Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Ash's check up

Ash’s heart felt like it was going to leap out of his chest as he sat on the edge of the examination table, gripping the edge tightly. His leg bounced uncontrollably, a clear sign of his nerves. Gary leaned against the counter, casually putting on a pair of gloves, the smirk on his face a little softer now.

"Relax, Ashy-boy," Gary teased, snapping the gloves into place. "It’s not like I’m going to give you a shot or something. I’m just checking your vitals."

Ash gave a nervous laugh, though it sounded more like a squeak. "Y-Yeah, sure... just checking vitals."

Gary approached, pulling a small flashlight from his pocket. Ash flinched slightly, his hands gripping the table tighter. Gary noticed and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey, buddy. You're gonna be okay. It’s just me—Gary. You remember that time when we were kids, right? You freaked out over a check-up, and I had to bribe you with a whole box of Pokémon cards to calm you down."

Ash’s cheeks flushed at the memory. "I-I wasn’t that bad!"

Gary chuckled. "Ashy-boy, you cried so hard the nurse had to take a break."

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

"Because it’s funny," Gary said with a grin. He gently removed Ash’s hands from his face. "Alright, first, let’s check your eyes. Look straight ahead."

Ash hesitated, then nodded slightly. Gary held up the flashlight, turning it on with a soft click. He used his thumb to gently lift Ash’s eyelid, the glove cool against Ash’s skin. "Okay, follow the light with your eyes, not your head," Gary instructed.

Ash’s breaths were shallow as his eyes darted after the light. "Good. Keep going," Gary said, his tone unusually calm and supportive. Ash found it strange—not the usual teasing Gary, but the one who knew exactly how to handle him in moments like these.

"Done with that," Gary announced after a moment, clicking the flashlight off. "Now, ears and mouth. Stay still."

Gary grabbed an otoscope from the counter and tilted Ash’s head slightly. "Hold still, Ashy. This won’t hurt." He examined one ear, then the other, muttering a soft, "Looks good." He then grabbed a tongue depressor. "Say 'ahh.'"

Ash hesitated, his mouth trembling slightly. "Ahh..."

"Good boy," Gary teased lightly, causing Ash to glare at him half-heartedly. Gary smirked. "Throat looks fine. No need to panic, buddy."

Ash’s nerves eased—only slightly—but then Gary grabbed the stethoscope, and Ash stiffened all over again.

"Heart time," Gary said. He placed the stethoscope against Ash’s chest. "Breathe in... and out."

Ash did as told, though his breaths were shaky. Gary frowned slightly as he listened. "Ashy... your heart’s racing like crazy. Calm down, buddy. It’s just me."

Ash swallowed hard. "I-I can’t help it."

Gary sighed and moved to sit beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Listen, you’re overthinking this. I’ve got you, okay? You don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s me, Ashy-boy. I’d never let anything bad happen to you."

Ash blinked, his body stiffening slightly at the unexpected hug. Gary’s warmth and steady presence began to chip away at his panic, though. Slowly, Ash leaned into him, his hands clutching his hat tightly.

"Thanks," Ash mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gary pulled back after a moment, giving him a reassuring smile. "Alright, now for the boring stuff—blood pressure and reflexes." He grabbed the blood pressure cuff and secured it around Ash’s arm.

Ash’s leg bounced again as the cuff tightened. Gary glanced at the numbers, his eyebrows shooting up. "Whoa. Ashy-boy, your blood pressure’s through the roof—like, in the 400s. No wonder you’re so jittery."

Ash looked horrified. "What?! Am I dying?"

Gary laughed, patting his shoulder. "No, you’re not dying. You’re just freaking out too much. Take a deep breath."

Ash tried to calm down as Gary grabbed a reflex hammer. "Alright, last thing—reflexes." He tapped Ash’s knee lightly, and his leg jerked in response. "Perfect reflexes, as always."

Ash let out a shaky sigh of relief as Gary removed his gloves. "See? You survived, buddy."

"Yeah," Ash muttered, still clutching his hat.

Gary ruffled Ash’s hair with a grin. "Told you I wouldn’t poison you. But man, you’ve got to chill out next time."

Ash gave a weak chuckle. "I’ll try... but only if you’re the one doing the check-up."

Gary smirked. "Deal, Ashy-boy."