Chapter Text
Stone was seated at his kitchen bench, drinking his freshly made coffee. Nika decided to jump onto the counter and seek attention from Stone, which he happily complied with a scratched behind her neck.
"I better leave Stone. Don't want to run into Walters. And there's much to get done at the lab." Robotnik says as he packed his things into his bag. Gathering his coat and making sure he has all the tools and parts he took last night before coming up to Stone.
"I'll see you in 2 hours." Robotnik leans down and gives Stone a gentle kiss below his eye and then turns to Nika to give her pats.
"And tonight?" Stone asked sincerely as he placed his cup down and looked at Robotnik for his response.
"Uh...I appreciate you letting me stay the night again but I've intruded enough on your home and-"
"I don't mind and...it'll be nice to have company that isn't just a cat." Nika once hearing Stone's comment, turns to him and gives him a hiss before jumping down from the bench and strutting away.
"It is closer to the base and a much better place to rest than the lab. Unless...you don't like staying here then-"
"It's not that, Stone. I like coming here. With you. It's less...intimidating than the lab. But I've been coming into your personal space and intruding with my mere existence, bothering you-"
"Then keep coming back to bother me." Stone confesses as he holds Robotnik's hand and sees him beginning to turn pink on his cheeks. "Especially if it's you." Lifting Robotnik's hand and gently kissing the patch of skin on his wrist where his gloves end.
"I'll...I'll think about it." Robotnik says as he picks up his bag and gives Stone a quick kiss, "I'll see you soon." and Robotnik leaves.
Robotnik walks a bit in order to get to his car. Parking it far enough from Stones place in order to not arise suspension from any other government officials or the neighborhood
Before meeting Stone, Robotnik rarely even used his car, opting to stay at his lab most days and only using his car to travel to and from his residence.
When it came to traveling interstate for government assignments, it was in his automated semi truck lab.
Then when Stone joined Robotnik, it was Stone who did the driving in government assigned vehicles or his Audi S5 when traveling.
Now Robotnik uses the car more often to travel to Stone's place some nights instead of staying at the lab.
It's good to take one of his works out on the road again.
Robotnik clicks the keys to his car to unlock and gets in. Throwing his bag onto the back seat
But as soon as he shut the door, it all went wrong so fast.
Robotnik's mouth is suddenly stuffed with a cloth and something covers his head and he's vision is pitch black. He didn't have time to hit his distress button on his glove to alert Stone before they were ripped off his hands.
Robotnik hating the cold, naked feeling in his hands.
Robotnik is then dragged out of his seat. He tries to twist and kick his way out of the grasp of his attackers, but fails. Then he's tossed into, presumably, a van. His attackers ties his feet and wrists before slamming the door shut. Robotnik could just hear distant voices from outside. The van starts up and drives off.
Robotnik is left alone in the back of a cold and dirty van. He tries desperately to loosen his bound hands, but fails.
Laying on his side, unknowing where he's going. Robotnik knew this day would eventually come. Being the governments best roboticist and with the reputation like Robotnik, he was bound to end up (or is already are on) target lists.
He just didn't think it will be now. Today.
Robotnik finds himself suddenly hating the feeling of regret.
Regretting not telling Stone he'll come back for another night.
-
Stone just finished changing into his work suit and cleaned up before leaving. Petting Nika at the door and shutting it behind him, Stone goes on with his usual schedule.
Walking to his car, Stone something familiar in the distance. Walking past his car and opting to get a closer look. Stone feels his heart beat faster as he gets closer.
Stone's superstition was right. Robotnik's car was still here. But where was Ivo?
Stone tried the door and found it unlocked. Looking inside he sees Robotnik's bag on the backseat floor. Looking around further, he finds the car keys dropped outside, under the driver's side.
Stone heart races faster. He farcical look around for any sign of where Robotnik was taken. Then his eyes land on a street camera.
Stone gets in Robotnik's car and pulls out his tablet from his bag. As fast as Stone can, he hacks into the camera's systems and plays back the last hour.
The footage shows Robotnik walking to his car and getting in. Then there's movement inside that Stone just couldn't make out. Then a person emerges from the back seat and opens the driver side door, taking hold of Robotnik. Another person emerges from the other side and helps his accomplice in pulling Robotnik out of his car and carrying him to a nearby van.
Stone could see Robotnik desperately trying to escape his attackers, but failed as he was thrown into the back of the van. The van then drove out of frame.
Stone cleared the pixelated footage to at least get a plate number, but the van didn't have any one.
Well all Stone has to do now is find a van with no number plates, track Robotnik's location somehow before anything else occurs. Not a challenge at all. Not for Stone at least.
Getting out of Robotnik's car, Stone stormed back to his apartment to get some...tools.
-
Time truly feels slower when you're tied to a chair in a barley lit room.
When Robotnik was able to see again, he was already strapped down to a chair, legs and wrist bound.
"There you go doc, all comfy now." One of his captors joked as he purposely tightens the bounds on Robotnik's wrist.
"You do realize who you just took? I'm the government's best roboticist. And they'll be expecting me, so when I don't arrive they'll send hell on you sad excuses of living organs." Robotnik spat.
"Not if you called and said you'd be absent." His captor says and he drops Robotnik gloves on a wooden work table.
"What? You not seriously gonna make me call and say I'm-"
"Nope. Already handled. But thank you for the offer doc." The captor smirks as he paces around Robotnik.
"So...what is it that you want?"
"We have a buyer who's interested in you and your machinery storage location. doc. In other words, a new employment opportunity."
"You seriously just kidnapped me to just sell me to another party. Well that's just pathetic."
"He's willing to pay heavily to have you alive and have access to your storage doc. So please behave for him when he arrives tomorrow."
"What makes you think I'll simply cooperate?"
"Not even if a certain agent is so close to you. And is at the risk of being our next target if you don't behave. An...Agent Stone if I recall." The captor says confidently, looking down at the doctor.
Robotnik was speechless for a moment. He expected them to know his name, but nothing about Stone.
"Pff. He means nothing to me. He's merely my assigned assistant."
"Oh really?" The captor smirks as he takes an envelope from the other captor behind him and takes out the contents in it.
"Because from these, you two are always seen together. Wherever the doctor goes, he's there." The captor says as he drops photos with Robotnik and Stone together. The photos taken from behind them and in hiding.
"Oh...Did I forget to mention he's also my personal guard?" Robotnik said smugly.
"Personal indeed" The captor says with a grin as he drops the rest of the photos. The last couple of photos were more intimate and personal.
There were the brief moments of touches he and Stone shared. Fingers just hooking together, Robotnik holding Stone by the shoulder and leaning into him, Robotnik smiling at Stone, the loving glances.
The moments only he and Stone knew and kept a secret. Till now.
"So...what's it gonna be? Tell us the location of the storages and live to see tomorrow or...we'll make your boyfriend tell us instead."
Robotnik tried not to show a reaction to the captors words. "I wouldn't try going after him. You wouldn't come back in one piece. Or at least, without a black eye and a gunshot or two in your torso."
Behind the captor was his partner, loading a pistol. "Oh trust me, I think we can handle your personal boy toy."
Robotnik bared his teeth at the last words.
The leading captor turns to face his companion behind, "Wait outside. I'm gonna say some parting words with the doc before we go."
The companion leaves the room, leaving Robotnik and the leading captor alone.
"You're sealing your death warrant. There's no going back now. Regardless of what you do." Robotnik says, looking down at the ground. His head was pounding with a headache.
"Aw I'm so scared." the captor mockingly says as he walks to the table. He scoops up Robotnik's gloves and puts them on. "I think I'll keep these myself. As a reward for successfully kidnapping the great doctor Robotnik from the government."
"Get your slimy, dirty, disgusting hands off my tech you-"
"Or what doc? You'll...send in your drones after me? Well...not anymore since I'm the one in control. And no one will come looking for you, doc." The captor mocks as he grins and leans close into Robotnik's space.
Then from the other side of the door came the sudden sounds of glass breaking. Muffled shouting. More glass and wood breaking along with sounds of fun shots.
After another 3 shots were shot, silence.
Then silent footsteps getting louder and closer to the room Robotnik was kept in.
The door slowly opened and a familiar figure stood by the door. Gun raised and steady. Ready to take fire any moment.
Stone.
Robotnik's captor quickly grabbed Robotnik's hair and stood behind him. Pulling a gun out and harshly pushing it against Robotnik's temple.
"I assume you're Agent Stone. The docs favorite "plaything"." The captor practically spits, keeping his gaze on Stone who still had the gun aimed at him.
"I think a man with your experience knows the drill. Put the gun down and-"
Robotnik uses his head to hit the captor from behind into his stomach, causing a distraction.
The gun fires and the captor stumbles back and falls. Still and the body beginning to go cold.
Robotnik looked up to Stone who stood still and silent before walking up to Robotnik.
"Stone...you could have...shot me." Robotnik says breathlessly as Stone got his butterfly knife (kept hidden at his ankle) to cut Robotnik's bounds.
"I wouldn't have taken the shot if I knew it would." Stone says as he manages to cut the last of the bounds and Robotnik moves his arm freely.
Robotnik looked over at Stone to see his face much clearer. That it's splattered with blood on one side.
Robotnik lifts his hand to Stone's bloodied cheek and attempts to wipe away a speck of blood. At the same time, pulling Stone in for a gentle kiss.
Robotnik isn't sure why he did. Reassurance? Fear?
Love?
"Thank you Stone. I was just getting tired of his speeches. You saved me a headache." Robotnik whispers, his head collapsed into Stone's shoulders when they parted.
"Of course," Stone replies as he carefully wraps his arm around Robotnik and lift him up.
"I...I can walk agent, thank you." Robotnik says tiredly as he separates from Stone. Although, not truly wanting to part. He goes to the captors still and cold body to retrieve his gloves (although he may need to destroy the pair and create new ones since they're contaminated and dirtied). As well as to the table when the blackmailing photos of him and Stone laid.
Robotnik furiously picked them up and took them with him to destroy and dispose of them. Stone came up from behind him and saw the images, "They were threatening me with your safety if I didn't give them the location of the storages." Robotnik explained as he shoved the images into his pocket.
"Did you tell them? The location?"
"No...no I didn't." Robotnik looked at Stone to see him nodding in acknowledgement. But his face was still cold and focused.
"Not because I didn't want to share my feelings for you. It's because I knew what kind of man you are, Stone and that these fools wouldn't even be capable of hurting you. And from the looks of things here...I stand corrected." Robotnik says proudly looking happily at Stone, who in return gave him a gentle smile. Staying closely by Robotnik as they made their way to the exit.
"Does anyone else know?" Robotnik asked quietly as they were walking.
"I've contacted Walters whilst tracking you down. He'll be sending in a team to this location to investigate."
Walking outside, Robotnik looked around the environment to see he was kept in a construction area. Emerging from an underground tunnel.
As they walked, Robotnik suddenly felt a sharp pain on the right side of his body, causing him to suddenly grunt in pain and grasp his side.
Stone heard Robotnik and looked behind to see him in pain. Quickly rushing over to check on him. "Ivo, what happened?"
"Just some...sudden pains." Robotnik winced.
Stone was careful and he moved Robotnik's hands from his side stomach and began to try moving his shirt. Till he suddenly stopped.
"Ivo...uh can I take a look?"
"Yes...you can Stone." Robotnik answers as he untucks a part of his shirt for Stone to inspect the pains.
Looking down to his side, Robotnik can see large bruises forming and light cuts.
"It doesn't look like there's serious damage. Just some cuts and bruises, but I'll take you to your lab for closer inspection.
Robotnik nodded in agreement and didn't protest when Stone held him up and supported him as they walked to Stone's car.
-
Back at Robotnik's lab, Stone and Robotnik had finished doing medical checks on Robotnik and have concluded that he didn't have any serious injuries. Just bruises and cuts.
Stone finishes wrapping the bandage around Robotnik's lower torso in the lab's center couch. Where sometimes, Stone stumbles upon a resting Robotnik with headphones on.
"Not too tight?"
"No, it's fine." Robotnik tiredly answers as he grabs his shirt and button it up. While Stone packed up the medical equipment.
Picking up his coat the doctor takes out the blackmailing photos of him and Stone together. When off at work, they didn’t go out together in worries of those in the government finding out and separating them. But the photos showed their passion and connection between the doctor and, assumed, assistant.
Robotnik rips and tosses the photos into the incinerator.
When Stone passed by Robotnik, he leant down and gave Robotnik a soft kiss on his forehead before walking pass.
Robotnik then remembered what he thought of when he was being taken away.
Regret.
"Stone...do you mind if...I come over to your place tonight?"
Stone looks at Robotnik beside him as he answers, "No, I don't mind Ivo."