ship: ew / nonono / not really / maybe / ship it / aww / otp / MY HEART
This one I also like a ton (less romantic and more platonic). I love how reassuring and caring Jakurai is and how much support and love he gives Doppo TT_TT I also love how Doppo becomes more reliable and dependable for Jakurai, it just hurts my heart okay??
Just illustrating one of my otps doing cute things together :’D My initial idea was for Doppo to be too tired to fish, so he’s happily resting on Jakurai’s shoulder instead~♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)
Oh also...yeah, Hifumi is there...he’s...uh...maybe taking the photo xD I’m sorry (一。一;;）
Summary: The fact of the matter was that a relationship between a doctor and a patient was unethical. Sooner or later, one of them had to speak up about it. (Or: Jakurai and Doppo work out their Feelings™.)
Words: 2100
Notes: Final chapter, yay!! Very Sappy, Very Fluffy lol
ko-fi // Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | You can read this on AO3! Thank you all so much for reading, I hope you enjoy~! ❤⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
Ch 4: Post-Treatment for Two
Déjà vu was a fascinating phenomenon, Jakurai mused as he took a seat across from Doppo. A week ago, they had met in this very same restaurant at this very hour on this very day with the waiters hustling and bustling around the tables and the white noise of the other patrons filling the space between them. Doppo fidgeted about, his hands balled into fists, just as he did during their last meeting and if Jakurai had to be honest, the pounding of his own heart and buzzing of his own mind were no different either. Indeed, the scene playing now was the same as the evening of Jakurai's confession -- except tonight, the air between them had changed.
While Doppo exhibited his usual nervous habits, his eyes gleamed with determination rather than dread and apprehension; his posture sat looser and freer though his shoulders hunched up; and his tongue poked out between his lips as he did when he was deep in thought, not pursed into a straight line when cornered into a tight situation. As for Jakurai himself, his steepled fingers tapped away at each other and he focused on the present instead of what would happen next.
One would think that the familiarity of it all would settle his worries, but even someone like him could not escape anxiety completely. Though, for as much as his confession weighed heavily upon him -- and surely it must have had weighed equally as heavily on Doppo as well -- he reminded himself to think positively, much like what he would tell Doppo again and again whenever he berated himself. Their encounter two nights ago put most of his doubts to rest, but to err on the side of caution was what Jakurai had been taught, so prepare himself for any outcome he would.
"Thank you for coming, Dr. Jinguji," Doppo said, not quite looking his way. "I know you're busy, so I'll try to keep it short."
"Don't worry about that, Doppo-kun, I always have time for you."
Doppo inhaled sharply, his cheeks turning the same red hue as his hair. Despite himself, Jakurai couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Would you like to order something first?" Doppo asked, handing him a menu. Briefly, their fingertips brushed against each other and Jakurai willed himself to stay calm. "It's on me, since you covered me last time."
Out of instinct, Jakurai readied an excuse to decline his offer but stopped short as he saw Doppo peeping up from behind his menu, surveying his every reaction and move. Doppo was conscientious among many things, and if he had an image as to how this night would play out, Jakurai would gladly follow along with it.
"That's very kind of you, Doppo-kun," he said instead, skimming through the pages.
The corners of Doppo's mouth quirked up. "You've done so much for me, Dr. Jinguji, it's the least I can do for you."
"You've done plenty for me, Doppo-kun. Words can't express how grateful I am that I met you -- that alone is enough for me."
Chewing on his bottom lip, Doppo averted his gaze. He took a deep breath as the seconds passed, straightening his back and rolling his shoulders like something had clicked within him. Setting his menu down, Doppo began speaking.
"I'm really happy to hear that, Dr. Jinguji, it... it means a lot to me." Wobbly and shaky, his voice faltered as he finished his sentence. Clearing his throat, he continued on: "And that's why I wanted to talk to you today."
"Ah, that's right, you mentioned that. What is it that you wanted to tell me?"
Doppo's mouth hung open, lips parted as if the words had gotten stuck in his throat. Eyes downcast, he loosened his tie and the silver cross they shared clinked against the chain that held it in place.
"Like I said, you've done a lot for me. Your treatment has really helped me with my anxiety and insomnia and joining Matenrou has been the best decision of my life. Honestly, I don't know where I'd be now without you." Doppo wrung his hands, his knuckles white from the pressure. "I really can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. But... I don't think I need your services any longer."
Jakurai tilted his head, letting out a amused hum as he remembered what he'd said the other night. "Oh? How come?"
"I guess because somewhere along the way, I started to admire you and then that became something... more." Doppo spoke quickly as if what he was saying would fall onto deaf ears but Jakurai had always valued everything he said, making note of every utterance and intonation. "What I'm trying to say is that --" Doppo’s eyes met his, cyan irises glistening with grit and flaring with ardor. Jakurai's heart skipped a beat. "-- I like -- no, I love you, Dr. Jinguji! I love you more than a patient should love his doctor!"
Three simple words that Jakurai had been hoping, praying, to hear and yet he couldn’t have possibly been prepared for them. Admittedly, hearing them was nothing new; a number of people had confessed their feelings for him throughout his life, but to each of them, Jakurai could not return the sentiment. While they had all been good people in their own right, none of them had been interesting enough to capture his attention. As such, Jakurai had long accepted that perhaps no one would be able to, that perhaps he would dedicate himself solely to his work for his entire life -- until now, that was. Doppo had said but those three simple words, and here Jakurai found himself forgetting how to breathe.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you that sooner. I'm sorry that I left you hanging. I-I know I'm not the greatest guy out there and I don't deserve you, but --"
Jakurai placed a finger on Doppo's lips, immediately shushing him. Doppo gawked at him with his brows raised and nose scrunched up.
"You are dear to me, Doppo-kun, and it pains me to hear you say such things about yourself.” As gently as possible, Jakurai cupped Doppo's face with his palm. Underneath his touch, Doppo’s jaw clenched, to which he stroked his thumb across his cheek until it loosened ever so slightly. “You are worth much more than you think you are; in fact, I would say that you are priceless."
His initial intrigue with Doppo had simply been that of a doctor for his patient, the curiosity born from the concern about the man who lived the paradox of wanting nothing more than to sleep forever but being forced to work twenty-four/seven. As Doppo sought him out for help other than his physical ailments, that intrigue developed into a genuine interest. While not a therapist by any means, Jakurai grew to care about Doppo as a person as he heard about his daily complaints; underneath the tired man who wished for a break was a man who worked his hardest and tried his best despite everything, a man who survived the harsh ordeals the world threw at him. With the formation of Matenrou, Jakurai soon came to see many more different sides of Doppo; how driven he was when he set his mind to something, how wild he got when he delved deep into their raps, and how radiant he became when he allowed himself to shine.
Over the course of their relationship, Jakurai found that he wanted to do more for Doppo -- more than what a doctor could provide, more than what a leader could do. In the ailing city of Shinjuku littered alight with neon, Doppo illuminated the dark as only the moon could and Jakurai intended to keep that light glowing close by.
Leaning forward, Jakurai pressed his forehead against Doppo's. Doppo stiffened but did not do anything to push him away.
"You deserve the world, Doppo-kun. If you'll have me, I promise I'll do everything I can to give that to you."
His breath heavy against his face, Doppo peered up at him with his cyan eyes. Jakurai’s heart drummed against his chest, roaring and thundering in his ears so much so that it drowned out the rest of their surroundings. In that moment, it was the two of them -- and just the two of them alone.
"Do you mean that?" Doppo’s voice was small, yet to Jakurai’s ears, it pierced through the clamor of nerves he faced.
"I do," Jakurai said with no hesitation. "Every word of it."
Doppo stared at him, studying him in search for any hidden lies. For a minute, Jakurai feared that he'd overstepped his boundaries and spoke the wrong words once again, but then Doppo leaned into his palm.
"I... I want to do whatever I can for you, too, Dr. Jinguji." Fingers slowly unfurling, Doppo reached out for his free hand, the tips of his fingers barely grazing his skin as if waiting for permission. Jakurai bumped his fingers against his and after one, two, three beats did Doppo grab onto his hand. Clammy and trembling he might have been, but most of all Doppo’s touch was warm. "I'll try to change for you, so I can be someone worthy of being by your side."
Jakurai's face softened as he heard Doppo speak. He didn't expect anything less nor anything more from him.
"Please just continue being yourself, Doppo-kun. That's all I need." After all, he would not have fallen for him in the first place had he been any different. To see him embrace himself, to see him become the best version of himself was all he wanted. Entwining their fingers, Jakurai squeezed his hand.
A sigh escaped Doppo's lips -- not the long, dreary ones he usually gave after an inconvenience or a day of work, but a contented one. His shoulders dropped, the tension leaving the rest of his body, and his trembles lessened into quivers. In return, Doppo squeezed back.
"I think I can do that."
"It's what you do best, hm?" he said, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Cheeks growing redder, Doppo stifled back a noise. Nonetheless, he didn't break eye contact as he lifted his head.
"Dr. Jinguji, is it okay if I say one more thing?"
"Of course, Doppo-kun, it's more than okay."
"I've relied on you a lot, Dr. Jinguji, so please rely on me as well!" He took both of his hands in his, tugging them close to his chest. He could feel Doppo’s heartbeat at his fingertips, the rhythm racing as quickly as his. "You've given me everything, so I'll try my best to give you all that and more."
Coming from one man filled with so many burdens of his own to another so used to taking on everyone else's, Jakurai's heart fluttered. For someone so hard on himself and lost in his negativity, Doppo failed to see how much of a blessing he already was in his life. He would have to work on remedying that.
Raising their entwined hands, Jakurai looked up at Doppo and when he made no protest, pressed a kiss atop Doppo's. "I have no doubt that you will, Doppo-kun."
Throughout his years, Jakurai had learned that loss was a natural part of life; people came and left, people gave and took, and so it came to be that people hurt each other other and bonds broke at any given moment. But with Doppo smiling back at him -- a true smile that filled his cheeks and reached his eyes -- Jakurai knew only one thing then: that he couldn't let anything happen to that smile, to the precious man who sat across him. A doctor who'd seen the wages of war and a salary-man who waged war against himself; indeed, they'd be able to work out anything that came their way -- together.
bonus
"Oh, Doppo-kun."
"Yes, Doctor?"
"Now that we're in a relationship, I don't mind if you call me by my first name."
Body hitting the back of his seat, Doppo's eyes bulged wide open. "D-Don't you think this is a little too soon?"
"We've known each other for some time, no? I think it's all right."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you really sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you really, really sure?"
Giving him an amused smile, Jakurai patted Doppo's hand. "Yes, Doppo-kun, I'm very sure."
"Okay... if you say so, Doc -- er, J-Jaku... Jakura.... J-Jinguji-san...!"
Jakurai blinked. Then, he let out a laugh. While not exactly what he was going for, "Jinguji-san" had never sounded so angelic to his ears.
hello everyone!! it's been over five years since i started writing for hypmic, and as such it's been over five years since my first hypmic fic! to celebrate, i've prettied it up for y'all to enjoy~
i've bundled "hippocratic oath" and "this distance between us" together as a pdf, which you can get for free here! and as always, it is available to read on ao3!
the ao3 listings have been updated to reflect the remasters, but the pdf does have a few extras 🤗
