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It all started with Stone reading a review on La Última Pasión. He hadn't really been bothered by it since, honestly, he cared very little for the soap opera. He didn't really understand the appeal but if it entertained the doctor he didn't mind it. The plot was nothing new, it sometimes lacked any real creativity and the end of each episode was predictable. It was just a basic TV show, nothing special. He sometimes wondered how the doctor could like it, but he never expressed any of that, knowing that if he did, he would be at the receiving end of a very long and exhausting rant.
But the Doctor, who read the review over Stone's shoulder, did not share the same opinion about the soap opera. Immediately after reading the comment, he went on a tirade about why this particular so-called critic was a mistake and how they could not understand real art. He even threatened to send Badniks to their home, which is when Stone had to step in, reminding the doctor that they didn't have an unlimited number of Badniks at their disposition yet. The doctor fortunately conceded that maybe they shouldn't do that yet, using the excuse that it was not worthy of his time anyway, but Stone could see the anger lingering in his eyes.
For a few days after that, the Doctor could be seen glaring daggers at his holoscreen displaying the comment, preparing an adequate response with the maximum of insults possible in the feeble five hundred words limit.
"Stone, give me a synonym for stupid." He called out once, while the agent was cooking.
"Idiot?" He said half-heartedly, busy cutting carrots.
"Pathetic attempt Agent." He scoffed and returned writing.
No more words were exchanged during the day after that ‘discussion’ .
It was usual for Robotnik to be obsessed over a topic or over a certain thing, and it sometimes required weeks for the doctor to focus on something else. During those times the dynamic around the crab shifted, silence replacing what was once lively conversations about robotic and what-not. Stone wasn't all that bothered by that fact though, it brought him back to the time when the scientist wouldn't even spare him a glance. How he loved being at the end of his attention for the smallest of moments when he delivered his coffee back then, it made all the ignoring worth it. Though he couldn't complain, talking to the doctor is better than silently observing him.
The next day, the same routine happened. Silence in the crab while Robotnik was deleting scripts after scripts. But soon, Stone could hear the doctors’ grumbling insults and profanities at the holoscreen, that made the agent perk up.
"Doctor, any good news?" He said carefully, approaching the doctor.
Robotnik swiveled around in his chair, stopping just in front of the agent. One look at the doctor's face and he knew that asking that question was a mistake, but he preferred to be berated than for this quiet atmosphere to continue any longer. Maybe talking to the doctor made him weak, since it seems he can’t handle the silence like he used to.
"Does it look like it!" He snapped gesturing widely to the screen. "This absolute neanderthal replied to me with the most idiotic and moronic take I've ever seen on the internet! And I've been on twitter!"
The Agent suppressed back a smile, from his limited knowledge on internet culture he guesses it’s pretty bad.
"I'm sorry doctor, what did they say?" Maybe rubbing salt on the wound wasn't the smartest idea but he was too curious to stop himself from asking.
"They said that La Última Pasión was merely a pale copy of another Colombian film!" He shouted, thankfully too angry at the commenter to direct his anger at the agent. "And they said I should watch it instead of the 'garbage' that this series is!"
The agent sighed. How he missed when the doctor would get this lively for world domination instead of some comment on the internet. It didn’t take a genius to notice how self-loathing the doctor became during his recovery in the crab, the way his confidence was smashed due to the repeated defeats and how his declining mental health took a toll on his body. It broke the Agent’s heart; he only wanted the best for his boss and seeing him in this state saddened him. He didn’t grieve the world domination plan, he never really cared about that, he grieved the confident and proud Robotnik, the genius that never let anything get him down.
But even if the doctor feels miserable, it will never change how he feels about him, Stone pledged to follow him everywhere and loves him for more than his intelligence or Badniks, he loves Robotnik in his whole, proud or drowning in despair, and that love will never change. If he can help the doctor, if he can help his mental state, even if partially, he’ll do it. He’ll always stay by his doctor’s side.
And he’s pretty sure the old Robotnik is still there somewhere, only hidden. He can see it in the way the doctor’s eyes still lit up when they manage to retrieve one more Badnik, in the way he still manufactures endless machinery, all perfect and magnificent, or in the way the file with the plan for world domination is still carefully secured on his computer.
"Well perhaps, doctor, we could watch it." He said when the doctor paused to catch his breath in the middle of his rant.
"And show that I listen to the lesser people? Who do you take me for exactly, Agent? One of them?!" He shouted, standing up and putting one of his fingers on Stone's chest. The Agent put his hands up defensively, shying away from the doctor’s borderline offended glare.
“No of course not Doctor, I only requested so you could perhaps criticize the soap opera in your next comment. Taking a blow at what they like could prove to be efficient.” He reasoned.
Robotnik furrowed his eyebrows, a contemplative look in his eyes.
“I knew I could count on you Stone.” He finally said, a cruel smirk on his face. “Me. You. On the sofa, right now.
“Now? It's already two am.” Stone blinked.
“Who cares about the time? It’s not like I have anything else to do.” He scoffed and walked away to sit in front of the larger holoscreen.
The Agent stood there for a second before shrugging, why not indulge in a little film night?
The both of them settled comfortably on the couch, the agent even having prepared popcorn and snacks. The doctor had reluctantly waited for them, Stone convincing him that watching a bad series is better with something to keep your hands occupied. It didn’t stop him from glaring at the younger man though, grumbling an impatient comment every once in a while.
He hadn't realized before it was too late but as the both of them made themselves comfortable on the couch, he found that he was almost shoulder to shoulder with the taller man. Whatever, Stone thought, he just had to not be weird about it. Easy right?
The film started, and Stone realized this night would be a long one. He never liked soap operas, but this one got the icing on the cake for the most boring one he’s ever seen in his life. The plot was practically the same as La Última Pasión, which he knew thanks to the summaries provided by the doctor, though some of the character names were changed, Gabriella became Isabella and Juan became Pancho. It was also more fast-paced than the TV series, so much so that the plot made little to no sense anymore because of how fast it was going. It was only the stark difference between the two Stone could note, the reviewer was right when they said it was similar, he didn't expect it to be an identical copy though. He tried as best as he could to suppress his yawns.
The Agent tempted a look to the side, wanting to see the Doctor's opinion. He found that they shared the same point of view since Robotnik looked equally as bored.
"I am not entertained at all." He said, sensing Stone's gaze on him.
"I couldn't agree more." He replied, returning his attention to the soap opera when Pablo came on screen.
Robotnik let out a scoff. "La Última Pasión is better than this waste of my time. This movie is rushed, there's incoherency every few minutes and the character development make no sense."
Stone nodded. He blinked to get the blurriness out of his eyes. He's not falling asleep while the doctor is speaking.
"They cannot develop much in a weak two hours, Isabella's character cannot learn from her mistake with the two men in this short of a time. The chemistry is rushed as well, it puts a bad name on soap operas." He continued, now fully engaged in comparing the movie and the series.
Stone listened, nodding and expressing his agreement to every point made. Hearing the doctor talk about all of the character development made Stone realize that maybe he had been unfair with the doctor, he should watch the series more closely one day. And well, it couldn't be worse than what he's currently watching.
The movie continued, and it did not get better. It was just major plot hole after major plot hole, it felt more like multiple segments of short stories than a continuous movie. Stone gave up following it long ago, preferring to relish in the fact the doctor was pressed at his side. Who would have guessed the touch repulsed scientist would one day be fine with sitting just beside him? He still remembers the time he accidentally touched the doctor's hand back when they still worked at the government, the doctor threw a burning coffee at him and he had to lick the coffee off the floor as punishment.
Good times.
As his thoughts drifted to the old times, he didn't realize he almost tipped over the doctor's shoulder, almost falling asleep right then and there. He felt himself blush in shame and immediately pretended to grab a snack, hoping his inattention hadn't been noticed by the doctor. He still felt a bit groggy though and he missed the snack by a large margin. Maybe staying awake for fifty-three hours was a mistake.
Stone could feel the doctor’s judgmental glare on his shoulder and pretended to not notice.
“Has your aim regressed this much since we got into hiding, Stone?” He asked, an eyebrow raised.
“No doctor, I simply miscalculated-“ He tried to reply with a bashful smile on his lips.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m simply tired, doctor.” He said immediately.
The doctor scoffed. “Don’t you dare leave me alone to watch this thing alone.” He gestured to the screen with a disgusted snarl.
When Stone didn’t respond he glared at the Agent, unimpressed.
Stone had his eyes closed, his head slowly falling to the side, his mouth slightly opened just like he was about to speak. Maybe the doctor had underestimated the Agent’s sleepiness.
Robotnik sighed, half frustrated half amused. With a devious little smirk, he suddenly grabbed Stone's shoulder before pressing his head down onto his lap.
Stone let out a startled gasp.
"Shhh. It's getting interesting." The doctor said, looking at the screen. But Stone knew that was not the case from the smile on the doctor's lips.
Stone tried lazily to move his head away from his lap but his grip on him was firm. He didn't apply more force though, hoping the scientist wouldn’t let him go. This did not go unnoticed.
"Don't pretend you're not enjoying this." He said, rolling his eyes at the struggling Agent. Stone gave up fighting with a sigh.
The film continued and Stone tried his best to remain focused on it, but his head on his boss's laps and the hand running through his hair made it impossibly difficult. It was all too relaxing, all too casual. It made his heart ache in his chest, the situation being so peaceful it physically hurt. He wasn't used to this, he wished it was always like this.
This is more than he ever asked for and it felt like a dream come true. He simply wished it didn't take the doctor's injury for this to happen. He’s content with this, being near the scientist, he knows this won’t lead to anything and this is fine for him. He knows how ‘human’ a relationship would be for Robotnik, and his spite against anything even remotely related to humanity would prevent anything from going further. This, as much as their live has, hasn’t changed. Well, this is all with the thought of the doctor liking him back, which he is unsure of. Maybe this is all a trick or an experiment of Stone’s loyalty, it wouldn’t be the first.
His eyes unfocused, but his stubborn nature prevented him from falling asleep. The doctor needs his protection, he cannot sleep on the job-
“I can hear your thoughts from over there, you over protective barnacle.” Robotnik said from above him, with a tone too close from tenderness for Stone’s comfort.
"I'm sorry for falling asleep." Stone muttered, almost imperceptibly so.
"Don't be. Your inferior intellect can't take that much boredom, it was expected from the very beginning." The Doctor said, his tone contrasting with the insults.
The Agent hummed, knowing that this was the doctor's way of showing vulnerability, before he closed his eyes once again.
Once the Agent fell asleep the doctor let out a sigh, turning down the sound on the holoscreen. He made himself comfortable and ran his hand in Stone's hair, looking at the small satisfied smile on his sleeping agent.
He let out a smile of his own and closed his eyes too, successfully escaping the god-awful movie as well.