Chapter Text
Ashes in May Ch. 32 Jabbing Pain
It wasn’t long after May had stepped out of the room that Gary stirred in his bed and waking up to an empty room. Alas, he was alone, stretching his body he kicked his legs over the bed and stood up. The night prior he had barely managed to kick of his shoes before face planting into his pillow and off to the dream world he went. Speaking of which, he should really look more into Professor Burnet’s research on the matter, it was after all a fascinating concept.
Regardless, when the redhead motioned to get up there was a momentary and involuntary twitch of his left knee and immediately following he felt his knee roll, causing him to lose balance. Thankfully, with his other leg he managed to angle himself in the direction of the bed, rather than falling forwards face first onto the floor. Well, there it was the side effect, a weakness that could be as little as a numb limb to momentarily incapacitate him, well at the very least keep him immobile. The young professor just laid there slumped to the side, his legs hanging slanted off the bed, and one specific leg in a temporary state of paralysis. Said leg had stiffened and gone numb and when he reached down to try and massage some feeling into it, he could only hiss as the motion only cause numb aches to travel up his leg. It was as if his leg had become dead weight and all the young man could do was massage his way down his calf muscles. “Damn it, I wasn’t expecting that,” Gary cursed trying to force movement in his resistant leg only to watch as it extended at a leisurely pace. At least, the others weren’t around to see him in such a pathetic state, small mercies and all that. Gary glared intensely at his own leg with discontent, anger seeping into his bloodstream for a moment.
Of course, Gary intimately knew the side effects of the lightning strike, as evident by the lightning shaped scars that branched out over his shoulder, down his left arm, and down his body to just slightly below his left knee. The trainer had some nerve damage in and around his hand and knee due to the lightning splitting course in his body, where one branched down his arm and the other down to escape out through his knee, lucky him. That being said, when the nerves in his knee acted up, it was like the faulty nerves there blocked all signal down to his foot, so even though the damage should only extend from his shoulder to his thigh, it was as if his entire leg went out of commission. The doctor had gone over all this with him, but he’d hoped that just maybe he’d make a full recovery. Over the last month, whenever he felt a flare up coming he’d make a hasty retreat pretending to be getting a call. Ironically enough, when questioned as to why no one ever heard any ringtone, with suspicion of if there even was a call, the quick thinker confirm that he always preferred his phone on silent. He still remembers the look Professor Burnet gave him, that look of concern and knowing, oh Mew, was she good. After, it was her suggestion to try and talk about things, and if not with her than Kukui who could relate better with Gary than he might have thought.
Truth be told she was right, and while he didn’t reveal everything, he had talked with his friend’s father about his health concerns and how frustrated he felt. Kukui had listened attentively to him and even joined him on every doctor’s visits for moral support, most visits he kept secret from Ash and May. Eventually, Kukui invited him to work out in the home gym the older professor had down in the basement. The Pokémon Move researcher had dedicated a sizeable room for his home gym after they had renovated and expanded their beach front home. Considering that both Kukui and Burnet were very successful in their professions they had turned their beach house into a beach side mansion and with only one other home nearby, they really weren’t disturbing anyone. On a side tangent, Gary never understood why Ash and Elio share a room, even though the home had enough rooms for each of the permanent human residents. As for May and Gary specifically, well May stayed a night here or there in her guest room, but most of the time she’s spend the nights in Ash and Elio’s room. He however, would deny that he actually like being around Ash’s presence and may or may not have lied when he said that his back hurt to much while sleeping on futons. When he had been ask, ‘Why not sleep on one of the beds in a guestroom,’ he simply shrugged and moved on. Gary would also deny that he lied about the futon because he enjoyed cuddling with Ash. Sure, at first it was simply because he felt lonely sometimes, but as his crush developed and with Ash being a chaos sleeper yet somehow a clingy Komala, he honestly reveled in the physical contact with the boy he’d fallen in love with.
Then the more time he spent with Kukui and getting motivation and advise, the better he began to feel. After being in the hospital with May, he could feel the tension between May and him. Even though he loved when May joined Ash and him for sleep time cuddles, he couldn’t help feeling overjoyed and awkward around her. His heart would flutter when during the night where she snuggle next to him holding onto his arm as if he was her life line. It had always been cute to hear the little sounds and whines she let out in her sleep. Like with Ash, he truly loved his time being so close to her and yet, back at the hospital, he had felt resentful towards her for not telling him about the baby. He realized that she wasn’t required to tell him and had worked to forgive and treat her with the respect May deserved. It was just that all three of them were supposed to be best friends, and knowing that Ash had been in the know while he wasn’t hurt. Not to mention that he had been so close to loosing her as well. Yet, he was in the same boat, keeping secrets. Gary had told them about his run in with Giovanni, but didn’t go into details about the Black Tower or the sick and horrid torture and experimentation going on there. He also didn’t mention the potential connection between the Black Tower, Giovanni, and Ash himself. Secrets. Yep, Secret.
Anyways back on topic, Gary was young, in great shape and health, but nonetheless human. The human body could heal remarkably on its own, even more so with medicinal treatments and Pokemon healing powers. Yet, he was the lucky one, or better said unlucky one, to had such severe damage that your everyday Audino or Chansey couldn’t help heal his damaged nerves. If he were to make a comparison, the young man would argue that the effects he was experiencing were similar to a Pokemon who had been afflicted with the paralysis status condition, only that a Paralyze Heal would not work on him. In addition to his legs, his arm was also afflicted by this, for example, he would be typing on his laptop and notice how multiples of a single letter suddenly appeared in his document, only to realize that his pointer finger or pinkie had decided it was the perfect occasion to be tapping down some beats. Some days were better than others, of course, and it wasn’t as though it was every single day, sure. Now just think about how you would feel if out of nowhere you loose feeling in a finger, let alone your entire arm and hand, or like currently for him, your leg and foot. To Gary, it was as if his limb had gone numb with a vague feeling of static, and then if he so much as use his dead weight of a hand for any menial task, his nerves would shoot out as though they were live wires. Again, for the most part, he was fine, all his limps worked fine, well at least that’s what he told himself.
So, when he rubbed at a particularly sensitive spot around his knee, the hiss that came from him was loud enough for one of his Pokéballs to shake violently before opening. With a flash of light, one of his most loyal Pokémon appeared, concern clearly written on its face. “Umbreee, Breon Umbrr,” the male eeveelutions whined stepping close to give a few comforting licks to his hurting trainer. Gary didn’t smile at the affection, as he normally would, finding himself just too tired, but with his dark type near his knee he managed to provide it with gentle caresses to show he appreciated its care and worry. As much as Umbreon loved the pets his human gave him, especially, when he rubbed gently yet firmly with fingers against the muscles just behind its head, it didn’t loose the concerned kitten eyes it gave him. Gary sighed with understanding and whispered his acknowledgement, “I know, bud, I know.”
Carefully, Umbreon hopped onto the bed with feline elegance and curled up against his human, giving him as many head rubs as it would take to help his human. ‘What did I do to deserve such amazing Pokemon,” the brunette thought to himself, letting his body sink back into the bed and just allow himself to be comforted by his Pokémon. Ever since the typhoon incident, he noticed how all his Pokémon began to act a bit different than before, you know, treating him gently. Nothing to crazy or claustrophobic, but with that comforting present feeling. Umbreon, for one, had become more affectionate them before. That’s not to say that it never had been, just that his Umbreon tended to be more of a solitary creature, that didn’t mine affection from time to time. After it evolved from friendly affection to begin with, it wouldn’t make sense for it not to be affectionate. No, the difference was not necessarily in the amount of it, as much as the way it was presented. See, whenever he had these flare up, Umbreon would become quite worried and cuddle up to him trying its best to get him through it. Additionally, the kitten eyes it gave him if he tried to push the dark type away were always filled with hints of fear, a fear that Gary might just be there one moment then gone the next…of course he broke every time, duh! He witnessed this manifest in a similar way with his other Pokémon. Blastoise would walk close enough to him, ready to be support in case his legs acts up. Arcanine would try to squeeze its massive body onto Ash’s bed which he’d share with Ash and Pikachu, only to be forced to sleep on the futon because the canine wanted to keep his legs and feet warm. Even his Miltank, with the help of Alakazam, filled him a few bottles of Moomoo Milk to drink. Gosh did he loved his Pokémon, they were so caring and loving, it was truly unconditional loved.
Finally, accepting he wasn’t going to be moving for a bit so he let his mind wonder until he got back feeling in his leg. So, he thought about their little adventure so far, the events in Grampa canyon had gone differently then last time according to Ash, obviously, due to their presence as they definitely were not there the first go around as teenagers. In the end things had ended as they should have, again, base on what Ash could tell. While the four of them had protected themselves from Jigglypuff’s song, everyone else was still marked in black ink by the fairy type and the original gang got Togepi’s egg. The differences for this go around and the original, other than their very presence, was that Ash caught an Omanyte and he caught Aerodactyl, surely that could have some form of ramifications right? After all it was Celebi who had brought them to this point in time. Could it simply be playing around? He didn’t know, it seemed too unlikely, and what did the disembodied Hoopa ring have to do with any of this? It had attached itself to May’s wrist, and since they had time traveled and location shifted through it, the golden ring had remained inactive. He couldn’t figure it out, and thankfully it was then that his leg began to feel like a part of his body again leading him to shelve those questions for later. Finally, he tested his leg by wiggling his sock covered toes, making sure the nerve signals travel all the way up, flexing the muscles in his leg and when satisfied with the sensation he moved to get up to go and find the two people he’s head over heels for. Umbreon also followed along, happy its trainer was feeling better over all.
Passing through the halls, he noticed the absence of many trainers and wondered if the city just was one without many prevalent trainers. Judging by the time on his watch, the Pokemon Center’s cafeteria would be closed for breakfast, so the only other place Ash could logically be would be outside on the battle field probably training. To Gary, his Ash was so easily to predict. Of course, his May-flower was also likely to be there because if she wasn’t with one of them she’d usually be with the other. Though with a chuckle, Gary thought it was the same way in vice versa between the two boys. As the trainer and Pokémon rounded the corner they first saw the other’s group of Pokémon conversing excitedly near a stone fence. Manaphy flapping its flippers while Lucario easily holding it in its arms. Glaceon was getting cuddly with a blushing Pikachu, who’s cheeks were red than usual. As a result, Umbreon took off with quick feline grace to Pikachu, nuzzling Pikachu, and giving him some loving licks. The tall brunette chuckled at Pikachu’s flushed expression and thought, ‘Oh, to be wanted by both, you lucky Pokémon.’
Now, having fully rounded the corner, he gaze swept around the battlefield observing all the damage it had, no doubt recently received due to some intensive training. Eventually, his sights landed on the spot both May and Ash stood in the midst of sucking face. If anyone had been looking at his face in that moment they’d see various emotions flash across his handsome face. First shock, followed by disbelief and denial, then anger and finally settling on equal parts jealousy and lust. Oh, fuck, they were really doing it, aggressively making out and grinding on each other in plain view of anyone who could be passing by. In plain view of Gary! Ash had May up against the wall, his knee between her legs and while she was rotating her hips, her core could grind against it. Clearly, Ash was responding in kind, who wouldn’t when such a gorgeous woman like her was giving you her attention. He watched as one of Ash’s hand roamed around to her rear and cupping her round ass, bringing out a hum from her that Gary imaged he could feel the deep vibration from where he stood. Then to watch her go and bring out sounds of pleasure from him by raking her nails through his scalp and watched how she made him shiver. Gary had never seen Ash shiver like that, he didn’t even know he could shutter like that. What about May, how good would she look if he could get her to shiver like that! Eventually, his roaming emerald green eyes land at the juncture of Ash’s legs where an obvious and large bulge pressed against May’s belly. Fuck, they were so turned on, HE was so turned on, he realized by the tightness in his slacks as he was at half mast, so before it got worse he steeled himself and stepped up to the two.
“Ehem…”
Nothing, not even a twitch they so are gone in each other that they could not hear him. Only the sound of low moans and the smack of wet lips was his response. The Charming Prince of Kanto felt his cock pulse in his pants, watching as the Princess of Hoenn moved a hand into the Champion of Alola’s hair while the other was subtly moving downward clearly with the intention to grope the Champion’s hard cock. On the other hand, Ash now had both hands on her rear grasping at her with fervor. Couldn’t these two have gotten it on anywhere else, preferably getting all hot and bothered back in their room, were he could watch from. He needed to end this, and give a quick side glance at the Pokémon who were distracted, all except Lucario who gave him a knowing look. Why the Reverse world was a Pokémon half their age giving him that look?!
Again, Mr. Oak steeled his nerves, while focusing on un-steeling his hard manhood, yelled, “You’re out in puBLIC!”
Finally, something in them clicked as Ash pulled away and the two stared at each other eyes, minds still foggy with arousal. Gary was not amused, looking at them incredulously. Seriously, it was almost a minute before May called out for Ash. A full minute for crying out loud, so Gary replied for the other Slowpoke, standing at his full height and arms crossed over his chest, “Nope…Gary Oak.” It was not surprise to him though when the coordinator and aura user startled, snapping their neck to the larger man. Ash gave him an embarrassed, yet loopy grin, while May…well her face was flushed but also look disappointed and more importantly annoyed. That…that stung. Sure, he knew what she felt for Ash, Gary also knew that he had sprung his feeling for her out of nowhere, putting her in a precarious position. Still, he felt jealous that Ash was kissing her, and it stung that she was so willingly enjoying Ash to the point she was bothered by the fact that he was the one to interrupt them.
“Oh, erm, heh, heh, heh, hey Gary,” was Ash’s attempt to interrupt the awkward silence that had develop between them. Ash’s eyes flash blue for a millisecond, a blink and you’ll miss it kind of thing, where he felt emotional input bombard him from both of his best friends and neither of them seemed happy with the situation. “So, you caught us distracted, heh, heh. Listen, sorry you had to see that, Gary. You’re right though, we got carried away in public, I guess, haha. Sorry, didn’t mean to scar you, I could always get some bleach if you want, ahah.” Ash explained mareepishly rubbing the back of his neck, while the over hand made a lousy attempt to cover his dick, his mind supplying him a brief memory of May’s nails scratching through his hair and down his neck. Before Gary could response, May cut in, only moments prior seeing the half hard dick Gary had in his slacks, “No need to apologize, Ash, Gary’s our friend, he was just looking out for us, something like this would not traumatize him…I’m sure, right Gary.” Gary’s eyes narrowed at her with bemused curiosity. His eyes analyzed her for a bit and seemed to have understood her meaning before scoffing and clicking his tongue moments later, “Tsk, of course not, no need to stress Ashyboy. You didn’t do anything, I haven’t done. If anything, I’m a bit jealous of you, I haven’t slept with any women for a while. Heh, I might keep an eye out for a easy lay while we’re here, I’m pretty pent up, I wouldn’t mind getting lucky enough to get off,” Gary continued his eyes never leaving May who looked offended at what he was implying. Oh, the young woman felt lots of rage, no one would speak to her like that again, not after all the Tauros shit Drew and her parents had called her. One more word out of his and she’d be pulling out her heavy mallet Misty had given her long ago.
As for Ash, he did not like what he heard, he may be dense, which he can admit, he wasn’t stupid, dense not stupid. What he got from the professor was that one: May was some how easy because they were making out, and two: Gary was serious about fucking some random person while they were all stuck and essentially lost in time. Due to both Gary’s and May’s attention being focused on each other, they missed the frown that had settled on the Ravenette’s face. He didn’t like the fact that Gary was basically calling May a hoe, which she by no means was. They both new May for many years, so why was he being so rude and hurtful. First, he and the taller of them had a physical altercation, then he insults May. May was anything but easy. Maybe he was too dense, but if he understood things correctly, just because May has an active sexual appetite, doesn’t make her any less of a respectable lady. Both males knew that their female friend had never been an excessive flirt or gave anyone the runaround, let along imply things to men, so why? Ash didn’t understand it. Ash turned to their Pokémon who had gone silent and where looking back at them with the disbelieving Pikachu faces. Feeling embarrassed he turned back to the other two who had begun a passive aggressive conversation with jabs at each other, though none as intense as what Gary had first said. On the surface what he said didn’t sound to bad, but to questions someone's character like that, especially, their best friends felt wrong, was wrong.
Then, there was the second part about feeling pent up and willing to look for someone to get his rocks off. Why did that make him feel uncomfortable? Lastly, he’d been feeling weird around Gary and maybe a bit squirmy lately. Ash knew that from the moment Gary’s balls dropped he was out there being a Gameboy GAMEBOY, so that wasn’t a surprise, but what was surprising was that Gary was out there being a man whore (A bit hypocritical) really didn’t sit well with Ash. He didn’t like watching him flirt with people, he didn’t like that hungry look in his eyes. Granted, he never minded when those eyes were directed at May, he couldn’t blame Gary for that, May was stunning! Ash had to catch himself a few times before as well. Perhaps, Ash wanted Gary to look at him in the same way too. Maybe he wanted to do the dirty things he had done with Goh with Gary, just like he wanted to do with May. Maybe, just maybe he could admit to himself now, he was attracted to and had a pretty big crush on his rival and friend. Well, damn, if that realization didn’t strike home in his mind, heart and soul.
If he was being honest and thought back, he had always been glancing at Gary as much as he was May. He would watch May do her yoga and stretches before she trained for her contests just as much as he would Gary when they worked out. He loved to watch Gary’s biceps bulge with each rep just as much as he loved seeing May arch backwards in that weird yoga pose.
The way he’d track the lean muscles lines under her silky skin made his mouth salivate. Oh, there was now doubt in his mind now that he was definitely attracted to both his male and female best friends. Mr. Ketchum, also knew that he had genuine feelings for May, having them for years now, almost a decade if he was being honest. Obviously, he cared for Gary too, you don’t get the kind of freak out he got back at the hospital for just anyone, but was it in the same way, he felt for May. Could he admit to himself he was in love? Was he in really love with May, was that why he felt so gleeful with her, so fluffy and light? Her presence alone could brighten his day and her laugh could bring out his own without issue. Did that same emotion repeat itself for Gary, because with him he felt calmer, more at ease as if he could take a breath knowing he’d watching his back. Safe, happy and loved, oh boi, he is whipped and whipped hard! Thankfully, it was their Pokémon who had come to the rescue to salvage this moot conversation. “Argur,” came the gravelly voice of the jackal Pokémon stepping up to all three trainers, then extending its aura to Ash, snapping him out of his romantic and sexual revelation. Their attention dropped to the shorter in height creatures and noticed that Manaphy was still in the steel type’s arms while Pikachu laid on Umbreon’s back, happily nuzzling into the dark fur. Glaceon was not looking pleased. “Huh?! Oh, Lucario! Yeah, I guess we should get a move on and see if we can find Celebi…”
Ash glanced at May with a questioning look before turning to do the same with Gary, “Listen, man, I’m as thick as a brick, but something is up with you and May, something is up with the three of us. I don’t understand what's going on, and I know we need to talk, but right now we have to find Celebi, it’s the only Pokémon, save for Dialga itself, who can get us back to our own time.” The handsome professor opened his mouth to speak but Ash rose his hand with a miserable look, “Dude, I-I don’t want to hear it right now, just…stop…let’s just all hit the showers, get our stuff, and search for that lovable onion that Dialga calls its child.” Though the overall tension did not disappear it was lightened a bit with the snort and giggle that was heard from Gary and May respectively. With that Ash gave them each an unsure yet yearning smile before recalling his Pokémon and heading inside to the locker room with Pikachu on his shoulder.
Thus, May and Gary were alone feeling disappointed and honestly kind of depressed. May sighed and stared at Gary with serious and thoughtful expression, “You know, I’m still offended, I really am. You implied something about me that my egg and sperm donors did, you called me a slut.” The taller man visibly flinched and scrunched inwardly as though slapped, oddly looking smaller than he was. “I’ll let it go for now. Ash is right we got to get our priories straight. I want our talk, the talk between the three of us to happen right now if I could, but as much as Legendries hang around Ash, we don’t have any guarantee that Celebi or Hoopa will take us back. I think…all three of us have things to say that we're keeping in, some more than others,” May explained looking at Gary with disappointment and hurt which in turn hurts Gary even more. She continued to speak, “I get the feeling that Ash is hiding something too, just like us, but now isn’t the time, and Gary, I need you to get your shit together because you hurt me once so far, but this is the second time you’ve hurt Ash. One physically, and one emotionally, you’re two for two with Ash. Be careful…I don’t know how much more we can tolerate.” With that the coordinator recalled her own Pokémon and left for the showers, leaving Gary to question his choices.