Author's Notes:
It's late today, so no real notes. I'll update this when I think of it! :3 I (don't) own Zootopia.
The fox and bunny made their way into the ZPD Precinct 1. He, as usual, was feeling a little run down, sometimes it took all he had and more to keep up with his partner. She was flipping through a report checking over some details that might help, he'd asked before but he had to ask again, "Are you sure you want to do this interview by yourself? No reason I can't sit in there with you."
It took her a moment for the words to reach her, she was off in her own little world. When they did she looked up from her dossier, "Hmm? Oh, no it's fine. We do have a history together, albeit an extremely brief history, but still, any advantage you can get right? Besides, we already have all the information we need, this is just a formality more than anything, make sure the case is air tight before it get handed off to the Attorney General's office. Besides, it'll give you a chance to meet your new hero."
He cocked an eyebrow slightly, "I said I was impressed, I never said hero."
Her expression was morose as she said overdramatically, "Oh, that my mates heart has been stolen so easily. He swore to till death do us part, but it seems he has eyes for another."
He looked up at his mate, trying to keep a straight face, but a smile creeped across his lips despite his best efforts. He adjusted his tie and said, "I find all that very unlikely. What mammal could possibly compare to you?"
She batted her eyelashes at him, "But how can I know for sure? It's been so long since you showed me how much you care…"
"Is this really the time and place for this conversation?" He glanced over and the pout she was giving him was too much even for him, "When we're done here we could go for a nice lunch? Would that placate you my sweet?"
Her smile was as blinding as ever, "It's a start."
Just then he spotted a pair of mammals coming into the lobby, right on time, "Alright, looks like they're here, you're up Snow."
She wasn't really listening, she was entirely focused on the two mammals who just came in. There was no mistaking what they were even more than who they were, they were mates. Somehow she'd never considered that, she had just been looking at this case too mater-of-factly. Combine that with the extreme lack of sleep from overwork it made it so easy for obvious details to slip by unnoticed. A lot of pieces fell into place at that one realization, a lesser mammal would beat herself up all day over this oversite, she'd settle for half a day. She handed her folder to the smaller mammal, "Change of plans you're going to handle the interview."
"What? I thought you were the one with the history? We agreed you'd be the better one to talk to him."
"Please, it was one coffee, and he already made me as a Fed. Besides, I want to talk to her."
He looked over at the pair, "Why the sudden interest?"
"Because, Ms. Judy Hopps is in love with a fox."
Jack Savage took a longer look at the two mammals making their way across the lobby, "Well, how do you like that? Alright, fine. Any tips for how to handle him?"
Skye Winters gave him a smile, "He'll try to annoy you, ignore it and he'll stop. If you take the bate he'll never let it go. Also for the love of Karma don't talk down to him, fastest way to get him to clam up. He's too cleaver for his own good so don't let him distract you."
As Nick and Judy came to a stop in front of the pair Nick was already making the introductions, "Officer Hopps, please meet Agent Winters and… sorry, Winters didn't mention she was bringing backup."
Skye finished the introductions, "This is my partner, Agent Savage."
Judy stuck out her paw, "Agent Winters, Savage, it's a please to meet you both."
Jack was the first to step forward, and offered his paw, "Officer Hopps, it's good to meet you. When the ZBI heard you were leaving the force we tried to recruit you ourselves. Your parents… were not exactly excited about that prospect."
Judy was floored at hearing that the Zoological Bureau of Investigations was trying to hire her, but was less surprised that her parents didn't mention it. She was not in a good way after she left Zootopia in disgrace. She took the paw and said, "Well, thank you! That's super flattering to hear, but for now at least, I'm happy here as a Police Officer."
Skye stepped up next, "Officer Hopps, it's a genuine pleasure. Nicky, it's good to see you again. You're looking well."
Nick looked a bit annoyed at the familiar tone, but simply replied, "Good to see you too Agent Winters. Now, shall we get this interview over? Honestly, I'm a little surprised it took this long."
Jack replied, "That was my fault. The whole Bureau was working around the clock to catch everyone involved with the Night Howler Incident, we missed the notice that you were awake. In our defense, no one was expecting you to be up and about so soon. The effects of the Night Howler serum on cellular growth is fascinating, the little I can fully comprehend. Now, if you'd care to follow me, as you requested we've set up an interview room here at the ZPD."
Nick nodded and said to Judy, "I'll talk to you later Carrots. I have to go deal with these two suits."
Skye interjected, "Actually, Officer Hopps, if you have a minute for a word while these two have their interview?"
Judy was a little surprised, "Sure, but I already told the ZBI everything I know during my first debrief. There's nothing new..."
Agent Winters gave her a side long look and said, "Never hurts to be too careful. Savage, could you please make sure that your notes are actually legible this time?"
Savage barely reacted, "Of course." and the fox and bunny pair made their way to one of the interview offices, Nick was looking a little annoyed at being interviewed separately. Though Skye didn't sound like she was going to be conducting an official review so he kept his muzzle shut. As Agent Savage held the door for Nick he said, "You know Mr. Wilde, our interview rooms are a little more comfortable at the ZBI, is there a particular reason you wanted to conduct this debriefing here?" As if to punctuate his point the steel chairs screeched as they both dragged them away from the lone table. They sat down, Savage wincing slightly more than Nick at the noise.
Nick paused for a long moment, trying to gauge this Agent Savage before answering, "Well, I happen to know the Chief here, and trust him… a little. Where as in the ZBI: I've only ever met Agent Winters before, and our relationship was never really built on trust was it?"
Savage simply flipped through his notebook without visually acknowledging anything that was being said until he found the page he was looking for, "I suppose it wasn't. Of course if you weren't a two-bit crook the extended surveillance wouldn't have been necessary." It was Nick's turn to remain stoic, he was familiar with interrogation tactics too. Upset your target and they tell you everything you've ever wanted to know in a rush to prove you wrong. It was betting to just remain silent, and after he didn't respond the bunny pulled out a small recorder, "Sorry, that comment was unneeded. Do you mind if I record this conversation?"
Nick felt like being difficult, but thought better of it. The faster this was done the faster he could get out of here, and he didn't want anything to reflect poorly on his mate, "I suppose not. It'll keep us from having to do this again in a month when you've forgotten my exact wording on an answer."
Savage pressed record on the device, "Just so. Now then, what can you tell me about the events that lead up to the Natural Museum?"
Nick proceeded to tell him every detail he could recall about the Missing Mammal case and Night Howler incident with Savage interjecting a question every now and then. Mostly when Nick would start to try and ramble on slightly unrelated topics in an attempt to frustrate the bunny. When they got to the train car Savage had a hundred and one questions, from the time of day, to any identifying marks the rams had. Sadly that was about the time that Nick's memory of events became fussy, "Take everything I have to say here with a grain of salt Savage. I couldn't tell you what's a real memory and what I've filled in from other mammals describing it."
"Don't worry about that. Just describe what you can, we'll piece together the whole picture. And it's Jack, or Agent Savage if you'd please."
Nick was well aware of the other tactic the bunny was using; familiarizing yourself with the interrogated, but he found himself actually liking the agent who sat across from him despite his best efforts, "Alright, Jack it is then. Jack, could I ask you a question?"
The bunny smiled, "I suppose it's only fair, go ahead."
"Was it cold in the van?" Jack only gave him a confused look so he elaborated, "I assume you were parked in a van nearby. You see I didn't recognize your scent at first, but now I do. You were Skye's handler while she was stationed at the Iceberg Lounge weren't you? She always smelled vaguely of some other mammal, as if she'd spent hours every day in close proximity with him."
Savage couldn't prevent a laugh from escaping, "Ha, with a memory like that I'm surprised you're as cautious with your recollection as you are. Yes, I was, and yes it was. No matter how many heaters we put in the thing it never truly got warm. If we were better funded we would have had been using scent blockers, but we didn't think it was strictly needed. Of course, she was a desk analyst, and I was a small time field operative, neither of us knew any better. Higher ups were trying to get some dirt on Mr. Big so they threw her into undercover work. An artic fox in a mob controlled club in Tundra Town seemed a perfect fit."
"That would explain why she was so wooden, the bears made her for a fed the second she was 'hired' as a waitress. It didn't take long for them to prove it too, they followed her back to her apartment and got her real name, didn't take much after that. They were planning on feeding her bad info if they could…" He left out the second part where they joked about feeding her to the fishes if they couldn't.
Jack set his pen down and gave Nick a look as if he was trying to figure him out. Eventually he asked, "Why did you tell her?"
"That we knew she was a fed? Because she was young and scared… it seemed like the right thing to do. I was young and scared once, even back then I wished I had someone there to point me to an exit."
"Even though it meant that we'd be pulling out an agent you knew and replacing them with someone you didn't?" Nick took a sip of his coffee, but didn't answer. "Well, then I guess I owe you an apology. There's noting two-bit about you is there Mr. Wilde?"
"Nick is fine."
"Well, after she was pulled from field duty she was going to be put back on a desk, but I managed to convince the brass to keep her active. She had the skills, they just needed time to develop. And now, she's the ranking partner if you can believe it."
Nick smiled and said, "Well she is the vixen in your partnership; you never stood a chance."
"No I did not." Just then Jack's phone vibrated and he asked, "Do you mind?"
Nick leaned back, "Feel free."
Jack took a minute and tapped on his screen a few times. He let out a single breath out his nose that Nick took as a laugh before he placed the phone back in his pocket, "Are you ready to get back to work Nick?"
"Sure, why not Jack."
As Judy and Skye watched the males walk away the artic vixen was the first to break the silence, "So, you were to one to finally land Moby Nick huh?"
Judy's eyebrows shot up at that particular phrasing, "I don't see how that's any of the ZIA's business."
Skye sat down on one of the chairs nearby, "Ah, sorry. I wasn't asking on behalf of the ZIA. I'm not sure if he told you, but Nick and I have met a few times before now."
"He did actually. He even mentioned you two went for coffee once." Judy smiled at the agent, "I know it didn't go quite how you wanted, but I still don't see how any of this matters… that was ages ago now. It's not like I'm jealous you tried to seduce him for info." Judy thought she'd feel more annoyed by the fox, but she was mostly just perplexed why Skye would even bring it up.
Skye's laughter was light and full of delight taking Judy by surprise. "Oh Karma, I was such a nervous wreck. Even if the Big Crew wasn't already aware of who I was I probably would have just told him to get it over with! Thankfully, he brought up the subject straight away saving us both a whole awkward evening. We ordered our coffees, sat down, and he simply said, 'Your with the ZBI.' It wasn't a question, he knew. I was stunned silent. He smiled, not pleasantly, placed down some bills for the coffee and left."
Judy and Skye shared a small giggle at the story. Judy could picture her fox now, trying to remain aloof while still taking the time to help out the mammal who should be his enemy. That little vulnerability did a lot to warm Judy up to the situation, "Well, I can't really say that my first meeting with Nick went much better, but yes, I did end up landing him as you put it."
Skye smiled, "Well, I'm glad he found someone after all this time." Judy didn't really know how to respond so she just nodded once and smiled. Skye continued, "Well, I'm glad he found someone after all this time. I haven't seen him smile like that before." Skye smiled, "Jack is obsessed with you by the way."
Judy jerked her head back at that statement, "What? He's a ZBI agent, I'm just a ZPD cop."
"A cop who cracked a case in 2 days with minimal help that the entire force couldn't even find the first clue in 2 weeks."
Judy tried to protest, "I had help..."
"More help than hinderance?" Again Judy remained silent. "Well when he found out you left the police he was ecstatic, he figured it was his shot to recruit you himself. He reached out to you several times, but your parents blocked him at every turn. He was making plans on visiting you in Bunnyburrow right about the time that you were blowing up a train in the abandoned station."
Judy eventually found her voice, "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out. Should I tell him that he's not my type?"
Skye was silent for a moment before she started to giggle. The little laughs started to build until her whole body shook and tears threated to spill from her eyes. Judy had no idea what was so funny. Eventually Skye managed to calm herself down and managed to speak, "Oh Karma. Oh, you don't have to worry about Jack. He was only ever interested in you as an asset for the ZBI. He may not be your type Judy, but he is mine."
Judy was stunned. If someone had asked her if there was another Bunny/Fox couple in Zootopia she'd have considered it before saying probably not. "He's your... type?"
"Yes, but he is also mine, as in my mate."
Judy was about to ask one of the million questions that popped into her mind, but she noticed Clawhauser waving at her before pointing to his wrist. "Oh cheese and crackers, I'm going to be late for role call! But I have so many questions!"
Skye's face had already returned to the serene look it had when they first met, "How about you and Nick join Jack and myself for dinner tonight? It would be nice to get to know another pred/prey couple."
Judy lit up at the thought, "That sounds amazing! Let me get your number and we'll set it up." They exchanged their business cards and Judy set off for the Bull Pen as fast as she could. Skye sat back and smiled, she could see why Jack was so impressed with her. She pulled out her phone and texted her mate: 'I've invited Judy and Nick for dinner tonight, I hope you're being pleasant to him!'
'I am!'
'Jack…'
'Okay, I'll admit I was a bit of an ass earlier, but I've warmed up to him. It's going rather well in fact. Should I tell Nick the good news?'
'No, we'll let Officer Hopps do that.'
'Roger that.'
Jack picked up the recorder and turned it off, "Well I can't thank you enough Nick. While nothing here is a real surprise it's all useful."
Nick stood up and stretched, "Out of curiosity, you mentioned the Bureau working around the clock to catch the mammals behind the Night Howlers, how many have you rounded up."
Jack paused and answered, "Officially? Everyone involved."
"Unofficially?"
"Unofficially we've caught several mammals who were involved. As far as we can tell it's everyone who were planning and executing the conspiracy. I'm not sure if it's everyone or not, but we've crippled any long term plans even if it wasn't everyone. I would have liked to interrogate Bellwether, but after seeing the tapes of the museum I'm glad the bitch is dead. There was something in her eyes, she wasn't all there. Besides, her plans were bad for my mate… I would have been tempted to put a bullet in her myself." Jack took a moment to unclench the fist he hadn't even realized he'd made and took a deep breath to still the trembling in his body, "Sorry, that was unprofessional of me."
Nick wasn't happy to be reminded of his actions while under the effects of the Night Howlers, be he sounded calm when he said "Don't be, it's good to see there's an actual mammal behind that suit."
They stepped out of the interrogation room and Jack said, "Hell, not only is there a real mammal, I even have a few hobbies."
Nick glanced over but couldn't read a thing from the bunny's face, he had no idea if Jack was kidding or not. When they got back to the lobby Judy was already long gone, but Skye was still there, sitting with a tablet in her paws reading quietly. Jack walked up to her and said, "Agent Winters, you'll be happy to know that not only are my notes fully legible, but I recorded the interview as well."
Skye continued to read her screen for a minute before she turned off the screen and set it aside, "Thank you Agent Savage. I appreciate all of your hard work. Nicky…"
Nick cut her off, "It's Nick, Agent Winters, no one's called me Nicky in a long time."
The smile that played across her lips wasn't fully friendly, "Sorry Nick, I couldn't resist a little light teasing. I hope it wasn't too much."
Nick sighed and replied, "No, it's fine. It's not like it never happened. Well, with all this taken care of, I look forward to never crossing your paths again. You Feds make my fur stand up on end…"
Jack smirked at him, "Well Mr. Wilde, I'm afraid that you'll probably be seeing more of us. The ZBI and ZPD work together more often than you might think. And with the start to her career that Officer Hopps has had she's destined to be assigned the top cases soon enough. But that's trouble for another day I suppose, for now I shall simply say, be seeing you."
Skye hopped of the chair and said, "See you later Nick. We'll have to catch up sometime."
Nick shot them a look of confusion and simply made his way towards the front door. He waved once without looking back as he stepped outside into the sunlight. He pulled out his phone and checked the time, it was already after 10. The fox glanced around and noticed the groups of mammals coming and going decided to hold off on the phone call he needed to make.
He closed his car door and started the engine. As he pulled out of the parking spot he dialed up his closest friend. Before long a gruff voice answered, "What do you need now Wilde?"
"Hey Fin, don't need anything in particular, but did you want to get breakfast? I'm guessing you haven't eaten yet right?"
"…Fine. Let's get a bite. I'll meet you there in a half hour."
"Looking forward to… and he hung up." Nick knew where Fin was talking about, the two of them often ate at Tom's Place when they were hustling together. He wasn't too far away, but he made his way over right away. He decided that it was time to clear the air with Fin. He really hadn't had the time after the incident with Raymond. When he parked his car and made his way into the diner he still had about 15 minutes before he expected his dinning partner to arrive.
After a minute his server a young tiger walked up, "Hello, just you today?"
Nick smiled, "Actually, someone will be joining me in a few minutes. While I wait, could I get a slice of blueberry pie and a cup of coffee?"
The tiger jotted the small order on her pad, "Sure thing. I'll be right back." It didn't take her long to get the requested items and Nick passed the time pleasantly. Once upon a time he would have used the passing minutes to plan out exactly what he was going to say to Fin, but he was afraid that was what made him a bad friend. Fin was his closest companion for a long time but he'd only ever really treated him as an asset. So he decided that when Fin got there, he would simply tell him the truth.
It didn't take too long for Fin to arrive. They didn't really talk before they placed their orders, but once the tiger left Nick broke the silence, "Fin, thanks for coming man. I figured we should talk." Fin didn't respond other than a grunt so he continued, "As you know I'm shipping off to the academy in just a few weeks. I didn't want to leave with all this… animosity between us. I should have told you that's what was happening, I just didn't know how."
Fin took a sip of his coffee and replied, "Listen Red, I always knew something like this was gonna happen. I figured it was gonna be working as a consultant for a law firm, but honestly, this doesn't really surprise me."
"Then why…"
"Was I so pissed? Cause I'm not gonna make as much money with you going legit! And… and I'm gonna miss you fox. We was a good team you and I, sad to see the end of an era."
Nick was a little taken aback at the sentiment, "I uh… wow Fin. I don't know what to say…. But I want you to know, just because we can't work together doesn't mean we can't spend time together. You're the best friend I've had in a long time… ever if I'm honest." They were silent for a long moment, neither one truly knowing what to say. Nick eventually broke the tension, "Fin, I've got some news…"
Fin took another sip of his coffee, "Oh? What are you going into the petty crimes division when you get out of the academy? Be an even bigger pain in my ass when they get you in uniform?"
"Thankfully not, no. Judy and I are engaged."
Fin nearly choked on his coffee to keep himself from spitting it across the table. When he was finally able to get a breath he gasped, "What?! Come on, you're pullin' my tail here right? I know you two were… together, but ain't this a little fast?"
Nick shrugged, "Maybe, but life is short my friend, and I don't want to spend another day without her, and she feels the same. She was actually the one to suggest it in the first place."
Fin raised his mug, "Well congrats I guess. You're both nuts, but she makes you happy."
Nick clinked his own mug against his eating companion's, "Thanks Fin. We don't have a date set, but when we do, I'll need a best man… I want it to be you."
The smaller fox was stunned for a moment, "Uh… yeah Nick, I'd be happy… no, I'd be honored to be your best man. You still have my tux I'm guessing?"
"Should still be on the rack. I'll take it to the dry cleaners before the big day. When we settle on a date we'll let you know."
The tiger made her way back with their food and Fin said, "Should be an interesting time I suppose. A fox and a bunny as mates… it's like a bad joke."
Nick took a bite, "You ready for the punchline? We're only one of two pairs that I know of…" Fin's jaw hit the floor at that detail.
