AN: Hey! The next chapter is finally out and I already apologize for my lack of knowledge in police procedure, therefore the scenes with Bogo and the ZPD might be a bit flat. I'm really bad at that official kind of stuff so bear with me.
Thanks for all the reviews and comments, and a special thanks to ADeadMissionary for beta reading my story!
Anyway, let's get started!
PS: Zootopia and its characters belong to Disney.
14 years ago
Glistening snow covered the frozen streets as a thick layer of gray clouds laid upon the city of Zootopia. The occasional sunrays breaking through the cloud-blanket did little to counter the freezing wind howling through the leafless treetops as snowflakes danced in the wind. For mammals sitting inside their warm and cozy homes, it was a view one could enjoy. As for the mammals outside, well one either had the natural predispositions to live in this climate, or one better made sure to wear something warm.
Jacob was one of the latter as he sat shivering on the frozen bench in the Central Garden of Zootopia. Covered in a thick down jacket and a long scarf, the lapine did his best to keep himself warm. Folding his ears behind his head to keep them from the freezing wind and sticking his paws inside his armpits to keep them warm, Jacob began to wonder if his decision to run away had really been the best choice.
He could've been sitting inside the burrow, surrounded by the family he dearly missed, listening to old stories and fairytales, while a mug of hot chocolate and the crackling fireplace would keep him warm…
Jacob quickly shook his head as familiar memories began to break his resolve. No, he had to be strong. For once in his life, Jacob would follow through on what he had begun. He would not return with his tail between his legs, begging for forgiveness.
A sudden gust of wind sent a freezing shiver down his spine, as Jacob finally had enough. He had to find a place to stay tonight, otherwise he would end up as a pawpsicle.
After Jacob had ran away from his home in Bunny Burrow, the young lapine had decided to move to the big city at the age of twelve. Zootopia seemed like a good place for runaways, and Jacob quickly found himself among the hubbub of the metropolis.
But life in the city had proven itself way harder than Jacob had expected. As he had left in spring, Jacob had spent a good part of the year working small jobs here and there, while managing to find a roof over his head, occasionally living in a homeless shelter. But even though Jacob was basically living on pennies and dimes, he couldn't be happier.
Life had finally taken a turn for Jacob. No one expected anything from him or reprimanded him for his inadequate abilities. Here in the city, Jacob truly lived. He experienced the life of a hard working mammal, a mammal who was happy with what he had. It didn't take a nice sports car or a mansion to be happy. Purpose was what made them happy. And Jacob's purpose was to be a mammal who could help others and make them happy.
Because of Jacob's talent with numbers and extensive math abilities, he quickly got small jobs helping other mammals working out their finances and taxes. It was the one thing he was able to do, and it filled him with pure joy to help others.
But as winter came, Jacob's resolve slowly declined. Harsh weather conditions caused a large number of mammals, who were in the same situation as Jacob, to overcrowd the shelter. He rarely had a place to sleep as winter approached, and found himself sitting in the park with nothing to do and nothing to eat.
So here Jacob sat, on a freezing bench, contemplating whether or not he should sleep inside a dumpster when a slight tap on his shoulder shifted his attention from trying not to die from exposure to a mammal standing behind him.
Turning around he looked into piercing green eyes of a panther. The feline had shimmering black fur, clean and healthy, and wore a long black overcoat, neatly blending with his fur color. His eyes were stern yet friendly as he spoke up, voice smooth and calming.
"Hello there, little one. May I?" the panther began, as he quickly rounded the bench, sitting down beside Jacob. Jacob watched the stranger warily for a moment, before finally turning back to trying not to freeze to death. Living for months in the city made him slightly wary around strangers as Jacob had already been robbed a couple times before, but this feline seemed friendly enough.
The panther on the other paw just sat there, seemingly unaffected by the weather as he leaned back on the bench, his pale green eyes gazing lazily over the snow covered park, a slight smile on his lips.
After a moment of silence, the black feline spoke up, "Beautiful, isn't it?" He eventually regarded the lapine with an amused glance, as he saw Jacob shivering.
"I personally think that winter is the most gorgeous season the world has to offer. Don't you agree?" Jacob watched him as he talked, his words visible as faint mist.
Not receiving an answer, the panther continued. "Especially after snowfall, when everything is covered in neverending… white."
Jacob seriously didn't know why this stranger was talking to him. He was about to get frostbite and this guy was seriously gushing over snow. He was about to excuse himself and leave, as the panther made him stop dead in his tracks.
"You know, Mr. Jacob," he began, still not looking at the now deadpanned rabbit, "White has always been my favorite color. Its purity and.. immaculateness truly touches me in an extraordinary way. It's soothing, yet exciting."
Jacob could only stare at this panther, as he continued to ramble about seemingly random topics. He finally managed to stutter out some words, his voice shuddering from the cold.
"H-how do y-you kn-"
"I know a lot, Mr. Jacob," the panther interrupted him, now looking at him, his green eyes piercing and shimmering, "I know you have been living on the streets for quite a while now. I know you have been scrounging from job to job, trying to make ends meet like a hungry rat. Excuse the speciest comment," he quickly added, a light smile on his face, that didn't reach his eyes.
Now Jacob was definitely wary of this stranger. Shifting a few inches away from him on the bench, he again decided to speak up.
"Who a-are you?" Upon hearing his question, the feline just snorted lightly, again turning away from him and leaning back on the bench.
"Who I am, is not important. Yet," he began, his half lidded eyes now appearing tired, "What is important, is the abilities you seem to have, Mr. Jacob, and we would like to make use of those abilities."
Jacob had to frown upon the feline's claim, "I don't know what abilities you're talking about, I'm just a chi-"
"I'm talking about your talent with numbers," again the feline interrupted him, a slight impatient tone in his voice. Seemingly not wanting to beat around the bush anymore, he reached inside his overcoat, pulling out a small black business card with a strange white symbol on it. He handed it to Jacob without looking at him, and as Jacob reluctantly took it, the feline stood up from the bench, straightening out his overcoat.
"If you think you are capable enough for the work we have to offer, Mr. Jacob, be sure to give us a call."
With that the panther strode away from the bench, leaving a baffled rabbit behind, staring with ice blue eyes at the back of the feline. Jacob's gaze slowly fell to the card he had been given.
It was simple in design. Completely black, a row of numbers in white beneath it, most likely a phone number. But it was the symbol that caught Jacob's attention.
Depicted in the center of the card, were five white petals arranged in a circle. From the shape and color of the blossoms, and from his limited botanic knowledge he had from his family Jacob was able to tell what kind of flower he was looking at.
It was a magnolia.
-o-
Today
"We need to talk."
Jack knew this moment had to come sooner or later, and he would rather have it later. But, knowing his vulpine friend, he didn't really have a choice in the matter. He could either evade the question forever, which would only increase the tension between the two of them, or he could let the truth spill out and possibly ruin the friendship for good.
Turning around to face his friend, Jack tore his gaze from the door, where Judy had just vanished, and looked at Nick. His eyes were looking expectantly at his own, emeralds burning for a clear answer.
"Well? I'm waiting, Stripes," Nick began, crossing his arms, "From the way you look at her, the way you defend her tells me that there's some history, and I want to know it now."
Jack just sighed and dragged his paw across his face, turning away and walking towards the table. "What do you want me to say, Nick?" He took his empty mug and walked towards the sink.
Nick followed him with his scrutinizing gaze, "I want you to tell me the truth, Jack. I want to kno-"
"Why is it so damn important?!" Jack exclaimed, spinning around to face his friend. Nick's face slightly softened, yet remained stern as he replied in a calm tone.
"We are friends, Jack. You know you can trust me with anything," he began, slowly taking steps towards the nervous rabbit. Jack refused to make eye contact, staring at the ground instead, a frown on his face. Jack knew he could trust Nick. Heck, Nick had saved him plenty of times already, going as far as maiming himself to save their hides, but it wasn't the lack of trust that made Jack so reluctant to tell Nick the truth. It was the matter of if his friend would still trust him after he had told him the full story.
Seeing he couldn't get out of the situation, Jack decided he could at least find a compromise and tell him a little. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, as he finally looked into the concerned, yet determined emeralds of his friend.
"Fine. I will tell you," Jack began, voice slightly shaken, "but under one condition."
Nick merely nodded, understanding his friend's uncomfortable situation. Not hearing a reply from Nick, Jack proceeded to continue.
"I want to keep this between us alright? Judy mustn't know. If the time is right for her to know, I will do it myself, but, for now, I want you to keep this quiet."
Nick nodded, his gaze expectantly and intrigued, "Of course, Jack. As I said before, you know you can trust me."
To emphasize his point, he put his left paw on his chest, while holding his other paw up, a smirk on his face, "Scout's honor."
"You've never been with the Scouts, Nick." Jack replied deadpanned.
Nick just shook his head, waving the topic away, "Doesn't matter. Just spill it, already. This handsome face ain't getting younger."
Jack nodded curtly, steadying his breath as he was about to drop the bomb on his friend. Finally collecting himself, he looked into the emeralds of his friend, ready to tell him the secret he had only told Skye as of yet.
"Judy.. Judith Laverne Hopps is my.. She is my sister."
Jack let out a shuddering breath he didn't know he was holding. He looked at his friend, gauging his reaction and expecting disbelief or denial. Instead, what he saw was amusement.
"Wait," Nick began, already chuckling, "Hold up. Her middle name is Laverne?"
Finally he broke out in laughter, bending over and holding his stomach. Jack honestly didn't know how to react as he watched his friend's barking laughter went on and on, with no end in sight. He was confused, and slightly annoyed from his friend laughing at his sister's name. What would he think of my middle name? I would never hear the end of it.
Shaking his head, Jack spoke up with an annoyed voice, "Seriously Nick?! I'm telling you one of my biggest secrets and you laugh at her middle name?!"
Finally collecting himself, Nick stood up straight, a few chuckles still escaping his mouth as he spoke up, levity and amusement apparent in his tone, "I'm sorry, Stripes. It's just… no, I'm sorry." He let out the last few chuckles, before he looked at the lapine with the most serious expression he could muster, even though Jack could still see the amusement in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. Alright," Nick began, "So, she's your sister." Jack nodded, arms crossed. "And she doesn't know." Jack shook his head.
"Okay," Nick crossed his arms, as he seemed like to be thinking about something. Jack waited patiently for his questions, as Nick finally spoke up. Nothing prepared him for what his friend was about to say.
"You know, I think she has a crush on you."
Wide eyes stared in shock at his vulpine friend, who was on the verge of another laughing fit. "W-what?" Jack stuttered.
Nick couldn't hold it in any longer, as he broke out another laughter, "Gosh Stripes, you're such a putz."
Jack didn't know what to think. My sister has a crush on me?! This is so messed up! Jack didn't want nothing more than the earth to just swallow him up as Nick continued to laugh. Finally collecting himself, he said the only thing he was able to bring up in this situation.
"Shut up," he huffed as he turned away from the laughing tod, who was finally able to speak up again.
"I'm just kidding, Stripes," Nick chuckled, "but on a more serious note,"
Hearing that, Jack finally looked back at his friend. "How come she doesn't know? Doesn't she recognize you or anything? I mean those stripes on your face are pretty unique. Wait," Nick suddenly widened his eyes, "don't tell me those are fake, Stripes."
Nick looked genuinely concerned about the realness of his stripes, and Jack honestly wasn't ready for another bombshell.
"That is another story," Jack answered, shaking his head, "I already told you that much, and when the time is right, I promise I will tell you both the truth. But just not now."
Nick considered his condition for a moment, even though he already knew how he would answer. He nodded and walked wordlessly around the rabbit to the sink, as he started to clean the mugs. Jack stared at his friend's back, watching him scrubbing out the coffee stains from the white ceramic.
"Don't worry, Jack. I'm sure Laverne won't be too upset," Nick said, his gaze never leaving his paws as she continued washing the mugs, a smirk on his face.
Jack really wanted to laugh at his quip, but at the mere thought of telling either of them his story, he just couldn't.
Jack honestly didn't know how his friends would take the truth.
-o-
Despite her worries of being detected and eventually killed, Judy actually arrived at the bus station without incident. Her escort, a rookie fresh out of the academy, drove her safe and sound to the precinct.
Now here she was, sitting in Bogo's dim lit office and succumbing to his deathly glare as she had tried to explain to him in the most rational way what had happened as to why her cruiser was now completely wrecked and basically a neighborhood was destroyed. That included leaving out anything paranormal.
Her ears flat behind her back and her tiny paws between her thighs, she looked meekly at her boss as he finally spoke up after a deafening silence.
"So you're trying to tell me," Bogo began in a dangerously low tone, "that a seven feet white wolf with ruby eyes, wielding a sword had attacked you while you were investigating the call?"
As his sceptical brown eyes stared her down, all resolve she had collected on the drive here completely vanished, leaving a teensy rabbit in an overgrown office. Her nose twitched furiously as she replied, "Yes, Sir."
"And where are the other mammals involved right now? Because forensics were able to smell a fox and a hare in that apartment not too long ago," Bogo inquired, clearly not buying her story.
Judy contemplated whether she should tell Bogo about the hangar, but she already promised off the record she would help Nick and Jack any way she could. If she told her boss where they were hiding, Bogo would know about her insubordination. On top of that, if she revealed their hiding spot it would put them at risk of being found.
Deciding she should keep the whole thing quiet, Judy ground her teeth as she answered her boss, "I don't know, Sir. After the attack, the wolf vanished and they were gone."
Another excruciatingly long silence settled over both of them as Judy waited for his response. Instead, Bogo broke the eye contact and the silence with a long sigh through his nose, as he shuffled through some folders on his desk, his only reply being an, "I see."
Upon his answer, Judy's ears perked up, her amethyst slightly wide of surprise. She had expected another rant, her boss to chew her ears off until they would bleed. Heck she even expected him to hurl her out of the window, but instead he calmly acknowledged her report as if it had been a regular traffic report. Deciding she needed to speak up, Judy opened her mouth to break the silence, but her boss beat her to it.
"No need to throw something in, Hopps," he began, his eyes never leaving his hooves, "I will make sure to take your report into account when we will file a missing report for the fox and the hare."
Now she was definitely baffled. Upon her silence, Bogo finally looked at her, his frown still apparent, but not an angry frown. It was his standard frown.
"You are still an officer of the law, Hopps, as much as I think you're not. Your words have as much merit behind them as those of an average citizen. Just because I think you're unfit for this job doesn't mean I will dismiss everything you say. Especially not if the evidence is right here," he calmly stated, as he seemed to have finally found what he was looking for. Raising his hooves from his desk, he showed her a small clear bag and its contents: a strand of white fur.
"Forensics called just a few minutes ago, partly confirming your report," he continued, passing her the bag, "Even though your report has a lot of holes to explain, like just as to why forensics found the severed finger of the missing fox inside your cruiser, I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, the fur sample only gave us that much. The suspect is a white wolf, not in the system yet."
Judy was finally able to break free from her paralysis as she took the bag, staring blankly at the white fur strand. The fur strand of the wolf who had tried to kill her mere hours ago. And now here she was, reporting her boss of a situation equal to a bad sci-fi movie, and he was willing to believe her. For the first time she had worked in the precinct, her word hadn't been dismissed. He was actually willing to hear her out. Even though she was reluctant to tell her boss about what she had learned from Nick, something warm stirred inside her as she could feel the tears in her eyes, which she quickly shook away. This was not the time for sentiment.
"Chief, that's not everything," she began, Bogo now looking at her with intrigued yet stern eyes, "The tenant is not the only mammal.. missing. Another mammal was taken on that night as well."
Bogo raised a brow, "Is that so? And do you have any suspicions as of who might have been the culprit?"
Judy nodded as she answered, "Yes, Sir. I believe it was the very same wolf we are looking for."
Upon hearing her answer, Bogo merely grunted as he began to continue working on his paperwork. Not expecting a reply, Judy was about to speak up again before her boss interrupted her.
"I will still assign another officer to this case, Hopps. My opinion of you regarding this job still hasn't changed, just so we are clear."
Judy deflated visibly, as she heard the familiar patronizing tone in her Chief's tone. She was still not good enough in his eyes, probably never would be. But at least he wouldn't dismiss her as a mammal but as an officer. Her boss' voice pulled her out of her thoughts, as he spoke up, his gaze still glued to his hooves.
"If I recall correctly, you still have paperwork to do, don't you Officer Hopps? Dismissed."
Ears falling flat behind her head, Judy's gaze fell to the floor, as she hopped from the gigantic chair and moved towards the door. Without another word, she left Bogo's office, closing the door with a silent click as she wordlessly made her way through the precinct.
-o-
The day went by quickly, with night seeming to come sooner than expected. The sun was already long past its zenith, inching closer to the horizon and sending long shadows throughout the city of Zootopia as the indigo blue sky gradually darkened. Faint glows of the stars sparkled in the dark blanket of the night sky and the moon made its way slowly up, illuminating the small air hangar in the deserted industrial area of the town.
While Judy had worked tirelessly on her paperwork, Nick and Jack had spent their day searching the abandoned building, looking for anything of use. Hours previous, they had made a decision: who would be the one to get the journal from Nick's tailor shop.
Jack was reluctant to let Nick go, as in his eyes the fox had already done enough for them. Cutting off his finger and saving their lives multiple times, so Jack said, was already plenty, much to Nick's disagreement. Nick on the other paw, thought he knew his shop better than anyone else, so he would be able to find the journal quickly. Other than that, as a predator he was able to travel through the dark much faster and more effectively.
The both of them came to a compromise to let fate decide. Quickly throwing a coin, fate decided to let Jack go, much to Nick's dismay. But Nick wasn't the type to break promises, as he promised he would do whatever the coin decided.
So as the night arrived, Jack was already at the gate out of the hangar, ready to go and get the journal. Nick stood in front of him, reluctant to let the rabbit go at all. Still, he would help him any way he could. So he gave him the necessary tools so Jack wouldn't go out there completely helpless.
"Here's a knife and a gun. The gun is blessed, so in case a Familiar decides to hunt you, you won't be completely done for," Nick said, as he handed Jack a sheathed combat knife and a small handgun. Jack accepted the weapons reluctantly, yet thankful for his friend's concern. It didn't sit right with Jack to see his usually laid-back friend to talk in such a serious manner, so it didn't really help him to settle his nerves.
"And remember," Nick continued, "stay in the shadows. Move quickly and try not to be seen."
"Alright, mom," Jack chuckled nervously, "I got it. I'll be fine, it's just a couple miles. I will be back before you know it."
Even though his words were meant to calm his friend's nerves, they also calmed his own nerves and filled him with resolve to finish his task. He would return with the journal and they would finally be a step closer to finding Skye.
"Alright," Nick replied, taking a step back, his face stern, yet emeralds filled with concern, "I guess I'll stay back and wait for Judy. Besides, I found my old motorcycle in the back, so maybe I'll try to fix her up while I wait."
While they had been salvaging they could find in the hangar, Nick found his old bike, a dark red Indian Model 841. Nick had found it at the garbage dump about a decade ago and had fixed it up. But as he had been working in his tailor shop, he kind of forgot about his little treasure, and now he wanted to make sure that she was still as top notch as he remembered.
Jack nodded and stowed the weapons away, stuffing them in a long overcoat he had found in the hangar. "You think she'll be back?" he asked as he looked questioningly at the tod. He had doubts if his sister would return, as she had vanished in such a hurry without another word.
Nick just nodded, a confident expression on his face, smirk and half-lidded eyes, "Of course, after all, I don't think she would leave her little crush back at the hangar with the big bad fox."
The tod barked out a laugh as Jack frowned, sighing exasperatedly and moving towards the door. He had spent the whole day hearing Nick's teasing, and while Jack was fairly used to his friend's quips, he could only take so much. Especially if it was about his sister.
"Shut up," he huffed as he opened the door, letting the cool night air flood the room. Looking out into the unknown dark, he stood at the threshold, collecting himself as he was about to leave the safe haven, risking his life for his friends. For Skye.
"I guess I'll see you guys then." Without another word he stepped out into the cold, leaving a concerned fox behind.
Nick followed his friend with his eyes walking further and further way into the night, worry written on his face as he finally pulled the heavy door closed, ultimately cutting the two friends off.
They now had made their first move against the common foe. And, unbeknownst to the three friends, three different sets of eyes had also begun to focus on their respective targets.
AN: Until next time! Be sure to leave a review and comments! If any of you have questions, I'm more than glad to answer them!