Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dr. Ivo Robotnik was bored. Very bored.

But esteemed doctor, you ask, how does one such as you get bored? There’s still a world to conquer!

You see, conquest is only so entertaining. It’s no fun if there isn’t someone trying to stop you, is it? The terror of villagers tends to get tiring after a while, especially when they simply run and hide at his approach.

He mulled over his problem as he flew around aimlessly, having been testing his new aircraft. It’d definitely make things more interesting if there was someone to help out the other side. His evilness was exceeding his own expectations. There was too much of an imbalance.

He needed an enemy. An archenemy! Someone who was heroic and kind and brave and whatever they say heroes are like. Someone who’d be fun to mess with, someone who’d pose a challenge. Yes, yes. He just had to find someone. 

Where was the only question…

A sharp scream, abruptly cut short, startled Robotnik out of his musing, causing him to pout. He looked around to find an unusual sight— a gaggle of kids, not older than twelve, had… what’s the word… ganged up on a little blue hedgehog and were carrying him, each one gripping a squirming limb, to somewhere undetermined.

Peculiar. It didn’t look very friendly to him, but maybe this was something children did now?

The doctor watched the strange procession, because why not. The kids hadn’t noticed him at all— at least, that’s what he thought… until the victim of this happening suddenly stared up at him with wide emerald eyes; terrified, pleading. 

Robotnik was taken back by the direct eye contact, but he didn’t have the time to think about it. Nor did the boy, who peeled his gaze away with a strangled whimper. Right then, the older children stopped at their destination. Before he realized what was happening, the band tossed the hedgehog over the side of the cliff, leaving him only enough time to cry out before a loud splash announced his plunge into water, probably a lake, eliciting a cheer from the bullies above.

Something surged within the doctor right then— anger, perhaps. Heart over mind, he fired a few shots from his aircraft, scattering the mean bunch, before diving downward to check on the hedgehog.

He was not faring well. It was clear at once that little blue couldn’t swim, yet was making a pathetic attempt at it, splashing frantically and taking in enough water to rival a sinking ship. 

That angry feeling grew stronger.

What kind of children would do something like this? Condemn another to what could very well be death?

A metal claw extended and caught the boy by the scruff, quelling his struggle, and pulled him back up to where the bullies stood just moments prior. As soon as he was let go, the hedgehog squirmed and coughed up water violently, gasping. 

Robotnik hopped to the ground and knelt beside him, awkwardly patting between his back quills as the events that had transpired sank in (pun not intended). Oh Chaos, this is weird, he thought. What am I doing? 

He wasn’t supposed to save people. That’s what heroes do. And he was a villain.

To make himself feel less uncomfortable, the doctor began to talk. He’d always been good at that. “You know, kid, you need to stand up for yourself. Get a weapon or something. Fight back” he rambled, and an image of the little hedgehog carting around a blaster made itself known in his mind’s eye, causing him to snort. “Okay, maybe a blaster’s a little extra. That’d definitely scare them off, though. It’d be funny to watch. Or— Ooo, maybe you could set up a trap. That’d be fun. Pit traps, net traps, cage traps, bear traps… the possibilities are endless! They step in the wrong place and BAM! Problem solved.”

The hedgehog peered at him curiously, emerald eyes tinged with what was probably horror, and Robotnik realized that he’d gone off on a tangent again. Oops. “ Ahem. Uh, just something to think about.” He hoisted himself back up into his aircraft, settling comfortably. 

Meeting the gaze of the wide-eyed boy as he lifted off the ground, Robotnik spoke in a hushed tone. “If anyone asks you, this whole saving-your-butt thing”— he waves his hand for extra effect— “never happened. Got it?”

The hedgehog blinked, then offered him a small grin in response, giving a playful salute as the doctor flew off, engine sputtering faintly.

And if anyone saw him smile at that gesture— no, you didn’t.

Chapter Text

“Boss?” 

Robotnik grumbled in annoyance. He thoroughly regretted ever giving his robots a voice. Or sentience, at that. Did they have to be so irritating? “I thought I told you not to bother me.” 

The bot stared up at him blankly. “There is someone at the door, boss.”

“In this weather?” There had to be a foot of snow outside, and the weather forecast predicted more later in the day. Who in their right mind would be outside, much less at his door? Had they forgotten he was an evil genius?

Curiosity won him over, and he got up from his chair with a grunt. The robot assistant trailed behind him, gears creaking with every turn of its wheel. It’d need a tune up later. Or he could replace it entirely, and attempt to make a new bot that didn’t nag him so much. He’ll decide later.

Frost had covered his camera lens, making it impossible to tell who the blob of color was. Couldn’t hurt to ask. “Who is it?”

The figure shifted, inching closer to the voice. Having spotted the iced over camera, they struggled to wipe it clean. Through the mic, Robotnik could hear heavy breathing.

“Oh, for Chaos sake, just tell me what you’re here for. I don’t bite,” he grumbled impatiently.

“Yes you do.” A child’s voice rang out. A second later, they backed up from the camera, now clear enough to see, revealing a little fox.

Robotnik gasped. “You!” He’d seen the kit running around with his newly christened nemesis, but he still had no idea where he came from. He had tried and failed to use the fox as leverage, though. Scanning the surroundings outside, he noticed a strange absence. “Where’s the blue rodent?”

The question made the kit seize. “I… he… he’s sick and I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m not that kind of doctor, you know. Why don’t you take it to someone else?”

“You’re the only adult I know… the only adult that’s close enough.” The fox mumbled, barely loud enough for the mic to pick up. 

Robotnik raised an eyebrow, and upon realizing that the boy couldn’t see through walls, opened the door to look at him. “No adults at home?”

He got a head shake in return, the kit folding his double tails around himself apprehensively. “Well. Ok then. What is it that you want me to do about this?”

No response.

“Ugh. Where is he? I’ll send one of my bots to get him.” Robotnik sighed. Why was he helping again? 

…Same reason he opened the door, he supposed. Sympathy, tch. They were children, he reasoned, scientifically they were proven to evoke compassion. They were lucky he had enough heart to bother.

“I think that's a bad idea,” the boy breathed, shaking his head vigorously. “Uh, no offense, but he’ll probably destroy it.”

The doctor rubbed his temples. Admittedly, the fox was right. “I really didn’t want to go outside today,” he hisses between gritted teeth, kicking his robot assistant to attention. “Get me the Eggmobile.”

Within a minute, the rotund aircraft came hovering down the hall. Grumbling incoherently, Robotnik hops in, turning to the kit expectantly. He hadn’t moved a muscle. “Well?”

Baby blue eyes scanned him in confusion. “What…?”

“Are you coming or not, boy?”

“My name is Miles Prower,” he insisted, “and I can fly, y’know.”

Robotnik rolled his eyes. “Well, Miles. Lead the way then.”

He… expected different.

The red plane he saw the two children flying peeked out from under a snow laden tarp, sloppily creating a tent. Miles lifted a flap and scurried in hastily.

Robotnik wasn’t built for this. Gosh, did they actually expect him to crawl under there? He wasn’t getting out of his Eggmobile. Nuh uh.

The kit wins the battle when he pops his head out, worry pooling in his wide eyes, likely wondering why the doctor hadn’t made a move. Fine.

They owed him one for this. 

It was far from cozy in the tent. The chill penetrated the plastic tarp easily, likely the cause of illness. The second he entered, emerald eyes fixed on him, a stuttering growl coming from their owner. Quills raised, and would be rather threatening if they had any strength to them. 

“Sonic, it’s okay,” Miles muttered, nudging the sick hedgehog in a manner definitely not advised. “I brought him here to help.”

He was skeptical, Robotnik could tell. But he seemed to trust his companion’s judgment and begrudgingly relaxed.

It took some work to get him out. The Eggmobile wasn’t built to carry two in the cockpit, and Robotnik refused to be that close to the sick boy regardless. So they had to improvise.

After reassuring Miles many times that they would return for his biplane, they hoisted ‘Sonic’ onto the makeshift carrier crafted from the tarp and flew off, the kit carefully balancing the thing to make sure their patient wouldn’t fall off. It wasn’t the best solution, but Robotnik wasn’t exactly pressed about that.

By the time they returned to the base, Sonic had fallen asleep. A hand to his forehead quickly alerted a high fever, likely brought on by prolonged exposure to the harsh conditions outside. He probably got a cold, Robotnik reasoned. Cold weather weakening his immune system and causing him to succumb to a virus of some sort.

But again, he wasn’t a medical doctor. So he’ll leave it to his bots.

He kicked his assistant to attention. “Get me the Aidbot,” he ordered. “And make it snappy.” Looking back at Miles, the kit was attempting to find a place to put Sonic, yet he emitted a nervous energy as he scanned his imminent surroundings.

Robotnik sighed. Did he have to look so pitiful? “You. Come with me. And bring him along.”

It wasn’t a guest room by any means, but it’s not like the doctor had expected guests in his lair. Just a space that was meant to be storage for more personal things. Like his secret plushie collection (they were irresistible, okay?). 

Miles set Sonic down on a folded blanket, eyeing everything with barely concealed amusement. “Say one word and I kick you both out, understood?” the doctor growled, though it was a rather empty threat. The assistant and Aidbot came rolling in a second later, and Robotnik sent the latter to work on Sonic.

It confirmed what he'd suspected. Nothing too serious, just a cold. The assistant fetched some warm tea for the children, and Aidbot woke the hedgehog up to give him medication. Then both bots left, leaving just the three of them.

Sonic’s head lulled as he sipped from his mug, clearly fighting for consciousness, trying his best to focus on the doctor sitting a little ways away. “What is it, hedgehog?”

His face twitched, gaze shifting to Miles before waving his hand. 

“He doesn’t trust you,” the kit translated hesitantly, as if it were offensive… Well, it was kind of offensive. But distrust was logical. After all, this was his nemesis.

“If I wanted to hurt you or your little partner here, I would’ve done it already.” Robotnik stated plainly. “I’m not that evil, hedgehog. You’re sick. Unable to give a fair fight. We can butt heads after you’re better.”

Sonic blinked, hugging his tea a little closer, then tapped his chin in a swift gesture. “He says thank you,” Miles piped.

“Hmph.” The doctor waved it off. “Something wrong with your voice, boy? Why don’t you talk?”

“He’s always been like this,” Miles supplied in his stead. “I think he’s mute.” Sonic nodded, taking the last sip from his mug before yawning.

“Mutism… interesting,” Robotnik muttered. Standing up, he brushed himself off before walking over to the door. “Well, you two can stay until the snow blows over. Poor little Sonic clearly isn’t equipped to handle the cold.” Said hedgehog perked in mock offense, the lack of speech doing nothing to dampen his ability of expression. “You know it’s true, pincushion. Now get some rest. Both of you.”

Sonic smirked, saluting a silent ‘Aye, aye’ as the doctor turned away. Robotnik made his way across the base to clear a space for Miles’ plane in the hangar, glasses hiding a roll of his eyes.

Kids.