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Chapter Text

A human form spurted out of the giant robot’s debris.

“Ha! You don’t get rid of Doctor Robotnik in such a dullard way!” The doctor bellowed in the air. “Ain’t that right, Stone?” He called.

No answer.

He stood up and looked all around the pile of rubble of his once giant robot.

“Stone?”

Where was that bootlicking slouch?

Then he remembered. Stone had knocked himself out, hitting his head against the walls of the robot. Then,... that irritating, arrogant, shiny sparkly alien had filled his robot with holes! Then the inevitable fall…

The doctor couldn’t help letting a soft gasp escape.

What was this feeling? Fear? 

No! The greatest mind in the world did not feel low, debasing things like fear, or doubt,... or loneliness.

But then why did his heart have just skipped a beat?

Alright. No doubt he’s underneath that wreckage. 

He tipped on the keyboard of his glove.

A range of red lasers scanned the area from it. Then flickered frenetically at a specific spot.

Feeling a mix of excitement and fear, no! not “fear”!... thrill! That’s it, thrill , he rushed to it and started to lift up and throw away the scraps of metal as much as his painful back and bruised arms allowed him to. 

Next time, I should build a cleaning or salvager robot.

Soon, he heard faint groans.

And saw a moving hand.

A skipped beat again.

He grumbled.

Maybe a robotic heart too.

He threw away the last scraps that hid his latte assistant.

“Here you are, you hide-and-seeking squirrel.”

“Doctor? I… I’m sorry…” Stone moaned.

“Say sorry when you’re dead , Stone.” Robotnik tipped again on the small keyboard on his glove, searching for a specific feature.

What did that mean? Would the doctor be angry or… sad if he died? Stone wondered. But… he had ruined it all. If he hadn’t begged the doctor to take him away with him, if he had read that manual better! Tears slowly ran over his cheeks as his lip quivered. He was unworthy of his beloved doctor’s trust!

“Hey! Sob when you have a good reason to!” Robotnik scolded him before sharply yanking a metal scrap off of Stone’s temple. The latte maker didn’t have the time to scream for he immediately felt a burning hot, sizzling laser slicing off his flesh. Or… together?

“There.” The doctor announced. “If you die, no one can say it was because of blood loss.” 

“Am I gonna die?” Stone whimpered.

“Nooo. You only had a large piece of burning metal stuck into the side of your face, you have a dislocated shoulder, a cranial concussion and probably broken legs too. You’ll be just fine.” 

“Why are you doing this?” Stone sincerely enquired in a weak, tiny voice.

“Why I’m doing what??” Robotnik barked.

“Healing me...” Stone murmured. “Saving me. You-” The latte brewer realized something. An important thing. “You saved me. You came back to Green Hills to save me.” He squinted his tearful eyes in surprise and emotion.

“Ha! And pray tell, Mister Clairvoyant, what sort of hogwash put that imbecilic idea into your clinically dead brain?”

“Well, you could have built this giant robot… anywhere. Not just in Green Hills. Couldn’t you?” Stone feebly mumbled.

The doctor’s moustache twitched. That dumb, mushy and clueless latte bringer had come a long way to cleverness during his absence. Just 1% of intelligence but still. What was that annoying feeling now? Pride? Embarrassment? Something else? Everything of these??

“Stop puking rubbish, Stone. You obviously weren’t in any kind of immediate or delayed danger. As much as it tears off my gums and teeth to say this, you could have escaped and taken down all of these military dorks just by yourself.”

“Exactly.” Stone breathed as another tear dripped off his cheek. He tried to swallow the painful lump in his throat. 

Ivo’s eyes widened like two inflated balloons. He also lost his breath. Should he punch his assistant for his insolence and repulsive innuendos? Or… admit that yes , he had specifically teleported himself to Green Hills to take his cute Stone with him on his personal megalomaniac cruise? He looked away in embarrassment, blushing and gritting his teeth.

“You also… trusted me with your plans… and your robots, sir…” Stone kept on whining and tearing up. “You… believed I could… inherit your work, you believed in me. And… I hope…” He sobbed. “I hope I’ve met your expectations, doctor.” Thick, burning tears streamed down. “I hope… I’ve made you proud. And worthy of your patience… and trust.” He croaked.

“Shut up, Stone…” Robotnik grumbled.

“I love you, Doctor.” Stone wept in a creaking voice. Endless tears coating his face.

Robotnik rolled his eyes.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” He retorted.

Stone grinned a dazzling smile and adorably chuckled.

“You found out. Of course you did.” He croaked, before he winced in pain. Laughing had awakened the pain of his dislocated shoulder.

Robotnik sighed.

“If I say I… fancy you too, will you stop behaving like a perfect, self-sabotaging dumbass?”

“I always feel dumb when I’m around you, doctor.” Stone responded with the shiniest smile, and most glimmering eyes, ever.

Another skipped beat.

Cute. Cute! 

CUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!

Instead of screeching and squealing like an anime schoolgirl, Robotnik cleared his throat.

“G-good answer.” He blushed redder.

“Then I guess…” Stone murmured. “The only solution for me is… deletion… and replacement.” He pitifully wept.

Deletion and replacement.

Like with any faulty programming.

Robotnik received that suggestion like an insult to his dead mother, like a bullet shot through his heart, like a shovel blow on his head.

“How dare you? How in the ultimate power of the universe dare you employ my own words against my august person??” He bellowed.

“ Against you?” Stone slightly frowned. “But… this is what you told me… in your instructions.” He mumbled.

“And where in these instructions have I ever specified you also were a faulty program??” Robotnik barked before swallowing a gasp of shock.

Had he just said that?

Nowhere. Stone realized. In surprise and bliss.

“Have you suddenly turned illiterate in addition to klutzy?” Robotnik tried to get back his composure despite his still blushing cheeks.

Blush that wasn’t near fading with the agent grinning, giving the most dazzling, blinding, heartwarming smile the doctor had ever seen. Where were his shades when he needed them?

“So you… still want me around, doctor?” Stone creaked, tears still running down. “Despite my… unforgivable failure?” He whimpered.

“Do I have any other choice?” Robotnik snapped.

He immediately and bitterly regretted that question. 

“You could… replace me.” The weeping agent answered.

Tears started to dwell in the corner of the doctor’s eyes. Against his strong will. He furiously rushed at Stone’s teary face, as if about to devour him whole and raw.

“Don’t you. Ever! Give me orders, Stone.” He fulminated as his angry eyes were gleaming.

“W-what orders,... sir?” The exhausted-looking latte bringer breathed as his eyelids were fluttering down.

Robotnik yelped. Again, against his own will!

“Hey. Hey! It’s not bedtime yet, agent!” He slapped Stone’s uninjured cheek.

“...am a failure.” Stone mumbled. “I’ve failed you…” He croaked. And closed his eyes. “...ruined it all. Would’ve been… better without me…”

The doctor couldn’t stop that tear from dripping.

“Quit whining, agent!” He screamed. And noticed his voice was trembling. “I couldn’t-!” He squeezed shut his itchy eyes and took a deep breath, trying to ready himself for what he was about to say. “I couldn’t have come back!... if you hadn’t been there!”

“The porcupine brought you back.” Stone croaked with a more and more remote voice. “Not me…”

“But you babysit my machines! You kept them… safe.”

And who kept Stone safe? Huh?? WHO? Oh, that’s right. Nobody! Since you were too busy having fun with extraterrestrial mushrooms!

“I couldn’t… I couldn’t have found the magic emerald…” Robotnik took another breath and swallowed that lump of heavy embarrassment. “...without you.” He muttered.

“But you lost it…” Stone whimpered. “Because of me… and my incompetence…” He lamented.

“We’ll get it back!” Robotnik asserted. “Or we’ll find a more powerful artifact to conquer that sorry people of blacked-out morons!”

“W-we?” The agent whined. “But… doctor…”

“Stop discussing my decisions, Stone!!” Robotnik commanded. “Since when are you so… rebellious??” Another tear dripped off.

“But… why? Why do you still want me?” Stone genuinely asked.

“Because I-!!”

I love you too, you stupid cute, adorable, heart-warming, spirit-lifting, perfect, skilled, submissive doormat!

“You’re the only living being able to understand me! My point of view! My projects! The only one able to keep up with my superior intellect! Even by just 0.01%! The only one who… cares about me.” The doctor looked away, his voice getting unusually softer. “The… only one I…”

After a moment of planning what to do, how to deal with Stone’s typical and irritating human emotional reaction, Robotnik stopped to hear any noise from his trusty sycophant. He swiftly turned his head back, staring at Stone.

His pretty head lulled aside, and eyes closed.

Not moving or whining anymore.

Chapter Text

You monster.

You horrible monster!

You murdered him! 

You killed Stone! 

The only person who truly loved you and beared with your shitty temper and whims!

The only human being you cared about!

He’s dead now. Killed.

By you.

But I am a killer. I’ve always killed thousands of people without batting an eye. Why would Stone be any different? He was a simple, limited human being too. Well, a little less limited but still.

Then why?

Why does it feel so hollow and painful?

Why does it feel like agony inside??

Why do you suddenly immensely regret having killed someone??

Why did you… have to lower yourself… feeling this for a basic human?

You broken… faulty excuse of a scientist!

Robotnik crashed on his knees and fists. Clenched fists.

He bit his lip not to cry too loudly.

As he tried not to shiver and tremble while crying.

“Hmm…” Stone groaned and fluttered open his eyes. Looked in front of him. “Doctor?” He breathed. 

His doctor was… crying? Why? He didn’t like it when his love was sad.

“Stone…” Robotnik whimpered, his eyes shut.

“Sir…” His doctor was weeping, and trembling... for him ? Did he… think the agent was dead?

“I wanted… I wanted to be sure you were safe… and I… killed you instead!!” Robotnik screeched out, punching the ground.

“D-Doctor…” Stone whined, starting to weep himself.

“Don’t leave me, Stone…” The doctor begged. “I want you to stay… I don’t want to… carve and put some dirty moss on a rock again!... and pretend it’s you. You’re… you’re so much more than a plain… witless rock…”

The agent’s heart skipped a beat.

His doctor had… disguised a rock? Into him? Why? When? 

Oh.

I guessed it. Stone smiled as fresh tears streamed down his face and his lips quivered with emotion.

Wait. Robotnik realized. I still am the greatest mind with the most immeasurable cleverness! Even without this green ultimate power… I can do something. I can… revive him! Transhumanism has always been the ultimate goal of all worthy scientists after all.

Robotnik sharply looked up from the ground to the supposed dead body of his latte assistant.

Whose eyes were open. And glimmering.

Whose mouth was smiling. With adoration.

Despite the pain.

Despite the wounds.

“Stone…” The doctor pronounced breathlessly. His eyes were gleaming and red-rimmed. His breath short and his heart racing. “Stone.” He repeated in a tiny voice.

He tried to hold back his own human, repulsive tears.

And grabbed the wet, teary face between his tense, squeezing hands.

“How dare you?” He breathed. “How dare you feign to die and deceive your master??” He roared furiously at his crying assistant.

“S-sorry. I… I…” Stone tried to apologize.

“I should wring your neck apart! And snap it! Break it!!” Robotnik screamed, squeezing Stone’s face tighter between his shaking hands. “Give you an actual reason to kick the latte bucket!!” He screeched as angry tears rolled down his face. 

“If… if you think that’s the best thing to do, sir…” His cute assistant closed his eyes on two thick gleaming tears, waiting for imminent death.

No. 

That’s the worst idea I’ve ever thought of! Or maybe…

It’s the best decision ever…

Robotnik wondered for an instant.

I will finally stop worrying about his safety, stop thinking about him instead of my machines and my work! I will stop wasting so much energy and time on a low, disposable and disgusting organic being! A human on top of that!

His hands trembled more.

His eyesight started to blur.

Come on!! This is what this nitwit wants and what you need! What you have to do! Is he really worth so much trouble and worry and room in your lab, your robots… in your brain?

Shut up intrusive thoughts! I have to… make a decision! A quick decision!

His whole body trembled with indecision and emotion.

The rolling tears turned pouring.

His hands dropped. Lamentably. Pitifully.

His eyes burnt like an overheating processor. He sloppily wiped them with his sleeve as he tried to catch his erratic breath. To slow down his racing heart.

His willing to die assistant opened his eyes.

“Sir?”

“Don’t…” Robotnik wiped his nose. “Did you really think I’ll let you escape my wrath?” He scolded. “That I’ll spare you a lifetime of punishment and retaliation? That I’ll let you take the easy road?”

Stone noticed the glassy and puffed eyes of his doctor. He had cried. Sobbed his heart out. This made Stone feel miserable and blessed at the same time. His heart ached and rejoiced.

“I’m sorry…” He croaked. “I- I didn’t mean to…” He murmured, his eyes all watery, looking truly sorry and begging for forgiveness. “...so tired.” He whimpered.

“Are you now? Then let’s keep you alert!” Robotnik scolded before cupping his cute assistant’s face.

First, he just tried to press his lips on another human being’s -the only cute and lovable human being-, then he attempted to open Stone’s lips by slightly -and unsurely- licking them.

Stone had died. Or his wounds were making him hallucinate.  

Doctor Robotnik kissing him, kissing anyone, anything else than machines, seemed like an impossible, improbable inconsistency. Yet here he was.

Or maybe the doctor’s own wounds had messed up his brain too.

In any case, and though it was awfully selfish, Stone couldn’t help enjoying and tasting that wonderful, blessing kiss he never thought he would ever get in his life. His heart beated and pounded while his soaked eyes still managed to weep a few teardrops of joy.

That would be the sweetest, most wonderful way to be killed. He thought.

Chapter Text

As the smitten assistant’s mind was still fogged with bliss and fluff, he stared at the love of life moving aside the large pieces of metal covering his legs, not uttering a word about what had just happened. Stone tried to talk but then changed his mind. He knew the doctor wouldn’t talk about it. Not now. Not ever. 

Then, he bent over Stone and started to cut the knot of his tie with a laser beam sizzling out of his glove. 

“Bite into this.” Robotnik pulled off the tie, ruffled it and shoved it in Stone’s mouth. “I don’t want to hear you yowl like some rabid animal.”

What? Stone didn’t understand. He frowned. What did that mean?

Robotnik soon cut the right sleeves of his suit and shirt, revealing his arm and his bruised, clearly dislocated, shoulder. Then, the doctor grabbed his assistant’s right arm, sharply pulled it - triggering a deafening crack sound and a scream muffled by a tie, then pressed the right shoulder and sharply pushed it up, triggering another muffled scream.

“Alrighty. Now, make circles with it.” Robotnik ordered.

Moaning, Stone obeyed and moved his newly fixed shoulder in circles.

“Good job to me.” The doctor praised himself.

It still hurt, but way less than before. And now Stone could move it. It was a good thing. Still he couldn’t help moaning and sobbing. He was so stupid, so pathetic. He could kill, torture, bear an interrogation, but a simple dislocated shoulder made him weep. What a dolt. And in front of the doctor!

Doctor who suddenly and inexplicably hugged him, carefully hiding his face.

“What happened today will never happen again, Stone.” He swore in an assertive, almost menacing tone.

The weeping assistant spat out the tie.

‘What happened today’? What did that mean?

The destruction of the giant robot? Teaming up with space animals? Losing against them? The reunion with his beloved after dreary months of waiting and despairing? Working with him? Kissing him? 

“I won’t-!” The doctor interrupted his speech. And grunted. As if what he was about to say was the most embarrassing and shameful declaration.

I will never put you in danger again! 

Such a wish regarding Stone of all people was absolutely stupid and dumb! Stone was a killing machine! Danger should fear Stone! But… he still was human. Organic. And so more fragile than an actual machine. No matter his spy and assassin skills. Should he… transform his Latte-chan into a cyborg? Android? Robotnik was sure this idiot would instantly accept if he was asked such a thing. The scientist couldn’t help smiling a bit, taking advantage that Stone couldn’t see him. He would have to get back his lab and robots first. But right now, the priority was to run away and hide. Find someplace where they both could hide and wait for that fatuous government to give up on them and file them as officially dead. Now the plan was to drop fake hints to lead the crackbrained military to believe that. And later…

Think of another plan to depose and destroy that cursed space hedgehog!

Without noticing it, he squeezed Stone tighter between his arms.

“Whoa. S-sir?”

That irritating space weirdo almost had chopped his cute Stone in pieces with his freaky powers! Robotnik steamed inside.

I’ll be sure not to miss you next time, or miss any of your pals, you blue abomination! You’ll pay for that scratch on my latte boy’s sugar-sweet face and for his shoulder!!

Stone felt Robotnik’s body trembling.

“Are you alright?” He enquired.

Robotnik abruptly broke his hug and stared into his assistant’s with confused eyes.

Right. Get out of here. And hide. The blue devil can wait.

“Let’s scamp. Get up.” He ordered, grabbing Stone’s hand and -to the latter’s surprise, helping him to get up.

“Thank you, s-” Stone smiled.

The doctor suddenly yelped and grunted, weirdly rearing up.

“Sir?”

“Mmmhffk!” The doctor cursed between his teeth. “Damn this organic, frail body!” He spat. 

He hadn’t noticed the gnawing pain in his back until he finally got back on his feet. “I thought it was out of place to suffer no injury after a fall like this one!” He grouched.

“Are you hurt?” Stone immediately worried, gently grabbing his boss’ arm and putting his other hand on Robotnik’s back.

The doctor swiftly looked back at him. 

Does his stupid sweetness know no boundaries? He almost died a horrible death and he’s worried about me . Me! The one who almost got him killed!

“I’m alright, Stone!” Robotnik snatched his arm back, triggering a more throbbing pain in his back. He held in a scream and merely grumbled.

Maybe I should transform myself into a cyborg too!

“You’re not.” Stone calmly protested. “But better than anyone who’d have experienced such a fall.” He warmly smiled.

“And you, better than someone who should have his legs crushed and grinded.” Robotnik retorted, glancing at Stone’s solid, standing legs.

“Oh.” Stone looked at them. “Yes.” He smiled brighter at the doctor.

“Open your ears wide Stone, because I most certainly will never sputter such inane, senseless lunacies ever again. But… for once, I’m… glad my speculations… were wrong.” He muttered the two last words.

Stone held from asking him to repeat louder. And just grinned out of pure joy. He stepped closer and slowly, carefully sneaked his hand inside the doctor’s, and closed it around the gloved hand. Expecting a vehement, roaring verbal abuse and/or a slap.

But nothing of that came.

“And I’m glad… you kept me with you, doctor.” Stone softly cooed.

Robotnik humphed and looked away.

“Despite…” Stone carried on. “... the fact I looked doomed… and ready for the scrap heap. Or rather the cemetery.” He awkwardly smiled. “Despite the fact… I was of no use… and couldn’t help you at all…” He lowered his gaze, his voice turning sad. “You even created a manual for me… but I was still too stupid to help you.” He whimpered.

The doctor looked back at him. Still not letting go of this soft hand.

“Please don’t go whining and squeaking again, Stone. If I couldn’t end these three furry menaces, you certainly couldn’t have done it.”

Stone gasped, immediately turning his glittering gaze back at his beloved one.

Was the doctor… comforting him? Telling him… it wasn’t his fault? That… he had done a good job? Tears welled up again, but not out of guilt. His grip on Robotnik’s hand turned tighter.

“D-Doctor, I…” He stuttered in emotion. Then, immediately wiped his eyes. “You… you still haven’t answered my question, doctor.”

“I don’t have any obligation to answer the imbecilic questions of the small staff, Stone.” Robotnik wryly sneered.

“I… I will still ask you, sir.” The smitten assistant stood his ground. “Why haven’t you… deleted me? And don’t say it’s because of my lattes.” He softly chuckled.

Again, Robotnik couldn’t control the functioning of his own body and blushed hard.

CUTE!

“I-I told you!” He asserted. “Maybe your ears were too clogged by the air inside of your skull and your worth of a flesh weakling drowsiness back then! It’s to punish you!” He barked.

“For what? You’ve told me I did a good job with your robots!” Stone protested. “And you’ve just implied it wasn’t my fault if we lost against the space rodents!”

“Are you implying it was my fault, agent?” Robotnik scolded in a threatening tone.

“No! I just…” Stone sighed. “You know I would never blame you for anything, sir! I would never speak against you, or badmouth you. I…” His mocha-brown eyes gleamed. “I just don’t see why you still want of me. I can’t think of any logical or practical reason!” 

“Thinking is not your field, Stone! It’s mine! That’s why! I can think of a good reason and that’s a reason enough!” Robotnik exclaimed into Stone’s face, his own blushing crimson.

Sone nervously gulped down. Should he dare?

“Won’t you… instruct me?” He enquired, his cheeks starting to blush too.

Chapter Text

“You’re the only living being able to understand me! The only one who… cares about me.” 

No. 

Stone was sure there was something else than a mere, basic desire of socializing or a debasing, childish crave to be loved. The great and powerful Doctor Robotnik didn’t bother with people who merely loved him if they were useless to him, especially dumb simpletons like Stone. And the assistant could never dream to ever equal the doctor’s superior intellect. There had to be another reason! The reason why the doctor didn’t get rid of him.

“The… only one I…”

The only one you what , doctor? What are you refraining from telling me??

The doctor raised his fist, ready to strike that insolent, disobedient rebel. The recipient of the punch didn’t even blink. In a sigh, Robotnik lowered his arm.

“I wanted to be sure you were safe…”

“You’re so much more than a plain… witless rock…”

That…kiss. Stone could still feel it on his lips.

“Why do you still want to keep me, sir?” He insisted. “Why did you take me with you in your robot? I’m fallible, weak, unreliable, emotional, stupid, mortal! I’m nothing like your machines!”

“Maybe I plan to make you a machine!” Robotnik exploded.

Stone’s eyes went wide. 

“Wh-what?” The latte assistant gave a small crooked smile. He didn’t know if he should feel scared or happy at that.

“That’s right!” Robotnik clamored. “Since as an organic, human being you’re fallible, the only way to fix that is to make you a mechanical, cybernetic being!” He grabbed Stone’s shoulders, still careful not to hurt the naked, recently dislocated one.

To be truthful, Stone didn’t mind being transformed into a robot, cyborg or whatever. If the doctor thought it was better. But…

“I… I don’t know what to say, sir.” He genuinely replied in an awkward smile. “But… that would represent a lot of work. Of labor. And resources. And research. And time. Why… why would you go through so much trouble and strain… Just for me ? When you can simply… get rid of me?” He tenderly stared into his doctor’s taken aback eyes.

“What are you looking for, Stone?” He gripped on the insolent assistant’s collar. “What are you exactly intending to make me say with such vicious manipulation?”

After eyeing the doctor’s lips for an instant, Stone pressed his own against them.

And gave a kiss back to his beloved.

“Nothing… you should be ashamed of, doctor.” He murmured.

Robotnik’s eyes glimmered for a moment, then flickered with a strange sparkle. A sparkle that seemed to say ‘oh, fuck it’.

He almost pounced on his cute sycophant, warmly hugged him and passionately kissed him.

Stone didn’t wait to fierily kiss him back.  

“I love you, sir!” He moaned, tears running again. “I love you so much! I know that’s irrelevant but-”

The doctor cut him off with a more smothering kiss, cupping a wet cheek.

“Agh…” Stone gasped, almost out of breath. “I don’t care if we lost today, sir!” He asserted. “I don’t care if I almost died! You’re back! I’ve finally got you back after months of despairing and wondering if I’ll ever see you again!” He wailed. “Whatever happened today… doesn’t change the fact it was the best day of my life!...” Thicker tears ran down. “Because I got you back!” He exclaimed -almost shrieked-, his tears spurting out of the corner of his chocolate-brown eyes. Eyes that glistened and sparkling with overwhelming bliss, joined with a beaming, radiant grin. “You can’t know… how much I craved to follow you in that tornado…” He croaked. “Not giving a damn if that would kill me… as long as I was with you. How happy I was… when you accepted to take me!... Against all odds…” He whimpered.

Robotnik cupped the other cheek. The one he had healed.

“Don’t. Insult. My intelligence. Stone.” He hissed between his teeth, trying very hard not to tremble in emotion or explode in happy tears.

His assistant burst into blissful, overjoyed tears.

The doctor didn’t know what came to his top-level mind but, as an instinctive response, he tenderly hugged him and let him cry against his shoulder. Himself set his lacrimal glands free -for once- and let himself shed a few tears on Stone’s hair. Hair he started to caress.

Did he really want to change this cute creature of perfection into a cold, emotionless, heartless, smile-less machine? That would increase his lifespan, endurance and competence a mountain lot but-! Was it what Doctor Robotnik really wanted in the end?

What would his skills without his devotion for me look like?

What would a latte without his smile look like?

And why do I suddenly care about people’s feelings?

Why do I suddenly prefer a human over a machine? What is wrong with me??

Ah yes. That defect. That repulsive, debasing defect called ‘love’.

Even a top-rated, logical, rational scientist like me had to catch that primitive disease. 

“That’s your fault, Stone.” He grumbled, still hugging his sobbing assistant tightly. “That’s your fault.” He wept.

“Yes sir. It’s all my fault!” Stone sobbed, not really sure of what the doctor was blaming him for. “ Everything ’s my fault! I’ve ruined it all! I’m a burden! A failure! I’m dog shit! Dispose of me! Toss me! Throw me in the trash!” He wailed.

“I think I’ve just reminded you not to give me orders , Stone!” Robotnik barked, glowering into the glittering coffee beans his assistant had for eyes.

“I’ve ruined you, sir…” Stone whined. “I’ve made you weak, and fallible,... mushy… dumb.” He snarled.

Then a sharp, strong slap in his face.

“Now you insult me, agent??” Robotnik roared. “Now you’re doubting me?? Who do you take me for, huh??” He gripped Stone’s collar back. “Who do you think you are? You’re nothing , you hear me? Absolute NOTHING!! An insignificant split of a microscopic sample of contaminated, sterile dirt!!” He bellowed.

Still, in a remote, deep part of his mind, he couldn’t help believing, or at least fearing the correctness of Stone’s innuendos.

The doctor had slapped him. Stone realized. It wasn’t the first time the doctor struck him of course but… it had never been that violent. And that painful.

“B-but sir, I-!”

Another slap.

“Shut up, Stone! I formally order you to shut that stupid mouth of yours up for the next ten years! Starting right now!!”

Your pretty, soft, coffee-tasting mouth!

Now the latte brewer yearned to cry, not out of joy this time. What would hurt him most in the end? What would be wrong? To be loved by the doctor? Or to be hated? If the doctor was in love with him, wouldn’t that hinder and jeopardize his future plans? Wouldn’t that endanger his life? But… the prospect of being hated and rejected by his beloved doctor hurt Stone a lot more.

You’re a bastard, Stone. A selfish bastard.

He was over the moon his doctor loved him back… but it also felt so wrong. Like his perfect doctor was flawed. Broken.

He was so happy.

And yet so worried. And scared. For his beloved’s safety and dreams.

In the end… should Stone really feel happy about the doctor’s returned feelings for him?

Shouldn’t Stone… love him less? Abandon him?

And mercilessly, consciously hurting him??

But… but wasn’t the best thing to do? Stone didn’t know. He didn’t know anymore!

Chapter Text

Stone lamentably dropped down on his knees and sobbed into his hands.

“Enough.” Robotnik snarled. “Up! UP!!” He screamed yanking on Stone’s ruffled collar.

A throbbing pain in his back again.

“Ffffuck!! Fucking scrambled, brittle, limited back!!” He cursed.

“Doctor!” Stone put the doctor’s arm around his shoulders.

Then a couple a buzzing and whirring sounds from afar. That were getting closer.

“Looks like our grime-brained, uptight in the ass pals finally decided to shoot us on sight.” Robotnik commented.

“We must hide! Come on, doctor!” Stone carried him away, towards the woods, not even waiting for Robotnik’s approval.

Though it surprised and vexed him, the doctor didn’t complain about it.

Soon, they stopped behind a range of thick bushes.

“Ugh. Back to the filthy, soily environment again.” The doctor groaned, sitting down.

“It won’t be long before they find us!” Stone worried. “And I can’t take them all down, it will only raise suspicions! And put you in danger! What-”

“Agent!” Robotnik cut him off. “I still have my little gloves here, remember?” He shook his hands before Stone’s face. “I can hide myself with them.”

“But what about their thermal cameras, si-?”

“I can hide that too! What do you take me for, an idiot?” Robotnik fulminated.

What do I look like, an imbecile?

Stone couldn’t help recalling that time he had surprised the doctor dancing his ass off. 

I LOVE THE WAY YOU MAKE THEM!!

He smiled at the memory.

“Here, take that.” The doctor pulled off one of his gloves and tossed it at Stone. “You knock out one of the toy soldiers, and you go snatching back the EggBot’s core. We should be able to craft something intimidating and powerful out of it.”

“W-we?” Stone noticed in surprise. His heart skipped a beat.

“Did I stutter, agent? Also take advantage of your excursion to learn some intel from our little friends. If they still hold some nasty secrets from me, that is.” Robotnik gave a crooked, creepy smile that would have made any standard person shudder with fright but made Stone’s heart flutter with pure joy and his cheeks blush.

He obeyed and put on the glove on his left hand. But…

His faint smile vanished.

He looked at the doctor. Injured, in pain, vulnerable. If something happened to him while he was gone… His ocular coffee beans glimmered in fear.

Which the doctor quickly noticed. He rolled his eyes.

“Have you got no trust in me, Stone?” He squinted. “Are you taking me for a frail and senile grandmother unable to walk or piss on her own? Have you forgotten who I am? Have your sappy, wimpy, fuzzy feelings for me made you dumb?”

Stone gasped. That was what he had implied about the doctor a few minutes ago. Now he really felt shameful.

“I… I hope, I promise you not, sir!” He asserted.

“Good. Now, if you want forgiveness on my part and give me proof you’re still not completely useless, go to that fucking wreckage and bring me back what I asked for!” Robotnik commanded.

“Yes! Yes, sir!” Stone firmly nodded.

He was about to turn around and go back to the robot’s remains, and… stopped, crouched down and cupped the doctor’s cheek to give him a quick kiss.

“Please stay alive, doctor.” Stone murmured.

“I told you again, and again , not to give me orders , Stone.” Robotnik gritted his teeth, though his cheeks were blushing.

“Then punish me when I come back.” His cute assistant beamed and sneaked away through the woods.

Robotnik sighed at that most clichéd sight.

Was Stone even real or was he an ethereal, sylvan fairy? He wondered, snorting at his own stupid, irrational thoughts.

Was turning a magic fantasy creature into a machine even possible?

Of course it was. To Robotnik, at least.

But again, what was preferable? A weak, dumb and fallible but smiling, caring, devoted, adorable little latte pixie?

Or a competent, relentless, invincible, strong, clever but cold, austere and heartless robot?

♫ Me and you, it's real

I love the way you make me feel ♫

LATTE END

🐐☕️