Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was supposed to be a simple research mission is all. All Robotnik wanted to do was to go to the Back-alley market, get a sample of carnivore blood and then leave forever. But he was so wrong.

It was around late evening when he entered there with his hood pulled down over his face, attracted by pure fascination of the inner workings of carnivore’s mind when eating meat and the need to add more to his research. He was, after all, a university chemist and biologist. He needed to do what has to be done if his carnivore colleagues weren’t going to do it.

The glowing red lights were taunting in the most beautiful way, with the wind knocking the lanterns back and forth. Outside the walls of the market, it didn’t sound like there were any chattering to begin with, but Robotnik had no idea how loud carnivores were when they’re enjoying the meat of innocent herbivores.

He was worried that they might sniff him out but, lucky for him, there were just so much meat around that everyone ignored him. The sights of all those dead herbivores being sold sent way too many shots of adrenaline through his body that he felt like his heart might explode if he didn’t stop looking at those butcher countertops.

“I’ll make a good deal for you, sir!” A panther shouted towards his direction, to which Robotnik declined with a clipped tone and ventured further.

“We’re doing a big sale today! Buy two get one!” That was a ridiculous pitch but Robotnik didn’t dwell too much on it as the stand was selling sheep meat. He didn’t want to look at the countertop any longer than he was supposed to.

He pushed past the animals as he tried his best to secretly plunge a needle into the more oblivious ones at the most crowded areas. He had to stand behind carnivores that greedily chewed on the flesh of his kind, cracked bones that could be his if he wasn’t careful and sucked out the insides. Robotnik was beyond horrified, but for the sake of research, he continued forward. His mind told him no, his fingers twitched ever so often as a result from his instincts, but even if his heart threatened to fall out his chest, he continued.

This was only supposed to be a 30 minutes’ research session, mind you, with him gathering enough sample and watching how the carnivores go about their nights here. So, question is, how the fuck did he ended up in one of the many alleyways of the Back-alley market, effectively being pinned to the wall by a huge carnivore? He wouldn’t know, but he knew he was in danger.

The carnivore’s breath was hot on his face, his grip was tight and his entire body towered over his small sheep form. In a better world, Robotnik would’ve been born a carnivore and be free of most responsibilities. He wouldn’t need to trim his fur off every two months or completely shear them off twice a year. He wouldn’t be looked down upon for being a weak herbivore with his ‘cute’ appearance and ‘friendly’ personality which were all stereotypes. He would’ve been feared, been stronger and have sufficient strength to defend himself. He didn’t care if he was discriminated against because that just what came with being a carnivore.

“Are you done with your inner monologue?” the carnivore above him asked, his shadowed face tilting to one side.

“How about you just do what you have to before I continue?” Robotnik bit back, turning his face away and screwing his eyes shut. He couldn’t remember why the carnivore was pining him to the wall.

He didn’t notice before, but it was a canine pinning him to the wall. It became evident when the foggy haze of the inevitability of death started to dissipate and the scent of a canine hit him. When Robotnik turned his head to look at the carnivore again, he saw that the lights were lit brighter now and he could make out what his attacker looked like. Dark and rather soft-looking fur came into view, with his big brown eyes staring down at him. When he glanced up at his ears, one of them flicked, as if confused or nervous.

“You’re not going to devour me alive, are you?” Robotnik tilted his head in same and squinted at the wolf.

“No, why would I?” He answered, quickly retreating and letting go of Robotnik wrists. The sheep sighed and rubbed at them before giving a more clinical gaze to the wolf.

Dressed from top to bottom in nicely ironed clothes, dress shoes and a purple tie that stood out from his whole setup. He looked strangely professional, but Robotnik doubted that any carnivores that go to the Back-alley market would be professional at all in terms of instincts, cravings and personality. Crossing his arms and peeking out towards the market again, he could see a clearing where the carnivores had made way for someone to go through. Once again, the wolf closed in on him, nearly blocking his view.

“Hey, what’s your name and what the fuck are you doing?” Robotnik spat out the questions like it was a rotten vegetable on his tongue, pushing back against the wolf in order to be able to see better.

The wolf clicked his tongue and adjusted his position so Robotnik could stop pushing against him. “Stone, and one of the many gangs that runs the market is coming by. I’m just trying to hide you.”

“So you don’t want to eat me?” Robotnik asked again for confirmation.

“Yes.” Stone replied with a sigh.

As they both stood there together, his mind started to spiral in on itself again like it always does. So a carnivore, in the market, looking at herbivore meat and yet doesn’t want to eat a live herbivore. He might be a good sample but then there might not be anything for him to actually research about. How would a carnivore like him go about his life knowing that he had weapons on him at all times to tear apart flesh? How does he feel when he sees an herbivore anyhow? Does he view them as weak, pathetic, cute or delicious? If he had a partner, would he take her here as well regardless if she was a carnivore or an herbivore?

His thoughts had gotten so out of line that he completely blanked out when the group of lions passed by with a pair of antlers in the middle of all of them. An herbivore, walking among carnivores without getting killed. Fascinating.

The pack passed by with minor chattering from a lion with a big scar down one of his eyes and not a glance towards the alleyway that Robotnik and Stone were in, which was a good thing if he was being honest. Sighing and slumping back against the wall, Robotnik could feel his heartbeat calming down as his instincts quieted down within him. Stone bended over to look at him in the eyes, one ear flicking out of curiosity, hands branched on his knees for stability.

“Would you like me to lead you back out?” Stone asked politely, making sure to maintain eye contact with the sheep.

Robotnik only hummed in response, pulling the hood of his jacket back over his head and holding Stone’s hand rather tightly. Canine fur was kind of dense and not at all soft as they looked, but Robotnik found comfort in that as he was led back through the display of herbivore meat and the stench of blood. Stone kept his head high the whole walk, denying any passing salesmen who offered him meat and shouts and yells of sale-offs. Robotnik wondered quietly how that deer could handle all of this.

During the walk out of the market, Stone told Robotnik of the inner workings of the market. Who ran it, who managed it and who kept the more problematic things under control. Apparently, there wasn’t a specific animal running it, but there were four major gangs that had taken up that position. The one that had the most influence over the market as of current was the Shishigumi, a lion gang consisting of 35 lions and a single herbivore as their boss. The sight of an herbivore here had caused a minor outrage before, but now everyone was more than welcome to comply to his every need. Next was the psychotherapist, a panda who used to be a regular doctor before coming here out of sheer concern for the market. Robotnik refused to hear more about him.

The fresh air outside hit him like several pillows to the face, and he could not have been happier. Inside the market was heated, out here was cool and calm. Robotnik groaned loudly and slapped himself twice to regain some form of professionalism while Stone stood behind him. Robotnik could hear something swishing in the air, and he could only assume that it was the damn canine’s tail.

“Hopefully we don’t run into each other again.” Robotnik said, turning around to face the canine with a serious expression on his face. “And I hope you don’t fantasize about eating me.”

“I’ll never.” Stone responded with a smile, the type that showed off most of his fangs but in a politer way.

With that, Robotnik departed and never looked back. The only time he did was when he thought he heard footsteps behind him, but it turned out to be an office worker returning from overtime.

****

“Oh man, we missed you!”

“How was your vacation? Heard you went to a beach or something.”

Someone laughed.

“I did. I’ll show you some photos later if you’d like.” He was sure whoever said that winked half-heartedly.

The female carnivores within roared into whines and accusations of him teasing them, which Robotnik could care less about. The male carnivores only brushed it off and made fun of whoever it was for showing off so much when the practically had the same physique.

Robotnik looked up from the stack of papers he was grading to the sight of his other colleagues surrounding some mysterious nobody, even if he could see their ear tips by a little. He watched for a moment and then scoffed, returning his gaze to his papers until the chattering died down and the screeching sounds of chairs being pulled was heard. While they had all the times to slack off, he had to do the most exhausting tasks because they just thought he had that much free time to spare.

When the lunch bell rang, Robotnik groaned loudly and bended over to grab his lunchbox from his bag only to be met with some carnivore’s hand giving him a half of their burrito. Robontik took a deep breath and let it out quietly. No worries, he could just deny, no need to get defense because they were pitying you for being a weak herbivore. These carnivores never learn at all.

“No thank you, I have my own.” Robotnik replied quickly and pushed that hand away from his face and grabbed his box. Good grief, these carnivores were stupid.

“I just want to apologize for last week, is all.” A chuckle left the carnivore’s throat as he spoke. Deep, smooth, polite and very familiar.

Looking up and finally bothering to take in the features of this carnivore, Robotnik was shocked. Well, maybe not shocked, maybe a bit livid at the sight of him as well. Dark, pitch black fur, bright brown eyes, perfectly ironed suit and that damn smile.

“Oh great, I didn’t know you work here.” Robotnik responded sarcastically before snatching the burrito from his claws. Stone pulled his chair over and sat down next to him.

“Did you made it home fine yesterday?” The canine asked as he chomped away at his burrito, humming in surprised when he found out that there were sliced eggs inside.

“I’m not on a butcher's table right now, aren’t I?” Robotnik replied with his own question, watching the change on Stone’s face

From mild surprise and shock to amusement, something similar to curiosity as well as infatuation sparkled in those deep brown eyes of his. Stone chuckled again, more light hearted this time as he finished up his own lunch before returning to his own desk that was the deserted one right across from Robotnik.

This was going to be an interesting school year for Robotnik, for sure.