The Monster Inside Me

   See the lightning in your eyes   //   see ‘em ruinnin’ for their lives

AU and headcanon based Sonic the Hedgehog (Lightspeed for distinction sake). Written by Mocha! (Hi, that’s me.)

- Mutuals only. - Low activity! I work in healthcare and it’s super stressful. - Please be patient with me. - I’m almost 30 (yikes) and prefer writing with people closer to my age (21+). - This blog will be subject to dark themes/topics, swearing, angst and NSFW. - I will not write smut on this blog (let’s take it to Discord ya nasties). - All the art, graphics, and (soon to be) icons were made by me. - Please don’t steal my stuff, I worked hard on it. - If you let me talk about my au and headcanons I will bombard you. - If you ship with my character I will drown you in headcanons and art. - You have been warned.

         peace or war?   sun or stars?   flowers or trees?   crescent moon or full moon?   streets or skyscrapers?   rooftops or balconies?   ink or glitter?   life or death?   order or chaos?   candle or bonfire?   ocean or sky?   leather or silk?   sweet or sour?   overstimulation or understimulation?   book or letter?   soft or coarse?   fight or flight?   spoken or written?   silver or gold?   playing cards or tarot cards?   circles or angles?   cramped or vast?   checkers or chess?

So anyway here’s this new OC named Marley the Maine Coon. Or Zarley as she’s named in the no zone. Just a concept drawing. If I like her enough I might commission a proper ref sheet for her.

    {➹} – WHILE HIS SMILE remained where it was, concern had flickered in the accented hero’s eyes, brief but noticeable. The other was out of sorts, and that was worrisome. While it wasn’t all that unusual for someone to have a bad jump when they were hopping through Zones, which Arrow suspected was the problem there, this one seemed worse than most. 

     The fact the other took a moment to realize he was even being spoken to only raised the hero’s concerns that much more.

     “There’s no one else around, is there?” A rhetorical question, a harmless joke, before he made a gesture around them. They were in a grassy field, old weathered ruins poking out from the ground and grass alike around them, and the air smelt of heat of fire. “You’re in Marble Zone, on South Island. Although I don’t know how much that helps, I think you’re a little far from home at this point.”

     Even that was putting it lightly, Arrow knew, but it didn’t take long for his smile to lower a notch, head tilting as he let that concern seep into his voice. “Are you alright…?”

There was so much energy here. Whatever this world was, it wasn’t sitting well with him. It made his head buzz with an uneasy feeling. Maybe he’d just need to get acclimated. Or maybe there was so much energy rejecting his presents that it was trying to force him out of existence. But, ya know, that’s a little morbid to think about, so he won’t.

“I think so.” He shook his head, staring steadily at the other hedgehog. Marble zone sounded familiar to him. He had a place like that back home. But it certainly didn’t feel familiar. 

“South Island, huh.” He looked around. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard of it before.” The look alike was correct. He was just a tad far from his own world, and getting back right now would be a massive pain in the tail. 

So he’d have to suck it up 

But for health care workers, especially those like me that work in nursing homes with a very susceptible population it double sucks. We get tested weekly. You know what it means when we go into lockdown and our risk level reaches red? We have to get tested TWICE weekly.

If I am required to have a stick shoved up my sinus twice weekly you can wear a mask when you go buy your shit at the store.

“Well, I ain’t yer ‘typical person’.” He gestured the words with the infamous ‘air quotes’ fingers, his ears folding beneath his hoodie, lips downturned in irritation. He managed to get a short distance ahead before the azure hedgehog caught up and started walking before him, giving him no choice but to stare at him. A gaze that was quick to morph into a peeved glare, his fangs baring irritably. 

“What? You some kinda royalty? A king? Feh, don’t make me laugh.” The words were sour on his tongue. “Ya act like I’m doin’ this just fer my own benefit. I ain’t a threat ta you, but if you so much as raise a hand against me, I can be. So back the hell off, an’ get outta my way, before I make ya.” His patience was wearing thin. He never had much time to leave these areas, a few hours tops before they could manage to pinpoint his location, but there had been a few rare instances where the feds had managed to get lucky.

“You want an explanation? I’ll give ya the answer. I’m yer omen. Ya hang around me, yer gonna get burned. So fuck off, before somethin’ does happen. So long as yer not trottin’ around me, yer gonna be fuckin’ fine!” He shoved his hands down in his pockets. “Well ain’t we just a match made in heaven, eh? Do yerself a favor, an; hike yer ass outta here.” 

Shoulders hunched and his quills all flared out, his cool façade dropped in the split of a second as he whirled to face the opening ring. His hands were immediately retrieved from his pockets, one holding his own ring. Char frantically fed his own energy into it. There was no where near enough energy to take them far, but it would at least get them out of this general vicinity. A few miles if they were lucky. It was a good a start as any, so, with eyes narrowing in determination, he dashed forward in a blinding flash, tackling the azure hedgehog about the waist after throwing his warp ring. It opened up to a new area in the same zone and the fugitive threw them both through the portal. He landed heavily on his side, and rolled to his back, pistol drawn. The officers were dropping into the area they had just fled and were scrambling to make it to the slowly closing ring Char and the other hedgehog had just leaped through.

Shots were fired, the ex-con’s hues cold and void, the officers recoiling and ducking out of the spray of bullets with screams of rage and a cacophony of orders yelled to one another, all distorted by the reality bending vortex of the ring. And then it zipped closed and the ring floated to the ground. “Get up. Brush yerself off. We leave, now. I don’t think they saw you, but we can’t risk it.” His voice had grown just as chilly as his gaze had been, leaving no room for argument. “Unless ya wanna be cuffed and dragged off, get yer ass up.” Char was up and dusting off the debris, collecting his now depleted warp ring from the ground and tucking it away. 

“You fast? Cause we need ta book it if we have any hopes of throwin’ those guys off.” It would only be a few minutes before they opened a new portal again. And Char knew that not all alternates of the cerulean hero were speedsters. If he had to, he would carry him. He was short, and he didn’t seem too heavy. “We ain’t got time ta bicker. Unless ya wanna be cuffed an’ dragged off. You wanna chat, we can chat somewhere else. But first, we put distance between us, and them.” The pistol was held low at his side, a show that he had no plans to use it…yet. Should his new acquaintance try to apprehend him though, he wouldn’t hesitate to fire. No one would stand between himself and his freedom.

He didn’t even have time to react before he was grabbed and hurled through a ring. Air escaping his lungs with a “hoof” as he landed on the ground, dazed and confused. 

Was that-- G.U.N? No, it couldn’t be. They didn’t have that kind of technology. At least, not that he knew of. Had they learned something new? Doubtful. They may be an advanced military, but they were painfully slow in implementing new tech.

The sudden bang of gunshots sent him reeling, staring between the other Hedgehog and the slowly closing warp ring. It was chilling, far too reminiscent of his younger year. Of course now sound didn’t bother him so much, but it still haunted him. Trouble was always just around the corner.

He sprang to his feet, unsure of what to do. Whoever those guys were, it was clear they were looking for this Hedgehog. Would they continue to look until they found him? Did he really want to put others at risk, or should he just disarm the green bastard and turn him in? His head hurt.

His question was answered at the mention of being arrested. He wasn’t sure who these people were, but he wasn’t about to let himself get taken away by the military again. And if this was the same military he was assuming it could be did he really want to let this guy go through the same thing he went through? No, he couldn’t. Weather he liked it or not he’d have to trust him. And he very much didn’t like it.

And there it was. That heroic mentality that pissed Char off so much. ‘I must save all and protect this place from some perceived threat’, yet hadn’t even taken a moment to think that the fugitives words had been for not only his own benefit, but the blue hedgehog’s as well. The ex-con rolled his eyes and scoffed, brushing by the other with ease, considering he hadn’t moved to block him. “Do what ya want. I don’t have time fer yer pussyfootin’ bullshit. Just don’t stay here.” He needed to move, put distance between himself and the area he had warped to. A few miles would be a good start. A few continents would be preferable, but he wasn’t going anywhere near the ocean to cross it. 

“I ain’t implyin’, Blue. Bad things will happen if ya hang around me. So bugger off.” Nope, he wasn’t happy at all that he was being followed. He should have figured though. He wasn’t exactly dressed as someone that exuded good vibes. A dark hoodie with the hood pulled over his ears, a face full of metal, spiked bracelets, fingerless gloves, all dark apparel? More often than not he was shot a wary glance, but never outright followed because of the aura he gave off. 

Had he been in better form, he could have easily taken the hedgehog that so boastfully claimed that he could ‘send him back’ where he’d come from. Good luck though. What Char lacked in strength right now, he could easily make up for in cunning and street smarts. He was no hero, he fought dirty and would use the means necessary to protect himself if needed. “I don’t owe ya an explanation. You do this ta everyone that pays a visit here? Usually you’d ask a guy out fer drinks first~. Or dinner~. Someone needs ta teach ya the proper etiquette of ‘wine an’ dine’, Blue boy.” A flirtatious wink was flashed to the other hedgehog, and a charming grin. Was he deflecting? Hell yes. His flirtations were used for more than to land him bed partners. More often than not, it was used as a defensive mechanism, much like right now. Trip up the opponent. Shock them into silence, and move on.

If he were lucky, he could manage to gross the other out and he’d get frustrated and leave. While he wouldn’t mind rising to the challenge of a potential fight, right now, he didn’t have the stamina to keep up. The last thing he needed was to be worn down, and have those Zonies show up. 

Teeth clenched, he was moments from going off when--.

Wha he-- Wh-- Was this guy seriously flirting with him? What the fuck?

“First of all, people don’t typically come here. And those that do don’t stay long.” He shook off his brief moment of fluster, going right back into prickly hedgehog mode. “It isn’t exactly safe here to begin with. Especially not for chumps who think they can run in and invite whatever bad omen their bringin’ with ‘em.”

He ran in front of the hedgehog, walking backwards as he talked.

“Second, you damn well do owe me an explanation. This is MY world your walking into. If you’re bringing trouble with you I expect to know about it so I can keep MY home safe.” He pointed a finger right at the other hedgehog’s nose. 

“Finally, I don’t do dinner dates. I like hiking better.”

The hoodie clad emerald male was panting when he dropped from the warp ring and landed on his feet, catching the device as it fell with practiced, and routine ease. A sign he had done this all too many times before. He had been so focused and dead set on his task that he nearly plowed into the other man, Char jerking back and quills bristling out, much like the blue hedgehogs own. 

Had he been attacked, it wouldn’t have been pretty. Ears perked beneath the hood at his counterparts words, but he still remained tense and rigid. There was no time for prattle, not if those following him caught onto where he had brought himself. 

“No, I’m not. An’ you didn’t see me.” Words spoken lowly, an edge of gravel and warning to his voice. Not that he would follow through with the violence. While his words were harsh and could be taken as threat, this man, whoever he was, was an innocent. No, the words were meant to protect, should those pesky Zonies appear. Protect himself, and this stranger. Clearly this was some alternate of Sonic, right? Though he didn’t seem to recognize Char, and that was good, lest a fight break out. Some alternates of the blue hero tended to attack first and ask later. 

The fugitive sidestepped the other male and made to move passed him. “You’d best move along too, Blue. If ya remain here, trouble will find ya.”

His upper lip twitched. ‘An’ you didn’t see me.’ Oh now he was just begging for Light to intervene. Some dude just randomly shows up in his zone, looking shady as hell, implies he forget their meeting, and talks about trouble?

Was this guy trying to piss him off?

“So, you mean to tell me you came here, looking suspicious, acting suspicious, implying bad things might happen. And you expect me t’ just let you roam my home continent free?” He folded his arms, following beside his dimensional visitor. He wasn’t going to block the hedgehog. If the guy wanted to run he wouldn’t get too far. Light could catch him. At least, so he believed.

If he had any less control he would have punched him by now. Maybe knocked his lights out if he was lucky. But then he’d get scolded by the resistance for using unnecessary force and--he wasn’t ready to deal with that today.

50% evil maybe go outside for a little. sniff a flower.