The pair sat in the conference room digging through notes and files for hours on end, bouncing ideas back and forth once a new piece of information was brought up. When Chief Bogo came around to discuss something with them, they were right in the middle of an argument about one of those very idea

"Nick, that's not possible. It's a conflict of interest; no one in their right-OH! Chief Bogo, I didn't see you there," The small detective jumped as the buffalo walked in. His look of irritation and exhaustion was plain, but almost as if it was hiding something else.

"Easy there Hopps, no need to get too worried. I'm just here to check on you and ask for a status update on your special project. Where's Agent Sif?" The buffalo explained, moving to an empty seat opposite of his detectives. Nick was about to respond, his trademark sly-eyes peering over his sunglasses, before Judy interrupted him.

"Sir, Nick and I came to the conclusion that our perps were bait for Agent Pawtorias, to keep him off the trail of his primary target. When we brought this to his attention, he decided to leave the city while keeping us on the case here, doing different things to make it seem like he's still in the city. That way he has a better chance at digging into Arkous Savage, the wolf in charge of the canines we're investigating." She was formal and professional with her response, which slightly disappointed her wit-loving fox partner.

"Well that makes this easier. Now, if Pawtorias was to ever find out I was telling you this, he would most likely have my badge pulled and I would be finding myself on the street. But both the mayor and I know that you're far too important to allow you two to stumble into this case the same way his other partners have. Over the past 20 years he's had 7 different mammals help hands on on this case. Out of those 7, only 1 is still alive. I know he's told you this, but the important part is how they died. His first partner, a lion by the name of Theodore Lionheart, older brother to Mayor Lionheart, was an up and coming politician, just like his brother was to be. However, when he got involved in the case, he encountered Arkous Savage, and in a massive fight that ensued, and Lionheart was shot in the back. Witness reports from the few captured that day all say that Pawtorias was the only one that was arms with a firearm during the entire event. Two years later, a similar event occurred with his second partner, a badger named Paris Londo. His third partner was killed in a fire, one started by Pawtorias. According him, the fire was all a part of the plan, and while the President Chief accepted his telling of the events, I do not. His fourth and fifth partners died due to actions taken by his target, with the latter actually causing Pawtorias to take a two week leave. Then there's his sixth partner, a rhino. No matter how high your personal combat scores are Wilde, I'll never believe that you could do this," he tossed a picture to them, "to a rhino." The photograph was gruesome. Unlike the finesse and precision they had seen in the local murders, the rhinoceros was simply torn to bits. Claw marks and bite wounds laced the entire animal, and it was seemingly deflated from the blood loss. The rhino's face was unidentifiable. Just looking at the picture made the two's stomachs churn, and despite having eaten barely anything, felt like vomiting for just a second.

"And his last partner barely survived. He's currently hospitalized for the next 4 months in Bunnyburrows. Now, I don't know about you, but a death count this high doesn't happen. Even in the ZSIS. And believe me, I've checked. Most in the agency avoid him, and the President Chief made it very clear to not get in his way. The last place I want either of you in danger, and without a doubt the more you get involved here the more in danger you'll be. And I know I won't be able to convince you to drop this case, so I'm not asking you to. But, I expect you to follow my orders still, got it?" They nodded slowly, realizing this was one of his few moments of sincerity. "Good. No heroics. From either of you, got it? No taking bullets, no leaps of faith, you make sure either I or Clawhauser know any special plans Pawtorias comes up with, and if you two see either suspect and you're determined to go after them, you call for backup. Neither of you are to die on this case, got it? You are to look out for each other, and keep each other safe." He said, a dead serious stare on his eyes. Judy was lost for words. Unable to respond, her fox spoke up for them.

"Don't worry a horn on that head, Chief. I'll keep her safe." His smirk hid his sincerity, but they both got it nonetheless.

"That goes for you too Wilde. I'm not about to have to write up the death work on my favourite fox." He told the fox, with the slightest hint of a smile breaking through.

"Really? I'm honoured. Who did I beat out?" The red fox voiced his surprise.

"You got the place by default, so don't get too excited." He shot down the fox, keeping his jokes to a minimum. He continued, "Now, before I go, is there anything I can help you with?" With his sincerity lasting, Judy decided to ask a question.

"Sir, who were his fourth and fifth partners? You made it sound like they were of special importance to him."At that, Bogo's eyes drooped, and a sullen look came over his face.

"They undoubtedly were. I know he comes off heartless, probably because of those two. They were his wife and nephew, respectively. Ciaran Pawtorias and Havel Pawtorias." In that moment, each of the officers went silent, the cold weight of the dead filling the room.

After their 'talk' with Bogo, they wrapped things up swiftly, coming up with a plan for the next day, and ultimately deciding to talk to Honeylemon first thing tomorrow and then deal with the list Pawtorias had given them.

"You think we should take his car? I doubt he'll mind it, and we're supposed to be driving it anyway." Nick didn't need any convincing. The two hurried to the garage, finding the luxury vehicle waiting for them. Pulling the keys out of his pocket, he pressed a button. Click. The doors unlocked and opened on their lonesome. The mammals could barely hide their excitement. After a long troubling day like they had had, the lighthearted excitement was refreshing. They quickly loaded into the car, excited to see what kind of vehicle their mysterious new friend drove. Unlike the their own car, which was practically a luxury vehicle, the rugged interior and hard surfaces made them think of it more as a mobile home. There was a video phone in the center console, and the passenger seating area heald both a mini fridge and a microwave. The back bench was set way back, leaving no trunk space, so that way a table could be fitted in between the front seats and back bench. The back bench also lacked any signs of there being multiple seats, and when they tested it, found it could recline to laying straight down, sliding underneath the table to fit, making for a pretty comfortable bed. There were both overhead compartments and plastic containers under the seats, filled with everything from clothes to case and personnel files to ammunition to food seasoning to basic hygiene products.

"I'm guessing our fellow canine friend doesn't get home much, does he? Although, I must say, not a bad place to live if I had to choose." Nick said as they finished up inspecting the vehicle. They weren't expecting a secret agent's home to be his car, so what they found was quite the surprise.

"I know it's a lot better than my last apartment. No obnoxiously loud neighbors and direct access to the outside! I wonder if he misses it right now…"

Meanwhile, somewhere outside Zootopia, in the Eastern Swamps...

Sif Pawtorias laid curled up in the back seat of the Red Rocket, cramped and gnawing on a tough piece of jerky. This might have been the worst mistake I've made in a very long time…

Meanwhile, back in Zootopia...

"Eh, he's probably fine." Nick shrugged off the concern, and immediately started going through the mini-fridge at his feet. "Wow, he really did live out of his car. Why the hell is he wasting space in a fridge for MREs though? Ooh! Blueberries!" The fox's eyes sparkled as he pulled out the small wicker box of blue berries. Judy giggled at his excitement.

"Hehehe. He probably keeps them in there because those things are nasty. One of the Special Ops courses back in training had us eating those. Taste like the back side of an elephant after a workout. When they're cold you can't taste them… as much…" She explained, only for a gagging Nick to be her response. Startled, she looked over to him, and noticed him spitting out the berry he had just plopped into his mouth.

"What's wrong? Not as good as the Hopps's?" She laughed as he wiped up his tongue with a napkin.

"Ugh, these berries are disgusting! Worst. Blueberries. Ever. Of all time." He said with a grimace on his face. Pulling over, Judy grabbed the box from him, inspecting the berries closely. THey sure did look like blueberries, but they lacked any smell, and their shape was slightly off. And upon closer inspection, she could see small purple markings around the spot they came off the stem…The realization hit her with a chuckle, and then even more laughter.

"Nick, these aren't blueberries. They're a type of berry called Narclopsey Parodxica. Field agents will often collect them because they have a compound in them that can be used to make a powerful tranquilizer. Ingesting the berry whole can cause a dozen things to the mammal dumb enough to eat one." She put the box down on the dashboard and went over to the fox to examine him. Holding his face in her hands, she checked his face for any of the signs of a reaction or the fast acting sedative in the berry. She smiled as she looked him over, his face displaying a confused, then an exasperated look as he realized what she was doing. It didn't take long for her eyes to pass over his, and stop as they did, they connected, staring at each other, another moment frozen in time. They were mere millimeters from each other, and the in the first few seconds they held this position, the tension became practically audible to the two mammals, as their hearts pounded in their ears and their breathing slowed considerably. Nick's nose was first hit by Judy's scent, thick and potent. He could smell the open fields and countryside she grew up in. The combination of rain and grains that filled her childhood with sunlit working days and countless hours of books and study clung to her. But below that, there was her; a smell that was just as playful and uplifting and refreshing as it was mind meltingly tantalizing to the fox. His mind did as much, and for a second and half he felt any and all thoughts leave him, as he was taken by her natural perfume. It was nanoseconds later that his scent hit her; the collection of aromas he had picked up in the city much like the busy city streets themselves, with each one vying for her attention. From the saw dust of the construction yards to the metallic taste from the factories to the sweet scent of the different popsicle flavours he had done, to the small bunny it seemed as if the bustling city life lived on Nick's fur. But beneath that, when she held still this close, she could smell his cool, smooth, heart-meltingly tantalizing fragrance that turned the tough little rabbit into putty for just a second. Their eye's fluttered, and for a split second their world stopped and faded, their minds emptied and boiled down the the intense heat of the moment, enjoying the powerful emotions that followed their nose's reactions to each other. In the incredible mind altering storm she was in, Judy found her voice, and the courage to use it.

"Nick, I-" just not fast enough. As she spoke up, a speeding elephant car shot past them, rocking the car. Unfortunately for the couple, it didn't jolt Nick into his favourite bunny, or Judy into her beloved fox, but instead caused him to shift oddly, unbalancing the rabbit, who promptly fell back and landed on the arm rest. It wasn't even a second before they both knew whatever was there had vanished. Goddamnit! If I ever catch those guys, I might just kill them! Sadly, they couldn't hear each other's thoughts, as their like-minded howls of anger echoed in each other's heads. Hoping to salvage the situation, Nick laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Well, am I good to go doc?" He joked as he shot death glares at the car that was now almost out of sight. If looks could kill, the passengers would surely be dead. Yet Judy didn't see the look on his face. The deep vermillion of embarrassment coloured her cheeks, the blush practically shining through her fur as she crawled back into the driver's seat. She cleared her throat, trying to shake off the light headedness from their little… encounter.

"Umm… oh, yeah, seems like you spat it out quick enough. If you get itchy or feeling like dropping your head on the dashboard, say something." She said, positively distracted. She pulled them back onto the road, where they continued their trip in mostly silence, the tension lingering but neither one with the courage to actually do anything about it. When the silence became too deafening, Judy finally spoke up, asking a question she had been looking for an answer to for the past couple of months to no avail.

"Nick, where do you live?" His ears perked up at the question. I was a secret he had kept to himself, one that he was intent to keep doing so. Not even his mail carriers knew where he lived; not even Finnick, and he had tried his damned hardest to find out. Luckily, he wasn't a mastermind or anything, so it hadn't been too hard to keep it unknown. The paperwork he had filed to the department for his job had listed Judy and the fennec fox as emergency contacts and the beneficiaries should anything happen to him, and luckily those places of residence were the only ones that mattered. This meant that his personal residence had remained a mystery to everyone except him, so he was able to keep his home out of the public eye, or from being the lounge for any of his… Two friends? Really? I need to branch out some more…

"Umm… Slick? Hellooooo? You in there?" The fox snapped back to reality, not realizing he had been stuck in his own head the entire time. Clearing his throat, the sheepish look on his face promoted a scowl on hers.

"Well, depends on what you mean by 'live'..." he responded, too tired to think of something witty say. This only hardened her glare, until her eyes widened and she gasped, losing control of the car for a second.

"Nicholas Piberius", her usage of his middle name caused his to roll his eyes, "Wilde are you homeless?!" The incorrect conclusion caused the vulpine to return her wide eyed surprise with one of his own, then a loud and heart-felt cackle, as he simply couldn't contain his laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha! Me, homeless? Hahahaha! That's a good one Carrots! How could I look this good and be homeless at the same time? The very idea is preposterous! I would have to go to the dry cleaner's every day, and I don't plan on doubling that already hefty monthly expense." His denial caused her to simmer in her own frustration a bit. Not only was he laughing at the suggestion, she couldn't help but feel her worries about him be ignored. Moving on, she pressed the issue.

"Well, if you aren't homeless, then where do you live? I checked the records at the department when Bogo asked me to look over all of the new recruits, and you didn't list yours. You know where I live. I think it only right for me to know where you live too." She was adamant about finding out, despite his reluctance to tell. It all came to who would give up first.

"Oh really? You checked the personnel files? Well, isn't that kind of illegal? Who put you in MR while I was gone?" He changed the topic to stall for time, thinking they had to be getting close to her place.

"Wha-what do you mean? That isn't illegal." She frowned at him, trying to judge his reactions.

"Oh yes it is. City Ordinance AS 135, Part 1, Section 4, Clause 2: any and all private and confidential information on a city official or civil servant holding an unelected position shall not have his or her personal records disclosed to any other employee or private entity except either with written permission to either the requestor or granted to the Keeper of Records, or by the Mammal Resources assigned to said employee's department of the state or an authorized supervising department." He rattled off the law, stunning his partner.

"What? That can't be true. There's no way you can name something like that off the top of your head." She said, her incredulous response causing him to chuckle. Luckily for him, they pulled up to her apartment building, thoroughly ending the conversation. But, to drive his point home, as she put the car in park, he passed his phone over to her, proving it with a Zoogle search. As she read it, a dumbfounded look washed over her face, inducing another small laughing fit as the red canine got out of the car. He was able to walk over to the driver's side before it slipped away, giving him the immense satisfaction of opening the door for the little bunny.

"Told you so. So, should I arrest you for being the criminal now? We wouldn't want a devious little bunny like you hopping around town, would we?" His trademarked smirk and half-lidded eyes expression very firmly in place. Judy's quickly returned to the irritation that had decorated her face earlier. Hopping out of the car, she glared at him, crossing her arms.

"You didn't answer the question. You just stalled the entire time." Her attempt at getting back to the point was spot on, just too late. He swiped the keys from her before answering the question, smirking.

"It's called a hustle, sweetheart. Maybe next time Toot-Toot." He climbed behind the wheel of their borrowed car, ignoring her glare, determined to not catch the daggers she was sending his way.

"I'll pick you up here like normal, just this time with style." The fox said, touting their borrowed vehicle.

"Hmmph. Fine, I expect you to be here on time, or else you won't be the only one hustling around here."

"But Carrots, you move so fast already. If your pick up the pace, how will I catch up?" He joked with a large smile on his face. She rolled her eyes, barely even waving at him as she walked into her apartment.

The drive back to his place was quiet and uneventful. His 'house' (if one could really call it that) was on the edge of Vixshire, closer to the interior of the city. It was the farthest building from the old Fauxfang mansion, and was one of the buildings that made up the 'wall' between Vixhire and the neighboring areas. Nick had moved in (illegally) just about 19 years ago, almost immediately after his mother died. Back then he was just an orphan, and no one was around to throw him out. But after reading up on certain squatter's laws, he realized that the building was technically his, all he had to do was sign the paperwork. Of course, he signed it in a pseudonym, under a Mr. Crash Bandicoot, but the city recognized him as the owner, as there was a long and twisted line of a paper trail for him to prove they were the same person. Lucky, the former owners of the building had gone bankrupt and weren't in any position to try and take it back from him, so he got to basically purchase the building for the price of the paper and ink of all of the filing work ($6.77 in this case). And the decrepit warehouse had no value, so his living there was more of a tax write-off than an expense. Over the years, he had done his own work on the place; after several serious shock (one of which was more than likely the cause of his notorious half-opened eyes gaze), he had managed to turn on the central power, and after almost flooding half the borough, gotten the water back on too. And while the main warehouse was either always too cold or too hot to stay in, the second and third balconies had several offices and even what was probably going to an employee lounge. He had made himself right at home, with plenty of room all to himself, he was deeply pleased with the place he called home. He had jimmy-rigged elevators, hidden compartments and passages, and a plethora of different security devices and entertainment pieces throughout his home. However, tonight he was exhausted, and focused on one thing; sleep. He drove the car into the warehouse, locking the main gate behind him. No one had ever come into the building in his nearly two decades of living there, but he wasn't about to take a chance that someone might, especially with the deadlier-than-Death agent's car being here. He walked to the back of the building, jumping on the large power switch, his whole weight being just enough to flip it down, bringing the power on. None of the light powered up, but a deep humming could be heard, then a rattle, as the vents began to cough out the cold air from the industrial-strength AC units located on top of the building. Standing still for just a moment, he waited as the frigid air slowly sank to his level.

"Aww… much better…" he said to himself, enjoying the subtle goosebumps crawling over his skin. After that , he marched off to the wash rooms. Just like everything else, they were up stairs. The only way to the upper levels from the inside were two ladders, but Nick was almost never in the mood to deal with them, so early on he had installed simple counterweight elevators (using some of the extra concrete and cement bricks as the counter weights), for whenever he really wasn't in the mood. This was one of those times. Kicking out the stopper, the elevator brought him up to the next floor. He walked across the metal lattice catwalk, shuffling into one of the washrooms. There were two, undoubtedly one meant for ladies and the other for their male counterparts, but being the lazy fox that he was, he only ever cleaned out one, leaving the other one to sit in the industrial grime and collect dust from the lack of use. He took a hot shower, fading in and out of consciousness as he did, and afterwards quickly made his way up the stairs to the top floor, where his room lay. His room was the smallest and most furnished out of the half dozen in the building (not really a high bar set by the rest). A large cherry wood dresser, almost definitely too large for the single fox alone, was against one of the interior walls. The bottom drawer of the dresser was opened, revealing the purpose for such an oversized piece of furniture; it could double as a bed for the resident. A window let the moonlight in, bleaching it of its deep red colour. Under the window sat an ornate chest. The iron wood trunk had a intricate symbol on the facade, and the iron-fittings gave it an antique and rustic look. Other than that, a simple table and matching chair, the room was empty. He didn't pay any mind to them, intent on one thing; sleep. He walked over and fell into the pile of pillows blankets and stuffing and other things that made up his bed and found what he was searching for almost instantly.

"What-what's happening?" Nick's child-voice rang through his ears

"You guys, we should head home." Another fox, much larger, but the same age warned.

"Come on, where's the fun in that?" a vixen this time.

Bang. BANG BANG.

"Holy fox-trot, what the blazes-" the vixen again.

Nick's body tensed, and were there anyone to hear his whimper, the heart shattering sound that it was.

"Run! Go you two, run!" the larger fox yelled.

BANG. Cha-THUNK cha-THUNK. Bang bang.

"Go Nikki, RUN! I'm right behind you don't-" BANG. Nick kept running, even after the she stopped yelling to him. Then… fire. Red, hot, devouring everything. Tears. Fear. Fire. Pain-

Nick launched from curled up position, howling in pain and fear and a tormented anguish, filling the night with his emotions. He wasn't alone. As his tone of sorrow echoed over the homes of countless foxes like himself, the cry resonated with them, and soon the night's air was filled with the chorus of the foxes' tragedies.

Hallo everybody. I'm getting a new computer soon, and college is starting back up as well, so I might not get the next one up for a while. I'll try to do so regardless. Writing is the only thing keeping me sane right now. Please review, and follow if you like it so far.