Chapter Text
It’s not that he was lonely, it’s just that he didn’t need the contact.
Even as a kid, (and while most of his childhood is repressed and blocked out, only vague paint blotches for anything resembling a memory) he recalls flinching and refusing the slightest bit of touch. He’s sure a teacher or someone said that his caretakers should see if it’s a larger, deeply-rooted issue. Ivo, instead, took it in as a number in a plethora of examples of how unnecessary humans are.
So, when he gets older, he works alone. Technically, he was working for the government, but physically, he had very little interaction.
He builds attack drones with a sleek, white design. They have a glossy finish, the strongest processors that ransom can buy, etc. Fundamentally, they were perfect, obedient. They had no personality. They followed the ever-present simplicity of modern-day logos. Emotionless, dull, colorless. He understands why they’re designed in that way, but he can’t help but find their lack of personality a larger issue with humanity as a whole.
When he’s got time to himself, (which has become rarer and rarer, he tries to throw himself into his work whenever he can. Having nothing to do for someone else means having to think about what you want for yourself) he designs his own robots. They’re based off of real animals, ladybugs and crabs and bees and stuff. They’re a bit more efficient than the government drones, but he never informs the government about the tech behind them, scared that they’ll take them away. Not that he cares, of course. Even when he names them and pets them after programming their own touch-sensitivity, he doesn’t care at all. He doesn’t Love them. And he’ll send a blazing hell against anyone who thinks he does.
God , he thinks, looking at the black coffee on his desk, cold from hours of neglect, I really am lonely. He takes a sip, trying his hardest to enjoy the bitterness he’s supposed to relate to.
After a year or so of working with the army, he’s forcefully assigned a ‘partner’, someone to help him with his projects.
“We believe that having someone else to aid you in your technological endeavors will allow you to complete commissions faster and more efficiently.” The email reads.
“Bullshit,” he wants to reply. “You’re scared of me. You’re scared because you know I’m smarter than all of you and you’ve given me too much power. You want a devil looming over my soldier because you know that if I’m by myself, I’ll do what's best and eradicate all of you poor bastards and I’ll rule the world by myself.”
He replies, “If you insist. Send them my way.”
It’s a nice summer day when his assigned agent shows up at the door to his van, unprompted. He’s a well-groomed lad, Robotnik noticed, as clean, pristine, and emotionless as all of the government's little lackeys.
“Hello, Doctor Robotnik. I am Agent Stone, but you can call me whatever you wish. I’m your agent and assistant for the time being. You don’t have to worry about paying me, I’m alrea-”
Robotnik rolled his eyes, “I wish you weren’t here.”
The dumb man looks at him flabbergasted. “I, well, I-”
He grumbled. “I know you’re legally required to work here. Just, shut up and fade into the background. I have no use for someone who will do little more that fuck my work up. ” He hissed.
“I’ll make sure to do that, doctor.” He smiled, so diligently. He held out his hand for a handshake.
Robotnik stared at the hand, the concept of someone being able to be so open with themselves, not only allowing but hoping for the harsh needles of skin-on-skin contact. It disgusted him, a useless, forgettable, brainless human thinking he was worthy of being together to the point of atoms colliding with his genius brain. But also, he swallowed it down, he hadn’t felt anyone else in such a long time, he almost wanted to take it, see if he could handle what should be so simple, what he’s suppose to do as a dumb human himself, he-
“I, that’s fine. No need to shake. May I come in, doctor?” Stone itched the back of his neck.
He forgot that he had just been standing there as his thoughts ran around. “I suppose you may.”
And for the first time that he can recall, he’s got to focus on another person existing near him. Hopefully he leaves me alone, Robotnik thinks, hopefully he doesn’t.