"Chief Bogo?" the dispatcher's robotic voice said from the intercom on the buffalo's desk.
"I'm busy Clawhouser" he answered angrily pressing the red button with more force than necessary
"S-sorry Chief. I- I just wanted to let you know that I managed to get in touch with Wooder. He requested me to inform you that he is highly bothered to be summoned with such short notice, but he will be here in half an hour regardless" he said with a ridiculously snooty tone that spoke volumes of his personal opinion on the soon to be guest.
"Splendid" the huge mammal said echoing the same exact tone "I will be there shortly. Don't let him in my office"
"Got it Chief"
With a disgusted sneer the tall animal ended the call folding his huge hooves in front of him over the small pile of useless cold case files he requested earlier.
"Problems Sir?" the small voice of his only Rabbit officer asked gently.
"Not yet Hopps" he answered thoughtfully "But I fear that soon there will be" he sighed suddenly feeling too tired of this job, "However nothing for you to be concerned about" he said with his usual authoritarian way. "You were saying?"
"After we successfully severed the muzzle from his face I took the kit to the showers to clean him up a little and then into one of our rest room. The poor thing was asleep in a heartbeat."
"Did you managed to make him talk?"
She shook her head her long ears moving slightly from side to side "No Chief" and then with a small hopeful smile she added "But maybe he will after the little nap"
"Too bad we won't have the luxury to wait Hopps" the police chief said matter-of-factly "In half an hour the PS will be here to take the kit away" he paused at her subtly intake of breath "So I think it would be better If he heard the news directly from you, Wilde told me you two developed a strong affection for each other"
Bogo had to admit that it was quite fun observing his smaller officer struggling to maintain a straight face but, in spite of all her efforts, she couldn't avoid the stiffness on her posture as she dutifully answered "Certainly Sir"
"I know that face Hopps, and I don't like it. Last time I see you with that expression you resigned" he admonished "So spare me all you cop drama mannerism for once and get straight to the point"
"Sir it's not my place to question how the system works" she said almost outraged
"Should I order you officer?" he said raising his left eyebrow for more emphasis
Focusing her gaze on everything but the scowling face of her superior she answered half -heartedly "It's just..."
"Yes?"
"I'm worried for the little tod Chief." She finally admitted
"That much was kind of clear"
"I mean...he's so tiny and defenseless...and a fox" she said lamely.
Sensing there was so much more than she dared to admit he choose to patiently wait for the impending word avalanche he was sure his energetic bunny officer will soon provide.
And he wasn't disappointed.
"Chief there has to be another way, he was trembling from cold and fear just an hour ago, it took a great deal of time to finally calm him down enough to disentangle him from me and still he never left my hand."
"Mmmhm"
"He trusts me, I know it's absurd, he barely knows me but that's how it is, plus he had been through a lot just in one day and now to simply hand him over to some uncaring stranger...It almost feels like...like I'm betraying him" she said clenching her small paws "He will grow up believing that no one will ever do anything for him, that he cannot trust or be trusted, he's just a child and he already ended up muzzled and trapped in a freezing sewer in December, I dread to think what could happen to him in the future"
Not sure if she was still speaking about the kit or someone else Bogo placed his chin on his raised hooves watching with a fair amount of interest as the young doe continued her harangue
She hopped on the chair placing both paws on the desk and leaning forward to look the huge buffalo directly in the eyes "We are police officers Sir, there must be something else we can do"
"Officer, sit down" he calmly demanded with a distinct sensation of deja-vu
Realizing to be dangerously close to cross a line she wasn't allowed to, she quickly sit back in the uncomfortable chair waiting for whatever earful he was going to give her.
Surprisingly enough there was none "I've already told you Hopps don't give yourself so much credit" he said with an almost kind voice, "It's very honorable of you to take to heart the outcome of little fox but my hands on this matter are tied and you know that better than me."
"I know, and I apologize Sir"
"No need, now listen Hopps, I know that foxes aren't exactly the most accepted mammals in the world, but as officers we have rules and obligations to follow whether we like it or not, we can't let our personal feeling get in the way. Am I made myself clear?"
"Yes sir"
"Good, that said as chief of police I have certain connections and favor owned me, I might kind of collecting them in order to ensure that your little friend has the best treatment possible"
"Chief!" she said in awe
"We cannot change everything, but someone had to start right?" he said grinning from ear to ear
"Thank you chief"
"No more gushing" he said raising all his impressive bulk in a swift motion "Now, Let's go to the little one, I'm curious to know the mammal who got one of my best officer so flustered" he smirked holding the door open for a very abashed bunny.
And just like that the mismatched pair made their way to the naps room in comfortable silence, both deep in thought for different reasons, "I'm getting too old for this" he huffed eventually "And too soft" he joked glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"Well chief it's not really my business but if I may, I think that this softer side really suits you" she joked back
"Flattery will get you nowhere Hopps, and I'm afraid you're spending too much time with Wilde" he answered straightening his shirt "But good to know"
"ATTEN-HUT"
"Now just what the heck is going on there?"
"Well, it sounded like Nick's voice Chief" Judy said heading curiously where the noise came from "But I told him to stay with the kit so I'm not really sure what he's up..." and for a moment the articulate doe lost the use of the word or any further schooling she ever had, she was right, It really was her partner's voice but, as she slowly take notice of what was happening in front of her, whatever anger she had for him not listening to instructions was quickly replaced with a new warmth in the pit of her belly and a sudden increase of her heartbeat. "...to!"
Just in the middle of the massive marble entryway and completely indifferent or maybe simply uncaring of being watched the sly fox and his young counterpart were engaged in what seemed to be a practice session of simple police moves.
"Stand tall, head higher, not enough Red, higher" he instructed tapping a rolled up paper on the open palm of one of his paws at each word for more emphasis "More...ok, that's it. Now, hold still"
It was without doubt the oddest thing ever happened inside those walls but looking at the little slip of a fox dressed in an oversized t-shirt as he did his best to maintain the rigid position required for the perfect execution of a standing on attention, was definitely a breath of fresh air and many of the officers coming back from their daily shift stopped by only to watch the cute lesson with big smirks on their muzzles.
The deadly serious expression on the small tod's face was absolutely priceless but when he spotted his favorite long eared gray bunny at such a short distance from him his focus gave way to an extremely happy smile and a frenzied waggling of his tail immediately forgetting that he was supposed to remain motionless, however, just when he was about to leap forward, he was reminded of it by the severe voice of his temporary drill instructor "Cadet Tailsson, what did I tell you? You can't move until you've got permission to do so, which I didn't." Nick said with both arms behind his back "Resume position."
Baby blue eyes doubled in size at his almost misstep and he swiftly obliged taking great care to avoid any unnecessarily movements but, to the great amusement from everyone in the room, he couldn't help the excited shaking of the tip of his fluffy appendage despite his attempts.
Fully aware of what or who made the kit react so eagerly Nick felt his own heart beat furiously in his chest not really sure if he was ready to meet the deep amethyst he loved so much after his foolish stunt of half an hour ago, he decided to keep up with their improvised play for a little while longer in a vain attempt to delay the inevitable "Don't let it happen again"
"Yes sir" the small fox answered with a little voice.
Nick was extremely pleased to hear the small joyful squeal emitted by his partner when she heard the little Red speaking, he could almost see her in his mind while she stood stunned with open wide eyes and small paws covering her mouth, and if only he had enough courage he would have turned around to look at her, but he was Nick Wilde and there was only this much he can do.
"I didn't hear you"
"YES SIR" the little one replied screaming his lungs out
"Mhn, better"
Watching the odd exchange even Bogo had to admit that was all extremely funny, but despite his newfound softer side, he had a reputation to uphold and it was with great reluctance that he called to order his unpredictable fox officer with the most stern voice he could muster given the circumstances "WILDE"
The appearance of the rigorous chief of police caused the immediate stop of the happy buzz and everybody in the room waited with bated breath at his reaction. "Ah Chief, just the mammal I needed to see" Nick said completely unfazed as he slowly turns around with his usual smug smile and hooded green eyes "Carrots" he briefly acknowledged his partner with a quick two fingers salute.
"Just for the record Wilde, what in the three Hells are you doing?" Asked Bogo towering menacingly over him.
"Why, I'm training a new recruit, what else?" he replied like it was the most natural thing in the word "Come on Red show him, just like I taught you" he then got down on one of his knees to whisper into the young tod's ear something that was meant to be a private confidence but was instead loud enough for everyone to hear "Watch out kid, if you ever want to join us, all you have to do is convince this big bad buffalo" he lightly patted him on his butt with the rolled paper still in his grasp encouraging the kit to move forward.
With a few stumbling steps but with more confidence anyone could expect from such a little kit he put himself in front of the ten times bigger male almost falling backwards in his efforts to look into his face.
For a couple of second he didn't dare move or talk merely watching the horned mammal who was reciprocating the stare with a rather neutral expression, but then, after a fast glance at his favorite bunny, he swiftly straightened his back, suck in his stomach as tight as he could, squared his shoulders and with a sweet high-pitched voice said loud and clear "Cadet Tailsson reporting for duty sir"
Another delighted squeal from his little doe gave the former fox hustler the gut to really looking at her and he had to stifle a laugh at her cute expression.
Exactly as he predicted she stood there flabbergasted, bright eyes wide and dainty paws covering her soft lips opened in wonder, he felt his heart pounding in his chest at how unbelievably beautiful she was in that moment and when she turns sparkling amethysts into sad emeralds he was sure he was going to burst a blood vessel.
'How?' she mouthed, 'Later' he mouthed back, she nodded and again he got the chance to see her lovely smile, the one he was really beginning to hope was reserved for him alone, and when she whispered a heartfelt 'Thank you' he knew he was forgiven, Carrots you will be the death of me he thought as they exchanged a warm meaningful look.
"Kid you missed something" shouted out one of the officers in attendance all of a sudden, at which both fox and bunny turned towards the little fox who had such an adorable confused face that even Bogo find it particularly hard not to smile, but before the kit could completely panicking Nick subtly appeared in his visual field and with a fake cough he pointed with his muzzle to the right arm still flat at his side.
With a silent gasp he immediately raised it up to his head placing the tip of his index finger to the forehead just beside the outer edge of his right eyebrow lifting his chin a little higher than necessary.
The only visible reaction of the giant in blue was the slight raising of one of his eyebrow, then, with a mischievous grin that made all cops present practically scoop their jaws from the ground, he crossed his arms on his chest and ordered "At ease cadet"
The little "cadet" obliged dropping immediately the salute smoothly bringing his arms on his back and spreading his short legs as much as he could.
"Impressive, uh?" Nick said with confidence "And before you can say anything I'm happy to inform you that we followed all the tedious procedure and properly filled out the application form" and in order to make his point he slowly unfurl the paper in his paw right in front of his chief's face like it was an ancient scroll.
Carefully Bogo took the thin sheet in his strong hooves for a closer look and, forcing his lips to remain still at the messy first grader handwriting, he started reading it out loud "Andrew James Tailsson, age 6"
"Going for seven on the 21st August Chief"
"Nhn"
"And I think he just cheated on his height" the russet fox quipped amused "But other than that he's a fast learner and a very devoted one if I may add"
The buffalo peeped over the form to the little tod still in the same position nervously looking from him to Hopps and Wilde in rapid succession.
"So Chief, what do you say? Is he qualified enough to become a Police officer?" Nick winked.
Bogo looked at his big innocent blue eyes, eagerly waiting for his approval and something stirred inside him, "CLAWHOUSER" he shouted, startling the portly dispatcher who was quietly enjoying the scene with glee.
Despite the very short distance separating the two the fat cheetah was out of breath when he was side by side with his superior "Yes…'pant' Chief?" he said hunched over.
"Bring me your hat"
"My...my hat Sir?" he asked puzzled.
"THE HAT CLAWHOUSER" Bogo repeated reaching out with his arm
"Yes, hat...hat where did I put it? Geez" he stumbled rather than run to the back of his station loudly rummaging between all his clutter, sunny side up showing his swishing tapered tail "Ah there you are silly Billy" he said quickly returning to the buffalo presenting him the blue headgear on both paws.
"Splendid" he took the Police hat with one hoof "and... take care of this" he added handing him over the document without further explanations.
"Right away Chief" but halfway to his desk he quickly turned around rambling animatedly "Special abilities: Eat a donuts in 5 seconds" he chuckled "No way! Make the higher number of fans In Furzona Horizon 3 on Ox box? AAAWWWW I love that game, did you happen to get the..."
"NOT NOW"
"O-of course Chief" and for once there were no other interruptions while he rushed to his desk hiding his portly frame behind the screen of his computer immediately getting down to work.
Shaking his head in exasperation the dark furred mammal bent slightly forward gently placing the alarmingly too big hat on the little one's head making him resemble a funny looking mushroom, "Now we are talking" he said fixing it as best as possible "Just remember, a well executed salute is a crisp singular movement, as soon as you'll do it on a daily basis, it will become reflexive" he quoted straightening back up showing one of his rare true smiles when the blue and black police cap bounced with a soft thud on the young tod's snout "But for your first attempt you did quite well, dismissed." he added with an even rarer baritone chuckle when the young kit repeatedly tried to lift the ample sliding brim over his eyes.
For an instant he just remained there unsure of what to do with both arms over his head holding up the enormous hat until a certain sly fox, with his usual nerve, decided to step back in again "Weeeeeell, it looks like I won't be the only fox around here for much longer" he smirked as a scowl was quickly wiping away the slight smile from the buffalo's face, "Don't worry Red, he did that just for show, and speaking of which, if I remember correctly, weren't you going to do something earlier?" he said casting an eloquent glance to a still smiling gray doe.
Without having to be told twice he practically throw himself at the open-armed bunny all the while holding the hat in place with a paw "Officer Carrots"
"Hey sweetie" she said balancing his weight on her hip "Did you have a good nap?"
"Yes" he exclaimed happily "Officer Carrots did you see me doing the standing up? How did I go?"
"You were really great" she said tickling him softly under his muzzle making him squirming in delight "One day you'll make fine cop"
"Really?" he asked with a big smile showing a small gap where one of his baby teeth was missing
"Really, really"
His smile, if possible doubled in size "When I become a police officer I want you to be my partner officer Carrots because you are sooo cute" he muttered snuggling against her chest in contentment nuzzling the groove of his snout just under her chin
At this all the officers witnessing the exchange were hollering their appreciation In typical police mode, clapping, stomping hind paws or hooves, depending on the case, and howling or growling in encouragement, someone even shouted "Atta boy"
"Hey now, hold on a minute" Nick interjected pretending to be mad,"Why he is allowed to call you cute?"
"Because he's an adorable little fox" she said hugging the small fox tighter as a tiny russet fluffy tail curled itself around her wrist
"Watch out Wilde he's kicking your ass" someone teased resulting in a new round of laughs.
"That remains to be seen" he replied to no one in particular "So that means I'm not adorable?"
"Mmm that's a tough one" she retorted hiding half her face behind the blue hat looking at him with a somewhat coquettish smile.
He gasped in horror "I can't believe it, betrayed by my own Partner, Ok fine, if you want it that way, you got it Red" and like a naughty child Nick began to mercilessly poking the small bundle of red fur on his side making him screaming in merriment "I might as well condone that you want to steal my role of only fox on the force, my partner AND turn a blind eye to your new privilege to call her cute" he stopped the ticklish attack "But there's no way I'll let you use my nickname for her without paying me royalties"
"Nickname?" the little one repeated mildly surprised
"Yep, invented and patented by me Red, and I'm not willing to share"
"But if it's a Nickname" he said leaving the comfy space he was tucked in "What's your name then?" he asked facing the bunny.
"It's Judy, Judy Hopps...Andrew right?!"
"Andy" he corrected rubbing his twitching nose with hers "Mama, big bro and Papa call me that"
She didn't miss the shadow in his eyes when he mentioned his father nor the fact that he didn't add friends to the list but she said nothing "Andy it is then"
"Judeee?" he called her for the first time mispronouncing it a little "I like it" he exclaimed enthusiastically returning to nuzzle in his favorite spot "and I like your scent too Officer Judee, it's even better than Mama" he said taking a deep whiff
The sweet, and honestly envied, public display of affection was just too much for the overenthusiastic zootopian police officers and it was welcomed by a rumble of claps and wolf whistle "Way to go buddy" "I wish I could be in his shoes" "Wilde you found a worthy opponent"
"So it seems" Nick agreed smiling like crazy as he offered his fist to the other tod for a bump fist, which he gladly returned with his much smaller one leading to another round of smarty comments and a cacophony of different noises.
"Well, well well, and these are supposed to be our police officers? Now I understand the main reason our crime level is so high" an unknown foreign voice said with ill-concealed disgust.
The cheerful rumble ceased immediately at the harsh nasty words and everybody turns towards the newcomer, it was a short chubby coypu dressed in a pristine blue tailored suit with a very fancy coat neatly draped on his bent arm and a black polished briefcase with golden details in one paw, everything about his outfit seemed very expensive and despite his diminutive stature he behaved like he owned the place.
"Austin" he coldly greeted the buffalo chief
"Wooder" he replied equally, if not colder, sticking to second name courtesy.
"I see that your men are the same bunch of unruly mammals as ever, I thought you were known for being a tough infighter" he said with condescension
"All my boys here, and girls, are hard workers Wooder, and I have no objections when they decide to have a little fun, how they choose to do it it's none of my concerns, nor yours" Bogo replied with a sharp wave of his arm to the now completely mortified cops as they started scattering in various directions.
"Whatever" he said placing his elegant briefcase carefully on the ground, "Now, would you mind telling me why you brought me here in such a great hurry? Unlike any of you I have a very demanding job, so tell me what do you need and let's get this over with."
"Nick, who's that mammal?" Judy asked while a very livid Bogo was doing a quick update to the unbelievably impolite stranger.
"He's the PS, Wooder the chief said, but I don't know the guy" It wasn't technically a lie but he couldn't explain the unpleasant feeling he gets the moment the coypu started talking, His voice, I heard it before, but when?
"Sweetie what's wrong?" his partner's concerned voice distracted him momentarily but when he looked at her he didn't like what he saw, little Andy was trembling like a leaf and the bunny was doing her best to soothe him with sweet words but the small kit seemed out of his mind babbling nonsense and clinging to the bunny for dear life, "I was good... I...I haven't said anything like he told me... he said he wasn't going to tell if I didn't...I don't want him to...to take me away, to take mama..."
"Red, what's the matter? No one will hurt you, right Carrots?"
"Of course not" she agreed, gently massaging the terrified fox cub on the small of his back as he desperately tried to melt into the bunny's chest "We won't let that happen" but all their attempts to calm him down were fruitless.
Especially when things between the two talking mammals were going south
"No Austin, I've had enough of this, I'm not willing to wait for that sorry excuse of a cop to play fast and loose with his job" he said pointing towards Clawhouser who was frantically typing on his keyboard, "I fail to see why you still haven't fired him though"
"I'm not questioning his competence with you Wooder"
"Because he has none, honestly I'm not even sure that besides eating donuts and talking rubbish is capable of doing anything else"
With thinly veiled anger Bogo contradicted "I already told you, The kit was muzzled and forced to the sewers, he was in a..."
"Yes, yes, poor little fox trapped in a sewer, cruelly muzzled, too scared even to talk, blahbity blahbity blue, you know Austin, I have no interested in how you finally get him to reveal his name, but do you honestly think he's telling the truth? He's a fox!"
"He's just a kit"
"Still a fox, untrustworthy by nature" he said cynically "And now, if you'll excuse me, I've already lost too much time, hand me the little punk over please"
Biting his tongue in order not to spit in his face, he signaled for his bunny officer to come forward.
"Come on sweetie" she murmured sweetly into Andy's ear "I promise we will see again soon" and with a little effort due to the extra weight she was carrying, she slowly approached the two arguing mammals, Nick following just a few steps away.
The young doe was used to be considered from other mammals no more than a cute little doll but still she wasn't prepared for the look of total scorn she gets from the short coypu "A rabbit?! Are you kidding me? A rabbit police officer?" he said in disbelief before starting to laugh so hard that he almost doubled over from the force of it, missing entirely the pissed off expressions on the two other males, in particular the russet fox seemed like he was on the brink of punching him on the nose and Bogo himself looked as he was ready to lend him a hand.
"Aw man" the short mammal said after a while wiping off a tear "Now I'm pretty sure I've seen everything but seriously Austin a rabbit? And furthermore a female? I can understand the curiosity but I don't think that a police station is the right place to do such things" he said with a derisory cackle "I hope for the girl's sake that she isn't the only one here even if everybody knows of her species' stamina in that department." he leered at the doe from head to toe "It's a wonder she can still walk straight"
Judy flushed with rage at the deliberate insult, but what bothered her the most was the strange feeling she had to keep her partner as far away as possible from him. At every cost. Everything about that male was disturbing and she had a very bad vibe running through her spine from the very beginning.
Nick's guttural growl next to her hear prompt her to blindly seek for his paw to let him know she was okay and when he enveloped her soft paw in his warm one quitting the growling she knows she had succeeded, at least for now
The fox could feel his blood boiling in his veins, how dare the stupid scumbag talking to her like that? Who did he think he was? Assuming that she…, not good I really need to calm down, breathe fox breathe, he stared at the little warmth in his brown paw struggling to maintain the last shreds of his sanity forcing to suppress the urge to bash his head, out of curiosity to see if he had a brain, and luckily for the twit he was literally saved by the gong when Bogo apparently decided that enough was enough.
"Wooder, listen to me carefully, 'cause I'm not repeating it" the chief of police said with a scary kind of calmness "I may not have the authority to override your office, and if you want, you can start an inquiry and foist me with a counselor just like last time. I DON'T CARE" he was now millimeters from his nose "But if you insult or disrespect another of my officers in any other way I swear I'll make you regret it"
"A-are you threatening me?"
"Of course not Jonathan", he said ironically "I've just been thinking what would our mayor say if should it ever become known you didn't appreciate his integration program"
"W-what?!"
He put an arm around the coypu's shoulders in a friendly hug then continued "Let me introduce you officer Hopps and Wilde, respectively our first bunny and fox on the force, both valeridian of their classes, awarded directly from our good mayor to the first precinct after six months of hard training" he patted the speechless mammal on the back "And let's not forget that they cracked the Nighthowlers case two years ago, how come you didn't make the connection?"
"O-of course, how foolish of me, I should have guessed" he swallowed the lump in his throat "I'm afraid I don't have much time to read newspapers or such, but you know, I was just joking"
"Obviously"
"Very well, so Officer" he addressed directly to Judy "If you don't mind I wish to take the little Fox in custody now" he pronounce the word fox as it was something rotten
"Yes sir" she tried to disentangle the kit from herself but his iron grip wouldn't allow it "Andy sweetie, you mustn't be afraid, everything gonna be okay I promise"
"You shouldn't make a promise you might not be able to keep Officer, he will probably run away at the first opportunity, lowlifes are all the same children or adult" he said grabbing at the kit's arms trying to yank him off the bunny
"Sir I have to ask you not to say such things in front of a child" she exclaimed outraged but in a polite way abruptly twisting her body to keep the little guy away from his touch.
Small hazel eyes filled with resentment send dagger towards the uppity minx but with a forced phony smile he simply said "I'm sure he's well accustomed with such terms, I'm very experienced in cases like this, his mother, assuming he has one, is probably dead or a w-"
"Waitress" Clawhouser chimed in
"What did you say Cheetah?"
"Andrew James Tailsson first grader in Zootopia Public School, second child of Sarah May Denslow age 37, waitress, widow of Philip Carl Tailsson age 38, bricklayer, eldest son Christopher Theodore Tailsson age 13, if it helps I can try to download his vaccination records Sir"
"That won't be necessary Clawhouser, any phone number?"
"Home and work number, dialed both, I found her in her workplace in Tundratown so it would take her a little while to get down here."
"Good job"
"Thank you chief"
"Well it appears we found an honest fox after all Wooder"
"It looks like it, I'm glad" but he really wasn't "I would have preferred not to be bothered by a hoax but no harm no foul" he picked his briefcase up again and with great satisfaction he stated "Officer Hopps, you're bleeding you know?"
"He's right Hopps, no, don't touch it, Clawhouser go fetch the first aid kit, quick"
"Really chief, it's just a scratch"
"A scratch made by claws Carrots, it might cause infections, calm down Red it's not your fault" Nick reassured the kit now whimpering against her leg
"Chief here is the gauze and the antiseptic"
"Splendid" and with a curt yank of his hooves he ripped off the ruined sleeve of her blouse "it was totaled anyway Hopps" he apologized tending to the small wounds.
Taking advantage of the chaos that followed Wooder slowly approached the worried Fox, "It was good catching with you again…Nick"
"How did you know my name?" he said mildly surprised
"So it IS you, come on, don't you remember me, fox? I see that you followed through your dream to wear a uniform albeit now what you wanted back then"
Dizziness
No
Nausea
Not now
Chills
Not in front of her
"J.J" he whispered feebly
"In flesh and fur, so Nick, who did you con to have this job?"
That is where he heard that voice, the same that taunted him in countless nightmares and wouldn't leave him alone, Wooder, J.J was still talking but the loud ring in his ears didn't allow him to focus on the damning words, his mind a whirlwind of long neglected memories fighting to be exhumed.
I was born ready
No, please what did I do wrong, what did I do?
You thought we could ever trust a fox without a muzzle? You're even dumber than you look
"...I'm just curious to know the fool who agreed to be your partner"
Bleary green eyes darted involuntary towards the pretty bunny currently bandaged by Bogo as if to asking for help.
Without missing a beat the coypu piled on "No! Really? The rabbit? She's your partner? How did you convince her, a prey, to work with you? Isn't she afraid that you will try to maim her? Or worse eat her?" he evilly smiled.
Nick felt the room spinning around him, he closed his eyes trying with all the strength he could muster not to collapse on the ground and puke all over, but the voice hadn't finished yet
"But I'm sure she doesn't know your true colors, am I right Nicky? Nobody knows. How you manage to hide it for so long is really incredible, but sooner than later she will see you for what you truly are, everybody will, and when you will be sent back to the slums where you came from, I will be in the front row enjoying the show"
He walked past the fox pushing him around "I must go now, I'm still a member of the junior ranger scout you know?, a senior member, and my son has been recently appointed supervisor of the junior unit, eleven nice boys, no pred."
Nick didn't move, or even flinch.
"See ya around Nicky. Too bad I don't have your number, I could have MUZZLE timed you or something" and without saying anything more he gingerly puts his coat back on before opening the massive doors of the police station and leave the building without bothering to say goodbye to anyone.
"That should do" said Bogo fastening the bandage "but I think it's better if we take you to the E.R. to get sure everything is ok, and it's not negotiable Hopps" he halted any eventual complaint from the bunny raising a hoof
"Fine Chief, but Andy..." she looked down at the little fox still hugging her leg
"He can stay with Clawhouser he could teach him the job of the police dispatcher, and that's an order too" he half ordered half joked looking at the kit earning a shy little nod from the kit
"So that's settled Hopps, Wilde take the patrol car and...Wilde?"
Judy's worried gaze traveled down the entire bullpen but the red Fox seemed like he was vanished into thin air.
Nick