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Just say it.
Tell him that you love him.
"I made you a latte, doctor. With steamed austrian goat milk, Just how you like it," Agent Stone smiled, holding out the mug which held the hot drink. He had made sure it was cooled down to the perfect drinking temperature before offering it to Dr. Robotnik, to make sure that he didn't burn himself on it. It was a small gesture that he was sure the busy man wouldn't notice, yet he did it anyway.
… idiot.
"Thank you, Agent Stone," Robotnik answered, pausing what he was doing to take the mug from him. Their hands brushed for barely a moment, yet Stone’s heart nearly skipped a beat. "You know I love the way you make them.”
Those words almost made Stone melt right then and there. He quickly recollected himself, though, and nodded. “Of course, doctor. I appreciate the compliment. May I ask what you’re working on?”
Robotnik shrugged, looking back at the briefly abandoned machine. “Just something to make our lives a little bit easier,” he answered, “specifically, to make your life a little easier.”
Stone blinked, staring at Robotnik for a few moments before realizing that he hadn’t answered. “To make… my life a little easier? Whatever do you mean, doctor?” He asked, his tone genuinely curious as to what Robotnik had made for him.
For me.
He made it for me?
Robotnik hummed in response, putting his now half-empty mug down. “I… realize that I give you a lot of work that a normal person could never handle. Of course, you aren’t exactly a normal person, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t human,” he explained. “To relieve any stress or pressure you may be feeling, I am making a robot that will help you out wherever and whenever you need it.”
Stone sighed, smiling softly. “This is why I love you,” he muttered, not even realizing that he had said it aloud.
He’s so considerate, even if he doesn’t mean to be.
And he’s… staring at me…?
Robotnik’s silent, shocked staring told him that perhaps, his words weren’t so silently spoken. Immediately, Stone straightened his posture and proceeded to dip his head low in an apologetic gesture. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, and his breathing grew quick.
“Doctor, I’m so sorry,” he began to say, his voice quick as he desperately scrambled for any kind of explanation. “I don’t know what came over me. I misspoke. Please, do not take it personally-”
“Stone,” Robotnik interrupted, his voice cutting clear through the other man’s panicked mind. Agent Stone swallowed, lifting his head once again.
“Yes, doctor…?”
“Don’t apologize,” Robotnik said simply, standing up. Stone stood in place despite every muscle in his body screaming for him to run away and never return. He had embarrassed himself in front of the doctor for the first time in years, and it felt awful. He felt as if he had disappointed himself, but more importantly, he felt as if he had disappointed the doctor. He had fallen out of line and shown weakness.
I have to make it up to him somehow. Lattes won’t work this time. Maybe I can-
“Stone.” Robotnik repeated, his voice firm but calm. His expression softened as he took both of his agent’s hands in his own. “You’re not in trouble. Don’t let your mind get the best of you.”
“What…?”
The sudden softness from the doctor had caught him severely off guard. It was yet another mistake he would have to make up for.
The mistakes just keep piling up…
I’m such a mess, all because of one kind gesture from the doctor. I should quit. But… where would I even go?
Anywhere but here. Anywhere that’s away from all this embarrassment and all these mistakes I keep making. I can-
“Hey, what did I just say?” Robotnik asked, tightening his grip on Stone’s hands and once again snapping him back to reality. “I’m not mad. You’re not in trouble. Just… breathe.”
Finally, Stone listened. He took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes and focusing on the current moment. He could hear Robotnik breathing with him, and the two stayed like that until Stone opened his eyes again. After a few more moments, he spoke.
“You’re not… mad?” Stone asked quietly, looking at Robotnik with a confused yet relieved expression. He looked down at his hands, which were still being held by the doctor.
“Of course not,” Robotnik answered. “Why would I be?”
“I-” Stone was about to answer when he realized that he didn’t really have a reason. His mind had just immediately spiraled the moment he had realized he messed up. “I… I don’t know.”
“Exactly. Now, I want to ask you another question.”
“What is it?” Stone asked, preparing for the worst out of pure instinct.
He already said he wasn’t mad. Stop freaking out.
What if he was just lying to make me feel better?
Idiot. Why would he lie? The doctor has always said what’s on his mind, he has always told the truth. He wouldn’t lie to you.
“How long have you been having these feelings?” Robotnik asked.
“How long have I… what?”
“You said you love me. I always knew how devoted you were to me, but I simply put it off as regular assistant behavior. How long has it been love, and not simply because it was your duty?”
Stone hesitated. He had loved the doctor for much longer than he could remember; a few years now, at the very least. He had realized it was more than just innocent admiration when he started getting butterflies in his stomach every time the doctor called his name or said he liked the lattes Stone made. That was what made Stone realize he wanted him and the doctor to be so much more than just boss and assistant.
“I suppose it’s been a few years now,” Stone admitted, looking away as his cheeks grew warm.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Robotnik asked, his voice soft.
“I was scared. Scared of disappointing you. Scared of not knowing better. Scared of so many little things that I shouldn’t even be scared of!” Stone answered, rubbing away a tear that had fallen down his cheek. His voice cracked as he spoke again. “I don’t deserve to be your assistant. I’m not good enough.”
Robotnik shook his head. “You’re perfect, Stone. Never think otherwise,” he said as he gently cupped Stone’s cheek in his gloved hand. “You make mistakes. That’s human. You fall in love. That’s human. ”
“That’s human,” Stone repeated softly.
All of this is part of being human.
Stone sighed, then smiled. “Thank you,” he said, pulling him into a tight hug. He could feel the doctor return the hug. After a few moments, the two pulled away.
“May I kiss you, Stone?” Robotnik asked.
“Of course,” Stone answered, his voice nearly shaking with happiness. He wrapped his arms around Robotnik’s shoulders, leaning into him as their lips met.
It was everything Stone ever could’ve dreamed of.