Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I haven't written in quite some time, but I still really love a good story...can't guarantee I can write them though haha. I do hope you enjoy the story.

Don't own this...yadada.

On the Verge of Twilight

Standing at the Edge

It was strange to think how beautiful the sky looked at just this moment. The daylight hours were beginning to fade and make way for the cool, iridescent colors of the night. Everywhere, the lights of nearby cafes and restaurants were seemingly awoken from their slumber, bringing a beautiful contrast to oncoming darkness. The skyline shined with a final amber color before giving way to a deep and peaceful darkness. The nighttime almost seemed to brag to the world of its victory in stealing the last of light from the day like a proud kit after stealing a cookie and not being caught. It meant for most mammals another day gone and soon tomorrow would be upon them, whether they were prepared or not. For others, it was serene and beautiful, almost as if a forbidden dance were unfolding between the celestial bodies. Never meant to be together, yet finding a way. Therein lies the beauty of that thought. No matter how brief the time may be for the heavens, they found a way to be together.

"Heh," That last thought caused a slight chuckle, almost a scoff from the onlooker to the heavens.

"I can't believe I am somehow able to convince myself that there is some romantic metaphor that can be coupled with something as common as the sunset. I really am a great con-artist...would have been a better poet though. Might wanna consider both since I'm probably a bit crazy anyway."

The onlooker rose from the wooden bench he viewed from and began to straighten his pinstriped white and navy tie. He reached down to dust himself off before taking a moment to ensure no dirt or wood shavings had found their way into his russet-colored tail. After mentally and narcissistically confirming that it was still as beautiful as its owner, he grabbed his phone and began to walk along the pathway to the park's exit. He brought his phone closer to his muzzle and activated the button along the side of the device until an image of a fox and rabbit in ZPD officer uniforms shown on screen".

He made his way home, never raising his line of sight from the handheld device, except to ensure some sheep wasn't about to flatten him with a van. Every so often he would take his paw and swipe on the phone, alternating between news stories or Furbook. Luckily for him, his apartment wasn't very far from the park he enjoyed visiting, and he made his way home without running into anyone or nearly getting flattened by not paying attention to where he was going. He reached the door to his complex and proceeded to fetch the keys from his khaki pockets as he ascended the flights of stairs. After a couple flights he finally arrived at his room. He still remembered the old favor he had earned from his con-man days. He had made a deal with his landlord after getting him out of a scrape by getting a cop distracted with misinformation in order for him to look the other way on one of the rhino's "poker nights", thus saving him and his "entourage" some heat and profits from his gambling rings. When the rhino asked what Nick had wanted in return, he begrudgingly accepted the fox's request for some complimentary living arrangements; after all, the rent from his tenants wasn't the sole income for the landlord. He smiled thinking about some not so honest income of his own had landed him in a tight spot not so long ago. Once he became an officer however, Nick informed the landlord of his new "lease on life" and told him it was in his best interest for the house to fold in this situation. He told the landlord he would begin paying rent (albeit cheap), but in return he would not report the rhino. The landlord was not very happy about the arrangement, but he supposed with how business was picking up in the neighborhood he would be able to bring in a more lucrative crowd without the degenerates he was hosting at night. Nick smiled and chuckled lightly, remembering the handcrush..er handshake that followed the deal and opened the door to his home. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was just the right touch of cozy. Entering his modest abode, he was faced with a simple tv and couch with a few articles of clothing lazily tossed about it. Some were shirts of very vibrant, tropical colors with floral or palm prints adorning them. Another was a t-shirt with "Roaring Stones" plastered on the front, a list of upcoming tour dates on the back. The rest were some shorts or sweatpants for lounging around. The veritable amount of clothing didn't deter his trek through his den. He passed a small kitchen complete with a simple two-person table and chair set. A box of "Moo Berry" cereal complete with bowl and spoon adorned the table, ready to fulfill the morning ritual of the fox. He made his way to the bedroom and found the target of his desire...his bed. He laid his phone down on the bed and proceeded to remove his clothing and brush his teeth. The fox's long canines received most of the attention as he would only be satisfied when they glistened a pearly white. After giving himself a wide, satisfied smile, he gave his reflection a coy wink and placed the toothbrush into its place on the sink.

Making his way back to his bed he grabbed his phone and plopped down on the bed with enough force that he bounced on the mattress. He chuckled like a little kit at the action, which always seemed to bring a smile to his face. He turned the phone back on and resumed the article that had kept most of his attention on the walk home. The article read "Daring Duo Cops Prevent Avalanche of Trouble at Snow Bank of Tundra Town." He smirked mentally at whatever editor came up with that corny title. He read about how some crazy-bunny cop busted in and subdued two hyena robbers by using the socks covering their faces to tie them together and knock them to the floor. It also read about some shifty, yet devilishly handsome fox cop disguising himself as a patron and using the element of surprise to sweep another robber off his feet during the commotion. Nick smiled as he read the final page of the article:

"These two brave cops saved the day and have protected the good people of Tundra Town. Even though they may appear a strange couple, they are quite the capable and heroic cops this city always appreciates and needs. A great thanks to the efforts of officers Judy Hopps and her partner Nick Wilde."

Nick gazed at the picture that had been taken before the perpetrators were taken into custody. It was a photo of Nick wearing his aviators and his "patented" smirk while Judy leaned on him and grinned with her teeth showing and eyes beaming with pride. He couldn't help but think of the action as that of a little kit on the day of school pictures right as the photographer tells you to say cheese. He loved that smile; it reminded him of the day when he became an officer and turned over a new leaf in his life. No longer just a con fox, but an officer. He glanced over to his nightstand and at the photo in the frame on it. The picture was from the day of his graduation from the academy, Judy had climbed onto Nick's back and proceeded to take a selfie of the two of them in that moment. His feelings of finally being proud of what he was doing with his life, made him earnestly smile with her for the moment. If it were possible to capture benediction in a photograph, it would be that of what Nick had on his nightstand. With a yawn, he shut his phone's screen off and proceeded to worm his way into the bed, finding comfort in the soothing feel of the sheets and quietness of the night. He hummed softly and murmured under his breath as he drifted off to sleep,

"Tomorrow is another day to make the world a better place."