Hey guys Price here and welcome to Chapter One of Tooth and Claw! I wasn't going to start this so soon, but my mind refused to budge and would not be deterred after the stuff I wrote last time. Now, this story is a little bit different in terms of what it's about and the genres it focuses on. There's still the Romance aspect of it, but plot demands that just take a back seat at least for a little while. It'll be in a similar format to Kinesis Chronicles in that it tells two stories simultaneously: the past from around where Nick and I left off and the present. There will probably be Angst. What, you thought I'd be nice to a Character of mine? Ha, fat chance, even if they are based on me. Story is still in First Person Point of View. Anyway, this is getting long, I think it's time to get...onto the story!
Knocking at my door distracted me from what I was doing, and I sighed.
"Come in." I said, the door opening.
"Sir, can I..." Whatever the mammal wanted to say was lost when they saw what was in my paws. "Sorry, sir, if this is a bad time-"
"It's fine, Wilde. Come on in." I let a small, quiet laugh escape me as I called the mammal by their last name.
"No, sir, it can wait if it's a bad time, really." The Todd said, and I waved dismissively.
"Not a bad time, just...thinking about some things." I said, the Todd frowning. "Well come on in, have a seat. Tell me what you wanted to tell me." I placed what I was holding down, giving the Todd my attention. He hesitated still, but finally nodded and approached. He hopped up into the chair, then faced me.
"I just wanted to ask yo-" he stopped when he glanced down at what I had been holding, tilting his head. His voice cracked slightly when he did, and I winced. I reached out to take the object, but he shook his head. "It...it's fine." He said, and I glanced at him before grabbing the object and flipping it around, then pushing it closer to him.
"I can't believe it's already been ten years." I said, shaking my head. Wilde looked shocked at what I had done, before he slowly reached out and picked up the object.
"Sir, this is..." Wilde trailed off, like he felt the scene should be familiar for some reason.
"That was my graduation, some thirty years ago Wilde." I said, the Todd looking up at me in shock.
"Sir?" I smiled briefly at that, knowing he was confused.
"Nick and I had been seeing each other for about a week prior to when I went to the Academy. I was...nobody, really. We met by chance. One of my neighbor's apartments was broken into and Nick knocked on my door to ask me questions. I uh...I practically begged his parter Judy for his number when he left. He gave me an application for the Academy, and I accepted. That is a picture an old friend of mine sent me a month or so after the graduation. You can find Nick's speech in the records, actually, if you want to hear it. Probably dig up footage of the event if you searched long enough." I explained, the Todd's brow furrowing as he thought.
"He...never mentioned he was in a relationship in all the time I knew him." Wilde said, and I nodded.
"Your uncle wasn't a very outward mammal. He only told others about our relationship once, and that was over the phone on the train ride to the Academy after a she Wolf tried to hit on me. He actually said, and I quote, 'Lance Whitney belongs to me.'" Wilde just looked shocked at that, and I smiled reassuringly. "Don't feel bad about it Wilde, it was my fault everybody knew about it." I said, gesturing to the picture.
"It's not that, sir. I just...I don't know what to say." Wilde looked shocked, and his grip on the picture was tight, though it was obvious he was trying not to wrinkle it or anything.
"I don't blame you. It ain't often you find out your uncle wasn't into Vixens until you meet their mate." I said, Wilde shrugging at that.
"Well, I mean, that's fine. We all knew he didn't have an interest in anybody, but we thought that was just because he couldn't find anybody that was a Soul Mate. I meant...I just don't understand. Why would he not tell his family?" Wilde asked, looking disturbed that Nick didn't even trust his family with that information.
"I think...he was scared of a repeat of when we met my own." I answered, my eyes resting on the desk between me and the younger Todd.
"Sir?" I looked up, then back at the desk.
"My mother was...well, she wasn't entirely understanding, but she knew that Nick made me happy. She understood that much at least. My step-dad, Klein, was very...very conservative with his views. He threatened violence, and Nick let him hit him so he could put in in jail, if only for a little while." I said, and Wilde just stared. "I know, I felt just as shocked. Nick gave off a...shall we say arrogant and uncaring vibe before I really got to know him. So I was understandably surprised he would do that for me, despite already giving me a ZPD application paper." I said, Wilde just smiling nervously. "So, what'd you want to ask me when you came up here?"
"Oh, right!" Wilde exclaimed, looking surprised that he had forgotten it. "Uh, do you think I could mayb-"
"You aren't going on patrol." I said stubbornly, Wilde groaning.
"But, sir! I can handle it!" Wilde exclaimed, and I sighed as I stood.
"It's not about if you can handle it, Wilde. I know you can handle it." I said, placing my paws on the desk so I could lean forward.
"Then what is it, sir? I've asked you, time and time again for you to trust me. But you refuse to let me go out on anything that has a risk of me finding danger." Wilde pointed out, and I closed my eyes as I sighed and let my head hang.
"I...I just can't." I answered, Wilde growling in annoyance.
"Sir, with all due respect, I want a legitimate answer. Every time I ask you say 'I just can't' and I'm tired of it. What is so important that you can't just send me out!? I was in the top three mammals of the class to graduate the Academy, so it clearly isn't because you doubt my skills." I growled and slammed my paw on the table, making the Todd jump.
"It was Nick, okay!? Nick asked me to protect you! If I can't keep you from being a cop, I can at least keep you safer than the others!" I shouted, and Wilde visibly faltered at that. After a moment his gaze hardened and he stood, placing the photo back on the desk.
"Safety is an illusion in this profession." He said matter of factly, hopping from the chair and heading for the door. He paused in the doorway. "I think my uncle proved that more than anyone." My ears lay back at that, and I remained silent as he closed the door.
A few moments passed as I thought about what he had said, still leaning over my desk, not noticing my claws gouging ravines in the wood.
"GOD EFFING DANGIT!" I shouted, swiping my paw out and knocking the lamp off the corner and into the wall. Chest heaving, I fell back into my chair and held my head in my paw, slowly calming down. I took a deep breath, stood up, and picked up the photo, then sat back down. "I'm sorry Nick. I failed you." I muttered as I stared at the picture, which was of the first kiss that I'd given him at my graduation. "Just like most of my life."
"Uh, sir? Blake Wilde is-" I pressed the intercom, cutting the mammal off.
"Not now, Mike." I interrupted, not really feeling up to dealing with whatever the younger Todd was doing right now.
"But, sir-"
"Not. Now." I ground out, my tone making room for no arguments.
"Yes sir." Mike said with a clipped tone, the intercom going silent. I sighed, rubbing my temples. I set the picture down, under the paperweight I usually kept it under, and stood. I glanced at the intercom, then reached out and pressed the button.
"Mike." I waited, getting no response. "Mike." A little more authority this time, though still no answer. "For christ's sake Officer Clawhauser, will you answer already!?"
"Yes, Chief?" I sighed, knowing it was the best I would get considering my earlier mood to him.
"I'm sorry. It's supposed to be mine and Nick's anniversary tomorrow, and I'm just really stressed." I said, shaking my head.
"I understand, Lance. I know Blake being assigned here can't be very easy either." Mike said, and I winced.
"Yeah, not really helping much. Nick wouldn't want me yelling at him or keeping him from doing what he wants, but he told me to protect him when he wouldn't be able to. I just...Blake makes it hard when he tries me so often." I said, letting out an annoyed sigh at the idea. "I'll be out tomorrow. You keep an eye on that kit, okay?"
"Of course, sir. You know, I think he would be good for you." I stared in shock, not expecting the sentiment from the mammal. "Sorry, sir. Just slipped out."
"No, no, it's fine Mike. You just...surprised me. I mean, sure he reminds me of Nick and all, looks and snark included, but I think...I don't know, I just don't think it'd be right. He's family, technically, and I don't think I could bring myself to tell him even if I did think of him that way, which I don't by the way. I know you, so stop it right now. You're almost as bad as your dad." I said, Mike laughing.
"Oh I know, don't worry. It's disturbing to think about for me too." Mike said, and I chuckled. Opening a drawer in my desk and pulling a small container out, I set it down, popping off the lid and pulling out one of the little blue balls inside. I turned it over, then tossed it into my maw.
"I mean, I care for him obviously, but from a sort of Guardian Angel sort of way. He's nice, if brash and a little too cocky, but overall enjoyable if what his coworkers tell me is true. It was hard pretending I didn't like him, since I've known him since he was in diapers and the like. After Nick died...I don't know, it became too easy to pretend that I feared I would eventually stop pretending and I really wouldn't like him." Another blueberry was eaten, and I silently and jokingly raged at Nick for spreading his addiction to me. "I promised Nick I'd look after him, as I say a lot during our conversations, and I feel like Blake hates me. I won't let him do anything other than parking duty, records, or front desk, and he resents all three, no offense to you."
"Oh it's fine. None of those are very fun anyway, I just prefer front desk because I get to meet so many colorful mammals." Mike said, and I snorted.
"Yeah, colorful is accurate." I said, shaking my head.
"So, tell me more about your brooding thoughts on how Blake feels about you." Mike said, and I chuckled.
"You'd make a good therapist, you know that?" An amused snort was my answer. "But...well, he's a good cop. A good mammal, really. He feels like I don't trust him, don't think he deserves to be a cop, and many other statements designed to get an answer from me. And every single one of them is wrong, but I can't tell him just how many of them are. It's better to be the bad boss than the overprotective uncle in law, even though I'm both. So, overall, it's hard. I don't expect him to understand even if I told him, but I think it would make things easier." I said, Mike sighing.
"You've had a rough life, Lance. Oh! You hear about Hasan and Amelia having their fourth litter?" Mike asked, and I immediately leaned forward.
"Okay, why did I not get a text or email or something about that?" Mike laughed at my question.
"Not sure. It may not have just gone through or something. I'll ask him next time I see him." Mike answered, and I hummed in gratitude.
"Alright, thanks. Say, you wouldn't happen to know where Blake is, would you? I...need to tell him something." I said, Mike remaining silent as – I assumed – he checked to see.
"Oh."
"'Oh' what? Did something happen?" I asked, immediately standing and heading towards the door.
"He's right-" I opened the door, nearly tripping over something as I turned the corner to head for the stairs.
"Sir!" I froze, my breath catching at the voice as I realized what I had nearly tripped over.
"Blake, I didn't expect to find you still here." I said, the Todd shrugging as I faced him.
"I stopped here to calm down and I heard you start talking to Mike, so I was going to leave until I heard you start talking about me. I didn't mean to listen in, I just...was curious what you were talking about." I smiled reassuringly, squatting down and forcing the Todd to look at me.
"It's fine, Blake. Listen, I'm gonna be out tomorrow for a personal day. Mike's in charge." I said, Blake nodding in understanding.
"Uh, where are you going?" He asked, looking tentative. I sighed, standing up with a small groan.
"It's a secret." I said, extending my paw. Blake hesitated, then slowly and cautiously reached out and gripped my forearm. I hauled him up, the younger Todd stumbling a little. "But for today, you can help Mike." Blake groaned, slumping over slightly.
"Yes, sir. Have a good day tomorrow." He said, dipping his head and stepping past me. I waited a moment, then smiled to myself as I entered my office and sat back down. Hopefully, I could start being the uncle in law he deserved now that he knew.
I leaned against a fence, the black bars digging into my back as I contemplated a few things. Blake knew I was his uncle in law now, so that was a thing. Whether it was a good or bad thing, I would see sometime soon.
Minutes passed as I thought about how I would deal with it if it became a problem, but I couldn't really think of anything that wouldn't make Blake hate me more than he did for not letting him do anything overly hazardous.
I sighed and pushed off from the bars, turning and stepping across the threshold and into Zootopia Meso Cemetery. I ignored the few mammals inside, and even more so the ones who stared at me.
There were a few trees in the place, though they served as places more for mammals to sit and rest than anything. However, there were a few graves near or under trees for mammals with special circumstances or acknowledgements, and Nick had qualified for one such location.
As I approached the tree that Nick had been placed under, I turned and looked over my shoulder at the entrance. I don't know why, but something seemed to tell me to. Seeing nothing, I shrugged to myself and continued on my way until I reached the right tree. I leaned against it, looking at the headstone a few feet away.
"Hey, Nick. I know it's been a while, sorry I couldn't find the time to come and visit. But uh...Blake graduated the Academy a short while after my last visit. I haven't let him go out on patrol yet. Still keeping my word as best I can. He's adamant, though, and I'm contemplating giving him to one of the vets like Jake or somebody." I said, smiling slightly as I took a deep breath to fight the tears threatening to build. "It's been hard, lately. I've missed you, and..." I choked off, swallowing roughly and taking another deep breath, then continued. "Yeah. I know you can't hear me and there's no point to this, but I like to think it helps." I slowly slid to the ground, not even bothering to fight the tears any longer. "So, how have you been? You and Judy still solving crimes? Good, I'm glad to hear it." I wiped my eyes, then let my head hang back and against the tree as I closed my eyes. Humming to myself, I began to sing.
"Os iusti meditabitur sapientam, et lingua eius loquetur indicum. Beautus vir qui suffert tentationem, quoniqm cum probates fuerit accipient coronam vitae. Kyrie, fons bonitatis. Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison. O quam sancta, quam serena, quam benigma, quam amoena esse Virgo creditur. O quam sancta, quam amoena, o castitatis lilium. Kyrie, fons bonitatis. Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison. O quam sancta, quam serena, quam benigma, quam amoena, o castitatis lilium." As I finished, I opened my eyes slowly. My ears perked up as my nose began to twitch, and I looked around.
"Blake?" I said, surprise evident as I stood. I stepped around the tree, coming almost muzzle to muzzle with the Todd. "What are you doing here?"
"I noticed that the Precinct seemed a little solemn earlier, and when I asked Jake he said that it was supposed to be your and Nick's anniversary. I put two and two together and told Mike I had to do something important. He probably knows I'm here, but he said it was fine." He suddenly grew timid, like he realized he could get in trouble. "You uh...you have a nice singing voice." He said awkwardly, his head tucked in close to his chest like he didn't know if he could compliment it or not but wanted to anyway.
"Thank you. Nick always did say he liked to hear me sing. Though then again, I don't think he meant it in the same context..." Blake flushed at that, looking awkward. "But you didn't have to hide, Blake. I wouldn't have been angry if you made your presence known." He looked surprised at that, and I chuckled.
"But, you said it was a secret, and I thought you just didn't want anybody to know..." My amusement must have made him realize what was going on, and he laughed. "You wanted me to follow you!"
"I don't know about that, but I was hoping you would piece it together." I said, shrugging. "Come on." I said, stepping back onto the other side of the tree and sitting down. Blake hesitated, then followed.
"I didn't know he got one of the trees..." Blake said, his awe at the concept clear despite having been there for a few minutes at the least.
"They reserve the spaces for important figures. Judy got one in the Prey Cemetery." A sniffle, and I blinked away a building tear.
"How uh...how'd he die?" Blake asked, and I glanced at him. "They never really told me, aside from that it happened in a pretty safe area." I turned back to the headstone, my expression somber as I recalled what had happened.
"You want just that part, or the whole story?" I asked, Blake frowning in thought. He was silent a long while, and I waited patently.
"I...guess the whole story would be nice. I don't know much about you anyway, aside from what you told me already." He finally said, and I smiled briefly.
"Yeah, I guess I took Nick's words too far in that aspect. Before I start though, can I ask you something?" I asked, looking at Blake as he sat down next to me. It was close enough to feel his presence next to me, but not too close to where we were touching.
"Sure." He said, and I tilted my head as I stared at him, my curiosity apparent.
"So...Nick aside, why'd you want to be a cop?" I asked, and Blake smiled briefly.
"Honestly? It seemed like something that would be cool. Maybe something fun." I scoffed, shaking my head.
"After thirty years of being a cop, Blake, I can tell you it ain't as cool or fun as kits think. It's a harsh world, and a single mistake can cost you dearly. I've lost a lot of friends to things like that. Hell, it's what got Judy in the end. She was relaxing in her and James' cruiser after busting a small gang meeting and made the mistake of getting too relaxed." My breath hitched, and Blake laid a paw on my shoulder. I smiled gratefully, then continued. "Classic drive by. Bullet holes everywhere; the cruiser, the buildings beyond, Judy. God she was the worst. You wouldn't have recognized her if you didn't know who she was. I'll never forget the nights I awoke to Nick crying in his sleep over it. He'd have nightmares about being only a few feet away but unable to move or look away as the shooting started. He was...changed. He became detached, almost cold to all but the ones he trusted. He loved Judy, Blake. She turned his life around, and he had every plan to have her outlive him. He wanted the last he saw of her to be her smile. Instead he saw just a mass of flesh that smelled faintly like her." I ignored the tears that dampened my fur, instead focusing on the memories. I shuddered, and Blake leaned against me comfortingly.
"You never got jealous that he loved her?" Blake asked, and I shook my head.
"Nah, it was a platonic love. It's hard to understand unless you've been there. Judy...everybody loved her, really. Nick was just a mess for months afterwards. Every time he would cry out in his sleep, he'd say 'I'm sorry, Judy.' God, he felt horrible about it, because they'd gotten in a fight over some trivial thing and...both said some pretty hateful things. He never got to tell her how sorry he was, and I think that was what broke him more than her actually dying. He'd get so emotional, and he'd take it out on me sometimes. I just took it, because I know he didn't mean it. He'd apologize when he calmed down a little, anyway, and he was just grieving. I didn't hold any animosity towards him for it, and he hated that. He thought I had every right to be angry at him, to push him away, but I couldn't do that. He needed somebody, and I was there for him." My voice cracked, and I tucked my knees in and wrapped my arms around them, then placed my head on my knees as Blake processed it.
"I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like for you both." Blake said, and I shrugged.
"I've never really gotten emotional over somebody dying, to be honest. Probably comes from just my emotional stunting, but I knew many people thought I didn't care at all. Sometimes, I didn't. I remember when I was in...eighth grade I think, my mother took me to to funeral of a family member. I was reading on a little Ibexpad and some family member I didn't know asked me what I was doing. I told her I was reading, and she asked what. I told her it was an apocalyptic thriller, and she asked me why I was reading such a book at a funeral. I told her I only came because I was forced to and that I was bored, and she got offended and asked what was wrong with me and why I didn't care that a family member had died. I replied with 'lady, I didn't even know that guy existed before today, so cut me some slack.' She just ignored me. And I really hadn't known he existed until then. Plus I never was very sociable, so I was a little bit snappier than I should have been with her." I said, Blake just blinking in surprise.
"That lady doesn't sound very fun." He said, and I chuckled.
"I think she was just offended that somebody was able to not care about somebody, even though I had never heard of the guy until that day. It was just a weird experience, and since then I just don't go to funerals anymore so I don't seem bored and offend somebody. Nick and Judy's funerals were the first I had gone to in almost twenty six and seventeen years respectively." Blake nodded in understanding at that, and silence fell on us for a good while before it was broken.
"So...what was he like, Nick? I mean, I met him a few times, but he always kept his smug grin on. What was he actually like?" Blake asked, and I smiled.
"He was selfless, actually. He always made sure I was taken care of, be it by making sure he only made something he knew I would like, by being careful about what he said or did, or...well, you probably don't want to hear about that stuff." Blake shook his head in confirmation, and I laughed. "Somehow, he always put me first unless I specifically told him not to. It was nice, having somebody who cared about me as much as he did." Blake looked surprised at that, and I nodded to myself.
"Hey, I was wondering, how is Mike related to Benjamin Clawhauser if he's an Antelope?" Blake suddenly asked, and I blinked at the question.
"You do realize there's such a thing as adoption, right?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Well, why would he adopt an Antelope if he...oh." Blake seemed to realize how it made sense, and I snorted in amusement at his expression.
"Yep. Much like me, he preferred males. Except he was after the Chief." Blake tilted his head at that, and I elaborated. "Lawrence Bogo, the Chief of Police when I first graduated."
"Oooooooooh." I chuckled at Blake's response, and he smiled briefly before dropping it. I shivered suddenly, and I looked up at the sky.
"Jesus." I muttered, seeing the sun was starting to set. Had I really been there all day? It only felt like an hour or two had passed.
"Oh wow, we've been here a while." Blake said, and I snorted.
"Maybe I need to promote you to Captain of the Obvious Squad." I said, Blake rolling his eyes playfully.
"Yeah, but then you'd need to explain why I jumped from a Lieutenant to a Captain when I haven't done anything to warrant it." I flinched at his words, and Blake immediately tried to correct himself. "I'm sorry, sir! I know you're doing it for a good reason, and I feel sorry for everything I've said over the past few months. I didn't realize it wasn't easy for you, having somebody always reminding you of Nick all the time. I thought...maybe if I was like him enough I'd get to do something good for the city. I didn't know just how many scars he left behind that still need healing." I smiled reassuringly, clapping the younger Todd on the back as I stood.
"I don't blame you, honestly. I was a bit harsh in my enforcement of my promise. I don't know, I guess I just saw too much Nick in you to risk letting you put yourself in harm's way. I lost him once, and I felt like I would lose him again if something happened to you because I let you do something dangerous." I extended my paw to the Todd, and he didn't even hesitate to reach out and let me haul him up.
"Can I make sure you get home alright, sir?" He asked politely, and I felt a smirk make its way to my lips. Another one of Nick's quirks that had spread to me, though one that had proven useful a few times.
"You're so forward, Mr. Wilde." I teased, and Blake flushed at that.
"N-no, sir, it's just getting late and cold and I'd feel bad if I learned that something happened to you that could have been prevented!" I laughed, and Blake looked confused before he seemed to realize I had been joking.
"You know, that was Nick's favorite phrase for me before we became official. And even then he would sometimes use it. I made a lot of things that could be seen as romantic advances on accident." I said, shaking my head in amusement.
"Really? You?" Blake asked teasingly, and I snorted as we began to head for the exit.
"Believe it or not, I was pretty romantically incompetent in my younger years. Nick was...thirty six I believe when we met. I was only sixteen when the Night Howler Crisis happened, and that was four or so years later." Blake stared at me in shock, then leaned forward and tilted his head. I leaned back, not quite sure what was happening.
"Uh, sir, how old are you?" He asked, and I arched an eyebrow.
"Fifty one, as of a few weeks ago." Blake visibly recoiled at that, which prompted my curiosity.
"I thought you were like...forty eight or something. You only look in your thirties, but that's too young and forty eight would be the youngest you could be. Jesus, you are in shape." I shrugged, and Blake let out a low whistle.
"Well, thanks I guess." I said, Blake nodding awkwardly.
We were silent most of the way back to my house, and when we arrived I hesitated at the door.
"Something wrong, sir?" Blake asked, and I shook my head even as I turned.
"Come on in." I said, Blake looking surprised.
"Uh...what?" I sighed, rubbing the space between my eyes.
"Look, you said it yourself. It's getting dark and cold, and it's a bit of a walk to where you live. Besides, I can't in good faith turn family away." Blake crossed his arms doubtfully, and I paused to think. "I have strawberries."
"Strawberries?" Blake questioned, perking up at that.
"Yep. I don't eat 'em very often, so their yours if you want 'em." Blake hesitated. "Blake, I'm not...coming onto you or anything if that's what you're worried about. You're family, it's dark and cold, and you live a bit of a distance away. What kind of a Fox would I be if turned you away just because I didn't want to seem interested?" Blake sighed in defeat at that, and nodded.
"Sure." He said, and I nodded. I turned back around and opened the door, stepping inside with Blake right behind me. He stopped a few feet inside, his eyes wide as he looked around. "Whoa."
"Oh come on, it's not that big." Blake snickered at that, and it took me a moment to figure it out.
"You hear that often?" He teased, and I felt another smirk work itself onto my face.
"Never heard Nick complaining." I answered, Blake flushing awkwardly. "But enough about that, make yourself at home. Food and drinks are in the fridge, and there's a pull out couch in the living room. I'd give you the guest room, but...it's a mess. And that's all I'll say on that matter. Trust me, you don't wanna go in there."
"That only makes me more curious." Blake said, and I groaned in annoyance.
"You do that. You'll be smelling lonely Fox for a long time." I said, Blake just staring awkwardly. "Seriously, don't worry about staying here. Me casa su casa and all that. A Fox doesn't forsake family for something trivial." A pause as I realized that was basically what I'd done to my own for a while after Nick had arrested Klein.
"You're right. I'm sorry, it just seems so...I don't know, sudden or something. Like, I've invaded your privacy enough as it is, and I just feel like you're being too nice about it." I waved nonchalantly, signifying I didn't mind.
"I like it when my officers worry about me. Shows me they care." I said, Blake nodding stiffly at that. "See you in the morning. I'm getting a little tired." I yawned, teeth clacking together when my mouth closed forcefully.
"Alright, see you in the morning sir."
"Lance." I said, Blake pausing and tilting his head.
"Sir?" He questioned, and I shook my head.
"When we're off duty, it's Lance or Mr. Whitney. None of that sir stuff. My officers only use sir to me when they're upset over something." Blake hesitated, then nodded.
"Sure, Lance it is." He said, and I dipped my head in thanks. "See you in the morning, Lance."
"You as well, Blake." I headed towards my room, hearing Blake move into the living room. I paused as I passed a certain point in the hallway close to the entrance, peering down at the little specks of blood still in the paint. I smiled briefly, then continued on my way.
It felt nice to connect with Nick's nephew, and I'd fight tooth and claw to make sure he stayed as safe as possible without limiting his career.
Alright, that does it for Chapter 1 of Tooth and Claw. No, I am not planning on setting up any romantic encounters between Lance and Blake, but I know people will likely like the idea of them getting together for some reason, but as of right now Blake is merely a Character for helping Lance deal with whatever troubles he has. He's a sort of Comfort Character in the Hurt/Comfort genre, and that is his main role as of right now. I may set them up near the end or something, but I'm honestly still planning this story one Chapter at a time to make sure I can write any Angst as best as I possibly can. The song that Lance sings at Nick's grave is called Lilium, and is from the series Elfen Lied. It's personally one of my favorite songs of all time, and I'll probably have Lance sing the English lyrics – Common in Zootopia – some time in the future. And yes, Lance did purposefully avoid beginning the story to Blake, because he knew just how long it was and needed some time to condense twenty years worth of events and experiences down into a short enough story. The bulk of the Chapters in this story are going to be set during Lance's story to Blake, with some sprinkled in here and there to develop Blake and Lance some more. If you want to know what the blood on the wall is from and why Lance smiles fondly at it, read Chapter 3 of Nick and I on AO3. Did I write the graveyard scene well? I feel like I might have, but I can't be sure. Anyway, this is getting long enough, I'll see you guys...next update. Word Count: 6,026