Omnivorous Shipping

--

Stone hummed to himself as his fingers worked through the fine cloth Robotnik had given him. The needle in his hand was larger than one he would use back home, but the metal was smooth and cool as he stabbed it through.

He hadn't expected Robotnik to create so many tools and items for them. How he had been able to was beyond Stone's comprehension, but he was far from complaining.

Not only had Robotnik given him sewing needles, a knife, and cooking tools, but he had even created a few toys for Sage.

At the moment, she was crawling after a red ball. The artificial sun Robotnik had placed in their cage warmed the grass, tickling her knees as she babbled. Stone smiled as he watched her.

His smile widened as he felt a zephyr blew across his skin.

They had been in the cage for two weeks now, and every morning, they were greeted with a new surprise.

One morning, Stone had nearly fainted when he saw the waterfall sitting in the opposite corner of the cage. It crashed down into another pool, which then connected in a small stream towards their other water source.

Another morning, they had been welcomed by a different glass box sitting off to one side. Inside was a few roaches, happily eating away as they awaited their fate as Stone and Sage's dinner. Robotnik would fill the little pen occasionally. Once Sage was old enough, he would let the insects roam so she could practice her hunting.

That morning, Stone's wings had fluttered in excitement when he felt a breeze. Since Robotnik wasn't in the lab, Stone had investigated and found a few fans strategically placed on one side of the enclosure to simulate wind.

Slowly, Stone's smile diminished.

All these surprises were well and good, but it did nothing to distract from the fact that he and Sage were trapped.

Of course they had nowhere else to go. No kingdom around them would take a traitor and one of the Forbidden Forest. However, that didn't mean Stone appreciated being locked up.

"Baba!"

Chuckling, Stone placed the dress he was making to the side as he opened his arms wide.

"C'mere, Habibti," he grinned broadly. Sage had learned her first word, even going as far as to scream it to the ceiling in excitement. Stone couldn't believe how happy she was.

She was quick as she abandoned her ball to crawl towards him. Her wings flapped, trying to unfold themselves properly. While Stone didn't know much about her species, if she was anything like him, then she would want to fly before she even learned how to walk.

He'd have to keep her grounded like the elders in his neighborhood had done.

"Baba!" Sage squealed as she crashed into his chest, her arms trying to strangle him. Leaning down, he nuzzled his nose into her hair, smelling lavender.

Another gift Robotnik had given them was an assortment of flowers. Now Sage was back sleeping in a bed of rose petals and Stone was able to make familiar dyes. He had been ecstatic to learn that there were so many different flowers in the world. Robotnik gleefully found a new flower every other day, waiting to see Stone's reaction.

That thought had Stone's face heating up.

Flowers, gifts, sharing meals.

Exactly how one would court another in the Flowering Kingdom.

As much as Stone would love to think he was being courted, he was a realist. There was no way Robotnik knew about courting in Stone's culture.

Robotnik was simply being nice. Nothing else.

"Baba!" Sage whined, pulling at his shirt.

"Hmm?" Stone brushed back her hair and chuckled at her pout. "Do you want to fly?"

She let out a string of babbling and giggles as he scooped her up and spread his own wings.

After Robotnik had treated his wing, it had only taken a few days for Stone's wing to heal. While he was missing a chunk of his wing, it only impaired his flying slightly. After some practice, he was mostly back to normal.

"Hold on," Stone positioned Sage more securely in his arms as his wings flapped. She giggled like crazy as they began to ascend.

For every fairy, flying was second nature. It was freedom. It was part of their very souls.

After the first time Stone had flown successfully, there was nobody who could keep him on the ground for long.

Not until Sage had come into his life. The time he had spent taking care of her had been the longest his feet had stayed on the ground for so long. As well as he waited for his wing to heal.

Once Sage was old enough, he didn't doubt he'd be chasing after her in the air.

He took them up slowly, cirling around the large tank. The breeze from the fans was heavenly on his wings as he pushed against the weak airstream.

Sage's eyes were large as she took everything in. Her pale cheeks were flushed as she smiled, her sharp teeth on full display.

Speeding up only a small fraction, Stone continued to circle the area. Hopefully he could show Sage the outside world. Let her really feel the wind on her wings.

His ears perked when he heard a creak. Quickly, he adjusted their course and headed towards the noise.

--

Robotnik yawned before taking a long sip of the sludge he called coffee. He really needed to buy or create a better coffee machine.

Opening the door to the lab, he found his gaze immediately captured by the bright tank sitting at the back of the room. A smile tugged at his lips as his feet automatically took him towards where Stone and Sage resided.

He had been working day and night to improve their tank.

So far, he was satisfied with the waterfall and fans, but he wanted to find a better solution for the roaches. Perhaps he could add a junction to the tank so the insects could breed and save him from ordering so many.

On top of that, he needed to create a remote for Stone. At the moment the little creature was forced to ask Robotnik to adjust the lights. And now with the fans, things would be easier if Stone could manipulate those things himself.

Placing his mug down, Robotnik grabbed his stool and plopped down. He didn't have to wait long for Stone to fly up to the glass, Sage in his arms.

Her ruby eyes stared up at him in fascination before she shyly shoved her face in Stone's chest.

"Good morning, Robotnik," Stone smiled at him brightly. "Thank you for the fans. It's nice to feel a breeze on my wings again."

"Are they too strong or weak?" Robotnik asked, mind already working on ways to improve his latest invention.

"It's perfect," Stone shook his head. "Although..."

Robotnik frowned at Stone's hesitancy. After the two weeks the two had lived there, Stone had become accustomed to asking Robotnik for things.

"What?"

"Would you ever consider letting us out?"

"What do you mean?" Robotnik's eyebrows furrowed. "You want to leave? I thought you said you were being hunted down by your own species."

"I don't want us to leave," Stone shook his head. He gently set them down on the ground as Sage began pulling at his shirt to be let down. Doing so, they both watched as she crawled towards one of the other toys scattered around the tank. "But I feel like a prisoner."

"A prisoner?" Robotnik blinked. "Why?"

"Well," Stone sighed. "We can't leave without you opening the door."

Robotnik flushed. He wasn't used to having things spelled out for him.

In all the ways he had planned on enhancing the tank, he had never once thought Stone would want to leave it.

"Where would you want to go?"

Stone shrugged.

"Outside sometimes. Real sunlight is necessary for my and Sage's species."

"Of course," Robotnik purposely didn't mention that humans needed sunlight just as much.

"And..." Stone glanced away and bit his lip. "I wouldn't mind flying around your lab."

Robotnik's eyes widened.

Stone wanted to fly around here? Near Robotnik himself?

"I, well," Robotnik cleared his throat. "Let me baby proof the lab, then I'll let you know when it's safe to come out."

"Will you give me a key to the tank's door?"

"I can make you something." It felt odd accommodating another being, but as he took in Stone's pleased face, Robotnik felt himself wanting to give the tiny creature the entire world on a platter.

"Thank you."