prequel to Sometimes, Some Crimes

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Zonic sighed as he made way to the meeting room for a de-briefing before patrol. Apparently, there was also a new officer in the prison system. Flicking through a folder, he sighed at the thought. Hoping the transfer officer would be more serious than the previous recruits.

Upon entering the meeting room, Zonic paused at the lack of officers. The only one inside was sitting or rather leaning forward in the chair he occupied. The usual visor off as a mess of black and red quills went out in every direction as his face rested against the table. Soft puffs of breath left him as he snoozed contently.

Sighing, Zonic frowned at the sight. Wonderful.

Walking over, Zonic pulled out a chair while slamming the folder he had down. A bit surprised that didn't rouse the officer.

A burning look of anger and determination filled his cool features. "Excuse me…," he said, frowning more at the responding snore.

Grumbling, he decided to let the warden handle it when he came in.

"Alright, sit down and quiet down.," Warden Zobotnik walked in with a folder. ZOnic looked expectant at the soon to be lashed officer but was surprised at the casual tone. "Zhadow wake up."

The streaked hedgehog groaned and sat up. His tan lips smacking as he scratched his muzzle lazily. His red streaked, black quills messy, giving a serrated look. Tired but amused rubies met the emeralds with a small smirk. "Hey." He greeted as if he wasn't napping before.

Zonic let a puff of air leave him as he turned towards the warden. "I assume you're wondering why there's only two of you in here.," he warden finally said after a few minutes of quiet.

Zonic looked at him, unaware he gaze was getting pulled back to the other male, who now leaned back into his chair with a relaxed look. "Well...you two are now partners. Zhadow, that is Zonic. Zonic, Zhadow," the warden said with a wave of his hand. "Sorry, what?," Zonic asked," Partners?"

"Well, yes. It's mandatory for an officer to have a partner." the warden said simply, the tone final.

"You two will handle patrol today in Zones E3-O9," he said, setting down a case file," Have fun." The warden made his way out.

Zonic couldn't believe it. Staring at the now once again asleep, hedgehog with a slightly opened mouth. "...You know that's how you swallow bugs, right?," the deep voice seemed to rumble in his chest as a ruby eye appeared. A small smirk on his features.

Zonic sighed, standing and grabbing the file. "We have patrol. I suggest you get up and come along.," he said, ignoring the growing smirk. "Sure thing boss~," the other said, fixing his quills into a more presentable fashion before sliding his helmet on. "Lead the way~"

Grumbling something under his breath, Zonic marched out. Furious that Zobotnik put him with the lazy pushover. That wouldn't stop him from doing his job right though. "Hurry up, we need to get to the hanger and-," he turned and saw no one there. Sighing, he was about to walk back before he felt a chill. "Jeez, for someone who walks so fast, you sure are slow," a voice said ahead of him. Zonic gaped slightly, wondering how he moved ahead so quick. Since using abilities in the prison was forbidden unless it was an emergency.

"It's called stealth," the other said, the smirk still present. There was no malice or danger in his tone, just the same relaxed look he had in the meeting room. Zonic sighed, walking back up with a quick pace.

Once in the hanger, Zonic climbed into the patrol car, frowning as his…"partner" was already in the passenger's side with his eyes closed. "How can you be so relaxed? We're on the job, we NEED to be alert," Zonic said rather irritated, closing the door with a slam. "Trust me honey, you don't want me alert." The dark hedgehog responded, his eyes still closed.

Zonic flushed angrily," Oh? And why not?" "Because then you'll understand why everyone's so afraid of me." he said simply, Zonic at a loss. "What?"

Time seemed to go still for a moment," Yeah...I'm dangerous sweetheart.," the rubies flickered open, an undertone of warning in them. "Haven't you heard the stories about me from my old job?"

Zonic felt uncomfortable, face flushed from the name. "No."

Zhadow chuckled mysteriously, closing his eyes again. "Good. I rather you weren't afraid of me."

"I obviously doubt I would be afraid of you.," Zonic said, starting the car as the air began to lighten. "Don't come crying to anyone when all you see is a monster then." the red streaked hedgehog said, relaxing against the seat.

Zonic paused, glancing at the other. Did he really think that? A small part pitied that. A very small part. "Just….," he sighed, a portal opening to begin the patrol. "Stop that." A snore came in response.

For around the first few hours, Zonic ran the patrol smoothly. The hedgehog he deemed lazy snoozing in the seat next to him. Grumbling, he exited the portal again to take a mandatory break. Zonic pulled out a notepad to scribble down a few notes. Only to have a foreign hand grasp it first and scribble something on it.

Zonic's gaze slowly met the other's. The cheeky rubies seemingly smirking at the angry emeralds. "What?~ I caught a license plate of a person of interest."

"Oh hey! It's lunch time, neat.," the red streaked hedgehog leaned into the car, smirking softly. "We're still working….," Zonic said," We are NOT-," his voice was cut off from a hail of bullets against the side of the car.

He felt a larger body slam him down and cover him. "Go around the side…," he heard his partner say lowly. Nodding, Zonic grasped his stun laser. "Ready…," he breathed, rolling out of the car with his partner. The laser shooting out blasts of electricity.

It was the gang of bandicoots that always seemed out of their grasp. And they were out numbered.

Zonic ducked down, growling softly as he reloaded. Finally noticing his partner was nowhere to be found. "What the-" that's when he heard the screams.

Peaking out from his cover, he saw Zhadow snapping weapons out of broken arms and sweeping legs out from under people. The look his his eyes seemed hard, cold, dangerous.

It shared no resemblance of the relaxed hedgehog from moments before.

Zonic watched in slight awe at the combat, feeling his gut clench at the sight. The other didn't seem to be breaking a sweat as he maneuvered around the panicked men. His hands slamming down hard on neck pressure points to temporarily paralyse.

Finally, his mind clicked back as he provided his partner with cover with renewed ferocity.

Within a few moments, it was all over. The gang scattered on the ground unconscious as the two officers stood in the ruin. "Call for backup, we don't have enough room in our car," Zhadow said, a dangerous glint in his voice as he quietly examined a shoulder wound he didn't realize he had.

Nodding, Zonic called in for a medic and extra cars to transport the criminals.

"That looks really bad," he said, fumbling around inside the car and pulling out a first aid kit. Turning to walk over, he was startled at the relaxed look returning to the once harsh features mere steps away and coming closer. "Meh...could've been worse.," he said nonchalantly. "You're bleeding….badly," Zonic said. "And you got scraped bits. But who's asking?," the dark hedgehog grunted as he sat down on the step of the car.

Zonic rolled his eyes slightly and knelt beside him, fumbling inside the kit for a moment. "...That was really reckless of you though," he said as he pressed a cloth to the wound. Zhadow ignoring the painful touch.

"And?"

"You could've been killed."

"Who'd care?"

Zonic was at a loss. "Excuse me?" "Well...who'd care? I'm just a plaything made by the government that ended up being a part of a canceled project. I was ditched because I was seen as more of an object then a zobian. I'm always treated like I'm not normal despite how often I show that I am." He shrugged," So who would miss me?"

The emeralds bore into him silently.

"...Don't you say that." He said lowly. Zhadow perked his up at that," What? It's valid."

Zonic pressed into the wound slightly," You...are my partner. I care whether you live or not.," he said, frowning at the slowly growing smirk.

"Shut up. I'm not done." He tapped his cheek with his clean hand. "Do not put yourself down like that ever. You just showed me what you're capable of."

"And you're a damn good cop.," he said simply, sighing as back up arrived.

"Now then. We're going to the hospital to get patched up and then we'll fill out our reports."

Zhadow chuckled at the tone of finality.

"You make it sound like you don't like my blood all over you."

"I don't. It's really gross actually."

Zhadow gave a barking laugh, a genuine smile on his features. "You're alright too Officer Zonic," he said, finally using his name.

Zonic felt himself smiling," Thank you, I try."

Zonic frowned at the wound," You sure that doesn't hurt?"

"Never said it didn't, it's really annoying though."

"Alright let's go," Zonic said, helping him stand up and walk to the bus. "Why's a part of your face green? Don't like the sight of blood?"

"Nope. Pretty sure, despite my years of practice, I'm going to vomit."

"Oh that's not good."
"It's really not."