Chapter Text
“stone?” the doctor’s voice rang through the lab, sharp and expectant.
….
no answer.
robotnik paused mid-keystroke, fingers hovering above the console. he waited. silence. the only sound was the quiet hum of machinery and the distant whir of cooling fans.
“stone!” he snapped again, voice rising in both pitch and volume. what started as irritation had now started to edge into something tighter, thinner. concern, though he would never name it that aloud.
his chair scraped against the floor as he pushed away from the desk, rising to his feet. the stillness in the room was suddenly oppressive. unsettling. the lab had never felt this quiet before.
stone was always around; flitting from console to console, responding with immediate efficiency, always within arm’s reach with a clipboard, a tablet, a coffee. always at attention. always just.. there.
but now?
the older man’s eyes swept the room with growing urgency. “where are you, dammit…”
he rounded a corner, heart stuttering just once, before freezing entirely.
there — near the far end of the lab, half-hidden by one of the larger engine casings.
stone was standing, barely, his body trembling like a paper-thin structure bracing against wind. his right arm was braced awkwardly against the wall for support, while the other was curled protectively around his chest, fingers white with strain.
his head was bowed. his breathing came in shallow, painful-sounding bursts.
and then—
a soft splatter hit the floor.
robotnik’s gaze fell. his stomach dropped.
delicate petals, white and purple, impossibly fragile, spilled from stone’s lips in silent, wilting flutters. they scattered across the ground like fallen confetti from a funeral.
the doctor’s blood ran cold.
“s—stone?!”
the word came out strangled, more gasp than call.
instantly, stone collapsed to his knees, coughing violently, his tie soaked with blood and soft, crumpled petals.
robotnik was by his side in an instant, hands trembling as he caught him before he hit the ground completely.
“no, no, no,” he muttered, voice cracking. “you idiot, you.. you imbecile! what the hell did you do to yourself?”
the younger man tried to speak, he really did, but another cough wracked his body. more petals started to pour out of his mouth along with blood. robotnik’s breath hitched as he looked at them.
dicentra.
bleeding hearts.
the flower that symbolized the grief of unrequited love.
stone looked up at him, eyes glassy, unfocused. “i—I’m sorry, sir,” he rasped, voice broken and wet. “i didn’t want you to know.”
robotnik froze.
“stone—”
“i was fine,” stone murmured, blood on his teeth. “as long as i stayed near you, it didn’t hurt as bad. but lately…”
robotnik felt something shatter behind his ribs.
“shut up,” he said, voice shaking. “don’t you dare talk like that.”
stone collapsed fully into him. “it’s okay,” he whispered. “you don’t feel the same. i knew. i just… wanted to stay near you. even if it hurt.”
and then his eyes slipped shut.
robotnik caught his face in both hands before it could fall to the side.
“stone,” he breathed, throat tight with something unfamiliar. “don’t. please.”
robotnik was shaking. he didn’t even know when he’d started crying.
this wasn’t happening, was it?
this wasn’t how this was going to end, was it?
…
no, not like this.
“no,” he breathed. “you’re wrong. you’re wrong, stone.”
confused, stone opened his eyes weakly and blinked at the other slowly, dazed.
robotnik cradled the younger man tighter, pulling his gloves off with shaking hands and cupping stone’s face. “you complete and utter fool. do you really think i’d keep you this close if i didn’t—” his voice caught. “if i didn’t feel something?”
“…?” stone looked at him, barely processing.
the doctor leaned closer, his forehead touching stone’s. “you stubborn bastard. i didn’t realise it until it was nearly too late, but i do love you.”
stone’s breath caught. the petals slowed.
upon realising it was working, robotnik kept going, frantic and desperate to keep stone alive. “i was scared. i didn’t know how to—i didn’t want to ruin what we had. and now look at you, dying in my arms like some kind of romantic tragedy.”
“how… how can i know you’re not just saying this?” stone choked out.
robotnik stared for a heartbeat — then leaned in.
it wasn’t perfect. it was shaky and desperate.
but it was real.
and as their lips touched, stone gasped sharply. his back arched. then, all at once, the coughing stopped abruptly as he melted into the kiss.
the flowers ceased.
the petals scattered around them dissolved into mist, disappearing into the air like a curse finally lifted.
robotnik pulled back, stunned. “a..aban…?”
stone blinked up at the older man, breathing slowly. his chest rose and fell evenly. the colour on his face was starting to return as well.
“i— don’t feel it anymore,” stone whispered. “it’s gone.”
robotnik let out a shaky laugh, cradling him tighter. “of course it’s gone. idiot.”
stone smiled faintly. “you called me an idiot twice.”
“yeah? well, you almost died, you absolute imbecile. if i didn’t love you, i’d kill you myself.”
“romantic,” stone murmured before closing his eyes.
robotnik kissed his forehead. “mmn. you have no idea.”