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It’s snowing outside because why wouldn’t it? It is December, after all, and Christmas is only in a few days. With that knowledge, Stone knows that any kind of holidays is a big inconvenience to Robotnik’s work, because then she would be dragged to all kinds of parties and events “filled with mouth-breathers and ignoramuses.”
Taking off her scarf and laying it over the back of her chair, Stone moves to organize the stack of paperwork on the side of her desk. The Doctor is sitting at the console, her body tense as she grumbles on and on how she would probably be forced to attend an office party this year.
Despite it being such a hassle for many agents since that would mean them staying in town for a while more, possibly missing out on the traditions in their own families, but the party seems to be mandatory every single year. Stone can’t escape it despite her many desperate attempts all because she wants to spend the holiday by herself
Stone doesn’t try to console Robotnik, thinking that it was best to leave her to her own devices lest she gets caught in the crossfire of whatever fit the Doctor might throw, and continues with her work instead. The paperwork before the holidays is always bothersome, the higher-ups trying to stack as many as possible just so they can have an easy break.
Stone’s fingers fly across the keyboard, trying to finish and read as many emails as she possibly can before the meeting they have twenty minutes from now. The Doctor is still grumbling on about the people around her and their weaponized incompetence, all to piss her off so they can eventually start making insensitive jokes about her. Well, it isn’t always like that, sometimes the agents around her are just dumb, but it kind of does feel like that from time to time, like someone is intentionally being dense so that Stone has to take over to not anger Robotnik further.
“Stone, let’s get this over with.” Robotnik addressed her agent, crooking a finger in her direction to indicate that she needed her. Stone complied with the order quickly, grabbing her files and notes in case Commander Walters asks for it, and follows the Doctor to the elevator.
It was one of the longest elevator wait Stone had ever had the displeasure of experiencing. The elevator didn’t come down to their level for some time, going back and forth between the upper floors, Stone imagining agents shuffling in and out of the small metal box, files flooding their arms and eyes drooping with exhaustion.
Well, at least she doesn’t have to suffer alone, but it seems Robotnik doesn’t care whether or not she is alone. The rhythmic tapping of her well-polished heel against the white tiled floor provided some kind of noise for Stone to focus on, but the expression that the Doctor wears is not a pleasant one.
Stone just hopes that they can get through this meeting without much trouble or arguments, she is already yearning for her bed.
Finally, the elevator’s chime rings out as the door slides open. There isn’t anyone in there, luckily, and they both step in hastily. The still and cold air inside is suffocating, though Stone tries not to express that discomfort outwardly. The papers sat uncomfortably in the crook of her arm as the elevator ascends.
They eventually reach their designated floor, stepping out of the confining metal box to head to the next box, this time made of concrete, to begin their meeting. Robotnik is never pleased to know that she has to attend these meaningless meetings at least five times a week, maybe several more if their schedule is cramped.
Stone stalls outside as she watches the Doctor busts through the door, her long coattail flowing dramatically behind her as she strides in. The people in the meeting are positively annoyed, especially Commander Walters, he is holding his head in his hands when Stone enters the room.
“Get it over with quickly, Walters, I don’t want to have to die such a lame death here.” The Doctor said as she drags a chair towards herself, sitting down with a posture that speaks volumes of her terrifying authority.
Stone stands behind her with a small, barely visible smile. It is always a treat for the Agent to watch her Doctor flaunt her power, the threat and danger that lurk behind those words strangely alluring, like a siren’s call to an aimless fisherman.
The meeting pass boringly, as expected; Robotnik keeps rocking back and forth in her chair, occasionally bumping into the leg of her agent, who is diligently taking notes of every important detail despite the drilling voices. Robotnik rolls her eyes at every mention of her name, opting to just drone out everyone’s voices so that she doesn’t get migraines.
The meeting stretches on for longer than either of them had anticipated, making Stone slightly worried about Robotnik’s waning tolerance; the Agent doesn’t want this meeting to turn into another heated argument between the Doctor and Commander about what is acceptable behavior in the workplace and what isn’t, and she doesn’t want to be the person that has to break that up again.
Stone sighs whenever the Doctor scoffs or roll her eyes, fidgeting with a pen the entire time and oftentimes forgetting that she can’t be seen biting onto something like a problematic child. Stone can’t say she wants to be here more than Robotnik does, but she’d be damned if she’s found slacking in a meeting.
Though, maybe Stone has been too obedient lately, maybe messing around a bit wouldn’t be too bad.
Stone taps Robotnik’s lightly, making sure she realizes that her agent is still behind her. Robotnik turns her head slightly, regarding Stone with a small, barely noticeable lift of her chin. The Agent leans down and whispers into her ear, the sound or action barely registered by the others in the room.
She backs away a bit after she deems that the Doctor understood what she is suggesting, waiting for her response to such an unusual and mischievous idea. Seconds pass as Stone focuses solely on the emotions that is going through Robotnik’s face, holding her breath for what felt like hours.
A thrill passes through Stone as she watches a sharp smile spread on the Doctor’s painted lips, a red deep like the color of blood and rage. Robotnik uncrosses her legs, sits a little straighter; The Agent smiles as steps a little closer, and with a single tap of a gloved finger on her wrist, Stone picks Robotnik up and dashes out of the room.
Everyone was taken by surprise, some yelping and screeching indignantly while Commander Walters speeds to the doorway, shouting at the Doctor and the Agent that just escaped. Robotnik’s smile and laughter are contagious, Stone soon finding herself giggling with short breaths as she continues down the long hallway. The Doctor shifts in her agent’s grip just so she can stare back at the angry Commander while flipping him off with both hands.
Before long the two found themselves outside, the snow falling softly onto the ground and them. Stone’s labored breath comes in short puffs of white fog, her eyes darting around her pale white surroundings. It was peaceful, a lot more than sitting in a suffocating meeting room.
Stone trips over herself with a yelp, barely holding her balance as she falls onto one knee, her hand gripping the snow below her. Whatever that was thrown at her is nowhere to be found.
“Left yourself open, Agent Stone!” she heard Robotnik’s voice ring out, looking behind her with a slightly dazed and surprised expression.
In the Doctor’s gloved hand is a snowball, her arm raised with a wild smile plastered smile on her face. Stone is still trying to catch up to the current situation; the Doctor wants to have a snowball fight? Stone had always thought that she would despise such a childish activity.
“Are you proposing a snowball fight, ma’am?” Stone asked, placing her hand onto her knee to get balance and stand up, staring as Robotnik’s expression falls to one of disappointment.
“Try to catch up, Stone; I just got out of a boring meeting and now have nothing to do. If I go back in there and sit in the comfort of my sanctuary, no doubt Walters will come and find me.” The Doctor said flatly, the snowball still sitting securely in her hand.
Stone nods and smile, a bright smile, as she crouches down to gather some snow, shaping them into a ball as best as she could. Another snowball is launched at Stone, making her recoil a bit before standing up and swiftly throwing hers. It, unfortunately, missed the Doctor, giving her another chance to throw another at her agent.
They spend the entire morning laughing and assaulting each other with snowballs after snowballs. At one point, Robotnik had the mininiks pick up some of their own and rained snowy hell on Stone, who was trying her best to shield herself with her jacket, but was laughing nonetheless.
At last they lay down in the snow, side by side as clouds of cold smoke float up into the air from their breathing. Stone feels exhaustion in her bones, but it was a pleasant tingling feeling. She absentmindedly wonders why the others haven’t come out to find them, but the thought dissipates as quickly as it came as Robotnik’s hand reaches out to hold hers.
The Agent’s smile brightens and grows warm, her fingers grasping and intertwining their fingers together. She hears the Doctor huffs but doesn’t turn her head to look, knowing well that she is content with the company and touch.