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“That one.” Dr. Stone’s voice cut through the silence of the crowded room like a knife.
Ten dozen agents turned their attention to one man. He stood near the front, his own eyes staring right at the gloved finger nearly touching his chest. The metal tip of the glove reflected his own face, curled mustache contorted into something small and scared. The agent raised his eyes, light blue locking on deep brown.
“Name.”
It wasn’t a question. Dr. Stone wasn't a man of many words, the agent knew that well. In the few days before his visit, they had the doctor’s personality and what he would need from them, should they be chosen, hammered into their heads in preparation.
“Agent Ivo Robotnik. Sir.”
Stone pursed his lips, “and why were you chosen, Agent Robotnik?”
“I have no idea, sir,”
The agent wasn't lying. He really had no idea. Every general or commander he had ever had said he was too loud and spoke his own opinions too much. Robotnik didn’t see that as a fault but he had the scars to prove even his own grandfather hadn’t agreed before he had given him up.
The only possible reason the doctor had picked him was his connection to G.U.N.'s former head scientist, Prof. Gerald Robotnik but the doctor hadn't even known his name when he chose him.
The doctor gave him a once over and turned on his heel, walking briskly toward the door. He only glanced over his shoulder once, clearly expecting the agent to follow.
Robotnik was obedient for the first time in his life.
The agent followed behind the doctor through the hallways of G.U.N. Stone walked like he owned the world, but never chose a hallway where someone would see him pass through. Robotnik took the opportunity of no distractions to study the man.
The doctor’s hair and beard were clipped short, with precise, sharp lines that looked more fitting for an agent’s military assigned hair cut. His tunic was a dusty purple that was mostly covered by a long dark coat that was buttoned to the top as if he was cold, despite the long hallways being kept on the warm side.
The agent bit his lip, he wanted to study Dr. Stone’s face but it was turned away from him and he had to stay behind him, almost jogging to keep up with the doctor’s brisk strides.
They came to a small metallic door, unnoticeable in the hallway wall unless you knew what to look for. The agent typed in a pass code before finally turning toward Robotnik.
“You work for me now. You’ll report to this door every morning and I will open it for you after you buzz in. Never bring any one with you.”
The agent nodded, “yes, sir.”
The lab was spacious, with walls of drone charging ports and tables covered in organized tools. The agent had the break room and kitchen pointed out to him along with a little desk that held nothing but a laptop.
Robotnik sat down when told, opening his computer and beginning to set it up. He watched as Stone took a seat at his own desk. The doctor opened a can of some energy drink, the artificially sweet flavor filling the room as he took a sip and started typing rows of code so fast Robotnitnik couldn’t catch anything.
And that’s how work went for the first few weeks. Robotnik would show up, get allowed into the lab, and sit down at his desk to work. Sometimes he was told to play errand boy, running papers back and forth to the commander or grabbing yet another energy drink for the doctor.
Sometimes he even got to go to meetings. He would follow along behind Stone and then sit in the chair directly next to him as if he was part of the meeting and not just Stone's agent.
Usually, it was mostly boring conversations that even Stone himself wasn’t interested in. Sometimes the doctor’s hand would wander over and trace the sleeve of tattoos on the agent’s wrist that was usually hidden by Robotnik’s jacket. It was detailed swirls that his thumb moved over to keep him calm sometimes. Robotnik wanted to smile at the touch when he zoned in enough to catch that Stone was being addressed.
“And Dr. Stone, your budget will be cut next quarter,” some random general continued.
Robotnik was on his feet before he could stop himself.
“This man right here is the sole reason you're able to keep this branch a float and you want to slash his funding?!” The agent hadn't meant to yell at the generals but he knew the doctor wasn’t going to say anything. He stayed quiet, unseen. “His weaponry is the only reason you are not trampled in the field! Without him this place would fall into obscurity! He is the only damn reason the government has any damn tools!”
“AGENT ROBOTNIK!” The voice of Commander Rockwell boomed across the room, “That is enough! You may be a good agent but you have been nothing but rude and insubordinate! This is the final straw! You are f-“
“Touch my agent and this building burns to the ground.” Stone didn't raise his voice, didn't shout or yell like the other two, but every person heard him.
All eyes turned to the doctor, still sitting in his chair, eyes on the table in front of him. Rockwell pursed her lips in frustration, Robotnik looked wide eyed at his boss. He had thought he was walking out of there jobless, and he had certainly not been expecting Stone to stand up for him.
The doctor rose from his chair, “I believe this meeting was over fourteen minutes ago so I shall be taking my leave. Robotnik, follow.”
The doctor strode out of the room, pushing open the double doors and never checking if his agent was behind him. Robotnik was.
When they returned to the lab, Stone sat down in his chair, staring out at the agent’s messy desk and the rows and rows of his drones. Robotnik stood in front of him, expecting punishment or reprimand, or something.
But he got nothing. Stone just turned his chair away, his computers booted up and he resumed his work.
The agent stared at the floor in confusion and dejection, taking a seat at his own desk.
“Thank you.”
Robotnik’s head lifted and he smiled at the doctor. That was the only thing the younger man said for the rest of the day.
One other thing that came from the meeting, was that Robotnik was allowed to put in the password himself instead of needing the doctor to allow him in.
Now every morning Robotnik walked in to find the shorter man hunched over his work station, fingers flying across his keyboard as his third monitor played the most gruesome true crime shows. Robotnik was equal parts fascinated and horrified at his boss’s taste in media but couldn’t help but look at the screen, getting lost in the details as he watched over Stone’s shoulder.
This morning, it appeared the doctor’s energy drink high had finally worn off, his head was on the desk as he snored softly into his arms. The doctor wanted to carry him to bed, but he knew how much the doctor hated touching and he didn’t want to disturb his peaceful slumber.
The agent shrugged his jacket off, gently draping it over the sleeping man’s shoulders. Stone stirred, not waking, but moving enough to bury his face into the collar of his jacket. His lips quirked into a smile as he nuzzled closer to the jacket, clearly inhaling deeply.
Robotnik sighed affectionately, leaving the doctor to take his nap. He didn’t know when he had become so fiercely protective of the man, but it had started becoming something closer to what Robotnik assumed was friendship.
The agent sat at his own desk, occasionally looking up from his work to stare at the back of Stone’s head, watching the man peacefully snoring away. Sadly, it came to an end too soon as Stone sat up, blinking aggressively. He stood, cracking his back as he stretched the tiredness from his body.
Robotnik smiled, softly calling out, “good morning, sir!’
The doctor froze, suddenly realizing he wasn’t alone. His eyes snapped up to stare at Robotnik with no discernible emotion.
Stone blinked as if he was realizing something. His eyes darted back and forth as he calculated and grappled with a problem Robotnik couldn’t see. Finally, his deep brown eyes settled on Robotnik as if he had decided something.
The agent blinked under the sudden undivided attention, but smiled. Stone’s lips parted as they formed something like a smile, too. It was just a bit too dangerous, one too many sharp teeth on display to be pleasing to the sane eye. It was a good thing Robotnik wasn’t anywhere near sane as he promptly grinned back even wider, charmed by the doctor’s genuine emotion.
Stone seemed to take that as the right answer, walking back to his desk, the agent’s jacket still draped around his shoulders.
Robotnik didn’t get the jacket back until the next morning when he found it folded neatly on his desk with a note. He picked it up to read the doctor’s loopy hand writing, “thank you, agent.”
Robotnik smiled and tucked the note into his breast pocket of his shirt before sliding his jacket on. He blushed slightly when he realised it smelled like the doctor, with a metallic tang and hints of vanilla and “Berry Burst” energy drink. The agent stealthily hid his nose in his jacket collar, inhaling the scent of the doctor before sitting down at his desk and pretending he hadn’t just done that.
——
The snow was already falling by the time Robotnik pulled into work. He was prepared to spend the night in Stone’s lab as he watched the snow drifts build through the windows of the hallway. He came to the door to Stone’s lab and cast one last look at the winter wonderland before stepping inside.
The lab was dimly lit as always, with Stone perched in his chair, typing away. He looked upset about something. Robotnik guessed it was a deadline that had been moved up.
The agent hummed as he settled at his own desk, beginning to check the emails Stone never bothered to look at.
Near lunchtime Robotnik’s phone pinged from his bag. He scrambled to open it and pull out an iPhone six which he turned on to find there was a winter advisory in the area. The agent hummed and was about to tell Stone when the world went dark.
Stone screamed, loud and high pitched. It was the first time Robotnik had ever heard him make a noise louder than a whisper. He ran toward Stone, using the light of the phone to illuminate the way.
The doctor was gripping the table, his breathing was fast and awkward as panicked eyes landed on Robotnik, silhouetted in the phone’s light.
The agent didn’t think, he just set the phone on the desk and wrapped his arms around Stone. The doctor went rigid in the embrace, chest still heaving with his uneven breathing that was boarding on hyperventilation. Robotnik thought he could even see tears, but even with the phone light it was still too dark to be certain.
The doctor’s breath slowed, becoming more steady after a few minutes. He didn’t shrug away from the hug but he didn’t return the favor and embrace the agent back.
“Sir,” Robotnik’s voice was soft as he spoke, “are you afraid of the dark?”
He wasn’t expecting an answer, maybe a “no” along with a fast paced speech about how ridiculous the idea was. Instead, he felt Stone nodding against his shoulder.
“More what could be in the dark, than the dark itself,” the doctor corrected.
Robotnik hummed, “and we can’t get out of the lab without power?”
The doctor nodded again, his face finding the crook of Robotnik’s neck as he leaned forward farther into the embrace.
The agent hummed, considering the options before gently moving himself and Stone onto the floor. He slid under the doctor’s desk until Stone made a noise when his back hit the wall. Robotnik fumbled for his phone, pulling it down so the light could illuminate the small space. Stone's lips were pressed tight and his eyes were watching Robotnik’s every move.
The agent shimmied a bit to the right, making sure his body was between Stone and the opening of the desk. The doctor’s eyes flicked between the agent’s lanky legs that were bent to fit under the desk and his blue eyes that were softly watching the doctor.
Stone knew it was ridiculous to have his trained guard watch a room no one could enter even in a power outage but the fact that he was willing to do so without being asked made the doctor feel safer already. By the time the power returned, the two men were playing Candy Crush on Robotnik’s phone.
An email from Rockwell later confirmed it was the storm that had knocked out the power lines. Robotnik read the new info to Stone while he watched the doctor build himself a generator that could keep the lights on. The agent smiled as he watched the doctor work. He was elbow deep in the machine with grease smeared across his forehead and his control gloves resting on his knees out of harm's way.
——
Agent Robotnik’s car rolled into the parking lot of GUN that was dedicated solely to Dr. Stone’s lab. He looked around as he got out, not seeing the familiar sleek black car that was always there when he arrived and left.
Today the lab was vacant besides the red BMW Robotnik had just gotten out of. Suddenly, he heard the roar of a motorcycle. It skidded into the parking lot, pulling into the doctor’s usual spot. Robotnik gawked. Not only was this man in Stone’s spot, he did it with such style. Robotnik bit his lip as he walked over just in time to see the spot stealer pull his helmet off to reveal his deep brown eyes and clipped beard.
Robotnik gasped. He was certainly learning things about himself today.
“Agent? Why are you gawking at me?” the doctor asked while he unzipped his leather jacket with one hand while the other held his helmet.
“No, reason! Sir!” the agent quickly snapped his eyes up to stare at the doctor’s face instead, quickly starting to talk about the plans for the next few days instead, “Rockwell sent an email. You are requested to show off the newest weaponry at the Chicago tech event thingy Friday. We will probably need to head out tomorrow to get there in time and actually have time to settle into the hotel room so it's not just the airport to conference and back to the airport again.”
The doctor hummed in acknowledgement as he made his way to the lab, storing his helmet and jacket in his locker before pulling out his long dark coat.
The younger man inwardly suppressed a groan before asking, “you have the flights set up and everything is ready to go, I assume.”
“Yep! Everything ready to go, sir, and we should meet here tomorrow with luggage at nine so we have enough time to get to the airport and through everything before the flight. Maybe even grab some grub before boarding.”
While Robotnik continued talking, Stone grabbed an energy drink from the kitchen and sat down at his desk. Opening the pop tab with a hiss, he partially turned toward his screens, still keeping an eye on the chattering man just to his left.
Work went slower after Robotnik sat down at his own desk but soon it was time to head out for the night. Stone tried to stay late but Robotnik made a face and did everything in his power to convince the shorter man to go home early and pack. Eventually, the doctor relented and they parted ways in the parking lot. The agent watched as Stone sped out of GUN before he followed. So what if he wanted to watch his boss lean low over his bike as he drove away? That was a normal thing to want.
The ride to the airport and the plane ride both went smoothly, but when they checked into the hotel room they found GUN had cheaped out and gotten them a single queen to share.
When they stepped inside and Robotnik saw stone grimace he immediately offered to call down for extra pillows to sleep on the floor but Stone huffed and said it would be stupid to force his body guard to sleep on the floor.
“Especially since tomorrow is the first day of the conference,” the doctor added, tossing his suitcase on the floor and falling onto the bed.
He was jet lagged and his favorite brand of energy drinks had been sold out in the airport stores so his long line of sleepless nights had finally caught up to him.
Robotnik almost laughed at the sight of the doctor spread out on the bed, already starting to snore but decided against it in favor of keeping his job.
The agent showered and changed into his bed clothes before gently tugging Stone into a more appropriate sleeping position. If the doctor had been allowed to sleep with his knees still on the floor the man would have been miserably stiff and sore tomorrow.
Stone pressed his face into the pillow with a grunt as Robotnik settled into the bed next to him. Neither man had bothered to build a pillow wall that night; they were both too tired.
The next morning Stone woke to the sound of Robotnik ordering room service. He sleepily blinked, raising his head from the pillow to see the agent sitting on the edge of the bed in a maroon bathrobe and with a phone pressed to his ear. He looked mildly annoyed.
Stone stirred further, crossing to Robotnik’s side of the bed to slide into few and look at him questioningly. The agent sighed as he hung up, tossing the phone on to the bed.
“Food’ll be up shortly. Unfortunately the security is going to be tight tomorrow. There are rumors that someone is going to attempt to kill one of the speakers,” Robotnik grumbled.
“And they still let everyone speak?” Stone huffed, rolling on to his back and stretching.
“It’s just a rumor really,” Robotnik hummed as he started to sift through his suitcase for a shirt.
Stone huffed again, “did you get me waffles to make up for this?”
“Of course, sir.” Was the reply. Stone hid a smile. Barely twelve months with this agent and he had somehow managed to get the man wrapped around his finger. The funniest part was that Stone was fairly certain Robotnik had no idea that he had memorized what Stone liked to eat, his poor sleep schedule, his favorite brands, even his habits. The doctor smiled to himself, feeling like maybe for once, he actually had found someone who cared about him.
Dr. Stone knew why he had never felt the warm sensation blooming in his chest before, no one had ever taken the time to be his friend. Stone was used to making himself small, the quieter he was the more invisible and less likely his abnormal behavior and attitude would be detected or ridiculed.
But with Robotnik, Stone felt comfortable. Of course not every wall could be torn down, it had only barely been a year.
The sound of the water cutting off dragged Stone from his thoughts. He slid out of bed and grabbed his own clothes.
After a brisk and very cold shower, Stone joined Robotnik in their single bed to eat the room service he had ordered. The waffles weren’t as good as the doctor had hoped, but it didn’t look like Robotnik had enjoyed his bagel and eggs any more.
The agent grabbed his gun from under his pillow where he had stashed it for safety and stepped behind the doctor who was steeling himself for the first day of the conference.
It was absolutely miserable for both men. Everyone was far too close to the doctor and agent duo, Stone had been disrespected multiple times, and Robotnik had been held back from speaking his mind by a very tired Stone.
Upon reaching the hotel room, Robotnik thought Stone was going to fall into the bed like the first night but instead he grabbed clothes from his luggage and beelined to the shower.
While he listened to the sound of the water running, Robotnik ordered food. They had discussed it on the way back from the conference so he knew Stone wanted burgers and fries.
Stone walked out of the bathroom in a black hoodie and a pair of purple sweatpants. It was the most dressed-down Robotnik had ever seen the doctor. Stone huffed as he crawled into the bed as far away from the agent as possible, rolling into the blankets to cocoon himself.
“Food’ll be here in ten,” the agent said, looking up from his book, “If you fall asleep do you want me to wake you?”
“I won’t fall asleep,” Stone insisted.
Not even a minute later Robotnik listened to the doctor’s soft snores as he stared at his book without reading a single word.
When their dinner arrived Stone woke up before Robotnik had even sat back down. He didn’t want to get out of his blanket burrito to eat but he had also skipped lunch to avoid having to be around the swarm of agents, presents, and attendees. The idea alone made him feel ill.
Robotnik seemed to catch on to Stone’s dilemma and held a fry out to him. The doctor took the fry from him with his teeth, chewing while he watched Robotnik pick the pickles off his burger with a frown.
Stone opened his mouth again for another fry and also received a pickle that Robotnik didn’t want. He rolled over to hide his smile and shimmied out of the blanket to eat his burger and fries with own hands.
When dinner was over and Robotnik had tossed the trash, Stone rolled back into his blanket nest. The agent lay as far away as possible, knowing that the doctor would not appreciate cuddling or any invasion of his personal space. It was already pushing it to share a bed.
The second day of the conference wasn’t much better than the first but at least it was the last day Stone was needed. The doctor stood on stage for his only presentation of the three day event and he was ready for it to be over before it had even begun.
Stone’s voice was carried through the auditorium of people thanks to the microphone. He was cold, delivering facts about his weapons with no emotion or even a smile.
He opened his mouth to speak when he heard footsteps and suddenly Robotnik was in front of him. The doctor was too shocked to be angry, especially when he saw the older man’s face screw up with pain as he tilted forward into Stone’s arms.
The doctor caught him in his arms as a deep red soaked through both men’s clothes. Stone heard himself yelling for a medic and telling someone to call 911 but he couldn’t quite remember his mouth moving.
“You’ll be ok, Ivo, it’s going to be ok, oh Ivo, it’ll be ok,” the doctor pressed his hand to the bullet wound that had been meant for him as he used his other arm to prop Robotnik on his shoulder. Touch aversion be damned, this was his agent, “you’re ok, Ivo.”
The agent wondered who was rambling to him. Robotnik stared up at the doctor, the pain was making him delirious and Stone's face was starting to blur but he was almost certain he saw Stone cry.
That would be ridiculous, why would Stone cry for him?
The next thing Robotnik knew he felt something poking him and the white of an ambulance. There was a warm sensation in his hand so he used the last little bit of strength to look over to see Stone covered in blood, holding his hand tightly and shrinking in on himself.
Robotnik worried that Stone had gotten hurt too, because why else would the doctor be in the ambulance with him? But the world faded to black again before he could ask.
The hospital was bright, too bright. He blinked and grumbled. The pain in his abdomen was duller now as he closed his eyes again.
“Agent?” Stone's voice was softer than the quiet beeping of the heart monitor and yet Robotnik heard him loud and clear
“Sir?” The agent forced his eyes open again, looking to his right to see the doctor in a stiff hospital chair.
Stone rose and Robotnik expected a lecture or maybe to be fired but instead Stone whispered, “I’m glad you’re ok.”
“What!” The word was out of Robotnik’s mouth before he could stop it.
Stone blinked, confusion visible on his face.
“But I’m just an agent!” Robotnik blurted out, “I’m disposable, just a bodyguard.”
“You think you're just another tool in my arsenal,” Stone said softly as if it just dawned on him.
“Obviously! I have been taught for twenty eight years to know my place.”
“Well,” Stone started as he sat down on the edge of the bed, “let me say this. You are not disposable, Agent Ivo Robotnik. And you are not just a tool. You are my agent.”
Stone leaned in close to Robotnik, “that means getting shot will not get you out of this job.”
Robotnik’s heart fluttered, “good. I wouldn’t want to lose the best job I have ever had.”
The doctor leaned back, and if Robotnik hadn’t been on so many pain meds, he would have sworn he saw a pink tint to his cheeks.