Hello there! So this is my first story on here that I was inspired to write after reading Elite Shade's Zootopia stories. This story serves as a non-canonical sequel to 'The Door' and 'The Keyhole', written with permission from Elite Shade, and it goes without saying that you should read them in that order before reading this to have a better understanding of my story (and because they're just one of the best human in Zootopia stories out there!). Anyway, heres hoping you guys enjoy reading this unofficial continuation of those stories, and let me know if you do!

"Hmm, interesting..." the female hippopotamus mused as she adjusted her glasses and looked over the document in her hooves. "...Good grades overall, and a particular knack for electronics and mechanics... athletic... good performance in sports... team player... former Ranger Scout..." She took her time flipping through the pages, afterwards looking over her glasses and the folder she was reading to regard the applicant sitting on the chair on the other side of her desk, a young human male twenty one years of age, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a light grey suit over a white shirt with a red necktie. The young man sat there with a hopeful expression on his face, eagerly waiting for her opinion.

"Well Mr. Eli Hopps, this is quite the resume you have here. You almost qualify for the position, were it not for one thing..."

"...A-Almost?..." he gulped, his hopeful expression falling into one of dread. This was exactly what he was hoping NOT to hear.

"Yes. We're looking for someone with a tad more experience in the field, however minor. Yet you haven't mentioned having gained any. Have you worked within a technological firm before? Have you at least done any such work privately?"

"Uhh... n-not really."

"Then I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you don't meet the requirements of the company." she paused for a moment before continuing in a gentler tone upon seeing the disappointment on Eli's face. "I'm sorry... I truly am... but I don't make the rules. I merely make the selections based on the company's needs. But perhaps you could look on the bright side: if you can gain some experience beforehand elsewhere, you can try reapplying next time. Theres no restrictions on that."

Eli pondered for a moment, not really looking at the hippo before him, eventually nodding in understanding. "Well, thanks anyway. Sorry for taking up your time." he shook hand & hoof as he stood up, gathering the folder containing his resume before saying goodbye and leaving the employer's office. He glanced at the benches in the waiting room outside, all of them occupied by other candidates, all of whom stared back. Maybe it was because they could tell he hadn't been selected, or maybe it was because of his species. Humans were still a somewhat uncommon sight for some.

He took a deep breath of fresh outside air upon leaving the building's main doors, walking a few steps before he looked back and up at the logo close to the top of the building: 'ZTECH' it said. Eli remembered the first time he had heard the name. Isaac had mentioned it when he had landed a job there many months ago. The coyote that had been Eli's friend since youth was an avid sci-fi fan and had gained an interest in technological studies as a result, eventually graduating as a mechanical engineer and applying for a position at ZTECH back when they had less stringent requirements. The company was a well known producer of many things electronic and mechanical ranging from everyday appliances to vehicle engines, power generators, industrial machinery, etc. It was Isaac who suggested that Eli should apply for a job there, the coyote's tail a wagging blur of excitement at the prospect of having his best friend as a co-worker. Despite being an adult now, he was still just as excitable as his younger self.

Eli sighed and checked his watch. His parents would have been back home from their shift for about an hour now. His mother had said she would make something for supper today when she got back and he didn't want to make her wait, so he headed for the nearest bus stop to make his way home.

Stopping just before opening his door, he paused to think about what he would tell his parents. He hoped they wouldn't be upset. Too many times he had gone out like this only to come back with bad news. Trying to shake the negative thoughts out of his head, he went on in.

Framed pictures, both old and recent, lined the walls of the entrance hallway he was in. They were well organized based on date. Older pictures featuring a young thirteen-year-old Eli newly arrived in Zootopia were on one end. There was a picture of when Nick and Judy snuck Eli out of the hospital in bandages. There was one of him taken on his first day of middle school. There was one of him in Bunnyburrow standing amongst his numerous cousins, uncles, aunts and his maternal grandparents when he had been welcomed into the Hopps family, while a second showed him standing with his paternal grandparents. One showed him in scout uniform when he had received his father's Junior Ranger Scout neckerchief, another depicted the moment of his induction into the Ranger Scouts. The wonderful memories of his happy childhood made him smile.

Getting closer to the other end, they began showing an older Eli, such as a few birthday, Easter, Howl-O-Ween and Christmas pictures at varying ages, an image of him helping his family out with work on the Hopps farm, depictions of different outings with his parents and family, pictures of when he graduated, of when he posed next to a police cruiser with his parents both in police uniform, and even one of him with bruises and a black eye, wearing a surprised expression as he looked at the camera standing next to a uniformed Judy. 'Battle scars' as Nick called them jokingly, the result of a fight with a bully in high school that he ended up winning despite the damage. One particular picture caught his attention: it showed Nick and a seventeen-year-old Eli sitting inside Nick's car. Taken on the day Eli had earned his driver's license, Nick was grinning and giving a thumbs up from the passenger seat while Eli was excitedly waving at the camera from the driver's seat. While not funny in itself, the memory associated with the picture did elicit a chuckle from Eli…

Four years ago…

"Whoa Whoa, easy on the gas there Eli, we're not in the middle of a race!" shouted a panicking Nick clutching onto his passenger seat for dear life as the car swerved along some curved roads in a relatively remote part of Sahara Square. "You're going too fast, hit the brakes!"

Eli, going through his own panic, stepped on the brake pedal a little too hard, bringing the car to an immediate stop… as well as slamming Nick's face into the dashboard ahead. "Oops! S-Sorry about that dad!"

The fox glared at the human teenager, rubbing the bridge of his now aching snout. "Jeez, and I thought your mother's driving was bad!"

Eli sighed, looking embarrassed. " I… I guess I got carried away. I never knew driving could be so much fun… could be so… liberating!"

"Yeah? Well if you keep driving like that, you're gonna end up 'liberating' us of our lives. Sure, its fun, but only if you know how to do it. Now..." Nick began, only to be interrupted as his ears perked up and swiveled in the direction of an all too familiar sound. "…Oh great, just what we needed…"

Eli picked up the sound a moment later. It was the unmistakable sound of a police siren closing in from the direction they came. As expected, a police cruiser pulled up behind them, and a car door could be heard opening and closing, followed by hoofsteps approaching Eli's side window.

"Sir, were you aware of how fast you were going? And the way you were swerving around, you're lucky you didn't…" the officer paused, surprised once he saw the occupants of the vehicle. "Well I'll be… Wilde? Never woulda guessed you'd be the one to be breaking traffic rules. Whats the matter? Not getting enough crap from Bogo as is?" the horse officer laughed as he leaned against the driver's window.

"Very funny Horace. I'm just giving my boy here a driving lesson to prepare him for his test." He patted Eli's upper arm. "Its his first time behind the wheel, he's bound to make a couple mistakes. Give the kid a break."

Horace rubbed his chin, as if considering his options. "Hmm, I don't know… having the chance to slap a big fat ticket on the face of the 'oh-so-legendary' officer Wilde seems too good an opportunity to pass up." He teased with a grin, making Nick roll his eyes.

"Ugh. Tell you what: next time we're on the same shift, I'll buy you a coffee. Hows that sound?"

"Make it a coffee plus jelly doughnut and you got yourself a deal."

"Hrmph… fine. Just keep this under wraps. I don't want the whole precinct knowing about it." Horace nodded and smiled, apparently satisfied.

"Lucky for you, traffic's light on these roads today. Keep off the highways and you should be fine. Drive safe kid. Oh, and next time, ask your mom to teach you. I'm sure she'd do a better job than this clown." He chuckled, much to Nick's annoyance.

"S-sure officer." Eli smiled sheepishly as the horse stepped away from the window and headed back to his car. The two sat in silence and watched the cruiser drive by before Eli spoke up.

"I… didn't mean to get you in trouble dad."

"Hey, take it easy bud, no harm done at all. The guys tend to sometimes play around with me or each other. Its all in good fun. Now, hows about you get us moving again, gently this time?"

Eli nodded and stepped on the accelerator again, making the car lurch forward and stop again as he let go of the pedal in panic.

"I said gently! You gotta learn how to have the car fully in your control."

"S-Sorry…"

"Look, do as I do." Nick instructed, giving a demonstration on how to press the pedal with his hindpaw. "See? I did it gently. You don't need to press it too hard or too quick. Just nudge it down."

Eli made another attempt following his father's example, and this time the car accelerated much more comfortably.

"Hey, you got it! Good work buddy. Now just keep practicing and you'll ace that test in no time." Nick smiled, raising his paws behind his head to rest it on them as he began to relax a bit more.

"Hey dad."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping me out with this."

"Anytime buddy." He patted his son's arm again. "Besides, there was no way I was gonna let your mother teach you how to drive." He joked, both of them chuckling.

Present Day

"Ah, good times…" Eli thought with a smile as he continued on.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"

"In the kitchen honey!" a voice he distinctly recognized as his mother's called back. Eli entered to find the rabbit standing on a stool in order to reach the counter where she was making the final preparations for tonight's meal. The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was designed for medium-sized mammals, so Judy, and sometimes even Nick, had to employ certain means to get things done.

"Hi mom."

"Hello sweetie!" She immediately brightened up upon seeing her kit, stepping off the stool and approaching to greet him, with Eli kneeling down on both knees to hug her. Judy had to step up on his thigh to better reach him as well, but neither of them minded that. She had proudly watched her son grow over the years from the small, adorable and shy young boy to a tall and handsome man. She and Nick had always been there for him through both good times and bad, through his failures and successes, their support and guidance forming Eli into the man he was today.

"Well well, look who's back!" Came Nick's voice from the kitchen doorway as he made his way in.

"Hey dad!" Eli responded as Judy stepped back so Nick could greet Eli, the fox's tail wagging as he tightly embraced his son. "Heya big guy."

"So, how was your day? Any good news?" Judy chimed in with a hopeful look as Nick and Eli parted their hug.

"Not really, mom…" Eli sighed looking away. His parents knew what that meant.

"Oh…" she started, not really knowing what else to say. "Well, thats okay. I'm sure you can try elsewhere next time. I know you're bound to get lucky eventually!" She said in a chipper voice. She always was optimistic about things.

"Your mother's right. There's still work to be found out there. All you gotta do is look." He patted his son's shoulder. "And if things still don't work out, theres always the popsicle business." He grinned, earning an elbow in the gut from Judy. "Nick!" she glared at him.

"Ow! Heh, you know I'm just kidding Carrots. I'd never want that kind of life for Eli." He assured, remembering the hardships of his own former life.

"That's just it dad!" Eli stood up and turned away. "Theres no jobs left, I'm sure of it! It took me ages to hear of an opening in ZTECH, and I saw the line of mammals waiting for that one position! Only one of them would have gotten the job, and I bet the rest had to march home empty pawed, just like me!" he vented, pacing about the room, glancing afterwards to notice that his mother's ears had drooped and his father had that look on his face like he knew Eli was right. "I… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to yell at you guys."

"Its alright buddy. We know how frustrating that can be. Not everyone scores a job at the first place they try." Nick consoled.

"This isn't exactly the only place I've tried dad." Eli retorted, to which Nick couldn't give any answer. The three remained silent for a few moments, with Judy and Nick watching Eli pace about the room again, apparently in thought.

"You know, you could always sign up for the police force. They're always looking for new recruits." Judy finally suggested, stopping Eli in his tracks as he pondered.

"I… I don't know mom… I don't think I'm cut out for the police force."

"Are you kidding?" Nick spoke up. "A guy like you would be a model police officer. Good natured, loyal, helpful, trustworthy, and with parents also on the force. You were in the Ranger Scouts too, and a good Ranger Scout almost always makes a good police officer. And we could help prepare you for the academy and help you out afterwards. Who knows, maybe we'll even get the chance to go out on patrols together." Nick winked.

Eli chuckled. He had to admit, he had always wanted a job where he could help his fellow mammals in some way, and the prospect of working alongside his parents was a tempting one. Then again, having your parents as your co-workers or your superiors? It felt weird at the same time. Not to mention things had changed in recent years. Judy had been promoted to Corporal, and while she did often get assigned on patrols and cases with Nick, Bogo had gradually begun introducing her to other duties, such as assisting in the supervision and training of rookies. Nick on the other hand, had not been as fortunate. When the time came for his promotion, Bogo deemed him too irresponsible and easygoing to be given more sensitive duties. It didn't help that he all too often ended up getting on the Chief's nerves. Instead, he had merely been raised to the level of Senior Patrol Officer, although Nick complained this was little more than 'a glorified police officer'. It gave him little benefits other than authority over his partner when Judy wasn't with him and better pay.

"Er… sounds great dad, but I'd like to think more on this."

"Sure, go ahead. You've got all century. After all, you're already working ten jobs, right? Must be hard to choose." Said Nick sarcastically and crossed his arms.

"Nick, don't pressure him!" Judy admonished, walking up to Eli and stroking his leg. "Take all the time you need sweetie. We're with you no matter what you decide." Eli smiled and nodded. Judy smiled back, then walked past him to continue finishing the preparation of their meal.

Supper went as it usually did. At the dinner table, the three of them further discussed the possibility of Eli joining the force. Judy had merely proposed the idea as a backup in case there was no other option, while Nick had the internal desire to see his son follow in his pawsteps like many fathers did. The more they explained, the more appealing it sounded, but Eli was still too unsure to commit. After the meal, he bade his parents goodnight and went to retire in his room.

His room was the same one Judy had first given him upon adoption, although it had gone through some changes more appropriate for his age. His bed was larger and the childish, decorated sheets and blankets had been replaced with normal ones. His dresser remained the same but was now occupied by adult clothes. The desk his computer used to be on was now a proper study desk and the computer had been replaced with a laptop. The shelf containing his toys and games had been replaced with a bookshelf mostly occupied by his study books and all of the toys were gone save for a purple gorilla plush that he kept for sentimental value. Eli yawned and slipped under the covers after a change of clothes, spending a bit more time pondering what his parents said and thinking of plans for tomorrow before drifting off to sleep.