Chapter 22
"What's the hold up Ben. Your blocking the door to the café...oh.." I heard Nick say as said fox peeked his auburn furred head through the café door as his emerald green eyes settled on the grey furred and hazel eyed buffalo the was Bogo as Nicks ears began to flatten to the back of his auburn furred head.
"Listen Bogo...before you explode...I didn't know you would be in here...and I don't want any trouble. I'm sure we can both sort out our differences...right.." I said in a cautious and worried tone of voice as I watched Bogo fold his huge grey furred arms over his chest as said buffalo snorted in anger at me as I looked fearfully at his huge and intimidating form.
"I'm listening fox. But let me give you a small warning. One slip up and I'm throwing you out of this café and into a cell faster than when Clawhauser eats a donut." Bogo said as I breathed a small sigh of relief before I slowly began to make my way fully into the café as Nick followed along with Judy and Jerry followed behind said fox.
"Wait...Ryan? What are you doing here?" The light grey furred and black pawed rabbit that was Jerry said In a surprised tone of voice as he completely ignored Bogo's scowl that was directed toward him for ruining the tension in the café before said rabbit made his way over to the white furred and blue eyed wolf who was still sitting down with his paws over his head.
"Oh...what...wait...ah...hey Jerry...what are you doing here?" Ryan questioned Jerry as he removed his white furred paws from his head whilst Jerry made his way past Bogo before happily sitting down on the chair that said grey furred buffalo was previously sitting on not a minute ago.
"Well...uh...those two seem well acquainted with each other." I said which caused Bogo to take his angry glare off of Jerry and back to me once again.
"So...how about the four of us go and sit down and discuss what needs to be said and sorted out. " I said in a cautious tone of voice as I turned my gaze from Bogo briefly to look at Ryan and Jerry who where now happily chatting away.
"Fine." Bogo said as he let out a loud huff before nodding his huge head as he began to make his way over to another table just behind the table where Jerry and Ryan where chatting.
"All I wanted to do was get a snack and a drink." I said slowly as I watched Bogo make his way toward his chosen table before I let out a sigh.
"This...this is going to be my downfall isn't it? This is the part where I'm never seen or heard of again." I said in slight fear as I looked toward Nick who only made his way toward me before patting my left shoulder with his right black furred paw as he gazed at me in what I hoped was faked sadness.
"I think your right Ben...this will be the end for you...but...I just want you to know that...you've been the best brother to me..." Nick said as he began to sniffle whilst patting my shoulder more in a comforting manner whilst I was starting to become more worried by the minute.
"There's one other thing Ben...I want you too know that...I would trade you for a blueberry pie any day." Nick said before said fox punched me in the arm lightly before chuckling loudly to himself whilst I on the other paw turned around and growled angrily at Nick who was still chuckling to himself.
"Thanks a lot Nick. I genuinely thought you were being serious. Your such a big help to me." I said angrily as Nick continued to chuckle before he made his way past me and toward the table where Bogo was seated whilst said grey furred buffalos face turned into annoyance as he watched Nick approach.
I smirked slightly at Bogo's reaction to Nick as I watched said Buffalos right eye twitch in annoyance as Nick ceased his chuckling before seating himself across from the buffalo at the table.
"Don't worry Ben. Remember what I said earlier." The optimistic voice of Judy said as I looked toward said grey furred and purple eyed rabbit with a look of worry.
"The chief might seem all up tight and cold hearted but he really isn't. You've just got to trust me on that." Judy said as she smiled up at me whilst I on the other paw sighed in acceptance as I briefly looked from Judy back toward Bogo and Nick who were seated and talking at the table.
"Fine. But if he starts to get angry at me I'm putting you in the firing line ok Judy. You can be like a fluffy shield for me." I joked to which Judy chuckled before said rabbit punched me in the arm lightly as we both made our way over to the table where Bogo and Nick were sitting at as I noticed the gradually angering expression that was making its way onto Bogo's face as Nick made a poor joke to said buffalo.
"Well how about we start of with the buffalo in the room." Nick said in an overly confident tone of voice in an attempt to try and lighten the mood as myself and Judy sat down around the table whilst Nicks joke seemed to only anger Bogo more as he glared daggers at Nick before said buffalo turned his hazel eyed glare at me.
"So...lets cut to the chase Bogo...I don't know what Ryan's said to you about me but...I'm...sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I mean angering someone like yourself probably wasn't a smart move." I said as I began to lean back in my seat in fear as Bogo's eyes seemed to delve into my soul as my ears began to flatten to the back of my head once again before Bogo began to speak in his low and deep voice.
"Listen fox...no...Ben. Listen I stopped and arrested you under the suspicion of assault on a mammal and the theft of a reported stolen item. And at the time I neglected to question you properly about what happened from your point of view...and..I...was wrong." Bogo said in a slightly less intimidating tone of voice as I looked at said buffalo in confusion and shock as he continued to speak.
"Being the chief of the ZPD means I cant take any chances when it comes to situations like yours Ben. For all I knew you could have just gone out and attacked me. I had to take some precautions for my own safety." Bogo said as I continued to stare at the grey furred and hazel eyed buffalo in confusion and shock whilst Nick on the other paw began to chuckle.
"Wow. I never thought that Id see the day that you would apologize to somemammal Bogo. I'm beyond shocked." Nick said in an over the top tone of voice whilst Bogo turned his attention to said fox before sending Nick a death glare with his deep hazel eyes that could turn a mammal to stone.
"Listen here Wilde. You do know that even out of work I am still your chief and I still handle your pay. " Bogo said as he smirked at Nick whilst said fox's auburn furred ears began to slowly make their way down from the perked up position they were in down to his auburn furred head.
"Uh...yeah sorry chief...uh...sir." Nick said whilst Judy on the other paw was desperately trying to hold in her laughter as Bogo began to speak once again to me.
"Try to remember that next time your speaking to your chief alright Wilde." Bogo said to which Nick nodded his head I understanding.
"Anyway getting back onto topic I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for the way I acted. As the chief of the ZPD I hope you accept my apology." Bogo said with a hint of regret laced into his deep and powerful voice as he continued to look at me with a straight face as I continued to look at said buffalo in mild shock with my emerald green eyes.
"Uh...yeah sure...I forgive you...no big deal." I said as I looked away from Bogo's hazel eyed gaze before I stuck out my right black furred paw towards said buffalo hoping that he would easily understand my gesture.
"Thank you Ben. I'm glad that we could sort this out in a respectable and calm way." Bogo said as he grasped my right black furred paw in his strong right black hoof as said buffalo shook my paw firmly before letting go of my right paw.
"Uh...yeah...me too..." I said in a cautious but happy tone of voice as the grey furred and purple eyed rabbit that was Judy began to speak in her happy and enthusiastic tone of voice.
"I'm so glad you could sort out your problem with the chief Ben. Especially with your past with the poli..." Judy said before she was silenced by the left black furred paw of Nick as said fox chuckled in embarrassment.
"Uh...just ignore that chief...Judy gets a bit talkative with other mammals as you know all too well." Nick said as the big grey furred and hazel eyed buffalo that was Bogo looked at Nick suspiciously as said fox removed his paw from Judy's mouth slowly before Bogo returned his attention back to me.
"Well. Moving on from that I have a question to ask you Ben." Bogo said in a calm and strong tone of voice as my auburn furred ears stayed splayed back against my head in slight worry as I nodded my head in response as a sign for Bogo to continue.
"Are you working at the moment?" Bogo questioned me in his deep and gruff voice as I tried my best to hide the nervous expression that was starting to worm its way onto my auburn furred face whilst Nick on the other paw turned to me with a sly expression on his face.
"You know what chief I don't think Bens even told me if he's working or not. And to be honest I myself would like to know." Nick said in a sly but questioning tone of voice as I gave Nick a deadpan look in an attempt to divert Nick from asking about the current topic of discussion.
"I'm sure that you do have a job don't you Ben?" Nick questioned me as he continued to speak in a sly tone of voice whilst I on the other paw began to move around in my seat as my tail tucked between my auburn furred legs.
"What type of question is that of course I have a job. How do you think I got to Zootopia in the first place. You think I just appeared here out of know where?" I said as I frowned at Nick to which said fox lost his sly look before I turned my attention back the now frowning and angered looking face of Bogo.
"Well whether your working or not I...have a proposition for you Ben." Bogo said as he looked at me dead in my leaf green coloured eyes whilst I quickly glanced toward Nick who was looking at Bogo with a worried and serious expression on his auburn furred face.
"What's the proposition Bogo? Its not everyday you offer something personally to a mammal. Especially outside of work." Nick questioned the huge grey furred buffalo that was Bogo in a slightly angry and curious tone of voice as said buffalo looked at Nick briefly before glaring slightly.
"There's no need to get all defensive over Ben you know Wilde. And what I do and who I talk to in and out of work is my own business and not yours." Bogo said before he turned his attention back to me before speaking in his gruff and deep voice once again much to Nicks annoyance.
"So Ben. How would feel about becoming an officer under my command in the ZPD?" Bogo said as he kept his hazel eyed gazed focused on my leaf green eyes as I looked at Bogo in absolute shock.
"I...I'm sorry...what?...Can you repeat that please?" I said in both shock and surprise as I quickly looked towards Nick who had the same look that I had plastered on his auburn furred face as I looked back toward Bogo who was looking at me in slight confusion.
"I don't think I really need to repeat what I said Ben. I only asked if you wanted to become a police officer in the ZPD." Bogo said in a calm tone of voice as I tried to form a sentence to respond to Bogo's question.
"Bogo's right Ben. Its a simple question and if you wont answer the question then Ill answer it for you." I heard the familiar deep and friendly voice of Ryan say from behind me as I turned my head in the direction of said voice as my leaf green eyes spotted the white furred and blue eyed wolf.
"But...I could never be a cop...I mean...I'm not police material." I said in a panicked tone of voice as I stood up and out of the café table chair whilst my leaf green eyes darted around the café in attempt to find someone to back me up.
"Come on Ben. You know that's not true. Can you really say that to me after me and you stopped that black furred wolf?" Ryan questioned me in a joking but serious tone of voice as I looked down at my hind black furred paws before I felt a slight but reassuring pressure on my left shoulder.
"You don't need to say anything yet Ben. This is your decision and your decision only." I heard the calm and reassuring voice of Nick say as I turned my auburn furred head around to face said fox.
"Nicks right Ben." I heard the familiar calm and friendly voice of Judy speak out as I turned around to see said grey furred and purple eyed rabbit standing next to Jerry who was sipping on a drink of somekind.
"Just remember that you can trust us Ben. And we will support you no matter what you say." Judy said as she gave me a wide smile whilst Jerry on the other paw had ceased drinking his beverage before said rabbit looked to Judy and then to me with a confused look plastered on his face.
"Yeah your right...thanks." I said as I gave said fox an honest smile before I smiled at both Judy and Jerry before I returned my gaze to both Ryan and Bogo as I let out a small sigh.
"If you don't mind...I just need to go outside quickly to clear my mind." I said to which Bogo nodded his head in understanding whilst Ryan on the other paw had a slight frown on his white furred face as I quickly turned around before heading to the cafes exit.
'How could a con artist be a cop. What a joke.' I thought to myself as I continued to make my way to the cafés exit at a swift pace.
"Do you need some company Ben?" I heard the familiar and worried sounding voice of Nick say as I paused in my tracks for a brief moment before I turned my head around to face said fox who had a worried and sad look plastered on his auburn furred face.
"Ill be fine on my own Nick..." I said in a tired tone of voice as I paused towards the end of my sentence before I began to think back to the talk I had with Nick in his apartment.
"...You know what Nick." I said in a slightly happier tone of voice as I looked at said fox with a small smile plastered on my auburn furred.
"Some company would be nice." I said as Nick gave me a small smile in return as he made his way over to me before we both made our way out of the café and into the street outside.
"What was that all about and why didn't Ben just answer the question? It seemed simple enough to me." Jerry said as he chucked the cup that had previously held his drink in toward a bin which missed said bin whilst Judy on the other paw let out a small sigh as she looked at her brother with a sad expression adorning her face.
"Well its not really for me to say but Ben...hasn't really had a good relationship with the police." Judy said in a slightly saddened tone of voice as she looked down at her hind paws whilst Jerry looked toward both Ryan and Bogo who had confused expressions on their faces.
"I'm guessing you two didn't know that judging by your expressions." Jerry questioned both Ryan and Bogo who in turn both shook their heads in response.
"Why hasn't he had a good relationship with the police? What happened to him?" Ryan questioned Judy in concern and thought whilst said grey furred and purple eyed rabbit only sighed in response before she looked up to Ryan and Bogo with a sad expression still adorning her face.
"Ben will have to tell you that himself." Judy said whilst Ryan nodded his head in understanding as he folded his white furred arms over his chest whilst Bogo let out a loud huff.
"Well that didn't stop your lover from joining the force now did it Hopps?" Bogo questioned Judy with a smile whilst Judy on the other paw began to blush uncontrollably whilst frowning at her chief.
"Wait...you and Nick are a thing?" Jerry questioned Judy with a sly smile adjourning his grey furred and light green eyed face whilst Judy looked away from her brother in embarrassment.
"Yes we are and I don't want any of you blurting it out to everyone alright." Judy said in embarrassment whilst Jerry on the other paw made his way toward Judy before enveloping said rabbit in a tight hug from behind as he began to speak in a happy and friendly tone of voice.
"I'm not going to do that Judy I promise. And as for Ryan and Bogo don't you think they have more important things to do than to blurt out your relationship status?" Jerry questioned Judy which earned a small giggle from Judy in response.
"I guess your right Jerry. Thank you. " Judy said in her usual enthusiastic tone of voice as she began to worm her way out of her brothers arms before she quickly turned around and gave said grey furred and black ear tipped rabbit a big smile.
"Jerrys right Hopps. Being chief means I have a lot of work to do and things on my mind which outweigh yours and Wildes relationship." Bogo said whilst Ryan nodded his white furred head next to Bogo before he began to speak.
"And I'm normally too busy fixing cars and the sorts at my garage so you don't need to worry about me." Ryan said with a smile whilst Jerry smiled at said wolf and Bogo in appreciation.
"Anyway moving on from relationships and the sort shouldn't Ben and Nick be back by now?" Ryan said to which every mammal in the room nodded in response except for Judy who had a knowing expression on her grey furred face.
"I think those two might be a while outside." Judy said in a knowing tone of voice as she looked toward the cafes exit with a small smirk on her grey furred face.
"And whys that?" Bogo asked Judy in his usual gruff tone of voice as he folded his huge furred arms over his chest whilst looking toward said rabbit with his huge hazel eyes.
"Well to be honest Ben and Nick came here with me to discuss some of Bens past in private." Judy said as she continued to stare at the cafés exit before she sighed and turned her purple eyed gaze to face Bogo.
"And I think we should let them discus it in private." Judy said whilst every other mammal in the room nodded there heads in understanding and agreement.
"Well seeing Bogo was a surprise wasn't it? But at least you both sorted out your problem with each other." Nick questioned me in a joking tone of voice as I only nodded my auburn furred head in response as the two of us exited out of the café.
"Yeah I guess your right." I said as I leant against a tall metal lamp post which was situated just outside the café before looking up at the blue sky that blanketed the entirety of Zootopia.
"You know Nick. If it wasn't for you and Judy being there beside me I would have been long gone from the café." I said in a joking but serious tone of voice as I looked towards Nick who in turn looked at me with a raised eyebrow before speaking.
"And whys that?" Nick asked me with a knowing smirk beginning to worm its way onto his face whilst I on the other paw just let out a few well acted sniffles before I looked toward Nick with tears in my eyes.
"Because without you Nick...I wouldn't have been able to face that monster...Bogo would have eaten me alive." I said whilst Nick on the other paw just gave me a deadpan look which caused me to chuckle and lose my sad façade.
"But all joking aside Nick I really would have run off if you and Judy weren't there. Bogo really is and intimidating figure but I'm glad we worked things out." I said to which Nick nodded his auburn furred head in response before he began to speak.
"He becomes less intimidating the more he shouts at you." Nick said whilst I gave said fox a disappointing look before speaking in my best Bogo impression.
"Now, now officer Wilde. You know you shouldn't speak to your chief like that." I said which caused Nick to roll his grass green eyes and punch me lightly in the arm to which I recoiled slightly from the punch.
"You know I'm going to have to start recording all the times you and Judy punch me. Its police brutality you know." I said whilst Nick looked at me in fake shock as he placed his right black furred paw over his heart in mock pain whilst I just looked away from said fox.
"Why would you say something like that Ben...I...I would never lay a paw on you." Nick said in mock shock as he continued to look at me like I had just killed the cutest thing in the world right in front of him.
"Yeah. Well you and Judy can tell that to the Judge when It goes to court." I said whilst Nick let out a small laugh in response.
"Anyway moving on from all that I just wanted to let you know again that what Bogo offered you is up to you an you only." Nick said in a serious tone of voice as he looked directly at me with his grass green eyes.
"I know Nick but I couldn't be a cop...I mean how can a con artist become..." I quickly ceased speaking as I realised what I had just said in front of Nick whilst said fox looked at me like I had just punched him in the gut.
"Your joking right?" Nick asked me in shock and surprise as I only looked down at the concrete pavement in shame with my leaf green eyes whilst Nick on the other paw continued to stare at me in shock and bewilderment.
"Nick...listen...if I was joking don't you think I would have started laughing by now?" I questioned the auburn furred and grass green eyed fox that was Nick as I continued to stare at the concrete beneath my black furred hind paws.
"Come on Ben...that's enough joking around...your starting to convince me your not joking." Nick said with worry laced into his voice as I began to look up from the ground and towards Nick who looked at me in sadness and worry whilst I struggled to maintain eye contact with said fox due to my shame.
"I'm sorry Nick...but I'm a con artist...I have been for a few years...I'm...I'm so...sorry Nick..." I said as I watched Nick begin to shake his head in denial as he took a step back away from me whilst I continued to gaze at said fox in sadness and regret.
"Its my fault...its all my fault. I wasn't there for you..." Nick said in a broken tone of voice as he stopped shaking his head before whimpering in sadness whilst I on the other paw began to make my way over to the now distraught sounding fox before I placed a black furred paw on Nicks right shoulder before letting out a sigh.
"Listen Nick...its not your fault...there's nothing you could have done to change my mind." I said which only caused Nick to growl in anger before he swatted away my black furred paw before looking at me in anger with his grass green eyes whilst I on the other paw stepped back in shock away from the growling fox.
"Your wrong Ben. I could have changed your mind. I should have been there to guide you away from that sort of life...from the sort of life I went through as a con artist myself." Nick said as he continued to look at me in both anger and regret whilst I on the other paw couldn't help but look at Nick in shock at his confession of being a con artist before I quickly looked away from Nick as he continued to stare at me with his grass green eyes.
"That's right Ben. I was a con artist myself. And I regret a lot of what I did as a con artist. I shouldn't have fallen into our species stereotype." Nick said whilst I continued to look away from said auburn furred and grass green eyed fox in shame whilst Nick growled loudly before he stormed over to where I was standing as said fox just stared at me with his grass green eyes as he began to speak.
"Look at me Ben." Nick said in a commanding but caring tone of voice as I struggled to keep my shameful gaze away from Nicks piercing grass green eyed gaze.
"Listen Ben...I'm not mad at you...I'm mad at myself for not being there for you...and I want to help you become a better mammal...just like another mammal helped me to become better." Nick said in a sad but happy tone of voice as I began to slowly turn my head towards Nick until I was looking at said fox with my sad looking leaf green eyes.
"Thanks Nick...but like I said before It wasn't your fault..." I said in a regretful tone whilst Nick on the other paw let out a sigh before he looked at me with a sad but hopeful smile adjourning his face.
"Listen Ben...I have to share some of the blame. And maybe if I was there for you...then things would have been different for the both of us but that's not what's important now. What's important now is that now you can start again. Right here and right now. If you take Bogo's offer you can turn everything around like I did." Nick said in an enthusiastic tone whilst I looked away from Nick before speaking in a regretful tone of voice.
"Its not that simple Nick. I wish it was but it isn't...ow...what the hell...what was that?" I said as I felt a sharp pain in my neck which caused me to stumble slightly before said pain disappeared almost as soon as I felt it.
I quickly brought my right black furred paw up to my auburn furred neck before rubbing said neck over the spot where I felt the pain.
"Ben...are you OK?" Nick asked me in a fearful and worried tone of voice as I looked toward Nick before I brought my paw down from my neck to look at said paw which was covered in a purple like substance.
"Yeah...I'm fine...I think." I said as I felt a slight anger in the back of my mind as I looked at Nick which surprised me as said fox hadn't annoyed or angered me in anyway.
"What's that on your neck Ben?" Nick questioned me cautiously as I began to feel more angry by the second.
"Hey Nick are you and Ben OK out here? I'm surprised the pair of you haven't smelled the blueberry pie Ryan just ordered." I heard the familiar and happy sounding voice of Judy say as my leaf green eyes immediately focused on Judy as she came out of the café before heading toward Nick with a big smile present on her grey furred face.
"Don't worry about me and Ben carrots. Well be back inside in a few minutes right Ben?" Nick said in happy tone of voice as he looked at Judy but I only just managed to understand what Nick was saying as all I could focus on was the grey furred rabbit that was Judy with my leaf green eyes as I began to growl and gnash my teeth in hunger and anger which caused Nick and Judy to look at me in shock and fear as I fell down onto all fours.
And at that moment I could only see two things as my mind began to become more and more savage. A potential meal and a rival for said meal.
"N...Nick...(growl)...J...Judy...please...R...Run."