I've had this idea circling in my head for this theme, but could never piece it together quite right. Finally, after a few tries, I think I got it as good as I can get it for now. Until more inspiration hits at least, I can always come back and fix things later.

I don't own anything.

P.s: Thanks for all those supporting me!

Monsters

She heard the whispered words of those she passed, her ears twisting upon her head was the only sign of acknowledgment she made. Too calloused was her interior to be affected by such stings, they now served as a mere annoyance in her path.

Blaze tugged her black scarf around her tighter, shoving her gloved hands into the pockets of her jacket as she made her way down the sidewalk with small imprint on the thin layer of snow. She didn't even need such outer wear to keep the cold at bay, she merely wore them to prevent even more attention from being drawn her way.

Mutant.

Still, their gazes and critics remained. Judgments were cast upon her from people she had never even seen, all convinced of her identity from the rumors that flitted from mouth to ear.

Reaching her destination, Blaze turned her head to give a blank stare to the giggling girls behind her, knowing without witness they had made some childish remark of her that they found humorous and uplifting to their insecure egos. Upon seeing the heated golden gaze, the mongoose and squirrel squealed and hurried passed.

Blaze shook her head, pushing the door open with a ding.

The aroma of coffee bean immediately pleasured her senses, small chatter and a quiet Christmas tune flooding the air in a peaceful atmosphere, yet as she ordered a hot mocha and took a small booth in waiting for her drink, she could still see the scornful looks, the sudden conversations that sunk into whispers as friends and families glanced in her direction with marvel and caution.

Like she were some caged thing in a zoo.

She scoffed, pulling off her mittens and jerked them into her pockets as she heard her order called and gently collected her drink, handing the amount of money due. The waitress hesitated to take from her palm, in which the feline simply scoffed and pushed the money across the counter.

Taking her place back at her booth, she sipped the scalding hot liquid and felt it nearly scorch her throat, relishing in the pit of heat that sank to her core.

She-demon.

The words reached her ears and swam in her head. While after many years of being protruded to such behavior, she no longer felt the bite of their sentiments, yet they did frustrate her so. Who were they to slay her with words, to look down upon her for a difference?

Fire was to be feared, she remembered mobs shouting as they cornered her in streets. Fire destroyed, never created. How many nights did she wish to cry, to beg them for acceptance? Her naïve mind screamed for consolation, for understanding, but no one would comply to these needs. Instead, she received only scrutiny.

At this point in her life, she could only shrug. This was not even her dimension, she did not care for their thoughts, nor did she crave their comforts. Deem her with all the malicious titles of the world, and it would do no more than leave their sharp tongues and bounce from her purple fur.

A sudden ring of the coffee shop door sprang Blaze from her deep thoughts. Feeling a need to be aware of her surroundings, she looked up to a hedgehog that had entered the small cafe, with ruby eyes, scarlet streaks to match, and black fur. Like her, he seemed he would fit in with every other Mobian, yet his air was guarded, and it came to her attention that half of the eyes that were fixated on her, now turned to this new figure.

Monster.

This time, surprise did course through her as she heard this word spat towards the ebony hedgehog. He made no sign that he heard the insult, only placed his order and turned to look for a place to sit.

Blaze felt a wave of irritation in noticing that the seat parallel to her was the only spot unoccupied.

Without words spoken, the hedgehog took his place in the empty spot, a permanent scowl marring his features as he met her stare coldly.

Ruby eyes narrowed at her. "Am I bothering you?"

The imperial feline arched a brow in response. She noted that there was no sincerity in his voice, more so a state of mockery or silent threat that underlay in his question.

Taking a swift sip of her beverage, she kept her eyes locked on his, refusing to back down. "No. Not yet anyway," she quipped humorlessly.

The hedgehog deepened his frown, appearing as though he was about to say something when he was interrupted with the call of his order. Sending Blaze a sideways glance, he stood and walked toward the counter.

Despite her slight agitation toward the pompous rodent, she watched as he payed for his drink and nabbed the warm cup from the counter. Stretching her senses, she listened curiously as he began his way back, and once again as words floated by that caught her attention, as the waitress sent him a look and cursed silently under her breath.

He shouldn't be here...

Blaze watched curiously as the whispers around them continued, before turning to face the hedgehog that had perched himself across the booth, his stare piercing her sharply.

His glare didn't waver as he took a sip of his drink, only for a scowl to form once again as he made a grunt of anger and pushed it away from him in disgust.

Speaking before contemplation, Blaze observed this reaction with a tilt f her head. "Does it not suit your exquisite taste?"

The hedgehog faced her, scowling in her direction at her tease. "Shut it, cat. You don't know anything. The drink is practically cold, it's disgusting."

The Princess hummed. "Ah. I see." Resting her head on the heel of her hand, she quirked her lips into a smirk. "What if I said I could warm it up for you...what's your name?"

"Shadow." He grumbled, watching her with a glint of annoyance in his eyes as he grunted. "And I would say you should use a better pick up line."

Blaze scoffed and rolled her ocher eyes. "Of course you took it that way," she muttered, before deciding she was sick of banter and would act instead. If it scared him off, good. Then she could return to her preferred solitude.

Reaching forward, she gripped his cast aside cup and held tightly, igniting the heat of her palm as she injected her warmth into the liquid.

Shadow watched with showing of interest, eyes widening just the slightest when she pulled away, leaving the beverage steaming.

Suspiciously, he grabbed his cup and pulled it to his muzzle, giving a small sniff before deciding to trust the feline and swallow a small bit.

Blaze watched as his lips twitched upwards once he found it to his satisfaction, and was now searching her with curious eyes.

"That's a handy trick. How does that work?"

The she-cat shrugged as she leaned back in her booth. "If I showed you now, I'm afraid I would be pushed back to the streets." Blaze let a smile grace her lips with good nature. "And I believe being seen with me won't help you any either."

Shadow gave a glance to some passerby's whispering and pointing toward them before letting out a huff. "Nothing uncommon for either of us, it seems," he noted, noticing the apprehensive stares from the majority of the cafe.

Blaze nodded in agreement, her eyes studying him. "Seems so. What is it they have against you?"

"Everything it seems. I'm a little bit up in the air as for the government around here. I almost destroyed the world, then I saved it. Word travels, and now I'm feared." He watched her expression carefully, searching for any sign of surprise or fear that may appear on the feline's face, yet none was found except for the slight jolt she made upon the news.

"Hm, that is interesting." The Princess pondered his story in silence as she glanced to the window where cotton looking flakes fell from the sky, covering the roads in sludge and the roof tops in blankets of white.

Shadow eyed her intensely. "What about you?" He had no doubt that whatever it was she was able to use to warm his drink, had something to do with her own dilemma.

Blaze turned back to the conversation, debating how much to tell him. Details of her home lands in the other dimension were not needed for a stranger, though she began to find she rather...didn't mind, his company.

She swirled a finger across the sudsy top of her hot drink. "Yes, I have certain...abilities, that people are more often afraid of then not. They prefer to keep fire as a foe, rather than accept as a friend."

Her words were subtle, but Shadow was able to pin point exactly what she meant and deduct what it was her abilities were. Nodding curtly, he opened his mouth to respond when he heard a rather loud conversation from a pair of Mobians nearby.

"Is that the fire-freak?"

"Yea, that witch doesn't belong here. I was hoping she was gone for good."

"And what about that other guy...isn't that?"

"Uh-huh. No doubt they're pairing up together to do something with their...unnatural powers. What a bunch of monsters."

A frown formed on his face. He didn't care what they thought of him. At all. In fact, he couldn't care less. But he found himself suddenly angered at the terms they used to describe his...acquaintance. He knew what it was like to be the center of bombardment of harsh words, yet he didn't wish it upon someone like her.

Though he would never admit this aloud, nor to himself.

Standing, her faced the feline who seemed to have jolted from her reverie and was now looking up at him curiously.

"Let's take this somewhere else." He made a small gesture toward the door and a glance toward where the brutal talk was still being held.

Blaze caught on to his reaction and shrugged an agreement. She stood, situating her jacket in place before once again glancing to the pair of gossip queens.

For a moment, they stood; before both sharing a look in which a mischievous glint was cast upon their eyes.

With a smirk, Blaze sauntered towards the table and stopped just before the brown rabbit and blue fox with her arms crossed. The two girls stiffened as their mouths snapped shut upon seeing the lilac feline so close to them.

"Hey girls," The violet Princess batted her lashes with a plastic smile. "Let me heat that up for you."

Without consent, Blaze snatched their drinks and heated her hands with flames. The hare and vixen jolted backwards, each with a squeal of fright before their beverages, cups and all, pooled in a melted puddle on the table top.

Shaking her hands out, she gave a mock wink to the two. Just as the girls began to yell for security and scream in spoiled anger, a flash of green overwhelmed their eyes, and when the light finally dimmed, neither the hedgehog nor cat was in sight.

Shakily, the girls sat, each grumbling and cursing silently as the words filled the cafe.

Monsters.

Freaks.

What no one knew, was two blocks away from the coffee shop, the two 'monsters' were chuckling amusingly as they walked alongside each other down the sidewalk.

Shadow couldn't withhold the tug of his lips as he kept in step with the feline. Raising a brow as their chortles died down, he looked at her and began small conversation. "Now, where are you from?

Blaze smiled back, puffy tail swinging behind her as she looked forward. "I'm really not from around here...you see, I'm from a parallel dimension..."

For once, both felt oblivious to the slandering judgments around them, and instead, indulged themselves in each others words.