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The slow melancholy music fills the small but elegant cafe. Built on blood sweat and tears, constructed by pure hope and faith for a man galaxies away. The warm innocent atmosphere that hid the creations of a brilliant man. The warm innocent act that Stone put up, that hid the spite and grief that consumed the now turned barista.
Stones had a long day. Cleaning up messes made by the dreadful public. Saving his counter for last, wiping away spots and smudges. After everything is clean he takes a look at his watch.
5:27 PM.
3 more minutes until closing time, most days he’s shooing away customers around this time. Apparently the town took a huge liking to this cafe of his. Having taken over the old cafe that stood. He turned it into his own, he took some pride in that. He could only hope the Doctor would appreciate at least a tiny bit of his efforts.
He went into deep thought as he cleaned the back counters, thinking of the day, how far he’d come into this cafe job affair, and what the Doctor would think of it…
The Doctor seemed to always be on his mind nowadays. How could he not be? Stone didn’t know where he was or if he was okay. The simple instruction to wait in the event of his unexplainable absence. He knew himself to be loyal but this was just ridiculous. His every passing thought of ‘Where are you Doctor?’. Even when he didn’t think of the Doctor. His mind would be blank, a static-y blankness and silence that took up space instead of the overwhelming thoughts.
The door suddenly opened behind him and the bell rang, echoing throughout the quiet room. Stone sighed deeply but didn’t show it, breathing through his nose in an annoyed huff. Readying himself for another meaningless interaction.
“Hey, sorry we’re closing so I’m gonna have to ask-“
Turning around in the middle of his barely composed customer service ramble. His eyes widened in disbelief, as he stared at the figure in the doorway. Heart stopping with his suddenly frozen body.
The disheveled mustached man looked just as surprised as the agent. Still holding tightly to the door handle, clearly out of breath, looking like he’d just come back from crawling his way out of hell. Technically that would be an accurate way to put it.
He’d come a long way from where the portal was located. Across the small but rather bigger town then he’d estimated. The walk felt like 100 miles, he wasn’t even sure that the agent would even be here. Though a clear marker on his own watch showed his location, he didn’t seem to believe it fully until his eyes met with Stones.
His big brown lovely eyes staring back into his. Looking just the same as he left him. The exhausted man felt himself melt a bit at the sight. He let himself breathe out a relieved sigh, all those times of hard brute work, those worries and restless nights, everything, just melted away now he was with his agent.
The shorter man was still in shock and disbelief, not allowing himself to breathe for a good minute.
They just stare at each other like utter idiots. For seconds, minutes, both silently asking…
Is that really you?
“Stone…” The Doctor breathes out, he feels a quiver in his throat, like something more is about to spill out. He forced a harsh swallow to keep everything from pouring out.
“Holy fucking shit Doctor!” The agent absolutely beams and Robotnik feels like he has to shield his eyes from the way his agent lights up the room.
He laughs a tired laugh at the choice of words, he doesn’t think he ever heard the agent swear. It was amusing, as it was heartwarming.
“Hope it’s not too late past work hours.” The Doctor tries to joke but it just comes out as a desperate plea.
Please let me in.
He was quite surprised at himself as his body just started dragging itself into the little cozy shop. Feeling as if he was being pulled by some imaginary warmth, like he was out in the freezing cold for months finally finding the sun.
The agent sees him approaching, all past rules and fears from long ago just fade out of his brain. Jumping over the counter in desperation of getting as close and quickly as he could to the Doctor. Quite excessive but it gets the job done. Quite efficiently at that.
Meeting the taller man halfway and shocked at his and the Doctor's actions. Somehow automatically finding their arms wrapping around one another, tightly. Naturally fitting together, naturally finding their place in each other's grasp.
Robotnik holds him taut to his chest as the agent clings to him. He smells like coffee, he smells like home. Burying his nose into that straight black hair without a second thought. Inhaling as much of it as he could, filling his senses to ease the ache that was with him for months.
Stone feels like everything he's ever done, every moment and every action was worth it. Feeling every problem and worry dissolve into thin air, feeling safe and secure and utterly delirious in his boss’s arms. Feeling the Doctor's chin on the crown of his head made him want to wail with happiness. He wanted to hug him as tight as he could, barely containing himself already, the Doctor felt him shaking and it was still quite a firm squeeze.
Robotnik didn’t mind, he felt like he would fade away like another one of his hallucinations if he let go. He never wanted to let go.
He figured out why the agent felt like a necessity now, he figured out why Stone felt like home. It took him a while but self reflection really was good for the soul, he figured out that he was in love and probably has been for a really long time. It all came clear to him right when he walked through the door, and saw that beautiful smile again.
He could feel himself boiling over, fearing for his life that the confession would slip from his lips, so much to say and so much to do, so much to catch up on, he wanted to blurt it out.
“Agent Stone! Come, behold greatness before your very eyes!”
“See! Don’t you get it, Stone! This is evolution.”
“Of course you don’t understand with your feeble little brain, observe…”
“Do you see this Stone?!”
His every accomplishment since Stone was assigned to him, the agent was there, watching with wonder and amazement. His every breakthrough, Stone was there.
Stone was always the one.
A brain like no other, IQ off the charts never seen before in humanity, and he couldn’t see the most simplest of facts in front of him. For years he was blind to it.
It was always there, as he felt his throat closing and the tightness in his chest, he believed he would be crushed by it. He managed a harsh swallow to coat his dry throat.
“Stone I-“
Things came to a halt as he felt moisture seep into the fabric of his coat. Pulling away and grabbing the man’s face into his hands hastily without hesitation.
“I-I’m sorry Doctor-“ The agent tried to hide, ducking his head and trying to pull away. Robotnik’s heart weeped, that small glance of the man’s face flushed wide eyed and watery. He felt an intense need to remedy it right away. Feeling the man’s face tucked fiercely into his neck.
“Look at me.” He gently commanded. He never heard his voice utter such soft demands.
The agent couldn’t disobey an order, even if the man in front of him wasn’t technically his boss anymore. He lifted his head staring back into Robotnik's eyes. He was shocked to see an expression never seen on the Doctor before. Longing? He’d never seen the Doctor yearn, he got everything he wanted and never had to hope or long for anything.
“Stone, I see it now.” He didn’t understand. “I see everything as clear as ever.” What was he saying? “Stone, my dearest agent Stone.” The shorter man felt his entire body shake as the hands on his face tightened gently. Cradling his face like an invaluable object.
Stone's mind went strikingly blank and quiet when he felt lips on his forehead. The soft gesture taking a straight detour to ram at his heart. Feeling like jelly in all his limbs immediately.
“It’s always been you.” Robotnik marveled.
“Doctor?” Stone starred in wonder and disbelief.
“I missed you terribly…” The Doctor spoke, overflowing with emotions which were audible in his voice. The agent melted completely.
Robotnik couldn’t stop himself, he felt like a man came back to life and the first thing he wanted to do was place his lips with his sickenly sweet lovely agent.
So that he did. He immediately felt Stone freeze, which caused the Doctor's doubt to slowly creep in. He slowly pulled away but was shocked as he was forced back. Hearing a choked sob stopping at the back of the agent's throat, he hummed affectionately.
He smiled as the man rose on tipped toes and his fingers tightened at his shoulders. The Doctor's hands roamed fiercely, silently asking if this was real. If it wasn’t another fever dream or hallucination playing a cruel trick.
The way his skin radiated heat and somehow emotion through touch, it assured him.
“I missed you so much Doctor.” Stone spoke against kisses. Continuing through gasps, like he couldn’t get enough. The agent savored all he could in case this would never happen again. “I’m so happy — you’re — home!”
Robotnik felt the bubbling of laughter forming and escaping, cutting off their long overdue kiss.
“I'm home.” He repeated. Just to hear it from himself.
…