Palletshipping Fluff - You're My Loser.

"I'll pay more attention to you when I'm done my work here, Ashy-Boy."
Gary spoke coldly and yet softly as he sorted the different evolution stones out on the table, examining each one and giving each it's own label. He was nose-deep in his research, led by his father of course. He and his father had a similar taste in work. Do it all day, crash at night. Ash didn't like this. He wanted Gary to pay more attention to him. But whenever they got a chance to actually talk, Gary was either burnt out from too much work, or he just went straight back to working again. However, he doesn't say much because he didn't want to anger the scientist-in-training, even though he wouldn't really mind a debate, he didn't want to risk it. Ash flinched slightly, snapping out of thought when Pikachu jumped off of his shoulder and did a swan-dive into Gary's bag upon hearing a faint beeping noise.

Gary turned around the instant he noticed this happening, practically tossing Pikachu out of the bag defensively. He picked it up and held it to his chest, red-faced and angry looking. An odd expression Ash had never seen before.

"D-Don't read my texts, Pikachu! Those are private!"

Ash crossed his arms, a slight tilt to his head.

"Gary, what could be so secret that you won't let Pikachu look at? You never leave your lab, what on earth could you possibly be hiding?"

Responding much too quickly and loudly, Gary tensed his body up and yelled.

"NOTHING!" in response to Ash's simple, seemingly harmless question.

But little did he know..

Popping his head out of Ash's shirt, was Pikachu. Pikachu wore a sneer of victory on it's face, staring straight at Gary.. With his cellphone in it's hand.

Gary's heart dropped. He felt like jelly. Idiotic jelly. Why didn't he pay any attention? His mind was swimming with questions, morely nonsensical ones, not knowing how to react to the situation. In an act of defense over his texts, he suddenly tackled Ash to the ground and pinned him against it, sandwiching Pikachu between the two of them to trap him. Ash's face reddened slightly and he instantly began to squirm like a child, confused as hell. But Gary managed to just barely hold him down, keeping Pikachu there as well. Pikachu growled and protested between them, face against each of their chests. It decided it's had enough. Thunderbolt.

The powerful jolt of electricity flowed between the two males, causing both to scream out in pain and surprise. Gary rolled off of Ash like a pin, holding his chest and wincing when, because of static, he accidentally shocked himself. He lay there, breathing heavily, slightly dazed, Ash groaning and cursing next to him, equally as dazed. But both boys again snapped out of it when Pikachu climbed ontop of them, snickering in triumph, holding Gary's cellphone in the air, showing it off. Gary sat up swiftly to retrieve it but Ash was quicker, lunging forwards and snatching it, impatient. He wanted to see what Gary's big fuss was about. And when he saw the texts between Gary and Misty.. He knew why.

The first few texts weren't so bad. They were from months ago. It was just Gary and Misty arguing and cussing back and forth like children. He continued to scroll.

The next were somewhat odd. Misty had confessed her love for Gary after not replying to him for an entire three months. Gary Half-Heartedly declined, uninterested in the loads of paragraphs she had sent to him explaining her attraction. But oddly enough, he was kind about it. He turned her down more politely than you may have expected. She seemed pretty disappointed about the answer, but returned the kindness, and from there, the two began to talk more. Every day, they'd message eachother, as if they'd been friends for ages. Sometimes they'd argue, but it was much rarer now.

But the next, from last night, were what shocked Ash most. Gary texted Misty at 1:45AM telling her he was stressed out and needed some advice. Since when did Gary ever need advice? And he always acted so full of himself, who knew the guy ever got stressed? But anywho, Misty instantly began flooding him with questions, asking him what was wrong, as if it meant the world to her. Ash knew Misty could tell Gary was hiding something from her, but what, he had yet to find out. He continued scrolling. Gary told Misty he was having trouble focusing on his work at all, or even focusing on basic things such as cooking or cleaning the house, which he usually excelled at. And the reason for it all, his anxiety, insomnia, his stress, his sluggishness - Was because he had a huge attraction towards none other than Ash Ketchum himself. He explained to her that he 'knew Ash was straight and he'd never fall for someone as dorky and lame as I am'. And ranted on about how, because Gary was so full of himself during his childhood, and because he was so rude to Ash all those years back - He'd never have a chance.

Ash was shocked. He placed the cellphone down on his lap, wide-eyed, surprised, and-.. Excited. He was blushing like a child who was just given their first Gym Badge. He looked over at Gary, and winced slightly when he noticed the brunette was in tears, his face covered with the sleeve of his lab coat. He got up, placing the phone down and walking over to him, suddenly tugging him to his feet and hugging him tightly. Gary was surprised, but also caught up in his own misery, and began to cry harder, burying his face in Ash's shoulder and squeezing him. Ash just rubbed and patted his back in response, repeatedly telling him that everything was fine, and that he'd be okay. But when the brunette ceased to calm down, he knew what had to be done.

Pulling away from the hug abruptly, he met eyes with the teary-faced scientist. He wiped a tear from Gary's eye with his thumb, flicking it aside and smiling warmly. Making sure to be quiet, he mumbled.

"Gary, it's okay.. You'll be okay because.. I love you too."

Gary's eyes went wider, the stream of tears coming from his eyes dying down. He was at loss for words for a moment, before he managed to mumble back.

"Do you really mean it, Ashy-Boy? Don't toy with me.."

Ash laughed a little.

"It's not like that anymore. I trust you, now trust me. I stay true to my word."

Instead of giving a response to what Ash had just said, Gary brought him close and kissed him warmly, passionately. Neither of them had ever experienced a kiss like this before. They've both kissed girls before, sure, but it was never as great as it was now. Gary wrapped his arms around the raven-haired boy's waist and laughed a little himself, finally pulling back and smiling the usual Gary Oak smile.

"You're still a loser, Ashy-Boy. But you're my loser."