Chapter Text
Stone was being a little extreme. He had only stumbled a little while going through the lab. He didn't need to be scooped up and carried bridal into the break room.
Gently lowered onto the couch, and his hair gently brushed from his forehead. It was sweet. Gentle. Disgusting.
Sure, his forehead was sweaty and everything in the lab felt too cold, but that was just because the van had been hot. Obviously.
He planned on complaining. But ended up watching Stone as he set about in the little kitchen, making his latte as something or other went in the microwave Stone had brought in a few monthes back.
Apparently, the one he had in there prior had become a safety hazard after he had tinkered with it. Cowardice.
His thin patience had worked out though, as soon a steaming mug of latte was set before him, along with another mug.
He picked the other mug up, tilting his head and one brow up at Stone curiously.
"Its a mug cake, doctor." Stone answered, sitting on the arm of the couch. "Your blood sugar is low and you seem dehydrated since it appears you didn't eat or drink in the thirteen hours of my absence"
That would explain why he felt clammy and like his bones were rattling in his skin slightly. He took the spoon and stabbed the mug cake before pulling a bite of the chocolate cake out.
He tentatively tried a bite, before wolfing the rest of it down. He only stopped to take a sip of his latte, finally feeling some warmth in his chest.
He risked a glance at Stone, whose smile had finally came back. Though it wasn't the plain smile he wore to meetings.
It was the smile he wore when no one was looking and only the two were together.
On occasion, Robotnik might rewind the security footage on the lab, or the badniks recordings, to catch that smile. It was far better than that cold, empty look he had earlier.
"I take it you like the mug cake?" Stone asked, leaning back into the couch with eyes closed. Robotnik was caught between the urge to study his relaxed face or to simply shove him off the couch for assuming to know him.
The doctor chose the former, looking at Stone’s face as his whole body relaxed where he believed he was out of view, the bags under his eyes matching Robotnik’s.
"While I am not a fan of assumptions, I would not be opposed to an occasional treat with my latte, Stone..."
He turned away, spitting a quiet thanks out before hiding his face in his latte. Stone didn't say anything, and he wasn't sure if he wanted Stone to hear it or not.
But later. When he rewound the footage then off a badnik checking in, he saw what had to be one of Stone’s most loving smiles to date.