Chapter Text
You forced yourself to take deep breaths,
This is just like any other day, you repeated over and over in your mind as you drove. If you thought it enough times it would be true you hoped.
Before bed you’d received a text from Stone. It was a nearly four page list of advice and directions for the next day. If that hadn’t been enough to trigger your insomnia, the blueprints Robotnik expected you to read and somewhat understand for the next day did.
You barely slept- and woke nearly two hours before you usually did. Stone had said that instead of coming in at 8, you’d be coming in at 6. Already, it was 5:53 am and you were just slightly more than five minutes from the base.
“Fuck.” You hissed at your empty car as you pressed down just a bit harder on the accelerator. In its cup holder, your coffee sloshed a bit, luckily none spilled.
5:56 am: Through the second checkpoint and parked. You elected to abandon your coffee in lieu of risking spilling it as you rushed through security. Stone had recommended you pack a lunch and a dinner too if possible- you hadn’t had time. Nothing in hand but your ID card and your new tablet you rushed into the building that stood between you and the lab.
5:59 am: You’d told the security guard to fuck off as he asked about your absence the previous day, too stressed for polite excuses.
6:00 am: You were running through the base, frantic, shoving past anyone in your way. You heard more than one insult, and a few hushed mumbles of ‘First day’ ‘Robotnik’s new assistant’, and a few remorseful ‘God help them’s.
6:01 am: you stood panting outside of the mobile lab, trying to catch your breath as you tried to remember the six codes and scanners necessary to get into the lab.
6:03 am: You let your head fall against the still locked door in frustration. You went to check your phone to reread Stone’s advice and check the codes- and you realized you’d left your phone on the counter when you’d grabbed your coffee.
6:08 am: Stone opened the door to the mobile lab for you from the inside. You had a flicker of excitement seeing him- but that was crushed immediately by the disappointed look on his face.
“I know I’m late. I left my phone at home and couldn’t remember the codes.” You offered weakly, fidgeting with the tablet. The look he was giving you was making your face heat in genuine shame- and your sleep deprived brain was close to tears as it was. Stone’s expression might push you over. He sighed and stepped out of the lab, closing the door behind him.
“I know, I called you a few times when you weren’t here at exactly 6.” His voice was soft, betraying a hint of worry.
“I’m sorry...” you glanced up at him, and he was giving you a soft smile.
“Let me show you the codes- theres a pattern actually. I’ll show you then have you practice a few times ok?” Already back to his normal self you relaxed. Relief washed over you. You could do this.
As you were taught the pattern to the codes, you heard the faint sounds of Robotnik working inside the lab. It sounded as if he was sliding back and forth on his chair, hearing faint beeping and robotic voices from his computers. You did your best to focus on what Stone was showing you so you wouldn't look even worse than you already did. Still, the looming fear of facing Robotnik hung over your head, hoping he would try and be understanding for once. After you proved to Stone you had the pattern memorized he gave you a soft smile. It comforted you to know at least he was still on your side. Stepping inside the lab you were barely in a moment before most of your confidence was stripped from you. It only took a rather stern and annoyed look from the doctor to make you tense up again.
"Where the hell have you been?" He snapped, standing from his chair. His hair was slightly out of place besides that he seemed perfectly put together as Stone did. His desk was littered with parts and tools that you assumed were part of whatever those blueprints were for. You had no time to look anywhere else as you tried to answer him,
"I'm so sorry, doctor, just had a slow start getting all the new material together." It was no excuse it was the flat out truth. Still he was unimpressed, rolling his eyes and stepping closer.
"Stone and I have been here since 5 this morning working on this. I figured I would be a bit gracious and allow you an extra hour! It appears not even that was enough." His words were cutting more now than ever. Given how your morning had already been they hit worse than they usually should have. You shrunk away and uttered another apology but Robotnik was having none of it.
"I have no time for sorry. Did you at the least remember the blueprints?" His voice had come down a notch but that level of disappointment still hung in the air. You nodded and moved to bring them up on your tablet. Robotnik placed a hand on your screen, locking it again and forcing you to look up at him. Once you did he tapped your forehead with a surprising amount of force, making you wince away at the pain.
"Not here, you idiot, in here! That tablet cannot be just sitting around on a workspace where it could be broken. You need to memorize this shit!" You were barely registering his words anymore and only taking in the guilt that he piled on you. Mixed with the trigger of pain from him poking at your forehead, you were really forcing back tears now. You knew if he saw you cry there would be no recovering. This first day on the job would be your last. Finally Robotnik stepped away from you, moving back to his seat and pulling down a pair of goggles that were sat on top of his head.
"Stone, given you are still technically their senior make sure they don't fuck anything else up today, got it?" Robotnik ordered, quickly settling back in to work on whatever part he had on his desk. Stone nodded despite the fact Robotnik wasn't even looking at him.
"Yes, doctor. I'll talk with them. Do you need a coffee?" Stone asked softly, keeping his own tone even. Robotnik let out a short huff and waved his hand.
"Yes, I do. Take them with you maybe they can get a latte right." He just couldn't let anything go. Stone ushered you out of the lab and you kept your head down. You followed him quietly, holding back the frustration and tears. Despite knowing Stone was quite a bit softer, you didn't want to look like a baby. Especially since you knew Stone put up with this shit all the time. As you made it to the coffee presses and brewers in the cafeteria you let out a short sniffle, focusing all too hard on steaming milk properly.
Stone watched you carefully. He knew that was a lot to take in on your first day and while he was upset at you being late he still was willing to let it go and help you. Robotnik, on the other hand, was far more comfortable tearing into people for no good reason.
Stone placed a hand on your shoulder, forcing you to break your attention on the milk steamer. Peering up at him Stone felt a pang of guilt as he saw your glazed over eyes. He couldn't hug you given this was work and he really didn't want to do that here, but he desperately wanted to comfort you in some way. The best he could do were some words of encouragement.
"I can't say this gets better. But you get more used to it. I promise." His voice was soft and kind, his hand still planted on your shoulder. It was the closest to a hug he could offer right now. Your face barely moved, still emotionless as you tried to hold down everything. Unfortunately, it also meant you couldn't control your bitter tone.
"I sure hope it does." You stepped away as Stone finished the latte and made yourself a double shot of espresso. He checked his watch- the two of you could spare a few more minutes of break before going back to the doctor.
You hadn’t had a chance to finish, or even start your coffee this morning and you couldn’t afford to be as tired as you were. The disappointment you’d felt so far was crushing and you were doing your best to hype yourself up to do better, not be weighed down. Stone watched you silently as you tossed back the still scalding hot espresso. It was excruciatingly bitter and outright disgusting and you couldn’t hold back the visceral grimace and shudder at how awful it was. You coughed weakly as you leaned against the counter and at looked at Stone,
“Do you ever fucking sleep?” Stone chuckled at the gravel in your voice and nodded,
“I get a full four hours if I’m lucky.” His tone was light, but it was clear that he was dead serious. You couldn’t help but groan, absolutely distraught. Stone put his hand on your shoulder again, “It didn’t start like that if it helps. I don’t even miss it anymore.” When you met his eyes he didn’t like the fear and hopelessness he saw there. You looked away for a moment and when you met eyes again, the look was gone. It still made stone worry about you.
He glanced at his watch again, only another minute or two before angry texts flooded in. “How much of the blueprint do you know?” You got a bright idea and he smiled in response as your eyes lit up. You’d been so flustered leaving the lab you’d left yours behind, but-
“Let me see your tablet on the way back. I should be ok.”