“ Brock!” Misty yelled as she burst into the Center, the peaceful atmosphere turning tense. The 15 year old boy looked up from his chart. “ Hi, Misty. If this is about din-” “ This isn’t about dinner!” Misty cried. “ It’s Ash!” Brock froze. “ What?!” Misty nodded. “ Team Rocket was going to poison Pikachu-” Brock’s eyes narrowed. “ Oh, those greedy, greedy, greedy-” “ BROCK NOW’S NOT THE TIME!” Brock sheepishly scratched his neck. “ Right. Anyway, where is he?” “ Outside, playing brave Ash.” Misty rolled her eyes. Brock groaned. “ You’d think after all this he would at last REST!” “ Nope!” Brock sighed. “ Well, I suppose that’s just Ash for you.” Misty nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “ Yeah, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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“ Brock, I’m fine! Really!” Ash protested.
“ Uh huh. Sure.” He eyed him skeptically.
“ Its’ true!”
Brock sighed. " Ash, shut up and let me help you."
" But I don't need help!"
" Uh huh. Then explain to me why you have a thorn in your side?"
Ash looked at it and opened his mouth, but nothing came out
Misty could see from his face he was going to correct Brock.
" Ash, what is it?" She prodded.
" Nothing."
" Ash......."
Ash gulped as he looked at Misty. " Uh...."
" Ash Ketchum, you tell us right this instant what it is!*
Brock's eyes widened, and Misty gasped. "What?! A poisonous thorn?!" she cried, rushing over to examine Ash’s side.
Brock quickly pulled out a pair of tweezers from his bag. "Why didn’t you say anything earlier? This could be serious, Ash!"
Ash rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well... I didn’t want to worry you guys. It’s not that bad..."
"Not that bad?" Misty glared at him. "Ash, you could’ve been seriously hurt! Why do you always have to play the hero?"
Brock didn’t waste any time, carefully pulling the thorn out while Misty watched, her arms crossed in frustration. As Brock applied disinfectant, Ash winced slightly, but kept his eyes fixed on Misty.
"See, no big deal," Ash muttered, trying to downplay it.
Misty huffed, throwing her hands up in the air. "Of course it's a big deal, Ash! You’re lucky it wasn’t worse!"
Brock finished patching Ash up, his expression serious. "Misty’s right. You’ve got to stop trying to take everything on by yourself. We’re your friends, Ash—we’re supposed to help you."
Ash looked between them, his expression softening. "I know... I just didn’t want you guys to worry about me."
"Well, too late for that," Misty muttered. "We’re always going to worry about you, Ash."
Brock stood up, folding his arms. "Yeah, and next time, tell us when something happens. You're not invincible."
Ash sighed, but there was a small, grateful smile on his face. "Alright, I get it. Thanks, guys."
Misty shook her head, but a smile crept back onto her face. "You’re impossible, Ash."
Ash chuckled, feeling the weight of his friends’ concern lift him up. "Yeah, but you wouldn’t have it any other way, right?"
Misty and Brock shared a look, then both broke into a smile. "Yeah, we wouldn’t," they said in unison.
