YOUTHOPIA
CH01: Forever Young

Nick goes missing for one day shift, only to show back up as Finnick's 10 year old nephew and claiming the parentage of a Bunnyburrow resident.

I do not own Zootopia.

- O – O – O – O – O -

"Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff! Carrots. Carrots-"
Judy laughed as she pushed the play button for her recorded once again, remembering the expression and gesticulation Nick had done when he had his voice recorded.
"Dumb fox."
Seeing as she got an extra hour for lunch break having completed her morning tasks early, she decided to try and find the partner in thought.
Nick had specifically asked the Chief for a night shift for the day, for a reason she still did not know.

Before going down the first floor, she gave a little smile at the assistant mayor's office where she had first ascertained Nick's aptitude for police officer work.
With the day being less rowdy than usual, she set her eyes on the reception desk where the friendly cheetah was eating another donut.

"Have you guys seen Nick anywhere?" Judy asked Clawhauser, settling herself down on an available chair.
"Judy! Why don't you ask the tiny fox he's always with?"
The bunny's ears perked up. "You mean Finnick? Did you see them?"
"No." The large cheetah chuckled. "It's just an assumption with high likeliness of giving answers."
"Huh..." Judy frowned as she thought about stuff. "I'm going to find Finnick then."
The officer hopped off the reception circle and went for the exit. "Hopps, Chief wants to see you by the next hour!" Clawhauser called.
"Got it!"

Judy realized she had yet to ask Nick for his phone number.
At least, she already saw him actually using one of those gadgets, looking obsessed with taking pictures of his self.
She also never tried asking him for one of his photos, just for entertainment purposes... which he probably would not believe.

Alas, she did not have any open leads for finding either of the foxes.
Even Finnick's van, which was supposed to be conspicuous with all its flashy designs, seemed to be hidden very well from any pair of eyes.
She also had no means of transportation and walking for a long time would just tire her out, possibly with no good results.
It was not as if both foxes could be up to no good, except for the occasional shady business Finnick was still doing; and Nick had actually started serving off a better purpose as a police officer.

"'Ey, Judy!" The rabbit turned to the right of the sidewalk and saw a familiar delivery van stopping by.
"Hey, Gideon!" She glanced at the road for enforcers then spoke in an apologetic tone. "Move a little bit forward. Traffic rules."
"Oke'. I got it. No prob', Jun-jun."
As Judy followed the careful parking of the baker, she shook her head. "Don't call me that!"
"Yer dad calls ya Jude the Dude. Nick got ya Carrots." Gideon laughed in good spirit. "You got them lotsa' nick n' names. While you call me Gid sometimes."
"Nicknames," Judy corrected in a friendly way. "And Jun-jun sounds so childish."

"That 'side, Nick's not with ya?" asked Gideon as he finally got out of the van.
"Yeah. And I have no idea what he could be doing at this time of the day," Judy answered. "What about you? Your business is usually packed and urgent."
"Well, that r'mains true. But I gotta appreciate good comp'ny, eh?" The baker gave her an innocent smile. "How 'bout ya help me buy some supplies then we find Nick together?"
"Oh, you'd do that for me?" Judy said, while checking the time from her phone. "I... we still got around an hour. I hope it wouldn't force too much of a rush here."
"Ah, no worries." Gideon shook his head.
They started walking to a grocery store he gestured to. "Ya cops do yer intense jobs an' all so well. I can un'erstand yer sitch."

Judy soon found their selves on a vegetable corner of the market.
"Why are we here?" She gave a skeptical look at the packed carrots section. "You're not including vegetables in your dough or something now, hmm?"
"Oh, yer 'rents want to try something new for them rabbit fam'lies." He merrily raised a fist, much similar with how her dad would have done so. "Gotta aim fer that divers'fication."
Judy lightened up as she recalled previous stuff. "So that's why they look so excited when they called me last night!"
"Ye', tha's right." Gideon gently touched the fruits in the corner Judy was not intent to get close to. "What d'ya get fer food?"
"Uhhm.. coffee?"

Gideon turned to her with a bothered expression. "Are ya really eating yer fill 'ere, Judy?"
"I'm just not..." the bunny's voice weakened as she glanced at his face turning into genuine worry. She then admitted, "They dooon't really have a fair portion for the smaller preys here. Sometimes I just ask Clawhauser to share whatever he's got."
"'S that so?" The baker paused for a long hum.
Judy's feet thumped nervously as she tried to gauge the situation. "You don't have to fret over it, Gid."

"Oh, is'at..."
"Gid, I don't really want to lie about it." Judy connected her fingers nervously as she spoke more. "Just..."
"Wait a sec, Jud," Gideon asserted. "Jus' look 'head of us. That Finnick, eh?"

His statement proved true as Judy saw the fennec looking ever so grumpy and seemingly murmuring to himself as he browsed through the stalls of various products with his tiny paws.
"Finnick hates any kind of market." Judy frowned. "Or rather, any crowded place. He would never go here willingly."
"'S that so?" Gideon hummed to himself in thought. "Well, 'e def'nitely looks like he wants to buy or get something."
The bunny smiled lightly, comprehending what he meant. "Finnick wouldn't steal from a market. He says it's too risky as a daily job for a con."

"So ya wanna ask him? Or talk to him?" Gideon suggested. "He's prob'ly gotten contact with Nick for this side of the busyness."
"Business." Judy chuckled, while taking out her cellphone for a video clip. "I have a different idea in mind."
"A cop using blackmail material?" The red fox grinned.
"Hey, don't misunderstand my actions. This might be a part of Finnick's life that..."
Her voice faded as she saw the grumpy fox's face momentarily turn to an endearing expression. He looked as if he was calling someone over.
Moments later, a dark gray fox of almost the same height appeared, looking a little displeased.

"Uhh, Judy?" Gideon turned to his friend uncertainly. "Ya seein' what I'm seeing?"
"Sweet cheese!" The rabbit's hold on her phone wavered as she suppressed her bubbling emotions. "Finnick can't have that kind of secret! We..."
Even then, she was very amused and happy. "Wait a minute, that's probably why..."
The baker easily got the hint and grinned. "Nick likely knew at least. I mean, look at that li'l furry."
The tiny companion of the fennec seemed to be scolding the latter, who had reverted back to his usual grumpiness.
"Finnick can't handle kids." Judy laughed quietly.

As they moved around and Gideon got some wrapping materials, Judy made sure they were not going to be spotted any time soon.
The red fox frowned in thought. "I thought ya got less than an hour, Judy."
He was rather tuned out as the officer moved in closer for a better view. "He looks to be a little less than ten years old already," Judy rambled on with cheer. "So that's what Finnick was doing in his free time. His kid probably doesn't even know his job."

Gideon got a carrot pack and offered it to Judy. "Here, have one besides yer coffee."
The bunny looked pleased but gave a sorry smile. "This one's a trick. It only has one small carrot inside." She would definitely not forget her discovery about it, and then subtly got herself a different package. "I'll take this one instead."

"Oh, so 'bout the time..." Gideon hinted, as he saw Judy pocketing her phone.
The rabbit blinked upon grasping the situation. "I nearly forgot! I..."
The red fox chuckled, offering his friend small cash money. "There's not much of a line. Ya can go ahead."
Judy gave one quick look over the two smaller foxes and hopped to the counter. "Thanks, Gideon. I owe you one!"
"Oh, no need!"

While Judy ran for the cashier lane, Gideon grudgingly wished he could have seen her in a meter maid outfit from her early days as a cop.
He looked at the basic supplies he got and grunted as he thought about getting to work as soon as he got back to Bunnyburrow.
However, his attention was caught when he realized that Finnick's vulpine companion had set his eyes on him. Gideon grimaced in thought.
There was no way the child would recognize him. Maybe his delivery van – its design was meant to attract the public eye – but definitely not him.

The younger fox seemed to be glancing at his little paws then back at his eyes every now and then.
While it was not really unsettling, Gideon had his curiosity aroused.
'Maybe I'm the biggest fox he's seen yet,' he thought lightly as he decided it was time for him to go.
But the child had conflicting plans for him as he approached with an unnaturally upbeat demeanor.
Gideon had no idea how to react, and Finnick seemed to be lost somewhere in the growing crowd of animals, so he just waited for the fox.

When they were finally within the short distance of an arm stretch, the dark gray fox looked up at his face then checked his paws again.
Gideon hummed in interest as he noticed that the cub's paws had a few streaks of red hue. He looked around to check if Judy was still in the vicinity, and realized he only had himself to try and catch on with the situation.

"So what's yer problem, eh?" Gideon asked, as the fox did not seem inclined to speak first. "Does Finnick need help with stuff to buy?"
"I don't know any Finnick, but I am with someone close to that name. My uncle's name is Nick!" The fox cub grinned as if very pleased with the coincidence.
The baker frowned. "Isn't Finnick yer dad or something? Ya can't be Nick's cub with that color of fur n' Judy..." His brows contracted as he tried to connect the lines. "Nick can't be an uncle yet."
"My name is Nicholas!" The young cub offered a tiny paw. "I have reason to believe that you're my Dad!"

Gideon dropped his shopping basket in astonishment.
A few pair of eyes glanced over at his location, as he quickly held it up.
"Oh my dough..." The red fox started stuttering as he addressed the cub. "Listen here. Ya can't be... I'm still sing-"
Nicholas proudly raised his left paw to highlight the hidden red color. "We have a similar appearance!"
As more words rolled out of the younger fox's mouth, Gideon realized that the fur throughout his body was not actually of dark gray color.
It was only powdered with a material of that hue. His fur color was in fact red.
But it still did not answer the question why he was being made a father by the cub.

"Uhh... Nich'las, was it?" Gideon said, trying to sound more collected.
He subconsciously thought about how similar the name was with Judy's partner. "I'm not yer Dad or anything. Ya should call Finni... Nick, your uncle and have him settle things."
The young fox immediately became downcast as he heard the statement. "But... Uncle said I would grow up to be a red fox as tall as my Dad! And by stuff he told me, he's supposed to look like you!"
"Hold ye self now." Gideon absent-mindedly rummaged through his shopping basket while humming incomprehensible words. "There must be a mistake..."
Just as the young fox seemed ready to rant, a familiar harsh voice was heard across the area.
"Nicholas! Where'd that runt run off to?!"

Gideon sighed, realizing he had no way to run from the situation.
He called the fennec over, whose irritated expression instantly became horrified as soon as recognition had occurred.
"You! You're that pie guy!" Finnick stated, before scowling at the cub. "Just because you're smaller than me doesn't mean you can hide from me!"
"The name's Gideon," the baker uttered.
"Uncle Nick!" Nicholas happily embraced the fennec with an expectant look. "Did you find any blueberries?"
Finnick rolled his eyes. "You can't eat them while I still haven't paid for them." He held the emphasis as if he was disgusted by the prospect of the word.

Gideon only tried to ascertain the scene passively as he refused the numerous questions rising in his mind. He would rather have the grumpy fox explain it the way he wanted to, as he had not really interacted with him much if not for Judy.
Finnick gave him a sour look. "When the cub's around, my name is Nick. His name is Nicholas. My name is Nick. Don't tell anybody about this and I won't bite your face off!"
The statement was spoken as if out of a memorized monologue that Gideon noticed more of a tired state. "Yer not really his uncle, eh?"

Finnick grunted sullenly as he dropped the blueberry pack he was carrying on Gideon's basket. "I'll pay you later." He glanced at the younger fox, who seemed to have taken his interest on a magazine stand.
"And yes, you got that right."
"So who exactly is he?" Gideon decided to ask the question that had been hanging over the biggest.
"He's that fox I knew since the day he wore that Junior Scout uniform or something all right."
"Junior Ranger Scouts?" Gideon frowned as he tried to remember where he heard it from. "I think Judy told me something 'bout it."
"He's Nick," Finnick summarized, barely holding his irritation. As if already expecting more questions, he quickly added, "Must be another underground science stuff he meddled with for extra pay. Now, he's small again and apparently has no memories past his current age. Whatever hell of a coincidence decided to bring that fox in that state to me."

As much as it sounded very hard to believe, Gideon did not see Finnick to be an outright type of a liar. His rudeness actually made him look more honest.
"So yer stuck with 'im," Gideon said slowly, trying not to sound too probing. "Since when? Judy's kinda worried."
Finnick glared at him upon the mention of the name. "Never tell the bunny cop about Nick's current state!" He spoke distastefully as though it should have been obvious. "The last interaction in his phone was two days ago. Not even a picture of his darn face after that."
"N' ya told 'im his name is Nicholas Wilde?"
"The cub already knows. But I had to make silly jokes for him. So I shortened my name to take his." Finnick grumbled some curse words.
He rolled his eyes again which only made him look more tired. "All this talk is making me weary. Nicholas!"

As the younger fox neared them, the fennec gestured for Gideon to get in a nearby shopping cart lane.
"How does being Nick's dad sound?"

- O – O – O – O – O -

Origin of Idea: A Regular Show episode with lots of turtles and a cult called Youth Topia