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It was for maybe for splits of seconds, but Doppo knew he was going to die.
He locked eyes with the shooter. He saw the pistol aimed in his direction. He felt the bullet approaching. He braced for pain.
But the pain never came.
A thick liquid spread across Doppo’s hand. His eyes widened, as he felt a body pressing against his own. A body that was not there a moment ago. His arms trembled, as his eyes locked with Hifumi’s dazed gaze.
‘H…Hifumi!’ he screamed, pressing his hands closer to the sticky liquid stain. ‘Fuck. Shit. Why do you always do that? Why did you jump in front of a fucking bullet?’
Hifumi’s lips curled in a little smile.
‘You’re the one who called me the ultimate bleeding heart,’ he breathed out. Doppo’s jaw tightened. ‘Sorry. I think I'm a little nervous,’ he huffed out a little laugh.
There was panic in his eyes. Doppo’s arms shuddered, itching to do something.
It was a simple mechanism. Hifumi panicked and Doppo helped him fight. He supported him, searched for a safe place, and tried to make him feel better. He was itching to find comfort. But there was nothing he could do. He wasn’t a doctor.
‘I might not make it out of this one, Doppo-chin,’ his laugh was short and nervous, and Doppo felt blood draining from his face. ‘Shit, I think I'm actually dying. I didn't think I’d be this scared about it, Doppo-chin. I love you. Oh dear.’
‘You’re not dying!’ Doppo screamed. ‘Hospital. You need to go.’
He scrambled in search for his phone. He picked it up with trembling hands, dialed the number, device slipping out of his hands. He picked it up again, finally starting the call.
He sort of blanked out during the conversation. He wasn't sure what was it that he said, what wasn't. He prayed that they get here fast. Maybe he can still save Hifumi.
‘You’re not dying,’ he repeated. ‘Don’t say anything. Save the energy.’
He didn’t have anything he could use to stop the bleeding. His heart pounded, as he pressed his hands, red and sticky against the wound.
‘Doppo?’ Hifumi hissed out.
‘What is it?’ he asked gently.
‘I love you,’ he said. Doppo shook his head.
‘You can tell me about it later. I love you too. We can later talk about how in love with each other we are. I promise.’
He pressed a gentle kiss to his temple. Hifumi leaned in against him, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
Doppo had a really bad feeling. He quelled it hastily.
Soon after he heard the sirens approaching.
The medics took over, and he felt himself feeling both relaxed and more stressed. He knew there was nothing he could do, but leaving Hifumi’s life up to someone else made him feel uncomfortable.
He watched the medics scramble, wishing there was something he could do. He wanted to be like them, know how to save a life, to be able to actually help. He dreaded not going to med school. If he became a doctor he would know what to do. He would know how to help him. He would’ve been able to save him.
They arrived at the hospital and Doppo was cast aside. He stumbled into the waiting room. He sat down at the uncomfortable chair, feeling a little bit dazed.
Only then the events actually started sinking in. He took several deep breaths.
Hifumi was getting help , he told himself. He’s going to be fine.
He couldn’t stop the tears that started welling up in his eyes. He hid his face in between his arms.
The next couple of hours blended in one, as Doppo mostly stared at his knees, and contemplated the future.
The whole situation was… odd, to say the least. It’s as if whoever was trying to shoot him disappeared into thin air.
He’s going to hunt him down for sure, once Hifumi recovers.
If Hifumi recovers , an anxious voice inside his head supplied. Doppo shook his head. Hifumi was going to get out of this one. He was strong. He wouldn’t die. He couldn’t die.
The nurse finally approached him, and he raised his head, almost feeling alive for the first time in the last couple of hours.
He stared at her with anxiousness.
Her next words were going to be forever ingrained in his brain.
I’m sorry, bounced around his head like a ping-pong ball. He stumbled onto his seat.
So it happened. His teeth dug into his lip, as the new reality started to sink in.
Hifumi was dead. Hifumi wasn’t here.
Every single cell inside Doppo’s body screamed in protest.
This wasn’t the end. He knew that couldn’t be the end of it. He knew what he had to do now.
Doppo was a man of many flaws and very few strengths. But if he was anything, he was determined. And he was going to make that determination enough to bring Hifumi back from death.