The Van stopped in the snowy area of Tundratown wherein parked. The Two foxes left the van walking in the snow. Nick opened the back door lugging out the drums of melted ice pop. Nick put his hand on pulling the lid off with ease, running his finger in the juice licking it.
"So good," Nick said as he watched Finnick walking across the snow, leaving a trail of pawprints placing a wooden stick in each pawprint as Nick walked behind. Tilting the drum slightly slowly pouring red juice into the holes.
After what seemed like forever repeating the process the two were looking at the pops freeze.
"Now we wait" Finnick stated sitting in the back of the van as Nick sat beside him. Finnick pulled out a cigarette flicking his lighter.
"Dude, not near the pops" Nick stated as Finnick sighed.
"I've been making prints for and hours, Unlike you, I get exhausted" Finnick replied flicking the tip as a bit of ash landed on Nick's shirt. Nick brushed it off opening the cooler in the back.
"Finish your smoke break, then help me get all these pops in the cooler before they melt" Nick stated as Finick puffed a cloud of smoke.
"Nicky, don't tell me what to do" Finnick replied putting out his smoke on a pile of snow as he pulled out one of the small Pawsicles.
"At 2 dollars a pop, we should have enough money for the week" Nick stated counting the pops as Finnick started the truck. The next stop was Downtown to sell these pops.
The two set up a stand at one of there usual locations. The lemmings would get off work soon and they were always willing to accept a frozen treat as Nick waited at the stand. Finnick stayed behind the recycle bins ready to collect the Pawsicle sticks to sell to the lumberjacks for the wood value. after the bell rang an array of Lemming left their workplace swarming Nick's stand. In a matter of seconds, he was sold out holding a metal tin full of bills.
"That's all for today, be back next week," Nick said as the last lemming left. Finnick carried a plastic bag of Pawsicle sticks.
"Now to clean these sticks," Finnick said as the two sat in the van scrubbing the used Pawsicle sticks. Finnick handed one to Nick as he snipped the curved edges off making the stick resemble a wooden plank. after the work, Nick made his way selling a bunch of planks to the beaver lumberjacks as He got a good amount of money from it.
After there work the two were sitting in the back of the van drinking bottles of soda.
"Here's to another day of hard work" Nick proposed as Finnick toasted. the glass bottles making a sound as the uncapped them, Finnick was his opener; Nick with his bare thumb. After celebrating Nick left the Van.
"Well, It's getting late, I better head home, see ya later Finnick" Nick stretched standing up as Finnick laid down on the carpet.
"Later Nicky" The smaller fox replied seeing Nick leave. Nick began his walk down the sidewalk as the sun began to set. Overall today was different, nothing exciting. It was this thought that made Nick Think when was the last time he got excited. His week was like a show on a loop, same activities, nothing different. There was no challenge to his life. Nick would just head home, snack on leftovers and repeat his the same thing tomorrow.
"Hey, you" A voice called out as Nick stopped turning around seeing the angry face of the Rabbit from earlier.
"Julie" Nick snapped his fingers as she stared up at him.
"Judy, I know what you did" she corrected as he shrugged playing innocent.
"Please elaborate" Nick played seeming interesting.
"Lying about your son, Selling popsicles without a permit, False advertising popsicle sticks as lumber, I've been watching you two all day, I saw everything" Judy stated clearly angry.
"Technically I bent the truth, I never lied, never once did I state my relationship with Finnick was biological, and Popsicle sticks are made from Pine, which is used for lumber and... I do have a sales permit" Nick responded showing Judy a card as she ground her teeth.
"You played me for a fool" Judy replied clenching her paws as Nick chuckled.
"Okay Fluff, That is true, but still... not illegal" Nick replied as she looked at him.
"Why?" she asked not out of anger but of disappointment as Nick patted her cheek.
"Isn't it obvious, I'm a fox; that's what we do" He replied as she swatted his paw away from her cheek.
"Don't touch me" Judy replied as Nick put his paws behind his head walking away.
"Oh here," Nick said handing a 20 dollar bill as Judy didn't take it.
"I will not accept money from you, you dirty con" Judy stated as Nick put the bill in his pocket.
"Take my advice kit, hand back your badge before you seriously get hurt, as Finnick told me... Bunnies and Badges don't mix" Nick replied as Judy shifted back to anger.
"HOW DARE YOU, You know NOTHING about me" Judy replied as Nick chuckled.
"Really, stop me if you heard this before. a kit grows up in a household with loving parents, you try his hardest and do everything right. striving for a goal no one believes is achievable, and truly believe the motto on a bumper sticker. eventually, after continuous disappointment, you realize no one cares about your dreams. and you end up living under a bridge drinking your life away, wondering where it all went wrong... But ultimately you know... Some mammals Just aren't made to play the Hero card" Nick explained as Judy was practically seeing red.
"I Will NOT have some Two-bit Popsicle swindling street-trash fox tell me what I can and can not be" Judy hissed as Nick was already walking away.
"Who said I was talking about you" Nick sarcastically said walking off as Judy just stood there.
Nick made his way Back to the bridge sliding the huge sheet of metal to enter. he fell on his bed looking up at the cracks on the ceiling.
It was years ago when Nick was still in elementary school. He was sitting on the blacktop playing with a jump rope when he heard it. a scream of a girl being pushed down on the blacktop, another fox as it was clear a Zebra and Bear were the ones harassing her.
"What you gonna cry, Red-pelt" The Zebra teased as Nick walked up to them, his shadow cast on the wall in front of them as they turned to him.
"leave her alone," Nick said in an act of bravery as they just stood there.
"You're gonna stop us, are you crazy," The Zebra said clearly older seeing Nick clench a fist.
"Ever since can remember, I wanted to be a hero, someone who stood up to a punk like you, and send them fleeing with one punch... So Bring It" Nick said as Zebra looked.
"Sick em Brett" The zebra ordered as the bear lunged at Nick. Nick struck the bear as he struck back, trading blows. The fight was getting the attention of the other kids. Brett let another blow hitting Nick.
"A hero" Brett teased as Nick stood still
"Bring it," Nick called out as Brett's Paw hit it's way into Nick's stomach as he withdrew shaking it in pain
"There's no fat on that kid, it's like hitting a brick wall" Brett replied as he grabbed Nick's head slamming it into the brick wall, the wall cracking.
"What are you," Brett asked shocked as the children looked surprised
"Is this all you have?" Nick asked as Brett throwing the Fox Cub on the ground as he jumped back up seeing Brett lunge at him
"Because I haven't even broken a sweat" Nick replied punching Brett in the stomach so hard he threw up falling over as The kids stood silently unable to process what just happened.
"Nick was laying on his mattress reflection on his childhood. In that day, he wanted to become a hero. He was so powerful Nothing ever hurt him.
"I have the power most only dream of, so what is this...why Do I feel empty?" Nick asked himself
"Wilde, get your ass out here!" a voice yelled from outside as Nick pushed the metal door seeing a group of Tigers as Nick looked to biggest one.
"You again?" Nick said clearly bothered. this was obviously the tiger from last night who brought his friends.
"You scared?" The big Tiger asked as Nick crossed his arms.
"Not really" Nick replied catching the four tigers off guard.
"WHAT!" The biggest on yelled rushing at Nick.
"I'll be honest, most people have all sort of emotions in them when they fight, Fear, Dread, Panic but me..." Nick said as The Tiger was inches away Nick throw a fist sending the huge feline flying into a tree making a loud crack.
"...All I need is one punch to end it" Nick stated shocking the Tigers as the biggest cat got up clearly scared.
"I'm sorry, Don't kill me" he yelled running off, the others behind him like scared kittens as Nick took a breath.
"I'm too strong," Nick thought to himself
