching for some kind of stability. His leg was still bouncing, but the trembling was starting to subside—just a little.

"Alright," Gary said, trying to bring a little more cheer into his voice as he let go of Ash for a moment. "Let’s get this check-up over with, shall we?"

Ash nodded weakly, but he still didn’t say much. Gary stood up and grabbed a stethoscope, draping it around his neck as he moved in front of Ash.

"Okay, first things first—let’s check your heart," Gary said, placing the cold metal disc of the stethoscope against Ash’s chest.

The moment it touched his skin, Ash jumped slightly, his heartbeat pounding so fast that Gary raised an eyebrow. "Geez, Ashy-boy, your heart’s beating like a drumline," he muttered as he listened. "You gotta calm down, or you’re gonna break my stethoscope."

Ash let out a shaky laugh. "S-Sorry…"

Gary pulled the stethoscope away and gave Ash’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don’t be sorry, buddy. Just breathe."

Next, Gary took out a small light to check Ash’s eyes, but Ash couldn’t seem to focus. His gaze kept darting away, too anxious to stay still.

"Hey, Ashy, look at me," Gary said, gently turning Ash’s face toward him. "I need to check your eyes, okay? You gotta stay still for me."

Ash’s eyes flickered for a second, but Gary could tell that Ash wasn’t really seeing the light at all. He was too distracted, too caught up in his own nervous energy.

Gary sighed and moved to check Ash’s ears, but as soon as he tried to peer in, Ash’s trembling made it impossible. His hands shook, and his teeth chattered audibly now. It was like the anxiety was bubbling up inside him, completely overwhelming.

Gary ruffled Ash’s hair, trying to snap him out of it. "Calm down, Ashy. You’re gonna be fine."

But it wasn’t working. Ash’s blood pressure was skyrocketing. Gary had to check it twice to believe the numbers—600 over 150. His heart was practically ready to burst at this point.

"Okay, Ashy-boy, you seriously need to calm down," Gary said firmly, sitting down next to him again. He grabbed Ash’s hand once more, holding it tightly. "Breathe with me, okay? In and out. You’re fine. You’re with me, alright?"

Ash scooted even closer, pressing into Gary’s side, his face pale and sweaty. He clutched Gary’s hand like a lifeline, trying his best to mimic Gary’s slow, steady breathing. His heart was still racing, but with Gary there, holding him and talking him through it, the panic wasn’t as overwhelming.

"That’s it, buddy," Gary murmured, squeezing Ash’s hand. "You’re doing great. Just take it easy."

For a long moment, they sat like that—Gary holding Ash’s hand, and Ash leaning against him, trembling less and less with each passing second. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to get Ash through the rest of the check-up.

And Gary, for all his teasing, never let go of Ash’s hand once.

Ash swallowed hard, trying to muster up some kind of response to Gary's question, but his voice caught in his throat. His heart was racing, his mind filled with a chaotic swirl of thoughts, none of them coherent.

Gary tilted his head, smirking slightly. "What’s the matter, Ashy? You look like you're about to pass out."

Ash fumbled with his words, his hands shaking slightly as he tugged at the hem of his shirt. "I-I’m fine... just... uh... thinking."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Thinking? That’s new." He stepped closer to Ash, his smirk widening. "Come on, Ashy-boy, you’ve faced down Legendary Pokémon. How hard can a check-up be?"

Ash was trembling now, unable to control his shaking hands. His leg bounced up and down nervously as he tried to find something to say, something that would make him feel less anxious, but the words wouldn’t come out. Gary noticed the trembling, the bouncing leg, and the distant look in Ash's eyes.

Gary sighed, leaning in slightly and placing his hand on Ash’s shoulder, squeezing gently. "Hey, Ashy, look at me," Gary said softly, his usual teasing tone gone for a moment. His voice was calm, almost soothing.

Ash blinked, his wide eyes locking onto Gary's. His heart was pounding so loudly in his chest that it felt like it would burst. He swallowed hard, trying to calm himself down, but the sheer anxiety of being in this situation—with Gary, of all people—was too overwhelming. His hands were trembling uncontrollably now.

"Come on, buddy," Gary said gently, his hand still on Ash’s shoulder. "You’re okay. Take a deep breath."

Ash nodded shakily, but his body wasn’t listening. His leg kept bouncing, and his teeth were chattering so loudly that it was almost embarrassing. Gary glanced down at Ash’s leg and then back at his face, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes.

"Hey, relax, Ash. It’s just me," Gary said, pulling up a chair next to Ash and sitting down. "We’ve done this before, remember? It’s not like I’m going to dissect you or something."

Ash’s eyes widened at the word ‘dissect,’ and before Gary could even react, Ash grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and held it out defensively. "What?!" Ash exclaimed, his voice cracking.

Gary’s eyes widened in surprise for a split second before he chuckled and reached out, gently grabbing Ash’s hand and pulling it down. "Whoa, whoa, easy there, Ashy-boy. I was just kidding. No need to bring out the heavy artillery."

Ash blinked, realizing what he’d just done, and let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand. "Right… a joke… heh."

Gary shook his head with a grin. "Geez, Ash. You’re really on edge, aren’t you?" He ruffled Ash’s hair playfully, trying to ease the tension.

Ash didn’t respond. His eyes darted around the room nervously as Gary started the check-up. First, he took out a small light and moved closer to Ash. "Okay, let’s start with your eyes," Gary said, holding the light up. "Look straight ahead."

Ash’s eyes twitched slightly, but he tried to comply. Gary waved the light back and forth, but Ash’s gaze was so unfocused that he wasn’t following it at all.

"Hey, Ashy," Gary said, nudging him. "You gotta follow the light. Come on."

Ash blinked and made a feeble attempt to follow the light, but his nerves were getting the better of him. He just couldn’t focus. Gary sighed, his expression softening. "You’re really worked up, huh?"

Ash could only nod weakly, his body still trembling. His teeth were still chattering, and Gary noticed.

"Alright, let’s check your ears." Gary moved to Ash’s side and peered into his ear with the otoscope. But even that wasn’t going smoothly. Ash was trembling so much that Gary could barely get a clear look. "Ashy, buddy, I can’t see a thing if you keep shaking like that."

Ash clenched his fists in his lap, trying to steady himself, but the more he tried, the worse it got. He could barely hold still for even a second. Gary sighed and set down the otoscope.

"Okay, let’s check your blood pressure." Gary wrapped the cuff around Ash’s arm and started pumping, but as the pressure built up, Ash felt even more panicked. His heart raced faster and faster, and Gary noticed the spike on the machine.

"Whoa, Ash," Gary said, his voice full of concern. "Your blood pressure’s through the roof! It’s like 600 over 150!"

Ash's face paled as he stared at Gary in disbelief. "W-What?! Is that... bad?"

Gary tried to laugh it off, but the worry was clear in his eyes. "Yeah, that’s... not great. You really need to calm down, Ashy." He placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder again, his grip firm but comforting. "Take it easy, okay? I’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you."

Ash’s leg kept bouncing, and his breathing was shallow and rapid. He was clearly on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. Gary sighed, shaking his head slightly.

"Alright, alright." Gary sat next to Ash on the examination table, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Hey, buddy. Calm down, okay? You’re fine. It’s just me. Remember when we were four, and I went with you for your first check-up? You freaked out back then too. But you got through it, right?"

Ash glanced at Gary, his chest still heaving with nervous breaths. He nodded slowly, remembering that day. It had been terrifying, but Gary had been there the whole time, supporting him, just like now.

"Yeah... I remember," Ash muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gary smiled and gave him a gentle squeeze. "See? You’re gonna get through this too. Just take it easy, Ashy."

Ash scooted a little closer to Gary, trying to find some comfort in his presence. Gary, noticing how much Ash was struggling, decided to just sit with him for a moment, not rushing anything. He took Ash’s trembling hand in his and squeezed it gently.

"Look at me, Ash," Gary said softly. "You’re okay. I’m right here. Just take a deep breath."

Ash hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Gary, trying to steady his breathing. It wasn’t easy, but with Gary’s hand holding his, he slowly started to calm down. His leg stopped bouncing as much, and his breathing slowed just a little.

Gary smiled and ruffled Ash’s hair again. "That’s it, Ashy-boy. You’re doing great. Just relax."

Ash managed a small smile, the tension in his body finally easing a bit. "Thanks, Gary... I guess I kinda freaked out, huh?"

Gary laughed softly. "Yeah, just a little. But hey, that’s what I’m here for, right?" He nudged Ash playfully, and for the first time all day, Ash actually felt a little better.

Gary gave Ash’s hand one last squeeze before standing up. "Alright, let’s finish this check-up, and then you can get out of here. Sound good?"

Ash nodded, feeling much more at ease now. "Yeah... sounds good."

And with Gary by his side, Ash knew he’d be okay.