Chapter Text
Agent Stone is exceptional at what he does. Even his most reluctant superiors could not deny the agents capabilities and efficiency during assignments. He is well kept, well trained. Not particularly obtrusive, listens well but not a push-over either. Exemplary he was called once, the rare compliment still rings in his head from time to time. He wonders if that is why he is waiting here.
Currently, Stone stands at loose attention outside of Commander Walters office. He is being reassigned to a Doctor Ivo Robotnik, head of the robotics division. He's heard of the man before, though only in passing, he has never had the opportunity to work with such delicate machines before. Stone has seen the mans work in action, the drones are things of real beauty.
Stone has a handheld suitcase and backpack sitting at his feet, he will be living on site while assigned to the doctor. Most personal effects (suits, civilian clothes + pajamas) all fit neatly into the suitcase but he managed to hide a few things hes kept secret over the years deep in the backpack.
He can hear movement behind the door and quickly takes stock of himself to make sure everything is in order. His ears are folded down, they blend in well with his dark hair like this which helps smooth over some issues people have with a hybrid agent. His tail sits straight and low against his legs, no untoward movements. The exact posture of a well-trained G.U.N. hybrid. If he had bound his tail, and kept his ears low like this most folks wouldn't see him as a canine at first glance.
He hopes the doctor is aware he's getting a hybrid at least, its always uncomfortable when it comes as a surprise. He's being introduced at the end of the workday as well, letting the doctor blow off steam on his own overnight before work truly starts.
The door next to him pulls open and the severe pinched face of his former handler appears, followed by the rounder more jovial old one of Commander Walters. His old handler doesn't look his way as she walks off, leaving space briskly and Stone and Walters to stand awkwardly in the empty room. Walters sighs and it is the sound of a man who is far too old to be dealing with this nonsense. He turns to Stone.
"Well agent, no sense in delaying." The commander turns and Stone quickly picks up his items before following behind the man.
Its a nice day on base, relatively quiet given the later hour and a cool breeze blows. Stone is thankful for the exercise outside, however brief the walk to the lab may be. He does have one nagging question.
"Commander," He finally pipes up, "Is the doctor aware he is receiving a hybrid?" Generally Stone operates on a speak when spoken to basis, but he would like to know what he is walking in to. Walters sighs, the same kind of sound from earlier.
"I sent Robotnik an email detailing everything, whether or not the man read it is another matter entirely agent."
"I see."
The rest of the walk is silent, but not unpleasant. Stone doesn't mind Walters, the man isn't a hybrid focused commander so he doesn't deal with him too often but he is never unkind. They come up on the lab quickly, a large rectangular but non-de-script building. Stone can feel some budding apprehension, he hopes there is space for him to move around. He never does well cooped up, an unfortunate part of his more canine nature. In a truly worst case scenario he could run small circuits in a room somewhere but that's a last resort he hopes.
The apprehension only increases as the seamless lab door opens and he is immediately taken to an elevator which brings them down a few levels. Underground, wonderful. He can feel his ears twitch slightly against his head and hopes the commander didn't catch the slip.
The lab is well lit up, cool toned fluorescent lights sending everything into sharp contrast. It smells of chemicals, machine oil and electricity. There is music coming from deeper in the lab, though judging by the look on Walters face Stone can hear it not because of his exceptional hearing but by virtue of how loud it is playing.
They move further into the lab, toward the source of the music and Stone has to make a conscious effort not to let his ears twitch. The volume combined with everything else has him on edge right now. He stands behind and to the side of Walters as the commander moves towards the door and knocks roughly. There's a hiss and the sound of an electronic lock disengaging before the door slides open and a man steps out.
He's tall, thin and pale with a lean build. The doctor is dressed entirely in black, barring the red piping details on the interior of his coat. His gloves are electronic with metal tips on some of the fingers. He has a scowl on his face, a well-groomed mustache that curls at the ends and dark hair neatly styled. All things considered he's quite attractive but Stone keeps that to himself.
"Walters…" The man hisses, "And this must be the corporate mutt I've been assigned." He sneers when he looks at Stone and the agent can't help but let his ears flatten against his head a bit more.
"This is Agent Stone, Ivo and he'll be working for you for the foreseeable future." Until he gets run off, is left unsaid. The doctor rolls his eyes but then holds out a hand and makes a grabbing motion at Stone.
Confused, the agent offers his free hand and the doctor snatches his wrist. Pulling up his sleeve and securing a thin black watch over the hybrids wrist. "This," The doctor explains "Is an identification watch, it will let me contact you, tell me exactly where you are and let you have access to the agents quarters on the floor above. The minute you are no longer assigned to me, this is back in my hands. Understood."
"Yes sir."
Robotnik squeezes his wrist harshly and then drops it. "Lets see how long you last."
The man starts moving toward the elevator. "I'm leaving now, Agent whatever-your-name, I'll show you your spot on the way up." Stone nods and follows behind the doctor, Walters trailing behind the two. The agent pushes himself into the far corner of the elevator, back to the wall and watching the door.
True to his word the door opens a floor above and the doctor moves out without checking if Stone follows. He accompanies the doctor into a split kitchen and living space. The man opens a door on the far wall and points into it.
"That's your room," The doctor finally looks over his shoulder, giving Stone a full once over. "You start at 8 sharp, don't be late." He stalks away and disappears into the elevator again, leaving Stone alone in the apartment.
Cautiously, Stone enters the bedroom the doctor pointed to. There is a bed pushed against one wall with a nightstand. A desk is on the opposite wall with a thin bookshelf. And a wardrobe pushed into the back corner on the same wall as the desk. Stone checks over his shoulder, assuring himself that he is alone.
His tail starts picking up, long fur sweeping against the floor. He can feel a smile cracking at the sides of his lips. The room is basic, but its his. A whole space, entirely for himself.
Standard hybrid accommodations usually have two or three to a dorm space, with mats or pads on the floor and few furnishings. Its all about perfunctory spaces when it comes to hybrids working through G.U.N. and the military for that matter. Practical needs met and that's it. A hybrid with too many freedoms is hard to control, and that makes them dangerous. Stone is giddy with his current space. No matter how long he's here, nor how the doctor treats him. He has his own space and that's worth something.
He sets his suitcase in the wardrobe and then sits on the bed with his backpack in his lap. The sheets are soft, plain black. His tail sweeps over the surface, back and forth in smooth even rhythms he can't let happen unless he's alone. A good hybrid is a well-trained one after all.
Stone digs into the backpack until he can find the few 'contraband' items he's managed to hold onto through the years. Three brushes, wrapped up in a washcloth. All for his tail and ears, he likes to look as well-groomed as possible and reducing shedding is essential for less hybrid-friendly missions. There's a textured bone, good for gnawing but an indulgence he doesn't let himself have frequently. At the very bottom of the bag he has two reinforced braces he made from cloth and a torn reinforced suit from a disastrous mission.
Any hybrid can be more prone to issues depending on their breed and field missions are not kind on anyone's body. These he can wear on his right hip and knee under his uniform without anyone noticing. Safe and alone in his room, he leaves the items on the bed for a minute while he unpacks the rest of his stuff.
Even if he isn't here for long, it feels nice to be able to settle in somewhere. Makes Stone feel a bit more like a person.
He's changed out of his suit finally, into loose gray drawstring pants. The apartment is a comfortable temperature so he forgoes a shirt for now. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Stone wraps his tail around his body and picks up the first brush.
In soft even motions he uses the rake brush to pull away fur that is shedding from his tail and ears. Throwing away the loose fur into a trashcan, if he can keep the space as clean as possible maybe the doctor can forget he's even here and he can stay longer. The next brush is a slicker, de-tangling his top and undercoat on the tail and ears.
Stone got matted severely on an overseas mission and the aftermath was painful and uncomfortable. He shudders at the memory. The last brush is mostly for vanity, but the metal comb also helps to pick up any tangles he missed while fluffing his fur as well.
Its a soothing ritual he likes to indulge in. Stone is proud of his hybrid traits, and keeps himself presentable. Happy with his tails and ears in the bathroom mirror (and isn't that a wonder, a bathroom all to himself too!). He gathers up all the brushes, the bone and his hand-made braces and lifts up the corner of the mattress. Tucking all of the items into the fitted sheet and under the mattress.
He smooths over the covers and its like nothing is there at all. Perfect. Stone shuts off the lights and curls up near the head of the bed.
Its sometime later that he is thrown from sleep violently. He doesn't even remember the dream that woke him but his heart is racing and he is disoriented. The bed is soft and smooth under him and everything feels wrong.
He stumbles onto his feet and stands in the center of the room shaking a little bit. Years of training rings in his ears as Stone tries to steady his breathing. The thought of getting in the bed again has the well-trained G.U.N. hybrid part of him balking.
He needs to be alert and ready. Even if no one else is on site, his duty is surveillance and protection first and foremost. There's a long pillow between the bed and the wall, Stone takes that and the top blanket and moves into the living space.
He sets up the pillow against the back of the couch facing the elevator, then tucks the blanket over it and curls up in a circle, taking the rest of the blanket and draping it over himself as he lays down so his back and head are resting on the pillow.
This is better he reasons. What a hybrid is supposed to do. Stone falls back into an uneasy sleep.