This story is a sequel to "Wolf in Hero's Clothing". If you wish to read this, I strongly recommend you begin there, simply click on my name and it'll pop up. If you already read it, then you're probably wondering why this took so long: procrastination and school. This continuation takes place several years later, hope you enjoy.


The stinging white lights shined down on me from high above, security cameras overseeing every inch of the enormous building. Gritty, black carpet covered the whole floor, the kind used for floor mats. Shelves divided the facility into segments, making it easier to find what you needed. Constant beeping noises echoed from the many cash registers located on one end of the store. What I needed was near the back end of the building, a small segment of a shelf rested there, visited seldom by few. I approached the shelf and stared for a moment. I've come here every two months for the past couple years, and I'm honestly glad. I grasped an opaque bottle off the shelf and pulled it to my side.

"Good morning." My hoarse voice coughed up to a bear walking towards me. I hate when you haven't spoken for a bit and it sounds like a dying mammal when you finally do. The bear simply gave a half assed smile and nodded slightly before taking his place right next to me, he was surely dressed nice for the occasion, a black suit, the kind you'd see at weddings or something.

"Excuse me." He said, gesturing for me to move with his paw. I slid to the side and watched as he moved his paw over the same bottle I held, lowering it to his side.

"Wait." I interrupted him as he turned to leave, he hesitated but turned to face me. A feeling was pushing into my mind, making my stomach feel strange. "Who are those for?" I tilted my head.

"A friend." He gave another smile, this time a better one, with the exception of his acting ability.

"Well, good day." I let him go and began pacing around the back of the shelves to get to the checkout. There was around a dozen lines with a short wait in front of each, two customers were in front of me, a yak and a bunny.

"Since when were these $49? They were $39 last month!" The yak exclaimed acerbically. Instead of continuing his rant, the yak coughed the cash up and left. I inspected the other lines, not able to spot the suited bear from a few moments ago. Whoever those pills were for must be important. It rather quickly became my turn to chuck over some cash. Without a word spoken I placed my pills on the counter. The cashier was a wolf, like myself, but dark furred with lighter fur around her face, while I have solid white fur, and she was rather below average height. She took the pills from the counter and rung them up: $129.99.

"Alexander Howard?" She asked softly. I squinted my eyes in confusion and looked her in the face before nodding slightly. "You deserved better." She whispered sympathetically.

"Deserved what better?" I jeered, but kept my voice down.

"Everything." She slid me the bottle of pills. "I remember your speech from the ceremony, what's it been, four, five years?" She searched the ceiling for the answer.

"Yeah, I got dealt a bad hand, shit happens I guess." I placed the bottle in my pocket and looked off to the glass doors that let in the only bit of sunshine, there was no windows in the place.

"A hero pays a cost without expecting a reward. That doesn't mean they shouldn't get one." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh I got a reward all right. A hell hole surrounded by brain dead morons who dump these damn pills down their throat, myself included, and it's all my fault." I scolded myself.

"It's not all your fault." She interrupted, leaning onto the counter with her elbows.

"I did the right thing, and look where that landed me. Right... FUCKING HERE!" I gave in on being fatalistic, stepping closer to the counter, everyone in the store had their eyes glued on me. The cashier flinched, and stumbled backwards. "Compared to this, suicide is a fuckin nature walk!" So much for not having a strident voice. I paused in silence, two officers paced towards me, ready to exercise their authority. "I'm sorry..." I sighed as they each grasped one of my shoulders.

"Let's go!" They said sternly, I didn't hesitate to follow them to the exit. With a light shove, the two guards released me into the street.

"See you next month." One of them taunted before they both re-entered the building.

"Two months for me, bitch." I whispered to myself, looking at the closed glass doors. I sighed heavily before I began my trek home. My breathing was still shaky, hands uncontrollably twitching, luckily my fur began to rest itself. Mammals polluted the sidewalk, each one stealing my attention more than the last, my eyes blinked a few times, but I couldn't help it.

Two prosthetic legs held up a goat as he lurked away. A Lion in a tank-top stared me down as he stalked past, making my fur began to stand again. I shot my vision downwards to avoid eye contact by the dozens, however, a pair of feet, somewhat small, followed closely behind me, just slightly to the side. I picked my up pace a little, but to no success the two feet kept up. I reached a crosswalk, everyone halted as we waited for passage. My legs spun me around and I threw my paws out against the perpetrator's chest. I lifted the bunny from the ground with both paws grappled around his shirt.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" I screamed, a few gasps shooting up around from the crowd.

"Yo-your fr-friend sent me!" He flinched, a high pitched, yet scratchy voice shouted out, closing one eye on instinct. "Judy Hopps?" He clarified. "She wanted me to inform you that a dear friend has awaken in the hospital!" He explained quickly. I slowly bent my legs and arched my back, placing the aged bunny down on the ground.

"Nick." I whispered to myself, looking at the ground. Was this time real?

"That's him." He said almost fast enough to interrupt me. "Move along everyone, it's okay!" He instructed the small crowd that gathered around, to my relief, they listened, and began to dissipate.

"May I ask who you are?" I raised an eyebrow. He was too old to be a friend of Judy's, at least I thought.

"I'm Judy's great uncle, Hugh." He smiled with his teeth wide.

"Got a ride?" I asked, looking to the street.

"Hospital is only a five minute walk, convenient for the government's side of things." He smiled, walking past me onto the crosswalk.

"Yeah." I sighed, "How come Judy didn't text or call me?"

"You didn't answer." He shrugged happily. "Your phone and my calls." What? "I was yelling out your name from behind, I even tugged on the back of your attire, but to no avail!" His eyebrows flew up in confusion.

"Shit, I'm sorry." I apologized and took the bottle out from my pocket, unscrewing it and popping one pill into my hand. "If I skip my meds I can sometimes get a little..." I droned on, searching for the right word. "Strange." That fits I guess. My senses can be a bit wonky at times if I don't take them, not to mention paranoia.

"Do me a favor, don't. Just for today?" He chuckled softly. "What about before the meds, therapy?" Now that I think about it, it wasn't much different, just a few hiccups here and there.

"Before? Meh, as much as I hate these, I need them." I clutched the bottle of pills in my paw. "Are you, uhh, normal?" I asked hesitantly, felt strange asking. I ended up putting dropping the pill back with the others, if it makes up for being a psycho to this poor guy.

"No of course not, not many folks nowadays are what we used to call normal, expensive or not, mammals will take out loans, have their families pitch in, or work day in and day out for months just to afford being the today's normal." He laughed, "I know someone who quit college so they could get a prosthetic arm! It wasn't even missing, they just wanted a better one! Also this other time—"

"Whoa, whoa, relax." I held out two paws to him and stopped walking. "So what'd they do to you?" I observed him.

"Well you see, almost four years ago I was a dying man!" He beamed as if that was a good thing, before hunching over and acting frail, "Like this you see!" His legs shot him up a few feet before he landed back up straight, holding him up mighty. "Then I was saved! not only was my cancer gone, but I was healthier than ever!" He let out a sigh before taking short, quick breaths.

"Right..." I could see the hospital, I began walking faster, not wanting to wait any longer.

"I remember somewhat forty years ago, when the place was being built, or rebuilt at least. The place had burned down, wanting nothing but the lives of the innocent, and my mother could not get treatment." Hugh recalled, pointing to the hospital. The both of us had slowed down our pace, as most do when they talk.

"Anything serious?" I asked, surely his mother would've just found care elsewhere, right?

"Of course! The building was on fire, it stole the very lives of—"

"I meant your mother." I said, a bit agitated. Hugh talks a lot, and that'd be fine if he wasn't so jumpy, or it was a tad bit more interesting.

"Oh, pfft, of course! Nothing more than a terrible cold, she could wrestle a bear! I remember the one time she mistook me for an intruder, so I know first hand." Hugh beamed.

"How the hell does your mother mistake you for an intruder?" I asked skeptically.

"Well you see, I had just turned thirteen I believe, and the birthday party was settling down." What the fuck. "The dark, glowing night had awoke, setting the sun. My grandfather was outside finishing the final conversations with the party guests before they would leave. I as well was outside, however I grew bored of the 'Goodbye's and 'I love you's, so I headed inside as well. The cake wasn't enough to satisfy my appetite for such a day, and I found myself in the kitchen. I opened the fridge and retrieved an apple, licking my lips in anticipation, the only light in the room was the moon and the fridge. My mother, who just a minute prior, was alone in the home, asked from a few feet behind where she was. I closed the fridge and jokingly told her she was in Zootopia, a city we didn't reside in at the time."

"Why did she ask where she was?" I raised an eyebrow.

"She wasn't the brightest of individuals." He looked at the ground, almost in shame. "'I'm joking, you're at home.' I reassured her. It was only at this time that moonlight bounced off of the knife clutched tight in my mother's hand. 'I warned you to stay away from me.' was the last thing she said before she lunged at me. I was cut across the arm, then th-the cheek, th-th-then..." Hugh's voice trembled before falling to nothing more than troubled breaths. I felt my heart beating rather quickly, that hit me harder than it should have.

"You okay?" I asked genuinely concerned.

"Y-yes." Hugh stopped walking entirely and hunched over, staring at the ground. "I just look a lot like my father." I knelt down next to the old bunny, he was at least twice my age, but I pushed the awkward part away.

"Hey..." I said with a smile, "Let's go inside and meet Judy, she'll cheer you up." I patted his back and straightened myself upward. I opened the hospital door for him, the two of us approached the counter, where a familiar face resided.

"You know where his room is." The pig said calmly, looking at the two of us. "Didn't think I'd ever see you back here again." I gave a light salute with two claws before taking the lead to the elevators, there was no wait, luckily.

"So Hugh, did you get to meet Nick?" I pushed the fourth floor button.

"Only for a few moments." Hugh said softly. "Seems like a nice individual, although shaken." The bunny pulled up his sleeve gently, looking at his watch. "I have to meet someone in an hour, so I won't be around for long."

"I'm sure Judy won't let you leave, she wouldn't want to be left alone with two psychopaths, who you meetin?" I casually joked.

"Therapist." Hugh shot out instantly. "You're not quite there yet, I know from experience." He frowned and narrowed his eyes. He was the happiest person I've ever seen five minutes ago. "We were in the golden age of the world five years ago. As mammals we've lost so much since then, and many fail to see the true light of day." Hugh mumbled. "The horrid truth is that we are all destined to be zombies. A perfectly healthy young individual with no need for modifications? Stage a hit and run, who cares. Happens every fuckin day." He jeered, crossing his arms. Was Hugh going on a rant? I wonder how much he really knows, or thinks at least.

"They'd never do such a thing, why would they?" It wasn't too obvious that my view was a flat out lie.

"You mammals today are so ignorant, those meds you take are nothing but poison for the soul. They will stop at nothing to trap you all in a box labeled 'Toys', just like that damn panda wanted in the first place!" Hugh stomped his foot and scowled at me. The elevator doors opened and I looked both ways down the hall. "Go on now, Alex." Hugh pressed the first floor button. "Do me a favor, don't take your meds." He said frankly, guess he didn't want to stick around, not my problem. I strolled down the brightly lit hall, passing room after room. I stopped and looked at the sign, the same exact room he was in last time we got the news. About three years ago we were told he may wake up, Judy and I sat for hours and hours, nothing to come of it. I pulled the door handle and gently pushed inwards, peeking my head through the door.

"Well I'll be damned." I opened the door to it's full extent and stepped inside, closing it behind me. Judy was sitting on the bed next to Nick, who lied back, looking exhausted, regardless of his sleep schedule.

"Hey." Nick said softly with a light smile, he was so fatigued. I stopped right next to the bed, staring down at the fox. I leaned down and sunk my arms under his back, his head resting on my shoulder.

"You bastard." I breathed, an emotional chuckle escaping my throat. I heard a click and dropped Nick back to the bed. Judy held in a snicker as I tried to swipe her phone. "Gimme." I laughed and reached for it again.

"Nothing to be scared off." Judy teased.

"True." I smiled and rubbed my chin. The door handle creaked, revealing another familiar face, a tall, broad figure stood in the doorway.

"IVAN!" Judy shouted and bounced off the bed, making Nick and I's ears drop from the noise. Ivan stood in the doorway as Judy slammed into him.

"Did I lose her?" Nick whispered from next to me. I looked at him with a stern face and nodded slowly.

"Joking, all yours." I winked, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.

"Where've you been!" Judy beamed up to the gray haired jaguar. We've kept in touch, but not enough. I haven't seen him in well over a year, not sure about Judy on the other hand.

"I'm sorry for the absence." Ivan avoided eye contact. "I've been making my place in the world." He smiled warmly. Ivan made his way to the bed, passing up Judy and I. "And who do we have here." He leaned down slightly. "Sleep well?" Judy jokingly punched the jaguar in the leg.

"I missed so much." Nick said, his voice lingered with guilt.

"Yeah, except your birthdays, we came here every year for it, in fact, your birthday is here in the next month!" Judy comforted him.

"Thanks guys." Nick rested his head further into the pillow.

"How would you guys like to celebrate? I make some pretty mean pasta, shrimp, broccoli, garlic bread..." Ivan said seductively, causing us all to giggle.

"Why not?" Judy responded.

"There goes Judy's diet." I teased, humor to all but her.

"I'm not on a diet." She scolded me, leaning on my leg with one paw. The door opened for the third time and in came two nurses, a goat and a pig.

"He awakens!" They said close to unison. The goat placed a small folding table next to the bed, and the other laid a tray out, littered with pills. I stared at the bottles as the two nurses propped Nick up.

"We will be right back, then we can get you situated." The pig said before the two nurses left.

"Can you walk?" I asked Nick carefully. He looked around in confusion before shrugging.

...

I plopped Nick down in the backseat of Judy's car and sat next to him. Judy took the front seat and Ivan returned to his car.

"Go, go!" I said with a giddy smile on my face. Judy sped off as two nurses watched from the hospital.

"Why did we leave again?" Nick asked, not completely convinced that was a good idea.

"You don't need those meds, you just need plenty of rest and proper nutrients. Not to mention us." I assured the fox, ruffing up the top of his head.

"Right." Nick said, still unconvinced. "But what if I do need them?"

"Let's eat at Ivan's then we can discuss it." Judy interrupted us.

"Alright." Nick sighed and rested his head on my leg. The sun was slowly slipping away as we passed through central Zootopia into the Rainforest district. Judy's car followed behind Ivan's, as for all we knew, he could've moved since we last saw him.

"I like the new car and all, but it seems smaller than the other." I commented, adjusting my legs to achieve better comfort.

"My pillow won't stop moving." Nick pouted. The car came to a slow halt in front of Ivan's home, the same as it was. I dropped Nick's head to the car seat, earning a grunt as I exited the car. I approached Ivan who was standing next to his car.

"See you made some changes." I said, noticing no changes at all.

"Nothing has changed except for the inhabitants." He said, tapping his chest.

"How are the kids?" I asked, stuffing my hands in my pockets, it wasn't the hottest day of the year.

"Smart, quiet, just like how I once was." Ivan placed a cigarette in between his fingers.

"You're a smoker?" I smiled slightly as he pulled out his lighter, narrowing my eyes.

"Better than what I used to do." He sighed.

"Didn't take you for an addict." I joked, the both of us gazing upon his house.

"If by addict you mean murderer, then yeah, I didn't either." Ivan passed me the cigarette, which I didn't mind taking. "Addicts never truly quit, they just hold back as much as they can, until one day, they let go." There are exceptions to that, but yeah, a lot of addictions are seemingly impossible to fix. Ivan is holding back, surely.

"So how are you 'making your place in the world'?" I slowly exhaled smoke into the air.

"Well I manage a prosthetic lab. High paying, stable, safe, everything a mammal could wish for." Ivan held his hand out, I accommodated with his cigarette. "There you two are, let's head inside, I can introduce Nick to my cubs." Ivan turned to face Nick and Judy.

"I've met them before, you know." Nick corrects him.

"You don't even know their names." Ivan rebutted.

"Why do I have to prop Nick up, he's too heavy." She complained as Nick used her for support.

"Sorry, I haven't walked in half a decade, not to mention I feel drunk, but without the fun part." Nick stuck his tongue out. I took Judy's place and swiped Nick up off the ground with a swift paw under his knees, him only being half my size makes it easy.

"Up you go." I cradled him like baby. Judy giggled and walked next to me as we approached the front door.

"Seriously Alex, stop." Nick tried to say with a straight face.

"Aww, his first words!" I beamed, making Nick frown. Ivan unlocked the front door and let us all push inside. I let Nick to his own legs and let him use me as support, his kids may ask a few questions if I didn't.

"Jesse, Jane, I'm home!" Ivan shouted out across the giant home, both of them swiftly arriving around the corner of the living room's large arched entrance. The dark, solid wood floors, and the somewhat gloomy, yet sophisticated absence of light was a theme around the home, especially the ceiling, all reminded me of what happened here all that time ago, it looks exactly the same. Anyways, sorry for side tracking, I haven't seen the kids in almost two years. Jane was dark furred with similar colored spots and Jesse bared the same colored fur, but darker, more noticeable spots. They were both exactly the same size, build, everything except for height, Jesse was somewhat short and Jane was a little taller, both of them not meeting me or Ivan's eyes. If you couldn't have guessed already, they were twins.

"Welcome home Ivan." They both said in unison. Okay, that's a bit weird.

"I've brought guests, you've begin dinner, yes?" Ivan asked, taking my jacket off for me.

"Yes, father." Jane said. Ivan handed Jesse the jacket and without a word he hung it on the coat rack a couple feet away.

"Shall we head to the kitchen?" Ivan motioned down the hall, walking behind his kids as they made their way there as well.

"Hey." Nick leaned on me to slow my pace, even though he already was. "Ivan's kids seem a little strange." A paw separating his words from Judy and Ivan.

"There are two types of rich kids, those that are snobby and think they own the world, and the kind that are respectful and know the world doesn't take shit from anyone." I explained, sure Ivan's kids seemed strange to us, we've never had kids, and his are held to a higher standard, I presume.

"Right." He murmured. "Alex, are you sure I didn't need anything medicine related?" Not this again.

"What would you possibly need?" I proposed a question, a reassuring one. We entered the kitchen, the three of us watching as Ivan and his kids prepared dinner in their super kitchen.

"Someone likes cooking." Judy teased, approaching the Jesse and Jane as they prepared plates, Ivan working the stove.

"Mother taught us a lot." Jesse responded blandly as he carefully organized shrimp, beans, and broccoli on a ceramic plate.

"I've never met your mother, is she nice?" Judy questioned softly, just loud enough to be heard by me over the raging sounds of the stove.

"If I say yes will you leave me alone?" He whispered harshly. I was ten feet away and could hear him. Ouch.

"Okay for starters, Jesse, Jane, you remember these folks?" Ivan shut off the stove to face everyone

"The bunny that tried to kill you?" Jesse crossed his arms.

"Jesse." Ivan spoke sternly, but quiet. "Be respectful."

"I remember the fox." Jane nodded slowly and studied us.

"This is Nick, Alex, and Judy." Ivan motioned to each of us. "We welcome them here in our home today as celebration for Nick's awake from a five year coma, and as an apology for my absence in smaller matters." He explained. Ivan isn't obligated to be our friend, but he chose to, and in the past couple years I've only seen him a handful of times, but each one was memorable. "Nick, Judy, Alex, would you three take your seats here." He stepped behind one side of the dining table with three chairs. "Jesse, Jane." He pointed to the two chairs on the opposing side, with one in between for him obviously. They were both quick to take their seats. All five of us sat in silence as Ivan carefully lowered plate after plate onto the table. Smiles plastered among our faces.

"I'll pass on the shrimp." Judy interjected as Ivan lowered her plate.

"Of course, Jesse, would you please put this shrimp back." Ivan handed him the plate. A beeping caught Ivan off guard. "Excuse me, it's my mother, you all can begin eating." He held his phone right outside of his pocket before jogging off. Jesse placed Judy's plate back down without shrimp.

"Thank you." Jesse had no response and returned to his seat. We all ate slowly, regardless of how good it was, preserving the silence that would otherwise be interrupted by monstrous chewing. Jesse and Jane paid no attention to us, not even making eye contact.

"So, how old are you two?" I asked after swallowing, I normally would just talk with a mouth full, but not at a fancy diner. After another few moments I decided to try again. "The food is great, where'd you two learn to cook?" I asked before taking another bite of shrimp, I figured it was their mother since Judy had already proposed a similar question, but it's a conversation starter I guess.

"Why do you care?" Jesse looked away, possibly for Ivan. Someone isn't too used to conversation.

"I'm just being friendly." I said politely with a smile.

"No one asked you to." He stood up and opened the fridge. Jesse must have a lot of friends.

"Just answer the goddamn question." I scolded him, taking another bite of shrimp.

"Our mother did, she taught us a lot." Jane intercepted, sitting up straight.

"Jane, you don't have to give in to these mammals." Jesse slammed the fridge door.

"This fox here saved your father's life, the least you can do is act like you care." I lowered my voice. My brain began visualizing what happened, I blinked a few times, but from the kitchen I could see the living room.

"From the bunny sitting right next to him." Jesse snorted.

"How's the food?" Ivan reentered the kitchen, startling us.

"It's great, where is the restroom?" I asked rather quickly, getting to my feet. "The shrimp is my favorite."

"Go around the corner, up the stairs, down the hall to the left, first door on the left.." He instructed. Big house, I know.

"I shall be back shortly." I patted Ivan on the shoulder as I passed into the living room, I looked at the ground to avoid seeing my brain's torture, I brushed right past Judy, who was holding a gun in the arch way, she wasn't really there. I climbed the stairs near the front door onto the double sided balcony, Ivan's cubs, much younger, were knelt against the wooden poles. I moved on and found the turning point, which lead to walled corridor. I opened the first door on the left and stepped inside. I didn't bother to turn on the lights, my night vision was sufficient enough. The toilet was freezing, so I gently placed a towel over it, several of them stacked on the bathroom's counter. It was a pretty nice bathroom, the master bedroom's is probably by far better, but I'd take this over the one I have any day. I ran a paw through the fur on my head and took a deep breath, my meds would solve all of this.

"Here, let me show you something…" I heard Ivan from the kitchen, super hearing was quite invasive. "Oh, Jesse, could you grab my phone for me? I left it in my bedroom." Ivan requested. Didn't realize he went all the way upstairs to talk to his mom.

"Yes father." He muttered back, discontent as little as he could be. Jesse doesn't want to upset Ivan, I can tell, if he could, he definitely would though. I took my pills out from my pocket and looked at them, my eyes began to pace around the cylinder of paper plastered around it, studying the labels. I should take them. I may act out again or something. I looked up from the pills at the bathroom mirror, which was across from the toilet, my head poked up just enough to see myself. The voices I should be hearing were gone. Ivan's, Nick's, Judy's, there was no way that all three of them were silent. I lifted my foot and tapped it against the ground, nothing. I quickly began unscrewing the bottle of pills. I heard a thump in my head, pausing my body entirely. Thump. They began to grow a little louder, there were multiple thumps, varying in volume. I flung my head around the bathroom, looking for the source of sound. My ears cowered behind my head as the sound of glass shattering flared my senses.

"Show your hands!" I quickly ran to the bathroom door, grabbing the knob and opening the door.

"Down on the ground!" I stalked over to the balcony very cautiously. I could see the kitchen from here. There were soldiers, armed soldiers, military soldiers.

"Do what we say and no one gets hurt." One of them said more smoothly.

"Where is he?" I heard a soldier demand to Ivan, holding him by the collar. "Where?" He shook him a bit.

"Who?" Ivan acted scared, he wasn't the kind to be scared, for his kids, maybe.

"The wolf." My ears shot up, my eyes widened. "Alexander." The soldier stuck his neck out, turning his head as he finished the name.

"He left early, had somewhere to be." He claimed. I sighed gently, at least Ivan was covering for me.

"Bullshit." The soldier let Ivan drop back down to the kitchen floor. "No one left, we watch." The soldier said informally. "You three, search upstairs, stick together, you three, basement, don't leave each other's sides, this one is tricky." The soldier instructed. I looked across balcony to the single room on the other side. Peering out from the pitch black room was Jesse. His eyes were gleaming with fear. I swiftly, but silently paced across the floor, keeping my body low and my legs bent. I made it to the master bedroom door and closed it behind me, Jesse backed up to accommodate.

"Listen to me, you are going to exactly what I say, okay?" I tried to put my hands on his shoulders for emphasis, but he wriggled backwards.

"Jane and father—" In a split second I put one hand behind his head and one over his mouth.

"They're in trouble, yes." I finished for him, whispering instead. "Follow me." I took the lead around the enormous room and found the bathroom. I stalked inside, light from the skylight lit the room, but barely, as the sun was being lowered into the horizon, this one by far better than the other bathroom. Jesse was hesitant, but followed me. I quickly observed the room. "Aha." I murmured and climbed into the tub to access a window. I pulled up the blinds and quickly undid the locks. I used my claw to slowly cut into the screen. After a small hole was formed I used both paws to tear it open, taking the screen out could cause too much noise.

"What are you doing?" Jesse exclaimed with a whisper, we've all heard it before.

"What Ivan would want." I stuck one leg through the window, leaving it dangling outside. "Your next." I prepared him before sticking my other leg out, bending it under itself to fit it past the frame. I then gently pulled on the frame with my paws and slide out, taking air for only a second before rolling across the grass. Perfection. I looked back up to the window to see Jesse hasn't even started his grand escape. "Jesse!" I clenched my fist, keeping my voice as low as I could. After a short moment I saw a leg stick out the window, then another.

"What if I hurt my legs?" He asked from above.

"I'll catch you." I slumped my shoulders. Kids these days.

"Don't." He refuted. Make up your damn mind. As Jesse pushed his upper body out the window, he descended to the grass. He landed with an "Oof" and fell to his stomach. "Let's move."

"I think I hurt my leg." Jesse whimpered.

"For fucks sake, get up." I rolled my eyes. He sat up and stared at his leg. "Fine." I ducked down and flung Jesse over my shoulder.

"HEY! Let me go!" He hit me on the back. I began sprinting as fast as my legs could, no doubt it wouldn't be long before they realized we weren't in the house, if they hadn't already heard Jesse. "You can't do this!" He yelled.

"Try telling that to the armed soldiers that just broke into your house." I deadpanned. "At least I'm doing you a favor."

"Fuck you." Jesse growled and kept hitting me in the back.

"Big boy language, I like it." I panted and slowed to a jog, as I was growing tired. We were a good block away from the house at this point. "Do your legs work or not?" I took large breaths.

"Yes." He crossed his arms on my back.

"If I put you down are you going to do something stupid?"

"No." I stopped jogging and bent forward, setting him on his legs. I straightened back up and Jesse stood in front of me. His leg swung up but I quickly caught it in my paw, only arching my back a little bit. I scowled at him for a moment, he was fearful. I dropped his leg and walked past him. I think a mix of tough guy act and being 'nice' might work. Jesse's steps sounded softly behind me as we entered a tunnel to Central Zootopia. As we passed through the dimly lit tunnel, the majority of the light came from the passing cars, concealing my identity, just in case. I slowed my pace and began thinking about what had happened. What did the military want to do with us? That was them for sure, and they didn't stop by to say hello.

"HELP ME!" My back hair shot up in shock. Jesse sprinted onto the tunnel road, leaving the sidewalk and I behind. A car slammed on the breaks and halted before him, a cop car. A tiger police officer exited the passenger seat, hand on his holster, which held a gun, what ever happened to tranquilizers? The driver backed the cruiser closer to the sidewalk to prevent impeding the traffic. "Help me." Jesse said quieter to the officer, pointing at me.

"Paws where I can see them sir." The tiger said, the goat officer, who was driving, whipped out his flashlight and blinded me. "Well I'll be damned. I didn't take you that kind of guy, Alex." The tiger half smiled. I'm an officer myself, after all. They both did their best to not snicker.

"I'm taking care of him. He just doesn't like it." I narrowed my eyes even though the flashlight had been removed.

"Ummmm, yeah, Alexander Howlard, last seen entering the jaguar's residence…" I looked at the police cruiser barely ten feet down the sidewalk, luckily only I could hear that.

"Can I see your ID?" The tiger asked.

"No." I said, looking him in the eyes. The goat was closer to the police cruiser with Jesse, due to suspicion.

"Alex, I need to look a few things up, then you can be on your way, that's all." He assured me.

"That kid doesn't belong to you." I stepped closer.

"Remain where you are, he doesn't belong to you either, sir." The tiger said sternly, no more calling me by name? That's fine with me.

"Ivan isn't available." I gritted my teeth, the tiger seemed to spark at this.

"Oh yeah, Ivan. See if you can get a hold of Ivan." He told the goat, who took Jesse back to the police cruiser.

"No." I stepped forward, and within a swift motion, a pistol barrel was only a foot from my face. The tiger backed up a few feet instantly.

"Turn around, now." His voice was shaken, he was nervous, he knew who I was.

"Listen here motherfucker —" I paced forward, pointing a finger at him. The tiger's muscles tensed. BANG! I ducked under the whizzing line of fire and tackled him to the road. Grunts and growls escaped the both of us as we tumbled and turned. The tiger ended up above me, and raised a claw. His paw collided with mine, placing my free paw under his extended arm. With a swift force I bent his elbow inwards, and he collapsed backwards. He quickly realized his mistake to retreat, as his pistol was only a couple feet away. I rolled sideways and retrieved it, positioning myself on one knee.

"Alex, don't!" He begged. There was a small pause. "What happened to you?" He panted. I stared into his eyes. I knew him. He was a fellow officer of course, but I haven't really seen him much in years. Daniel Evans was his name, I believe. He was one of the officers who was on Ivan's case with us, or at least he was supposed to be, but he and his friend were ambushed, whom didn't make it. The goat officer had already gotten out of his car, using the door as cover with his gun drawn, yet he didn't take any course of action other than to listen.

"Here's the deal." I panted. "You two are going barefoot. The kid and I take the cruiser." I rested my head down, facing the ground.

"Put the gun down." The goat threatened.

"You and I both know I don't need this gun." I stood up and snorted. "You know why." I paced over to the goat. He lowered the gun slightly, and backed away from the car.

"Why are you doing this, at least tell us that." The goat pleaded. I slid into the driver's seat and pulled the door closed, the window already down.

"Noooo!" Jesse shout was muffled by the blocked off backseat.

"Something smells, and I just so happen to be really, really, good at smelling." I smiled smugly. "I can only trust myself to do this." I rolled up the window and slowly reversed the car, turning around into incoming traffic, holding up the cars behind me. I wasn't surprised that the goat let it go, there was no way he'd risk shooting me at that point, especially with Jesse locked in the backseat.

I silently drove through Central Zootopia, I had second thoughts about going home, no doubt if anyone wanted to find me, they'd search there. My gun was there, however, I already had one: seven bullets. Perhaps I should go to Judy or Nick's? I'm sure they have food, or at least Judy would. Nick was hospitalized for five years, and even before then he was rather busy with the shit storm that was Dr. Harris.

Eventually I pulled into Judy's driveway; her own house, still being paid off month by month, little by little for the ridiculous price. "Listen here you little sh—" I stopped myself as I opened the slot behind me. Jesse was lying down, his back facing the roof of the car, his stomach unsteadily heaving. His muffled breathing and sobbing made my heart sink. Something makes me wish I didn't have selective hearing, my brain choosing what to hear bases on factors such as if I'm thinking, in pain, focused, things like that.

I exited the vehicle and walked around the car to the passenger side. I slowly opened the door, the moonlight lighting up the top of his head. "I'm sorry you had to see that." I murmured, referring to the incident in the tunnel. "I'm sorry I made you jump out a window." I tilted my head, I paused for several seconds. "I'm sorry I kidnapped you in a stolen police cruiser." I bent my legs and rested my elbows on my knees, now eye level with Jesse, lying on his stomach, burying his head into the seat, his arms crossed in front of him. "I don't want to see you cry, if you're upset, I'm upset." I remained still for a couple minutes, doing nothing at all, my tail resting on the concrete. Jesse slowly lifted his head out from under his arms, and a sliver of his golden brown eyes could be seen through his arms.

"Are they going to be ok?" He croaked so quiet, if it wasn't for my keen hearing, I would've missed it, the crickets were loud tonight. I didn't want to say yes and then be a liar.

"Your father is the strongest mammal I've ever met, in general, and most importantly as a parent. He wouldn't give up knowing you're still out there." I smiled warmly. "Let's head inside." I nodded my head sideways, motioning to the house. Jesse lifted his head further off the seat and out from behind his arms, revealing his tear jerked eyes.

"I'm hungry." Jesse pouted, dropping his head back on the seat, his arms moving to side.

"I'm sure I have food inside." I assured him. I didn't want to bring up Judy or that it was her house because he seems to despise her, and for good reasons, as much as I hate to say it. "I can prepare something." Jesse lifted his head again. "I'm not here to hurt you." I looked down at the concrete.

"Okay." He whispered. He wasn't hiding behind his arms anymore. I very slowly moved my hand towards his face, placing my thumb below his eye, attempting to wipe away the tears buried in his fur. I pulled my hand back. I felt like a weirdo, this isn't even my kid, but my mind keeps telling me I want one.

"Let's go inside." I reiterated, getting a nod from Jesse. I approached the front door with Jesse not far behind. I put my hands in my pockets, setting the stage. "Oh no, I left my keys." I put a paw on my forehead. I then pulled out a my credit card, carefully wedging it into where the door met the frame, sliding it carefully. A click formed a smile on my face. "We're in." I pushed the door open, revealing the darkness of it's interior. Jesse closed the door as we both stalked into the home.

"What do you have to eat?" Jesse asked from behind. I didn't know what Judy had in her kitchen.

"Why don't we find out." I responded perfectly. As we moved through the dark hallway, I found the light switch on the wall. I flipped it and the living room lights beamed to life, making the both of use squint. I used the fancy adjusters to turn it down, making it dim and cozy. "Any preferences?" I asked, flipping on the kitchen lights as well.

"I love french toast." He stood at the edge of the kitchen and watched me look around.

"Let's see…" I opened cabinets and drawers. "I think you are in luck. Tell you what, go ahead and wait in the living room, turn on the TV if you want, I'll bring it to you when it's done." I got out bread, eggs, and cheese. Jesse silently returned to the living room. I mindlessly began mixing and crafting the french toast, I say mindlessly not because I'm not thinking about how I make it, but rather simply because I don't want to describe me making it, talking to you like that makes me feels weird.

As the pans sizzled and the bread burnt, I drank a glass of milk, glaring down at the stove. My eyes were heavy when I finished, I was exhausted. I haven't felt that overwhelmed in a very long time, regardless that I'm a police officer. I plated the french toast, and also got another glass of milk. Walking the small meal over to the living room, I turned off the kitcen lights before walking around the L shaped couch, I stopped. Jesse was out cold. I rested the french toast and milk down on the coffee table and knelt next to the couch. "I'll keep you safe, not only for Ivan, but for my own sanity." I breathed, brushing a paw through the fur on my head. I retracted from the living room, shutting off the lights, and once again, the house being engulfed in darkness, just like the rest of Zootopia.


Author's Note

Fuck, I finally finished… wait?! Only one chapter?! Why does this whole 'Writing' thing have to be so hard!

All joking aside, hope you enjoyed 7,000 words of talking animals. If you read this without reading the first story, then you probably said "The fuck?" verbally a couple dozen times. If you are looking forward to chapter two, stay tuned, however, it may be awhile, as this chapter took around over a week to write, but we will see. Please don't be shy to leave a review, perhaps tell me what you think about what was established in this chapter, and who you'd like to see in the next chapter.

Buckle your seat belts for next time. Goodnight.