"Sorry guys, I think I might've broken the AC." Ren's voice echoed over the intercom.
"As if it wasn't hot enough." Chloe complained.
"No kidding." Ash said.
"At least you two can walk around like that and not be judged." Goh said, in a t shirt and cargo shorts.
Ash and Chloe were in the lightest shorts and sleeveless tops they had.
"You have one advantage over us though." Ash said.
"What's that?" Goh asked.
"You've met Kiawe and Kukui just go like them." Ash said.
"Oh yeah." Goh said, taking off his shirt.
"Just had to tell him that, didn't you." Chloe scowled.
"Okay, okay. I'm looking for somewhere we can cool off." Ash said, pulling out his phone.
Vermillion had been having a hot spell for a few days, and it was only getting worse, and now without AC, the lab residents were miserable.
"Can't we just go to Celadon, or Cerulean, or anywhere?" Chloe said.
"Goh can't." Ash pointed out.
"I've got an appointment in an hour anyways. You two have fun." Goh said, getting up.
"So where do you want to go?" Chloe said eagerly, scooching closer to Ash.
"You could try being a bit more sensitive, I know you're working on it, but he hasn't done anything wrong for a bit." Ash said, hesitating at the last part.
"He said we can go, so let's go." Chloe said.
"Well, that's the problem. Every town nearby is enduring the same heatwave." Ash said, showing Chloe the weather report.
"I bet no ones at the spa." Chloe said.
"No." Ash said, "End of discussion."
"Mika has a pool, a private one." Chloe said. "I could see if she's in town."
"And you didn't bring that up earlier because?" Ash asked.
"Fine, I'm calling her." Chloe said.
A few squealing filled minutes later
"She says we're welcome to come by." Chloe said.
"Since it's in Vermillion, could we maybe wait for Goh?" Ash asked.
"Ash, it's Goh. No offense, but the three of us in swimsuits, I don't trust him around us like that." Chloe said.
"I'm a guy too, remember?" Ash pointed out.
"Yeah, real manly there." Chloe laughed. "Seriously though, mental breakdown or not, I'm not comfortable showing that much, and neither are you." Chloe said.
"I know, I just feel bad." Ash said.
"Don't! What he did isn't right! He's lucky he still has a position here!" Chloe argued.
"If you're going to be like that, than just go by yourself." Ash said.
"I seriously can't believe you're defending him." Chloe said. "Enjoy the heat!"
A while later, at Ash's room
'Knock knock'
"Who is it?" Ash asked.
"It's me." Goh said.
"Me who?" Ash taunted.
"It's Goh, can we talk, without a door between us?" Goh pleaded.
"Fine, just come in quickly." Ash said opening the door.
As soon as Goh stepped in, the door closed behind him.
"I thought the AC was broken?" Goh said confused.
"It is, but in a room this size, a Glalie in a tub keeps things cool." Ash said, pointing to the bathroom.
Goh peaked inside to see Glalie and Pikachu having fun in the tub.
"Cool." Goh said.
"So what's up? You clearly didn't know I had this setup before coming in." Ash said.
"Well, I just wanted to say,". Goh said, taking a step forward, seeing Ash tense up a bit, he quickly stepped back a bit. "Sorry, anyways I just wanted to say thanks. I heard what you said to Chloe."
"You deserve the chance to be forgiven, and you've been making an effort to being a better person, I just said what I felt." Ash said.
"But you're still not comfortable with me getting close to you." Goh said saddened.
"I'm working at it Goh, but part of what Chloe said is right. What you did and said to me, and about what I am, it was hurtful and creepy." Ash said, putting his arms over his breasts.
"Yeah, my psychologist said we'd be looking into that next." Goh said.
"She's there to help." Ash said. "Remember that."
"I told my parents. The real truth that is." Goh said.
"How'd they react?" Ash said, concerned.
"They were angry at first, then concerned for you, then angry again, but I don't think the mental breakdown was a lie." Goh said.
"Goh, no one blames you." Ash said
"They blame me for the breakdown, my parents are relieved you aren't taking action for what I did." Goh said. "Also, they want you over for dinner tonight."
"Goh, I don't know if I should." Ash said.
"It's casual, and we have non Glalie AC." Goh offered. "They just want to thank you for staying my friend through this."
"I'll think about it. This may be a small thing, but it's a big step." Ash said.
Later that night
"I don't know if she's coming or not." Goh said, looking out the window.
"You did invite her right?" Goh's dad said.
"Yes, I did, but Ash even said she wasn't sure." Goh said.
"I can't blame the girl. At that age, had one of my guy friends done that to me, he'd have been lucky if he never saw me again." Goh's mother said, with a hint of sass.
"Mom, Ash isn't like that, trust me." Goh said.
'Ding dong'
"Oh, that must be her!" Goh's mother exclaimed.
Ash was uncomfortable, he had called his mother and Serena for advice, so now here he was in a blouse and skirt, carrying a pie, waiting for someone to answer the door.
"Ash, good to see you again. Come in." Goh's mother said. "And you brought pie."
"It was my moms suggestion, I didn't make it though." Ash said.
"Don't worry, when I met Camille, she couldn't cook either." Goh's dad said. "Still can't, I wear the apron in this family." He said with a chuckle.
"Thanks for coming." Goh said awkwardly.
"You deserve the chance." Ash said.
"Let the girl in Goh, dinners ready to go." Goh's dad said.
Sorry about the repost