A note to the ones who have been gracious enough to leave reviews and read my crap; I am having problems responding as a lot of them aren't showing up in my review section. I am getting emails for them but for some reason can't see them there. I'm new at this so haven't figured out the problem yet. For those leaving comments about stories- I love it when someone points out a particular issue I have because then I can fix it. If, it is a problem I have not intentional put in a story or writing. Still, you are Gods in my book and I appreciate the time you took to read it. I suppose I identify with the fox more than the bunny as my childhood was similar even though I have parallels to the bunny as well, that and females are mysterious creatures- then again so are people in general.
We are all entitled to our opinions. More power to you- but if you are just leaving crude names I really have to question your motives as to why you chose to do so anonymously? If you don't have the B**** to say something like that and take credit for it then maybe there is a reason you say it without a name? Would you be embarrassed if someone you knew, knew it was you? Worried about getting caught? We have anonymity online, I am not pretending to be anything other than what I am. What you assume I am is entirely up to you. I do not assume I am one of those I consider a God among writers. I am a freak on all kinds of levels and know it- does it bother me- NOOOOO. I don't advertise my tics but am aware of them. We are all different, so there you have it. Am I going to respond to dog crap again- NOOO. Not worth my time. Personally I think if someone is going to write that kind of thing and hide behind it they are a coward for saying it to begin with and have a low self worth trying to amuse themselves from their own misery by trying to put someone else down. Feel better? I gave you some attention, that's what you wanted right? To feel superior and better about yourself? Hmmmmm…says a lot about you don't it? Not all Gods are good- Bite me! Done with that….
Weell- This one got started a few weeks ago after I got a stuuuuuupid song stuck in my head reviewing music for another story. I am a weird writer- weirdo- freak of nature- meh- whatever you want to call it. It was meant to be a short little thing and as usual- exploded into something huge in my head. Ironic because someone recently mentioned wanting a Bad ass fox- he's coming soon. It was supposed to go in one direction and made a sharp turn. No I don't usually have a plot or idea when I sit down to write, I just start writing and things go their own way. Because of that the first I don't know- 100 pages or so were just written all at once so I had a hard time separating this into the first ten chapters. Starts out a little slow and I'll give a heads up for adult content (Smut)- because iiiit's in here-only once! Am I any good at writing it- I have no idea. If you don't like it or drama and trauma, mystery and tragic truths, don't read my craaaaap. It's not for the faint of heart….if you do, enjoy.
The Double Edged Sword
Chapter 1; Shifty
Judy hung up the phone and flung her legs over her bed as she tried to pull herself together again. A long tear filled night of restless sleep filled with fitful dreams didn't do anything for help as she slid her feet onto the floor. The call had come in a week ago today and she had already made all the arrangements necessary to take care of everything. Now there was an issue that needed to be dealt with and she wasn't sure how she would go about handling it. She knew the next call would come but had almost expected to miss it under the circumstances and was grateful for at least getting it today of all days.
Because she knew it would be as hard, if not harder to approach this situation than what she was already dealing with and one tiny detail might deflect the issue from attention. The support of her coworkers and friends had been boundless and she was almost overrun with the emotional crutches she had received from everyone as her world fell apart. Now the only thing left to do was drag herself back into work and face the oncoming tornado that she knew would rip what was left of her heart apart. She lazily pulled her clothes on and grabbed her keys from the table, looking over the tiny room again before she locked the door and rushed down the stairs to escape all the emotions that had built up in her over the last week.
She knew she was dragging her feet and half slid into the precinct as Clawhauser gave her the most heartbroken look she had ever seen on his usually bubbly face. A glance up and she found Bogo turning his eyes away from her as he seemed to slink back into his office and slowly close the door behind him. Fangmeyer and Wolford both gave her a solemn nod as she idled through the precinct and made her way down to the lower level of the holding cells. She always hated this and would have given anything for things to change. Anything for things to change in any way other than how they already had. She stopped at the point of no return and made her way into the last public bathroom where she rushed water over her face splashing away the tear stains before she pulled a towel down and hastily scrubbed her face. It wouldn't do to be seen like this, so she used her paws and raked her fur as straight as she could get it, plastering on a fake smile she hoped would fool the mammals who would be watching her intently as she sauntered back out of the room and into the area where the desk sat to enter the next area of holding cells.
"Officer Hopps." McHorn stated as he dipped his head and she handed him a large envelope watching as he counted the bills and sighed as he shook his head. He gave her the keys and pressed the button as a large buzz went off and opened the door she hesitantly looked through before gathering her nerves again.
"Come on Judy you can do this. One more time," she whispered to herself as she walked through the door and missed the Rhino dropping his head in sorrow as she slid past his desk. If she was grateful for anything at this particular moment it was the fact that her coworkers had kept her privacy and not relayed anything of her life to anyone outside the precinct. It only took her asking for the silence to remain in place and they all seemed to understand why as she took a deep breath and gathered her strength. A few missteps down the little corridor of bars that light shone through from higher windows and her breath caught as the familiar dark crimson fur and purple nose stuck out from the bars a few paces in front of her.
"Wondered when you'd get here Carrots," he cooed as his muzzle rested between the bars. Her heart jumped seeing that warming smile and light in his eyes and she couldn't help but smile in return as she shook her head. The fox was watching her through amused eyes as she slid the key into the lock and opened the door. A loud whining rushed through the air as the door swung open and she giggled as he clapped both paws over his ears in an exaggerated groan. "I hate that sound," he complained as he stepped out of the cell and wrapped an arm around the bunny in front of him.
"Well maybe you should stop getting yourself into the rooms in the first place and then I wouldn't be torturing you with opening the doors so often."
Nick stuck a paw on his chest as his other landed on his head in feigned hurt "Ugh! Carrots you're killing me! What's a fox to do?" he asked as he smirked at the bunny who was shaking her head as she started walking down the hall again.
"I don't know, get a real job, a real apartment and start acting your age maybe?" she asked as she twirled the keys in her paws and he looked back to her with a playful scowl.
"Eww! And grow up, Mua? Never!" he scoffed as she giggled and looked around in confusion after realizing they were going the wrong way. "Ugh Carrots, I know I'm usually the one a little out of it this time of the morning, but where are we going exactly?"
Judy bounced her steps a little as they closed in on another cell. "I thought I might be the big one today and help another friend I have in here." She said and giggled as his head jerked back and one brow popped over his forehead.
"Friend?" he asked and blinked as Judy stuck the key into the cell door and Finnick sat up from the flimsy mattress yawning as he tossed the blanket off himself. "Oh it's him" Nick smirked as she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"What the hell bunny cop? I was just getting a good nap in!" Finnick barked as he rubbed his head.
"Well if you'd like I can take back the bond money I posted and leave your sorry tail in here until Monday, which by the way is a three day weekend, so it will actually be Tuesday before you get out." The small fox blinked before he shot off the bed and out the door making Judy giggle as he slid next to Nick.
"What got into you bunny cop?" The smaller fox asked and Nick was giving her a skeptical look as he stuck both paws on his hips and tilted his head.
"Irony never fails does it guys?" she asked as she swung the keys around on a finger and started walking back the direction they had come in. Nick and Finnick looked at each other before darting after her and catching her at the door. She tossed the keys to McHorn who held his fabled grimace as he watched them all leave through a back entrance. The last thing Judy wanted to do was draw attention to herself or have Clawhauser break into an emotional fit after managing to get both foxes out the doors without too much of a fuss from either of them.
"OK bunny cop, Jig is up. You bailed us both, now what is it you want cause no one does that for free." Finnick looked back at Nick snickering before he shot Judy a dirty look. "At least not for me anyway, so what do I owe you for this wonderful surprise?" he asked bouncing his brow and Judy laughed as Nick popped him upside the back of the head
"Cut it out you little pervert," Nick growled making the smaller fox cackle harder.
"You guys don't know what today is do you?" she asked when she turned and walked backwards a few steps as she raised her brows and threw her paws out in an expectant flash. "Come on you guys!" she whined as they both looked at each other and shrugged. Judy sighed as she reached into her pocket and dug out a pawful of change before she was handing it to a vendor who gave her back a paper in return. She flipped it over and whirled on the foxes as she held it in front of herself and they both rolled their eyes grinning as they read the headline.
'Three year anniversary of Night howler crisis! Zootopia saved by the first rabbit officer!' She shoved it into Nicks paws as he shook his head and stuck it in his pants half under his shirt."I thought we might spend the day together for old times sake you know?" she asked as she folded her paws behind her back and Finnick snickered when she started rocking side to side like a little school girl. "Free food Finnick," she said as she leaned towards him with a snarky smile.
"Sold!" the little fox said as he stuck a finger in the air and Nick was laughing as he shuffled his feet a few times and shimmied along the sidewalk. "So what did you have in mind Carrots?" Nick asked as they walked down the street a little further. "Well, I thought you guys could pick. It's my treat today so anything goes."
Nick turned to her raising a brow after he gave a skeptical look at the tiny fox. He leaned in a little closer to her ears and her cheeks lit up as he whispered, the breath of his words tickling the fur around the top of her face and ears. "You are on a limited income aren't you? You do know how much he can eat right?" Nick asked.
Judy covered her mouth laughing as Finnick barked "HEY I HEARD THAT!"
She stuck her paw in her pocket and pulled out a wad of cash that had them both widening their eyes as they gawked at her. "I've been saving this just for today," she said as she waved it around and Nick snatched it looking around nervously as he shoved it back into her paws and shushed her giggling telling her to put it back in her pocket.
"Are you crazy? You can't wave that kind of money around rabbit!" Nick hissed as his eyes scanned the area and even Finnick was looking around nervously as she stuck it back in her pocket.
Judy shook her head and pointed to one of the jumbo screens in the park across the street. It showed a large picture of her and Nick waving at the cameras after Bellwethers arrest. "Do you really think anyone is going to be stupid enough to try to rob me or you today?" she asked and turned her head as Finnick chuckled.
"Yeah, she's been hanging around you way to long Nick if she caught that before you did, or vice versa."
Nick folded his arms over his chest smirking at the smaller fox "And no one happened to see the panic on your face at the same time buddy."
Finnick huffed as he shrugged his shoulders "Old habits die hard."
Judy giggled at the stare off they were having and they both turned to her with a light frown. "So where do you guys want to go today?" she asked again as she bounced in place.
Nick sighed as he looked at the grinning little scoundrel in front of him. "OK, since you are feeding the two bottomless pits today, we have to do something special for you too. Is there anything you would like to do today after we feed the wolverine in the fox's body over there?" Nick snickered as Finnicks stomach growled and Judy laughed as they scowled at each other again.
"Can you show me how you make pawpsickles? I mean teach me how you do it?" she asked and both their jaws dropped at the request.
"Really? That's what you want to do with us today?" Nick asked as Finnick brows went up in curiosity.
Judy stuck one claw in her mouth biting it nervously as she looked between the stumped foxes "Please?"
Nick stuck his paws out as Finnick choked on his guffaws "Who could say no to a face like that!?" Nick said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder "Come on Bunny, I already know where the Finnster wants to go."
Finnick turned around growling "I have told you a million times not to call me that! Especially not in front of the bunny cop!"
Nick smirked as Judy giggled silently under the weight of his arm. "Or girls," Nick corrected as they finally reached the restaurant Finnick had in mind. Large doors opened and an assault of scents hit Judy's nose causing her to lean forward and close her eyes as she inhaled the scent of several kinds of freshly baked breads and sautéed vegetables. Some kind of spicy accent hit her harder than the rest and Nick and Finnick were watching her as she kept her eyes closed trying to identify several unknown smells.
"I think she likes it Finn, and she hasn't even tasted anything yet." Nick said and smiled wider as her eyes shot open and her ears turned a bright cherry. When she tried to cover her face with her ears from the embarrassment of standing there like some kind of voyeur Finnick chuckled as Nick swiped her ears from her face smirking at her. "It's supposed to do that Carrots, and it's really cute to watch you get flustered."
Her eyes narrowed but his smile brightened as she turned another shade of red that looked closer to the shade of her eyes. "Don't call me cute!" she croaked out as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder tighter pulling her along with him inside the restaurant.
"I didn't call you cute. I said it was cute watching you, but for future reference I don't think you are cute at all." Judy's ears fell as he pressed her into a booth and locked her into a seat she couldn't get out of without crawling under the table or over his lap.
"I think you are absolutely gorgeous." She swallowed hard as his unfaltering smile bore into her like the diamond on a drill bit tip.
"Ugh, get a room already," Finnick whined as he rolled his eyes and Nick started chuckling as Judy turned Purple. No shades close to red or resembling purple, but actual purple!
Judy missed everything that was said to the waiter that came to the table and was too busy trying to find her sanity again as Nick and Finnick started hammering out some kind of details to a hustle she really didn't want to hear anyway. Before she knew what had happened the whole top of the table in the booth they were seated at was filled with an assortment of foods she had never seen before but was trying desperately to identify through sight or scent. Nick and Finnick watched her more than a little amused as her eyes scanned over everything and couldn't seem to settle on anything in particular. "If you've never had Paiwanese before you really haven't lived Carrots" Nick said as he started shoveling different kinds of food on a plate and sat it in front of her. She sat there dumbfounded for a minute before picking up a fork and shuffling things on her plate around just before an involuntary squeak left her lips as Nick shoved a fork into her mouth with some kind of unidentified vegetable medley on it.
She smacked a paw over her mouth giving Nick an accusatory glare just before her eyes closed of their own accord. A groan left her as an explosion of flavor lit over her palate making her sink into her seat as she savored the sweet and spicy tang that was dancing through her mouth. Nick and Finnick watched her, chuckling as her ears fell behind her head and she seemed to melt into her chair as she slowly chewed what he had stuck on her tongue. "Oh Gods what is this?" she mumbled through chewing as she finally opened her eyes to find two snickering foxes watching her face.
"It's a simple stir fry Carrots. You haven't even gotten to the really good stuff yet," he pointed at her plate and she picked up her fork and started nibbling on everything she could get her paws on. Both foxes kept their amusement in check as she devoured everything in sight and neither held back in joining her until the plates and dishes were emptied and pulled away from the table. Another assortment of dishes were left in their place that left a sweet fragrance floating around as she tried to settle her stomach. Judy was already close to full and even Finnick was looking a little heavy as Nick dished out a few more plates with smaller portions on them.
The light conversation carried with the savory dishes that had been left as a desert of some kind because Judy could have sworn there was sugar in a few of them. As the two foxes got lost in another conversation she was scanning the restaurant and looking at all the different types of art and carvings decorating the place when she noticed an unsettling silence from the foxes beside and across from her. She turned to them with raised brows as they both sat there with their jaws hanging open and eyes glued to her. "What?" she asked as she popped another bean into her mouth relishing the crunch from the sweet shell surrounding the odd textured interior. Nick reached for the bowl she had picked up and she pulled it away as she gave him a funny look.
"Carrots," he said almost nervously as she furrowed her brow "How many of those have you eaten?" he asked and she looked at the bowl before tossing a few more in her mouth.
"I don't know. I like them." Both foxes blinked before Nick swallowed hard and waved for a waiter to come to the table. He almost pleaded with her and she reluctantly handed him the bowl and watched as he gave it to the waiter who looked at her with wide eyes before he was stammering out something in another language she didn't understand. "What is it?" she asked as Nick turned to her frowning.
"They are a delicacy and the waiter wasn't paying attention when he sat them on the table. They might make you sick."
Judy rolled her eyes and reached for the bowl again, the waiter was speechless as he gave it back and watched her chomp into a few more of the crunchy little deserts as Finnick tried to snatch the bowl. The two were openly arguing when Nick took hold of it keeping a deep scowl on both of them. "No fighting or Daddy takes desert off the table!" he split what was in the bowl seeing the little fox curl his lips as Judy snagged the bowl again.
"So what is it?" she asked the now wide eyed predators watching her still chewing on her treats.
"They are spicy stuffed chocolate covered caravan crickets." Finnick said as he blinked at her a few times. Judy looked at the bowl and then back to the predators, including the large cat who was watching as if he were the helpless victim of some kind of horror scene before she shrugged, leaned back into her chair and tossed more of them into her mouth. Nick just blinked a few times before he was laughing so hard he couldn't catch his breath and Finnick stared in wonder as the waiter rushed from the table with a paw over his mouth when she polished off the bowl.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked as he rushed from the table and looked to see both Foxes near hysterics as they tried not to fall out of their seats.
"Damn Nick, she's got some predator in her don't she?" Finnick asked before his grin turned sinister and Nick clamped a paw over his muzzle as he cackled under his paw.
"Don't you dare say it you little-
"Let him talk Nick. I want everybody to be themselves today and have fun OK?" She asked and he gave her a nervous grimace as he looked back to see her pleading eyes. He let go of the smaller foxes muzzle and leaned away from the table back into his chair as Finnick put on his snarkiest smirk
"Or she has before," he finished his thought as Judy's ears shot up and she tilted her head to one side grinning in return and shook her head.
"No, little fox. I have never had anything like that in me before Thank you very much." Her meant to be smart assed reply slapped her in the face as the realization of what she had just said folder her chest in on itself and both foxes were looking at her with their jaws hanging open again as she cinched her shoulders into her neck and tried to bury her face in her ears and palms while she turned green. Both foxes cringed at each other when it sounded as if she might be crying but turned sharply when her ears shot up and she covered her giggling mouth. The doe shocked them both again as she stood from her seat in the bench grabbing Nicks tie and one of Finnicks ears before yanking them towards her grinning maw. "There, now you know my biggest, darkest, most embarrassing secret." Her smile grew wider as they both gawked at her. "And if you ever tell anyone I swear not any officer in all of Zootopia will ever find your bodies. Capisce?" she asked in her most sickly sweet voice and let go as they both nodded absently and swallowed.
"Come on guys, it will take at least an hour to walk off all this food if we plan on doing anything else today besides eating." She rushed her paws in a sweeping motion to get them to scoot out of their seats and picked up the ticket from the table as she looked it over. Finnick and Nick were both shaking their heads as she smiled leaving a large tip on the table before they left. The trio made a large swath of a walk into Savannah Central and walked around the fountain for several hours killing time and talking about nothing as Judy and Nick seemed to keep gravitating towards each other. Finnick kept a knowing grin on his face and a respectable distance from the pair when their paws finally cupped together.
After having such a large breakfast in a restaurant that served all dishes day and night, they made a simple stop at a favorite little taco shack of Nicks for lunch and ate at the park they had walked back to between the districts. It had always been one of her favorites because the weather in this area was odd and none of the scenery looked like it belonged in a particular season. Conifers sat dotted with the tips of their braches left with icicles hanging low or snow poured onto sections. Yet you could turn and see the leaves of a particular tree in every spectrum of the rainbow if you just looked to the right. Another little knoll had grass greener than what grew in the boroughs back home, while the section behind it looked like it might be in full spring bloom as flowers of every kind budded open like a field someone had poured different colors of paint onto.
"You alright Carrots?" Nick asked as Finnick looked her over in the same concerned tilt of his head.
"Yeah" she sighed as she looked around "I was just thinking about how much this place looks like my home in every season of the year."
Nick smirked at her before shooting Finnick a wink making the smaller fox roll his eyes. "This is your home Carrots, did you forget already?"
Judy sniffled as she held in her tears and leaned into the red fox beside her. "Thanks Nick," she said as the crushing weight in her chest became almost unbearable. You made it this far Judy. Don't cave now. Not when it's almost over. Don't let them see how much you are hurting. If they see it they will know, play it off as something else. Be like Nick. Be like Nick.
Nick scoffed as she sniffled again "You bunnies are so emotional," he said making her giggle through watery eyes.
"And you foxes are so – hu. What would the right word be for foxes?" she asked and smiled as Nick smirked.
The smaller fox joined him in his glee as they both started shouting out descriptive words that had her laughing. "Handsome, clever, smart, brilliant, sly, clever, sexy!"
Nick pulled her off the bench they had been sitting on and tossed the trash in the can next to the seat before he grabbed her paw and pulled her along. "Come on emotional bunny, we have some serious lessons to teach you today," Nick said and Judy giggled as Finnick puffed his chest out rubbing his paws together eagerly.
"Let's teach the bunny how to hustle!" Nick stopped holding a warning finger towards the small fox.
"Pawpsickles," he said as Finnick rolled his eyes and Judy's ears shot up.
"No, teach me how to do your hustle too! It will be fun!" Nick deadpanned her before he walked around her in a circle seeming to examine her before she folded her arms over her chest and raised a brow at him. "What?" she asked as he looked her up and down again.
The small fox was holding a paw over his mouth as his arms crossed over his chest in the same fashion when Nick raised a finger towards her pressing it to her nose. "Who are you and what did you do with the cop that lives inside the bunny?" Her nose twitched wildly as he withdrew his finger and her eyes fell to the ground as he looked her over again. A guilty faced doe looked back to see him smirking at her before he was chuckling and wrapped his arm over her shoulder again. "Forget it rabbit. It's that day. I get it. The day we became the awesome that we are together and you want to see it from every angle right?" he asked as he looked down.
Finding her biting her lip was reward enough with that adorable little smile on her face, but as she squeaked and hopped up planting a kiss on his cheek he couldn't help but laugh. Then she grabbed Finnick off the ground sending him into a rage of furious snarls. She spun him in the air just before she pulled the small fox into her chest in a tight hug. Nick was peeking through his fingers that were laid over his eyes and covering his mouth when Finnicks eyes widened and he leaned into the small female growling in an entirely different kind of communication that was completely lost on the bunny still coddling him to her chest. "So now what?" she asked as she sat Finnick back on the ground looking between the foxes.
Finnick shook himself as he straightened his shirt "We gotta get my van. Those Popsicles are heavy and the jars and sticks are in the back. Then we gotta go get one to melt."
Judy looked up and found Nick with a contemplative look on his face as he looked around. "So we are going to Jumbueas?" she asked and the two smaller mammals watched as Nick stuck his paws in his pockets shaking his head.
"No, we're going to Tods place."
Finnicks face scrunched into disbelief as he stared at the taller fox "You nuts? No one ever gets a popsicle from Tods place, aint no way we'll get one with her there either!"
Nick shrugged his shoulders as he set a pleased grin on his muzzle "She wants the whole experience, it's the best place to get it at."
Finnick groaned as he sighed and then shook his head as Judy looked between the two. "I didn't think we was actually gonna have to work today Nick, but follow me. Once we get my van you can lay it out for her." Judy followed the two foxes back into City Central where they found the oversized and dated monstrosity of a vehicle parked in an alley outside of the lemming brothers bank. She watched as Finnick went on a tirade after pulling a ticket from his windshield and waited until he had calmed before Nick motioned her over and opened the back doors for her so she could hop in before he slid in beside her closing the doors with a clank. "It'll take ten minutes to get there from here, so make it quick Nick" Finnick barked from the drivers seat as the van roared to life and several bangs made her jump as it backfired.
A quick nod towards the front and Judy's ears sprang up as Nick turned back with a signature smirk on his face. "Tods is the premier Ice cream shop in City Central. Its run by a rhino named Richard. He's about the meanest thing that ever lived. He refuses service to anyone except those that fit his idea of perfection. He won't sell or give away anything to someone who is smaller than an elephant for any reason and is so stuck up I'm pretty sure his horn is lined with the stratosphere."
Judy curled her temples as Nick leaned back into the wall of the van "How are you going to get a popsicle from him if he thinks like that? You guys always had a problem with Jumbueas and he was pretty bad about that too so I don't understand." Judy looked back towards the front as Finnick scoffed.
Nick chuckled as he leaned forward. Judy leaned away as his face landed in front of hers "We aren't getting anything bunny and you are going to stay out of it. Just watch. You need to see how he treats others before you do anything." When she gave him a questioning look he held up a finger for silence when she opened her mouth. "You watch how he treats me and Finnick when we go in, unlike some others he doesn't care if we are foxes or not, he treats everyone the same way if they aren't right in his graces. If you want to know how to pull a hustle the real way, you're going to have to figure out an angle to get one from him yourself. It's the only way you can see things from the other side of the tracks."
Judy nodded weakly as Finnick parked the van and hopped over the seat before he pulled on the little elephant costume that was the key to their success. They all scuttled out of the van that was parked around the corner and Nick instructed her where to stay and watch before she watched them both sneak past larger feet into the establishment that looked like it had flown through time and sat pristine like something from the sock hop days. A large scaffold held a sign that looked like an oversized record hanging from the storefront. Through the glass she could see the stools lined around a bar like structure that looked just as suited for serving alcohol as the ice cream that was being slid down the counters in glass cups that looked as large as her body. She had to bite her cheek after seeing the disgusted looks from the rhino behind the counter and the patrons who were openly glaring at the foxes he was leaning over screaming at. It took all her strength not to run into the place when she watched the large herbivore snatch Nick by the neck and Finnick was neatly wrapped in a large paw when the rhino opened the door and threw them into the street. Nick rolled over groaning and Finnick was rubbing his head as they pulled themselves off the ground and half limped back to where she stood standing in shock and dismay. "How can he do that!?" she seethed looking over both foxes for injuries as they dusted themselves off. The fact that Finnick was dressed like a toddler and the guy had just tossed them both out into the street made it even more appalling to her.
They shrugged and acted like it wasn't a big deal as her blood boiled "You gotta figure out how to hustle that guy," Nick said as his back thumped against the wall and Finnick rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Yeah right" the smaller fox said as he joined Nick making the wall an inverted bed. Nick chuckled as Judy began to look around the area "Well she managed to track us down after the day we met and hustled me. Not bad for someone who hadn't done it before against the likes of an experienced con artist hu Finn?" Both foxes jolted as she shot across the street and were looking at each other with piqued curiosity as she bound into and old clothing store that seemed to be having some kind of sale where tons of different species of children were running all over the place. Nick tipped his head and Finnick climbed on his shoulders to get a better view. Judy had stood on one of the display tables gathering everyone's attention and had wide eyed kits and parents looking at her before there was a massive amount of mewling and fawning and she disappeared under what Nick could only imagine as something similar to the kerfluffle she had described of her siblings and family's kits.
A giggling adult bunny managed to scurry back out of the crowd before she was asking for their help and several kits had gathered what Nick and Finnick both considered a horrid ensemble before she was getting hugged by tons of little mammals that were trying to convince her to stay. She excused herself paying for what had been gathered and left. As she casually walked back across the street landing in front of both foxes their noses crinkled giving her a sour look. "Geez Carrots, if you wanted to smell like a zoo I'm sure there were other ways to go about it," Nick said as Finnick jumped from his shoulder waving a paw in front of his face.
"Whatcha have them all mark ya for bunny cop, you stink!"
Judy beamed as she cocked on one hip, "Can I use your van for a second? And do you have any oil in there by chance?" she asked knowing he did because she had spotted some rolling through the back of the floor as they drove over.
Finnick raised both brows and nodded slowly "Just don't make a mess bunny cop. We still gotta use it to move edible substances ya know." Nick was snickering as she gave Finnick a shocked look when he opened the back doors to the van. "What? Ya think just because we do things a little backwards I want to get my customers sick from eating dirty food? Can't have repeat customers if they get something nasty ya know?"
When Judy grinned from ear to ear and bent over landing a kiss on his forehead his ears pinked as she closed the doors behind herself and shouted "No peeking!" Nick was laughing as the smaller fox rubbed his head with a goofy look on his face. A few minutes later and she hopped out with a can of 10w-30 in her paw as both foxes cringed. She was dressed in the most deplorable outfit they had ever seen. A shirt that was a little too large hung from her shoulder and both foxes crinkled their noses with horrified expressions as she opened the oil rubbing it on her paws before splashing it all over her clothes, ears and face in random areas. The pants she was wearing were fitted a little too tightly around her hips and Nick turned his head as she tore large holes in the shirt and legs revealing more of her fur than he had ever seen peeking through the older fabric. Finnick on the other paw was watching with revere as she grabbed an oversized jacket she folded over her arm before stepping in front of him. "I need you to do something for me Finnick," she asked as she bit her lip and gave both foxes an extremely hesitant glance.
Nick gave her a disgruntled grunt as he stood and looked her over. "I don't know how you think you're going to get in there like that, I'm a little worried Carrots. He's not exactly the friendly type and might do something stupid if you wander in there looking and smelling like that."
Judy nodded as she smiled "I'm counting on it. Now, ugh Finnick, I need you to ugh," she leaned over whispering in his ear and the small foxes jaw dropped as Nick watched her turn pink under her fur. To his surprise Finnick actually took a step back shaking his head and looking like someone had just slapped him with a dead fish.
Nick could have sworn all the blood in his face fell into his feet when Finnick opened his mouth again. "I-I can't do that!" he stammered as Nick looked between the two and Judy gave him a sad smile.
"It's the only way this will work Finnick, please?" she asked and Nick watched him gulp as he took another step away from her. She hopped forward and grabbed his paw telling Nick to stay where he was as she guided a nervous Finnick behind a dumpster and held his paw up pressing into his palm making his claws extend. He turned his head as she placed his claws against her fur and after a few minutes Nicks head shot up as the scent of blood floated through the air. He rushed to the side of the dumpster and found Finnicks face scrunched up and facing away from the doe who had tiny claw marks all over her body. Finnick was barely whining as she raked his claws over one of her arms and Nick screamed making him jump away from her as she looked up grinning from ear to ear. "One more thing" she said as she stood again and Nick was looking at her like she had just killed someone as she giggled. "Oh stop looking at me like that! They're just tiny little scratches and they don't even hurt. Nick I need you to…bite me."
"Bi-WHAT?!" Nick screamed as his eyes flew open. "Are you crazy rabbit? What exactly are you trying to pull here? Trying to get us both thrown in jail and hauled off to a federal prison for the rest of our lives? How the hell is this supposed to help you hustle a popsicle?" he snarled at Finnick and fought not to bare his teeth "And you should have told her NO!"
Finnick looked at his claws and folded into himself as he sighed "Yeah, let's see how well that works for you Nick. I hope you know what you're doing bunny cop."
Judy looked around as if considering her own plan as she tipped her head in thought "Fine, don't bite me. I think this is close enough anyway. I just need a little more…" she looked around before grabbing a clump of dirt off the ground and smearing it over the jacket she had thrown over her shoulders. Nick stood there dumbfounded as she walked out of the alley and both foxes rushed to watch her tear off a chunk of the shirt she was wearing before wrapping part of it around one of her paws and the other around one of her ears. She struggled with the door for a second of the larger establishment but managed to squeeze herself through just before it nipped her tail making her jump and squeak as she shot into the ice cream parlor.
Nick cringed when he saw the rhino behind the counters eyes blaze with fury. Every head in the place turned and seemed to scoot away from her as she began to dig at her fur like she had… Nick laughed as he covered his face fighting not to lose his own footing when Finnick finally caught on to what she was doing.
"Gods I think I'm in love" Finnick smirked and chuckled as he watched her drop to the floor and start scratching behind her ear with a back foot. Both foxes were clutching their sides in humor as the patrons of the shop came out the doors in a frantic attempt to escape the little rabbit who was still acting as if she were covered in fleas and parasites. She truly looked and smelled as if she had been living in the gutters as the rhino behind the counter stepped out from behind the partition looking as if he wanted to do anything but touch her. When she stood still scratching at her arms and neck the rhino curled a lip in disgust as he started screaming and she stood there blinking like she wasn't sure what he was saying as she pointed at the cooler where several popsicles sat on display.
When the rhino kept shouting and started puffing out his chest and acting like he might jump her Nick and Finnicks eyes went wide as she dropped to the floor bawling like she was a three year old. "Oh my Gods!" Nick chuckled as she adopted the mannerisms of a mentally ill individual who didn't quite have a grasp on their age, surroundings, or reality in general.
The rhino stopped cold in his tracks as his face morphed to one of unwavering determination. It said only one thing to anyone who may have been looking—I have to get her out of here! Both their jaws dropped when the rhino opened the case and hurriedly rushed to the door with a blue popsicle in his paws begging for her to get off the floor and telling her she could have it and everything would be alright as soon as she left and could eat it all by herself. Judy sat up off the floor sniffling as she rubbed her eyes of the faux tears and absently scratched her arms again. He opened the door and motioned towards it trying to imitate an understanding smile as he held it out towards her. When she looked at him as if she was confused and tried to give him a twenty dollar bill to pay for it Nick laughed as the rhino shook his head with a grimace like he didn't want to touch anything she had come into contact with. "It's Ok," he heard the rhino sputter as he tried to stay still and not take a step away from the little bunny in front of him. "You keep it for yourself and I will just let you have this too if you promise never to come back here again?"
Judy looked at him as if she was a bird trying to comprehend language as he attempted another pathetic smile. He held the popsicle out and she reached for it questioningly looking back at him before her face lit up and she looked as if she might attempt to hug him before he took a hasty step away from her and the open door. "NO, no, no," he lowered his voice again as she set a tremble in her bottom lip. "It's OK! I'm just uhm, I'm really dirty from working in here all day and I don't want you to get dirty too alright?" the rhino asked with pleading eyes as he held the popsicle towards her again barely keeping it in his grip as he tried to make sure he didn't get too close to her.
Judy looked at him curiously as he sighed "H-Here little one, there is this really nice little store across the street and they can help you get cleaned up and will let you buy some nice clothes while you eat this." Judy's eyes went wide as he pulled a small stack of bills out of his pocket and held it towards her with his other paw, still attempting to keep his distance from her. Nick and Finnicks faces fell in disbelief as she struggled to take hold of the popsicle and the rhino insisted on her taking the cash from his extended paw. She obliged and Nick and Finnick both sat frozen as they watched her walk from the shop seeing the door close behind her. The rhino flipped the sign to closed before he slumped into the door and turned sliding on the glass as he ran a paw over his face and landed on the floor.
Judy looked back with a guilty grimace on her face as she finally reached the two silently gawking foxes. She sighed as she handed the popsicle to Finnick and let him stick it in the van as she looked over the cash in her paws the rhino had given to her insisting she left his store. Nick gave her an understanding smile as her eyes fell to the sidewalk. "Well, that was definitely something to watch Fluff. I've never seen or heard of anyone getting something from that guy." His attempt to cheer her up was met with sad eyes as she looked back up at him and Finnick climbed out of the van after sticking the popsicle in a cooler that sat behind the seats.
"I'm sorry Carrots. It's never easy the first time you really understand what you have to do to survive if you don't have any other options available to get by." She looked back at the shop chewing her lip and Nick laid a paw on her shoulder as she took a deep breath. "I know what you are thinking bunny, it would just set him off though." He sighed as she turned back to him with a burning determination in her eyes. "We'll wait here then," Nick said as he leaned into the side of the van against Finnicks copious mural. She nodded as she took the paper he had stuck under his pants earlier in the day.
Nick and Finnick watched her slowly walk back to the doors of the ice cream shop where a rhino was pulling himself off the floor. "It's a shame she's a cop you know Nick, she would have made one hell of a hustler." Finnick smirked as Nick looked down at him shaking his head.
"No, she never would survive like this, her hearts too big and she can't stand hurting other mammals. She'd never be able to walk away from it after it was over. I've tried to tell her a dozen times that it's just the way it is. I guess if she wanted the real experience she got it with all this." As if to illustrate his point he motioned one paw back towards the door where the rhino stood blinking as she stuck the paper up on the glass of the door showing the photo of her and Nick again. Nick nearly cringed as the large mammal almost pulled the door off the hinges and Judy stood firm as he growled at the tiny mammal in front of him. He blinked as she held out the cash she had taken from him and added another twenty too it before he stood looking down at her as she motioned back inside his store. The scowl that was on his face melted as she pulled out the wallet in her pocket and flipped it open showing him her credentials. His head hung and he sighed as he motioned for her to follow him back inside.
"Pulled the old cop trick out again didn't she?" Finnick asked and watched as the rhino took a seat at a table where she had to jump to get into one of the larger seats. Nick tilted his head as he watched the large male reach over and give her a damp towelette that was the size of a body towel in her tiny paws. Him and Finnick made their way closer to the shop and leaned into a light post watching the two having some kind of deep conversation. Nick was grinning when the rhino finally lost the pompous attitude and seemed to look shameful for the first time he had ever seen him. He shook his head as Judy sat up straighter looking at him as if she was a teacher scolding a bully in the school yard.
"How does she do that?" Finnick asked as he stood taller next to the post and watched as the rhino stood and opened the door for the rabbit as they both stepped out of the store.
"You got me buddy, but she does. I don't expect it to last with this one though." Nick stood away from the pole he was leaning into as Judy waved a paw at both foxes. The rhino looked over at the pair and seemed to deflate more as he looked them over and turned his attention back to the small female in front of him. Nick and Finnick walked over as she beckoned for them and Nick was genuinely shocked as 'Richard' introduced himself and stuck out a large paw he hesitantly shook as Judy beamed a smile.
"Richard here says you two are more than welcome to come in here and buy a popsicle a couple of times a week and you don't need to use your little outfit Finnick." Both foxes looked back to the larger male as he stood back from leaning over to shake paws and ran his paw over his ears in embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Wilde. I had no idea who you two were." Nick and Finnick looked back at Judy as she tilted her head and shook a warning finger at the larger male.
"Books and their covers Mr. Tod" she chided and he rubbed his neck nervously as he gave her a mournful glance.
"Yes Ma'am Officer Hopps. I won't be forgetting again." Judy tipped her head back towards the other side of the street and folded her arms as she popped one hip out to the side.
"I hope you won't Richard" she said in a kind voice "I'd hate to have to bring you a rose as a reminder." The gruff thick skinned male in front of them looked across the street before he smiled down at her and Nick wondered exactly what they were talking about as he stepped between them crossing the street. Nick and Finnick both covered their ears as the rhino opened the door to the little shop and stuck his thick fingernails in his mouth letting out an ear piercing whistle. "FREE ICE CREAM!"