It was saturday afternoon. While the streets of Zootopia were full of animals enjoying the last hours of sunlight, as the sun went down to sleep and the moon came out to play, inside a little rundown apartment laid seated two mammals on a dilapidated couch, surely a hand-me-down from several generations of previous tenants. Their limbs entwined in a loving embrace.
This mammals, a rabbit and a fox, being proud members of the prestigious precinct one of the Zootopian Police Force, courageous animals ready to put their lives on the line to save the innocent from the wretched claws of evil, daring adventurers of the unknown, were watching a movie.
Said movie been picked simply because one of them, neither really remember who, had asked to see it along with a very extensive list of reasons for their wish to see the movie.
"You know, I always found silly when they make yellow lemonade on cartoons", she said, for the rabbit was a female, being reminded of the fact by the scene in the movie.
"What do you mean?" Asked the male fox.
"You know what I mean. When they make lemonade and it turns out yellow." She explained, " My mom used to make me some when I asked her to, when I was older and my younger siblings started asking for it, she finally told me that she used food coloring to make it."
"Coloring?" Wondered the fox "Carrots, do me a favor. Make me a glass of lemonade." Told the fox.
"Why do you..." the doe started, being quickly interrupted by the tod with a confident "Trust me."
A little saddened for the loss of contact, both rabbit and fox stood up from the couch, it trying to drag them both back down with its broken springs, and went to the kitchen, the movie being forgotten for the moment. While the fox waited by the counter for his companion, the rabbit went to the fridge and took a pitcher of cold water and a lemon, afterwards she proceeded to the rack of drying utensils and removed a knife from the pile, lastly she dragged the little stool laying at her side under the little cupboard to her left, just a tinsy bit out of her reach otherwise, to take a clean glass from it.
The fox had joked about her binking at seeing him the first time he caught her jumping to reach it.
Once the necessary ingredients and utensils were laid in front of them, the bunny took the pitcher of water and filled the glass to its middle point, she then proceeded to cut the lemon in half and squeezed its lemony essence inside the glass, it mingling with the water poured beforehand to create a milky white substance.
"There you go" she said while handling the glass to the fox, "just add the sugar you'd like and it's done."
"Oh." exclaimed the fox "So you only know how to make dummy lemonade." finished while smiling.
"What? What do you mean dummy lemonade?" asked the very confused rabbit.
"It's not yellow lemonade." and before the rabbit could object the fox continued "Let me show you how to make a mean yellow lemonade."
Leaving a very confused doe, the fox went to grab another lemon and glass pair and brought them to the counter.
"Here, the secret is not cutting the lemon" explained the fox while he poured another half-full glass of water, he then took the lemon with both hands and squeezed it into the glass, repeating the process his companion did moments prior but his turning a strong yellow color.
"Wha…?" was the only thing the poor bunny could mutter, How did he do it? She asked herself Have I been lied to my whole life? How can I trust anything anymore?
The fox left the glass on the counter and turned to the bunny "See," he stated proudly "yellow lemonade. Finn and I used to sell it, once we made a batch so mean he got a black eye from it. Don't ask though, I'm still trying to figure that one myself" he finished with a smirk.
The baffled bunny could only ask a single word question "How?"
"Well," he started "everyone know that the real flavor of the lemon it's in its peel, so you squeeze it without cutting it to extract all of it and along comes the color. Mind the eyes though." he explained while pointing to a white dried lemon.
"Wow" was all she could say, so many years thinking it didn't exist. Mom lied to me, she didn't teach me the real recipe, she thought as she reached for the glass while ignoring the fox's warning.
Just as the yellow lemonade touched her lapine tongue she sputtered the content that managed to enter her mouth into the tiled floor of the kitchen. "Sweet cheese and crackers! What is this monstrosity!?" asked the bunny indignantly as the fox rolled around the floor in laughter.
"It's called a hustle, Sweetheart" was the only only thing the fox said to her.
"How long were you waiting to make this joke?" asked the bunny.
"Years, Fluff. Sorry to break your dreams of yellow lemonade." said the fox to the crestfallen bunny. "Come on Carrots, you can't…" the fox was interrupted by a sob "Are you crying?" he asked, very angry with himself for making her cry while reaching for her "I'm sorry. Please don't cry Ju…" Once again interrupted, but this time by the lips of the bunny making contact with his own.
The bunny separated from him and muttered sweetly "How did it go? It's called a hustle, Sweetheart"
"Sly bunny" cried the fox while picking her up.
"Dumb fox" cried the bunny while giggling.
Fox with bunny in tow, headed for the bedroom.
Movie laid forgotten in the darkness of the room.
Well, there you have it. 30% wanna-be romance, 30% wanna-be comedy and 50% wanna-be original.
FLSQ (Fun Little Side Quest): The title has a little easter egg of sorts, more like a pun really. Can you spot it? (Hint, My first language is spanish, "Interesting little piece of trivia" - Nobody ever)
On a serious note, all comment and criticism are appreciated, as long it not petty insult or meaningless gibberish.
So this marks the start of this one-shot compilation. I hope you cry, laugh, hate, love and generally have a good time reading it.