Ash and May have been friends for years. Their relationship has developed, not into love, but more casual, 'friends with benefits'. What happens when one feels more? Oneshot.
Ash rolled over, panting. May looked at him, smiling. "Wow."
"Yeah." Ash turned over and faced the wall, ignoring his friend. The smile dropped from May's face, as she also turned to face the wall of Ash's house in Pallet Town. They'd been doing this for almost two years - a cycle of friendship, sex, and then acting as though it had never happened, only to repeat it the next time the need overtook them. May shook her head, and climbed out of Ash's bed, intending to shower. A tear rolled down her face as she thought of what they had become.
Ash was lying still, listening to May softly sobbing in the bathroom. He felt bad. They'd always been friends, and this 'friends with benefits' thing was starting to take its toll on their relationship. He knew it was wrong, but that didn't stop them. He heard the shower start. Even though it had been casual - they both emphasised this - Ash had started thinking about May a lot more often. When he was alone, when he was training with his Pokémon, even doing his washing. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He welcomed these feelings.
After May had showered, she went back into Ash's room, intending to sleep. She lay back down, pulling the blanket over herself, and rolled over, again facing the wall. Then she froze. An arm had made its way over her side, and was now cuddling her to a broad chest. Ash. She could feel him pressed up against her body, but not wanting sex. She relaxed, feeling safe. He hadn't done this before. She felt his chest expand, as her took a deep breath.
"May... I'm sorry."
"Me too," she whispered.
The morning sun woke May. She stretched and took in her surroundings, noticing that Ash was already up. Hurriedly dressing, she walked downstairs, to be greeted by a strange sight.
Ash was dressed in his Mr. Mime costume, and the real Mimey was giving Ash the evil eye. He walked over to Ash and pulled off the head, causing Ash to topple over. May burst out laughing.
"May." Ash stood up with great difficulty. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Huh. Well, Ash, I think you look great in the Mr. Mime costume." May doubled over, holding her stomach while laughing. The real Mr. Mime shook his head, and left the room.
"May... please, look at me."
May looked up. Ash was holding a bunch of flowers.
"I wanted to give you these, and to ask you something very important." He passed the flowers to May, who squealed upon a closer inspection.
"Ash, I love tulips! they're my favourite! How did you know?"
"Uh, yeah." Truthfully, Ash didn't know that those were her favourites, he just picked them because they smelt nice. "May..."
"Ash?" She looked into his eyes.
"I... I have known you for nearly six years. You're my best friend, and I think that we need a change."
"What do you mean?" May was confused.
"I don't want to be casual any more, May. It's all or nothing." Ash's eyes welled up. "I can't say how I feel about you, because I don't have the words. I can't keep ignoring my feelings. Please, May, will you be my other half? My significant other? The Illumise to a Voltbeat?" Ash stood still, barely even breathing, waiting for May's reply.
May stood up.
"Yes. Even though I am having a lot of trouble taking you seriously right now" - indicating the Mr. Mime costume Ash was still wearing - "I will." She crossed the room to where Ash was standing and kissed him soundly on the lips.
"What's with the costume?"
Ash smiled. "If you said no, then you could laugh at me."
"I'm going to laugh at you anyway." May giggled and kissed him again. "Finally."