Adventure in Zootopia
Chapter 2
Life as a Apprentice Con
As the days went by, Nick taught me the ways of being a Con Man or in his case, Con Fox. It was interesting to say the least. He introduced me to his friend/con partner. He was a smaller fox named Finnick. Finnick was very grumpy and Nick loved to tease him as the things they did was use Finnick as a baby to trick people into giving them money or things to make money.
My moral compass should have told me what they did to people was wrong and that I was learning it made it worse, but I spent at least a month stealing to survive. I couldn't judge them for it, it's how they lived. What annoyed me was how they're treated by some of the animals. Before they are known as Con Artists, some people didn't even sell to them.
I almost punched a hippo in a sandwich store a lot like Subway when they weren't going to give Nick food because of 'sneaky company'. It was the most stupid and prejiduce things I've heard. Nick merely smirked at my anger, telling to to get used to it.
Finnick never saw under my hood. I told Nick I didn't want anyone, but him to see it and he agreed. Didn't want it getting around that a new strange species was roaming around. I cringed at the term. In my mind, they are the species, I'm the human.
For a while though Nick did keep his distance, if I didn't look for it, I would've of found it. He wasn't obvious about it. He reaction was dull to what I expected and I knew he must of held in what he really thought.
It hurt a bit, I was in an unknown place with animals that acted like humans. It still baffled me when I saw them walking around. I just hoped I would have a friend here. It wouldn't make me feel so lonely. But Nick was giving me safety and I was lucky I had that.
Nick had me doing stuff in the morning and afternoon and around nighttime I had free time. It wasn't bad, almost like I was working. I even got food about 2 or 3 times a day. He told me whatever I pick pocketed was mine. The things he taught was amazing, I have to admit it, just not to him.
There was this one scam that he did. The Pawpsicle one. He tricked someone into getting him a treat, melting it and then used regular popsicle sticks to mold paw prints made in the snow by Finnick's paw prints and sold them to the working beavers for 2 bucks each, then using the sticks for selling it to a contractor. It was horrible, but amazing and a genius idea at the same time.
Living on the streets made me ignore how horrible it was. Sorry to admit, but it was fun.
I just finished walking around and got 25 bucks and change by walking around and stealing from pockets. With it I bought myself a sandwich, remembering Nick tricked the same Kangaroo 4 days ago with a false sales pitch. I smirked at the memory. Nick isn't too bad once you get to know him.
I walked back to the bridge where I first made the deal with Nick. I leaned back in the chair, throwing my head back along with my hood. It's really annoying keeping that stupid hood all day. Annoying, but needed.
"Hey, Kid!"
I rolled my eyes, other than the first time he called me by my name, he has something against calling me Max. "Yeah, Nicky?"
Hey, he has a nickname for me and I have one for him. His muzzle twisted into a grimace, but he covered it up. "You done already?"
I nodded, sliding my hood over my head once more with a sigh. I could tell looking at me made him a bit uncomfortable and I felt the twist of a knife in my chest, but said nothing about it. "How 'bout you?"
He leaned against the chair, his back facing me. "Same here."
I looked at the top of his head strangely. "Why don't you go home?"
He made around 200 bucks a day and he had an apartment. Why would he want to be out here. It was quiet and then he said. "You know, one day someone will see your face."
I stiffened in horror at the thought of it. Their reaction to foxes was enough proof. What would they say if they saw a species they never seen before? It would be horrifying and since I came here, that was my biggest fear. "I won't let it."
He tilted his head up, looking at me. He was looking in my eyes and I frowned at him, looking away. "Whatever happens Max, don't let them know they hurt you."
My eyes widened at his almost solemn words. "I, uh...Nick?"
He got up with that smirk of his and patted my head, pushing my hood off in the process. I winced. He shrugged. "Don't bother with the hood when I'm the only one around."
He walked off without turning back. I grinned though, feeling hope. Nick didn't have to say anything else. I knew we were friends, even if it took 2 months.
/ / / / / / /
I couldn't Con people the way Nick and Finnick did. The hood killed that or that's what I thought. Nick deicded to get me a mask that was animal shaped to put over my head. It was a Wolf's head since I was too tall for a fox, but not tall enough for bigger animals. I think he got it just to laugh at me as I failed at howling.
A lot of times, he used me, the big scary wolf as a distraction. I was insulted a bit, but with my height, Nick said it was my 'training'. What a jerk. I might laugh about it...in years to come.
That's what he was doing now. He told me in a undertone, loud enough for me to hear. "Ready to jump in front of everyone and give your best howl."
I scowled at him as he handed me the wolf head piece. "Fine, I going to get you back for this."
I shoved the stupid thing on my head and stayed low to the ground, suddenly jumping in the middle of a crowd and throwing my head back howling. Animals jumped back and I almost laughed as several wolves joined me. Shit, Nick was serious about that.
A couple of police officers saw me and started forward. I looked around, even if I had miminal vision and saw Nick give me the signal to run. I darted out of there, making a couple of turns and pulling the wolf's head away my own head roughly. A minute later Nick and Finnick joined me in the alley.
Nick burst out laughing, that mocking smirk over his muzzle. He and Finnick were holding supplies to whatever con they were planning. Nick shook his head. "That never gets old Kid. Good job."
I scowled at the amusement shinning in his eyes. "You're horrible, you know that?"
His smirk widened. "Yeah, I know. C'mon, you're done for today."
I nodded. "See ya, Nick. Finnick."
I got a gruff goodbye and Nick just gave me a wave. With that day, about 3 months has passed. Finnick wasn't bad, he was just fouls tempered. I guess it makes sense, with all the fox hating and all.
I felt like nothing was going to change and I was wrong about that, everything changed the day we met that bunny cop and she first became a target for a simple con. After that, things became different from what they were before.
I know this seems a bit sort, but I felt I had to set the scene, along with the small past to get to the plot and all. Hoped you liked it. Next chapter will be longer, I promise.
