Chapter 7

Nick took a deep breath, a bit hesitant of pursuing discussion, as the idea he held in mind would very likely be received with opposition.

However, he turned to face his friend with a sardonic smile, knowing his reaction towards it would also be nothing short of amusing.

"So I came up with something..." He said simply, grinning.

Gaining the attention of Finnick, who was sunken within an old sofa smoking a cigarette. He promptly emptied his lungs of the smoke, and began.

"Alright. Shoot." He replied.

"But, promise me you won't get angry, or hit me, okay?" Nick spoke, emphasizing or.

Finnick sighed, a glitter of annoyance settling within his features as he rubbed his brow.

"Just talk..." He spoke impatiently.

"Alright, now hear me out. We go into Jumbo's ice cream parlor, and we order a jumbo pop. Then, we go down to Sahara Square, melt it, and then go to Tundra Town to re-freeze it, but into smaller popsicles. Why, You might ask? Because then we'll use these little pops for the guys at Lemming Brothers Bank, because if you can sell something to one of them, you can sell it to em' all..." He added with a smile. "In short, giving us an easy cut of money." Giving a short grin.

Finnick's expression was unchanged, only pausing for a few moments to toss the thought around, considering it.

"You do realize that Jumbo's parlor doesn't even serve predators.." He spoke, his tone critical as his closed his eyes and rubbed them.

"Oh, but they will. All we have to do is act as if I'm walking in with my son, and present a good enough sob story to melt their hearts." Nick spoke.

"Alright, then...who's the son?" Finnick inquired, raising an eyebrow.

To which, Nick only replied with a look, his brow rising with his eyes holding an inclination towards something. A few moments passed, and Finnick finally realized what his glance meant.

"You'd better not-" He said immediately, not finishing his sentence as he rose upright.

Nick smiled.

Finnick was suddenly choleric with indignation.

"No." He said simply, his voice booming.

"Oh, come on, Finnick!" Nick laughed.

Though Finnick was unchanged as he leaned forward in his seat.

"No! You know exactly how much I hate that! I am not a damn child!" He rose his voice, slightly seething.

"I know that, Finnick, but think of the potential this has!" He exclaimed.

Finnick shook his head, falling silent as he began tapping his foot against the ground, crossing his arms as he took another drag from his cigarette.

"Look, Finnick." Nick began once more, stepping forward and sitting across from his angered friend. "If we do this, we can roll in a lot of money this way. Plus, we've both got bills to pay, and those aren't getting any cheaper...come on..." Nick spoke, edging him on.

Finnick sighed, shaking his head. Though he wanted to remain completely incredulous to that statement, it rang undoubtedly true in his ears. However, after some consideration, something cam into his mind, and he turned towards him.

"Even I may look like a kid in size, that's the only thing. How are we going to convince them that I'm your son?" He then inquired.

"Ah, you see, that's where-" He paused, turning to retrieve an old child elephant costume from behind his couch. "-this comes in." He said, turning back around and presenting it.

"Oh, fuck you..." Finnick spoke as he laid eyes on it, though Nick only smiled and laughed.

"What's wrong? You don't like it?" He prodded.

Finnick remained silent.

"Come on, Finnick. You know you want to..." He teased, dangling it closer to Finnick.

"Fuck off, Nick. I'm not putting that shit on..." Finnick replied, turning away in annoyance.

"Why not? Come on, You won't even have to say a thing! I'll do all the talking and all you have to do is sit there and, well, act cute..." He spoke.

Finnick took a few moments to himself, inwardly regretting having started this conversation in the first place.

However, despite his unremitting loathing of the part of him acting as a child, the idea of the potential gain also weighed in. Soon, it playing the main factor which silently convinced his mind. So, after some moments of careful deliberation, he gave in, if averse.

"Fine. Give it here..." He said, extending his arm out.

Nick promptly handed it over to him, moving over to stand behind him as Finnick observed it. He placed his cigarette in his lips as he pinched the costume between his thumbs and index fingers at it's shoulders, letting the rest droop as he stared into it.

The sight of it marred his face with a deep frown, wrinkling his nose; immensely appalled at it's appearance.

He wasn't so sure of it anymore now that he'd actually seen it.

"Besides. I think it suits you..." Nick threw in another joke, at first chuckling before his laughter turned into a short grunt of pain, Finnick having turned around and punched him in the gut.

Nick staggered back, leaning forward as he held his stomach. His residual mirth now mixed with wheezes of pain as he slumped over, gasping for air.

Finnick then sighed, taking a few moments to peer into the costume in his hand. And after a minute, he shook his head, dropping the costume carelessly on the ground.

"If this doesn't work, I'm kicking your ass..." Finnick giving a contemptuous scowl at Nick, who was still recovering from the blow, but managed to reply with another devious smile.

"Deal..."


Nick stared absently into the ceiling, watching the blades of the old wooden ceiling fan rotate. The structure wobbling and squeaking as it uselessly circulated the stale and humid air which filled his apartment room.

He lied supine on his bed, completely awake as the sun hadn't begun to rise yet. The sky a dark blue with a dim moon near the eastern side of the earth.

The memory was bittersweet when it materialized, sending a hurtful, but nostalgic twinge through his body. Despite it, he let it run it's course, even when it began to pang his heart. And after it fulfilled it's purpose, he was left thinking about the past. Finnick and himself.

It was like he was trying to keep him close, as if to hold unto pieces to help remember him for he was now gone. As if her was never coming back.

Some of the memoirs would induce a small smile of joy, others a frown, only shame being wrought in his mind.

It was still his fault.

His eyes closed, and he submerged the thoughts beneath. Dragging them away from the forefront of his mind, he turned to his side, and rested his eyes on the alarm clock which sat on a small coffee table near his bed.

4:59 AM.

Then, to occupy himself, he began to count the seconds in his head, reaching up to 47 before the alarm clock tolled. To where he promptly reached over and dismissed the noise before rising upright in his bed.

He wiped his eyes, and fell a deep bitter exhale. The air leaving his sullen frame as he went back into his mind. He scoured once more to find a valid argument, one which would draw him towards the physical exertion to prepare for the day.

However, he searched and searched, and nothing came forth. None that would provide an incentive for him to leave his home one again, only to live through another contemptible day.

He remained still, ultimately convinced that there was nothing left. No point working towards a bitter end.

His eyes then flitted across the room, filling him with chagrin as the room reflected his inner turmoil. But they continued wandering, going between the different aspects of his apartment before resting on his police uniform.

Which it's articles were tossed carelessly unto the ground as it lied across from his bed. Though the event itself caused no reason for inquiry, his eyes focused on the golden badge which was among the clothes on the floor, and it then surfaced a valid argument.

Judy.

She was still a reason to go. She was his best friend, and the only person now that he could hold close. And being by her side, the day couldn't be any more worse than the last couple.

So, with a sigh, he rose to his feet. Promptly obtaining each article of his uniform before proceeding to prepare for the morning.


Their day began, once more back on the city streets with another patrol. The sun rising over the horizon as it trickled orange and a vibrant blue into the sky.

However, it was another particularly slow day as it wormed on. Nothing of real significance occurred, and the ennui they both shared kept them silent as they were together.

Hours slowly streamed by, and it eventually approached their breaks. So they called in their off time, and waited at an intersection, the minutes passing in quiet.

Judy, not wanting to make the silence awkward, was first to say something.

"So. Where do you want to go?" She asked.

Nick stayed quiet for a few moments, staring out the window before responding.

"I don't know...Anywhere I guess." He replied, not looking.

She glanced over, watching her friend as he was turned away. His eyes hidden beneath the tinted frames of his shades, and his demeanor just as obscuring to his inner being.

Judy sighed, instead of pursuing any further, useless discussion, she picked a place from memory and headed towards there.

However, the ride was still uneventful, discourse wasn't shared and the atmosphere sifted almost uncomfortably between them.

They eventually arrived at the diner and soon entered, however, their withdrawn interactions never once altering.

They ordered their meals, and sat within a booth as Nick only stared indifferently out the window, sitting secluded to his own thoughts while Judy sat in similar semblance.

Their atmosphere was palpable, the disinterest and detachment was noted on Judy's conscious, though not taken to a level of concern. They had been the same for the past week or so, and she felt attempting to pry open his shell would be to no avail, and so stopped trying.

The waitress came forth, carrying trays of their orders and setting it down before them.

"Here you go!" She spoke, giving a wide, contrived smile. "Enjoy!" The doe nearly squeaked. Her actions to try and comfort the customers doing quite the contrary.

"Thank you." Judy said a bit dismissively as she took her plate.

"Do you need any-" The waitress began again.

"No, we're fine. Thank you." She replied, a bit more firm than intended as the waitress nearly flinched. Though the harm had been done, and the waitress was seemingly frightened as she responded.

"Oh, okay.." She said softly, then quickly retreated.

Though Judy only shook her head and inwardly shuddered. Her extremely bubbly personality irking her.

She then began to set apart their orders, placing hers in front and beginning to eat. Though, minutes later, she realized Nick hadn't even moved.

She glanced up at him quizzically, taking a few moments to finish chewing before speaking.

"Nick."

Belatedly, he turned to her. His brow rising above his shades, and his eyes blinking. Seemingly just having woke up.

"Yeah?" He said, stirring in his seat.

"Your food?" She replied.

It took a moment for it to click in his head, when it did, he glanced down.

"Oh, thanks..." He said, sighing a bit before slowly dining. If it could be called that.

Periodically, she'd watch him. Noticing he would only nibble at it from time to time, most of it spearing it with his fork as he brooded. And when their break was almost over, he hadn't even eaten half of what was on his plate.

"At least he's paying for his." She mused to herself as she rose from her seat.

The waitress soon came back, though with a suppressed expression of uneasiness as she neared Judy.

"Here's the check..." She said simply, trying another smile.

Though Judy only quietly took it, glancing down at the total. $18.34

She then went into her back pocket, and pulled out her wallet. At first searching for change to meet half of the price, until Nick spoke.

"Oh...uh, Jude?" He spoke a bit tentatively, collecting her attention. "I forgot my wallet..." He said, giving a nervous grin from behind his shades.

She then sighed, now slightly annoyed.

"Guess not." She thought to herself.

She pulled out a twenty and placed it on the check, before passing by the waitress and heading out the door without another word. Nick following closely behind her.


Hours passed, and still no change of events or interactions. They were only driving down a residential street until a voice finally cracked through their console radio, and added at least something to their day.

"Any units in the vicinity, we have a request for a welfare check. Subject's wife called concerned about her husband." Clawhauser spoke.

Judy listened, and shared a solitary glance with Nick. Who shrugged indifferently in response before she promptly procured the receiver, and spoke into it.

"This is 1-Adam-12. We're available at the moment..." She replied.

"10-4. Subject's name is Kale Mallard, male, lynx, and last seen leaving his household at 423 Union and Yale. Respond Code 2."

"10-4, Dispatch, en route now."

She placed the retriever back into it's clasp, and leaned back. If not the most riveting call out, it was something to do. She thought to herself, carving their way towards their new destination.


They arrived at the residence, and shortly after, removed themselves from their vehicle and made their way to the front door.

The house was moderate size, the structure containing two stories and was painted mainly white with highlights of brown and black, with a decently sized garage and a well maintained front lawn.

They began walking through the stone tiled walkway that lead to the house's front door. To which it opened before they could fully cross the yard, the concerned wife stepping outside.

"Have you found him?" The lynx asked in fear, walking out and halting midway to meet them. "Have you found Kale?"

"At the moment, we haven't. But we have a search underway for him, and you'll be the first informed if anything comes up. Okay, ma'am?" Judy said soothingly with a small, but reassuring smile. "But first we've come here though to ask a few questions regarding you and your husband." She pulled out her notepad.

The lynx nervously held her closed paw to her chest, swallowing before speaking.

"Alright..." Watching as Judy readied her pen.

"What's your name?" She asked first.

"Jillian." She replied, nervously folding her paws.

Then Judy began with the questioning around her husband's disappearance. However, as the discourse continued, Nick found it increasingly difficult to follow their words. His mind becoming unfocused as it swayed back and forth between thoughts, their speech soon nothing but unintelligible slurs to his ears.

He furrowed his brow, in an attempt to help himself concentrate. But when he finally perceived the words, they were only more confusing to his brain as he couldn't place them logically in order.

He blinked, and then suddenly faltered to breathe. He took a few steps back, turning away, his heart began racing. He removed his sunglasses and began taking deep breaths, balling his shaking paws into fists as he tried to breathe. He leaned forward, trying to regain his thoughts and steady his composure.

Moments spent away in anxiety, but he managed to quickly calm himself, grateful the episode was over so soon as he reopened his eyes.

But before he could turn around and apologize for his behavior, perhaps making an excuse if they had seen him, he spotted a little cub. He was peering from behind their car, raising his head above the front end to peek on them. But when his eyes soon caught Nick's glance, he quickly hid himself.

Nick, glad for the excuse, promptly made his way over. Slowly rounding the front of the car as he leaned forward, the cub trying to avoid Nick's line of sight as he crept closer towards the back end.

"Hey, it's okay..." Nick began, hoping he was speaking at comforting tones. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

Moments later, the cub rose from the behind the car, tentatively glancing at him.

"Promise?" The cub spoke, it's voice that of a boy.

Nick pulled his lips into a smile, hopefully reassuring.

"Promise."

"Jeremy!" Jillian soon called.

He jumped at his name, both him and Nick turning to her. She stepped forward, and proceeded to speak sternly.

"Don't bother the officers, and leave their car alone!"

"It's alright, he's fine." Nick then replied to her call. "He's just a bit curious. Do you mind if I talk to him?" He asked.

There, Jillian hesitated with her answer, visibly reluctant to allow it, but she acquiesced.

"No, I don't mind." She said, if sounding irresolute.

Nick then nodded in response and turned to the cub, grinning at the small predator.

"Jeremy, huh?" He started. "I'm Officer Nick Wilde. How old are you?" He asked, tying to be affable towards him.

"Oh, I'm 9.." He said simply.

The cub's eyes were downcast, timid in nature as his arms fell by his sides, his paws together while he stood a bit awkwardly. But he drew a bit closer towards Nick, his stature relatively loosening, his eyes would still skit nervously away if he made eye contact for too long.

"Is dad in trouble?" He then asked, giving a concerned glance up at Nick.

Nick's eyes almost widened, a bit surprised, but he gave a reassuring response.

"No, your dad's not in any trouble, we're just looking for him to make sure he's okay..." He then smiled, kneeling down. He hoped he was acting nice enough, he generally wasn't too good with children.

Jeremy's eyes were downcast once more. His feet prodding at stray pebbles, his paws laced together; a nervous gesture.

"He gets mad a lot. And he scares me, sometimes. He and mom always fight too..." Jeremy found himself to speak. It was a bit distant, as if summoned from thought and spoken to echo them.

Nick blinked, spending the moment taken partially aback.

"Why do they fight?" He asked.

Jeremy's shoulders rolled with a shrug, his eyes still glued to the ground.

"Do you know why he gets mad?"

The cub only shrugged once more, his eyes glancing up momentarily before falling again.

"Why does he scare you?"

Jeremy paused a little, seeming a bit apprehensive to continue.

"When he gets mad, he'll start yelling. And then mom will start yelling back. And he'll-" He then caught the words, reconsidering his speech until falling nervously silent.

Nick prodded, though not aggressively.

"He'll what?" Nicked asked, before a disturbing thought ran across his mind. He glanced at the cub, seeing his nervous behavior, he felt a small twinge of fear of an answer in the affirmative of his thoughts.

"Does your dad hit you?" He then asked.

Jeremy gave a short surprised glance at the statement, but then immediately withdrew once more, growing nervous.

Here, he had already answered Nick, sending a small shudder of shock through his chest. But he continued prodding with a small hope that he wasn't right.

"Jeremy. Does your dad hit you?" Nick asked again, though not harshly.

Jeremy sighed airily through his nostrils, then returned his look.

"Sometimes..." He responded lowly.

The answer sent a cold chill down Nick's spine, and he remained silent for a few moments, his eyes sent away.

"But please don't hurt him. He didn't always do that..." He then said in defense. "He takes a lot of medicine."

Nick's brow slightly furrowed in puzzlement as his eyes met with the cub's for a moment, before Jeremy's fell away.

"What kind of medicine?" He asked.

"It's for his back. He hurt it a little while ago." Jeremy responded. "I think that's why he's so mad..." He added, a bit more to himself as his gaze crawled back up.

Nick considered the information, then slowly rose to his feet. His eyes fixed with concentration as he settled his shades back unto the bridge of his nose, and behind his ears.

"Thank you, Jeremy. You can go now..." Nick said, contriving a smile.

The cub turned away, though only took a couple of paces before glancing back. He opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak, eventually just falling silent altogether and turning back away.

Nick turned, and made his way back towards Judy and Jillian. Stepping with a bit more purpose as he was concerned about the fact of Kale's abusive behavior. Only wondering to what extent it had been taken to.

He approached them, silently listening to Judy's questions while he waited for an opportunity to join. Then Judy scrawled something in her notepad and turned back up to her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Mallard for your time. I think we're done here?" She said, before glancing at Nick for acknowledgment.

"No, sorry. I just want to clear some things up..." He smiled.

Jillian then promptly nodded.

"Okay..."

"So..." Nick cleared out his throat before he began.

Judy then excused herself, at first walking back to the car until she saw the cub standing idly by, fiddling with some leaves from a growing tree near the edge of their yard. She stopped, and thought to herself for a moment, silently deciding to walk over towards him.

"Hey there." She said, smiling as she approached him.

"Hi..." He responded lowly.

"I'm Officer Judy Hopps...and you're Jeremy?" She said.

He nodded slowly.

"Nice to meet you, I hope my partner didn't scare you too bad..." She laughed a bit.

He shook his head.

"No...He was really nice." He added.

"That's good..." She responded, taking a moment to look around their house for a bit, mainly waiting for Nick to finish.

"Why is he sad?" Jeremy then asked.

She turned at his words, slightly confused at what he said.

"What do you mean? Officer Nick?" She asked.

He nodded again.

"What do you mean he's sad?" She asked after a bit in thought.

He turned away, his eyes down as he scraped a smooth surface in the dirt with his feet, speaking a bit belatedly.

"He's sad...He doesn't show it too well, but I could hear it...and his eyes are dark underneath..." He said, pointing to his lower eyelids. "Mom said that's what happens when someone can't sleep..." He spoke, his attention back to the ground after Judy didn't reply.

She reviewed the information within her head. At first confounded at what the cub had spoken. But when she spent the moments in thought, she recognized it. Of course, prior to his saying she had noted Nick's difference in behavior. But it hadn't actually processed, and she only shrugged it off with indifference and continued on with her day.

It was partially a rude awakening, to have been told by an outward perspective that her best friend had been depressed. As if so noticeably obvious, yet she hadn't even really seen it herself.

She took a few moments to respond, still slightly surprised at Jeremy's words.

"Th-thank you...Jeremy." She said simply, before turning away.

She glanced up at Nick, watching as he talked with Mrs. Mallard. How couldn't she have noticed it sooner? It should've been obvious, yet she remained oblivious to her own partner's internal suffering.

She sighed and made her way back, silently joining as she heard their discussion.

"Yes, yes. He injured his back a while ago in a car accident. He split open one of the discs between his vertebrae, and so takes medicine for the pain." She answered his question.

"Would you say the medicine changed his behavior, like, as if he's more induced to anger?" Nick then asked.

And Jeremy was right, though he wasn't expressing any obvious anguish, but his voice lacked, him. As if drained of his personal traits, and what was left was a sullen drone. It hurt to fully realize it.

The lynx faltered in answering, hesitant before speaking again.

"Well, he's had minor anger problems prior to the meds. But when he takes the pills, he's calm...And when he doesn't, he drinks as a substitute I guess..." She added.

Nick nodded as he received the information.

"And would you say he's a violent person whenever he doesn't take the pills?" He then asked.

Her eyes widened to a degree, and seemed to spend a moment in panic before speaking once again.

"No, no...not at all...I mean, he's irritable. But never violent..." She lied, obvious to Nick as his eyebrow rose.

"Please, don't lie to me, Mrs. Mallard. I need to know the truth, this is for our safety, as well as yours and your son's." He spoke a bit sternly in response.

She then sighed, her eyes falling away for a moment and acquiesced.

"It's...it's only when he doesn't take his pills...when he does, he's sweet...He's nice, and he wouldn't hit us then..." She said, a bit sorrowfully.

"Then? So he has?" Nick asked. Promptly gaining both Nick and Judy's attention.

Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake, but it was already too late to redeem it. Another dread filled sigh left her.

"Yes..." She said simply.

"To what extent? Does he use a closed fist?" He continued.

"No, no, He doesn't. The most he's ever done was slap me..." She spoke earnestly.

"He's never knocked you to the ground? Pulled your hair?" Nick added.

She shook her head during his questions.

"No. He gets mad at times, but he still loves us...He wouldn't, torture, either of us." She said in his defense.

Nick fell silent, thinking of the situation before replying to her.

"Thank you, ma'am, for your time...We'll give you news on when we find him..." He said.

The lynx nodded, though slowly.

"Thank you..." She replied simply, her words now more sullen.

There, Nick and Judy departed. Shortly re-entering their vehicle, starting it, and driving away. The house slowly drifting away as Nick peered into the rear view mirror, watching as the mother stood with Jeremy.

However, he noticed a solemnity in Jeremy's eyes as they watched their departure. Which only furthered his remorse for the child.

He looked away, trying to assume a new mode of thought until Judy spoke, unknowingly solving his problem for him.

"She gave me the location of a bar he frequents, she also said he has two different colored eyes, so it should be easy in identifying him." She said.

Turning to Nick, to which he nodded in reply.

"Alright...let's try the bar." He said simply.

And she silently agreed, turning to enter it inside their GPS as they made their way. Though, Judy gave her partner a concerned glance before refocusing her attention to the road.


They arrived at the bar, a small establishment that rested on the edge of an intersection. To which, before they could ready themselves and leave their vehicle, they could see someone walking away from the bar, yelling and cursing at cars when they blared their horns as he traversed carelessly through the street.

"Dispatch, we've got one in the middle of the street, yelling obscenities and really agitated." Judy spoke into her radio on her shoulder, promptly herself and Nick exiting the car to catch up with him.

"Roger, 1-Adam-12, what's your twenty?" Dispatch crackled back.

"Stand by." Judy responded, distracted as the individual made it to the other side, obviously enraged.

The male seethed, baring his teeth as he walked with a heavy gait, his tail lashing behind him in wrath. Nick and Judy committed to pursuit, jogging over to the side he was on and eventually gaining his attention, approaching him.

"Mr. Mallard?" Judy called out to him. He glanced over at them, turning at his name. One of his eyes brown, and the other green. "Mr. Mallard. Zootopia Police, we-" She began, until her eyes fell to the black revolver he gripped in his right paw.

Her heart instantly dropped, and they both immediately drew their weapons, their sights trained on him as he remained still under their immediate bout of commands.

"Drop the gun!" They called out to him.

"Sir, please, drop the gun!"

Mr. Mallard seemingly staggered, as if perplexed under their directions. He peered down at the gun in his paw, before glancing back up at the police officers. All the while remaining speechless.

Judy took a step back, taking the moment to speak into her radio of their situation. Nick, seeing an opportunity, stepped forward.

"Sir, please, just set the gun down. We don't want to hurt you..." Nick spoke, his voice lowered a few degrees.

Kale took a few moments, his brow furrowed as if having difficulty processing their words. He blinked a couple of times before responding.

"It's not mine." He said.

"Okay, please, just set it down." Nick replied coolly.

Kale then listened, sending a surge of relief through both Judy and Nick as he slowly set it towards the ground, and rose upright again.

"Now, step away from it." Nick spoke.

And Kale listened, silently taking a few steps back with his hands slightly raised. Nick eased to an extent, drawing out a breath of relief. He then started taking a slow step forward, intent on obtaining the weapon, or at least keep it out of Kale's reach. However Kale saw this, his eyes hardened, and his features tensed, as if threatened.

"Whoa, whoa. It's alright...Easy." Nick said, withdrawing. Trying to prove he wasn't a threat.

He stepped back to where he was, but he could see Kale relaxed only marginally, his eyes constantly flitting between Nick and the gun in his hand.

Nick, seeing this, slowly lowered his arms and even holstered his weapon. Shortly slipping back into it's leather clasp and raising his hands.

"See?" He said.

"Nick!" Judy uttered with dismay, her weapon still drawn. "What are you doing!?"

"It's alright, Jude. Just lower your gun." Nick said collectively, his eyes still on Kale.

She was appalled at the gesture, and wanted to speak in protest, but he only gave a short glance back and flashed his endemic grin.

"It's alright...Trust me." He said, before turning back to Kale.

She gritted her teeth, still very uneasy at the gesture. But she gained purchase of her muscles, and her arms lowered, the gun's barrel directed towards the ground. The sight visibly relieved Kale, his shoulders relaxing, and his features loosening.

"Okay, Kale. Is everything alright?" Nick then proceeded to speak.

Kale took a few moments to respond, his brow creasing.

"No." He said, baring his teeth.

"Okay, okay...that's fine...what's wrong?" Nick continued.

Kale shook his head.

"I lost my job!" He then yelled, his voice suffused with rage. "And some fucker kicked me out of the place!" He pointed to the bar across the street.

"Okay, I'm sorry that happened." He said, then took a quick glance at the weapon. "Where'd you get the gun?" Nick then asked.

He glanced off for a few moments, as if having difficulty recalling.

"A friend." He said simply.

"Okay, Kale. Look, It's going to be alright, we just have-" Nick then started once more, but was cut short.

"How!? I can't pay for my meds any more, I can't pay for the bills!" He yelled in agitation.

"It's okay, Kale." Nick tried to say, though was silenced again under another bout of yelling.

"No, it's not! My family will starve if I don't get a job! We need money, and, and no one is hiring me! I, I need..." His words trailed off, and he closed his eyes. His palms going to his face as he began to breathe in attempts to calm himself.

"Look, Kale. Listen to me. We can help you right now, if you just stay calm." Nick then replied coolly.

"Calm..." Kale echoed distantly, his arms falling away, his eyes blinking away tears.

"Yes...Now, everything will be alright, Kale. But first, please step over here with me..." Nick spoke, still collected as he attempted to draw Kale from the gun, sub-consciously registering that people were attracted to the commotion.

With a quick glance, he could see individuals were standing only a little afar off, some recording with their phones as the event proceeded, which only strengthened the risk of the situation as the weapon was still in relative reach of Kale.

But he quickly refocused his attention, seeing Kale beginning to shake his head.

"No, no...I, I need-" He repeated, shortly glancing over at the gun.

"Kale." Nick spoke a bit more stern. "Kale, listen to me...don't look at the gun, look at me, we're talking. Please, look at me.." Nick then spoke, successfully drawing his attention. "Tell me what you need, Kale. We can help, just come over here..." He said, hopeful he would listen, seeing that he was losing him.

Kale stood motionless, unsure of how to proceed as he nervously clenched his paws.

"Kale, please, listen to me...we can help you, tell me what you need, and I could get it for you.." Nick continued, now a bit desperate.

"No..." Kale muttered to himself. "You can't help me..."

"What?" Nick spoke, unable to hear what he said. "Kale, I can't-"

"You can't help me." Kale said louder, glancing over at them. Before looking over at the gun with intent.

"Kale! Don't-" Nick began, but was stopped.

Kale had stepped over to the gun and stooped down to retrieve it. Nick immediately took steps backward, his nerves swelling with panic as he failed to reach his gun in time, his hands fumbling before several loud claps of gunfire distorted him, jarring his senses. He felt his chest spasm with immediate pain, burning as his ears were filled with white noise, mixed with the terror filled screams of people. Soon, all he could see was the sky warping in his field of vision.

"Nick!" Judy cried in horror.

She reacted, steadying the sights on the lynx and squeezing the trigger. However, nothing but a perturbing click discharged, the gun jamming.

She spent the quick second in horror, her eyes to her malfunctioning gun before another two claps brought her back to reality. She quickly retreated behind cover, darting behind a parked car.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins, elevating her pulse as she gripped the chamber of her pistol, frantically trying to pull it back to unjam the round. But the first few attempts were unsuccessful, and she clawed for the radio on her shoulder.

"Shots fired! We've got an officer down!" She exclaimed, and returned trying to fix her weapon.

Kale stepped forward, swearing under his breath. He took slow steps towards the fox, before he turned away, grasping his skull in anxiety.

"What did I do?" He muttered to himself.

Then he cast an anxious look at the downed fox. He then took slow steps forward, fearing he was dead.

"Officer?" He said, his voice nothing higher than a whisper. His lips trembling as he loosened his grip, the gun dropping with a clack. "I'm sorry..."

He took a couple of more steps, drawing hesitantly closer.

Nick's mind was then restored to the horror the situation, and it was pure spontaneous reaction when he shortly drew the gun from his belt, swayed the barrel to the lynx and pulled the trigger numerous of times.

The gun recoiled sharply in his paws as it clapped, Kale taking several hits, jolting backward. His eyes widened and his mouth drew agape, collapsing to the ground with a hard thud.

Nick, still reeling with shock, followed Kale's body with his gun still aimed, fully expecting it to move as though he hadn't been hurt. But his body was motionless, it lying supine on the concrete. Short gurgles of blood escaping his stiffening body.

After a few moments, Nick drew out a breath, his arm dropping. But his chest then immediately burned with the effort, cutting short his breath as he gasped in pain.

He then sent his paw to chest, quickly patting his upper torso for blood but it returned clean. He then propped himself unto his elbow and peered down, finding two holes torn within the fabric of his shirt.

Judy fearing the worst, bounded from the car, her aim steadied with intent. However, through the sights she only saw Kale on the ground. Her arms lowered and then her eyes fell towards Nick.

"Nick!" Judy cried in dismay, promptly rushing over and falling to her knees by his side.

"I'm fine, I'm fine..." He wheezed, attempting to wave away her concerned paws. "They caught my vest, Judy." He said in vain, Judy having already unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the body armor underneath. It was misshapen, two divots creasing the Kevlar with the two now deformed silver bullets.

Judy sighed a heavy breath of relief, and she promptly embraced him. Unknowingly paining him before he groaned, beginning to tug her away as she leaned on him.

She immediately sprung back, realizing what she had done and apologized.

"I'm sorry!" She said anxiously.

"It's fine." He replied painfully, leaning back forward as he took a few breaths. "Go, go check on Kale..." He then said, beginning to rise. Though she spaced his words, wrapping her arms around his and helping him on his feet.

"Please, check on him." He repeated, though almost hissed in pain as he was upright. Judy sought to prevent his fall, leaning in to steady him. "I'm fine, please..." He said after recovering, taking a moment to breath once more.

"Are you sure?" She replied.

"Yes..." He responded.

There, she sighed, and listened, if a bit reluctant.

"Okay..."

Then she turned around, gun still in hand as she stepped over to the motionless lynx. He was lying still on the street, a small puddle of blood streaming away from his body.

Kale stared dully into the sky with misty eyes; his pupils already dilated. His mouth was red with blood, it streaming down his chin as he lied still.

She only stared blankly at his body for a few moments, captured within a moment of shock before snapping back, and craning her head to her shoulder.

"Dispatch, we have an 11-44, suspect is down..." She spoke.

"Officer Hopps, what is your twenty?" Bogo responded in urgency. She could hear his sirens blaring as he spoke.

"We're across the street from Jayden's bar at 7th and Wellington." She replied, her voice still low.

"What's the status on Wilde?"

She turned back, glancing at Nick as she spoke.

"He's been hit sir, but none of the rounds entered past his vest."

"Alright, Officer Hopps. Maintain the scene, we're on our way." Bogo responded, a hint of reprieve on his voice as he spoke.

"10-4."

There she stood in silence for a couple of more moments, before turning away back towards Nick. He had lowered himself at the edge of the sidewalk, his arm in a defensive cradle around his side as he peered over with an anguished look.

She holstered her gun and stepped back towards him, his eyes were partially widened in worry as he glanced up at her.

"What happened? Is he dead?" He asked in worry, wanting to remain incredulous to the obvious signs.

Judy opened her mouth to speak but fell silent, unable to convey the words. She then met his eyes with a solemn expression. Hoping it would answer him.

"Judy?" Nick repeated desperately.

She remained silent.

Nick withdrew, his gaze falling away from her, suppressing his travail as he squeezed his eyes shut.

Judy then eased down by his side and wrapped her arms around him, holding him and sharing his misery until the sirens that were blaring in the distance had arrived.