Work Text:
Stone scanned his key card to enter the doctors lab with his 3rd coffee for the day.
Walking in, Robotnik was seated at his desk using a soldering iron. His welding glasses and headphones on.
Unaware Stone returned.
Stone walked up to the doctors side, the doctor still not noticing him
Till Stone lightly tapped him on the shoulder and caused the doctor to yelp and drop the iron.
"Stone!"
"Uh sorry sir, I just returned with your latte."
"Just...put it on the table." Robotnik mumbled as he regained his composure.
Stone then noticed something. As he was placing the coffee on the table, he could see the bare skin of Robotnik's hands.
A very rare sight. Robotnik rarely (or closer to never) parted with his prized gloves.
Yet the doctor decided to take them off while working with dangerous tools.
"Isn't it dangerous to work without your gloves on sir?"
"Well for your fragile body, yes. But if you are just intelligent and brilliant like me, then you'd be granted no mistakes. And I don't make mistakes, Stone. Also, I'm not going to ruin my perfect pair of command gloves just to protect this weak layer called skin."
"Of course sir."
Whilst the doctor was clearing his desk, Stone's eye caught something on Robotnik's right hand.
A black ring.
Stone remembers vividly that black ring on his right middle finger does have a meaning, but can't remember what.
"Sir."
"What is it now Stone? Can't you see I'm busy."
"That ring. Doesn't that have a meaning if it's black and on the right middle finger."
Robotnik froze and was silent. Quickly hiding hands under the desk, not looking at Stone as he responds "It... it's nothing. Just jewellery."
"I just... didn't take you as a jewellery person."
Robotnik was silent. Not sure how to explain to his agent about the ring. "It's not for fashion. It's... it's a sign. A meaning to who I am." Robotnik says sincerely, still not showing his hands.
"If I can sir... what's the meaning?" Stone curiously asked as he stood by the doctor. Ready to listen to him if he was willing to tell him more.
Robotnik took a deep breath before speaking again, "I suppose you deserve to know a part of me, Stone. You've tolerated enough of me."
Robotnik brings out his hands from under the desk then curls his right hand into a fist and he fiddles with the ring.
"The ring it means...asexuality."
"Oh"
"Yes. I'm... asexual."
Stone didn't say anything for a moment till he replied with "Okay, didn't know that sir... that's cool."
That's cool!? Why the hell did Stone say that! It wasn't as professional as Stone hoped it'll sound like. Luckily the doctor kept speaking.
"It was from my...days of when I began my self discovery and questioning. When I lacked, and still lack, what most would call "sexual attraction"" Robotnik air quoted with his fingers.
"Does anyone else know?"
"The ring? Unfortunately, yes. There have been some who have caught me without my gloves on and saw my ring. Some now thinking I'm a swinger."
"A swinger? Why would-"
"Swingers tend to wear a black ring on the right hand as well."
"Ah, I see."
"Just to clarify Stone, those of the asexuality spectrum wear a black ring on the right middle finger. Like I do. Those who are out to meet other swingers tend to wear the black ring on the right ring finger, if I remember correctly." Robotnik explained while Stone was careful to listen and remember this new information regarding the doctor.
"So...when did you start wearing the ring?"
"College...when getting my PhD." Robotnik answers as he twists the ring as he spoke.
"During my years in college there was this...interesting girl. We were in the same classes when I was getting my PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Nothing but unfortunate classmates. Anyway, I noticed she'd fiddle with a black ring on her right middle finger very often. It wasn't like other cheap jewellery other women would wear. It...stood out, yet blended in with the world." Robotnik sighed before continuing, "I then learnt the meaning of the ring and it's connections not long after. I guess that was the beginning of my self discovery."
"It must have been a journey sir."
"It was. I knew I didn't have sexual attraction towards any person. but...I'm just happy to just know I'm...not the only one who feels like I do. That there are others...people like me with similar feelings as I do." Robotnik spoke as he twists the ring and showing a slight smile. "I got the ring just as a reminder to who I am. Even if it's under the gloves." Robotnik says with a slight chuckle in the end.
"Trust me sir...I know about self-discovering journeys." Stone said as he relates to what Robotnik was saying.
"I understand Stone." Robotnik says, giving the agent a reassuring nod.
"What about others knowing you're actually asexual?"
"No. Just you now...and maybe that girl from college, but I doubt she counts."
"No one else knows then?"
"I don't really feel the need to write "asexual" on everything agent. I am a genius with brilliant creations & and plans for technological evolution. I don't need everyone to know the foot note that I'm asexual. It's not exactly my definitive feature." Robotnik says as he takes his latte and takes a sip.
"Ah, anyway agent Stone, that's enough time wasting. Back to work!" Robotnik announces as he twists his chair back to the desk and starts up the soldering iron to continue working.
Stone turned to leave till he heard Robotnik's voice calling out, "Thank you Stone...for listening. It...feels good to have told you all that."
"Thank you sir for trusting me." Stone says with a reassuring smile before continuing his work.