Chapter Text

Prequel

The lab hummed with the familiar sounds of whirring machinery, the steady flicker of monitors casting a dim glow over the workspace. Agent Stone moved with precision, checking over inventory and ensuring everything was in place while Dr. Robotnik remained engrossed in his latest project. It was a routine they had fallen into effortlessly, an unspoken rhythm of efficiency and order.
"Hand me the stabilizer," Robotnik muttered without looking up.
Stone reached for the requested tool, passing it over without hesitation. "You know, you should really take a break. You've been at this for hours.""
"And yet, my genius never falters,"" Robotnik quipped, his focus unwavering. "Unlike some people's stamina.""
Stone smirked. "I think I hold up just fine.""
Robotnik was about to offer a witty retort when the lights suddenly flickered, then cut out entirely. The hum of the machines died, replaced by an unnatural silence. Stone's posture shifted instantly, every muscle in his body tensing. Robotnik straightened as well, a scowl forming.
"Power failure? That shouldn't be possible," Robotnik murmured. His fingers danced across the darkened console, but nothing responded.
Then they heard it.
A series of heavy thuds, footsteps approaching fast. Stone moved before he had time to think, reaching into his holster for his weapon. The door burst open, figures clad in dark tactical gear flooding the room. There was no time for questions, no chance for diplomacy. This was a raid.
Stone reacted first, firing off two quick shots. One enemy fell, clutching his shoulder, but the others were undeterred. Robotnik lunged toward the emergency panel, attempting to restore power to his defenses, but another figure tackled him to the ground before he could reach it.
Stone growled, slamming an elbow into an attacker’s ribs before twisting the gun from their grip. He managed to knock down another before a hard blow to his back sent him to his knees. A sharp crack against his skull blurred his vision, but he still struggled, reaching for anything he could use as a weapon.
More figures poured in, overwhelming them. Robotnik snarled as he was yanked upright, his arms forced behind him. Stone saw red. He pushed up despite the dizziness, but a swift strike to his temple sent him sprawling again. This time, he didn’t get back up.
The last thing he heard before darkness claimed him was Robotnik's enraged shout and the sound of cuffs locking around his wrists.

Chapter Text

When Stone came to, the world was cold and unforgiving. His wrists ached where the restraints bit into them, and his head throbbed. He forced his eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent light overhead.
A dull ache radiated through his body as he shifted, assessing his surroundings. The room was barren, concrete walls and a single metal table between him and his captors. Across from him, Robotnik sat restrained as well, though his expression was far from defeated. Instead, his mind was already working, his sharp eyes flickering across the room, taking everything in.
"Ah, you're awake. Thought you'd enjoy a little nap while I handled all the fun," Robotnik said dryly, voice laced with irritation. "Unfortunately, our hosts are rather unimaginative."
Stone exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Who are they?"
Before Robotnik could answer, the door creaked open. A man stepped in, his presence radiating authority. Scarred and thick-set, he was exactly the type Stone had been trained to recognize—military, brutal, and willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
"Dr. Robotnik. Agent Stone," the man greeted with an air of mock politeness. "Let's make this simple. You give us the information we need, and you walk away in one piece."
Stone remained silent, his jaw clenched. Robotnik leaned back, an unimpressed smirk playing at his lips. "Oh, do enlighten us. What is it you think we have?"
The man sighed, nodding toward his subordinates. "Start with the lieutenant."
A blow landed across Stone’s jaw before he could react. His head snapped to the side, pain flaring white-hot. Robotnik's smirk vanished instantly.
"Really?" Robotnik snapped, his voice dangerously low. "This is your grand strategy? Beating an already concussed man? How very primitive."
The interrogator barely acknowledged him, delivering another strike to Stone’s ribs. Stone coughed but refused to make a sound, his training holding firm.
"We can do this all night," the interrogator warned. "Or you can make it easy on yourselves."
Robotnik’s expression darkened. "Fine. I'll tell you whatever you want—just stop hitting him."
Stone's head snapped up, eyes flashing with warning. "Don’t."
"Oh, don’t be so dramatic," Robotnik muttered, glaring at the captors. "You want data? Fine, I’ll—"
The man scoffed, waving Robotnik off. "Nice try. But we know who the soldier is here. We’ll stick with him."
They ignored Robotnik’s protests, turning back to Stone. The next hit sent a fresh wave of pain through him, but something in his mind sharpened. It was a familiar place, one he had been trained to suppress.
And then, they made a mistake.
They turned to Robotnik.
It was one punch. A casual, almost dismissive one meant to scare rather than injure. But it was enough.
Stone moved before he could think. Adrenaline surged, wiping away pain and exhaustion. His body reacted on pure instinct, years of training overriding rationality. His hand shot forward, seizing a gun from one of the guards before anyone had a chance to react. The moment he had it, everything shifted.
A blur of motion—his elbow connected with a throat, a knee to a gut, a shot fired into a shoulder. The first two men fell before the third even registered what was happening. Stone didn’t stop. He couldn’t.
The interrogator barely managed to step back before Stone grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. The man gasped as Stone’s fist drove into his ribs, then again, and again, and again.
"Stone."
He didn't hear it at first.
"Agent Stone."
A hand touched his shoulder. His body reacted on its own, pivoting as he raised the gun—

Robotnik.

The rage in his vision cracked, giving way to clarity. Robotnik stood still, gaze unreadable, but his voice was steady. "Lower the gun."
Stone's hands shook. The gun trembled in his grip. Then, slowly, he let it drop.
His knees buckled, the rush of adrenaline draining from his body all at once. Robotnik caught him, steadying him with uncharacteristic care.
"We need to leave," Robotnik murmured. "Now."
Stone nodded numbly. They stepped over the unconscious bodies, slipping out into the corridor. Robotnik kept a hand on his shoulder the entire way.

Stone wasn’t just an assistant. He was a weapon.

And for the first time in a long time, Robotnik realized just how dangerous that could be.

Chapter Text

The lab was eerily silent when they returned, the hum of the machinery barely registering in Stone’s ears as exhaustion weighed him down. Robotnik wasted no time guiding him to a chair, his sharp gaze scanning the bruises, the cuts, the raw wounds across Stone’s knuckles
Stone winced but waved a hand dismissively. "I’ll handle it."
Robotnik arched a brow, crossing his arms. "You’re an idiot if you think I’m letting you patch yourself up after that."
"I’ve had worse."
"Oh, I’m sure," Robotnik drawled, already grabbing the first aid kit. "But humor me."
Stone tried to protest again, but Robotnik was already working, disinfecting a particularly nasty gash on his temple. He hissed at the sting but didn’t pull away. The doctor’s hands were surprisingly gentle, methodical, almost... careful.
"You know, you scared the hell out of me back there," Robotnik muttered after a moment, his voice sharper now. "Do you have any idea what it was like to see you like that?"
Stone exhaled, looking away. "I didn’t mean to."
"You keep saying that. But you nearly got yourself killed," Robotnik snapped, pressing a little harder against a wound than necessary. "Damn it, Stone. Do you even realize what you did?"
Stone clenched his jaw but didn’t answer. Looking down, his fingers trembled slightly, barely perceptible.
Robotnik sighed, setting the bandages down before gripping Stone’s face in both hands, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Listen to me. You’re not some disposable pawn. You matter. To me. Got it?"
Stone blinked, stunned by the rare sincerity. He barely had time to process before Robotnik pulled him into a sudden, firm embrace. The warmth was unexpected, grounding.
Then, just as quickly, Stone's vision swam, his knees buckling.
"Oh, for the love of—" Robotnik barely caught him as he slumped forward, unconscious.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Idiot."

But he didn't let go.