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,,Just another boring meeting…” Robotnik sighed and continued his endless complaining: ,,Why do they make us go to these things, Agent? They know how much I hate them. They find amusement in torturing me like that. “
Knowing the doctor was frustrated thanks to the bitterness of his voice, the agent was sure anything he said could anger him even more. He simply nodded and hummed in agreement, but quickly realized that was a mistake. Robotnik turned to face him, displeasure written all over his face. The agent quickly gathered himself and answered, this time verbally.
,,Yes, sir, I do believe so,” he started, thinking over what he should say next, ,,but we both know this meeting is very important. There will be many of the government higher-ups. Making an appearance here could secure you better funding.”
,,Well we both know that, obviously. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be absolutely uneventful and dull.” the doctor replied, another sigh escaping his lips.
,,Did you at least bring me my coffee, Stone?”
,,Of course, doctor. Just the way you like it!” the agent’s cheerful demeanor was nothing new and quite frankly annoyed Robotnik. But in a way he liked it. It was so different from all the cold military people in his life that only cared about deadlines and showed no interest in anything else. However right now it irritated him. Just like that bright smile of his.
They continued walking in complete silence that was occasionally disturbed by the doctor’s quiet grumbling. When they arrived in front of the conference room, they were greeted by two security guards, which was fairly unusual.
They took out their ID’s to confirm their identity and then one of the guards started to pat down the grumpy scientist. The action caused the guard to get slapped immediately.
,,DON’T touch me…” Robotnik managed to hiss through his gritted teeth, venom seeping out of his voice, ,,or do you want me to report you?! I could get you fired right now you mindless-“
,,Sorry mister, but these means are necessary. We need to assure you do not have a weapon of any kind on your person.” the guard stated calmly, despite the events that just occurred. He did however keep a hand on his bruised cheek. That was going to leave a mark. A big red hand-shaped mark.
,,He had it coming.” thought the agent to himself.
,,Mister? MISTER?! It’s doctor to you, you moron! You just saw my ID! Is it that hard to remember?! I have 5 PhD’s for God’s sake!!” he was mere millimeters away from the guards face, his curled mustache adding to his villainous look.
,,Doctor, we have to go, the meeting starts soon.” Stone reminded his beloved doctor, not wanting him to cause unnecessary problems. For once Robotnik knew the agent was right and let the guard be, taking his latte from Stone’s hands and having a sip. Just a few seconds later they were stopped in their tracks by the same guard.
,,Hey, hey, hey! Where do you think you’re going? I still haven’t checked you!” he pointed towards Stone, his angry green eyes meeting the agent’s warm brown ones. He was starting to get tired of the two men, that much was obvious, but he still had to do his job properly. Hopefully he won’t have to see them ever again.
,,Oh, my apologies!” a polite chuckle escaped the younger man’s lips. He tilted his head slightly ,,But if I’m correct, I should be able to bring weapons anywhere with me.” He gave a questioning look: ,,I even have my authorization for that with me.”
,,I’m afraid these rules don’t apply here. Special orders.”
This was suspicious. Both of the men thought so and threw each other a quick puzzled glance. That is why Robotnik froze when the guard started to pat Stone down and the man complied. He even started handing him his weapons, as to speed up the process.
First came a gun that the doctor gave him he kept in his suit jacket, then the gun given to him by the government and last came a pocket knife he had on him for some reason. Robotnik still couldn’t believe his eyes. Stone was absolutely calm and even smiled.
How could the man be so calm about getting something he relied so heavily on being forcibly taken away from him? This was the only question on the doctor’s mind as this whole event kept unraveling in front of him.
In reality, the agent was furious. He always felt more secure with a bunch of weapons at his disposal. Luckily knowing this was just a meeting, he hoped he wouldn’t need them.
,,Alright, guess that’s all. You’re free to go.”
As they proceeded to walk inside, Robotnik couldn’t help but make a remark in a hushed tone: ,,Why did you help him find them you idiot?! He could’ve looked something over and you’d be armed! I can’t believe it!!”
The agent lightly chuckled and then a villainous grin spread across his face. It was unlike any expression that the man has shown in all the time he worked for the doctor. Which wasn’t that long, but he was a very emotive person.
,,Don’t worry, doctor. I may not be as smart as you, but I’m no fool.” he replied and continued, ,,I led him to believe I was complying with him so that he wouldn’t check me entirely. I am not unarmed, I still have a weapon on me.”
Then Stone murmured to himself: ,,They should implement metal detectors if they want this place really safe…”
Robotnik was stunned. His agent had misled the guard. It was such a clever way of doing so too! The agent was much smarter than he seemed, brilliant even. Not that he would ever admit that to Stone’s face though.
,,Hm, it seems you’re not as stupid as all of the other government morons.” From Robotnik that was definitely a compliment.
,,Don’t worry doctor, I will be ready to protect you if anything happens.”
When the two of them reach the giant table, Robotnik’s coat fluttering behind him, all of the generals suddenly quiet down. There are whispers coming from all over the room. This was nothing new to Robotnik, this happened pretty much every time he entered a room full of government weirdos.
,,Oh my, did we ruin the fun? How sad…” the doctor starts sarcastically, his arms spread in a villain-like gesture, ,,Now will you keep staring, or can we finally get to the point?”
Just as he finished that, Walters strolled into the room and told everybody to sit down. All but Stone, who remained at the doctor’s side, standing behind him, obeyed. Robotnik could see the commander’s burning gaze kept on the agent, who was just standing there, fixing his tie.
,,Well then, let us start today’s meeting-“ Robotnik was already bored and knew he would still have to suffer through the whole thing. He also had to do a presentation of his own if he wished to receive money. He hated how they couldn’t just admit he’s a genius and give him unlimited funding.
The doctor found himself tired really quickly, all the money talk was making him yawn. Meanwhile the agent kept his gaze all over the room, monitoring everyone in there. Some were about as tired as Robotnik, others seemed cheerful.
It was their turn to present soon, so Robotnik slowly walked to the front of the room, his agent trailing right behind him. The room was silent and so they started the presentation. The older male was enthusiastic about showing off his so-called “babies” that he loved so dearly. It was funny. The man always said he didn’t love anyone and anything, but his love for robotics was admirable. Stone looked at the doctor for a bit and found himself smiling immediately, the doctor gesturing and grinning wildly. He said something about how well his drones could perform and listed their capabilities, all the while looking happy he could brag about them to someone other than Stone. And he still said he hated such meetings.
The agent’s attention was shifted towards one of the generals sitting in the front row. He was throwing the doctor suspicious looks. Then Stone almost gasped. The man was toying with a gun in his hand. No, correction. He was loading it. Shit.
Everything was suddenly in slow motion for him. The general raising his hand. His finger pulling the trigger. The agent was already on his feet before he knew it. The doctor could see the general firing.
Suddenly they all heard a gunshot. Robotnik’s ears were ringing, his eyes shut. He could hear distant panicked voices and his racing heartbeat. Frozen in shock, he just stood in place, shock written all over his face. He realized he couldn’t feel any pain. Did he even get shot?
He carefully opened his eyes and scanned the room, stopping when he saw something even more stunning. The general was exactly where he was seconds ago, the gun still in his hands. But something was different. His agent was holding a knife to his neck. He wore a stoic expression, stone cold if you will. ,,You will drop the gun immediately.” he said in a cold tone, one which the agent almost never used.
,,Or what?” the general snarled back, wincing in pain as the pressure on his neck increased.
,,Or I slice your neck, it’s simple, really.”
The man dropped his weapon to the ground and looked as if he wanted to plead for mercy. The agent took a step back, putting the knife back into his pocket and straightening his suit. His expression shifted to a playful smile and he let the guards, who were summoned by Walters as the events unfolded, do their job of taking the man away. Stone seemed fairly proud of himself, seeing even the doctor was shocked by his actions.
He turned back towards Robotnik, who was still trying to take everything in.
,,Doctor, are you alright?” he questioned, his face softening. ,,You seem a bit….distraught.”
,,Just shaken up a little. Nothing to be worried about.” he paused to think before continuing, ,,And I was thinking, the guy shot, right? So where did th-“
Just as he was about to ask, Stone winced and grabbed his shoulder. He cursed quietly and turned his attention back to the doctor.
,,It hit you. When did it…? You…-what?” the agent wasn’t sure how to reply, but before he could, a loud voice disrupted everyone.
,,You all are dismissed. This situation requires our full attention, so you are free to get back to work until we resolve this.”
Robotnik immediately started strolling towards the door dramatically, gesturing towards the puzzled agent to follow along. Once they were in the hallway and on their way to the lab, the doctor resumed talking, this time in a more calm and collected manner.
,,You took a bullet for me. Why? Why did you do that?”
,,Because I’m supposed to be protecting you at all cost, sir. And that includes putting my life on the line for you.”
Robotnik was utterly rendered silent by the confident statement. He thought back to some of the other agents previously assigned to him, who just stood by idly as he got attacked.
The rest of the way no one spoke, the agent too worried and tired to interrupt the doctor's thought process. Thinking he should get back to work and knowing how much Robotnik hates human weaknesses, he asked if the doctor wanted another latte. Stone flinched a little when the other male turned to him very sharply as if shaken out of his thoughts and stared at him in disbelief.
,,You’re hurt. Your wound needs to be treated! You are not getting me anything right now. Sit!” to anyone else he might have sounded angry with the way his voice raised, but the agent picked up on the worry in his tone.
Stone did as he was told, silently appreciating being cared for. The tension between them became extremely obvious as Robotnik started to take off the other man’s jacket instead of asking for him to do it himself. He whistled for his beloved Badniks to assist him and bring him certain tools.
The agent’s cheeks were crimson red by the time Robotnik was undoing his tie. They were so close they could practically hear each other’s heartbeats. Once the younger man’s shirt was off, the bullet wound could finally be properly analyzed by the doctor, who in no way was a medical doctor. But he did know his way around.
As soon as he lightly touched it, the agent flinched in pain, not really expecting that.
,,Stone the bullet needs to be removed and you know this.” Robotnik cast a frustrated glance at the man.
,,Sorry, sir.” he managed to say before gritting his teeth once again. This time he knew what was coming and luckily it was done before he knew it.
,,Well see!” came a cheerful exclamation from the older male, ,,It didn’t even hurt, right Agent?”
The doctor started wrapping the shoulder in bandages, tightening them to stop the bleeding properly.
,,Right…” the other answered sarcastically, still in quite a bit of pain.
,,Now, my dear Stone, we must ensure your performance doesn’t lower and that you work at a 120 percent, so I think your pathetic little body deserves some rest.” Robotnik insisted, and after a moment added, ,,But seeing as I might need you close in case anything else happens, I will let you rest in my bedroom. Just this once. Don’t think this will ever happen again.”
Stone smiled weakly, not being able to process what exactly just occurred. He gave a slight nod.
Once in bed, he fell asleep right away, most likely due to the blood loss making him a little worn out. It was a surprise, the man didn’t expect the agent to be bleeding so much. Had he known, he would’ve done something earlier. Now as the agent peacefully lay on the bed, Robotnik let his mind wander, watching the other man.
His hair was now a bit messy in a cute way. His lips slightly parted. He wondered what it would be like to kiss him, feel him close, run his hands through the beautiful soft hair. He would be talking about some annoying government officials and Stone would chuckle at his remarks, listening carefully. And they could-
,,What am I thinking? Where did this come from??” he suddenly realized his mind has gone too far. His cheeks were now flushed in embarrassment. He was lucky the agent was asleep.He rapidly turned and quietly closed the door behind him as he left. At last he almost said out loud:
,,What is he doing to me? This never happened before. I need to stop thinking like that, he's a bad influence.”
But deep down, he loved the feeling.