Hi readers! As you can tell from the summary, this is going to be an intended two-part story about our favorite timber wolf pair from Zootopia.

I realize that Gary and Larry make for a potentially good shipping, but they don't get much fics focusing on them as main characters. And that's where I decide to step in.

Also, it's my own two cents, but I have problems with Disney for their constant negative portrayals of wolves (with the exception of The Jungle Book). Even when I saw Zootopia for the first time, the fact that the wolves were mistaken for the Night Howlers meant the damage was already done.

So while I have a lot to say, I'll just let my story do the talking. As always, I hope you fun reading and any feedback will be much appreciated. Enjoy!

Who's Afraid of Us?

Chapter 1

The brown timber wolf cub glanced nervously all around him, while the other kids took their seats at the lunch tables.

So far, his first day at a new school wasn't as fun as he hoped it would. Everything was a whole new experience. New smells. New sounds. New sights. None of the kids in his class so much as smiled at him or said hello. The teachers were nice and super friendly, of course. But he didn't want to be called a teacher's pet if he got too close to them.

Not especially since he was the new kid.

He watched as the lunch tables slowly started to fill up. His heart sank. Every single one of them was occupied by members of the prey family. Bunnies sat in groups, while pigs shared their lunches with sheep as well as zebras, deer, elephants and a few other species he didn't know.

There was a group of predators hanging out in the middle of the room: lions and tigers mostly, with a few bears and foxes. But those were the cool kids.

And only the cool kids could sit together. That was the golden rule.

Still standing on the spot holding his tray, he could feel all eyes were on him, listening to the hushed whispers that filled the lunchroom – no thanks to his superb hearing. He knew at once what they were saying.

It wasn't the idea of sitting next to a predator that scared them.

They just didn't want to sit next to the big bad wolf.

A quiver started to form at the corner of his lip, but he bit down hard. Boys weren't supposed to cry. But why couldn't I have been born a lion or a tiger instead? he thought miserably to himself.

Then, from out of the corner, something – or rather someone – caught his eye.

A kid seated all by himself at one of the smaller tables – a cub with pointy ears and white fur with a bushy tail. Another wolf! His heart pounded with excitement as he walked over to the table, catching the other cub's attention.

"H-hi."

"Hi." The first thing he noticed about the cub were his eyes – they were a bright brown, almost the same colour as his fur.

"Is this seat taken?"

He shook his head, and the brown wolf cub sat right next to him. "Why the long face?" he asked.

The white wolf cub opened his lunch box. "Mom made tofu meat sandwiches. She forgets I don't like tofu meat."

Smiling at the cub, the new kid held out his own sandwich. "Swap with you? Go on."

They said nothing at first, trading their lunches. But after a while, a nice warm feeling came over the two timber wolf cubs as they smiled at each other.

"Thanks for the sandwich, uh?"

"I'm Larry." The new kid held out a paw, while the white wolf cub shook it as he blurted out: "G-Gary."

There was a moment's pause, before they suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hey, we almost got matching names! How cool is that?" said Larry.

"Way cool!" Gary nodded. "You know what? You're the first wolf I've seen in this school. We can… form our own club or something!"

Larry looked at Gary and smiled. "Do you want to be friends?"

His answer was a definite smile as Gary bit with gusto into the delicious sandwich.

Twelve Years Later…

Larry turned the doorknob to his apartment and walked right in.

The first thing he saw was Gary standing in the middle of the living room, with a broom in both paws. Only… he wasn't exactly using it to sweep the floor, but strumming an impressive air guitar while a loud rock soundtrack blared from the stereo.

In that brief moment, even Larry had to smile at how silly Gary looked.

His roommate, upon catching his glance, grinned and started singing in a falsetto as he rocked out to the music:

"Ooh baby, don't you know I suffer? Ooh baby, can you hear me moan? You caught me under false pretenses. How long before you let me go?"

Larry stifled a laugh. "Seriously? You're still listening to Mews?"

"Duh! They're the greatest band ever!" Gary let out a howl, which Larry joined in suit. "You've got to let me change your playlist, dude. It's like, last century!"

"Not on my watch, Gary."

They both laughed, while Gary went back to properly sweeping the floor. "So, how was your date with, er… what's-her-name-again?"

His ears perked up as Larry slumped down onto the couch. The poor guy's face was blacker than a thundercloud, which could only mean one thing.

"Don't bother. I broke up with her."

Quickly, Gary fumbled for the remote. The music came to a pause as he went over to sit next to Larry, snowy-white paws raised up in anticipation. "Hey, you know you can talk to me, right? Lay it out on me, buddy. That's what I'm here for."

Larry patted his roommate's shoulder, giving the best of smiles. "There's not much to say. I mean, we decided it wasn't meant to be and called it quits. I'm glad about the whole thing, really." He heaved a sigh of relief. "Truth is, I never even liked that girl in the first place."

"Then… Why'd you go out with her?" Gary asked, tilting his head slightly.

"It's complicated, but uh… " Larry took a deep breath. "There's this other wolf I've had a crush on for years. I've never told anyone this."

"Drama much! Larry, you sly dog." Gary's tone grew excited at first, before realizing that his buddy wasn't smiling. He took Larry's paws in his, speaking more gently. "Hey, you know you can tell me things, right? I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Even if that secret is about you?"

The silence that followed could have been broken with the wagging of a tail.

Gary blinked. "What? You're in love with me?"

His answer was a tender, almost longing look in Larry's eyes as the brown timber wolf gazed back at him.

Gary's heart skipped a beat. "B-but, why?"

"Oh gosh, Gary… Where do I begin? I just… I love everything about you!" The words rushed out like bees buzzing from a hive. "You're funny, you're sweet, you've got an amazing howl – you were the only predator who showed me kindness when I first moved into a new school." Larry paused to scratch his own ears. "You know, I could write a whole book about the things you do."

"Well… That's – uh…" Gary let out a nervous chuckle. "I… I was just being a good friend, you know? Us wolves, we gotta stick together and all."

Larry shook his head. "I don't think – No, I wouldn't be the same wolf I am today if I didn't have you."

All Gary could do was sit there in silence, left speechless by what he heard. This was his best friend coming out to him; a guy he basically looked up to as a big brother… The years of friendship suddenly flashed before Gary. All those sleepovers they had together as kids, going trick or treating together, graduating from high school, their first week as roommates…

And just like that, he leaned into Larry's arms and pulled him into a kiss.

Snuggled together in the bottom bunk bed, Larry smiled as his wet nose brushed against Gary's, both of them leaning closer while their heads rested on the same pillow.

Ignoring their clothes that lay in a mingled pile on the floor, they traced each other's bodies with their paws, feeling every delicate curve and inch of fur.

And to think, thought Larry to himself, it all started with a kiss. Just the sight of Gary's bare snowy-white chest made him aflutter and feel all tingly. He was so beautiful; just the way the light bounced off his shoulders, while the glistening sheen of sweat on his body made him even more desirable.

Larry smiled at the white timber wolf, breathing in his scent as he moved in to lick his friend's cheek. How could something so simple only a few minutes ago, lead to something wonderful?

At first, when he felt something warm and fuzzy crash against his muzzle, Larry thought he couldn't breathe.

Only then did he realize that Gary was kissing him. And yet, it didn't feel like a kiss that was just friendly or out of pity, but something that was hungry, full of longing and passion. Like… like he too wanted it all his life.

Perhaps one thing led to another, but as Larry kissed him back, all that burning instinct went into overdrive, leading the two timber wolves into bed. Once nature took its full course, it didn't matter as to who was on top or at the bottom. After all, they were equal in each other's eyes.

Larry was the first to break the silence. "So… You too, huh?" Gary nodded. "How long have you had feelings for me?"

"For as long as I remember… You've always made me feel comfortable with myself. And… I never did like girls anyway," said Gary. He reached out to tug playfully on Larry's ear with his teeth, now more than just a friendly gesture.

"Come to think of it, I never saw you go out with a girl when we were in high school. Man… All those years of us being together, when we could've just told each other the truth." Larry tapped the side of the bunk bed, chuckling. "And we wouldn't need to buy this stupid bed either."

"Probably," agreed Gary. "But I guess... I was just afraid, you know. 'Bout what everyone else would think. That you might even hate me..."

A single tear rolled down the corner of Gary's eye, before Larry brushed it away with a claw.

"Hey now… I would never think badly of you, Gary. Ever. And if it makes you feel better, everyone's already afraid of us. We're wolves, remember? We're supposed to be the bad guys." Larry sighed, looking up as he studied the frame of the top bunk.

"When I was a kid, I used to wish so hard that I could be someone else. Hope that someday I'll be a different predator, like a lion or a tiger. I hated myself for being the creature that everyone was afraid of. Then I moved to a new neighbourhood, a new school. And that's where I met you."

He paused as Gary's outstretched paw rested on his muzzle, a gesture that perhaps suggested to remain silent and just enjoy the moment. It was hard not to resist, feeling the warm touch and those soft tender pads.

"What are you–" Larry stopped, shuddering as he felt Gary's paw brush from his muzzle all the way down to his neck. Any more teasing, and he was about to show Gary what it meant to be a dominant wolf.

"Larry, please don't ever change for me, okay? I like you just the way you are. And if anyone else has a problem with us, well, who cares? Who needs 'em, right? Larry?"

Instead of an answer, Larry closed in the space between him and Gary. They kissed, letting their tongues and love for each other speak, losing themselves in their bodies.

"I love you, Gary. But if we're serious about this, I've been thinking of finding us some new jobs. We can't exactly live on government subsidies for the rest of our lives, you know?"

Gary propped an elbow on the pillow, turning to look at Larry.

"You know, I might've heard something through the grapevine… There's a couple of spaces open for a company that needs volunteers for transporting certain goods. So… Where do we go from here?" asked Gary.

Larry smiled, reaching over to kiss the top of Gary's forehead. "First things first. We're getting a bigger bed."

The new job, it turned out, was more than just the average transporting of goods.

Since day one, they were given assignments almost every week, but the task was always the same. Extract the target. Leave no traces. No questions asked.

Which was simple, provided you had nerves of steel and possibly a death wish.

The van they were sitting in came to a grinding halt, and both wolves got out. The briefing came in for them at the last minute: their target was located at Vine and Tujunga in the Rainforest District. The black jaguar at the edge of the platform was pacing about on all fours, trashing the air with its claws and growling for blood. There was nothing but pure savageness in its green eyes.

It would have gone straight for their throats, were it not for the fact that it was shackled to a nearby post.

Gary gulped as he looked at Larry. "So uh… How you want to do this?"

"You go up front and create a diversion. I'll cover you from the left."

"Which side is my left again?"

"Just go!" hissed Larry.

The two wolves cautiously approached the jaguar, with Gary taking the lead. "Uh… nice kitty? Here, jaguar jaguar jaguar," he stammered.

Before he was certain the jaguar would pounce on him, Larry aimed his gun and fired. A net shot out, enveloping the savage creature and rendering it immobile.

"Score! Way to go, Larry!" Gary punched the air.

"Told you I got your back."

The captured jaguar was too heavy for them to carry, so they had to pull it along, hoping the net wouldn't tear as it dragged along the ground.

"This calls for a victory howl! Can we? Pretty please?" said Gary. His brown eyes widened as he pouted his lips, giving the puppy dog look that he knew Larry couldn't say no to.

"Oh, alright. But just one."

They both threw their heads back and howled in chorus. "Aarrooooooooo!"

Once they were back in the van's rear though, things were a different story. Gary couldn't keep his eyes off the jaguar, now unconscious and sprawled out on the van floor with a dart protruding from its hind leg.

"You don't think he's going to wake up and go all open season on us, huh?"

Larry shrugged. "Don't think so. That badger doctor said our tranquilizers were effective enough to take down a full-grown elephant. Personally, I just hope we don't have to deal with one."

They said nothing while the van drove all the way back to Cliffside.

After a while, Larry nudged Gary in the shoulder. "What's the matter? You look like it's bath day when I get out the tick powder."

The white timber wolf was about to answer, when his gaze caught the open hatch in the back of the driver's seat. Carefully, Gary slid it shut, sealing off any sounds from the front. Even then Larry could detect a tone of caution from the way he chose his words:

"You know, all these cases we've been handling lately, doesn't it worry you? That one day… Someday, one of us might turn into a mindless beast?"

"Of course I worry all the time. But as long as we're careful with out jobs–"

"Not like that… Would you still want me as your buddy if I went savage?"

Larry gave Gary's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Gary, the first thing I'd do would be to find a way to join you. I'd go savage for you. And best of all, we could live together in the wild with no one to judge us."

Gary smiled. "Just you and me? I'd love that."

The screen on Larry's pager lit up, followed by a beep. He picked it up and gave it a quick glance, groaning.

"Aw man. Headquarters just texted. Looks like they want us to take the night shift tomorrow."

"Bummer. Guess it's a good thing they got us working together, huh? And speaking of together…" Gary leaned up closer to Larry, who put up a paw against his muzzle.

"Take it easy, buddy. No PDA during work hours, remember? Save it for after."

"Yes sir!" Gary saluted. They jumped a little from their seats as the van went over a hard bump, earning them a chuckle.

"What could possibly go wrong, right?"

Once more, the two wolves found themselves again in the back of a van. Except this time, it was a police van for prisoners.

Things were spiraling downwards and out of control.

Just a few minutes ago, they were standing guard for the night shift, on the lookout for any suspicious activities. Everything happened so fast. The ZPD had swarmed into the building, holding everyone at gunpoint, including Larry and Gary. They were being led out of the asylum in handcuffs, shielding their eyes from the blinding flashes of cameras that followed their every moments.

Those damn reporters. If only Larry wasn't shackled like a dog, he would march over and give the vultures a piece of his mind.

"Move it over there, you two! No loitering!" A gruff voice, followed by a shove from behind jolted Larry from his thoughts. He looked over to Gary, catching his attention and giving him a sad smile.

Then they were thrown roughly into the van, and the doors slammed with a resounding bang, leaving them in darkness.

It took a while before they could make out shapes in the dark, and then slowly, Larry could see him on the other side, curled up in a ball.

"Larry, what's going to happen to us? I don't want to go to prison!" Gary whimpered, looking like a small and helpless child.

The brown timber wolf got to his feet, banging his head on the ceiling. He cursed briefly, before going over to sit with Gary, letting the latter's head rest comfortably on his lap.

Since his paws were still cuffed behind his back, Larry could only bend down and nuzzle the crying wolf's cheek, giving him a comforting lick.

At least he could share a tender moment in his buddy's warmth, even if it could possibly be their last.

"Sshh… It's okay, Gary. We'll get out of this. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

To Be Continued...