A/N: So, I'm back. I apologize for the delay. My work schedule has been pretty tardy lately so I don't have much time to write. That, and also because I've been busy playing GTA Online. :P
Nevertheless, the story must go on. Enjoy. :)
Disclaimer: Zootopia and its characters belongs to Disney. Max and Sophie does not belong to them.
"You both are going already…?" one of the kids, a bear cub asked, looking up at the tod and jill.
Max knelt down and pat the cub's head. "Sorry, little guy," he said. "But… Like I said, only a day and a night."
"Will you two be back?" asked a raccoon kit, tugging on Sophie's pants.
Sophie smiled and scratched her head. "Definitely," she said.
"Next year that is," Max added. "Alright now…" He spread his arms out. "Give this fox a hug."
The kids hugged him, frowning in sadness that the two of them had to go. He let go of them and stood up.
"Here, kids," he said, reaching out for some sweets for the little ones. "A farewell gift. Let's hope that a year will pass by in a flash okay? I'll keep sending new toys for you as usual too."
Some of them began to brightened up a bit and some were sniffing. But they all eventually nodded, agreesing to Max's reminder.
Max turned to Miss Tigerly, walking towards her and giving her a hug. "Goodbye, Miss…" he said, softly. "Take care of them as usual."
"Oh, don't you worry about it," she said, patting him on the back. "Joseph will be back from college to help me out anyway."
Max raised and eyebrow with a smile. "Your son's coming back?"
She nodded. "In 4 days that is. I wish you could have stayed longer."
Max chuckled. "I wish too… But…" He looked back up to her. "Send my regards to him, will you? I'd like to meet him again next year."
She smiled in respond and gave him a kiss on the cheek and another hug. "Take care now, Max."
Max turned around to Sophie and nodded. "Let's go…" he said.
They left the building and passed through the gates. Max looked back at the kids who were all gathering there, looking at them leave. He smiled and waved at them before continuing to walk away from the place where he use to think as home.
"You doing okay?" Sophie asked as they walked.
He sniffed and nodded. "A little…" he said. "Just, a little sad is all…"
She hugged his arm and patted it. "There, there, little fox," she said. "I got you."
He chuckled and looked down on her. "Thanks," he replied.
Sophie realized that they have passed the turn they were suppose to make to Max's house.
"Max?" she called. "Isn't you house, that way?"
"It is."
"So… Why are we going forward."
"To the train station. I still got more places to show you."
She smiled. "Are you sure? You look like you could use a break."
"I'm fine. I'll just sleep on the way."
After reaching the train station, Max bought two tickets to his planned location, Sahara Square. Where there is nothing but heat during the day and night time. While on the way, Max was this time the one to sleep on Sophie's shoulder. She would glanced at him every time he snores and giggled.
"NOW ARRIVING: OASIS HOTEL. PLEASE BE SURE YOU DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BEHND. THANK YOU."
Sophie checked the tickets he bought. Destination: Oasis Hotel. This was their stop. She shook Max up and he groaned in exhaustion.
"We're here, Max," she said.
He shook his head trying to snap out of his drowziness. As they stepped out, Max raised his arm above his head, covering his eyes with the shade from his forearms. He always hated the sunlight. Especially when it's shining so brightly.
"So where to?" Sophie said, walking out.
"Um, it should just…" he said turning around, not finishing his sentence. His ears dropped when he saw her fur color changed from white to brown.
"What?" she said, shrugging.
"Whoa, um…" He looked carefully, hoping not to mistook her for someone else. But he knew instantly that it was her because of her left ear and blue eyes. "Your fur… It's… Brown."
"Huh?" she responded. "Oh, I guess you might not know, but… Hare fur changes color according to the temperature. So because of… You know, the heat? I changed?"
"Didn't even know that. Knowledge."
She giggled, shaking her head. "Anyway, lead the way."
Max smiled. "You okay staying her for the night?" he asked.
"What? But… We didn't bring any clothes…" She pulled the collar of her shirt to let out some steam, getting some air in her body.
"I know," he said. "That's why here in Sahara Square, they got perfect clothes for the heat. And trust me…" Max took off his hoodie and wiped some beads of sweat off of his forehead. "I don't even have any clothes for the heat too. But we should feel a bit cool in the hotel later."
"Hotel?!"
"Well… Our destination IS Oasis Hotel is it not?"
"You mean…"
"How about it? Staying one night here? I promise we'll go home tomorrow. And afterwards, no more places."
Sophie looked at him for a while. He looked sincere enough with his words. She tightened her lips and nodded. "O-okay…" she said, smiling slowly.
Max smiled and grabbed her paw, walking to the hotel.
Oasis Hotel. The hotel shaped like a giant wide palm tree. It looked as if the palm tree was indeed made from steel and metal with the glass window resembling the bark of the tree.
"I'm so sorry but a lot of the rooms are booked already for future guests," said the receptionist, a cheetah.
Max was trying to get a room with two beds but apparently all of them are booked and the only ones left all with queen-sized beds. Max glanced at Sophie.
"You okay with a single queen-sized bed?" he asked.
She blushed and looked away. "Um… It's… Okay, I guess…" she said, her ears dropping down, covering her left eye.
Max sighed and has registered a room for them for the night.
The two entered their room, room 314. And as they expected, one queen-sized bed was the first thing they saw.
Sophie shut her lips tight, looking down and blushing.
Max stared at it blankly. "Sorry I couldn't get two beds…" he said. "I should have made a reservation as well…"
"Ah, it's okay, Max," she said, looking at him. "Really, it is. I don't mind at all." Indeed she doesn't. She's given a chance to actually be close to Max for tonight. But she just can't show him how much she actually wanted it.
Max took off his hoodie and tossed it on the bed. "Let's go out for some clothes shopping," he said. "I need something to wear off this heat…"
Sophie giggled. "Agreed…"
They headed outside to buy some new clothes for the hot temperature. However, Max wasn't so focus this time. Every time, Sophie wasn't looking, he would take glimpses of her in her new fur color. She still looked beautiful in another fur color. He would chuckled and think about what would happen if they really stayed in Sahara Square for so long that he'd forget she use to have white fur.
"Max?" Sophie called, snapping Max out of his thoughts. "Hello?"
Max shook his head. "Oh, sorry," he said, turning to the clothes the market at Sahara Square was offering. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
He chuckled. "Not that important. Just funny."
She smiled with an eyebrow raised. "Now I'm even more curious," she said, putting her wrists on her hips.
Max let out a soft laughed. "I think you may not find it funny though."
"Oh, come on. How bad can it be?"
Max smiled and looked at her. "I was just thinking what would happen if I forgot you use to have white fur is all."
She giggled. "That was it? Wow, it IS not funny."
"Wow. That's mean."
Both of them laughed at each other's sarcasm and continue on with their clothes shopping. They finally bought what the wanted but Sophie was actually eager to try hers on now. Unfortunately there was no place they could find to change to their clothes. Except one…
"Where are we going, Max?" Sophie said following behind.
"Well, there's only one place I know where we could change," he said. "But… I think you might not like it. Nick told me about it."
And so, they arrived at the place. Mystic Springs Oasis… Unbeknownst to Sophie, she completely has no idea what this place actually is. And things are going to get a little awkward for the jill.
The walked up to the counter where the see Yax meditating with his mane over his face and flies all around him.
"Excuse me?" Max called a little loudly to get his attention.
Yax shook his head, keeping the flies away from him and looked down to see the two best friends. "Hey hey," he said in a very, very calm voice. "Are you two a couple because of that famous fox cop and bunny cop?"
Max chuckled. "We're just friends, sir," he said. "Do you think we could… Use the time to… Relax a little here?"
The yak laughed softly. "Oh, for sure," he said. "Change room should be around the corner when you enter."
"Thanks."
Sophie tugged on his sleeve. "Max? Where are we…?" she asked a little worried.
"All I can say is… Just be ready to close your eyes."
"Why would I do…?"
She was cut off short when Max opened the door the to reveal so many nude animals. Sophie's ears dropped and she used them to cover her eyes. She didn't even wants to take a peek.
Max grabbed her paw and led her to the changing rooms. "Told you," he said.
Few minutes later, Max was seen laying on a beach chair, drinking on some ice tea, with his eyes closed.
"I… I don't know what to feel about this…" Sophie said, hiding in a bush behind Max.
"Just relax and sit down," he said calmly, eyes still closed.
"I… I can't!" She quickly put her head back into the bush. "I'm naked, dammit!"
"So am I. Now just sit by me and relax okay?"
Silence from the hare at first. But she slowly stepped out in front of Max from behin.
She was standing there shyly, looking down. Max opened an eye and his heart immediately leapt after looking at her. He tried to act calm as possible and succeeded. She looked so… Slender. And it was actually enough to form a blush on his cheeks.
"Go on," he said. "Take a seat."
She nodded shyly and walked towards her beach chair next to Max. She would looked left and right to see how natural the other animals are. Unlike other animals, she has no knowledge of this place at all. She always thought that all animals wear clothes but apparently, not all…
"How do you even feel comfortable in this…?" Sophie asked, looking around, and covering her body.
"I'm not," he answered. "I just try to."
"Well, you don't seem like you're trying."
Max turned to her. "And what do you expect? Me showing a boner or something?"
Her eyes widened and she looked away. "Maybe…?" she muttered.
However, Max heard that and chuckled. He offered her his glass of ice tea. "Want some?"
She looked at it and grabbed it shyly, before taking a sip on it.
"You know… You look good naked."
Her eyes widen some more as she blew bubbles into the tea, choking a little and coughed a few times. Her blush became redder as she kept coughing a few more times.
"Just kidding." Max smirked relaxing back.
Sophie was silent at first, with her cheeks still flushed in redness, looking at the fox. "You look good too…" she muttered.
Max didn't respond for a few seconds but he turned to her. "Thanks…" he said.
Sophie tried her best trying to stay calm and relax a few times. She would always cover up her body as much as possible but in the end, she actually got to relax when she forgotten about her being nude. Her mind was filled with memories with Max while she just sat back and slowly drifting to a short nap along with her best friend.
The day passed by in a flash. It was now getting dark. The sky has turned orange with the clouds turning bluish. The fox and the hare were now at the market buying something to eat. It wasn't much but it was enough to fill their stomachs for the time being. Most of them are the kind with a stick in them. Sophie bought herself some fresh, steamed sweet corn on a stick while Max just bought himself a bottle of cold water.
The two of them were seen in their new clothes that they bought early this afternoon. Sophie was wearing a blue and white stripe singlet with shorts, just above her knees. As for Max, he bought a white shirt with a text written: 'I've been to Sahara Square' and with his usual cargo pants.
The two friends decide to head back to their hotel and hopefully they can find some dinner there.
Both of them eventually returned to their room. Max decided to use the bathroom first. As for Sophie, she was busy looking out the window. It was getting dark and every lights in Sahara Square was turned on. Sophie gasped in awe, looking down at the beauty of the desert section. Even though it was hot, Sahara Square looked beautiful especially the night. It almost looked like she was in a carnival.
"Your turn," Max said, wiping his wet fur on his head.
"Oh…" was all Sophie could respond as she kept gazing down on the beautiful city.
Max walked towards her and smiled, after he understood why she was so hypnotized by the sparkly lights. "I take it, you haven't been here before," he said, chuckling.
She shook her head. "Wish I had…" she muttered, placing her paw on the window. "But heat is always never the option for my parents. I guess they can't take the heat so much."
"Because their arctic hare?"
"That or maybe because they just wanna keep their white fur. Or maybe both."
Max smirked. "You don't seem to mind," he said.
"It's because I'm just so curious what the rest of Zootopia is like. The only section I only went was Downtown and it was only to go to school."
Max laughed. "I know." He hugged her from behind, which widened her eyes and made her ears all weak. "Come to me anytime whenever you feel like it…" he continued. "I'll make sure you enjoy every second of it."
She blushed and looked at his paws wrapped around her. A weak smile form on her face and she nodded. "You know it…" she said.
Just then, a knock on the door was heard. "Room service," said someone outside.
"Oh, looks like dinner is here." He let her go and answered the door after putting on his shirt.
Later that night, both of them were sleeping in the same bed, next to each other. But… With their back on each other. Max and Sophie blinked blankly in front of them. It was a little awkward for the two.
"So…" Max started. "This is comfy…"
"Mhm…" Sophie replied, nodding.
An awkward silence filled the gap between them again.
"Thanks, Max…" she finally spoke up, grabbing onto the blanket and covering more on her body.
Max looked back and thought for a moment. It took a few seconds but eventually, he decided to take a a step closer to her.
He turned around to her back and hugged her.
Sophie's eyes opened widely, as she felt Max's warm body embracing her.
"You're welcome…" he whispered, his eyes finally closed.
She held on his paw, feeling his claws touched her forearm and she smiled a little, shutting her eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.
"Sweet dreams, Soph…" Max muttered closely to her ear.
Her smile became wider. "Sweet dreams, Max…" she replied.
A/N: Okay, so here's the catch. This story is about to end soon. I'm planning for another one based on Max's life if you guys and gals want. I really wanna write a WildeHopps story, but the problem with that is that so many good ideas have already been used from a lot of authors. If you have any suggestions on a WildeHopps story, just send a review. If not, then I'll just write a story of Max's past after this one is done.
Anyway, I apologize for such a slow update. My work schedule has been eating me up lately so I barely have time to write. I try to balance my time between writing, drawing and gaming. And I'll tell you this, it's not that easy.
But enough of that, I'll be writing the next chapter now. As I've said, send in your ideas for a WildeHopps story. If not, then you guys can just look up to other writers like, DemonWriterX or someone else. Anyhoo, ciao.
