Staminashipping HC (Platonic or otherwise)
1. Red loves Ash's zeal towards life. Sometimes it's nice to break away from the hero worship of other trainers and let Ash drag him towards a random city's festival/shopping center/restaurant/movie theatre.
2. With Red's help, Ash and his Charizard learn to work things out. Mostly. Just to tease, Sometimes Ash's Charizard will relax until Red chuckles and makes him do something while Ash pouts and complains.
3. While they both love sleeping in, Red is better at getting up early when he needs to. Partially because he's better at getting into routines, partially because he doesn't like to wait for stuff to get done.
4. While they travel, they rest in between practices and allow their Pokemon time to stretch their legs. On days with beautiful weather, Red can occasionally be seen leaning against a tree or the ground, resting with his hands behind his head and hat pulled down over his eyes. Ash says he snores. Red disagrees.
4 cont. Ash likes to annoy Red into waking up; poking his face or loudly saying that he will eat the rest of the food if Red doesn't get up. Red has on more than one occasion pulled Ash down to snuggle into his side and sleep the afternoon away. (Their Pikachu's found markers while they slept. It took forever to wash off).
5. Red actually knew OF Ash before they met, as he occasionally likes to make sure Team Rocket and their league of underground cohorts and scientists don't cause too much trouble. Between all the different scientists and trainers he has assisted, as well as being a thorn in TR side, Red had heard of Ash and his Pikachu partner.
6. Between the two Ash is more likely to dance if the time calls for it (although one would definitely argue if he is indeed a GOOD dancer). Sometimes when they're joined by their friends at a party or festival, or even just relaxing all together, and music is playing Ash joins their friends on the dance floor. Red usually waves off his invitation to dance.
6 cont) But sometimes when they're alone and Red is in an especially good mood, he lets Ash pull him onto his feet and swing them around. Red doesn't necessarily like dancing, but he loves hearing Ash laugh and see him smile as Red stumbles around with him.
7. Very few people get to touch their caps. While Red will occasionally ruffle Ash's hair, and Ash may steal Red's hat playfully, most others aren't allowed the same type of affection. They have rescued each others caps from wind, sneaky Pokemon and rude trainers more than once.
8. They defend each other. A lot. Ash surprised Red not to long after they first met when he told off a mob of fans for making Red uncomfortable. Red was A) Surprised he could tell and B) Grateful he cared enough to say something. He never hesitates to say it, and it goes a long way in convincing Red that Ash saw him as a person and not a title.
8 cont) People still mock Ash for his lack of titles and championships. Red is very good at either Intimidating Them Into Silence, or using body language to say he Does Not Care About Their Existence (While showing off Ash at the same time). When he is angry enough to say something, he has no problem name-dropping all the legendary Pokemon and trainers Ash has beaten or earned the respect of as a person, including himself.
Depending on who they're talking to, Red also had no problem name-dropping all the legendary Pokemon that Ash has met, that have come to like Ash as a friend in general.
9. They have a lot of admiration for each other. While Ash admires Red's strength and title as a legendary champion, he also admires his training ethic and the bond he has formed with his Pokemon. Not just in becoming champion and defeating team rocket so young, but also recognizing Red's determination and kindness, wanting to keep other Pokemon and people safe. To Ash, Red is a model trainer and person because Red has never intentionally hurt his Pokemon or his rivals in order to get what he wanted or improve his skills. Red wanted above all else to travel with his Pokemon, train them to be strong and battle worthy opponents while keeping people safe. He just happened to become champion.
9 cont) Red admires Ash's determination yes, and he will always support Ash in becoming a Pokemon master, but what he loves about Ash is his kindness. When he learns something he takes it to heart, and Ash will not hesitate to call out a cruel trainer, carry a sick Pokemon to a nearby center even if it's not his, or jump into a river to save someone without thinking of the consequences. Ash will rise to any challenge he meets, and has no problems saying something isn't worth it if it hurts other people, he holds other trainers to a standard he will try to correct if he feels he can, and is quick to forgive once they learned their lesson. Ash pushed people to become BETTER, not just as a trainer but as a person. While he can be a bit brash, Red never wants him to lose that kindness and selflessness that reminds him of why he started training in the first place.