Chapter Text
If you had to ask Ivo Robotnik to describe human emotion in one word, he would confidently say it was fickle. Why did they busy themselves with such stupid things? Despite this, Ivo has never felt so close to happiness in his life. His grandfather’s intellect matched his nearly perfectly, and he was able to avoid those disgusting things human called feelings. His trust in Gerald was immense. He wasn’t like those puny feeble humans that would blab to their “besties” because “friendship is magic” and whatnot.
But at his core, Gerald was still a human. Of course he was going to betray him, just like any other stupid piece of flesh out there in this world.
His grandfather's words pricked at his skin, uncomfortable but true.
“You have nothing down there…no one who cares about you.”
He had no family (he wasn't even aware of Gerald's existence until 2 days ago!), friends, or even nice acquaintances. It’s not like he could leave him and go back to his loving family. Ivo licks his lips in what he would deny as being nervousness, tasting the slightly sweet remnants of coffee left on them. Those damn lattes with steamed Austrian goat milk.
Stone. What was that lunatic up to? He always seemed so mesmerized by Ivo’s presence. His work was child’s play, yet Stone always looked at him like he hung the stars. It’s almost like…
Fuck.
“You’re wrong.” Gerald’s eyebrows shot up in shock.
Human emotion made Ivo Robotnik look like a dumbass. Of course Stone cared about him. Of course he followed him wherever he went. Of course he drew hearts on his lattes and prepared them with the utmost delicacy.
“There is someone who cares about me.” He stares at the white tile of the cannon, the idea of eye contact giving him an uncomfortable heaviness in his chest.
“And who, pray tell, would that be?” The older Robotnik crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow.
Ivo has never been one to notice a person’s affections. He took pride in the more interesting things, like building a new badnik that could pluck his mustache to perfection. But Stone always made sure the Doctor’s needs were met. It’s not like he had to. He was a government trained fighting machine (he makes a mental note to look up his birth records- why does he not know his first name?!), most likely capable of taking out the doctor at a moment’s notice.
For whatever reason, he didn’t. The heaviness in his chest was replaced with warmth, slowly making its way to his face. Ivo shakes his head and clears his throat. Surely he isn’t getting sick. He should have Stone examine this defect whenever he finds him.
“Turn the ship around.” Gerald's usually smug facial expression was disrupted by confusion.
“What?”
“Turn this damn spaceship AROUND!! God, I know you’re old but four words shouldn’t rattle around your skull like they’re meaningless.”
The face Gerald was making conveyed absolutely zero emotion. For the first time, Ivo wished his grandfather had emotion. He prayed it wasn’t because his words shocked him so much he was going to an early grave (late grave? He is pretty old).
It then shifted into an annoyed one, a frown taking over his features.
“Don't say that you actually regret being rude to that good-for-nothing hunk of flesh. Robotniks shouldn't feel.”
Ivo blinks. A familiar feeling made his face scrunch up, one he would usually save for when his projects went wrong or when he was being bested by a pesky blue hedgehog.
Stone really never made Robotnik angry. Sure, he acts harshly to him, but it was to keep his assistant in line. The more Stone smiled, taking his requests so easily, the more Ivo wanted to make him tick.
Over the years, a sort of defensiveness has taken over him. No, he didn’t care for Stone. It’s just that Stone’s his lackey! Only he could call him useless! His hand twitched at the idea of Gerald calling him other names, moving of its own volition.
He didn’t realize his mistake until Gerald shouted in pain as a clenched hand flew to his face.
Oh god. Ivo had just punched the only family he had.
He didn’t have much time to think about that before hands traveled to his neck, gripping at Ivo’s collar for dear life. They spun, various punches, kicks, grabs, and bites being thrown around.
“What is your problem? We’re taking over the world together!” Gerald shouted. His hands flew to Ivo’s neck, grabbing for dear life.
“Just let me go, you lunatic!” At the last word that left Ivo’s mouth, he pushed his grandfather to the ground with a groan. His head hit the floor with a loud thump, body lifeless.
After checking for his pulse, which thankfully the dunce was alive, he rushed to change the course of the ship as Gerald laid there motionless.
“What are you doing?” The roboticist jumped and turned around to look into piercing red eyes.
Dammit I forgot about the hedgehog!
He can't combat that superhuman (super…hedgehog?) soldier! His hands instinctively jutted out in a gesture of peace.
“Listen, you'll get what you want. I just need to handle something back on Earth.” he pleaded.
The hedgehog raised an eyebrow. “What are you planning? This was supposed to be for Maria.”
Ivo wrung his hands together in a gesture not unlike nervousness. Explaining things was never his strong suit. Everyone should already know what his genius brain is thinking of!
“I get what humans have done to you. Believe me, I didn't form a special bond with anyone for my first couple decades of life. But there's one that I have to keep before the world goes to hell. I'm getting us back to Earth to tell him that.”
He was met with silence, taking this as a cue to continue.
“You can fight me on that, and I'm sure I'd lose without my technology, but I have to see him. Even if it's for the last time in this meaningless existence.”
Shadow sighed, looked down at his shoes, and started to walk towards him. Ivo stood there with his eyes closed, ready to take the punch that was inevitably coming.
What he wasn’t ready for was for him to feel a soft hand on his shoulder. He didn't even know that the hedgehog was aware of such gentleness. Looking back at him, Ivo noticed Shadow giving him a nod and he rushed to change the course of the cannon.
"I still want to fight for Maria. My pain will never end...but I will work to lessen it. Maybe in a nonviolent way." Shadow walked to the corner of the cannon and sat down.
The ride back to Earth was quiet, giving Ivo a lot of time to think.
What made him so attached to Stone?
--------------------------------
It always started with that godforsaken organization. G.U.N. wanted to make sure his antics were kept under control, so they hired stupid intern after stupid intern, only for Robotnik to make them stagger out of the room in tears or quit a day later. When Stone walked in, Ivo already felt a headache forming. This was the 5th employee in a week! Would they ever understand that he should just be left up to his own devices? Would this one storm out with a frown, maybe even excusing himself to use the restroom before never seeing him again?
He certainly didn’t expect a light smile that reached his eyes, gentle and bright.
The man cleared his throat and calmly spoke, “Good afternoon, Doctor. As of today, I’m your new assistant. My name is Agent Stone, and I hope I can make you satisfied.”
Did this idiot know about the hundreds of idiots he managed to fire? There’s no way he wasn’t debriefed.
“You better. Now, get to work. I need a coffee stat.” Stone’s smile slightly faltered, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Right. Is there a way you would like me to-” “Just get to it and stop lollygagging!” “Yes, sir.” He went to the nearby coffee machine and worked on the beverage with utmost precision.
Sir? This was new. He’d have to go back to that later.
Stone rushed to the doctor with a steaming latte on a perfectly pristine plate.
“What is this?” Stone quirked a brow in confusion. “It's coffee, sir.”
“Oh really? Of course I know it’s coffee, you dimwit! What kind, Agent Know-It-All?”
Fixing his tie, Stone responded, “A latte with steamed Austrian goat milk, sir.” Robotnik cautiously sniffed the drink, seeing if there was any poison (Walters wanted him gone years ago). Smelling no trace of death, he took a small sip. Tangy and nutty coffee permeated his taste buds. The milk added a touch of creaminess and was leagues above the diabetes-inducing sweetness of the cow milk.
“It’s…adequate. Good work, Agent.” Ivo felt blinded by the sun in his eyes as Stone beamed, like he was just told he got a promotion.
“Thank you Doctor. I will continue to try my best.” He left, quickly but composed, with another tug of his tie.
This lackey might actually have some talent for the first time!