#dockal

Here we go! I cut the prompt into two separate dialogues so I hope it makes sense in some way.

On the third night of seeing their bed cold and barren, Jackal took a deep breath and spent another night awake alone. Contrary to his dire desire for comfort and affection, the Spaniard had been waiting rather patiently because he knew what kind of a person his lover is. Never once he complained or pried Doc off from that darned table, or drag the man away from messily piled papers that needs individual attention. He wanted to be a dependable partner. Doc was always there for Jackal whenever he suffered from unseen pain, so it’s only right to support a workaholic by giving him a cup of blackest coffee once in every three hours, right?

However, there had to be a line drawn when this kept going on for a week. It became painfully clear that Doc’s involuntary episodes of insomnia ate his sanity away and Jackal felt guilty for allowing this to happen. He couldn’t stand the depth of bags under Doc’s eyes, how it sinks low and dark with exhaustion. Therefore when Jackal walks into the infirmary, he carries no warm mug of caffeine this time. It’s easy to find a disheveled figure tipping his toes to reach a ring binder that’s stacked on top of a shelf; a sight Jackal would normally find adorable if his heart isn’t aching with pity and tinge of melancholy.

“May I?” Jackal grabs the ring binder without waiting for Doc to answer.

“Thank you,” Doc nods in gratitude, “And sorry for making you wait. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping tonight.” An excuse, but a genuine one. The kind of reasoning that Jackal can’t get mad at because everything Doc does has a noble cause. Then what good is a ‘noble cause’ when it does more harm than good to his beloved?

“I think you should.” Jackal puts the ring binder away from Doc’s reach.

“Ryad, you know I can’t do that now. I have things to do.”

“Nope. Not tonight.” Height advantage is quite useful, especially when Jackal brings Doc’s head close to his heart. Perhaps the restless French can listen to his steady heartbeat and ease into the rhythm, the same kind they share on lazy Sunday morning under a cosy duvet.

“Ryad!” Doc moves away from Jackal. The unexpected harsh force is far from hurting Jackal, and yet the nudge leaves a bruise beyond rib cages and muscles, “I need to finish this before it’s too late. Go back to bed, amor.”

“You can’t be serious.” Jackal feigns a frown.

“I am. Pardon me but I need to be alone. See you in the morning.” Doc returns to his desk without giving Jackal a second glance, as if he expects the man to show himself out. Would Jackal listen? Nay. He sneaks right behind Doc, uses his palms to cover those reddened eyes and proceeds to gently tug the head back. It’s a mild surprise to feel no resistance; perhaps Doc is tempted to give up and comply.

“It’s okay to sleep, you know. No one will say a thing for having one night’s good sleep. I mean, if someone complains,” Jackal holds a chuckle when Doc’s mouth gape in slight protest, “I can say that you fainted straight into my arms, you know?”

“If you wanted my attention, you didn’t have to go to such extremes,“ Doc murmurs, “Not gonna lie, it’s a little bizarre to see a fully grown man being playful like a prepubescent boy.”

“Prepubescent-” A light bulb sparks on top of Jackal’s head, “Is that so?” Then he walks in front of Doc this time, smirking at the attention he is basking in.

“What are you doing?” Doc twirls a worn-out pen in his hand.

“Oh,” Jackal let out an exasperated groan, “Dios mío, my chest hurts.” And crumples on the floor with a dramatic thud. An act, a silly one at that, but he is determined to maintain Doc’s attention.

“Aspirin’s in the third drawer.” Doc responds dryly.

“I see Faisal waving at me.” Jackal wails.

“I bet he is laughing his ass off, seeing his hermanito being a man-child.” The couple are way beyond the stage of being overly cautious about Jackal’s long dead brother. Throughout their romantic relationship, Jackal had described his lowest point of hallucination a quite number of times, which he tried to convert it into lighthearted childhood stories. It was a bittersweet attempt to diffuse the gloomy mood so in appreciation of such effort, Doc listened intently. He learned about the best guardian figure who was still a goofy teenager at the time, so it would be true that Faisal is indeed chuckling at them if guardian spirits are real.

“How poor am I,” a dramatic pause to raise an anticipation, “To be in love without a reward. I shall die here. Withered and unattended, for I lack the will to live.”

“Ryad,” Doc sighs, putting an emphasis to express a fond annoyance, “Don’t say that. That’s not even funny as a joke.” The chair squeaks and footsteps draw closer to Jackal who is still laying on the hard floor. The Spaniard hides a grin as Doc kneels next to him.

“I’m not laughing. It wasn’t a joke,” Jackal’s gaze glints with yearning, “I can’t live without your love, dear.”

“Well, you aren’t fainting. Are you?” Doc scoffs as he strokes the messy brown hair beneath, then he gasps when Jackal grapples his neck and pulls him down.

“I’m not, but you might at any moment.” Jackal shifts aside to let Doc lay on the spot that he has warmed up with his body.

“I won’t. I’ve been taking power naps and all.”

“So take a power nap with me.” A suggestion that’s too delicious to ignore. Jackal lay an arm across to offer as a pillow.

“Then you must promise to wake me up after half and hour.” Doc scoots closer and lay on those firm bicep, but both of them realise it’ll be damn near impossible. For the first time in a week, they are finally close enough to enjoy each others’ scent; a blended fragrance that reminds the tranquil moments together.

“Sure thing, querido.” Jackal plants a kiss on Doc’s forehead with a smile. He thought about waiting on the promised thirty minutes for Doc to fall asleep, but he soon finds out that the tired medic is lulled into slumber within ten. There’s no need for them to stay here; Jackal curls his arm inward to carry the sleeping man in princess hold, and at last, the two love birds are in their comfy nest. Although there’s no guarantee that Jackal will also fall asleep, he is happy at the fact that Doc is nicely relaxed next to him. Being able to sleep is a blessing that people often take for granted, and Jackal would never want the love of his life to suffer from the same kind of agony that he faces on daily basis. Therefore they shall stay like this until the sunrise; and should Doc complain later, Jackal will say that it’s his turn to look after his lover.

I tried to incorporate a Spanish sayings about love