Chapter 2 of Crossroads is here. In this segment of the story, we see a little more background history to both Allison and her lustful desires for Nick, and exactly why he is a 'hybrid'. Oh, and some mild banter.
Enjoy!
When Nick Wilde appeared on her doorstep after fourteen years, Allison thought she was dreaming. Surely it couldn't be her dear Nicky knocking on her door, standing on her porch, and begging for her forgiveness after estranging her for twenty years. But it was not a dream, and it was most certainly her Nicholas Piberius Wilde. Thirty-two years old and a blabbering mess with tears pouring down his face as he clutched at her tank top and repeated "I'm sorry" over again.
It was a teary reunion for them both, but it was worth the waterworks that followed suit.
Seven months have passed since she and Nick reunited, and five since her little boy - now all grown up - became the first fox cop in Zootopia and ZPD history. From failed Junior Ranger Scout to a respected member and protector of society, Allison was proud of her darling little boy. She was so proud of him and how he flipped his worldview on its head, especially after what occurred on that fateful night.
However, something happened, and now Allison is disappointed, angry even, with herself. How it came to be, you ask? Well...
It all started a few days after Nick's graduation from the Zootopia Police Academy when he came home from an uneventful fourth day on the job. Nick hit the showers at Allison's behest, complaining that he reeked of sweat and heavy musk. He disregarded said complaints but still did as she told him out of his love and respect for Allison and his fear of her explosive anger if he disobeyed her. When the tod reemerged from the bathroom, steam pouring out and rising off his body, Allison drank in his appearance like an oasis in a dry, desolate desert.
The training before and during Nick's academy days paid off, even if a fox's body wasn't mainly built to gain muscle.'But neither is it supposed to have two watermelons hanging from the chest area,' Allison remarked to herself one day. Hints of a six-pack peeked through the cream-white fur of Nick's chest and belly, making his body appear odd and out of place with the gained musculature. His arms had developed somewhat, as did his legs but nowhere near the extent Nick's torso had. Got to keep the original fox form somehow, right?
As Allison continued to ogle her son's half-naked form, she noticed something sizable pressing against the loose towel wrapped around his waist. When she finally realized what it was, everything from her shaky past was rooted up and shoved in her face for the poor vixen to relive again.
She was a high school mother, making the wrong choice and hooking up with a wolf at age 15. After an intense night of passionate lovemaking and rough, primal sex, the male that would be Nick's father left Allison in her bedroom, filled to the brim and more than satisfied. It wouldn't be until after she tested positive and began showing signs would Allison realize her major mistake. As her belly grew, she tried to contact the wolf that knocked her up, but to no avail.
He ghosted her, wanting nothing to do with 'a slutty vixen and her bastard child.' It destroyed Allison and her mental state, and she was ready to end it all then and there. But with her family's support, Allison got back on her feet and pushed forward with her education despite her changing body.
When Nick was born, Allison couldn't help but break down into tears at how beautiful he looked. Sure he was a little larger than average for a fox kit - due to his hybrid status - but Nick would forever be Allison's pride and joy.
And that statement held true today, but with some significant differences. One was Allison's current feelings for Nick, her flesh and blood.
It was a silly, stupid reason for Allison to be attracted to Nick, but she couldn't help it. She, indeed, was a slut, and the vixen was ashamed of herself for stooping low to that level of character degeneracy. It wasn't her to be that enamored with a male because of the massive package between his legs. At least, that's what Allison wanted to believe. But that one-night stand, and the male currently living in her apartment, were beginning to prove her wrong.
Allison wanted nothing more than to let go of the past and live with Nick in peace without complications. But the sight of the apparent bulge in Nick's pants, courtesy of his birth father, was making it difficult for her to shrug off her desires.
It had been five months since her forbidden feelings and desires reared their ugly heads, and she was having trouble keeping them at bay for Nick's sake. If he were to find out, that would spell the end of their connection to each other, and he would leave her - for good.
Allison sighed and rubbed her temples fervently. 'What am I going to do about this?' her mind wondered tiredly. 'Nothing for the time being. However, he needs to know sooner or later. Otherwise, things are going to get messy quick. Then the smooth voice of her son, a sound Allison had grown to love and, er, do stuff with it playing in her mind, broke her train of thought.
"What's up, mom? Got a headache?"
Allison looked up at the tod sitting across from her, plates of food separating the two of them. Nick wore a slightly worried expression, but it was made silly by his bulging cheeks, indicating he had stuffed food into his mouth before speaking. Allison faked a smile and placed her paws on the table. "Yes, but it's gone now. Somehow, seeing you makes it go away faster."
Nick swallowed his mouthful and rolled his eyes but gave Allison a genuine smile and winked at her. "I didn't think my good looks would be medicinal, but good to know. I'll keep that in mind next time you're ailing."
Allison snorted, her fake smile widening to mirror her son's genuine, and shook her head at his antics. "You're so full of it, Nicky."
"Full of what? You're outstanding and delicious cooking?" He stabbed a piece of cooked turkey meatball and stuffed it into his gaping maw, chewing noisily. "Heck yeah, I am."
Allison frowned at Nick and his lack of manners but let it slide for the time being. "Not what I meant, but close enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Allison shook her head, Nick's blatant obliviousness irking and enticing her simultaneously. "Nevermind, Nicholas. It's nothing. But could you at least show some manners at the dinner table? You are living in my home, after all."
Nick nodded, immediately changing his behavior at her request. "Sorry. Got carried away. You know I love messing with you, right?"
Allison flashed him a small smile. "Is my son my greatest pride and joy, whom I love very much? Yes, yes, he is."
Nick clicked his tongue and feigned a bashful look. "Aw, you're too much, mom." He dropped his act and smiled kindly at Allison. "In all seriousness, however, thanks. I mean it."
Allison hummed, returning his smile. "No thanks is necessary, Nicholas. I'm just doing what any good mother would do: pampering her son and occasionally praising him and his accomplishments."
"Mom," he said, barely holding back a laugh. "Please, be serious."
"I am," Allison insisted. "Why would you think I wasn't?"
Nick shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it's because you sometimes go out of your way to embarrass me in public, and in front of my friends at work?"
Allison tittered, putting a paw to her mouth. "Oh, Nicky. I'm just sharing some of my favorite baby stories about you. They seem to enjoy it."
Nick sighed and shook his head, his smile not wavering. "Whatever you say, mom. Hey, you almost done? I'm about to take these dirty dishes out and wash them."
"You don't have to do that, Nicholas," Allison protested lightly, attempting to rise to her feet. But Nick beat her to the punch and scooped up (relatively) both empty plates from the table.
"Yes, I do. It's the least I can do to make myself useful in your home, mom. Besides, a little extra work never hurt anyone, right?"
Allison raised an eyebrow and put her paws on her wide, shapely hips, prompting Nick to rephrase his words. "I mean, what's the worst that can happen?" The vixen smiled and nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"Better. And once you're done, come to bed. I have a new book for us to read."
"Really?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow, intrigued by this piece of information. "What is it this time?"
Allison put a finger to her lips and winked at him. "It's a surprise. But I'm sure you'll like it."
Nick shrugged before walking off into the kitchen. "Alright, if you say so," he said over his shoulder. "But if it's anything like that one series with the super edgy vampires or whatever, then no more 'bedtime stories.'"
Allison shot him an accusatory glare. "I thought you enjoyed When Dusk Falls, Nicholas? Now you're telling me that you hate it? I'm honestly hurt by your words, Nicky."
"You'll get over it, mom," was his simple reply. "I love you!" he quickly added.
Allison sighed and shook her head as she walked into their shared bedroom and prepared for their nightly reading session. That boy really is something else. What would I do without him?
Nick hummed an upbeat tune as he scrubbed the dirty plates until they were 'squeaky clean.' He wouldn't allow the dishes to be anything less out of his love and respect for Allison. Despite having moved on from their teary reunion, and Allison constantly reassuring him that he was forgiven, Nick always felt he was in debt to her. After all, he had left her out of his selfishness and hurt the one person who believed in him. The guilt still weighed heavily on him, regardless of what Allison kept telling him.
The tune playing in his head had long gone as Nick became lost in thought. He turned off the sink, placed the last plate into the dishwasher, and closed the door. It was still mostly empty, so there was no point in starting it and wasting water.
With a sigh, Nick walked out of the kitchen and into the bedroom, turning off all the lights behind him as he did before closing the door and securing the privacy of his and Allison's sleeping quarters.
The matronly vixen sat upright on the queen-sized bed, her back against the headboard, small, wiry glasses on her muzzle, and a rather sizable hardcover book resting on her lap. Allison looked up upon hearing the door shut and smiled when she saw the male of the hour enter the room. "And here I thought you would never show up, Nicky," she teased. "I was reading ahead, and already there's some spicy action going on."
Nick made a face and shook his head in disbelief. "What is up with you and your taste in literature, mom? Literally everything you have for 'reading material,'" he emphasized with air quotes. "Has some form of smut or sexual content smeared on the pages."
Allison scoffed, donning a mock look of hurt. "You wound me, Nicholas. These were timeless classics from when I was growing up. And don't even bother trying to pull that on me, young man. You so-called "Gen-Z" kids have poor tastes in books these days, with scenes that would even put the most smut-filled piece to shame." Nick grumbled as he pulled his shirt over his head and discarded it into the clothes hamper. His pants followed suit, leaving the athletic tod in only his boxers. He then shuffled over to the bed and climbed under the covers, shifting around until he was close and comfortable with Allison. "Besides," she continued once Nick was settled next to her. "I wasn't implying that there was sex in this book. I only meant that I'm a chapter in, and there have been some pretty graphic scenes."
"Well, what kind of book is it?" Nick asked tiredly, tilting his head up toward the ceiling.
Allison didn't take his disinterest too kindly and smacked his arm with a huff. "Maybe if you would pay attention, you'd know."
Nick looked down and to the right, glaring at his mother. "Hey, I just got here. I can't help it if you're so impatient."
Allison shushed him with a paw to his lips, her dark blue eyes fixated on Nick's emerald green. "Well, how about you close that pretty mouth of yours and listen to my voice." She smirked and changed her tone to one of mystery. "As I take you along on a journey of adventure, horror, and, ultimately, romance."
Nick rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile at Allison's overly-dramatic theatrics. "Alright, mom. You got me. Read away, oh great Storyteller."
Allison giggled and turned the pages back to chapter one. "Long ago, in the faraway land of Uryl, there were many tribes that roamed the continent of Seglas. Some lived in peace, and others warred with one another. One day, a dark evil fell upon Uryl and threatened its destruction. This forced the tribes to put aside their differences and join forces to defeat..."
Nick followed along with Allison's words, allowing them to paint a vivid picture of a fantasy world in his mind. After a page or two in, Nick's eyelids started to droop, and the exhaustion from a stressful day of work washed over him suddenly. He shook his head to stave off the drowsiness plaguing him, but to no avail. Allowing it to take over, Nick leaned his head against Allison's as he slowly drifted off to sleep, a smile plastered on his muzzle and a lingering thought in his mind:
I love you, mom.
Allison, who was still reading, smiled as she felt Nick's weight on her.
I love you too, Nicholas.