It was a sunny spring morning in Zootopia, mammals were walking down the streets minding their own businesses, going to work or just simply jogging/working out. The main square of Downtown was always full of animals from all species even this early in the morning. The main cause for this is because the City Hall, the Zootopia City Plaza, the Zootopia Elementary School and the building of the ZPD Precint 1 was situated around the aforementioned square.
Precint 1 is the biggest ZPD building in all of Zootopia, a pretty modest staircase pointing at the inviting glass doors of the enormous circular building. It is the most well-known Precinct for several reasons: First of all, only the best, strongest and most determined cops get to work here, under the Chief of the ZPD, Adrian Bogo's supervision. You have to reach top 3 in the end of the Police Academy year, which is harder than surviving 1 week in Tundratown without heating, with only having 1 leg and without food, and that's saying something.
Secondly, it was the center of the infamous case, labeled as „The Nighthowler Conspiracy". The building was always under the attack of several reporters wanting to know about the missing mammals, said mammals going savage, and lastly, the official report after the Case was cracked. The building has never seen more animals before than in those weeks. There took place the simply named „The Press Conference", where Officer Judy Hopps, the ZPD's first rabbit officer gave that interview that almost tore the city apart with her only real friendship, since she arrived into the city, with the sly and handsome con-artist fox, Nicholas Wilde.
Speaking of these two, they were currently having a fight about the importance of the „c-word" in the bullpen, where their officers surrounded them. A lot of officers found great entertainment in eavesdropping on these two regularly. This time, Judy wanted to persuade Nick not to call him that belittling word, which he still couldn't understand the reasoning behind after all this time. Their friendly banter was interrupted when Chief Bogo stormed into the bullpen looking as annoyed as usual, but a lot of officer (Judy and Nick included) thought, that it is just a mask that wants to conceal his real feelings. And they will give it to him, it is a damn good mask.
''Alright, everyone SHUT IT!" The usual welcoming hoots stopped.
''Today is pretty quiet, which doesn't mean we can put our guard down, we still have to be vigilant, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" shouted Bogo which was answered with several 'Yes sir!'-s, which was rewarded by a grunt from Bogo.
''Alright, usual assignments, Fangmeyer, Snarlof, McHorn: there have been petty pickpocketings reported around Sahara Square, try to catch as many of them as possible, Johnson, Grizzoli, Delgato: Tundra Town SWAT, Hopps, Wilde…"
The Chief paused. he secretly did that so he could mess with those two. He doesn't necessarily hold a grudge against them, he actually thinks they are his best officers (not like he will ever admit that), but they can cause the chief migraine in record time with their unprofessional behaviour, especially Wilde with his ''funny" jokes.
''Usual Patrol around Downtown." said the Chief after the brief pause. The decision got a sigh of relief from the fox and slightly disappointed but nevertheless determined look from the bunny.
''And lastly Wolford: you are falling behind on paper work, so today you will complete it, I want those reports on my desk today.'' grunted Bogo with some could have sworn was a sad smile on his face for a second. Bogo thought that Wolford was an excellent officer, but he was lacking a partner, so it was always harder for him to find some tasks for him around the city.
''Dismissed.'' With that, the buffalo left the bullpen.
The fox and the bunny successfully stopped a robbery from a jewellery store, gave out 3 speeding tickets, and answered a noise complaint within 2 hours. In other words: a usual day for both mammals, who couldn't be more satisfied with their morning and job. They were currently walking towards the glass door of the Precinct 1 for their morning report for the Chief. It was not a procedure, but since these two do catch more perps in a morning, than some officers do in a day, the Chief insisted that they return at 11 am, so they could file their so-called morning report. Little did they know that their lives was about to turn for the better.
''I'm telling you Carrots, you are intimidatingly cute when you use your oh-so-professional tone, which I didn't know was possible to begin with.'' mocked Nick stepping inside the building.
''How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me cute, and my 'oh-so-professional tone' gets more work done in a single conversation than you in a week, lazy fox" retorted Judy with a frown. She really loathed that godforsaken word.
''Oh come on, how many times do I have to tell you that i don't mean cute in a stereotypical manner, you know, it is supposed to be a compliment…..most of the time" mumbled Nick with a smirk on his face and the last part as a slight whisper. Lucky for him, even her super rabbit hearing was unable to catch that part.
''Sure, Slick, but still, no more cute from you or i persuade my parents not to send their famous blueberry for a very disrespectful fox" said Judy, with a smug grin nearly identical to Nick's. Now that got an immediate reaction from the now shocked fox.
''You wouldn't" gasped Nick with a face, that screamed horror.
''Watch me'' said Judy. before Nick could reply, the Precinct doors burst open. It was a hedgehog with a very panicked face.
''OFFICERS, PLEASE, HELP ME, I WAS ROBBED!" yelled the hedgehog. Nick and Judy immediately ran to her help, but was stopped by the Hedgehogs paw. She suddenly changed to wear an unimpressed, slightly disgusted, what-do-you-think-you-are-doing frown on her face.
'' I said Officers, not a cute bunny, who thinks she can wear masquerades and pretend to roleplay Policeman with a Sneaky fox!"
Unbeknownst to the three, everyone in the hall (even Chief Bogo, who came out of his office) was witnessing the scene with wide eyes and shocked expressions. At the reception desk, where usually Benjamin Clawhauser was eating his beloved doughnuts and listening to Gazelle songs, was the same Cheetah with eyes so wide that they might just pop out. He was accompanied by Officer Wolford, the funny and good-hearted timber wolf who was on a friendly basis with almost everyone in the building. He was just about to sign some paperwork for Clawhauser when the commotion started. He wanted to turn around to see what the yelling was about, when he heard the 5 words that was said with venom in the tone: cute, bunny, sneaky, fox. Instead of turning around, his sudden confusion turned to deep anger and after every word that was said with utter hatred, he gripped the pen that he was signing the papers with, with more and more force.
In the meantime both the bunny and the fox was taken aback from the sudden outburst and hatred and were deemed speechless. They could only stare with the same wide eyes at the hedgehog.
The hate continued: '' I can't believe that our city has fallen so deep that they hired mammals to the police so useless-''
Wolford gripped the pen stronger.
''-untrustworthy-''
Even stronger.
''-incompetent-''
Even stronger and now accompanied with a deep a growl.
''-and no good, they should hire some mammals who can do some actual police job, and should fire this weak bunny and filthy fox!"
SNAP!
The pen finally gave out to the timber wolf's grip and broke in two with a snap so loud it echoed through the hall. Everyone froze and looked at the very pissed wolf, who looked like was about to charge and kill the hedgehog.
''SHUT YOUR USELESS MOUTH!" –howled Wolford and started to march towards the now totally shocked and stunned hedgehog.
''Just who do you think you are?! Bursting into the precinct, screaming bloody murder, then accusing the very same department, that you wanted help from, for being incompetent in choosing their employees?! And did you know that belittling and stereotyping two officers of the law, inside the ZPD building could land you into jail for HATE SPEECH, ASSAULT ON MULTIPLE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DISTURBANCE, HUH?! TELL ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY SHOULDN'T I JUST CUFF YOU, OR BETTER YET, TASE YOU AND BRING YOU INTO CUSTODY RIGHT NOW?!" At this point Wolford was panting after such a scream fest. Even the Chief was taken aback and got a bit scared by his sudden change of behaviour of his usually calm and collected Officer.
After 20 or so seconds of tension filled silence, Wolford sighed and spoke up with less anger in his voice: ''You have two choice now: One, you apologise to these two nice officers for your bigotry, tell them what happened, and let them help you without further comments , or two, say one more negative thing about them and i swear to god will tranquillize you, consequences be damned."
The hedgehog gulped and found her voice finally: ''Erm…heh….I-I'm sorry for my behaviour, and…. and m-my purse got stolen just n-now." She looked at the ground with still wide eyes.
Instead of Nick and Judy, Wolford spoke up again in a very unamused tone: ''You mean the one that is literally hanging from your spikes, on your back?" he pointed out.
The hedgehog reached over and found her purse. ''Oh silly me, heheh, i don't know how this bad girl ended up here, heher…T-thank you for your h-help officers, have a nice day" she blurted out, then sprinted out from the hall. For several seconds everybody just stared at the Precinct doors, where todays gossip material just left.
Sob….Sob…Whimper…
Unbeknownst to everyone, after the hedgehog left the building, Wolford collapsed on the floor and was now crying in a fetus pose on the cold ground with his gaze looking at nothing in particular and hugging himself with his own tail. This immediately got the Chief out of his wide eyed frozen state, and rushed down as quickly as he could. In the mean time Judy and Nick rushed to Wolford and started to soothe him anyway they could. They couldn't believe what just happened. Their colleague, who they didn't even speak 5 words altogether, stood up for them in the best and truest way possible. They knew that the timber wolf was a good mammal, but never got to the point where they could chat and bond a bit. After this display, both of them placed ''becoming friends with Wolford" as a number one priority on their list of life goals.
''It's okay Wolfie, everything is gonna be alright, you did well…." whispered Nick while hugging the wolf. It was very unlike him, since he was a fox, thus not a very affectionate mammal, but somewhy he felt an urge to hug the fellow canine as tight as he could, hoping that all his problems will disappear. He even started to groom the wolf's head without noticing.
Bogo got down to the ground floor and now was towering over the 3 mammals on the ground. Before he could speak, he noticed the other officers staring at them with a mix of interest, pity and shock on their faces. Let's just say Bogo did not appreciate that.
''DOES ANY OF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THEN TO STAND AND NOT DO YOUR ASSIGNMENTS?!" shouted Bogo. Upon hearing this, every officer continued to their assigned task. Bogo sighed while feeling the already growing headache. He will definitely need to take a pill when he gets back to his office. He looked down and saw Judy sitting beside the 2 Canines, petting Wolford's hand, while looking at the Chief waiting for their next order, While Nick was humming a lullaby for the now only rarely sobbing Wolford who looked like he just lost his family. Needless to say, even Bogo couldn't hide his sorrow, even though it did kind of amuse him seeing Wilde acting so out of character.
He wondered what should be his next move. Their officers obviously couldn't carry on their assignments in their current state-of-mind, especially Wolford. Although it will hurt a bit not to have Wolford's paperwork today, and will probably have to make a very annoying phone call to the IA, but he would rather have the phone call today and tomorrow the complete paperwork, than force the broken wolf to finish it.
''Wilde, Hopps, Wolford." All of them looked at him, waiting for what would happen next.
''Take the day off….. Wilde, Hopps, make sure Wolford will be on 100% mental and emotional state when he comes back, you can take as many day off as you feel like, but you must return with a newfound determination and discipline. After you three returned, come immediately to my office where we will discuss what happened today." said Bogo trying to keep his tough exterior. ''Dismissed."
Clawhauser was witnessing everything, and with his cheerful attitude, it didn't take a lot of time to shake off the sorrow and the shock. He immediatelly got a fantastic idea from seeing Nick and Wolford interact. He glanced at the group that was now dissolved. After he made sure the Bogo went back to his office, and the bunny and the two canines got out of the Precinct he opened the Messenger App on his phone and started to make a new group. He added everyone to this chat group, except the Chief, Nick, Judy and Wolford. After giving the group a proper name he giggled and pocketed his phone. Soon tens of notifications arrived at his phone. When he glanced at it 5 minutes later, he almost squealed in delight
You have 2 new message(s) in the Group: "Wildehopps Betting pool"
You have 13 new message(s) in the Group "Wildeford Betting pool"