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Traveling through the Orange Islands with Tracey had seemed like a fun idea at first—Gary’s grandpa hadn’t retired yet, and Tracey had been able to handle the lab on his own when he was even younger than Max was now, so there was nothing to worry about back home. Gary could have an adventure with his boyfriend.
And despite some small mishaps, like sunburns and heat exhaustion and one instance of Gary falling asleep on Blastoise and getting a very startling awakening when he fell into the ocean, it had been fun.
Until Prima talked him—the esteemed Professor Oak Jr.—into an exhibition match, and he couldn’t think of a reason to refuse that didn’t make him sound like a coward.
Which meant he had to do it, because Gary Oak was not a coward. Even though he hadn’t battled in front of a bigger audience than the Project Mew team since he was a kid.
He’d at least been given some time to prepare, though all he was doing was sitting on the bed in his and Tracey’s hotel room, trying to gather his nerves.
But as he thought of everything that could go wrong, every way he or his pokémon could get hurt or humiliated, his heart raced and his stomach tied itself into knots.
“Are you okay?” Tracey’s voice jerked him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Tracey looking at him, those big dark eyes brimming with worry.
“I will be,” Gary said, putting a hand over his heart and willing it to steady. “You know me. I can handle a challenge.”
“And I also know you’re too proud and stubborn to back down even when you want to,” Tracey said calmly. “I know I probably can’t talk you out of it, but it’s okay to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous!” Gary lied, ignoring Tracey’s skeptical look and the way his stomach twisted as if in defiance. “This is another chance to show off. I’m gonna—gonna—oh, fuck!”
It wasn’t hard to recognize what Gary’s choked profanity and sudden sprint for the bathroom meant.
Gary liked to affectionately tease Tracey about having too sensitive a stomach for coffee or spicy food, and Tracey didn’t mind, but those were pretty bold words from a serial stress vomiter. He looked around for Gary’s poké balls—if there was ever a time Gary needed his service pokémon, it was now—and headed to the bathroom door.
He knocked three times in quick succession, a wordless I love you, then announced, “Coming in!”
Gary was wrapped around the toilet and retching painfully, and Tracey winced in sympathy. He went to Gary’s side and rubbed his boyfriend’s back. “That’s it, moonbeam. Get it out.”
The retching soon gave way to dry-heaving, and then he slumped against Tracey with a groan. “I feel so gross, Trace.”
“I know.” Tracey wrapped an arm around him and stroked his smooth stomach, feeling him flinch in surprise before relaxing. “Want an antacid? Even if it won’t help with the nerves, it might make you feel a little better.”
Gary nodded. “Anything to keep from puking in front of a bunch of people.”
“You’re still doing the battle?” Tracey gave him a concerned look. “You know being sick is the perfect reason to not do something you don’t want to do. You’ve used it before.”
“Yeah, I know. I want to do this.” Gary met his gaze, unmistakable resolve in his viridian eyes. “It’s a matter of pride now. I owe it to my pokémon to try.”
“Speaking of your pokémon,” Tracey said, holding out a poké ball, “you should let Umbreon out. He can look after you while I grab those antacids and some water.”
Gary opened his mouth like he was about to protest, then groaned instead. “Okay, just go. Please.”
“Anything for you, love.” Tracey pressed a kiss to Gary’s cheek before standing up.
He left the bathroom to rummage through his backpack, quickly finding the medicine and water.
When he returned, Gary was dry-heaving again. Umbreon was beside him, nuzzling him consolingly, and Tracey smiled in relief at the sight. He knelt at Gary’s other side. “Any better?”
Gary leaned against him with a soft groan. “I’m all empty, just waiting for my gag reflex to get the memo.”
“Maybe this’ll help.” Tracey opened the bottle of antacids and handed him one, then the water bottle. “Small sips until the nausea settles. You don’t want to make yourself sick again.”
“Damn right I don’t.” Gary took the medicine and then a few sips of water. “Pathetic, huh? Getting so nervous over a little battle.”
“It’s not pathetic,” Tracey said. “You haven’t battled in front of people since you were a kid. Stage fright is normal, and making yourself a little sick over it is… you. And you—” he tapped Gary’s nose with a finger for emphasis “—are anything but pathetic.”
A ghost of a smile played across Gary’s face. “Thanks, sunshine.”
“Anytime, moonbeam,” Tracey replied. “Want to lie down for a minute? It might help you relax.”
“Lay with me?” Gary gave him a hopeful look. As if there were even the smallest possibility of him saying no.
“Of course.” Tracey helped Gary up, resting a hand on his back as they walked out. Umbreon stayed close to Gary’s other side.
The three of them all settled onto the bed together, Gary and Tracey lying face to face while Umbreon curled up at their feet. Warm affection spread through Tracey’s body as Gary snuggled into his chest, and he held his boyfriend close, rubbing Gary’s back.
“If I fall asleep,” Gary murmured into Tracey’s chest, “wake me up twenty minutes before the match.”
“Will do,” Tracey promised. “Don’t worry. Rest.”
Rest Gary did, his breaths growing deep and even. He was going to be fine.