Bogo stepped into the office with a distressed look on his face and probably the biggest headache since Wilde's fart-pillow prank that he managed to pull out on the Bogo. This is not what he had planned for the day, he planned on cooling down in his office, watch some Gazelle videos, unnecessarily check up on his officers and chew them out if they didn't follow the tiniest regulations. But instead, he had to get one of the stupidest and most bigoted hedgehog in the whole city running into his building, and the only 3 officers, that was constantly victims of prejudice throughout their entire life, in one way or another, just had to be the closest. It's like a damn cooking show where the Precinct was the bowl, and every ingredient had to be in the perfect place, at the perfect time and had to act perfectly in order to get the situation out of hand. The Chef's identity is a big secret, although Bogo has some good guesses and it varies between fate, destiny, luck, god or some inmammal power that apparently shares the same ''humor" as Wilde.

Siting down in his desk and leaning back in his chair, he started to replay the events in his head. As the Chief of the ZPD, he had to be one of the, if not the cleverest mammal in the department. He had the hunches, that were always correct, he could read mammals like a book (only Wilde was able to confuse him once or twice, damn that fox) and he was pretty educated, so he knew some stuff even about the rarest species in Zootopia. Lucky for him, he was pretty familiar with Canines and Lagomorphs, so it wasn't too hard to salvage the useful information.

The first question is, what happened that was able to make Wolford's thought-to-be-non-existent temper come out of hiding, and what was the reason that he had that major break down?

Of course, he knew everything about his officers. After every rookie graduates, they have to have a little ''chit-chat" with the chief, where he will use the sneakiest means of interrogation to get every little secret from the rookie. He knew about what happened in that Carrot Day festival, knew how this Gideon Grey scratched Hopps' face, he knew about Wilde's dreams of becoming a Junior Ranger Scout and ultimately failing (although after hearing how, the Chief kind of lost it. Let's just say, he needed to get a new table), he knew about his earlier not-so law friendly life and knew Wolford's childhood aswell. His height was very low below average until the age of 15, until which he was constantly bullied, mainly by other wolves. Bogo knew that there is more to it, and that the wolf was hiding some things, but after getting to know him better, Bogo decided to make an exception, and stop prying.

It would make sense for the timber wolf's break down, since the way the hedgehog treated Hopps and Wilde must have reminded him of his own childhood. But his anger…. it couldn't have been only that. In order to be so uncharacteristic, he needed a superior motive. Childhood experiences from nearly 2 decades before doesn't make you threaten a citizen in the middle of ZPD with tasering or tranquillising. He knew that the duo and the wolf wasn't on friend bases, he rarely saw them together. Then what was the cause of the sudden temper?

Never mind, I will inquire about it when they get back and when i don't feel like my head is gonna pop from pressure.

Then there is Wilde's behaviour when his fellow canine broke down sobbing. Bogo thought he would be the one watching Hopps calm the wolf down, while awkwardly shifting in place and not knowing what to do, but it was him who rushed to the wolf and soothed him. Bogo couldn't pinpoint what made him do that, and the uncosncious grooming /lullaby singing was beyond Bogo.

He lost his facade for the longest time since i met him. He only loses it if something very serious is the matter. The grooming, the humming and the tail wrapping must be some kind of Canine pack thing for the injured.

Bogo's eyes burst open.

Wait what? Tail wrapping? Did he…. oh no… Wilde totally did wrap his tail around Wolford and vice versa, probably unconsciously. That's the signs of protectiveness that just screams ''mine" from every corner especially for Canines and Felines. Could that mean….? Hm, if I'm right, then… i can't decide if that's good or bad. Probably bad.

Bogo started to think about the consequences, if his perfect hunch was as perfect as it was before and if both Wilde and Wolford are really ''playing for the other team" (or both teams, it doesn't matter,) and maybe they do have some hidden feelings for each other, then could the Chief make them realise it? (Bogo is actually a big romantic softie, but he will be dead before anyone finds it out). A plan started to form in his head. If he succeeds, he will get the mayor to eat from his hooves. The mayor was a pretty young but nonetheless clever Bengali Tiger. His campaign wants to push species equality, peace between Predator and Prey, interspeciesm and the acceptance of other sexualities. The Chief was one of the first to openly support the mayor's campaign, and helped him win the election. If Bogo's plan would succeed, the mayor will probably be his lifelong slave in a meaning. He will probably have to propose some changes to procedures about partnerships and fraternization in the ZPD, but it's worth the effort. To top it off, he could make himself and his wife proud knowing that he truly did help ''make the world a better place" as Hopps would say.

Adrian Bogo smiled. He had a perfect plan, that will make his life easier and better. He started to dial a number he loathed, but now this was his gate for an easier future.

''Hello it's Bogo…No Hopps and Wilde is still not a ''thing'', but listen, I think i have a better plan that would be a huge win for both of us if you are interested….Interested? Splendid! Now listen…"


Nick and Judy walked out of the Precinct to their police cruiser with a very tired and dazed Wolford on their shoulders. They managed to get him sit down in the car, brought some drink for him, which he thanked gratefully, and gulped it down by one swing. Judy was the first to break the silence after getting in the car with Nick.

''Soooooo, Wolford-''

''Aaron."'

''Huh?" asked Judy.

''Call me Aaron, i think after what went down, first names are a bit too formal, plus we are not on duty anyway." explained Wolford.

''I will still call you Wolfie, it suits you better" replied Nick stubbornly. Nick and Judy expected some kind of protest or inquiry against the nickname, most mammals they meet get a unique name from the fox, and he is usually asked about the necessity, which always amuses Judy. She knows that there is no fighting against it, once he gives someone a pet name, he will use it, as long as Judy hates the c-word, and you bet it will take a long time.

But Aaron's reaction surprised them both.

''Sure, i like it. I like pet names in general, I always gave my brothers and sisters some, they hate it, but they know there is no running from them. I think they resigned already, since they stopped protesting and some even crack a smile when they hear their own." replied Aaron with a warm smile.

Nick was dumbstruck. He hadn't met anyone who wouldn't oppose their given nickname, but Aaron seems to not only be fond of his, he actually shares the joy of annoying others with them. A small drop of warmth spread through his chest, but he was in the middle of appreciating the wolf, so he did not notice.

''Buuuuuuuut, let's make things interesting."-continued Aaron with a sly grin, half lidded eyes and one of his paw stroking his own chin. Judy was already fearing if the two Canines join powers, the whole Precinct will be on top of its head.

''And prey tell, what do you have in that head of yours Wolfie?"-inquired Nick. He actually was interested what the wolf was thinking off. Seeing that familiar slyness vibrating from him, that Nick has always seen when he looked in the mirror, somehow made the wolf much more friendlier in the fox's eyes.

''How about a deal?"

''A deal?" Nick was confused but nonetheless listening.

''I will allow you to call me Wolfie, if I will be allowed to call you Bushy tail from now on." proposed Aaron, making Nick actually think about it.

Judy in the mean time was suppressing a giggle. He knew that Nick hated when mammals said anything about his tail. Touching was forbidden even for Judy. She was expecting Nick to refuse the-

''Sure, it's a deal, Wolfie." replied Nick nonchalantly but with a glimpse of….excitement? Nervousness? Judy couldn't apprehend it, she was too shocked.

Did he just let him use the nickname? He is the last mammal he should have let using it whenever he desires! Doesn't he fear that if some others hear it, they won't be as cautious about his tail, knowing that if Aaron could use it, so can they. Everyone would assume that there is no problem on making comments about it or even touching it! Questions were flying in her head with rapid speed.

In the mean time the drop of warmth in Nick's chest just expanded into a puddle upon hearing Aaron's proposing the nickname. Did he really just agree on what he thought he agreed on?

I should totally postpone the entire deal, everyone will make comments about my tail. But it felt so good upon hearing it from his muzzle. Why is that? Bushy tail... it kind of has a nice ring to it though.

Aaron was looking between them with increasing uneasiness. Their facial expressions suggested that there is something he should know about, because he has never seen Judy this wide-eyed, and he could see the internal conflict within Nick's mind. He decided to change topics.

''So, how about we go to a diner, where… you know, get to know each other a bit better… you are basically my guardians until at least tomorrow, and we have never really chatted before. There are some things I'm actually curious about you two and I'm sure you have some questions too, soooooo… Pizza?" said Aaron with a friendly smile. He was actually very eager to get to know his secret idols better and he had a whole day with them. He suddenly became really nervous, but he thought it was because he was about to let somebody know about his secrets or from about to make friends with his current sources of inspiration.

Nick and Judy came back from their internal war, and after a round of nervous chuckling, they regained their composure.

''Sure, I haven't even eaten today, because somefox decided that disguising crickets as carrots and putting them on my carrot muffin would get unnoticed." said Judy, sending a harsh glare at her partner while starting to pull out from the ZPD's parking lot. His partner opted his usual confident smug grin.

''In my defence Fluff, after those punk teenagers decided it was a good idea to play hooky from school, and trash through the streets, then, and i quote 'totally not meant to sizzle our puddle jumper', you went basically with full speed after them. Upon catching them you gave them hell of a lecture with a glare that even i felt the intensity of from inside the cruiser. After that, you expect me not to treat you as predator?" retorted Nick, making Judy roll her eyes.

Before Judy could say what was in her mind, there was a bark of laughter coming from the back seat. Aaron was basically holding his side from the intesity of the laughing.

''They said what?!" exclaimed Aaron. Nick smiled and with a loud ahem, started to immitate the teenagers.

'' 'Sry coppa, we didn't mean to sizzle your puddle jumper, we 'ere just rushing to get some juicy Playtod if ya know wha' i mean."-mimicked Nick with a voice of a very careless and angsty teenager accompanied with a wink. That got another set of laughter from the wolf. Meanwhile Judy was still being mildly annoyed, but she got to give it to Aaron, his cheerfulness is contagious, so she didn't even try to resist the small smile that appeared on her muzzle.

After finally calming down a bit, but still wiping tears from his eyes, Aaron continued:

''That must be the most hilarious bust i have ever heard of! It's a pity I can't go out to patrol, since I don't have a partner and what not, but at least i have you guys to tell me about your hilarious field work." cheered Aaron. Upon hearing it Judy started to tell stories about their most ridiculous arrests with renewed enthusiasm and happiness.

Meanwhile Nick felt a pang of guilt inside upon hearing that the wolf couldn't get any of the excitement of patrolling, just because there weren't anybody to accompany him. He was already thinking about asking the chief if something could be done in this matter when he realised what he was doing.

Damn, it only takes someone to believe me, call me a „nice officer" and stand up for me in front of a mammal, who unsurprisingly can't see past my species, and I'm already thinking the world of them. What happened to 'Never let them see that they got to you' Wilde? *sigh* I'm going soft.

Those thoughts accompanied him when they arrived at the bar. It was called „Jackson's zoo" and served both prey and predator alike. Nick and Judy loved the food here, and they knew the pizza there was something that deserved poems and novels to be written about.

Upon entering, a pig waitress noticed them with a polite smile, and led them to their usual seats and took their order.

''So….I guess it's time for me to come clean, isn't it?" sighed Aaron. He was not looking forward to this, but after the scene he had made back at the Precinct, there was no way he would get out of this. The fox and the rabbit's nods just affirmed his suspicions.

''Okay, but hold onto your seats, it isn't a happy story…"