A/N: Loving the support, everyone! Not only did we finally reach 900 reviews, but we went WAYYYY beyond that! Either you all really like talking to me (which is a false statement that I will pretend is real because reasons) or something about this story just makes you love it which is even better!
Really glad you are liking the new story arc. It was born from a line from a movie, which was then joked about, which then started a ridiculous avalanche of ideas because my brain is an idiot and doesn't shut off.
Story note: Judy is still marked and will remain so. The dye does not ruin it or she would be in a constant state of near death. As for their undercover aspect, they are relying on one thing that would normally make Nick violently ill (figuratively) if that was his reality and will be touched upon later in this chapter.
REVIEWS!
akanomie1: Yeah. Guy's a douche. Stay tuned!
ShirQuickpaw: Didn't name her after Harley Quinn but I also like red/black combos.
BeecroftA: Oh you're gonna see quite a lot of it.
Camoss: Thankfully it's only one way or they would never stop blushing with the way they each think ;)
Trixery: Maybe. But at what cost?
Starfang's Secrets: Well the story is called "A Bunny CAN Go Savage" after all
ebolson: Ram's are basically at they very top of the list in that class, though this ones does seem to be a bit...overkill
MinscLovesBoo: Aggressive bunnies = best bunnies!
Unknown: Hello Mr. Pokemon. That sounds like a badass ride!
DrummerMax64: Luckily the fur dye smell fades after a period of time so won't conflict with the mark.
Disclaimer: So I was pitching some ideas for Zootopia 2 to the Disney executives. They seemed to really like it and hired me. Had me write them all down. An hour later they fired me and threw me out. I was hired and fired on the same day. But the jokes on you, Disney! I get to put you on my resume!
Chapter 37 - Testing the limits
Instincts are so ingrained within each animal that they can seize control when the rational and conscious mind fails to react. Evolution can increase the intelligence of a mammal. It can shape the body in many ways, making them stronger, faster, more resilient. What never changes though, is instinct. Adapting to an experience in a manner the higher functions of the brain could not hope to contend with. It was these instincts mixing with a surge of adrenaline that had Judy Wilde leaping well over the charging ram, though only barely clearing the lowered horns in time.
The resulting crash as thick bone met hardened steel echoed throughout the arena. While Judy focused on her opponent, Nick stared with hope at the grated door which had violently shook when hit by the ram, silently praying it would have come loose enough for his partner to escape. A hope that was dashed as it held secure, the bolts too strong to be snapped by something so trivial. Nick had to pray that Judy would be able to beat her opponent without getting injured herself.
Judy had watched the mammal carefully after he hit the door. Though she knew rams had a very thick and tough skull, she was still surprised at how steady he seemed, not showing even a hint at being dazed. His physique was very impressive, she had to admit. Her and Nick had faced down many rams during their career, several of them during the Nighthowler case, though none of them seemed to have been built up like this one now eyeing her. She supposed the fact that he was a career fighter had much to do with it and Judy wondered just how she was going to take down this opponent.
Before she had readied herself, the ram had sped towards her once more. This time he threw his horns rather than blindly charging. She managed to deflect a vicious strike using one of her gauntlets, but the vibration ringing through her arm was enough to make it go temporarily numb. Diving hard to the left, the rabbit scrambled madly throwing herself back to the right in order to dodge the stomping hooves crashing down from above. Lashing out in desperation, Judy's hindpaw caught the ram's kneecap, causing him to grunt in pain and stumble to the side. She tried to repeat her attack, aiming for the unprotected knee on his other side , but the speed of the larger mammal caught her off guard. He trapped her foot in a hoof that felt more like a vice and threw her backwards.
It took nearly all of her agility to right herself in mid-air before slamming into the metal wall. The shock sent vibrations up through her bones, rattling her teeth and her nerves. This was one of the toughest opponents she had ever faced. He hit hard, he moved quick, and they were trapped inside a steel circle with nothing to launch herself on or take advantage of. He wasn't perfect, though. She could see many mistakes he was making and several openings he seemed unaware of. She needed to bide her time until an opportunity presented itself and pray she didn't take the brunt of his attacks first. Something not easily done, she surmised while spring-boarding off the fist that narrowly missed crushing her head into the floor.
Her dodges, while effective at keeping her safe, were not giving her the openings she needed. He apparently was not as clueless as she first thought. This was truly an experienced fighter and she guessed the previous 'opportunities' she had been shown were merely bait to lure her in closer. Even worse was that she seemed unable to rile him up, his visage showing pure concentration, not the anger and rage she needed to see. Emotions that she could take advantage of. It was truly going to be a test of skill and not a game of chess as she had hoped when she saw how strong he was.
Speeding forward, she took the fight to him, going on the offensive. She aimed for his legs again but, as he hunched down to pummel her, quickly sprang into the air landing a hard kick to his face, hoping to do some damage. She did indeed cause some damage, but it was to her own foot, the hardened skull bruising the top of it. The ram suffered a small bleed from his nose, one that went unnoticed, staining his white wool red.
Judy tried not to show it, not wanting to reveal any weakness to her opponent, but the conscious mind does not always determine what the body will do. She hit the ground with a slight limp, favoring the bruise. It lasted only a moment before she gained control of herself but it was enough to betray her. For the first time since they had begun dueling each other, Judy saw the ram show emotion. A cold, calculated grin. He saw, he knew, and he was going to exploit it.
With no time to rest, Judy had to dodge again as the ram charged at her. This time though, he pushed her towards her right where her foot was now the weakest. She regained her footing almost immediately, but the quick recovery made her foot throb, the pain lancing up her leg. It was starting to affect her movement. The more pressure she put on it, the worse it was getting, and the slower she was becoming. Once more she was forced to leap to the right in order to avoid powerful hooves and thick horns. Landing hard, she felt her foot give way making her knee hit the ground. Before she could stand, a strong force slammed into her side sending her flying across the arena and sliding into the wall.
Outside Nick had been frantically shoving against the arms holding him in place. The two large mammals though were too strong and barely felt him shifting while they watched the match. He was scared beyond belief watching his partner, his mate being tossed around the arena like a ragdoll. Nick knew she was a very experienced fighter and one of the best in the ZPD, but this was a mismatch from the get-go. Claw had obviously set up this fight as a test of the newest fighter, to weed out those who weren't meant to compete, but he had a sinking feeling he had designed this to be a much more crushing match-up though he didn't yet know why. What he did know was that Judy was going to have to come up with something quick if she was going to survive this, let alone win it.
In the arena, Judy was having much the same thought process. He's too strong to come at head on. Too quick for in close. His head is built like a boulder and is pretty much a useless target. C'mon Judy. Think. Her brainstorming was quickly set aside when clenched hooves started striking at her repeatedly, each time missing by a few inches at most. One of her ears even fluttered as a blow grazed the edge of her fur. Luckily for her the ram's attacks were based more on grappling and the use of his horns. His strikes, while powerful if he could land them, were slower than the rabbit's natural speed. Even with her injured foot she was able to keep up her movement to stay ahead of the punches. She hoped it would tire him out but he showed no sign of fatigue.
Strength for strength, Judy's kicks were far more powerful than the ram's strikes, however his body and training was built to withstand such brute force attacks from smaller mammals. She was not used to having her most formidable weapon taken away from the equation, but not for nothing was she known to be one of the greatest fighters in the ZPD. Adaptation came second nature to rabbits and in the ring that was one of her biggest advantages.
Relying solely on her speed now, Judy rushed forward, hoping to catch him off guard with her quick assault. She had to weave in her approach, ducking around the flailing horns that were attempting to spear her. After one particularly savage jab, the ram overextended himself giving Judy the only opening she had seen their entire fight. Quickly ducking under his midsection, Judy delivered three lightning quick punches to his solar plexus directly above his stomach. Though the ram was significantly larger than her, her punches still had force and she aimed them at a very close collection of nerves.
Suddenly finding himself without breath, pain radiating throughout his diaphragm, the spasms keeping him from drawing in air sent him into mild panic. It wasn't much, but it was enough for the bunny to gain a small advantage. When the ram raised himself up straight in an attempt to fill his lungs, Judy swept up behind him, having quickly circled around to his backside. Lashing out with a powerful kick, she caught him in the back of his knee, sending the animal to the floor. He wasn't down, but it was enough for Judy to continue her assault.
Still winded, the ram was unable to focus on the rabbit speedily rushing around him. His blurred vision and the feeling he was going to suffocate made the images hazy. As such, he did not see her heading straight for him, an almost feral look in her eyes that would send many mammals running for cover. Sliding under the ram's extended arm, Judy planted her feet and shoved off hard, her fist raised as it connected with the bulge in the mammal's neck. Pain like he had rarely ever experienced flared through the ram, sending him careening around the arena in a blind panic.
Capitalizing on his distracted state, Judy sprang onto his back. He barely noticed her hanging there. Her weight was negligible and his own immediate problems outweighed the thought of a small bunny on his shoulders. That is until the bunny wrapped her strong legs around the ram's neck from behind and started clamping them together. Now the thought of suffocation became much more than a feeling. It was a reality.
He thrashed his head back and forth, trying to shake off the small mammal, knowing that as compromised as his breathing already was, he would be out on the floor soon. Unable to dislodge her, the ram threw himself back into the steel walls. The pressure of being crushed between hard bone and strong metal made the doe cry out and her legs slightly weaken on her hold. Again she found herself planted against the wall, his attempts to remove her from his shoulders slowly working. In response, Judy plunged her paws between the ram's horns and grabbed his sensitive ears.
The first audible sound of pain rang out with a bleat from the injured sheep. It spurred on the diminutive fighter, giving her more drive. To prevent being slammed into another wall, Judy hauled on the ears, making the other mammal rear back in an attempt to lessen the pressure being exerted on them. Recognizing what would happen should he fall backwards, Judy leaned and yanked them forward, putting him further off balance. His already weakened knee buckled under the strain and he collapsed forward onto his face.
Attempting to crawl away, he suddenly found himself constricted even further, the rabbit's legs now tightening like a vice, the added support of the floor giving her greater leverage. In a last ditch effort, the ram reached above him and wrapped his hooves around Judy's chest, squeezing hard. Finding herself suddenly unable to breathe, the rabbit tried to control her panic but it came in force. Now it was a race to see which mammal would pass out first but he had been under assault for too long already. His strength waned and his hooves fell limp to the floor. It should have been over. But Judy's rage would not be denied.
One of the most irrational and powerful emotions within is rage. If left unfocused, it can overwhelm anyone into doing things normally against their morals and character. While the ram had lost the fight and was now unconscious on the steel surface beneath them, his throat was still under assault by a mammal who was quickly devolving into a primal creature, one who had her eyes set on a deadly enemy that needed to be eliminated. Tightening her legs, she began to squeeze even further than before, threatening to crush his throat and end the threat once and for all.
"Harley!" The sound was unfamiliar to the doe. The name not registering anything within her. She felt too strong paws wrap around and attempt to lift her up. Struggling violently she lashed out until a familiar presence, a certain scent, reached her. Suddenly feeling safe and content, she let herself relax. Her limbs fell limp and the trapped mammal found his head now laying on the floor. She reached out to the scent, to the touch she craved, only to feel herself rebuffed. "Carrots," the vague form whispered. "We're still in the arena. We can't be showing affection like this. Not here."
The words meant nothing to her, but the tone behind them did. It roused something within her, bringing her somewhat back to sanity. As if everything during the fight had been turned off, now that it was over the sounds poured in with a rush. Cheers and screams from those enjoying the fight, shouts of anger over lost bets, steel beams being pounded on by other fighters watching the show. Normally the noise would send a skittish rabbit into flight mode, running for any place it could find to hide or escape. Judy though was not a normal rabbit.
To her, the noise was an attempt to overpower her. To show dominance. Dominance which she would deny. Tipping her head back, she let out a scream from the deepest depths of her being. A scream filled with anger and power. One that cowed many mammals in the building and shocked even more. A victory cry was expected. A bellow of authority that affected many on an instinctual level was not. If ever there was such a thing as an Alpha bunny, this doe would be the first. Even Nick was a little shocked at her behavior though he didn't have the luxury of showing it.
Leaving the arena through the steel door that had taunted him for what felt like days as he helplessly watched his mate being crushed, the vulpine didn't dare relinquish his hold on his bunny. In her current state, he couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't attack everyone in sight. He was also worried about her physically. She had taken quite a beating inside the steel pit and until he was able to look her over, he wasn't letting anyone near her. Deciding to hightail it out of the building, to get his mate somewhere safe to heal, Nick headed for the exit.
He was dismayed and outraged when a large striped paw inserted itself between the two mammals, bring them to an abrupt halt. So enraged was he that Nick could have attacked the sneering tiger. Only the fact that Judy lay in his arms, in no condition to fight, kept his anger in check. "Claw wants to see you." The tod was sorely tempted to tell the tiger to go shove his tail where the sun don't shine but swallowed his words.
"My fighter is injured. I'm taking her to get treated so get out of my way." Stepping around the outstretched arm of the feline, he made for the door they had come in through. He had only made it a step before a large paw nearly the size of his arm had grabbed into him and spun him around.
"Claw wants to see you, now." Nick was too used to powerful mammals thinking that just because they were big and bad that they could order others around. That may work for henchmen or hired thugs, but for mammals like Nick and Judy, the only reason for compliance was because of their undercover status. Something which Nick was quickly regretting as he looked down at the bruised doe in his arms. She was still out of it, the scream a few minutes prior having been instinctual and not a conscious thought.
Climbing the stairway to the overseer's control station, Nick tried to rouse the rabbit, knowing he would need her lucid so she didn't accidentally blow their cover should she awake confused. Her eyes fluttered open and he prepared himself to clamp a paw over her mouth should she start to say something. He gave her too little credit however. Sitting up, she wiped her eyes and glanced around her. "Theo? What's happening?" Impressed with her ability to slip back into character so quickly, Nick set her down, letting her walk on her own.
"Claw is 'summoning' us." He didn't like where this was going but he didn't have much choice in the matter. "You won the fight so now we're going up to sit down with the lion and discuss terms." Rubbing her sides and chest, Judy winced heavily.
"Doesn't feel like I won. Feels like I went 10 rounds with a tractor." She hadn't felt this beat up since her days at the academy during the 'Enormous Criminals' training sessions. By the flicker in the fox's eye she realized she just said the wrong thing. Suddenly aware of the tiger coming up the stairs behind them, the 'tractor' comment made more sense as to why Nick would have sent her a warning look. 'Harley' had grown up in the city. Never been outside Zootopia and spent her days fighting in illegal rings for cash. A tractor would have been alien to her and her statement could arouse suspicion in the more clever mammals around them. Thankfully, the tiger seemed to be as much of an idiot as they originally had thought as he said nothing and focused on even less.
"Trust me Ca- Harley, you definitely won. And that was a horrendously mismatched fight." Though his nerves were still fairly rattled, he knew he still had a part to play and concern over his fighter would only extend so far. "Can't believe they tossed in friggin John Rambo as an entry level test match. Not even going to make money off this match."
Cocking an eyebrow, Judy looked up at him curiously. "You know who that was?" Though she knew he was into gambling, she didn't figure her mate as a fight enthusiast, especially not an underground and illegal ring. Nick simply nodded.
"John Rambo. Ex-special forces. Dishonorably discharged, used to make his living as a boxer before moving on to stick fighting. Eventually I guess he moved onto this scene." He scratched the underside of his muzzle, deep in thought. "Rumor was that he was slipping further into PTSD and he might be kicked from the leagues." Shrugging, he helped the rabbit up one of the higher steps, her movements still limited. "Been out of the loop for too long. Guess this was the only place he could keep fighting."
Well that would explain his grappling movements and ridiculous physique. Judy was no fool. She knew that if she hadn't have found that one minute opening that lasted only for a few seconds, she would have been bunny paste all over the steel. He had been far too strong and far too well trained for her to take down without a severe amount of effort, the result of which being a limping, gasping mammal finding a set of stairs too much of a challenge.
Reaching the landing, Nick went to throw open the door when the Tiger grabbed him from behind and hauled him back. Staring down at the vulpine with a glare, he bared his fangs at the russet furred mammal before pulling the door open with deliberate slowness, trying to anger him further. Nick simply kept his gaze forward, not giving the feline any sort of recognition. He was Theodore Faber. Illegal fight gambling high-roller. Trainer of some of the best, one of whom just smacked down John Rambo. The striped mammal was beneath him and Nick played his part well.
Walking past him as if he did not exist, Nick inwardly smirked at the annoyed huff he sent the tod. His eyes though were only on one mammal. A lion who stood at the window, ignoring the pair who had entered the office behind him. He gave off the impression that he was in control and that others would wait on him before the other way around. Fortunately, Nicholas Wilde thought mammals like that were full of crap.
"Alright, Claw. What the hell is the big idea? You lead us around, then have your enforcers practically tie me down as you throw my fighter into a ring with no prep and no warning. A surprise qualifier? Okay. I could buy that. Test her skills on the fly. But you send out John freaking Rambo? Was this a way to weed out the the unfit or to destroy any potential challengers? Class sizes my ass. That ram is four to five times her size and he's ex-military. Now I've got an injured fighter who's gonna need at least two days to recoup, not to mention no coin purse in paw. Guess how pissed I am right now."
Having turned during the fox's spiel, the lion watched him with a slight amusement. Not many mammals were willing to stand up to the lion, especially anyone who knew his reputation in the underground. He was a force to be feared or one would often find themselves with a pair of concrete feet wraps on the edge of a pier. For a fox to be yelling at him was a new experience, one he found relatively humorous. Looking over their shoulders, her nodded to the tiger who jerked his head and left the room.
"Very well. Aaron I believe it was. Let's talk." Pulling out his office chair, he took a seat bringing himself closer to their eye levels though still significantly higher than either of them. "I'll speak plainly. I put in John because if your little rabbit over there is as good as you say, then she would be able to handle herself against him. And boy did she ever. I've never seen John take a beating like that, especially as he drew first blood. Now, as for the purse, because I put in such a strong fighter and you have been inconvenienced due to my overkill methods, I will have the house give you ten percent of the winnings to compensate you." Switching his gaze over to the rabbit, he eyed her up and down, noticing the way she was holding herself upright, favorably leaning to one side. "As for your fighter. You said two days recovery. Next fight is in three. If you want to keep a spot in the line-ups you two will be there, fighting shape or not. Don't show up? Don't bother showing up again. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
With that the lion got up from his chair and left the room through a side door onto the catwalks. Quickly the duo scanned the room to see if there had been anything left behind. A scrap of paper, business card, anything that might help. But save for the chair and a flimsy plastic table, the room was completely bare. They didn't have much time though, the door scraping open behind them signaling the end to their night. Following the tiger back down the stairs, the two sent each other knowing looks before descending into the garage, their borrowed car waiting for the 'high-rollers'. Letting his mate curl up in the passenger seat to get some sleep on their way back, he pulled out his burner phone and dialed a number he had memorized just in case of instances like this, though he didn't think it would ever be under these circumstances. On the third ring a sleepy voice answered. "Hey Sundae, it's Nick. Listen, I need some help..."
Back upstairs, Claw met with two of his associates who oversaw multiple aspects of his operation. A black bear who went by the name 'Maw', many years in age but bringing with him the wisdom of those years and the scars of the battles he has fought throughout oppression in the city. Maw ran most of the normal day to day operations. The other was a red fox, barely halfway into his twenties. Going by the moniker 'Blood', something that made the other two mammals roll their eyes at, he was in charge of the technical aspects of the business, keeping the live streams and online betting systems working properly.
"So what do you think of the new fighter?" While he was solely in charge of all decisions and his word was final, Claw did appreciate receiving feedback from his two associates. Their advice often did sway his opinions, allowing him to view multiple sides of the coin rather than whatever landed upright.
"Impressive skills. Surprised she not only lasted against John but beat him as well. Adaptive techniques." Maw had been around fighters most of his life, whether it was competing such as they did in their business or out on the streets during some of the anti-pred demonstrations. "Very promising. Provided she can heal up quick enough after that beating she took." Claw nodded, finding himself agreeing with his friend.
Blood was of a similar mind though he had some reservations. "Boss, I've done some digging. I can't find any record of a 'Harley Corday' or 'Thunder Corday' or any combination of the names he gave us ever competing in underground leagues." The lion frowned, unsure of what this new development could mean.
"Could they have changed her name in order to try and get back into leagues they may have been banned from?" It was a common trick of some of the better fighters and cheaters alike to find ways around bannings in order to keep winning prize money. Usually it required dying fur or something similar.
"It's possible. I did find a Theodore Faber. He seems to check out so this could be the case. A previous champion needing to find some way back into the competition. I didn't smell any fur dye when she walked past me at the pit so that seems to be her natural color. That or it's set in for quite a while." He paused, unsure how to bring up the next point on his list of things to discuss. "There was something I did smell though that frankly has me a little stumped."
Claw raised his brow. "So I wasn't imagining it then. She's been marked." Blood couldn't help but nod, still a bit unsettled by the implications. "Do you think they're mates?"
"Honestly? I doubt it. Red foxes do mark their mates but that isn't always the case. Some foxes are born without the desire to solidify a relationship to one mammal. They tend to 'play the field' and sleep around, usually tricking a member of the opposite, or sometimes same, sex by empty promises of being mated, even going so far as to mark them. I'd bet my next ten matches of winnings on that being the case here."
"So they're still sleeping together then." Again the red fox seemed unsure.
"Not necessarily. A rabbit isn't likely to sleep with a fox. Their very nature pretty much would make it nearly impossible. If he is as I suspect, he uses his mark to claim property. He most likely marked her to send a message to every other pred here that she's his fighter and to back off. Usually that sort of behavior can make you a pariah among other foxes so it's quite possible he's been unofficially exiled from most fox communities." He had to contain a snarl of his own at the idea of having to work with a mammal such as him. "If you weren't so interested in the duo, Claw, I'd probably lock him in the pit with a few of the better fighters. His kind disgusts me."
Surprised at the venom lacing the fox's voice, Claw simply shrugged. He probably would never understand Vulpine rules or traditions but really he didn't want to. Blood was around because of his technical skills and that was it. Maw was a close friend of the lion but he couldn't care less if the fox was hit by a bus on the way home. "Fights are over for the night. Cash everyone out and get everything loaded. We set up in three days. Maw, you and Fang will be running the show that night."
Nick wanted nothing more than to see what the car could do in order to get them to the hotel faster but he knew it would be in poor judgment. If he came across a cruiser or a speed trap he would risk getting pulled over and threaten the entire operation. Against his better judgment, he kept his foot steady and the speedometer even. Glancing across to his mate, he grimaced at the idea of the pain she must be in. He was still livid at the ambush Claw and his cronies had arranged for them. Only the threat of his bunny getting hurt even further with the condition she was in kept him from attacking the smug, arrogant lion.
"Hold on, Carrots. We're almost there." Though exhausted, she had been unable to find solace in sleep.
"Nick. It hurts." His eyes welled up at the quiver in her voice. She had never seemed so vulnerable. So small as she did right then. He had to remain strong for her. For them both. He could only pray that they reached the hotel soon so she could get some rest and medical attention. The two of them had been in a lot of scrapes before but even facing down armed mammals and street gangs did not seem as dangerous as this operation to him. He was tempted to call Bogo and tell him they were pulling out but he knew if he and Judy did not agree on it she would be angry and disappointed in him, and that was something he could not bear.
Finally reaching the hotel, Nick parked the car and grabbed the bags. He loaded them onto a trolley cart before heading back for the bunny still curled up on the seat. Gingerly picking her up, he brought her inside to where he had left their luggage at the front desk. Approaching the counter, Nick couldn't help but notice the raised brow of the buck behind the counter. His antlers were grown in but the size told him they were dealing with a younger mammal, probably in his early twenties. Nick thanked whoever was watching over them for small favors as younger generations tended to be more forgiving about interspecies relationships, though Judy's injuries probably raised a few red flags with the deer.
"Reservation for 'Faber'." Keeping it short and to the point, Nick hoped to distract the employee by making him focus on his job rather than the circumstances. It seemed to work, the mammal falling back into his usual routine which he did hundreds of times a week, the muscle memory being almost automatic. Hooves clacking away at the keyboard, the deer seemed intent on getting his job done so he could go back to whatever activity he did in between check-ins. Currently it was using the free hotel wi-fi to watch Netflix.
"Here we are. Two queen beds with Jacuzzi bathtub for seven nights."
"That's us." To alleviate suspicion of their relationship in case anyone tried to investigate their backstory, they had requested two beds rather than one. Queen sizes were still extremely large for the two mammals so they would be able to sleep together, but it would appear they simply were spending the cash for a bit of extra comfort. The Jacuzzi was for Judy. They both had decided it would be a good idea to treat any injuries she might sustain during their assignment, though they didn't figure on needing it this soon.
"Room 513. Elevators are to your right." Sliding two key cards along the counter, Nick grabbed the folder and began to turn around only to pause and rotate back. Taking one of the cards out, he slapped it on the desk.
"There will be a painted bunny doe coming in shortly. Give her this key and the room number." The deer raised his brow again but decided he really didn't need the added drama this might cause him that evening. His shift was nearly over and spending his night filling out a report on this was not all that enticing. Plus, with the way the rabbit hung around his neck as the fox cradled her gently told him enough to know she was in no danger from the vulpine.
Getting into the elevator while dragging the cart behind them, Nick turned in time to see a look of pity etched on the deer's face before the doors closed. He knew Judy would not be happy to have been pitied, but the sight replacing the suspicious curiosity had Nick feeling much better. He wasn't sure how long he could keep his composure though. For her sake he had tried to show no sadness. No dismay. A single tear could cause her to break and that was something neither of them could afford. For now, he let her lay in his arms, comforted by his touch and scent.
Due to how late they had arrived, the floor was thankfully deserted when the doors opened. They couldn't risk suspicious mammals making calls to the police. They would be able to get out of any investigation but it would mean blowing their cover wide open. It was also why they couldn't go to the hospital to treat her injuries. All it would take is one report to the precinct about a doe being brought into the ER by a fox, severely injured. That or a fan of theirs recognizing them through their disguises. All of their work, including Judy being brutally beaten, would be for naught.
Entering their room, Nick immediately crossed to one of the beds and gently laid his mate onto the soft mattress, hoping it would take away some of the pain. It seemed to work as her contorted face calmed, though not by much. Any improvement though was welcomed. He thought about running the Jacuzzi and helping her relax in the hot water and mild jets, but decided against it. He really didn't know how bad her injuries were and didn't want to make things worse.
The wait for their company felt like hours to the tod. Unable to sit still, he paced the floor rapidly, gazing at the rabbit with each turn he made. Eventually though his own exhaustion hit him, the adrenaline from earlier wearing off. He forced himself to be content with sitting next to his bunny, careful not to touch her sides and chest which were the most damaged, though he did slowly stroke her ears trying to get her to focus on his ministrations and not the pain.
A click from the door lock, had him turning his head to the hallway. Because of how the beds were set back, he could not see who was entering the room, though he did not need to. A soft voice called out to them, hesitant to move any further into the room. "Nick? Judy?"
"In here." Nick was unsure if it was his patience or simply his inability to move, but he remained sitting rather than going to meet the doe at the door. As she turned the corner though, her eyes widened in nervousness and fear. Nick was unsure what she was seeing that had set her on edge, but it was a rather different experience that they normally got from Sarah.
"I'm sorry. I must have the wrong room." She started to back out, trying to find the right speed to not startle the older fox and also to leave as fast as possible. It was then that Nick realized what was going on and slapped himself in the head. He had forgotten to explain to Sarah about their dyed fur.
"Sundae, hold on." The nickname, one used by only a handful of mammals, had the mixed doe pulling up short, confusion on her face as she now stared at the two mammals closely.
"Nick?" Nodding with a sad smile, the fox gave her a gentle wave. Normally he would give his sister-in-law a hug in greeting but with her reaction to his disguise and the slight panic he could still hear in her voice, he decided for a simple 'hello' gesture. She returned it out of habit, ridiculous as it may look. "Is that...Judy?" Nick nodded again. Sarah edged a bit closer, trying to see her sister. Having spent a couple years as a black doe herself, Sarah was able to tell that her dye job was done by a professional and it made her even more curious about why the two were looking like that.
"Look Sundae. I know you're confused, and I promise I'll explain everything, but right now Carrots is hurt and we need you to look at her and tell us the extent of her injuries." In a flash, Sarah was crouched by her sister's side on the bed, all hesitation and fear vanishing at the thought of her sister being in trouble.
"By the door is my medical bag, like you requested. Bring it to me." Jumping from the bed, Nick quickly moved to the hallway and grabbed the small black bag resting on the sitting bench next to the door. His drowsiness was gone for the moment, his body overriding the desire to sleep with the focus on his mate and her well being. Sarah began prodding the sleeping bunny, taking note of where she seemed the most sensitive. "Is she unconscious or just asleep?"
"Asleep. She was exhausted and I think it was the only way she could escape the pain." Sarah knew it was a common method to try to alleviate pain by sleeping, however with her there to evaluate the doe's pain and injuries, she was going to need her to wake up. Leaning down to her ear, she spoke softly, trying not to startle the doe.
"Judy. You need to wake up now. I know it hurts but we're going to make you feel better." The most she got was a stir but it was a start. "Nick's worried about you, Judy." That got a stronger reaction from the rabbit, her eyes fluttering but not quite open. Sarah sighed. It was time for a more drastic option though she hated what she was about to do. "Judy. Trisha's holding Nick's paw." This time the effect was immediate. Her eyes snapping open, Judy flung herself onto all fours ready to tackle the bunny trying to take her mate, however her injuries caught up with her and collapsed to the bed, letting out a small 'mew.'
Catching her sister's paw in her own, Sarah leaned down to give her a light kiss on the top of her head. "Sorry, sis. I had to wake you up and I was worried shaking you with your injuries would cause you some more pain. Although leaping up into the air probably wasn't all that helpful either. Now come on." Helping her to sit up, Sarah grabbed her medical bag and started pulling out a few things. Grabbing a bottle of aspirin, she shook two out. "Nick, hand me a bottle of water." They hadn't brought any, but Nick knew where to look as he opened the mini-fridge. He didn't bother looking at the cost since the ZPD was handling everything but he would love to see the accountants faces when they itemized a fifteen dollar bottle of water. Tossing it to the bunny, Sarah quickly opened the cap and handed it to Judy while popping the two tablets into her mouth. "These will help, Jude. There ya go." Judy started to splutter, water flowing from her mouth as she choked. Poor sis. Probably dehydrated. What have they been doing to themselves?
Wrapping a stethoscope around her neck, the mixed doe held up a pen light to the other bunny's eyes. Pupils look fine. Taking her head in her paws, Sarah rotated it, looking for any sign of deviation in her eyes. Everything checks out there. "Congratulations. No concussion. Let's check out those ribs though." Removing the chest armor, Sarah started pressing gently, moving from one rib to the other, gauging Judy's pain reaction. Though moderately uncomfortable and slightly painful, Judy seemed to be handling it well enough, until Sarah's digits landed on the fifth rib. A sharp yelp sprang from the doe, her body scrabbling away as fast as she could manage only to fall into the russet arms of the large fox nearby.
"Carrots. It's okay. Your sister is just trying to help you." Judy buried herself in his chest, trying to hide within the red and cream colored fur. "Can she take a look at you? We need to find out what's wrong inside you." In response, she wrapped her arms around his torso as far as she could reach. She let out a shrill whine but nodded her head while keeping her eyes tightly closed. Motioning for her sister to move closer, Nick began stroking his mate's ears to keep her calm.
Sarah started to redo her examination, taking great care to go very light on her ribs. She had taken some major damage to her upper and side torso. Already she could see bruises forming even under the heavily dyed fur. Whatever she had been involved in had been a serious mistake on her part. Nick looked relatively unharmed so either they were separated or he knew nothing about this because he would never let her sister get hurt like this. "She has six bruised ribs and a bruised sternum. That steel armor she was wearing is pretty much the only thing that kept her chest from being caved in. What the hell were you two doing?!"
Upon hearing the reality of her injuries and how much worse it could have been, Nick slumped against the wall and slid down to the floor. Over and over again he ran through the scenario in his mind. He had been so stupid to let them follow the tiger down to the entrance level for the pit. And forced to watch his mate being beaten while he did nothing. He made the excuse that he was outmatched but he could have found a way, he kept telling himself though he didn't really believe it.
"We're un-under-...cover..." The weak voice and stuttering breath came from the black bunny, now struggling to sit up. Though she looked a bit better, her eyes more alert thanks to the pain medicine, she still showed signs of dehydration and exhaustion. "We were sent in to infiltrate a prey fight club."
"Prey fight club? What on earth is a prey fight club?"
"Can't tell you." Nick looked at her with a serious face. "First rule of prey fight club is don't talk about prey fight club." Judy shot him an exasperated look.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. Prey mammals, all under predator management, fight each other in a league. Prize money given to the winners. Of course, we didn't know we would be going in there and having to have an initiation fight at the get-go and against a special forces soldier." Sarah blanched.
"You're lucky he left you alive!" Unwrapping some ace bandages, the doe began putting them around her sister's chest, tightening them carefully. She wanted her ribs supported, but not pinched.
"Rules are to the first one knocked out. Carrots actually took him down though. Unfortunately he was able to do this to her before she got the upper paw."
"And where were you during all this?" She wasn't trying to sound accusatory, but with her sister incapacitated she couldn't help the slip. She hated how his head drooped downward.
"I was pinned by two of the guy's cronies up against a steel wall, forced to watch as my bunny was attacked just because the head honcho wanted to make a statement." Hearing the mix of sadness and hatred in his tone, Sarah reached out and grasped his paw, giving him a comforting smile. She felt awful about how she spoke to him mere seconds ago, but wasn't sure if apologizing was the right thing to do right then.
"She's gonna need at least a couple weeks to recuperate." Hearing this, Judy shook her head adamantly.
"Not gonna happen. Next fight is in three days. I have to be ready." Sarah's mouth fell open.
"Three days? Judy, I don't think you appreciate the severity of your injuries. The next time you go out there, your ribs might not survive the strain and could collapse inward. That could pierce your heart. You need to think about your health, Jude. I can bandage your ribs, I can't put them back together. You should even be at the hospital right now but since you called me to a hotel room while in disguise something tells me you can't. So do me a favor. Don't have me come over if the next thing I have to do is pronounce you dead." Packing up her bag, Sarah started to leave before turning back and coming to give her sister a big hug, though loose enough not to hurt her. "I love you, sis. Please be careful." Looking over at the vulpine, Sarah gave him a hug too. "Protect her, Nick. If you need anything, let me know. I'll be here in a flash." Taking out a prescription bottle with no label, she hesitated before handing it to the tod. "Vicodin. Bunny strength. Give her one capsule to help her sleep, only."
Watching her getting ready to leave, Nick suddenly thought of something. "Don't tell Trisha about any of this, okay?" With a dry laugh, Sarah gave them a pointed look.
"How stupid do you think I am?"
It had been late into the evening before Judy had finally fallen back asleep in Nick's arms. The aspirin her sister had given her was enough to take the edge off so that she could lay somewhat comfortably. It was too early for them to mix in the Vicodin Sarah had left but Nick made a mental note to wake her in a few hours to give her one. After all of the events that day, he found himself unwilling to remove himself from the bed, to let go of his bunny so he could do his job. Listening to her snore, her breaths coming easier than before, he finally convinced himself to slide his arm out from under her still form and sneak from the bed.
Grabbing one of the burner phones from their shed clothing, Nick quietly opened the sliding glass door that led onto the balcony. He wanted to place his call out there for two-fold. One, so he wouldn't wake his mate, and two in case their room was compromised. Seating himself on the provided chair, a plastic one usually used for lawn parties, he propped his feet up on a small side table and placed the call. It rang for several seconds while the fox found himself getting agitated. A sudden click told him someone had picked up the phone.
"Tri-City pizza. My name is Scott, what can I get for ya?" Nick was unable to keep the grin off his face as the voice of a pudgy cheetah came over the line. Deciding on using fake businesses, usually take-out restaurants to fool anyone trying to tap their lines, Clawhauser had been designated the one who would answer the calls. His bubbly personality was a perfect selling point that it was definitely not a serious call out.
"I need to speak to your manager." Speaking in code was something the fox was used to. It happened in many cons to throw off suspicion about certain acts. Now though, as an officer the use of code words and phrases made him feel more like a spy than a conmammal. In this case, 'manager' obviously meant Chief Bogo. He had some choice words for the buffalo. The call was picked up before the first ring had even ended.
"Wilde. Report." Despite the very late hour, the Chief was very alert, having not left his office for hours in case the two officers should call in. The minute Clawhauser had told him Nick was on the line, his whole body visibly relaxed as an audible sigh left him.
"Report? You want our report?" Bogo was surprised by the anger in the vulpine's voice. "Here's a report for you! We went to the place, we had guns pointed at us, managed to bluff our way in, schmoozed the boss, and then Carrots was tossed into a pit and beaten nearly half to death! That's the goddamn report!" Stunned speechless, all the Chief could do was fall back into his chair, his thoughts consumed at the thought of his smallest officer dangerously injured. "My mate is laying in there beat to shit, with a half dozen bruised ribs and sternum, only still alive because of her steel breastplate she was wearing. They put her up against JOHN FUCKING RAMBO as a goddamn test!"
Knowing that to interrupt him would only further anger the fox, the buffalo sat back absorbing all of the information being thrown his way. "Look Chief, I don't think I can do this. They held me down and made me watch as she was beaten and that was them just thinking she was one of my fighters. If they find out who we are they will do far worse. I can't risk that to happen to her." There was a pause on the line, the only sound Bogo could pick up was harsh ragged breaths. "I'll keep us in it only because I know Judy will be upset if I pull the plug, but I'm telling you right now, Chief. The minute I think this is going too far or she is put in further danger, I will pull it and we will be back home before you even get the phone call." Not willing to speak any further, not wanting to hear any of the buffalo's empty promises or motivational crap, Nick ended the call and forced himself to resist chucking it off the balcony.
Feeling the cool air invade his lungs with each deep breath he took, Nick used the time to level his head. Judy needed his support and love, not anger and frustration. Heading back inside, he crawled back into bed and cradled his bunny from behind, taking great care to not put any pressure on her wounds. Wrapping his tail around her, he kissed between her ears and laid his head next to hers. "We'll get this guy, Carrots. No one does that to my bunny." He bared his teeth in a silent snarl, his voice a harsh whisper so quiet that not even the rabbit next to him could hear if she were awake. "No one."