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“That was incredibly foolish, young man!” Professor Oak admonishes, staring down at Ash with an air of disapproval. Goh crosses his arms over his chest, trying not to look too smug that his own lecture is being repeated by the older man. “Do you have any idea what could have happened if Goh hadn’t found you in time? You can’t act so recklessly, Ash.”
“I know, I know,” Ash sighs, scratching at the bandages wrapped around his head. “Sorry, professor.”
“It isn’t me you should be apologizing to,” Professor Oak says, his stern facade cracking to give Ash a sympathetic smile.
“Ugh, somebody told my mom, didn’t they?” Ash guesses, resigned. He settles further down into his hospital bed, like he wants the thing to just swallow him whole. “Is she coming to lecture me in person or can I expect a video call?”
“She’s on her way here.” Sam Oak scratches his chin. “Although I don’t think Delia is the one you should be worried about this time.”
Ash and Goh share a baffled look. Goh has only witnessed an upset Delia Ketchum once or twice, and it was the scariest thing Goh has ever seen. He can’t imagine that anything could possibly be worse. “What’dya mean, professor?”
“Gary was visiting your mother when she heard of your accident,” Sam says, appearing equal parts amused and apologetic. “He’s flying here with her.”
“Gary knows?” The color drains from Ash’s face. “And he’s coming here?”
“Yes, they should be arriving any moment now.”
Ash lunges for Goh, who so far has been happy to sit quietly next to Ash’s bed and watch while everyone else takes their turn reaming him for his latest bout of stupidity. Ash grabs the front of Goh’s shirt to shake him. “Goh, you have to get me out of here. I don’t care where we go, just hide me, please!”
“Why are you being weird?” And honestly, Goh has sort of lost track of how many times he’s had to ask that question since befriending Ash. While he’s not exactly thrilled to see Gary again, arrogant prick that he is, he doesn’t think the other man merits this level of panic.
“Because Gary is on his way,” Ash says slowly, like he’s talking to a small child. “And he’s mad at me. You have to save me!” He turns his imploring gaze toward the professor. “C’mon professor, help me out. Give him the wrong room number while I sneak out the back.”
Sam shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Ash, but you really brought this on yourself this time. I’m sure Gary will—“
“WHERE IS HE?!” A voice booms in the hallway. “Ash Ketchum, you reckless idiot, where are you hiding?!”
Goh didn’t think it was possible for Ash to look any paler, but he somehow manages it. “Goh, please!”
Before Goh can even formulate a response, the curtain around Ash’s bed is ripped open, a scowling Gary Oak on the other side. Delia trails in behind him a few seconds later, her smile bemused.
“Gary! What a surprise!” Ash says with a nervous chuckle. “Fancy seeing you here!”
“Don’t even try to play coy with me, Ash Ketchum!” Gary roars. “What were you thinking?! Though I’m starting to wonder if you were thinking at all.”
“Hey! No fair,” Ash protests. “What was I supposed to do? Those hunters kidnapped a bunch of wild pokemon! I had to save them.”
“So you decide to blow up a plane while you’re still in it?!” Gary puts his hands on his hips in such an accurate approximation of a livid Misty that even Professor Oak subtly backs up several paces.
Okay then, maybe Goh underestimated the severity of a pissed-off Gary Oak.
“Well, that wasn’t part of my plan, no,” Ash says, scratching the back of his head. He winces when he accidentally runs into some of his stitches. “But hey, it all worked out. The pokemon are safe, Officer Jenny arrested the hunters, and I wasn’t that hurt, so…”
“Not that hurt?” Gary repeats. “Not that hurt? What exactly is your definition of that hurt, Ash?”
“Gary, c'mon. I’m—I’m okay. I’ll be outta here before you know it.”
“You nearly died! ” Gary shouts. “You hit your head and fell into a river from a hundred feet in the air! By the time Goh found you, you weren’t breathing, your heart had stopped, and he had to do CPR to bring you back. Don’t you dare tell me you weren’t that hurt! You scared the hell out of me, Ash Ketchum. If Goh hadn’t—if he hadn’t—“ Gary breaks off, his breath hitching.
“Hey,” Ash says softly, his hand coming up to grab Gary’s. “I’m sorry for worrying you. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You better be,” Gary says, fiercely, but he seems to deflate a little under Ash’s smile. He sits on the edge of Ash’s bed, still holding Ash’s hand so tightly that his knuckles are turning white. “You are such a handful, Ashy.”
“We’ll leave you two to talk it out,” Delia cuts in, leaning down to give Ash a brief hug. “I’m sure you could do with a hot meal and some rest, Goh. You’ve had a long day.”
“Oh! Uh, yeah, sure.” Goh nods, relieved that he has an out from this awkward reunion. “Do you need anything before I go, Ash?”
Ash shakes his head, offering Goh a grin and a little wave with the hand that isn’t currently being crushed by Gary.
Goh follows Delia and Professor Oak out of the room, looking back one last time to see Gary lean forward for a gentle kiss.
Huh.
Well, that explains a lot, now that Goh thinks about it.
Then, as the realization sinks in, he scrunches his nose in disgust.
Oh, gross.
Really? Gary Oak? Of all people?
He really needs to talk to Ash about his taste in men.
But... later.
After Gary leaves.
Goh doesn't want to see anything more traumatizing than he already has today.