Chapter Text
Another busy day has streched longer than it was supposed to. Agent Stone has already lost count of what's the current date as him and Dr. Robotnik have spent their time in the lab day in day out.
Last week's meeting with the government dummies brought them an insane amount of work. Apperantly some higher up's son or whoever decided they need a new weapon in celebration of their military base's new extension and it was up to the doctor to make something extraordinary which then will inspire youngsters to choose a military career.
The doctor of course cared very little about this but the usual threats of taking away his funding did its job. Which meant him and Stone have been locked in the lab for God knows how long now to finish everything in time.
Stone could feel his tiredness becoming more prominent as time went by. He was used to not sleeping for a few days as it happened from time to time since he was working with the doctor, but their busy schedule was truly taking its toll on him. Even Robotnik was fighting sleepiness, Stone could see the doctor stifling yawns every few minutes now.
After a few hours of silent work the doctor finally spoke. "Stone I think you should get going with the paperwork. As much as I hate those unnecessary reports I know even if those buffoons get their precious weapons they'll still bother our asses with the cost report and such"
As much as Stone liked to be by the doctors side, helping him with reparations and blueprints he was glad he could sit down by his desk for a bit now that it was the middle of the night again, without having actually slept in the last couple of nights.
To his biggest regret though this kind of paperwork was horrendously boring and monotonous. Stone could feel his eyelids dropping constantly.
Robotnik felt his own eyes burning while trying to put some very small pieces together in the core of his new creation. Another few hours have passed since he'd been working alone.
Now that he thought about it he hasn't heard a word from Stone in those hours. "Agent! How are those reports coming together?"
Robotnik shouted as he always did when he was too busy to get up and search for Stone. But this time no answer came.
This made the doctor a bit suspicious. His agent was always on the lookout for the doctor's every word, being right by his side the second he needed his assitance.
Robotnik took this as a chance to stand up and stretch a bit as he made his way to where Stone's desk was at a further part of the laboratory. What he saw when he arrived at the agent's workstation though was not something he expected.
Stone was sitting in his chair, head resting on one of his arms on the desk, fast asleep. But the thing that got the doctor even more surprised is that Stone's thumb was in his mouth, he was lightly sucking on it in his sleep.
Something in Robotnik's chest stirred at the sight, he felt the warmth spreading trough his entire body, feeling the sudden urge to caress the younger man's face.
He loathed being touched by anyone and never thought of touching another person before he met Stone. It turned out that the agent was somehow different in Robotnik's book; he never minded when Stone touched his shoulders to get his attention or when their fingers brushed as he was handed a cup of coffee.
And the doctor had to admit that sometimes he thought about running his hands through his agent's hair or holding his hand to feel the man's soft skin.
This moment was even worse for the doctor's little interest in his agent for he was sure he's never seen anything more adorable than Stone sleeping like this.
The doctor wondered if this was a habit Stone had brought from his childhood or it was something that found its way as a way of comfort into his stressful adult life which was rather like the doctor's: lonely and filled with work.
Robotnik thought of waking Stone so he could go up to sleep in the only bed that the upper floors of the lab held, but decided against it.
"He might be embarrassed if he realises I saw him like this" the doctor thought to himself.
He went to grab a blanket from one of the cupboards which was there for mostly when the doctor himself fell asleep unexpectedly in the lab. He covered his agent with it carefully. "Goodnight Stone" he whispered even though he knew Stone couldn't hear him.
........
Stone woke up to his phone beeping, a reminder set earlier so he won't forget to order some parts the doctor needed for his next project.
At first he was unsure of his location then he remembered closing his eyes at his desk just for a minute of rest. As usual his thumb has found its way to his mouth as it always did while he slept.
Stone wasn't very fond of this habit of his, he'd had a hard time hiding it from basically everyone his whole life; from the others at military training to previous partners he'd slept with.
He knew it was a childhood oral fixation, one he shouldn't be embarrassed about, but still it was infuriating for him sometimes that he had yet to find anything that could replace it.
Standing up from his desk to strech he saw a blanket falling to the floor. He recognised it as the one he drapes around the doctor's shoulders when he falls asleep somewhere in the lab other than the upstairs bedroom.
"Shit! Fuck no!" Stone cursed aloud as he realised what this meant. The doctor probably saw him sleeping and put it around him like Stone always does. Which in itself would make Stone's heart do a backflip from pure joy but this time all he felt was throwing up from anxiety.
Because if Robotnik saw Stone asleep he most likely saw Stone's embarrassing habit. All these year's succeding in hiding it from everyone and he fails like this.
Stone felt heat rising in his cheeks, a slight tremble in his hands. "The doctor probably thinks I'm a freak. Or an incompetent manchild."
But he knew there was nothing to be done about this now. If he'd just act as if nothing unordinary happened maybe the doctor would not comment on it.
Stone went to the bathroom to freshen up a bit and change his button up shirt to a new one, then made his way to the kicthen to get started on breakfast for him and Robotnik.
10 minutes later he arrived back to the lab with two coffees and two plates of scrambled eggs.
"Morning Doctor" Stone greeted the older man with his usual chipper tone and bright smile. The doctor mumbled something similar back and reached for his coffee immediately.
"Never seen you passed out in the lab before" He commented after taking a sip, thinking to himself it's just as perfect as always.
Stone tensed a bit at the doctor's words, fearing for what is about to come.
"Yeah I was pretty tired yesterday, I can't even remember when was the last time I had a proper few hours of sleep."
This made Robotnik think for a bit. He never really noticed how much he was working, only the arrival and departure of Stone reminded him of a workday passing.
He somewhat felt guilty for overworking his agent as he knew how stubborn the man could be, wanting to keep up with Robotnik to help him in every way around the lab.
"You know you can always go up to the bedroom if you're too tired to go home" The doctor said while looking at Stone meaningfully. "I know doctor but I thought I was doing okay. But maybe tonight I'll take your suggestion."
Stone smiled a bit, anxiety leaving his thoughts. Maybe the doctor didn't notice anything last night or even if he did he didn't feel the need to mention it or make fun of him, for which he was immensely grateful.
After breakfast the workday went by quickly, filled with some last minute reparations on a few badniks and progress on the new military order.
It was almost midnight when Stone felt his eyes getting heavy again. He wanted nothing more than to climb into that big comfy bed upstairs and sleep but he knew Robotnik was just as tired as him if not more.
He went searching for the older man and found him bending over one of the blueprints of his newer badniks. "Doctor I might be turning in for the night" "That's okay Stone, you should take some rest, tomorrow's gonna be just as tough as today. Goodnight agent"
Stone didnt exit right away, contemplating if he should say what he wanted.
"You know doctor I think you should come too. To bed. You need some rest as well." His voice wasn't as confident as he wanted it to be but to his defence he didn't know how to ask his boss and long time crush to take a nap with him. "This situation would beat most people" Stone thought to himself.
Robotnik's eyes widened a bit at the request which made Stone's stomach drop. But immediately the doctor collected himself (and if his cheeks were a bit rose-tinted then it was completely unrelated) and actually set down his tools on his desk. "You're right Stone. For once in your life. Let's go upstairs then."