Work Text:
Coffee break
“Stone!” Robotnik calls Stone for the first time since they’d boarded the Crab at the old, abandoned lab. Stone, of course, practically jumps at the word, and is at Robotnik’s side in moments.
“Yes, Doctor?” he replies instantly, ready for whatever Robotnik needs him for. It’s almost pathetic, the way he perks up just from this, but the Doctor has been completely ignoring him, something he’s simply not used to, ever since finding this long-lost grandfather of his.
Said grandfather that’s currently sitting right next to Robotnik, eyeing Stone warily. Pushing down his feelings of unease, he pretends not to notice and gives the Doctor his full attention. The two Robotniks have just emerged from the VR world, or are at least taking a break from it for the moment, and are currently sitting with their heads bent over a holographic map.
“Make yourself useful and bring me and my gramps some coffee,” Robotnik says, waving a hand dismissively, not even looking at Stone as he gives the order, too absorbed in whatever his grandfather has been telling him. Stone doesn’t know, he’d stopped listening when he didn’t understand half of it.
“Of course, Doctor,” Stone murmurs. At least he can still do this for the man. He might not be as interesting as the recently discovered grandfather, but he can still make the best coffee in the world. He’s taken a few staps towards the kitchen when he realizes he has no idea what kind of coffee the old man prefers. Stone doesn’t particularly care for the man, but the Doctor would be rather upset if his grandfather is not happy with his coffee. Stone therefore has to turn back and ask.
“Professor,” he cautiously addresses the old man, recalling that’s what Shadow had called him. Hopefully it’s the right title. “How do you like your coffee?”
He hopes it doesn’t come out as awkward as he feels. This is the first time he’s directly addressed the older Robotnik, and something about the man just makes him uneasy. Something about his eyes, he’s pretty sure.
“Black, two sugars,” Gerald replies, thankfully without looking in Stone’s direction.
“Right,” Stone replies, plastering a fake polite customer service smile on his face and leaves the two to it.
Shadow is sitting in the kitchen when Stone enters the small space. He’s still wearing the same serious expression, but Stone gets the impression he doesn’t really know what to do with himself. Especially since the only person he knows is completely ignoring him in favour of his grandson.
Something we have in common, Stone thinks. Since Shadow isn’t saying anything, he decides not to bother the hedgehog and instead gets to work on those coffees. He starts with the Doctor’s, since it will take longer. Then he decides he might as well make himself a coffee while he’s at it. He has a feeling he’s going to need the extra energy boost sooner or later.
Since the kitchen is so small, it’s almost impossible to move around without bumping into Shadow, but Stone does his best, and not just because he’s trying to be polite. Those quills look awfully sharp.
As Stone starts pouring the coffee into mugs, he notices Shadow is following his every movement closely, nose twitching as he smalls the freshly brewed drink. Curious. As Stone puts the last touches on the Doctor’s latte art (a small Badnik) he pours two mugs of regular black coffee, adding two sugars to each of them. There’s some kind of strange irony in the fact that he and Gerald prefer their coffee the same way. Stone tries not to think about it too hard. Or at all, really.
Then he turns his attention back on Shadow, who’s now watching the mugs intently, though he did briefly wrinkle his nose as Stone added the sugars. On an impulse, Stone grabs a fourth mug, fills it with coffee, and pushes it across the table to Shadow. The hedgehog looks at the mug in surprise, then turns his eyes on Stone, as if asking if it’s really for him. Stone smiles and gives him a short nod before grabbing the Doctor’s and the Professor’s mugs to deliver to the two men.
Robotnik takes his latte, takes a look at the art, then drains a third of it in a single gulp, letting out a pleased sigh. “Excellent work, Stone.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Stone smiles brightly at the man, pride and satisfaction curling comfortably in his chest.
Gerald accepts his mug and gives Stone a long look that makes a shiver run down his spine, before turning his eyes away and taking a small sip of his drink. He makes a small grunt that Stone chooses to interpret as approval. He gives the old man a polite nod, the Doctor a bright smile, and returns to the kitchen, both to enjoy his own drink and to get out of the way before Robotnik has to order him away from disturbing their family bonding.
Shadow is still sitting right where Stone left him, both hands wrapped around the mug, occasionally taking a small sip of the coffee. His eyes are closed, and Stone gets the impression he’s savouring the taste.
First coffee in fifty years, Stone thinks, unsure if he should find the idea more amusing or sad. But he’s pleased he’d been able to do something for Shadow, maybe even managed to make the hedgehog feel more comfortable in this unfamiliar world.
Stone takes a sip of his own coffee, letting out a small sigh at the chance of a small break after everything that’s happened in the past day or so. Has it really been only a day? It feels like so much longer. So many tings have happened in such a short time. Him tracking down the Doctor’s Badniks, leading the little aliens to his and Robotnik’s home, teaming up with them, the Doctor finding his grandfather, Shadow, the Eclipse Cannon... and now they’re on their way to London to steal the second key to controlling the superweapon. It’s certainly a lot to process.
Stone sits with Shadow for a good half hour in companionable silence, both of them slowly drinking their coffees. It’s... peaceful. Quiet. Something he hasn’t really experienced in a long time. Even Shadow seems more relaxed than Stone has seen him, though that doesn’t really mean much, considering they’d only met a couple of hours ago.
Once he’s finished his own drink, Stone puts the mug in the sink so he can wash it later. As he turns back to the table, he notices Shadow hasn’t returned to his brooding, as he’s expected, but is still following Stone’s every movement with those sharp eyes of his. It’s a bit unnerving.
In order to distract himself, and to do something useful, Stone decides to go over the things the Doctor had ordered him to prepare for when they arrive in London. After all, it’s better to double check than to miss some crucial detail.
Firstly he pulls out the case containing the suits intended for stealth and designed to protect the wearer from lasers. Both suits are neatly folded and without as much as a scratch on them, just as they should be. The statistics scrolling on the small screen tells him everything is in perfect working order. He closes the case and sets it aside, satisfied.
Shadow is still watching, his gaze more curious than anything. It softens his severe look somewhat, which in turn makes it easier for Stone to relax a bit more around him. Shadow seems much more mature and easier to get along with than the three colourful aliens. Even the adorable fox, who had seemed the smartest of them, came across as rather childish and naïve.
“There’s a sofa in the back if you want to rest for a bit before we get to London,” Stone offers, feeling he should say something.
Shadow looks up at him, eyes still more curious than severe, but his voice is even and serious when he replies. “I’m the ultimate life-form. I don’t need rest.”
Stone nods and continues checking the items. He doesn’t really know much of anything about Shadow’s kind, other than the fact that they’re difficult to get rid of, so he’ll just take the hedgehog’s word for it. There’s a soft clink as Shadow places the mug on the table, pushing it towards Stone.
“Can I have more coffee?”