Still shaken, Ash sits with his back against the cave wall and tries to calm his heart.
"Ashy-boy, we really should get going" Gary spoke softly. Ash didn't move a muscle. Gary sighed as he reached towards Ash.
"What are you doing, Gary?"
"Look, there's a lot more than just that Onix in here. We have to get moving and if you're to scared to do it on your own then I'll just have to carry you out."
"Scared? Get real Gary I'm….I-I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"...sure, Ash….well I'm good to go."
"..."
"What is it?" Ash looked up and stared right into the eyes of the person he hated the most.
"...Thanks, Gary…" The taller boy stood still for a brief moment as he slowly breathed in air through his nose.
"...Don't worry about it …..Ashy." Ash didn't take much notice of the new change to his nickname, he was still trembling about earlier's event. Ash took his time standing up, holding on to the wall of the cave as he did so.
"Okay, I'm ready."
With Gary leading the way, both boys stepped silently, and cautiously, retracing their path back out of the cave.
Gary whispered, his voice slightly amplified off the walls " Ash, you okay back there?"
" Yeah I'm fine…"
"Would you tell me if you weren't?" Ash sighed out of annoyance.
"Yeah, sure, whatever."
"That was convincing."
"You're starting to tick me off again, Gary."
" Well, sorry for worrying about you." Gary replied sarcastically.
" Would you just get us the fuck out of here?!"
" Such foul language,... Ashy"
" Get bent."
"... Whatever…."
The boys continued carefully finding their way back.
"Why does he have to be like that?" Ash wondered to himself. "Why can't he always be nice? I wouldn't get so mad, swear, yell and want to punch him all the time…"
Once again Ash was thinking deeply and not pay attention to where he was stepping.
The shorter young man with brown eyes felt his foot as it hit a rogue rock and the sinking feeling in his stomach when he realized that once again he was falling. Gary, recognizing the familiar sound turned around quickly. For the dark haired boy, time slowed down. He was falling forward and closed his eyes, waiting to feel the pain from the impact; it never came. Opening his eyes, Ash realizes that he had fallen right into the auburn haired boy, who had stretched out his arms and had caught him mid-fall. Looking up, Ash, in spite of himself, blushed slightly as he was face to face with Gary and staring right into his eyes which were staring into his.
Gary and Ash stood still for what seemed like hours to them. Gary was the first to make an attempt to move but not in the way that was expected by Ash. Pulling the smaller boy closer to him, the auburn haired boy started to form words on his lips.
"Ashy…..I-"
"Cu bone!"
"Zubat!"
"Weezing"
An ambush of fierce pokemon had surrounded the pair while they were distracted.
"AAAHHHHHHHHH" Ash screamed.
"BEEDRILL" A beedrill launched at Ash put missed when the taller young man pulled him out of the way just in time.
"Ash we have to get moving!" Ash trembled and stood where he was.
"ASH" Tears once again streamed down Ash's face. "I can't move….I can't scream. It's like I'm paralyzed...Gary...please..please save me." Ash begged in his head. He was too terrified to move or talk.
Gary placed his body in front of Ash, pokeball in hand.
"Stick behind me Ashy. I'll protect you."
Hi guys. I hope your enjoying everything so far. I'm sorry it's been going a bit slow but I have mid-terms and a life that tends to get in the way. Thank you for reading and I hope you guys are having as much fun reading it as I am writing it. I'd just like to give a shout out to -w cheers- for being with me throughout every chapter. Thank you so much for supporting me and being that very first comment which pushed me to keep writing this. It was an inspiration to know at least someone liked it and that was enough to keep going. I've been wanting to thank you but seeing as you don't actually have an account I can't so I decided to do it through here. Thank you so much cheers this one's for you.