Work Text:
It was the silence from the lab that first signaled something was wrong.
With blood soaked hands, the metalic fluid drying under his fingernails and seeping into his skin, ripped clothing dangling from his mouth to stop his own bleeding from the monstrous nightmare that was that morning, Stone reached for the first parchment that had his name signed in too-neat to be in a hurry handwriting on top. The ink glistened as light from the room danced over it.
The paper crinkled from Stone's rushed handling, showing just how much he was shaking in the moment. His fingers slid along the sheet, noting how the ink still slightly smudged if Stone pressed hard enough. Good. Not too old.
He began to read with bated breath.
________________________________________________
To my personal assistant, Agent Aban Stone,
As the cliche goes, if you're reading this, I'm most likely already gone, or I'm too far gone for you to do anything.
If you want to know why I chose my fate this way, I'll tell you. But as usual, we do it my way. There's a key under Badnik #L-33Z4 that opens the door to my safe house in Georgia.
My next letter will be waiting there. Remember, Stone; you cannot save me this time, no matter how much you think you can. By the time I'm done with these letters, I'd have been gone long enough to become cold and stiff when you find me.
Your evermost genuis employer,
- Doctor Ivo Gerald Robotnik
________________________________________________
Stone's breath caught in his throat. No. No, no, no. This couldn't happen. Not now, not ever.
It took everything in him not to tear the paper in half and shove it back into the Doctor's face when he came back. But his Doctor would never tell Stone not to save him. It was unheard of.
That's what made him worry most.
After the years and years of berating Stone, Robotnik had said quite a few times that he was more important than anyone else, and that if Stone ever let him die, there would be hell to pay, and Stone would pay for it.
Stone never doubted those words for a heartbeat. He knew he meant nothing in the Doctor's eyes, it was a simply truth. One that made Stone want to tear his eyeballs out of his head. But it still never made sense.
Why would Robotnik potentially send himself into a suicide mission and leave a trail of letters behind to fuck with him? While the last part definitely seemed like his boss, Robotnik wasn't a person for slacking off or doing things half-assed without thorough importance. After all, who was Robotnik if not the smartest man on the planet? If this was a test, Stone would pass. He would be sure of it.
Stone woke up that morning just as any other. Well... that's not true. He had been exceedingly worried about the Doctor for days and he hadn't known how to help. Days had gone by in an errie silence that constantly had Stone on edge. It was all too... unfamiliar.
If anything, Stone had missed the yelling, the yanking and pushing and grabbing. He realized that something was extremely wrong when a Badnik swiped under Stone's feet, causing the younger man to trip and fall with the latte in his hand spilling a little bit onto the floor. It wasn't a big deal, maybe a few drops, but if Stone new anything about Robotnik, the hearing of Stone tripping alone would've normally sent the Doctor into a heated rage, screaming at Stone about how stupid he was for not watching where he was going and all that goodness, but this time...
The scientist had barely noticed, casting a sideways glance to Stone on the ground and the cup of coffee mostly in hand with a few drops on his precisely polished and sanitized floor. Nothing. Not even a mustache twitch or eyebrow raise. Just a look, a taking of the cup, and then the Doctor turning back to his work.
It was the first time Stone ever felt so much pain and fear in his life. Something was really wrong with the Doctor.
Home remedies, bath salts, different kinds of tea, even slipping cold medicine into the Doctor's latte did nothing to quench the man's mood back to normalcy.
But wasn't that good? No more yelling? Fighting? The occasional hit for imense stupidity on Stone's end? Some might've said it was a miracle. Stone would've said it was more akin to a curse. He knew so many people would be downright joyous for the development, but that's where others were wrong. Stone knew, even if he wasn't told outright, he knew that Robotnik was deeply changed for the worse. A quick look at productivity had shown that for the last two weeks, before this strange frightening silence, he was either getting barely any work done, or none at all.
The realization baffled Stone. How could he have not noticed the Doctor had just been pretending for two whole weeks? He had noticed Robotnik getting a bit more agitated that usual, but other than that nothing seemed amiss.
He should have noticed, but he was a failure to fulfill his base job. Protect Robotnik. And now the man was not only not doing his work, more silent than weeping angel, but now he was missing. Missing and writing this fucking letters! Letters that told him he was going to die.
His Doctor, the one he loved so deeply and openly, having fallen head over heels for the bastard years ago, was telling him through a fucking letter that he was dying and he couldn't be saved.
The dance the two had shared a day before Robotnik disappeared should've sent alarm bells to Stone's stupid head, but he was too entranced that the Doctor was paying attention to him so happily after weeks of not even more than a few sentences between the two of coaxing the Doctor to eat and drink something that wasn't a latte. He practically fell into the Doctor's arms, following the rather sloppy dancing from the Doctor with utter passion to make up from the minute mistakes from his beloved boss.
"Don't get cocky with me, Stone. I know how to dance." Robotnik had quipped, twirling Stone imperfectly, stuttering his movements for a moment, looking like he needed to breathe but couldn't.
"I'd never, sir. I'm just happy you're feeling better."
Stone smiled softly, noticing the lapse in the Doctor's mask, turning to utter panic and almost tripping over Stone before righting himself and shoving the mask harsher onto his own face. "Don't be ridiculous. There's nothing wrong, idiot. You worry too much, you mother hen!"
Stone paused them for a no moment, much to Robotnik's disapproval, snarling at Stone with a fury that had Stone flushing, missing the expression so dearly.
"I am not a mother hen, I just want to make sure you're okay. It's my job after all, Doctor." Stone felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest, humming softly to the music and keeping his hold on the Doctor's surprisingly weak grip.
Usually Robotnik was firm and harsh, and he didn't want to startle the man more.
"Mmn. Whatever." The Doctor grumbled, pulling their bodies slightly away from each other, unable to keep Stone's gaze. It tore Stone up inside.
Stone carefully tucked the letter away in his bag at his hip, heading for the bathroom in the Doctor's personal quarters and quickly pulled out the first aid kit, sanitizing his scratches and bleeding fingers and cheek.
He was surprised when a Badnik had open fired at him, leaving Stone little time to swerve his body out of the way, still getting a slight burn on his cheek from the lazer of the blast. The Badnik's never tried to hurt him, which is why he was so happily relieved when it seemed the Badnik started to panic after realizing what it shot at and quickly flew over to nuzzle against Stone 'help' him up. (More just nuzzling against him so much that Stone was struggling to stand even more.)
Maybe they were just as worried about Robotnik's whereabouts themselves, and having Stone pop in out of nowhere frightened them. Once he was all cleaned up, he ran his hands through his hair and looked around the apartment. It still looked exactly the same as how Stone had last seen it whe. He had carried Robotnik to bed a few days prior when Robotnik was pretending to sleep, too weak to walk by himself and refusing to ask for help.
He had never ever faulted or shamed Robotnik for needing help, in fact Stone loved it when Robotnik needed him. It fuled his burning love for the man and set his lungs a blaze everytime he nervously shuffled closer to Stone when it was cold out and needed Stone's warmth to keep him sane.
Without Robotnik, what was Stone other than just another pathetic government Agent?
Trudging through the winter snow of Washington to the Doctor's car garage was a bit annoying. But thankfully, he had Robotnik's black coat with red lining on. He wouldn't usually dare touch it, but right now? The Doctor might need it when he finds him. The last time he saw Robotnik in the flesh the poor man couldn't stop coughing and shaking, and from what Stone had seen, which was very very little from jow tightly Robotnik clutched the tissues, he could've sworn he'd seen blood on it.
Soon, he reached the garage and decided his best bet to make it to the Doctor as fast as possible would be in his eggpod.
The fly there was relatively quick, faster than any commercial plane and in Georgia just under an hour. While the time shift was a bit different, Stone couldn't be bothered, rushing to the location of his Doctor's safe house on a motorcycle he'd stolen- ehem. Permanently borrowed, and broke quite a few traffic laws. Stone didn't care. This was about his one and only genuis after all.
"Doctor?" Stone yelled as he reached the property, throwing off his helmet and searching around the outside when he was greeted by a Badnik who was seemingly waiting for his arrival. "Jazzi! Where's the Doctor? Is he okay? Why is-" A series of quick 'shut up' beeps came from the noticeably also panicked machine and quickly started to nudge Stone inside. They care about him just as much as I do, huh? Sweet babies.
The house was quiet. Almost too quiet. So quiet it reminded him of the lab. Stone shivered uncomfortably, stepping inside and following the badnik upstairs.
The next letter was underneath another badnik in the upstairs master bedroom, Robotnik's bedroom in this house, sat neatly on the bed. It was almost funny how out of all the badniks Robotnik could've chosen to keep the letter safe, he chose Stone's favorite, Leeza. Or, known by Robotnik as her ID number, #L-33Z4.
"Oh, Doctor." Stone cooed to no one, relishing in the thought of his Doctor being so specific as to entrust Stone's favorite baby of Robotnik's out of the hundred he had. Stalking up to the bed, Stone was met with happy chirps from the machine, activating it's flight function to move out of Stone's way. With a hesitent breath of nervousness, Stone picked up the letter and unfolded it, stealing down at the small amount of blood spatter on the bottom of the page. Poor thing. He needs me.
________________________________________________
To my personal assistant, Agent Aban Stone,
While this letter may have been easy to find, for obvious reasons the next will be harder to do so.
As promised, this is game. And games have rules.
Rule #1 : Do not ask anyone for help. People will try to take my tech, and you must stay my diligent and skilled Agent.
Rule #2 : Do not tell anyone of the letters.
Rule #3 : If I write it down, it's important information.
Rule #4 : Until you find my body, my tech will be under my complete control unless I am dead, and therefore all controls will be automatically sent to you, as you are the only other cleared personel.
Rule #5 : G.U.N. Will be no help to you. They do not know of this situation, and will not, until I am gone.
Rule #6 : You will inherit everything I have to my name.
Your objective is to find the five letters I've written for you. You have three left. The last will be with my body once you find me.
For the time being, your next letter is at a place only you know. Yes, I do love being intentionally difficult. I taped that letter to the inside of your work bag. It's truly a wonder how you didn't find it sooner.
Your decaying superior,
- Doctor Ivo Gerald Robotnik
________________________________________________
"Decaying? He really is dying. If I had just-" Stone stopped as he felt the pin pricking of tears fill his eyes. "If I had just pushed. I could've gotten him to a hospital..." A sad beeping sounded behind Stone, Jazzi and Leeza both nuzzling Stone in both greeting and comfort.
Strange.
He hadn't thought about it until now that the Badnik's often comforted him. Especially when Stone had started getting emotional about Robotnik's quietness and constant coughing. He hated the idea that he could help his beloved Doctor, but Robotnik wouldn't let him, choosing to suffer. Stone laughed to himself as a tear fell down his cheek, more following in a sea that wouldn't stop. He can be so stubborn, that man.
Robotnik coughed into a tissue. Ugh. Not a other fit. When will this nightmare finally end? Flowers bloomed in his throat, making Robotnik choke on the disgustingly sweet flower.
The violets that clawed up his throat sent sparks of agony and strikes of pain through him like the lashing of a belt on a young child. Robotnik doubled over in the newly bought coffee shop he had gotten for Stone to make his delicious coffee at for after Robotnik died.
As sentimental as it seemed to be, as Robotnik hated the thought of the gesture as being sentimental, it was mostly for practical reasons.
Why Montana specifically? Well, mostly because it was large enough for Stone to live comfortably there while also running the place, and filled with the most expensive, complicated, and high-quality espresso machines the world had ever seen in it. That, and more coffee related stuff that Robotnik had dug through Stone's wish list to find. The other reason was because the town that the shop was in seemed wealthy enough to ensure Stone lived as comfortably as he wanted to without a single thought of doubt in his financial stability. Not to mention all the money and tech Stone would inherit. By all means, Stone would be loaded. And the town was also sparse enough to not make every day a mind-numming hell scape of bumbling idiots with the occasional stupid customer that he deemed to be a rare occurrence in the town.
From his research, the only people in the town he'd really be concerned about was some new sheriff the other one had hired in desperation to not handle the whole town by himself. Unsurprisingly, the sheriff had chosen the most amazingly blunt bafoon Robotnik had ever had the displeasure of running a backcheck on. The other person was just some senior man who was on the verge of insanity.
Robotnik hoped neither of them bothered Stone from his work, as Robotnik could understand being interrupted during hard work by some 20 point IQ haver.
A rumble of a broken hum erupted from Robotnik's throat, coughing once more in the bloody tissue and huffing out a bundle of flowers. "Fuck..." He whispered a scratchy mumble, his stomach constricting from the pain. "Stupid flowers. Stupid disease."
He was reaching the very end of the sickness and he hated every second of it. He had kept the disease hidden from his stupidly smart and handsome assistant for about four months before the situation was starting to get too dire, and would break into coughing fits mid work. Ever since the first month, he'd been faking working.
Either Stone noticed, or didn't care to comment. Another variable that had Robotnik thinking all of Stone's mothering worry moments were faked just to make Robotnik think that Stone actually might care about him. Whatever. Stone was going to get his fortune and tech anyway, so what was the point of confessing the reason why he was still sick when he was only going to be met with rejection anyway?
He's going to be okay. Of course he is. He's the reason you're like this anyway. Robotnik reason, trying to calm himself down with the little hope that maybe, just maybe Stone had... ugh, 'feelings' for him as well. Wishful thinking. Sure, but it helped Robotnik feel less alone. Even if thoughts of Stone reciprocating made his coughing worse.
He had meant to keep the shop a surprise for Stone when read Robotnik's will, but in his haste of needing to find a place to go, he had ended up here. And honestly it felt bittersweet. He hated the idea of Stone finding his dead body, but a part of him, a deep, monstrous, putrid pettiness of himself almost wanted Stone to see him, for Stone to know that he was the reason this happened. Robotnik didn't want to think like that, but letting Stone find him already gone sounded much easier than having to go through the heart ache of dying in front of him, to potentially see the hatred in Stone's eyes for thinking the agent would ever be attracted to some old man who abused him and patronized him constantly, just about 20 years older than Stone.
Robotnik felt like a pervert really. How could Stone love such a disgusting man? Was Stone even attracted to men at all? He didn't know. He thought maybe Stone was bisexual like him at first, but then saw him and a female agent standing beneath a doorway during the holidays the year prior with a mistletoe hanging above them. Sure, the two were just talking, but come on. Really? Just standing there, having a conversation in that specific doorway? It couldn't be a coincidence.
It had been 2 days now since he disappeared, and by his calculations, Stone should be on his way, if not have just gotten to the 4th letter.
He was almost thankful he couldn't be sure. A deep desperation clung to his heart in hopes Stone would be his knight in shining armor once again and save Robotnik from this miserable existence.
A certain cough throughly racked through Robotnik's body, leaving him a shivering mess at he sunk into one of the lounge couches of the coffee shop, this one more aggressive than any other as he coughed up 5 whole stemmed flowers, coated in mucus and blood. A bit of spatter still clung to Robotnik's lips, making him appear even more like the lifeless husk he was turning into.
Robotnik groaned in pain as much as he could, short on breath as he could tell he was in his last hours. All he wanted was to be at home. Deep underground and safe in his lab and in his special quarters with Stone laying in bed next to him for comfort, Robotnik himself wrapped in a half finished and albeit kinda shitty-made crocheted blanket Stone had made that Robotnik had not so secrectly Stolen while Stone using the restroom one day. It didn't matter that it wasn't perfect, and for a man like Doctor Ivo Robotnik that was unbelievable, but he loved it. He cherished it because Stone had taken so much time in specialing the skill, and he wanted a piece of it.
He thought it might have been a similar feeling to when Robotnik gave Stone an old pair of his control gloves for the first time.
The look of pure happiness on that man was priceless and Robotnik would do anything just to see Stone one more time.
He's so handsome.
Robotnik paused his thinking train.
Ugh. This sentimental bullshit just keeps getting to me more and more, huh? Robotnik cursed to himself, voice scratchy and curled against the soft upholstery, shaking in the fetal positionas it was the only position he could bare at the moment.
"Fuck... no... no, no, no, no. Not yet. Please." Robotnik had never been a man to beg, but he couldn't help it. He just felt... so, so damn tired. He needed to close his eyes. Just for bit. Robotnik could feel the air around him getting harder and harder to breathe. What if he just took a nap? He'd taken plenty of naps when he had started getting sick, he would be fine this time.
He would be fine this time. Yes.
Perfectly fine.
A banging on the coffee shop doors had Robotnik flinch. Not much, but still. He hadn't had the energy to scream. If he somehow got murdered by some stranger right now, he honestly wouldn't mind.
After a few moments of banding, the door must have been busted in, because in about 30 seconds, there was a shadow of a hpdy coming up to him. Military type figure. Robotnik could understand, but far much else, needing so desperately to close his eyes.
If this was it, it was it.
He had a relatively good life.
He was the smartest man on earth, have five PHD's, government war machine specialist with an amazing education and resources to do anything his wildest nightmares could think of. He was nearing his 60th birthday, a fair amount of time on the earth, and most of all, he had fallen in love. He shouldn't complain or whine. He had it good.
He could rest easy.
Stone was going to be okay.
He could close his eyes now.
"Doctor!"
Fuck.
Robotnik couldn't open his eyes, too weak to do anything but try to inhale as much air as he could muster in his full lungs. Violets littered the floor as blood dripped from their stems. He must've already looked dead by the way Stone yelled.
"Doctor, Doctor, no! Please, please. Come on. Can you hear me sir?"
Warm. So very warm fingers began to cradle Robotnik's cold face, breathing so shallow he looked like he wasn't breathing at all in Stone's terrified shaking hands. "Come on, Doctor. I'm here. I'm here, now. It's okay." The soft voive comforted. Stone's voice. That beautiful voice that set his lungs ablaze, stems that bloomed so violently in his airways. "Please wake up!" The voice broke, a choked sob coming up from Stone's throat.
Robotnik couldn't do much but let his mouth fall open and let out a small barely heard exhale.
Stone gasped in the air, leaning his forehead onto Robotnik's and surrounding the Doctor in warmth that he felt would be the death of him, not wanting to cough in Stone's face. "Oh Doctor! Fuck, you can't do that me. I thought I-..." Stone went quiet and swallowed his breath, a few hot beads of liquid dripped onto Robotnik's cheeks, as Stone sniffled.
"I thought I lost you..." Stone whispered quietly, seemingly unaware the Doctor had heard it and tried to correct himself. "I thought you were gone. Forever." Stone murmered.
Robotnik usually would have never allowed such unbecoming behavior, but... in light of the situation, it wouldn't be too bad if he indulged a little in the comfort of Stone's hands. He mumbled out what was supposed to be, 'why are you here?' But it most just came out as, "mmrrrr...you, here..?" Stone sniffled and let out a small chortle.
"Yes, yes, Doctor. I'm here." Stone ran his thumb over Robotnik's cheek, the scientist finally able to open his eyes, even just slightly. Stone was crying. "I'll never leave you ever again, I promise." The agent assured, eye lashes tickling Robotnik's own by closeness. The Doctor peered down his own body as much as he could and found that Stone was straddling him without touching him, keeping his weight on his elbows and knees, careful to not touch any part of the Doctor that wasn't his face.
How very gentle, that sap. His lungs seemed like it was the perfect time to act up and he coughed, trying his hardest to push his head to the side by himself, eventually failing so much that Stone didn't even say anything when helped the mam turn his head and kept a hand firm on Robotnik's chest, trying to sooth.
A bundle of violets and a shower of petals came up throat, spilling blood onto the polished floor.
"Doctor!" Stone screeched, his hand coming up to rub Robotnik's cheek again, eyes wide with horror. How was it possible to do such a thing? Poor Robotnik, he was must definitely in extreme pain. And Stone knew he had to help and wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Mm, Fine! I'm-.. ugh, I'm FINE, Stone. Really." His voice came out scratchy from the rough stems abusing his esophagus, snarling at Stone
"What is that... are those... flowers? How in the world are you- Oh god." The agent paused, looking to his Doctor who glanced away, ear turning pink. "Do you... you have hanahaki, don't you?"
Robotnik was about to speak when Stone began to ramble off.
"Doctor, why didn't you tell me? I know it's extremely rare, but I know it happens! I could've helped!"
"Agent-"
"I could've gotten any scientist who it was to come to the lab, or or- I don't know, set something up, or.. or,"
"Stone, stop."
"I could've done something for you and whoever it is, just... SOMETHING! I can't let you die-"
"ABAN. Stop. You're killing me, here." Robotnik grumbled, sitting up as much as he could as Stone slid off onto the cushion next to him, worried eyes flickering all over his frail body.
Robotnik could've laughed from the way Stone itched to mother-hen him. "You think it's another scientist?" Robotnik asked, almost worried for the answer, the swift rejection awaiting him. The flowers would fully kill him then, suffocating him in his own misery.
Stone only blinked back, a confused look on the younger man's face. "Well... well, of course, Doctor. I know you. You'd want nothing but the best possible candidate, sir. You'd want someone as smart as you, right?"
Robotnik smiled. Perhaps I misjudged his intelligence. "Correct. But unsurprisingly, they're all morons, Stone." He felt though the flowers were giving him a break, egging him on to confess, to stop with the yearning already.
"So... who, who else, sir?" Stone tilted his head to the side, giving those sweet puppy eyes Robotnik adored so deeply.
"Who do you fucking think, Stone?" Robotnik rasped, glaring at the loving eyes that stared so confused back at him. "Who am I around 24/7, Stone? Who is constantly at my side and is the only person I can stand? FUCK, Stone. I thought you were smarter than this. It's you, for god's sake."
Stone froze like a deer in headlights, mouth agape. "M-Me...? Sir?"
"Yes. You, Stone." Robotnik rolled his eyes, pushing himself back against the couch's armrest for distance. "Now hurry with your rejection of my perverted feelings already. Tick, tock, Stone. I'm ready to finally die. Have been for a few days, let's go."
Robotnik looked over and Stone looked like he had just received whiplash.
"What..?" He squeaked. "Reject you? Sir, why would I ever reject you?" Stone looked serious, so much so Robotnik had only seen it when Stone had killed an assassin in front of him.
Robotnik scoffed with a nervous laugh.
"Because I'm old enough to be your father, Stone. I hit you, I yell at you, I push you into walls and talk down to you in front of others government officials. Ones who you used to work for not less. Why wouldn't you reject me, Stone?" Robotnik felt like the stupid flowers were coming back for him now, worried that one wrong move would cause a flower to slip into place and block his airways forever.
Stone stared. The fucker just stared, eyes wide and pupils blown. A sort of flush appeared on Stone's face that Robotnik couldn't place the reasoning for. "Doctor," Fuck. Here it comes. Stone started slowly, licking his lips nervously and inching his hand forward to ever so slightly graze the sides of their pinkies together. Just hurry, I'm ready. Just reject me already. "I've been in love with you for years."
Wait. What? WHAT. How could- No!
Robotnik's face turned a bright red, despite his sickly appearance and widened his eyes. "What?! That's impossible! How could you ever-"
"Ever since my first week in. I'm serious. I've loved you forever, Doctor." Stone smiled warmly, and in the blink of an eye, Stone brought Robotnik's hand up to his face and kissed it. So softly that Robotnik thought for a moment the agent hadn't made contact until the loving warmth had left his hand.
"No. No, you- Agent. You better not be fucking with me because I swear to every single god ever created by human religion I will murder you and take you with me." The Doctor threatened, reaching a hand up to grasp at Stone's lapels, earning a rather flushed and red reaction from his dumb stupid idiot whiney agent.
Stone leaned into the touch and brought himself closer to the scientist. Robotnik blushed deeper and tried to push himself away from Stone's advances. He couldn't believe it. He simple couldn't believe Stone loved him.
Apparently, that showed.
Stone brought up a hand to rub Robotnik's cheek, leaning forward and finally, after years of longing for this brilliant man in front of Stone, he kissed him, pressing their lips together. He wasn't too forcful of course, ever so gently pressing himself on Robotnik when the scientist kissed back. It was subtle, a soft reciprocation that anyone else in a loss of emotional control might've not felt.
But Stone felt it. He felt Robotnik's warm lips press back. Stone pulled back a few seconds after, needing to see Robotnik's reaction. Please. Please, please, please let it have worked. Believe me, please.
As soon as Stone's lips touched his own, Robotnik felt a lightness in his chest he hadn't felt for months. The flowers had stopped. They had finally stopped. Stone loved him and he could finally breathe again.
"Stone."
"Doctor."
"I think," He paused, glancing down to Stone's lips and then back at him. "I think they're gone."
Stone's eyes lit up and surged himself forward onto Robotnik's weak body, causing him to grunt from the force before his mouth was sealed up tight by Stone's lips again, this time more forceful and full of a greed that Robotnik had only ever seen in one other person. Himself. "Don't- mmn. Don't think that this means I'll be paying you more. In fact after this stunt, I might dock your pay." Robotnik growled put through a sea of kisses from his lovely agent.
Stone just chuckled and began to trail his lips to the side of Robotnik's jaw, kissing down his throat and back up, all over the frail scientist's face. "That doesn't matter, sir. Only you." Robotnik couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face.
"Sap." Robotnik smiled, wrapping his hand around Stone's head and pulling him closer, running his fingers through the short hair on the back of Stone's nape. It was a comforting silence, just breathing in each other's air and shifting closer and closer until Stone was damn near laying on Robotnik's chest and holding the other man's face in his hands, looking over him like a god. After the events of today, he truly couldn't imagine a world where Stone didn't love him back. Of course. All the signs were obvious now. A touch of the knee, a shared glance during a meeting, Robotnik accidentally holding onto Stone's hand when he had been frightened once and received squeezes of reassurance, and when Stone had rubbed his back to help him sleep after waking up from a night terror in a shared hotel bed for a stupid meeting in a different state.
Of course Stone loved him.
After a few minutes of silence, Stone spoke with a goofy smile plastered on his face. "You know, I might've just killed myself if you had said it was Walters, sir."
Robotnik immediately grimaced. "UGH! Gross, Stone! What is wrong with you?!"
Stone only laughed in response, curling up on his Doctor's chest and sliding his head under Robotnik's chin, breathing in his sweet cologne and sweat from physical exertion from the stupid flowers.
"It's pretty late, so I think it might be nice to just lay here and then go to the hospital in the morning? We should check on your lungs just to be safe." Stone tilited his head to look up at Robotnik who ran his hands down Stone's back. "I once heard that this one lady got through it, and then still had pieces left over that she later died of an infection from."
"I've heard that story." Robotnik rolled his eyes as if Stone was the stupidest man on earth. "And she still had pieces left over because her girlfriend was cheating on her and she didn't want to believe it." He flicked Stone's nose and felt only a gentle kiss in return.
Stone didn't seem too convinced and pouted, giving Robotnik his biggest bambi-eyes and earning Robotnik's attention. "Fine. We'll go in the morning. And I didn't say stop kissing me, now did I?" Robotnik tilted his head back as the size of Stone's pupils nearly tripled, straddling Robotnik on the couch and sitting up a little to kiss his beloved Doctor.
"No, Doctor." He mumbled softly, his fingers gliding over Robotnik's chest and dipping into his coat to settle into the Doctor's warmth.
"Doctor?" Stone whispered.
"Hm?" Came a content grumble from Robotnik.
"Does this mean I can sleep in your personal quarters now..?" The little devil started gently licking Robotnik's Adam's apple to coax him into agreeing.
Such a brat. Robotnik thought fondly, running his hands down Stone's back and squeezing one of Stone's ass cheeks, earning a gasp from the Agent.
"I expect nothing less, sycophant."