A/N: Hey guys, long time no main installment!
I'm back, and busy as ever! The catch? I have enough time to write again!
As always, Razgriz/GameBoy is editing for me- A huge feat considering he's beyond short on time at the publishing of the prologue, so major thanks for that. You rock, bro!
Agent Wilde 2: Mountains out of Molehills
Prologue
05-02-2018 2300 ZST: Bunnyburrow Train Station.
Judy stepped off the train, apprehensive as her paws made contact with the grounds of her old hometown, she hefted her small duffel bag containing a few changes of clothes similar to her current dress. Simple jeans, shorts and a couple button-ups meant for temperate weather, winter hadn't quite hit.
She pulled her cellphone from her back pocket, checking for her scheduled ride, which was still a few minutes away, running late.
She took a long, slow breath, familiar scent of the farmlands just a short run- for her, away.
"It's been far too long." She said softly, a tiny smile breaking over her features, only to drop as her mind turned to her family. Her mother was aware she was arriving tonight, and had agreed to keep it quiet under the condition that Judy just be honest and open regarding where her daughter had been for so long.
It's gonna be fine. Lefty said, It's just gonna be mom tonight, she knows how to keep things under control.
"I know..." Judy all but whispered.
We're home! Righty cried, oozing excitement.
Not quite, we've still got a drive ahead of us. Judy replied.
Yeah, but we're still here! Righty countered, refusing to let her excitement wane. I can't wait to see the Kerfluffle!
This remark brought the smile back full force, ears lazily falling down her back. Judy absolutely loved the kits and genuinely looked forward to being smothered under a pile of loving, fluffy chaos. brimming with warmth at the idea, her musing was broken by headlights cresting the hills on the approach to the station. A small sedan pulled up, neon 'Zuber' sign glowing on the dash. She reopened the app and hailed the vehicle, phone glowing with a matching shade to the sign, the motion encouraged the driver to accelerate before coming to a relatively smooth- if noisy, stop just shy of the doe. She slid the bag off her shoulder and took her seat in the back, the driver, a fairly young buck, greeted her warmly, looking in his rear-view mirror.
"Miss Hopps?" Judy gave a slight nod as she answered, "Yep! You have the address?"
He chuckled at the question, "The Hopps burrows? I doubt there's a single bunny in the county that doesn't know where that is." Judy gave him a smile in response as he started down the road.
"So... You're Judy, eh?"
Oh boy... Here we go. Judy thought, giving an affirmative, if hesitant nod.
"The same Judy Hopps that ended up working for the ZBI?" another nod.
"You're famous around here, you know. Beyond the family name, I mean." The buck stated, glancing into the mirror.
Infamous would probably be a better term. she internalized.
Don't forget, you did have a sterling reputation prior to being wiped off the face of the earth. Lefty said.
Fair point.
"Don't worry, I'm not in the business of ruining family visits. I'll keep it quiet." the buck stated, turning briefly to give her a smile and wink.
"Thank you." She said, smiling back. He drove the rest of the way in silence, which the doe was very grateful for, she appreciated the momentary distraction, but she just wanted to turn her mind off for a bit before she set her pads on family soil.
A short drive later, the driver stopped at a large oak with a tire swing, marking the beginning of her family's property lines, "You sure you don't want me to drive you to the house?" he asked as he put the vehicle in park.
"Positive, burrows may be soundproofed, but we both know the kits would hear a vehicle going over the tunnels." this got a laugh from the male,
"Boy do I... I have to park in the shed just so I don't wake the kits in the middle of the night, worth the trouble to let them sleep, though. The missus would kill me if I set off the hordes at 2am!" he stated with a laugh, slapping his knee.
Judy paid the bill on her phone and handed the buck a few bills for a tip, "Thank you very much, it was a pleasant ride." she said, making her way out of and around the car, only for him to roll down his window,
"I don't want to be a bother, but..." he began in a bashful tone, to which Judy cocked an eyebrow, "Do you think I could get a picture with you?" he asked, rubbing one ear. "My kits are just huge fans, my youngest in particular practically idolizes you, it'd mean a lot to 'em."
She couldn't help but grin at the comment, and agreed. The buck stepped out and snapped his picture with a massive grin, Judy taking the same pose they'd used for posters during the Nighthowler incident. He drove off as she slowly made her way up the trail to her old home, smells and sights in the dull moonlight bringing back droves of memories, she let out a quiet, contented sigh. Memories of childhood games and injuries, heartaches and celebrations.
Her reminiscing was interrupted when her ears caught a nearly inaudible sniffle from the house she was approaching. Focusing in the dim light, she could make out a familiar, but alien outline stepping off the porch adorning the well maintained old farmhouse.
"...Mom?" she spoke quietly, getting a harder sniffle in response as the figure went from a walk to a run, its ears flicking back as it drew closer, Judy dropped her bag to the ground and picked up her own pace, momentarily colliding with the other doe, she wasn't expecting tears on both sides, but there they were. The embrace was tight enough to break ribs, Bonnie Hopps being no pushover herself, they stayed quiet for a while, enjoying the comforting contact, Bonnie's paw instinctively stroking her daughter's ears.
Paws are as soft as ever... This is nice. Righty commented softly.
"Where have you been, bun-bun?" Bonnie asked in a strangled tone, breaking the silence. "We haven't heard anything from you since you left after that nasty business with the deranged little sheep!" she said, voice breaking as she added, "We thought you'd... You'd been..." she couldn't finish the statement, Judy felt like someone drove an icy dagger through her heart, and twisted it.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't... Put you all in danger." Judy looked her mother in the eyes, trying to convey how much it had pained her to stay gone as long as she had, without so much as a word being sent home, "I promise, I'll explain everything."
Bonnie took a deep breath, putting her paws on Judy's shoulders, stepping back to give her a once-over.
"It's a long story, mom." Judy said, violet locking with violet, both watery and glazed. Bonnie, having decided she was satisfied with her daughter's condition pulled her back into a hug.
"Alright sweetheart, grab your bag... I've got tea ready in the kitchen." Bonnie said, adding with a heart-wrenching, warm smile as she brushed away the tears, "It's so good to have you home, Judy."
Nick and Judy made their way to the records department in relative silence, light patter of pad and claw echoing through the halls.
"Any idea why the records?" Judy asked, "Aside from the obvious Mole issue, I mean."
"Nah, he's probably just looking to go over whatever we've still got regarding the last incident."
Judy glanced at her fox with a curious glint in her eye, "Did they manage to recover anything from your case?"
Nick chuckled, "Our case, fluff." he corrected, before she could argue it, he added, "You may not have been on my side the entire time, but I wouldn't have closed it, much less survived it without a certain, cute little bunny." he said, giving her a sidelong glance and his trademark smirk, all but begging her to call him on the 'C' word.
Don't you dare. Righty warned, Take the compliment, and get him back later.
Fine. she conceded, ears blazing as they draped down her back. He's going to have to learn what all that teasing does eventually, you know...
We should probably include that in the uh... 'Tail' discussion. Lefty commented.
Agreed. Judy replied, the memory of the sensation alone sending a shiver through her small core.
"Cold?" Nick asked, having noticed the involuntary spasm.
On it! Tail chimed in gleefully, wrapping around the doe's waist, just in time for Bogo to open the door and see the motion, raising a brow at the mostly innocent display.
PDA buddy, PDA! he growled internally, his tail immediately flicked erratically, not exactly a smooth cover, particularly with the guilty look the fox wore before he could resume his usual relaxed expression.
But... Warm. Righty moaned in desperation, to which Judy had a difficult time arguing.
What the hell has this fox done to me? was all the otherwise professional lapin could manage in the way of congruent thought.
"...We'll discuss that later." the buffalo stated flatly.
Ah, biscuits. both fox and bunny thought.
Well, this is a great first impression. Judy thought.
You two did save each other's hides more than once in the last few months, within hours on a given instance, we can smooth that over easily enough. Lefty calmly suggested.
...Nobody said anything about fraternizing outside of work. Righty added.
Regardless, we can't walk around like that while we're on shift.
Nick was running through a similar, if more agitated line of thought.
See what you did?! he growled. I enjoy it just as much as you do, but we're going to cause trouble FOR HER if we pull crap like that on shift!
I can't help it! Tail keened, You know full-well that I'm simply carrying out your locked up desires! She was cold! It's instinct! You keep your mate warm!
That outburst caused the fox to gracelessly stumble over his own feet, drawing more unwanted attention.
She's NOT our mate!
Yet... Tail countered.
It's not a 'yet'!
That mark says otherwise, pal. Tail remarked smugly. And you clearly don't pay attention, or am I mistaking the pheromones she's been kicking off ever since that little photo-shoot in the office?
That's!... Nick attempted to argue, but couldn't, given he'd been all but drunk off the intoxicating scent all morning. A low blow. he finished.
"Judy... Why didn't you just come home?" Bonnie asked as Judy nursed her tea, the details of what she'd gone through leading up to the recent events in the isles, it took all the older doe had not to scream over what her daughter had suffered, alone. And that was with most of the finer bits omitted.
She watched her daughter with watery eyes, wishing she could un-hear what she'd learned, that she could turn back the clock and stop it all from ever taking place. As that wasn't an option, she could only agree to keep Judy's story quiet, and offer what support she could in the days to come.
"I couldn't, not without bringing a threat along." she answered, staring into her cup, "I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I put the family in danger, so I just rolled with it for a while."
Bonnie considered her daughter for a moment, knowing she wouldn't have been able to do any more than she had, given the circumstances.
"I had no idea it had gone that far, dear. When you left, you made it sound like you were just taking another job for the city, not..." Bonnie motioned vaguely with her paws to get the words out, "Leaping headfirst into a mess big enough to bury an elephant."
Judy sipped at her tea, she couldn't bring herself to look her mother in the eye, just then. "I wanted to tell you, at least let you know I wasn't... You know." she murmured,
"And leaving us wondering was so much better?" Bonnie cut in, a little more harshly than she intended, causing Judy to flinch at the sharp tone.
"I'm sorry, I really am..." she managed past a sniffle.
Bonnie took a slow breath before speaking again, "I understand, sweetheart, I really do. I just wish it had never come to that to begin with." the older doe said with a softer tone.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Bonnie asked the one question she was most curious about. "Well, tell me a bit more about this 'Nick' fellow, he seems like an honest buck, from what you've told me, and he must be well put together if he's working for the bureau." the question got a tiny smirk from Judy, who'd... Neglected to give specific details on the other agent involved in the OhNo case.
"I uh... never said he was a bunny?" Judy sheepishly commented, getting a questioning look as a result.
"Hare?" Bonnie pressed.
"Not exactly..."
"There aren't exactly many other forms of lapin in the world, bun-bun." Bonnie said with an amused tone, to which Judy gave an awkward smile, as she pulled out her phone, unlocked it and passed it to her mother.
Bonnie cocked a brow at the picture before her features melted into a warm smile, "He's the one that helped get you out of that mess?" Judy nodded, ears falling to the side a bit as she relaxed. Bonnie passed the phone back, saying in a lighthearted tone, "Not what I was expecting..."
"He's really sweet, and he just about took off his coworker's arm trying to keep me safe. At least, that's what one of the other agents said, off the record." this statement got a concerned look from the older doe, "He's not dangerous!" Judy quickly blurted out, "We were both injured! He was just... just..."
"Running on instinct." Bonnie said with a matter-of-fact tone, Judy just screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the 'he's dangerous' speech to come.
It didn't. In fact, when she tentatively opened one eye to get a gauge on Bonnie's view on the matter, she was met with a warm smile.
"I'll have to find a proper way to thank him. Assuming you're planning on making him a regular installment in your life?"
"I..." she began, at a loss for words at the moment, she finally managed, "I'd like to, but I don't know if he's really going to be interested like that."
Bonnie couldn't contain herself any longer, and started giggling at her daughter's bashfulness. "You've already marked each other, dear... I'd say he's very much interested like that." Judy's eyes flashed open, one twitching slightly at the statement.
"We've worked with Gideon long enough to know what a fox smells like, sweetheart, and I can smell it on you. Marks don't fade easily, bun. That's why we use them for our kits, too."
Bonnie gave her speechless daughter a devilish grin as she followed it up, "And marks aside, from the way your scent changed when you spoke about him, you'll be getting a crash course in kit-care before long... You two tie the knot yet?"
Judy's jaw dropped as she tripped over her tongue, trying to form words to state the contrary. "MOM!" she managed to avoid yelling, followed by, "We haven't-..."
"It's-..."
"We-..."
"I-..."
"..."
"MOM!"
Bonnie put her paws to her muzzle to muffle her growing laughter. Once somewhat composed- with a very flustered Judy staring at her, mouth agape, Bonnie simply waved a paw, "Relax, sweetheart. I'm only teasing, I know you won't go brooding anytime soon... You'll have plenty of time for that after you two have spent a few good years together."
Judy's jaw, surprisingly, dropped even further than before. "You're okay with it? Me and him, I mean?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Bonnie asked.
"I... don't know?"
"There you go, sweetheart. Neither do I." her mother stated plainly, "But if he effectively went savage when he knew you were in danger, then I'm sure you'll be safe with him by your side. That's all a mother can ask for." The older doe smiled as they stood and embraced, "Get some sleep dear, your father's going to want to see you in the morning, before he starts the harvest."
Judy and Nick stepped through the door, both silently warring with themselves, and did their best to focus on the task at hand.
"So, what's the latest?" Nick began, getting a grunt from the buffalo and a grim sigh from Wolfard, who'd taken his seat as acting correspondent for primary records.
"Ralph?" Bogo said, immediately putting Nick into a curious state.
Ralph?
Oh boy... Tail replied, He's already using first names? This can't be good.
No kidding.
Wolfard nodded, pulling out a very familiar envelope from the desk. It was Nick's report on OhNo, and it was empty. "The reason I called you two in here." Bogo began, speaking intermittently as Wolfard moved. Next came Judy's deposition, again, empty.
"The only files being removed..." Bogo said as Wolfard continued pulling files from cases involving Winter and Savage, all barren, Nicks ears drawing back further with each file, Judy's having long since drooped down her back.
"Are strictly related to you two..." Bogo continued, the wolf now pulling out a snow white vixen's files while Judy and Nick gave each other a sidelong glance, "Skye Winter." another stack, sporting a striped bunny buck, "And Jack Savage."
Wolfard pulled out several full files, untouched and apparently unwanted, some of which were his own. "Everything else is tamper free."
"What about electronic records?" Judy offered.
Wolfard just let out a humorless laugh, turned the monitor and began cycling through empty folder after empty folder, all under the four listed names, followed by complete files under various other mammals, including Wolfard himself.
Bogo made a very simple statement, "Whoever this is, is interested in the four of you and likely has ties with the same mammal that was acting during miss Hopps' dismissal during the Nighthowler incident. Has taken interest in those she's been associating with, which- with Wilde involved, includes Savage and Winter by proxy. They may simply have a vendetta against foxes and rabbits for all we know."
Nick whistled, "So, what... We've got a deranged, obsessive turncoat and a hacker?" the fox said,
"What makes you think it's not the same mammal, Wilde?" Bogo asked.
"Singular Specialized Training." Judy chimed in, getting a surprised look from the two larger mammals, "Unless you're selected for extreme work overseas, you rarely get trained in multiple specialties, and with the upkeep involved in hacking techniques, it's highly unlikely that any one agent would be trained to hack into our systems-" she turned to Bogo, "You mentioned everything related to recent cases being locked down to agent Wolfard's personal terminal and discretion." she turned back to the wolf, "As well as general espionage involving physical tasks, i.e. breaking into this room without leaving so much as a hair, much less avoiding every mammal in the building and avoiding the 24 hour surveillance."
She paused momentarily giving Nick an opening to add, "Not to mention disabling active camera feeds to leave the room- for all intents and purposes, uninhabited at the time of entry."
Bogo glanced between the two small agents, who were currently exchanging a smirk- Wilde topping it off with a wink, then toward Wolfard, "Well, I can see how you two ended up cooperating in the isles..." the buffalo mumbled to himself before addressing them, "An excellent theory." the two grinned wider. "Put it to the test."
They exchanged a less haughty, but equally determined look, answering in unison, "Yes, sir!" before they left the room.
"That... Was almost disturbing." Wolfard commented, getting a reluctant nod from Bogo,
"Let's see if they can maintain it. I may have given Savage and Winter a break on their..." The buffalo paused, choosing his next words with care, "Relationship. But I was also able to personally witness how well they work together, reports are all well and good, but I'm not placing bets until I see these two in action." Bogo sighed as he exited the room, stopping briefly in the doorway. "It's not a reflection on Wilde, Ralph. We both know all too well how quickly things can turn sour when agents involve more than their wits in a case's outcome, and come up short."
"They'll pull it off, Adrian. Wilde's first case may have been a lucky streak, but it was backed up with appropriate, necessary decisions." Wolfard snorted, adding, "And that bunny- Hopps, has seen enough action to keep him on track if he actually steps off the rails."
Bogo gave the wolf a nod, "Let's hope so. Keep them as informed as you can, and keep me updated."
"Yes, sir."
Unbeknownst to the room, a tiny set of eyes watched from one of the cameras, tail flicking nervously, shame and guilt gnawing at the tiny mammal's psyche.
"I can't keep this up any longer..."