Here is the 27th installment. Hope you enjoy.
Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to ( Direct: dcballard because the forwarding is misbehaving.)
If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt)
A fresh Log Entry went up when Chapter 26 did. ( scribblings ) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."
6k+ on AO3 and 9200+ on FF, with 116 reviews! Wow. I'm feeling the love. I really am glad everyone enjoys this story so much.
I do not own and claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.
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Girls night, the conclusion. (You've been speculating, well, here's the answer... or not)
Maria frowned as Judy headed for the door. "What did Nick do now?" Pausing, Maria turned to watch Judy as something dawned on her. "Wait! I didn't hear you get a call. JUDY! He's a hundred plus floors below us, it can't be that strong! There has never been a report of it being as strong as yours to begin with, and now you're reaching that far!"
Judy turned. "I don't know what you are talking about. Now, are you going to do as I ask?"
Maria shook her head. "Fine." Turning to Bonnie. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting a hotel in town, I'll bet it is some hole in the wall." Shaking her head. "Never mind, I'll have you moved to the Rattison across the street within the hour. I got this Judy. You need to test it!"
"Don't start Maria!"
Bonnie frowned as she looked between Judy and Maria. "Hold on just one second."
"Don't fight it mom."
"That's not what I'm..."
Judy ignored her mothers protest. "As for Nick, he hasn't done anything, or rather not yet. One of his contacts has found someone we have been searching for, for months. I'm meeting him downstairs."
Jess huffed. "Jill, you keep an eye on mom and make sure things get situated in the new hotel. Judy, I'm going with you."
Lizz nodded. "As am I."
Judy smiled. "Thanks guys, you really don't need to."
Lizz picked up her purse and began to follow Judy. "I didn't think I was asking."
Jess nodded as she walked past Judy towards the door. "Exactly."
Judy turned to Skye. "Fine. Skye. If it was something due to a mission, you know you shouldn't hold that against him, so try and let it go. You know you love him. Your jobs make it hard, but you know Jack is worth it. Don't let him slip away from you."
Skye sighed and nodded. "I know Judy. It is just hard. Now go."
Maria looked at Skye, Elli and Joan, still sitting on the couch. "Stay as long as you want. I'll be back in a few hours."
Elli and Joan nod towards each other, Elli picking up her own purse. "Nope. Not letting my new sister get into something without backup. Mom will skin me if something happens to you and those cubs."
Joan nodded. "Exactly. Elli, I'm going to go with Maria, make sure everything gets taken care of for Judy's family and then I'll text you."
At that point they were at the door, Maria turning back to Skye. "Skye?"
Skye waved them off. "I need to think."
Maria nodded, looking down to Bonnie who looked slightly flustered by the shift of things. "Okay. You know where the spare room is, but Judy's right."
Skye waved them off with a paw and continued to stare out the windows at the city. With that, the group emptied out of Maria's apartment and headed to the elevator, collecting the two wolves, Herald and Milo, along the way.
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Poker Night Mike, Ed, Nick, Bill, Jarvis, Eric, Jeff, Alex, Jack, Kevin, and Stu
Nick, with Alex, Mike, and Ed, walked into Eric and Jeff's apartment with a grin on his face. Nick sniffed the air, his grin growing. "Oh damn. What a day." Raising his voice. "Eric, Jeff. Where you be?"
Eric's voice coming from another room. "Kitchen."
Following the voice, Nick stepped into the kitchen and signed, seeing Jeff and Eric in mid kiss. "Really, guys?" Chuckling. "I guess it's no worse than Carrots and me. So where is everyone?"
"Still on the way."
Jack walked in from the living room, a glass of scotch in paw. "Hey. Don't I count?"
Jeff looked down at the jack rabbit. "Jack. You count, but you have to announce yourself before you do. Pulling the whole secret agent appearing out of the woodwork is unfair."
"Fine. I'm here. I count now?"
Nick chuckled. "Knew I smelled angst and whiskey. Clearly he and Skye are having a spat again. He's only this moody when she's upset with him for something. What did you do?"
Jack looked up at Nick. "I wish I knew, Nick."
The elevator dinged and Jarvis walked in. "YO! I am arrived!"
Nick shook his head. "Jarvis. You live in the same building. I mean, Maria basically owns the building."
Entering the kitchen, a smile still on his face, Jarvis chuckled. "Oh, come on Nick. I gotta have some fun. Hi Jack."
"Jarvis."
Jarvis flinched. "He and Skye fighting again?"
Nick shrugged. "That's the initial assumption. He's already drinking, so we will find out soon enough. Guys, I'd like to introduce you to Alex. He's Judy's sisters mate, so my brother-in-law, after a fashion. They're the ones I mentioned last time that will be moving in with us for a time to help with the kits. This is Stu Hopps, Judy's dad, her other siblings opted out of the evening. He's along for the ride to try and get to know me and the people Judy and I associate with. The new wolf is Mike, Ed's brother, but all of you know that as we discussed the intervention last time. Mike, the surly rabbit is Jack, his mate is a rather stunning arctic vixen. She's got a rare recessive trait that means she is never anything but a perfect, pristine, white, no matter the season."
Alex smiled. "Cool. I've heard of that."
Jack nodded. "She is beautiful. She is everything. Nick... Why won't she let me in?"
Mike frowned. "Hold on. You discussed the intervention, with Eric and Jeff, and my brother?"
"Well, Eric and Jeff, and maybe a few others. Ed wasn't able to make it last time."
Mike groaned. "That figures."
"Hey, I didn't use any names, though Eric guessed. Just that I discovered a friend that was hiding a relationship and we discussed some options on how to help you guys." Mike just shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Nick shook his head and turned back to Jack. "Jack. You and Skye both have some damage when it comes to relationships, and your jobs really do not help with that. If you want my opinion, again... You two need to stop being so afraid of losing the other, and grab every ounce of happiness you can. It will not always be easy, especially when you are working, but it will be worth it and you will have each other to come home to. It'll make you fight harder to get back to each other too. That, or quit the field work. You know the local branch would kill to have you two join them as investigators and trainers."
"I guess. The hard part is convincing her. I get what you are saying. I believe you, because I have seen you and Judy. I'm just as terrified that they'll split us up, then who is going to watch her back?"
"Been there my friend. Been there. You have to decide what is more important to you. For me, Judy is more important. If they had broken us up, well, I'd have worried endlessly, but I trust her and her skills. I knew that the gods themselves couldn't keep her from me, nor I from her. As long as we keep it professional on the clock, we don't get split up. The rules for you are basically the same, despite what you two keep claiming, and being an actual couple would make some things easier, but others far harder. It might restrict what missions you can take. Or, again... Take the positions with the Zootopia local branch office. You have the seniority that you could run the investigations division and she could take over the Intel section."
Jack nodded and downed the glass. "You're right, and I'm not even going to bother asking how you know that those positions are about to open up, or that I've even considered that. You are right though. She is doing the distant, not talking to me thing again." Giving a long sigh and another sip of his drink. "So..." Looking up at the assembled. "What's on the agenda?"
Eric shrugged with a grin. The Nick and Jack show was the same as ever. "Pizza has been ordered. So, a few hands of poker, some pool. I'm thinking Die Hard series in the background. We can harass Jack about still not getting Skye to give him the time of day."
Jack growled. "Hey! We're intimate, its' just..."
Nick put an arm around Jack. "It's just that you want more than she is willing or able to give right now, and she's probably upset too. I'm betting that at least you are fresh off an assignment that forced you to get closer to someone other than her. Closer than a mate should be required to allow?" Jack nodded sadly, and Nick nodded. "Don't need to tell us more, we get that part, Jack. We all know how much you love her, and I expect she knows just how much you love her. You just have to give her time to come around. I can say with confidence that she loves you too, but is just going to need time. You know her history, we don't."
Jack nodded and shrugged away from Nick with a frown. "Alright. I get it. I get it. It wasn't even that close, but the crazy biatch marked me. It was a damn pleasure to hand her over and scrub her mark of where she could watch."
"Then you need to tell her that, Jack."
"It is a matter of getting her to listen. Now... No more beat up on the rabbit, okay? Let's play poker, but no one let Nick shuffle."
Nick laughed. "So long as you don't get to either. You're just as dangerous around a deck of cards as I am."
Bill entered the kitchen. 'What's this about being dangerous around cards?"
Ed laughed. "Bill, the only danger around cards with you is how quickly the rest of us will clean you out. It's a good thing you are rich."
Nick laughed in response. "The same goes with you, Ed. You're an accountant, but you can't count cards? What's up with that?"
Ed glared at Nick. "I'm an investigative accountant. good with numbers, not gambling. I track down people who are embezzling money, not get thrown out of casinos."
Mike chuckled and clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Oh, don't need to tell me that, Ed."
Ed switched his glare to Mike. "Oh don't you start. Or should we discuss the last several years of you and Lizz hiding. Even going to family dinner while being mates, but too scared to admit it."
Mike's ears folded. "After what happened to you and Elli. I... I couldn't put Lizz through that."
Ed's glare softened. "I get it Mike. But you should have talked to me. I could have helped you. Elli could have helped Lizz."
Mike nodded and looked down. "I know that now. The fear kept us from see what was right in front of us, of me. How many times mom had us over for dinner, insisting that I bring Lizz with me. The recognition and acceptance was there, and I see it now. It was so different when we started out."
Eric smiled and put a paw on Mike's shoulder. "That's in the past now though. You're free from all that, I hope. You have friends, both of you, and you don't have to fear anymore."
Mike nodded. "It is just going to take some adjustment. I mean... This only happened a week ago, and it has been a very crazy week."
Eric nodded and hugged Jeff to him. "We get it. We all do. And we are here for you."
Mike smiled. "Thanks guys. Now. Poker? Are we gambling actual money, or?"
Jeff passed around a bowl with money already in it. "Eric and I have put our share in. Add what you can spare to lose. Once we call it a night, we split the pot based on how many chips you have as a percentage of the pot."
Nick pulled out his wallet. "Stu, Alex. I've got you covered, though Alex, next time you'll need to cover your own share. We go with a minimum of fifty, just to make it fair, and a max of five hundred, so Jarvis and Bill don't overwhelm the pot." Ed, Bill, and Jarvis placing money in the bowl as well.
Smiling, Mike pulled out his own wallet. "That seems reasonable. I'm sure you could do the same, Nick. I take it you split the chips evenly to start." Getting a nod from Jeff. "Cool. That's pretty fair."
Stu looked around at the smiling faces, most of them predators, showing teeth as the laughed and smiled openly. Yet, for reason's he couldn't fathom, he didn't feel scared or intimidated. He wasn't seeing predators ready to eat him at a moments notice. He was seeing a group of friends, like his pals in Bunnyborrow. "Thank you Nick. This is quite a group you have here. If it weren't for me, Jack, and Alex, you'd be the smallest here."
Nick grinned at Stu. "Not to worry Stu. That's the norm. Unless Fin joins us, which is rare. Sadly, he texted me just as we were getting in the elevator. He and Erin weren't able to get free after all. Therus is literally packed, and has a waiting list."
Eric laughed. "Too bad. Fin might be the smallest, but I assure you, that fox could kick all of our asses in a moment, accept maybe secret agent bunny here." Giving Jack a shove and getting a glare back.
"Eric..."
"Oh, come on Jack. I know only a fraction of how good Nick is in a fight. You're mister secret agent rabbit, so I'm not sure who would come out on top."
Jack glanced over at Nick. "What are we at?"
"Tied currently. Seven and Seven."
Jeff blinked and choked on his drink. "Hang on. You two have fought?"
Jack nodded. "Yes, sparred. We improve each other."
Mike shook his head. "Oh gods. And you and Judy are going to be teaching me?"
Jack laughed. "Oh, you're screwed then. Judy and Skye spar as well, but that rabbit has Skye ten to three. It drives Skye crazy."
Nick chuckled. "It's her own fault. Never underestimate a bunny, especially not that bunny."
Mike laughed. "Ain't that the truth. I remember the first time Judy got in trouble and the punishment was sparring time. Bogo really regretted that. It was supposed to be about making a point because you are both so much smaller. Getting Grizzoli and Henderson to go after you in the ring. It was supposed to teach you a lesson. Everyone was so confused when she gave a hearty belly laugh to that as her punishment. Then you were taking bets outside the ring and just set him off further. You ended up in the ring, and Judy was taking the bets. I'm shocked he didn't explode that day."
"Got a weeks paid time off just to keep us out of his hair. That week actually helped our budding relationship immeasurably. We got a chance to wake up, and just talk, we talked fox vs bunny culture a lot, holidays, relationship expectations. If anything, I'd say that week was instrumental in us getting to where we are today. It was the first time we were ever intimate."
"That was so unfair." Mike complained. "A week off just because what was supposed to be a punishment and to make a point backfired on him spectacularly."
Stu shook his head with a frown. "Nick, I really do not need to hear that as her father. I do want to know, if you know where Judy learned to fight like that?"
Nick shrugged. "She had all of the Jack Savages tapes, for all mammal sizes, and then expanded upon what she learned from them." Pointing to Jack. "He made them as part of a some weird ZBI operation, and they have proven to be quite the income flow for the ZBI and Jack since. Then Maria got her hooves on Judy and took her to the next level."
Jack smiled. "Hey, we were going after some real shady characters. Designer performance drugs that were not traceable in drug testing of athletes. It was killing mammals as they tried to find an edge over the competition. The only way we figured to get an in was to create the persona of a mammal who would be ripe for looking for an edge. And so, the Jack Savage self defense series was born."
"Okay. Then where did you learn, Nick?"
Nick sighed. "Stu, you know full well that I was not always a mammal on the right side of the law. Sure, I spend most of my time in the gray area, but there were a few years where I was very much on the wrong side. No killing or anything, but I got training in order to protect myself and the things I was assigned to transport. Then there was my stint as a vigilante, but that didn't last. I got into it later than Judy did." Nick chuckled at the shocked look on Stu's face. "Yes, I know and she knows about me. We don't' have secrets.
Jack laughed. "Nick. You and that rabbit of yours are trained assassins, no less skilled than myself and Skye, or Maria for that matter."
Stu's ears came up as he glared at Jack. "My daughter is not an assassin!"
Nick put a paw on Stu's shoulder. "Stu. Being trained doesn't mean actually following through. Jack. Well, he's done such things, haven't you double oh bunny."
Jack growled at Nick. "You know we don't use that stupid numbering system."
"I know Jack, but it is still fun harassing you about it."
Stu balling his fists. "Nick! Are you telling me that Judy has been trained to be a killer?"
"Stu, that's something we should talk about another time. Is she trained? Highly trained to the point that there isn't an officer on the force, except me, and even I'm three and seven with her. Yes, yes she is. Not even Grizzoli, who is former SpecOps, can get over on her. Is she a killer. Absolutely not. The skill levels that she has, has however saved both our tails on numerous occasions."
"Okay. But he said..."
"Stu, don't you worry about what cranky Jack said." Nick gave Jack a glare over Stu's head. "Lets get a few hands in. Eric. Jeff. Where's the chips, dips, and beer? This is not your first rodeo."
Eric laughed. "Already set up in the game room." Motioning for everyone to follow him. "Come on mammals. Let's get started. Only way we can clean out Bill is if we get started."
"Hey! I've been practicing."
Jeff laughed. "Sure you have, Bill. Online poker doesn't count."
Stu followed Nick and the others. "So, Nick. Who exactly are these mammals?"
Grinning as they walked. "Shoot, sorry about that. Lets see." Pointing. "Well, Bill is actually William Ekarts. One of the richest mammals in Zootopia. His wife is Carry, a Lynx. Alex you know. Jack is with Skye, the arctic vixen we mentioned. Well, them being together is complicated. As far as the rest of us are concerned, they're already married. They will try and point out that it was just for a mission. I will point out that I, as registered officiant, performed said ceremony and registered it with the city, under seal due to their jobs, and neither has tried to get it annulled, file an uncontested divorce, or taken other action."
"Complicated... so I gathered. But you are also saying that their marriage is in fact official, it's just them recognizing it themselves."
"Basically. It's a bit messier than that, but we promised not to beat him up about it too much in a go, so we'll leave it at that." Nick raised his voice to be heard by more than Stu. "Eric and Jeff are an item, but not yet married, and I still don't know why one of them hasn't grown the stones to ask the other." Nick was rewarded with a glare from both of them as they took their seats around the table. "Eric is a ZPD officer in Precinct one with Judy, Mike, and I; and Jeff works in the forensics department. Eric and Bill are actually brothers, by adoption. Mike is also a ZPD officer and mated to his partner, Lizz, a white tigress. You saw her briefly when we separated from the girls in the elevator. Jarvis is married to a gazelle. Well, more to the point, the Gazelle, as in the singer, actress, and Judy's former college roommate. I'm told you know her."
Stu whistled quietly. "Wow. That's quite the group. What about Ed?"
"Ed is just your run of the mill wolf, really. He's an accountant and Mike's brother. He's married to a water deer named Elli. Thing about Mike and Ed is, they're both son's of the Wolford pack Alpha's. Mike is the oldest, which is why he was hiding his relationship with Lizz. No longer a problem now, though."
Sitting down at the table with the others, Mike looked up at Nick. "Nick. Hardly no longer a problem. Now Elli has been tasked by my mom to teach Lizz how to be the non-wolf mate of a Wolford wolf. Worse. I'm still going to end up being Alpha at this rate, with Lizz as my mate. Can you imagine that? Really? A Tigress as the Alpha of a wolf pack? Yet, that seems to be where things are going."
"Mike, both of our mates are so pregnant they're going to pop any minute now, with our kits, which are quite healthy according to the docs, and neither of them are even a remotely related species to us. Hell, It wouldn't shock me if they went into labor at the same time, tonight, and we all ended up in the hospital as you and I became fathers. So, can I see it? Yeah. I can see it." Making sure Alex and Stu were situated. "Stu, Alex. Beer or hard cider?"
Stu smiled. "Beer, please."
Alex laughed. "I'll do the cider."
Nick nodded, walking over to the drink fridge and opening it let out a barked laugh. "Eric, you actually found it?"
Eric laughed back at Nick. "You whined about how good it was for the entire night last time and how the place you found it didn't carry it any more. So yeah, I found it. I have to admit, it is pretty damn good, and with your addiction."
Nick laughed harder. "You're just trying to get me drunk. Alex, blueberry or hard apple? Also the option of red or green on the apple."
Alex grinned "Red apple, please."
Nick chuckled. "Coming right up." A moment later he set a fox sized beer in front of Stu and fox sized red apple hard cider in front of Alex, a blueberry for himself. "Sorry, we don't usually have anyone smaller than me, other than Jack, and he drinks scotch only. Won't debase himself with, as he calls them, lesser drinks. Plus, Fin can out drink everyone but Kevin"
Stu smiled. "No worries, Nick." Taking a sip. "This is a good brew, but not as strong as the berry ciders we make on the farm."
Nick grinned. "Well, I look forward to trying those then."
"I'll send a few bottles to ya."
"Looking forward to it."
A large polar bear stepped into the room. "Who can out drink me?"
Nick laughed and shook his head. "Evening, Kevin. No, I was saying that Fin can out drink all of us but you."
Kevin let a deep chuckle out. "This is true, and even then a close thing. I do not understand how such a small fox can drink like him. Perhaps it is because he is so angry?"
Nick shrugged. "No idea. Kevin, this here is Alex, my brother-in-law of sorts. He's the mate of one of Judy's sisters."
Kevin nodded towards Alex. "It a pleasure to meet the godmothers family."
Alex nodded nervously. "Uhm... Thank you."
"If you think that's a pleasure, then I absolutely must introduce you to the other rabbit here in our group tonight. This here is the head of the warren. The lead farmer. Head of the household."
Jeff interrupted. "We get it Nick. Move on."
Nick stuck his tongue out at Jeff. "Killjoy! Kevin, allow me to introduce you to Stewart Hopps, Judy's father. Stu, this is Kevin unpronounceable."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Is quite pronounceable, accept maybe by uncultured fox like you."
Nick leaned back with a paw over his heart. "Kevin. You wound me. I though we were friends."
"Friends? Maybe." Giving Nick a smile. "You pronounce name just fine when you work with me."
Grinning, Nick nodded towards Kevin. "Kevin runs his own business in Tundra town."
Kevin gave a deep bow to Stu. "It is my great honor to meet the father of the godmother." Looking to Nick. "Koz will be so jealous that I got to meet to members of the family, especially her father. I must get a picture." Glancing at Stu. "If you don't mind."
Stu nodded. "Sure."
Kevin moved around and kneeled low behind Stu and Nick, holding out his phone. Nick grinning for the camera. "His own fault for turning down the invites. Anyway, how's things going Kevin? You're kinda sliding the line of who you work for, bowing to Stu and all."
Returning to his chair, Kevin smiled flipping through the photos that had both Stu and Alex in them. "Is simply sign of respect. Something you have forgotten."
"I remember it quite well, but Stu and I are still on thin ice with each other. Though we are trying to get better. Right Stu?"
Stu nodded. "That's why I am here. I do wonder though, and I don't mean to offend, I'm just curious. Is the male in most inter-species relationships a predator?"
Jeff laughed. "Not at all, Stu. It is actually a pretty even division, if you are speaking just for those of the pred-prey combo."
Nick nodded. "This group just happens to be a group that interacts in some way. We're friends and or coworkers, and our mates are friends, so it works out."
Eric nodded. "That, and we all have some link to either you or Judy."
Shrugging his shoulders, Nick chuckled. "I suppose that too. So who's dealing?"
Jeff hands a deck of cards to Stu. "I figure we let your bunnies pops deal the first hand. You know how to deal five card stud, Stu?"
Stu gave a very un-bunny like grin. "Y'all worried about the wrong mammals."
Stu commenced with a series of complex shuffles that had Nick's eyebrow rising with a smirk. "Stu, my dear mammal. I do believe you have been holding out on me."
"Nick, I'm the oldest mammal here by a long shot. My oldest kit is you mate, my youngest kit is three, and I married late at 28. I've played more hands of poker than all of you combined."
Stu dealt out the cards, the initial hand coming down to Nick, Stu, and Jack, with Nick winning. The following hands went to Kevin x3, Stu x5, Nick x7, Jack x3, Alex x2, and by some fluke, Bill won the final hand. Neither Jeff nor Eric managed to even come close to a winning hand. At which point they moved to the pool table, with the movies running in the background.
After at least a dozen games, it turned to Nick and Alex. Racking up, Nick looked at Alex. "So, Alex. How you enjoying being part of the Hopps clan so far?"
"I'm sure you know better than I do. While I love Jess with all my being, I wasn't feeling too good about the Hopps. At least not the heads of the clan. That said, Stu and Bonnie have made some real strides in the last week. I mean, look at Stu there, sitting near a damn lion and not flinching or reaching for a tazer."
Nick chuckled. "Sure enough. It seems he has finally reached a breaking point and is really trying. He's more skittish than you might realize, but he is really trying, and that's all we can ask. It'll take time."
"True enough." Alex broke and sank three balls, taking stripes as two of the three were stripe, but failed on his next shot.
"Not bad Alex. My hope for Stu is that it lasts. Bonnie wasn't that bad, but they're a team. It's the only way to control the things, and she went along as best she could while trying to temper things and him. We can just hope that he makes a real change. You and I know that there are bad mammals of all species, and predators are not free of their complete assholes and psychos." Taking his shot, Nick sank his ball and moved to line up his next shot.
"That's very true as my family history proves."
"Hey, that wasn't you. I get the whole family legacy thing, but that still wasn't you. If there is one thing I've learned from Judy, it's that we are more than our species, our history, our family history, or what society thinks we are." Sinking his next shot and moving to line up the next one.
Alex smiled. "That's the same line that Jess gave me."
Stu walked up and hopped into a high stool to watch as Nick sank another shot. "Well, that's something Judy has been saying for years now. Really ever since she decided she was gonna be a cop when she grew up. I think it is finally starting to sink in with me. Seeing first hand at that dinner really revealed to me something I was willfully blind to. Just how much the mates of my kits love them, how species doesn't, and shouldn't, matter. I don't know if I'll ever apologize enough to either of you, or the rest of my kits non-rabbit mates."
Nick smiled at Stu. "I can't speak for Alex, but as we said before, Stu. That you are honestly trying and working to be better. That's all we can hope for, and if you keep at it, keep trying, you'll manage a true change. Talking to us, about our culture and why things are, trying to understand, just as our mates do, will help."
Alex nodded. "He's right. We know it isn't going to be an instant thing for you, but you can change, if you want to and you keep working at it."
"I will. Family is more important than some old prejudice that I know it's based in reality. Like you said, Nick. No species is free of its scum, but we can't paint every fox, every weasal or skunk, with the same brush."
Nick chuckled at Alex's surprised look. "The ears are not for show. As for our differences, Stu. It does matter, to a point. Take me for example. I know my claws and fangs scare the ever loving crap out of you, and please don't try and say they don't. Yet, Judy just doesn't see them, she sees me. The mammal behind the claws, behind the fangs, behind the red fur and hustlers smile. However, when it is just us. My predatory aspects. The claws, fangs, my different mannerisms... They excite her. It is those differences that draws her to me. I would never deliberately hurt her, yet she loves the feeling of my claws running through her fur."
Stu nodded, but added a frown. "You say deliberately, but what about accidentally? Have you hurt her by accident?"
Nick took his next shot, sinking the ball and Alex gave a groan, knowing that Nick only had to sink the eight to win and he hadn't gotten a shot since the break. "Damn Nick, you just about ran the table."
Smiling at Alex Nick chuckled. "Well, I may have developed some skills over the years. The pool hustle was good, easy money, but it turned out that I ended up getting known and no one wanted to play me anymore. Though I do still get challenged occasionally by some upstart wanna be pool shark."
"I can see why. You're a great white."
Stu's frown deepened. "Nick, please don't avoid the question."
"I'm not Stu, I'm finishing this game so we can sit down and talk. That's really why I asked you to come anyway. It is why you came, right? You wanted to get to know me? To understand the mammal, the fox, that Judy has hitched herself too? To talk without Judy, Bonnie, or anyone else watching over our shoulders."
Stu nodded. "Yes."
"Then give me just a moment to finish this." Nick turned his attention back to the pool table.
Alex looked. "Nick, That will have to be one hell of a shot to get the eight. The Cue ball is out of position."
Nick gave a wider hustler smirk. "Oh, ye of little faith." Changing the position of his cue into a strange, downward angle with his claws extended to create a support, cue squeezed between two fingers. "It's physics, Alex. That's really all Pool is about. It's all about spin, angles of deflection and reflection. If you can draw the line, and you know the physics you need to create that line, the spin, speed, angle, etc... You can make any shot you want. Just like this." With a sudden, sharp strike, Nick sent the cue ball off at a strange angle, ripping his paw up from the table just before the cue ball passed right through where his paw was. Pointing his cue at the corner. "Eight ball. Corner pocket."
Alex watched the cue ball jump forward after Nick hit it, then zip backwards from the weird skidding spin that Nick had put on the ball. It bounced off three bumpers, slipped around behind the two balls blocking the eight in a seemingly impossible arch, and struck the eight. The cue coming to a dead stop when it struck the eight, the eight jumping in an odd manner and then rolling gently into the corner pocket. "Holy shit! How did you do that?"
Eric laughed. "That is exactly why I never play Nick for money in cards or pool, and why the rules for the poker game are what they are. He walks out of here with the largest share of the pot more often than not. He's kinda scary that way. Oh, and calling him a great white isn't right. He's more of a megalodon when it comes to pool."
Nick smiled. "Hey. It was just a lucky shot."
Eric shook his head. "Yeah. That's what you said the last four times I have seen you make an impossible shot, making the cue ball almost dance across the table and saunter almost jovially around other balls to get to your target."
Nick shrugged, turning to Stu. "Stu. Why don't we grab a drink and head over to the patio. It has a great view, and we're a hundred and fifty floors up. That way, if you decide to throw me off the building, there is no chance I'll survive."
Chuckling darkly Stu nodded. "That seems good, and what if you throw me?"
"Well, in either case, the surviving party would have to deal with Judy and Bonnie. I'm not really up for that. You?"
"No, that does not sound like something I would be up for. So I suppose we are both safe from the other."
Nick nodded with a smirk as he retrieved another beer for Stu and a cider for himself. "Well, you're safe from me. The view is awesome too. Not as good as Maria's, but she's a hundred plus floors above us." Turning and leading the way.
Stu followed and stopped upon stepping out onto the patio. "Wow. That is a view."
Closing the door, Nick nodded with a sad smile. "It is." Flopping himself into one of the chairs. "So where do you want me to start? Or perhaps a better question. What do you want to know?"
Stu sat in the other chair. "How about just tell me who you are. Tel me who the fox that my Jude married. I want to understand who you are, Nick. Why she loves you so much."
"To answer the last question first, you'll need to sit down with Judy. As for who I am, that's a more complex question than you realize, because I'm not the same fox I was when I met Judy."
"Then tell me who you were then, and who you are now."
"Fair enough. The second part is easy. I am the mammal that will do literally anything to make her happy. Who is incapable of refusing her any request, and I mean that far more literally than you can ever comprehend. More than I think she knows. I'm her partner on the force, and in life. You heard our vows. I meant those and spoke them without any reservation.
As for the first part... Just give me a moment. I'm not big on sharing, and that's what I'm going to be doing here." Nick took a long drink from his cider, then got up. "I'll be right back." He stopped and the door and glanced back at Stu before turning inside, speaking under his breath. Stu watching him with a concerned look that Nick missed. "For Judy. She needs her family." Nick then went inside and returned a few moments later with a second beer for Stu and four more ciders for himself."
Stu looked at that and frowned. "Is that really going to be needed?"
Looking at the ciders then up at Stu, Nick gave a sad smile. "I'm getting better about sharing my past, so I am hoping not." Taking another swig from his original cider and sighing, speaking to himself, not realizing he spoke aloud. "This is for Judy." Nick took another long drink, finishing off his original cider and opening the next. "Where to begin. I suppose I will start with who and what I was, and how I got that way, prior to meeting Judy." Pausing, he looked at Stu. "She is truly an amazing mammal, Stu. She's so much better than I deserve, and yet she still chose me. She is why I am who I am now. She'd argue that I always had it in me, but I had long given up on being anything but what society... What mammals like you wanted to see me as."
Stu blanched. "Nick... Look, I..."
Nick stopped him, holding up a paw. "Stu, I know you are trying, but I also know that Judy holds a special place with you and Bonnie. She's your oldest, and she has told me some about how hard that first litter was for you and Bonnie. How they all got sick, and as sappy as it is, it's is also utterly adorable how you used J for their names, because they were your jewels. You're a bit more protective, and for legitimate reasons. Not one of those from that litter have normal jobs, normal mates, or display fear the way most rabbits do. They do have fear, this is can promise you, but they use it, are able to focus is.
I know, that even amongst your jewels, Judy has the most dangerous job of any of your kits, by a very long way. She moved to the big city, which even Jered, the fire mammal, can't compete with, and he lives here in Zootopia as well. Her job, unlike his, is dangerous night and day, on or off duty. Then she goes and gets herself mated to a fox of all creatures. One with a less than stellar background."
Stu nodded and took a draw from his beer. "That's sure part of it. She's just so strong. So much stronger than any rabbit I've ever even heard of, even among her litter, and I just don't understand."
Nodding, Nick took a sip of his cider, but just a sip to collect his thoughts. "I get that. I sure as hell didn't know what I was actually getting into, and my dream, when I was a kit, was to be a fire mammal, or a police mammal, or some such thing to make the world a better place and prove that foxes were more than the kits at school said. Those dreams didn't last long against the onslaught from society and my peers. I was a fox, and all anyone could see, be it mammals on the street, my peers in school, the teachers and administrators, was my species and what they assumed that meant for me.
A fox cop, laughable. A fox as a fire mammal, pure comedy. Best essay I ever wrote. Carrots says it was an A+ and written three grade levels higher than the grade I was in. It was all about proving the stereotype wrong for all mammals. I got a D, because the teacher refused to believe that I wrote it but couldn't prove I didn't. So... Did I work that hard ever again on school? I think you can guess.
As far as anyone else was concerned, I was nothing but a thief waiting to happen. A criminal that hadn't been caught yet, and that was as a kit. I was never given a chance, never had the benefit of the doubt. I have a few friends from that part of my life, a very few, and those were hard won. Everyone else I knew. They were just acquaintances, business contacts, etc... That was my life. Until Judy. Until she jumped right into my life and dragged me along on a whirlwind of a death defying, terror inducing, adventure."
"I've heard some of that. I can't hear the whole story, it's just... I don't know how you survived."
"I survived because of Judy. No ifs, ands, buts, or maybes, about it. If it wasn't for Judy, I would not be here to even discuss this with you. She'll say that I'm the reason she survived it, and I'm telling you now, that she is the reason I am here, a thousand times over." Nick took a longer drink from his cider.
"She does sing your praises."
Shaking his head with a wry smile, Nick chuckled. "Yeah, I know." Turning to face Stu. "Stu, I'm about to tell you some things about me that only Judy knows. I am one hundred percent going to gloss over or outright skip some things. Things I'm not proud of, and even a few things that I will probably never even tell Judy. Though knowing her, she will get it all out of me at some point. It's like her damn super-power."
Chuckling, Stu took a draw from his beer. "Got that power from her mother. It's the eyes."
Smiling, Nick laughed. "Yeah, it's totally the eyes. I get lost in them, and the next thing I know I've spilled more of my past and she's holding me as the pain of it lets go. Doesn't matter what it is, she accepts me, doesn't judge me or look down on me for what I did in the past." Nick looked down at his paws for a moment, then turned his face out towards the city. His voice softer. "She really is perfect, Stu. An angel in all but the wings, and I've often wondered where she hides her wings." Sighing, Nick glanced at Stu then looked away back to the view "Okay Stu. You ready? If so, just hold your questions if you can. Then I'll expound where I can."
"Okay, Nick." Stu looked over Nick and seeing his ears down, looking away from him, tail wrapped around himself, and gripping his bottle of cider tightly, enough his claws were forced out. He was getting the feeling that what he was about to hear was going to be very painful for Nick. He managed to only just barely hold his gasp as he heard Nick whisper to himself, almost like a mantra.
"This is for Judy. She's worth the pain. This is for Judy. This is for Judy. This is for Judy." Shaking himself, Nick turned back to Stu. "When I was a kit, all I wanted was to be was part of a pack, part of a group, and to make the world a better place. So, as a kit in the city, that means the Junior Ranger Scouts. Remember, I'm a fox kit. All the other scouts were all prey and were kits I knew from school. I thought they were my friends. What they were beyond that is irrelevant. They said they would never trust a pred without a muzzle. They beat me bloody, and put a muzzle on me. They tightened it so much I had bruises where the straps were for a month. I closed up after that. Not right away, but I started to notice the looks mammals gave me.
To answer your question, I was eight at the time. I started hearing what, as a kit, I was oblivious to before. I'm thirty five, Stu. So you know that mammals were less than subtle thirty years ago, and they were not shy about expressing themselves in far more violent terms. I have the scars to prove it. I came to realize that it wasn't me being a clumsy kit, it was mammals going out of their way to bump into me so they could yell at or even hit me. So they could say whatever hurtful and evil thing they could come up with. To a kit. So they could take a swing at a kit, and woe be it for me to defend myself in any way.
I gave up. I shut myself off, because I refused to let them see that they got to me, and that became my mantra of life. Don't let them see that they get to you. It took time, but it came to a head when one of those mammals decided that my father had cheated him on a commission. My dad was a tailor, and was I'd suggest, the best in Zootopia. still wears some of the suits my dad made. He would make a suit for anyone.
He couldn't get a loan from a bank to start his shop, because, well... fox. So he got that loan from . It was a legit loan, with reasonable and fair terms, and my dad was well on the way to paying it off. Big even let him barter some suits in place of payment early on. His business was doing really well, and as a family, we were well off comparatively speaking. Then a mammal decided that my dad needed to die, over double versus single stitching on a shirt. Thing was, the invoice and order both clearly showed single stitching with a note this was due to pricing, and both notes were signed off on by this mammal.
The ZPD didn't even bother to investigate, not really. My dad was a fox after all. They showed up, took some statements and photos. I overheard the officers talking. Saying that he, my dad, probably had it coming since he was a fox, and the mammal in question did the city a favor. The mammal in question was charged last year, once I handed Bogo the case file and the evidence from my dad's shop. I don't know why I held onto all that stuff, but I did. Something never let me let it go.
That is what finally broke me. I was ten, two days before my eleventh birthday. Happy birthday kit, have a dead father and undeniable proof that no matter what you do, you will never get a fair shake from the police or society. Then, have another present, a mother shattered by the loss of her mate and now struggling to support herself and three young foxes. Me, my sister, and my brother... He, my brother, died about a year later. On my birthday.
He got sick, and well. We couldn't afford insurance, or the bills. Mom finally took him to the hospital and waited two days before they even brought him back to see him. It was already too late by then. Two days just to be seen, in the emergency room. Not that they even bothered to try anything or give him anything. Back then there was a segregated section for preds, and then another one for foxes, weasels, and the like. She brought him home and we did our best to keep him comfortable. Woke up on my birthday to a dead brother almost a year to the day of losing my dad.
My mom was struggling so hard before that, but after... I don't know how she managed to smile at all. She worked multiple jobs and we were still what they call, food poor. That only because we lived in a hovel she somehow managed to make seem livable. She was doing all that, while fighting the dual loss of her mate and her youngest kit.
In the logic of a twelve year old, I did them math. I figured, if she didn't have to feed me, she was making enough money to keep her and my sisters bellies full and a roof over their heads. Maybe she could even quit one of her jobs. So I ran away. I had met Finnick a few months before. We started hustling together, and I sent everything I could back to my mom. I hoped that it would help them. So she maybe didn't have to work three and four jobs. So she could survive and so at least my sister didn't have to go hungry or not get enough more night than not. That's what I mean by food poor.
That was my life. Got many beatings just for being a fox. Finally I ended up in the employ of as a courier in my early teens. There are a few advantages to being a fox, not many, but a few. Mammals don't want to acknowledge us, so that makes us great couriers for mammals like . I never killed anyone, and the only people I ever hurt had it coming, and attacked me first. 's mammals taught me to defend myself. Fin and I were also forced to go back to school. Grandmama essentially making us attend home schooling under her when we weren't working.
Everything was going well. I was making good money, able to send my mom so much more than the pennies I was earning before, and even saved some for myself. I got a place for myself, it wasn't much, but it wasn't the underside of a bridge or Fin's van. It is how my sister went to college. How my mom was able to take some classes and get a better job than a waitress getting paid half or less than the others and screwed out of tips, if mammals bothered to even tip her.
Everything was good. At least until I was tasked with getting Grandmama a rug. You heard some of that story earlier. My Uncle Devlin. I got her the best, softest rug, but I didn't mention earlier that I had a cold and my nose was not working. Uncle Devlin sold it to me like I said, and well... What he sold me was a skunk butt rug, and not a legit one, but one from a mill. I didn't know that. I couldn't smell it, and since he waited to the last second to pass it to me, I couldn't verify it with someone else. Not even Fin, because he was working on something else.
If it had been a legit rug, it would have been fine. It wasn't. I nearly died when realized what that rug was. Beyond the setup to take down my uncle, I was given two days to fix it. I scraped every penny I had stashed, borrowed more from Fin, burned contacts I had made, and used every favor I had earned up to that point to buy and deliver two legit rugs with paperwork.
That saved my life, but cost me the job that was helping out my mom and sister. It really paid well. Far better than a fox can get at a regular job. Mom knew where the money was coming from, but she never did tell Alice where it was coming from. Suggested it was a dividend from life insurance dad didn't have. Alice wasn't stupid though. She saw me dropping it off a few times in the mailbox, then saw mom pick it up. Mom always looked for me, but I watched using a spy glass I picked up from one of Fin and I's hustles. Judy doesn't know that part. Just that I sent money to them.
Anyway... I had to recover, and with less than when I started out at twelve. I lost my place because I couldn't pay the rent, which was three times what any other mammal would pay. Everything I had saved went to buying the replacement rugs. I owed Fin enough to buy him a brand new van three times over. I ended up living in an abandoned warehouse. The water still worked, so I was able to stay clean and dry, if cold. My wardrobe was made up of things we didn't sell from one con or another. Then Fin and I hit on the popcicle hustle.
Fact is, Fin was offered the option to stay with the organization. I tried to get to to accept but he refused. Said he wouldn't let me go it alone. No matter how I tried, he wouldn't let me be, and so him still being on good terms let us get a side arrangement that didn't put me afoul of .
I spent a month in the library studying the laws and getting the right permits. I just never thought to pay the taxes. Judy helped me with that too. We did the pawpcicle hustle for several years, always more popular in the summer obviously. Was never as good as I made it out to Judy when we first met. I did bets on pool, you saw how good I am, and other sports when I had an inside line.
Even now as an officer, the Palm and most casinos in Zootopia have me followed by security to make sure I don't try and sit at a poker table. Accept of course when they ask me to come in to do a sting. When they do that, I get to keep a percent of my winnings as payment, which is fair I suppose. At least they lifted the outright ban after I became a cop. Casino's don't like it when you clean the table with them, and I got more than one beating over that.
Anyway. That's who I was. If the world was going to see me as nothing but a worthless, no-good, conniving, sly, lying fox, then that was what I was going to be. And I was damn good at it. So that's what I gave the world for the majority of my life. I was exactly what you assumed I was. Then Judy happened to me. I don't know what started it. Probably the whole trusting me for no other reason than I hadn't given her a real reason not to. Even if I scammed her out of twenty bucks, she put it as that being on her. But at some point during those first few interactions, she got to me. I wanted to try and be better, because if a little rabbit could be that damn good of a cop, then just maybe I could be more too."
Nick had spent most of the story staring blankly out across the city. He turned to Stu, after taking another long draw from his cider. "You see, Stu. I know I do not deserve her. Yet, even if she hadn't chosen me. If all she had wanted was my friendship and to be her partner on the force. If it was just being her friend and nothing else." Swiping his paw through the air to make the point. "Then that is what she would have gotten and more. She saved my life. She gives me purpose. She showed me that I really could be more. That I could be respected as a mammal and seen as more than just another fox.
I love her with everything I am. I will always, and have, taken bullets, knives, and the grill of a cargo truck, to keep her safe. If giving my life ensured that she never hurt again, would never want again, would never suffer again. I'd give it willingly and without regret. I'd hand you my gun and let you shoot me, if it made sure she would be happy and save for the rest of her life.
I really hope this helps you understand. To what I was mentioning earlier, I don't know how comfortable you are hearing what thrills her, gets her going, etc... So I will jut tell you that she appreciates my differences from her nearly as much as I love every part of her. I love how her ears are a barometer for her mood. I can tell in a moment if she is feeling down or moody, and I will physically hurt myself to improve her mood, if that is what it takes.
Have we had our issues. Oh, by Karma, yes." Rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. "But we love each other enough to know that we can work through whatever happens. We talk through the issues we have, even if we're mad, we both know that talking is the only way we can ensure that we're mad for a legitimate reason and can address it. The gods know, I've given her enough reasons to be mad at me, and she has given me perhaps one paws worth of reasons.
Most often it is a difference in culture or how we see the world that gets between me and her, and we work through them. Once we know what is going on, explain it to each other, why I reacted as I did, or she did..." Nick chuckled. "You have no idea how angry she was that I hadn't proposed to her. Don't get me wrong, I had the ring, and she knew I had it, but I hadn't actually proposed and that was driving her nuts. What was I waiting for? That is what she yelled at me."
Still chuckling Nick shook his head. "We argue very effectively, even with raised voices, because we don't yell over each other and listen. My response shut her down right quick as she found out that she was the one that was in charge of the relationship. She said she wanted to go out, I planned it. She wanted to eat somewhere, I made it happen. That's how it works with foxes. I knew I wanted to marry her, but it was on her to make the call. As soon as I knew that was what she wanted, because of that argument, I planned it out. You have no idea how patient she is. She knows that sharing my past is not easy and often painful, and has given me the rest of our lives to tell her all of it."
Stu looked on at Nick in shock. Taking a long drink from his beer, he sighed. "I see. I... I'm sorry Nick. I heard you were a hustler and didn't even think about the why or what you went through. Gods. You were on the streets from twelve?"
Nick chuckled darkly and looked down at his cider. "Day after my birthday. I wanted to give my mom and sister that much. They got to celebrate with me, a few nearly expired cupcakes from the store, and a brand new back pack for school, which I used to carry those things I took with me when I left. I still have it. It served me really well, even if it is more patches than original at this point. Judy helped me get my GED, because obviously I dropped out of school at that point, and what Grandmama was teaching us wasn't formalized. That was just her making sure we and a number of others at least were properly educated informally. Now, because of her, I have my BS in criminology. Gotta have at least that to be a detective and make Lieutenant. I'm working towards my MS in Criminology with an AS in law. Gotta have that MS to make Captain. Judy already has hers."
"Good gods, son. I... I didn't know."
Giving Stu a tired smile and thinking to himself again. This is for Judy. Nick continued."I know you didn't Stu. That's why we had this talk. None of this was to make you feel guilty or gain sympathy or anything like that. I'm not that fox anymore, although all that is part of what makes me who I am. Those skills that made me a good hustler make me a damn good cop. The point is for you to understand who I am."
Nick downed the rest of his cider and opening the third one. Taking a swig from it as he continued. "Mammals see foxes the way they do and there is little to nothing we can do to change that. Since we're foxes, a lot of us end up in a position where we have no choice, or end up just giving up, like I did. Do you know how many arrests I have on my record?" Seeing Stu shake his head. "More than 200. And that's just the times they caught me. I have never been charged with anything, but I have spent a total of six months and three days in lockup, because I was a fox, and for that reason only. I was suspect by default just because I happened to be walking down the street. The suspect could have been a rhino and I could get picked up.
They can only hold you for forty eight hours, but as a fox, I've sat in lockup for two weeks one time, because they forgot about me. If I had a legit job, I'd have lost it on any one of those stints, or simply because I did get picked up. Forty eight hours as a no-call no-show at a job, for most mammals and you might talk your way out losing your job. For a fox, and other marginalized mammals, the moment you get picked up, you know you won't have a job to come back to. Doesn't even matter if you get released the moment you get to the station. That's just the reality of the life of most foxes, weasels, and others.
It isn't fair or right, but it is what we live with. I had it bad. Fact is, I had it pretty good compared to others. I now have it better than most foxes, thanks to Judy. I have a mate that loves and accepts me without reservation, and despite my past. A mate who wants to share my burden and does all she can to prove to me every day that I deserve her." Giving Stu a very sad look. "I don't, but I will do anything for her, and if she wants me, then I will do whatever it takes to make sure she is happy. Am I happy you might ask. I'm way more than happy. Judy is the most amazing mammal on the planet, and she chose me." Wiping tears from his eyes and taking another drink. "She chose me Stu. Me. She's carrying my kits, and has given me the family that I never thought, even in my most wildest fantasies, that I could have. She's given me a career, an honest career that I love, and I get to do it along side her."
Stu sighed and shook his head. "I can see how much you care for each other. The whole claiming bite things freaks me out, but at the same time, I kinda get it. The trust is shows, as some of my new kit-in-laws have explained to Bonnie and I, as well as Gideon and his mate."
Nick sighed. "Gideon... I know about what he did. It took a lot of talking for me to get past the desire to rip his throat out for it. Then I realized what he went through and that, really, it could have been a lot worse. He was acting out because he himself was bullied."
"That's absurd."
Nick lifted and eyebrow. "You think so? Put yourself in his position, Stu. He was the only fox in a school of bunnies. One of a handful of predators, and being a fox, even the other predators weren't interested in interacting with him, expect the one weasel who was in pretty much the same position as he was. He was alone, in hostile territory, no chance of reinforcements, no one to turn to, no friends, and everywhere he turned was someone looking to put him down, hate on him, and until he was bigger than the bunnies around him, probably throw him a beating. Then blaming him for it, especially if he defended himself, and who was going to believe him? Hmm? For the crime of being a fox.
Now that doesn't make up for or excuse what he did, and he admits that himself. Judy forgave him, so I have as well. I have to. Because Judy asked me to give him a chance, just like she gave me, and that is something I had to think over, but also I could never deny her."
Stu just looked on at Nick, who was clearly on a roll as he took another drink from his cider as he continued, leaning back in the chair and staring out across the city. "The last case that Judy and I were working, before she went on maternity leave, has already taken down nearly a dozen officers, and gotten prosecutors fired and disbarred already. It may yet take down a few judges, yet more officers, as well as people throughout government. Bogo in his mutterings said something about it not being another mayor, but was probably worse. Then again, I'd never seen him so angry as when he personally threw two of the officers out the front door. They didn't even get to clean out their desks, collect personal photos, etc... because everything they touched was evidence. They also didn't get to enter their homes, and were followed to storage units that were rented under alias's. One actually tried to bug out and ended up in lockup.
Every case they ever touched has to be gone back through, along with the other officers that it has taken down. Judy and I are assigned to that, with a supervising prosecutor, an IA rep, police union rep, and detectives that have been cleared as having nothing to do with the whole mess. They were targeting inter-species couples, Stu. The one that we are still trying to track down is a fox. He was married to a deer. There was an accident in tundra town, truck ran them off the road. The fox, his name is Gerald, was hurt badly, but thrown free. His wife wasn't so lucky and was still in the car as it started to sink into the river. He tried to get help, but was instead arrested. The officers wouldn't listen to him. There is speculation that, if they had, his wife might have lived. Their cruiser was more then heavy and powerful enough to pull the much smaller sedan to safety, and the front was on a concrete artificial shore so it wasn't as if there was a real safety issue. He was then railroaded for the murder of his wife."
Stu gasped. "Oh gods."
"This happened almost ten years ago. Through our work, he's been cleared. But... He was paroled just before we could get that signed off on, and because the shelters that will even consider letting a fox in the door don't bother to update their records, he's been thrown out of nearly a dozen. I've put out word to homeless camps and I've ripped a new one to shelter admins that have tossed him out. Arrested one. Turned out, after I turned over the case, that the guy was amazingly speciesist. That's not my case though. Still, Judy and I are praying that we can find him before something happens to him, or he commits a crime trying to survive."
Stu found himself surprised that he hadn't broken down through the entire story, just a few tired that he had to wipe away. "Good gods. That's terrible."
"There are still dozens still in prison with sentences far longer than they should have, or because of previous convictions that were bogus. Based on planted or tampered with evidence, like the cut break line that the mechanic admitted to doing himself. He was pressured and threatened into doing it by the same cops that arrested Gerald and let his wife drown." Nick's phone started ringing. "One second Stu." Picking it up. "This is Wilde. What's up Jesse?" Nick actually yelled in shock, causing Stu to flinch. "You found what‽ ... No, don't let him out of your sight. ... Listen, I need to talk to him, in person, so I don't care what you have to do, but DO! NOT! LET! HIM! LEAVE! Text me if he does and have someone track him. This guy cannot go ghost on me again. This is important, Jesse. Life or death for this mammal. Got it? ... Thanks buddy. You may have just saved his life." Turning to Stu as he hung up. "Speak of the devil. That was Jesse, he's a friend and the fox in question just walked into his bar. It's literally just down the street. I have to go."
Nick closed his eyes and felt for Judy, finding her presence distant but there.
N: Judy! Jesse just called. Our fox just walked into his bar.
J: What! But Jesse's is just down the street. Like two blocks.
N: I know. I'm heading there now. I'll call you.
J: No! I'll meet you in the lobby. I have the car keys, remember.
N: Right. I'm telling Mike. And I shouldn't drive anyway, was going to walk.
J: I'll let Lizz know, so she doesn't freak out.
N: Right. I expect they'll want to come too.
J: Probably. Oh, in other news. Jess and Alex are pregnant!
N: That's awesome. So happy for them. See you in a moment.
Standing, Nick walked quickly through the door and found Mike and Alex at the pool table, Stu following in behind him. "Mike. My fox has just appeared on the radar. A bar down the street from here run by a friend of mine, Jesse. I'm heading there now."
"Not without me you aren't."
"Thought you'd say that. Come on." Walking back into the great room. "Guys. Sorry, but something work related just came up. I have to go, and Mike is tagging along. Please keep an eye on my brother in-law." Pointing to a tipsy Alex. "And my father-in-law."
Eric nodded. "No problem, Nick. Can you say?"
"My fox just appeared on the radar at a bar down the street. Jesse's."
Eric's eyes go wide. "Oh shit. Go, mammal. Before he ghosts again."
Nick gave his patented two fingered salute and jogged to the elevator where Mike was waiting, holding the door. A few moments later and they were exiting the elevator just as Lizz, Judy and several of the others existed from the other VIP elevator. Joan having gotten off on Eric's floor to collect her mate.
Judy hugged Nick. "Oh, I hope he hasn't left yet."
"You and me both love."
They were quickly in their cars and headed towards the bar. Pulling up in front of it a few minutes later. Nick and Mike running inside as the ladies took their time. Nick running up to to the bar.
"Jesse, please tell me he is still here."
The large elk behind the counter nodded. "Right there." Pointing to the end of the bar.
With a hand signal from Nick, Mike looped around the room to block an escape. Nick approached once Mike was in position. "Hey there. You wouldn't happen to be Gerald Wickt, would you?" Nick knew it was him, without question, but still had to verify.
"It's Wick, actually. Like the movie."
"Well, hello Gerald." Nick placed his badge on the bar. "Officer Nick Wilde, ZPD. I've been trying to find you for over a month."
Gerald glared at the badge then Nick. "I know who you are. First fox in the ZPD. What do you want? Come to add some cred to your name by putting a fellow fox in prison."
Judy had walked up by that point, setting her badge on the bar as well. "It's actually WildeHopps, and what both my husband and I have been looking for you, for, is nothing bad."
Gerald spun on Judy with a snarl that hung in his throat as he saw a very pregnant rabbit, with a very pregnant tigress behind her, also with a badge. Then the scent hit him and he blinked. "What?"
With a smirk, Judy slid her blouse off her shoulder, displaying her bite scar. "I said, that my husband and I have been trying to find you for a good reason."
Gerald blinked several times. "But... You're Judy Hopps." Turning to see Nick's smile. "You... both of you?"
Mike walked up and pulled Lizz into a side hug. "Not just them, buddy. You're amongst friends."
Elli stepped around Lizz and smiled up at Gerald. "I'm married to his brother." Pointing to Mike.
Nick spoke. "We know the truth of what happened. Those officers. They're going to spend the rest of their lives in prison. For what they did to you, and many others. Which is good news, I'm sure. The prosecutor in your case. Disbarred and looking at charges of his own. But more than that. Your record has been cleared. Conviction. Expunged. There is some paperwork that you and I need to do. Some compensation that you are due. We can't bring her back, and for that I am truly sorry, but we're here for you. I know that you're hurting, and you can finally start to grieve. It doesn't have to be the end though."
Gerald looked up at Nick, tears streaming. "There's going to be justice for Terry?"
Nick nodded. "I can tell you more tomorrow. If you come to precinct one. Just ask Ben, the big cheetah at the reception desk for me."
"I'll be there."
Nick looked Gerald over and knew the look and scent all too well. He glanced at Mike and got a confirming nod. Gerald had been sleeping somewhere exposed. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"Been staying at an old friends, but he finally had enough of me and kicked me out a few days ago. So no."
Jesse walked up. "Hold up. I remember that trial. I never bought what the news said." Turning to Nick. "Nick. You're saying this guy was set up?"
"Not saying. Proven. Record wiped clean."
Jesse nodded. "Well, if you don't have a place to stay, I'm betting you don't have a job either. You know anything about tending bar?"
Giving a wry smile, Gerald nodded with a sad chuckle. "Owned my own bar. Course it closed. Everything sold off. Not that I got to see any of the money. It's where I met my Terry. Never even looked at another species, and then she walked into the bar."
Nick nodded. "And it was like the rest of the world got put on mute."
Jesse smiled. "As if the heaven's opened and shined a golden light down on her like a spotlight."
Gerald nodded. "Yeah. Like that."
Jesse smiled wider. "Great. I've been looking for a tender with nocturnal tendencies. I've also got an old apartment above the bar here. It's not much, and is dirty as hell, well dusty cause I haven't bothered to clean it, but it's yours for a nick off your wages."
"I'm a bit drunk right now to be tending."
"Nah. You head up, get some rest. I keep the bedroom clean in case a friend needs to crash. Nick's used it a few times in the past. It's just the kitchen and such that need cleaning. Place is too small for me, should be spacious for you. We can discuss actual wages, how much I'm charging ya for the apartment, etc... tomorrow after you get back from the precinct. You can help me set up for the day while we talk."
Gerald started to tear up, looking around, then up at Jesse. "I get why they are helping me" Indicating Nick and crew. "But why you?"
"Because my mate would skin me and mount my antlers on the wall if I didn't. She's kinda serious about that sort of thing. Oh, and she's a cougar, so..."
Gerald wiped at his eyes with a big smile he didn't even try to hide. "Thank you."
Nick put a paw on Gerald's shoulder. "You were going to her tonight, weren't you?"
Gerald looked down and nodded, tears still filling his eyes. Pulling a gun out of his jacket and setting it on the bar. "I was going to get drunk, reminisce about the good times, before... It just hurts so much." Pulling his arms around himself.
Nick pulled the other fox into a hug. "I know, buddy. You're stronger than me. I don't think I would survive without Judy."
Judy spoke up, a hint of hurt and anger in her voice. "Nick! If you do lose me, you will keep going on. I know it will hurt, but you will keep doing it because our Kits will need you. Your friends will need you. This city will need you. You will not come looking for me any sooner then necessary. Is that clear, fox?"
Nick release Gerald, smiled widely, and saluted. "Yes dear!"
Gerald laughed, though still crying. "Thank you. You two remind me of Terry and I. She was so strong. It took lots of talking through our differences."
"Get mad at you for not proposing, before she realized that she was leading?"
Gerald laughed harder. "Oh gods. She was down right livid."
Nick nodded. "Yeah, this one was so frustrated with me." Pulling Judy into a hug. "Gerald, there is a support system we can help you access. Nothing can replace her, but we can help you try and live again. We understand."
Looking over the mammals in front of him, he glanced back to the gun. "I was going to go to the river where she died. Not sure if I was going to shoot myself, or just jump in the river. Maybe shoot out the ice so I would fall in. I know it isn't what she would want, but I had nothing left. Because of my conviction, I couldn't get a job. Since I was on parole, I couldn't leave the city and no shelter would let me say for long. My family had already disowned me for being with Terry, so they wanted even less to do with me once I was a murderer. Her family tolerated me, but when I was convinced, they went nuts. I don't blame them. Her father would have gleefully stomped my head in, but I couldn't do that to her. Get him in trouble over me. He has already lost her."
"Well, you have friends now, that will help you. You're all cleared up. Now that I've found you, my next job after we get your paperwork squared away, is to contact her family and yours. They need to know the truth, and that the real culprits have been caught and are going to be going away."
"Thank you." Gerald's tears continued to flow, and he kept glancing at the gun, which suddenly disappeared and he blinked.
Jesse looked down at him. "Know you're hurting, bud, but you need time to come to terms with the fact that things have changed. That you're not as screwed as you were when you walked in here. You need time to process what's happened, and having a means of self harm like that is not going to give you that chance."
Gerald nodded. "You're right, and I've already drank way to much." Looking to Nick and the rest. "Can you guys hang out with me a bit. I... I could really use some company."
They all smiled, Lizz speaking. "We'd be happy to Gerald. How about you tell us about Terry. How you met, your best date, the things about her that drove you crazy."
Smiling sadly. I think I would like that. I never even got to say good by, and when I tried to see her grave, one of her cousins was there and chased me off."
Nick put an arm around Gerlad's shoulder. "Well, we'll also make sure you get to visit. Now come on, lets take up a booth and get you sobered up a bit. Judy, think you can get a few mammals over here to clean up the place so he has a clean and healthy place to crash?"
Judy looked up, phone already out. "Oh... Uhm..."
Nick chuckled and gave Gerald a shake. "She's already working on that."
Judy grinned up at Nick. "Only because it was my idea first. Couple of my siblings will be here shortly, Gerald. They'll take care of cleaning up and sprucing up the apartment. All we have to do is pay their tab once they are done."
Nick frowned. "Your siblings drink like wolves, not rabbits. That's not going to be cheap."
"Not to worry, Nick. It won't be nearly that bad. I promise."
"Uh huh..." Looking to Gerald with a laugh. "Every time she says not to worry, I end up visiting the hospital." Flinching as Judy punched him in the shoulder.
"Niiick! That's only happened a few times. This won't be like that."
Giving Judy a kiss. "I'm sure you believe that, Carrots. I'm quite sure you do."
Judy glared at him with a pout, Lizz laughing. "This is why I love you two. You have such a perfect interaction. However, we're here to listen to Gerald. So go for it. You said you met her when she walked into your bar. So what happened? Did you cover her drinks? Trip while making a drink and drop a bottle?"
Nick jumped in. "Before that, let me introduce you. You know and my mate. This is Lizz and her mate, Mike. Both are also ZPD. Then we have Jess here, she's Judy's sister and is mated to weasel. And Elli introduced herself, and is married to one of Mike's younger brothers."
Gerald laughed. "A pleasure to meet all of you. Did I just drop a bottle? Oh, I wish. No. I was very talented at bottle spinning and such tricks. So I had a bottle up in the air when she walked in. It smashed down over my head." Pointing at a scar on his left ear. "Sliced my ear open and coated me in one hundred proof vodka. She was training to be a nurse, so she patched me up in the back room. I swear, I didn't feel a thing but strange tingles whenever she touched me. Asked her out right there, and she was shocked to say the least."
Lizz cooed along with Judy, Jess, and Elli. Lizz sighed as she nudged Mike who chuckled. "That's so romantic. What happened then?"
"She ran out and vanished into the night, taking my heart with her. Figured I had freaked her out and would never see her again. Then in she walks, two weeks later and it felt like my heart started to beat again."
Mike smiled. "I know that feeling."
Nick chuckled, giving Judy another kiss and enjoying the blush that creeped up her ears. "I think we all do to some extent."
With a wistful smile, Gerald continued. "Yeah. She walked up to the bar and apologized for running out. Said I just caught her off guard and she panicked. Then accepted my offer. I poured her a soda and called in my backup tender. An hour later, I was leading her to my car and we were heading to a restaurant for dinner. We talked until they kicked us out, so of course we went back to my bar and talked until closing. Even then, since I was the owner, we just kept going. Eventually I drove her home. Thankfully she had the next day off. That was our first official date."
Judy grinned up at Gerald. "That sounds like an awesome first date."
Gerald continued to speak about Terry, and unknown to him was being recorded by Judy. She wanted to document his honest reactions, both for her family, for his, and as evidence for the case against the officers and others that had framed him. He spoke for about two hours before things turned to what happened. His tears started to fall again as he spoke. They offered to forgo the description, but he insisted.
"No... I need to get it off my chest. It's important." Thinking a moment, Gerald turned to Nick. "If they want me to testify, please let them know that I am happy to."
Maria, Jarvis, Ed, Joan and Mikel, and the others walked in at that point, along with Stu, Bonnie, Alex, and several of Judy's siblings. Herald and Milo taking up positions to keep an eye on things. While Jack and Skye just appearing as if they'd been there the whole time. The siblings were directed to the apartment and some cleaning supplies. Jesse stating that their drinks were on him for doing the job, relieving Nick and Judy of having to cover their tab.
Once they were seated at a larger, pushed together set of tables at the back, Gerald looked over the attending mammals in a bit of shock, turning to Nick. "Uhm... Nick. You know these mammals? That's Gazelle over there. And she's snuggled up to and kissing a Tiger!"
Judy laughed and leaned over to see Gerald. "She's my college roommate, Gerald. She and Jarvis have been together longer than she has been famous."
Looking past Nick to Judy, Gerald blinked. "Really! Oh wow."
Nick jumped in, a grin on his muzzle. "Yeah, you're not alone in any way, and in good company."
Gerald looked over the assembled mammals again, happy tears flowing from his eyes for a moment. "Thank you. Thank you all. I have been in a very bad place, and it is going to take me time to get out of the deep, dark hole that you have shined a very bright light down into. This however is really helping, I think. Telling my story I think will help too."
Maria piped up from the other side of the table. "Then tell us. I get you've told most of it, so finish it off."
With a nod, Gerald sighed. "So this is where things go south. Like I said before, my family wouldn't have anything to do with me because of my marrying Terry, but I loved her so much, what they thought didn't matter. Her family were slightly more accepting, but only as they were unwilling to cut her off the way mine did. They gave me a chance to prove myself and I did everything I could. Still, our relationship was a tense one, but it was getting better. We were actually on our way home from a visit for one of her nieces birthdays. It was an ice skating party in Tundra Town. You see them all the time, birthday parties out on the big public rink. It was fun. Terry and I got to skate together, and I felt like seeing us together like that made a breakthrough. Then it happened.
I am really not sure exactly what happened. Our car was pretty new and had all the usual inter-district safety features. Tires and traction control that switched automatically for tundra town. I was driving and being cautions. Just because you've got knobby tires, traction control, etc... Doesn't mean that you can drive like you're in down town in the middle of summer. I heard a sound, a horn, then saw the truck just as it hit us. Clipped the rear of the car, I think. I just know we spun, bounced off the railing, then somehow jumped the railing on the other side, hitting the ice. The guard rail grabbed the front of the car so we spun and the back end was in the water, the front of the car on the river bank. I know this because I was thrown free and ended up on the bank looking at the car. Terry was out cold and I could see the current pulling the car in. I wasn't big enough to get to her and get her out.
I don't know how long I was out after I got through, or how long it took me to drag myself up to the road. The truck that hit us was gone, or at least I didn't see it. I saw ZPD pull up and I tried to get their attention, that Terry was still in the car. Instead I got screamed at, cuffed and thrown in the back of the cruiser. Where they were parked, I could see the car, I could see her still in it. They wouldn't listen, no matter how much I screamed and begged. Eventually they muzzled me. I struggled and fought. Begging them to pull her from the car until I saw it get pulled under and saw her wake up as the cold water washed over her just before she disappeared under the water. I think the last thing she saw of me was in the back of a ZPD cruiser with a muzzle on, smashing my head against the window trying to get to her.
I cried then. I think I fully lost it, because I woke up beaten, battered, and handcuffed to a hospital bed. Her mom was there and asked me what happened. I told her, but she didn't believe me. Of course by the time I woke up from a double tranq that I had been hit with, they'd already charged me with her murder. The trial was ongoing. Her mom just wanted me admit it, and when I didn't, she got angry. She hit me, and I just let her. I knew Terry was dead. That I would never again get to see her smile, hear her laugh, scent her again." Wiping away tears as he continued to speak. "I was hoping her mom would hit something vital, but she knocked out the wires and the nurses came in and pulled her off me.
I was well enough that I made my sentencing, if still beat up. I refused to press charges against her mom. My public defender never even visited me, accept at the end so I could sign over everything I owned, the bar, my house, everything, to compensate the city for my defense. I tried to give my side of the story then, you know, when they let the defendant stand up and make a statement, but got shut down by the judge. He wouldn't hear anything but me admitting to what I was accused of and expressing remorse for what I had done. But what did I do? I wasn't actually guilty, I screamed and I fought, but no one would listen.
Then my verdict got read. I just cried. Not because of what I was sentenced to, but because no one would listen. Not even in court. Because I would never see Terry again. Honestly, I was hoping I would get killed in prison, but the prisoners talked to me, heard my story, and they actually believed me. My time in prison wasn't that bad because of that. The hardened murders, the thugs, gang bangers, thieves, and others. The actual criminals looked after me, in the background. Basically, I got left alone. Because They saw me as the actual innocent mammal I was. Some unwritten rule that you don't mess with the truly innocent.
It's almost funny that I got better treatment from actual murderers than I did the ZPD and justice system. I'm still trying to get my head around the idea that the truth has come out."
Nick nodded. "It's only been a few hours Gerald. It is going to take time. It's why we are all here."
Gerald nodded and wiped a few more tears, though the seemed to be stopping. "The idea that those truly responsible for what happened to Terry are going to get what is coming to them. It going to take some time to obsorb. I dreamed it so many times while I was in prison." Pausing a second, he turns to Nick and Judy. "Wait. Are you guys why my PO has been blowing up my phone? I have been ignoring him because, well. I didn't expect to be around long enough for it to matter."
Judy put down her phone, ending the record. "We are, and it is true, you did not get treated right. Those that did this to you, the cops, the prosecutor, they are all going down. The judge is being looked at, because what he did was beyond inappropriate and potentially prejudicial. There was no legitimate reason to rush your trial while you were still unconscious in a hospital bed. Even the public defenders office is being looked at. They have been shown to have been assigning inexperienced lawyers to cases like yours. Attorneys that should have been shadowing more experienced lawyers, not working multiple cases at once. There's a review going on and it is pointing at the city council and cuts they've made. Honestly." Turning to Nick. "If this keeps up. We're going to take down a few more council members, not directly, but as collateral damage from this whole thing."
Nick laughed. "That would be par for the course for us, Carrots. I mean, we're taking down dozens of corrupt cops, freeing or getting convictions expunged for mammals wrongly convicted and imprisoned. This hitting city gov, and even the city council as some of the factors that went into the horror that we uncovered... Well, that is just kinda what we do, Fluff. We make the world a better place, and it is going to be once we get out the other side of this. It's going to force some new laws be passed, and if it hits the council and forces new rules for them, then so much the better."
Judy smiled. "That's right. Now, I'm tired. I know Lizz is. Gerald. You going to be good for the night? The apartment is clean and ready for you. Do you need anything?"
Gerald shook his head. "No. I'm actually pretty good. I think a good nights sleep will do me good."
The group broke up at that point. Nick making sure that Gerald got into the apartment and into bed. Giving him a burner phone that he could use to reach him or Judy. Nick then took Judy home, the rest having all left accept Judy's siblings who were enjoying their fifth round. Maria gave Jesse the number and info for the hotel, along with numbers for Stu and Bonnie, should they get out of hand.
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A/N Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.
If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: ( Direct: dcballard because the forwarding is misbehaving.) and then select Scribblings Blog ( scribblings ).
