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Crab life was perfect for Robotnik.
Sure, the whole needing a constant supply of blood was a small nightmare, but there’s this amazing ancient human technology called refrigeration. So he (Stone) can just stock up on any blood he (Stone) can get his hands on. The crab travelling underwater most of the time meant he could sleep through the day with Stone and stream at night. Nobody questioned the weird ever-changing start time, he waved them off stating that they travelled a lot. The Crab was perfect (he built it) so his coffin was safe, so life in the Crab was perfect.
For a vampire.
For once in their lives, it was not Robotnik that was causing the problem.
“Will we be able to surface in time?” Stone asked. He had been pacing back and forth frantically for minutes, close to working a groove into the floor.
“Yes, we could surface in the middle of the Atlantic but then I’d have to tie you to a leash and let you paddle around in the ocean for a bit.”
“Will we reach land in time?” Stone asked.
“Accounting for local traffic laws-“
“Doctor-“ Stone growled.
“Even ignoring them,” Robotnik continued on, “we wouldn’t. You’d transform at least two hours before we reached the nearest spot of land.”
Yes, the limited confines of the Crab were perfect for a vampire, but maybe not for a werewolf. Someone who becomes an animal that needs to move around and hunt and do other outdoorsy and animal stuff other than destroying their recently crocheted blankets.
“Don’t you werewolves have that thing where if someone who loves you says your name you go back to human?”
“Misconception,” Stone sighed, his pacing coming to a stop as he leaned against a wall. “It more just helps us focus, so we can ignore the dog part of the brain. That leash and swimming idea…”
“Sarcasm on my part, you’d freeze and we’d get spotted. Are you sure you haven’t already transformed yet with that primitive thinking?”
“No,” he sighed. “I’m just- I can’t believe we forgot.”
“We? I’m not the one who turns into a slobbering pile of fluff every full moon, there is no we in this situation.”
“With how little space we have, it will be sir.” Stone snapped, running a hand through his hair.
“Wall. Now.”
Stone let out a small huff, but complied. He walked backwards towards a wall and leaned back towards it, an arm wrapping around his chest. Robotnik caged him in, slamming his hands against the wall either side of Stone’s shoulders. He leant forward, noses almost touching.
“What is our rule about full moons? Remind me, since this it is now apparently a two man job to check your calendar.”
Stone swallowed, trying fruitlessly to press himself deeper into the wall. “Warning of at least a week in-“
“A week in advance, yes. And pray tell, how much warning have we this time?”
“Less than a day.”
Robotnik bent his elbows, bringing the tip of his nose to touch Stone’s. “And why on your own insistence is it that you warn me a week in advance?”
“So we can scout out the location to make sure I won’t be seen.” Stone mumbled. He had gone cross-eyed, focusing on their skin squishing together at the tips of their noses.
Robotnik jumped back, propelling himself away from the wall with one push. Stone remained in place, his eyes still fixed on the centre of Robotnik’s face. “Ah, so it’s all up there. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you transform into a goldfish.”
“I’m sorry, I should have remembered, it just completely slipped my mind. The crab walls- they’re strong enough, right?”
“What, are you planning on throwing yourself at them?” Robotnik scoffed.
“Maybe? Without the space to run I might get too restless to think rationally. But if you just lock me in my room, I can probably buff out any damage I do.”
“Your room? Stone.”
Stone paused, eyes drifting over to the bedroom door before they widened.
“It’s our room now.” He said to himself.
“Yes it’s our room now,” Robotnik said, pinching at the bridge of his nose. “I thought wolves were fast predators.”
“Is there not a storage cupboard or-“
“Stone.” Robotnik cut in.” We don’t have rooms spare to lock you in.”
“Shit.”
“Indeed. You have to free roam I’m afraid.”
“You could put silver on your coffin, listen to a podcast in there?”
Robotnik scoffed. “I’m not being kicked out of my spaces because you didn’t plan adequately.”
“Well then I don’t know how else to keep you safe here.” Stone snapped, finally pushing himself away from the wall. He resumed his pacing, fingers gripping and ungripping into a claw shape.
“Safe from what? A little puppy dog? Hardly a difficult task.”
“We both know it’s not that simple.”
“Stone. What are you?” He asked.
“A lot of things, I’m-“
“A werewolf, I was looking for werewolf. And what am I?”
“A night owl?” Stone asked, the echo of a coy smile on his lips before it disappeared and he continued pacing.
“I was looking for vampire, you mongrel. I’m a vampire, and a recently fed one at that. I can handle this.”
“But we can’t-“
Robotnik’s arm swung out, stopping Stone in his tracks. “Do you trust me Stone?”
“Yes, Doctor.” Stone said.
“Perfect. I’ll have the Crab surface before you transform and I’ll keep an eye on you. Stop you from ripping up any of your crochet projects.”
“Will you also turn away for the bit where I strip naked?”
Robotnik froze, blue screening “I will also do that.”
“Thank you.”
The ‘plan’ was simple. Stone would transform and Robotnik would become a glorified dogsitter. He grumbled to himself as Stone pottered about around him, moving more valuable and fragile objects out of the way.
At one point, Stone paused as he was carrying Robotnik’s monitor in his arms and turned to Robotnik with perfectly pathetic puppy eyes.
“I’m sorry about this, sir. I swear I’ll not repeat this mistake.”
“It’s…” Robotnik started, stopping himself as his tongue froze up in his mouth. It was what? Fine? The simmering pot of frustration swirling around under his skin would disagree. He pressed his tongue against his left fang, cupping to around the tooth before it retreated back.
“It happens. I’m sure you can make it up to me.”
Stone beamed like the light of a thousand suns, before hoisting the monitor further into his arms and continuing on.
Robotnik had turned around, back to Stone as he peeled himself out of his suit.
“How will I know if the full moon is out yet if I’m not turned around.” He joked.
Stone snorted, rolling his eyes. “Proud of yourself sir?”
“Of course, that’s some of my better material you’re getting there agent.” Robotnik said.
“To answer your question seriously, you can hear a transformation. Our bones are rearranging themselves.”
“Sounds painful.”
“It can be.” Stone mused. “Used to be, now it’s just like a bit of an ache. The wolf doesn’t mind it.” Stone paused, his folded over clothes now a stack in his arms, a lingering warmth sinking through them. “I would prefer it if you didn’t turn around until I’m fully transformed. It can be an upsetting process.”
“At my age, do you really think-“
“Sir.” Stone cut in, practically a whimper. “Please.”
“Alright. You’ll be transformed for 6 hours and 47 minutes. I’ll throw a blanket on you or something at the end, make this easier on both of us.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Once tonight is over, we never speak of this again and I get you a better calendar.”
Stone went quiet, the rustling of movement stopping.
“Understood, Stone?”
“…yes, Doctor.”
Stone was a wolf of his word - Robotnik didn’t have to look to know he was transforming. He heard the sharp intake of breath from Stone, his breathing becoming deeper and heavier. He heard the way his bones creaked and squeaked, the sound of something like skin stretching and pulling taut.
And he heard the small whimpers of Stone, between gasping breaths. Heard them becoming more like the cries of a kicked puppy as bones cracked and bent.
Every month, a voice at the back of his mind whispered (not his conscience, surely).
The cracking stopped and the gasps turned to panting. Robotnik breathed in, counted to five and…
One
Two
Three-
Something wet hit him on the back of his neck, sending him lurching forward. He turned sharply, coming nose to nose with-
Fuck, Stone was huge. His fur was a soft brown, like a latte. His back and the tips of his ears were charred with strokes of black fur.
And his eyes are dark, a small tinge of brown if you squint.
The wolf just stared at him, pushing its nose into his face before its feather duster of a tail began to wag side to side
“What the- wolves don’t even do that! You’re doing that on purpose.” Robotnik growled. The wolf just blinked, staring at him before it darted around him and bounded through the rest of the Crab.
Its thunderous footsteps echoed off the walls before it slammed itself into a wall, making the entire Crab shake.
“Idiot!” Robotnik shouted after it, groaning before he trudged after the beast.
Nearly seven hours of this? That leash in the ocean was looking more and more like a good idea.
Stone was a genius (although he’d never hear that from Robotnik). He was level-headed and forward-thinking.
Stone’s wolf had the elegance and intelligence of a drunk toddler. And the energy to match.
He didn’t stop, constantly doing laps of the Crab, constantly sniffing everything, constantly throwing himself at anything and everything he could.
“Stone, for goodness sake!” He shouted, watching from a doorway as Stone had taken to sticking his entire head into one of their kitchen cupboards. If Robotnik’s memory was correct, that was where Stone kept his pots and pans.
The words had barely left his mouth before the waterfall of steel falling could be heard, the smashing of glass lids following as Stone jumped back, the cupboard spilling out onto the floor.
Stone’s eyes widened, his breathing picking up and his back arching in on itself. Robotnik barely had the time to move forward before-
Stone darted, a mess of legs and fur as he tried to dash past Robotnik. All he could do was stumble back as the wolf ran, panicked, away from the very scary stainless steel pot.
“Stone!” He shouted, running after him. Stone was fast, but this wasn’t Stone. Not his Stone. The creature had gotten itself into a shadowed corner, its back legs banging against the wall. Its eyes were locked into Robotnik, watching him as he walked forward.
It growled, back raised, teeth bared.
“C’mon Stone, you’re better than this!” He shouted. It growled louder, snarl spreading across its face before it lunged forward, its jaw opening.
“Aban!” Robotnik yelped, drawing his shoulders closer together and closing his eyes.
The snarling stopped. A jaw of teeth was frozen inches from Robotnik’s throat. They retreated as Stone closed his mouth and took a step back from Robotnik.
Robotnik pried his eyes open only to be met with the most pathetic look he had ever seen. Stone’s eyes were wide and pitiable, his head lowered in shame. He nudged his snout against Robotnik’s chest gently.
Robotnik reached out and ran a gloved hand down the side of his face. Stone leant into it, eyes shutting.
He wondered…
Robotnik ripped his gloves off, and ran his hands down his snout, feeling the soft furs part under his fingers. They threaded through his fingerprints, like a part of himself he was missing.
Stone let out a satisfied huff, head leaning further into Robotnik’s hands, his face coming further into the light.
Stone’s nose was bruised, a small bump on the tip and small shards of glass were glistening from the bottom of his legs. Robotnik crouched down to sweep them off, hitting his head on the bottom of Stone’s jaw as he came back up.
“Why do you feel like you’re actually made of Stone?” He grumbled to himself. Stone’s nose let out a puff of air, before he tapped at Robotnik’s hands with his nose.
“Let me sit down first, I’m too old for this.” He said. Stone took the lead, picking up Robotnik’s gloves from the floor and heading straight for the couch. He sat by it, setting the gloves on the arm and watched Robotnik approach.
Almost before he sat down, Stone was clambering up, shoving his body onto the est of the couch. His head was in Robotnik’s lap, pushing him down into the seat. Robotnik leant back,
“Right, right.” He chuckled. He clawed his fingers, running them down Stone’s face, stopping just before his nose and repeating. “Like this?” He asked.
Stone shoved his head further into Robotnik’s lap, closing his eyes.
It only took ten minutes before Stone began to growl again. Robotnik’s hands stilled. Really? He’d let him take up a whole stream night and he gets grouchy? Robotnik went to scold him with a tap on the nose or something-
Oh.
There was a stream of drool coming from the corner of his mouth, and his entire body was lay lax on the couch and Robotnik’s legs.
He’d fallen asleep.
Robotnik chuckled, reaching over to his discarded gloves, calling over one of the smaller badnik he’d kept. Its red eye pointed itself at the sleeping wolf, clicked, and then flew back to its charging pod.
Blackmail never hurts.
Stone’s face was sore.
So was the rest of him, but that was normal. The raw throb of pain across his joints was expected. But his nose was screaming.
He groaned, rubbing at the new bump on the tip of his nose before he tried to push himself up.
A hand on his forehead pushed him back down. He looked up to see the Doctor looking down at him, sick of his life.
Stone looked down at himself in panic, finding himself covered by their bedsheets.
“The badniks got me it.” Robotnik said. “Your massive wolf head wasn’t going to move - especially after it climbed on the couch - and the sun was going to rise. I didn’t know how the dimensions would track, so bedsheets.”
“I’m sorry.” He said, voice rough and mouth dry. He rubbed gunk and dust out of his eyes, blinking as he started to lean up again. “I’ll get up and ready.”
“No,” Robotnik grumbled, pushing Stone’s head back into his lap. “If your wolf gets to sleep, we get to sleep.”
Stone lay back down, letting the scratch of fingernails against his scalp lure him back under.
Robotnik’s hands stilled and his head drooped forward as he went too, the dim lights of the Crab.
There was a small click beside them, before it zipped away.