Brief A/N: Be prepared for a wall of text towards the end where Will tells a 'fairy tale' that came to me a couple nights ago while I was reading at past 01:00, and just had to get out of me before the thoughts faded . . . some of my best work it seems is in the middle of the night lol. I was going to have this chapter cover two days worth of events, but decided to split it because the sheer amount I write is more manageable this way; also I really want to tease something that's gonna happen in the next chapter . . . Layla gains a painful secret she can't tell Will . . .
Friday [Week three, Day five]
05:30
Will's phone alarm went off, but was swiftly silenced. So brief was the sound of it that it just barely roused Jade from her slumber comfortable as she was in his arms. As she stirred rolling over to face him Will still half asleep started licking her face, and neck not bothering to hide his morning wood. Feeling her paw wrap around his ready member, and her tongue as she groomed him in return he realized this larger form in his arms wasn't Layla. The sensations of her rough tongue against his neck were something he'd not felt in years, and nearly forgotten. Wanting to lose himself in them he wrapped his arms around her tighter so that as he rolled onto his back she'd be repositioned on top of him.
From there he was powerless against whatever it was she wanted to do, and perfectly free to enjoy her actions. Likewise Jade was not oblivious to the control he was ceding to her, and it stimulated her own arousal as she lowered herself to make contact with his erection at the same time she stretched forward to bite into his neck. He shuddered feeling her fangs in him, and could not help the moan of pleasure that escaped him while he lifted his hips towards her seeking entrance with the tip of his member. She let him go to rise into more of a sitting position on top of him reaching behind herself to adjust his pulsing mast with her paw so that it would fill her. The way she sharply inhaled as the head of him gained access turned him on just that much more, and as much as he wanted to flip their positions so he could be the one fucking her from his position under her he had such a better view of her lithe feline form he didn't dare move. As she rose, and fell riding along his length his hips matched her actions, and gravity forced him into her to the very root. Because she lacked the locking mechanism canid females possessed, and likewise was larger than any she-wolf save for the likes of Lola she was able to maintain the longer strokes of her sex along his shaft punctuated by his knot filling her before coming out again.
Will hadn't felt these sensations since the last time he'd had sex with a tigress excepting Nicole, and it drove him mad. It was almost too much to feel the warmth, and pressure of her surround his sensitive knot only to let go again, and again. His hips matching her rhythm kept him from having the strength to raise his torso towards her, but he needed to bite something to express his pleasure so he went for what was handy; his own arm, and he bit down on it hard enough to draw blood. It mattered not that it was his own, the taste of the blood that now was in his mouth sent him over the edge into the feral state that was second nature to him. His eyes were wildly feral as he panted heavily so close to release as he had come, and the muzzle of the black furred jaguaress on top of him mirrored his own. When they came together they roared in unison, and those that heard through the walls were very rudely awoken. Layla for her part having been awake first for a reason she couldn't understand had been the one to silence Will's phone before it really started, and enjoyed voyeuristically watching him with Jade, and recording them with her phone.
"Quite a way to start your morning eh? But I do believe you've got work today ne, Koneko-chan" Layla said to Jade as Will went slack under her.
"I do don't I? Well that means you beastie need to wake up too so you can give me a ride to the precinct; why don't we hop in the shower?" Jade said to Will.
"I'll shower later, just let me rest . . . I'll get up when you're out of the shower" Will responded wanting nothing more than to fall asleep again though he was too energized to really sleep.
"I guess you're right since both of us in the shower would lead to things" Jade said with a giggle as she made her way to the bathroom.
Once Jade had gotten clean, and redressed in her uniform Will walked with her out of the building, and to his car. Within the next hour he'd dropped her off kissing her, and marking her with his scent before she got out of his car to head in to work then made it home.
"Do we have time for a couple more hours of sleep my love, or should we just pack, and be ready to hit the road early?" Will asked Layla as he walked through their front door which opened by itself adding "Your modifications to our front door are going to take some getting used to".
"It's already a little after seven. I talked with Judy, and she's already set to go though I left her in charge of ascertaining if Nick is. We should get packed ourselves since she wanted to get there before noon, and our door will only open automatically if you, or I are standing on the other side of it; all thanks to cameras, electric motors, and facial recognition algorithms" Layla answered.
"Okay we'll be gone until monday so we only need what? Our outfits for today plus saturday, and sunday so make it four sets of clothes?" Will said.
"Yep four pants, and shirts should do it, but just to be safe let's pack an extra set of undies ja?" Layla suggested with a smirk.
"Agreed" Will replied.
That settled they went into their room, and while Layla threw things out of their closet onto the bed Will folded the articles into an empty duffle bag that would have plenty of space for the four pairs of black fatigue trousers in each of their sizes, and the four different shirts she selected for him, and herself respectively. For Will she selected his three favorite band t-shirts which were a Tiger Army one, his Pink Floyd one, and his Black Sabbath one along with one of his shirts with a graphic of a white wolf howling to the moon. For herself Layla selected her Black Sabbath t-shirt along with her custom Elusive one, and the other two bore graphics relating to Cowboy Bebop, and Ghost in the Shell respectively. Will who had dressed in only his uniform pants, and a black tank top to drive Jade to the precinct undressed to take his shower leaving Layla to pack their undies, and decide which outfit she'd wear for the day since she'd already showered while he was gone.
The warm water was heaven on his naked fur, and was just what the medicine mammal ordered. Will didn't really want to bother with washing his fur, but knew he needed to; gone were the days when he could ignore the niceties of civilization. Bathing was one of the aspects of civilized life he actually enjoyed, but modern mammals just made it so complicated with their moisturizing this, and exfoliating that. Hot water, decent soap, and a little scent neutralizer were all he ever needed he thought to himself, and then it occurred that maybe that was why Holly got her fur so soft, but he ignored adopting such practices out of male obstinance. When he was done cleaning his fur, and had gotten dry over the vent-pad he walked naked into the room he shared with Layla.
She was already dressed, and ready to go wearing a pair of her black fatigue trousers, and her Elusive t-shirt. At least we'll match in our sabbath shirts Will thought to himself as he put on his own pair of fatigue pants, and his Pink Floyd t-shirt. Truth be told she'd done just fine selecting some of his favorite shirts, but he was jealous not so much of her choices for herself, but that she hadn't likewise picked out the shirts he owned that matched them, or complemented them; after all he was the one who had turned her on to Elusive, and was himself a huge fan of both Cowboy Bebop, and Koukaku Kidoutai. Once he was dressed, and they were ready to head out each wearing their aviators Layla gave Judy a call to see if Nick was ready, and got confirmation that he was so they headed out to pick her up first then him.
After Layla had locked their apartment Will led the way to the lift which they took downstairs. They waved goodbye to Tony their landlord telling him they'd be back on monday. Out on the street they headed to where Will had parked, and after he unlocked his Shelby they got in with Will leaving it to Layla to get the jams kicking. She got the morning shuffle going with "Dirty Harry" by Gorillaz as Will pulled from the curb into traffic heading over to Judy's place. Will couldn't help but sing along to the next track his phone's shuffle threw at them which was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. Soon enough they were close by, and Layla the phone master gave Judy a call so she'd be waiting out front when they got there only for the ever invigorated bunny to inform her that she was already waiting there.
Will spotted Judy where she was, and was thankful there was open space at the curb for him to park nearby. While Layla got out to fold the passenger seat forward allowing Judy access along with her bag Will was keeping the tunes on Gnarls Barkley with "St. Elsewhere".
"I didn't think you'd listen to this kind of music Will" Judy said as she got herself buckled in the back seat.
"Not gonna lie the music I have is rock, and metal heavy, but I do love stuff like this" Will said as he got them back on the road towards yonder fox.
"You should see him sing along to Gazelle, or Lady Gaga" Layla commented with a laugh.
"No you should see me in a dress owning me some 'Bad Romance'." Will laughed.
"Now there was a crazy op he went on. You have no idea how hard it was for me, and Sky to make him look more feminine plus there's no way he could ever sound feminine so we were both worried shit would go pear shaped, but the crowd fucking loved him apparently" Layla added with a laugh.
"Okay I have a hard time imagining that. It just seems too odd to picture Will in a dress" Judy responded.
"Hang on I think I still have a photo in my phone" Layla replied pulling out her phone, and scrolling for a minute before showing Judy.
"Sweet cheese, and crackers. Oh my goodness. Are you sure that's not Lola? He really is owning it" Judy was totally at a loss seing Will in a very classy black dress at what looked like some sort of lounge bar.
"You have no idea. Not gonna lie I totally felt empowered especially when I covered 'Poker Face, then I segued into 'Bang Bang' by Nancy Sinatra, and it was over. We had the in we needed to take down those fucks; don't ask it's still classified, we've already said about all we can." Will said with a laugh before adding "Just don't tell Nick okay? I'd like to save shocking him, and everyone else with a Rocky Horror-esque performance for the halloween party which literally just occurred to me to do."
"My lips are sealed" Judy promised.
Soon enough they were at Nick's place, and Judy offered to go fetch him so Layla got out to facilitate her exiting of the Shelby. Will meanwhile felt the need to change up the music. He pawed through his phone's music, and selected "Cry" by Aliaj in a playlist of more instrumental metal. The song was barely over when Judy came out with Nick in tow, and the fox seemed to follow the same ethos of travelling light that Will, and Layla did.
"I'm glad you took him up on his offer Carrots; we get to make the trip in style, and for free" Nick said sliding his aviators over his eyes as he got comfortable sitting in the back behind Will with his suitcase on the floorboard under his feet.
"That reminds me . . . " Will said reaching into the glovebox as "Sea of Heartbreak" by Angel Vivaldi started playing, and tossing her some foam ear plugs "You may want these Judy, I can't promise I'll keep the music at a comfortable volume."
"I still can't believe you got us today, and next monday off Will, and thank you for your thoughtfulness" Judy said.
"He wouldn't have been so thoughtful if he didn't like you" Layla told her with a laugh.
"What can I say you're like the lapine version of my vulpine little sister, right down to the effervescence, and packing a real punch" Will added with mirth as he got them headed toward the road to Bunny Burrow.
"I find it hard to believe there's another mammal quite like Carrots" Nick said.
"You do have a point Nick. Sophie is much more saccharine, and much more . . . forward with girls . . ." Will replied thankful the light traffic was facilitating their journey.
"So how did you convince the Chief to give all three of us the time off?" Nick asked.
"Our superiors have always been willing to grant him his desires since he makes it so plain how he's willing to go to the lengths others will hesitate over to get what needs to be done, done. I mean if getting covered in blood is what it'll take to save a life he'll bathe in the shit where others would have an existential crisis" Layla explained.
"Your superiors?" Judy asked.
"You called it Nick. We are just too open with each other, and it rubs off in how we are with others that are trustworthy like you two." Will responded.
"Wait what am I missing?" Judy asked.
"Will told me about how he said to you that my nickname was Ghost. That was sort of a half truth. Ghost is one of the meanings of my last name, my codename in the ZIA was Whisper." Layla answered.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa . . . So why did you do it? Why did you attack your own mate like that?" Judy asked, and Nick reached out a paw to hers in reassurance which she accepted.
"You're probably going to hear this story more than once, but it is the truth. On our last Op our whole unit got left to die outnumbered at the hands of a cartel, and I like to think it was as much because of me as him though he puts the blame all on his shoulders. He, and I made it out with Revolver, but we lost Rambo, and Dagger, and I was wounded pretty badly. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for his blood in my veins" Layla paused to grasp Will's right paw with her left one before continuing "I woke up in a foreign hospital with nothing more than a note from him saying why he was leaving, his knife, and a story from the doc about how he essentially replaced all of my blood with his; wouldn't even let the doc do the transfusion. Sidenote field triage training pays off. So events happened, and I wound up back in Zootopia hunting for him. It wasn't until he nearly lost it at the Savannah Central mall that I knew how I'd reach out to make contact with him while getting a little revenge, and more importantly proving to him that he didn't need me holding his leash to keep from going off the deep end. That's actually part of why I dosed him so heavily; the last time he had that much in his system was the night of that last Op, and I knew he would start shutting down his reactions in response to being surrounded by so many innocent mammals." Layla finished.
"I want you to understand something Judy, and you were there when I saved Sarah so you already know it you just don't have the framework for it. I am probably the most dangerous mammal alive in regards to the threat I pose to the lives of other mammals, but I am only a threat to those who threaten others. So far you've only seen what I'm physically capable of; pray that, that is all you ever see" Will added finally getting them on the road out of the city, and up to speed.
"You know you really are made of something else to have the strength to leave your mate Will. You said it was to keep her safe, but how?" Nick asked since everything seemed to be coming out into the open.
"The ZIA wanted me dead, and they were willing to sacrifice my whole unit in the attempt. All because they couldn't afford to have the trail of corpses in my wake be tied back to me, and as it was Interpol was already getting suspicious. It's bad enough when you have to explain to others yes one of our black operatives isn't afraid to take a life with his own fangs, and a complete other when other questions get asked along those lines. That we survived was sure to attract someone to finish the job, and I figured if I was alone they'd at least leave my Layla, and Revolver alone. Make no mistake it fucked me up having to leave her, if it weren't for Sophie I'd probably have O.D.'d by now." Will answered pushing their speed up to eighty miles per hour.
"I can't exactly fault him for his decision though he never considered that they might still come after me, and Revolver, or how I'd feel about not having him in my life." Layla said giving Will's paw a squeeze.
"What can I say? I was a fool, a fool in love as I have always ever been, but now things are different. We keep a low profile, stay in 'retirement', and everything will be just fine." Will replied.
"So what's it like with canids, and their mates? The way you guys are talking makes it sound a bit more serious than marriage." Judy asked curiously, and in an effort to steer the subject towards something more positive.
"For each of us the experience is different for the nuances can be quite subtle. The mutual bond of love two mates share between each other only death can sever, and it is not uncommon for the grief alone to claim the survivor; though the survivor may later take another mate, that too is not uncommon. In much the same way as it is with packs where the Alpha, or Alphas are given trust in the act of submission to them, and the Alphas must in turn prove worthy of that trust with mates . . ." Will could not continue so he gave Layla's paw a squeeze, and looked at her to finish where he had begun.
"Between a mated pair there is a mutual submission such that essentially they are a microcosm of the pack. One does not simply submit to any lover, or enter into a mated bond lightly. Not even the most submissive of wolves would be so rash, and it is truly something to see the most dominant of wolves at the command of their mate. In this regard it bears mentioning that though Will, and I are bonded as mates heart to heart, and we do submit to eachother unlike most I have more power over him than he does over me through our mutual submission. It's the kind of Alpha he is, never wanting to lord his position over those under him he sees all his pack as equal to himself, and only when it is absolutely necessary will he command us as our Alpha." Layla said.
"It's like you have your own piece of the moon right here on earth shining just for you, and there is not a thing you wouldn't do for her. There's not a mammal you wouldn't fight to the death even if only to fail, and if you had to sacrifice your life you would not hesitate to die praying to the Wolf Mother that your actions would not be in vain." Nick added, and realizing he still held Judy's paw withdrew his own.
"Well said my brother albeit you're being as melodraomatic as I usually am. I guess you could say Judy that love, and the bonds it engenders are what we canids hold most sacred. It stems from the bond the Wolf Mother, and Father share, and engender in the rest of us" Will said causing Layla to cough rather pointedly.
"Akazukin dame desu yo" Will told her.
"Nick . . . " Judy started to say questioningly, but Nick cut her off.
"Before you ask Carrots no I don't have some vixen I haven't told you about, nor have I really gotten that deep with anyone, but even I know what it would be like if I did." Nick said to her the look on his face one of guardedness, but showing confusion.
"Okay hey we're off to have fun, and forget our city-bourne woes for a weekend. So let's get rockin'" Layla said scrolling with a paw through Will's phone.
As the track she selected which was "The Hand That Feeds" by Nine Inch Nails started playing Will kept their speed within the legal limits, but adjusted the radio so he could listen in to where ZPDHP was waiting to catch speeders. Thanks to the shuffle setting the next track was "Hollow" by Pantera, and with it playing they made it past the hidden cruiser laying in wait. Judy checked her phone, and saw the time was closing in on nine o'clock, and they'd made it maybe seventy miles down the road.
"Ear plug time Judy" Will said before adding "We're past the cops so I'm gonna show you what this baby can do. Nick you may want some plugs too."
It was all Judy could do getting the plugs in her ears in time before Will had cranked up the volume on "Wolf Down the Earth" by Gojira, and floored the gas pedal getting them going at well past a hundred, and fifty miles per hour. Nick had no choice in the matter as Judy's paw sought his for comfort, but his was likewise seeking hers since the wolf driving them seemed to have lost his mind. Eventually his passengers calmed down seeing that while he was driving unnecessarily fast he handled his car like a racer. They were lucky that most of the road out to the burrows was straight, and seldom used by more than cargo trucks. The next track that fueled Will's speed craze was "The Shooting Star" by Gojira from their latest LP. Will did have to slow down eventually, and the song shifting into "Seasons of My Pain" by Angband seemed to help him keep the Shelby at the limit of seventy miles per hour. In his exuberance Will had essentially gotten them to Bunny Burrow before it was really eleven o'clock.
Will drove them through Bunny Burrow proper out to the Hopps family farm at Judy's direction. The clock was barely encroaching on half past eleven as they drove down the dirt road to the main house. Will had turned the volume down to a more comfortable level though metal still played since after blaring it so loudly silence would've unnerved him. The sheer sound of his Shelby's engine was enough to announce their arrival to the family of bunnies, and many had gathered out front to see who their visitor was. As they got closer Will had a bit of a laugh at the expressions on the faces of Judy's family knowing the engine's roar was impression enough let alone seeing the wolf sized vehicle come to a stop a decent distance near the house, but out of the way for any others that may show up. It was obvious to him which ones were Judy's parents since they were at the head of the Hopps fluffle. Since he, and Layla were first to exit the Shelby he gave the gathered fluffle a friendly wave before heading around to the trunk to get his, and Layla's duffle.
While Will retrieved their stuff Layla moved the passenger seat forward so Nick, and Judy could get out, and the confusion on her family's faces seemed to ease at the sight of her. She couldn't resist running up to her parents to greet them, and they were happy to see her.
"Mom, Dad. It's so good to see you" Judy said as she embraced her parents before adding "And it's good to have my feet on solid ground that wolf drives like a devil."
"What's the point of having a fast car if you never use it for the speed for which it was made eh, Carrots" Nick reasoned as he came up behind her, but stopped a short ways away keeping his distance as he greeted the bunnies amassed in front of him "Hello everyone, in case my partner hasn't said anything about me I'm Nick, Nick Wilde her partner at the ZPD"
"Jude the Dude, hon it's good to see you. I thought you'd come by train, and call for us to come get you. Mr. Wilde she said she was bringing you, and it's good to finally meet you, but um Judy who're your other friends?" Judy's father Stu said to his daughter.
"Yes, dear I know I've never seen a wolf up close before, but do they really get that tall" her mother added.
Despite how often he'd been around gunfire with unprotected ears, and listened to music loud enough he might have hearing loss when he got older Will had heard their exchange, and knew first impressions with such a large group of prey were paramount in importance so he did what came naturally. He set down the duffle bag he'd retrieved on the trunk, took off his shirt, and proceeded to roll in the dirt on his back grunting, and growling as he enjoyed the feel of the earth. Then he rolled over onto his paws, and walked towards the fluffle on all fours before stopping a good dozen feet behind Nick, and laying on his stomach using his body language to convey that he wasn't a threat. Seeing his antics Layla picked up his shirt before following after him then sitting on his back where he lay rubbing a paw over his shoulders.
"Mom, Dad, everyone, that crazy wolf over there is Officer William Grimm one of our fellow coworkers, and the vixen sitting on him is his mate Layla. I don't get exactly why he's acting the way he is though. Nick do you?" Judy said.
"Well first to answer your question Mrs. Hopps most wolves at their tallest are only about a foot taller than me. Will there is a good foot taller than that, and has a sister just as tall. Fluff to answer your question he's trying to let everyone know he's not a threat. Though don't ask me why he rolled in the dirt like that I don't get it" Nick answered them.
As if on cue Will stood back on all fours, and walked toward them to stop next to Nick while Layla rode on his back like a steed. When he stopped she dismounted to come, and shake the paws of Judy's parents.
"Hello, and good afternoon Mr., and Mrs. Hopps. As your daughter said I am Will's mate Layla Eidolon it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you won't find us any more threatening than handsome Nick here. To be honest I'm partial to chicken, not bunny, and this will surprise you, but Will's actually been looking forward to some non-carnivore cooking he actually likes eating vegetarian whenever he can." Layla introduced herself.
"I can confirm that. The first day the Chief had me work with him he ordered a black bean burger for lunch. Totally surprised me, and our waitress had to ask him a second time what he wanted since she was sure she'd misheard him." Judy added with a laugh.
"I hope you'll forgive me for staying on all fours, but this way our heights are more even, and I'll seem less intimidating. Mr. Hopps I have you to thank for the fruit that went into those pies I bought from Gideon, and I must say I am a fan of your agricultural prowess. Mrs. Hopps now that I see you in person I can see where Judy has gotten her good looks." Will said with an honest smile.
"Please you don't need to be so formal with us. I'm Bonnie, and this is Stu" Bonnie responded blushing slightly at Will's compliment.
"You're that cop who's so famous on zootube aren't you?" one of Judy's sisters asked as she stepped forward.
"More than that, since the cat's gonna be out of the bag, if you remember the news about that wolf cub being rescued a couple weeks back I am the very mammal who did the rescuing. You can ask Judy, and Nick they were there too." Will answered grinning.
"You should have seen him, well heard him. When we came to where we'd heard the gunshots he heard us coming, and started growling so fierce Officer Wolford, and I were rooted to the spot in fear. Nick was the only one of us brave enough to actually enter the room to let Will know we weren't a threat." Judy said.
"I walked in with my paws raised, and there he was standing over little Sarah on all fours like she was his own cub ready to eat the next threat to come her way." Nick added.
"It's true I was, but as soon as I saw Nick, and had confirmation it was only my fellow officers I went back to comforting that poor cub who had just lost her mother, and would've lost her own life if I hadn't shot the mammal responsible. I tell you I cried a lot that day . . ." Will said before trailing off.
At this the rest of the fluffle seemed to swarm their visitors, and it was hard to tell who got more attention. Nick was thankful he wasn't the only one surrounded, and had others to divert the curious bunnies as they questioned him on what it was like working with Judy. Layla got her fair share of questions on what she did for a living, and how she was so tall to which she answered she'd had a medical issue that caused her to have a very fortunately mild case of gigantism, and that she used to be a soldier with Will though now she wasn't really working. Will for his part seemed to be a magnet for the youngest of the bunnies, and under the weight of them he layed back down on his stomach, but when Bonnie tried to call them off he insisted it was fine.
"I promise you Bonnie I'm used to this sort of treatment, every time I'm home for a family reunion I get cub minding duty, and it's like this only with more biting" Will said to her with a laugh.
"You should have seen him yesterday when we visited an elementary school. He really is surprisingly good with kits" Judy added.
"Yeah you wouldn't think a mammal who used to make his living killing to protect others would be such a softie on the inside, but many are the girls who have seen him with children, and commented that he would make a good father" Layla agreed.
Eventually though the younger bunnies were convinced to give their visitors some space, and they all darted off to do what they would. Stu, and Bonnie along with Judy led Nick, Layla, and Will inside to the kitchen. Will stayed on all fours at first, but worried that the sheer length of his body would knock something over as he tried to maneuver around corners he stood, and was pleasantly surprised his head didn't collide with the ceiling though the tips of his ears did brush against it.
Once they were sat at the kitchen table Stu, and Bonnie shared lunch with their daughter, and her friends. The food was typical rabbit fare, and when Bonnie mentioned that though she had more pred friendly foodstuffs since every now, and again Gideon was welcomed to their table she hadn't thought to prepare any of it with lunch since they'd arrived earlier than expected Will simply laughed it off saying how foxes were omnivores, and would live while he'd do just fine if she had beans for protein for later while he happily ate what was offered complimenting Judy's mother not only with how good what he ate tasted, but with how her home so full of the smells of cooking reminded him of home. When Stu mentioned wanting to get back into the fields to finish up harvesting what was ready Will was first to offer his paws in help swiftly followed by Nick who said he looked forward to the new experience adding he'd never shirked away from hard work to which Judy snarkily commented he couldn't say that about paper work earning herself light chiding from her parents before Nick agreed with her statement since paperwork was so darn tedious. After they were done eating Will surprised everyone by asking if he could hug Bonnie getting on one knee so that he could do so when she hesitatingly agreed. As he wrapped his arms around her he told her that he knew a true mom when he met one, and that she reminded him of his own mother adding that if one were to look up mother in the dictionary there'd be a picture of Bonnie right next to the description with open sincerity, and warmth causing Bonnie to get a little watery eyed while Stu couldn't help but cry a little since of the two he was the more emotional.
Once the males had gone off into the fields Judy, and Layla were left with Bonnie to handle the chores of the house with Layla leaving Judy to catch up with her mom while the vixen lent her paws to minding kits which she did easily having her own motherly streak brought out by all the adorable kits. At first some of the older kits were nervous around her, but empath that she was she knew how to radiate welcoming warmth, and was surprised with herself how easy she found it since she hadn't had to help care for little ones since she'd been a kit herself growing up in an orphanage. Soon enough many were simply referring to her as 'Auntie Layla', and it was hard to say who was more pleasantly surprised by this Judy, or her mom, nor which of the doe's found it more heartwarming. Occupied as they were the rest of the day seemed to disappear in a flash, and it was time for dinner at which point Layla excused herself from the kits who were loathe to let her go so she could help with preparing dinner, and wouldn't take no for an answer from Bonnie as she insisted on helping cook.
"These paws know their way around a kitchen thanks to my mate, and our little sister Maria" Layla said to Bonnie.
"You, and Will have a little sister?" Bonnie asked.
"Not biologically, since she's a melanistic jaguaress, but Will, and I rescued her from a bad situation at the hands of some rather bad mammals. Though technically she's our mutual pack sister with Will as our alpha we both just see her as our little sister much in the same way Will just sees his adoptive sister Sophie who is an arctic vixen as simply his little sister" Layla answered before adding "Now there is a story worth hearing from Will, how that arctic vixen who I've yet to meet became a part of his family so I'll leave it for him to tell"
"You call a jaguaress family? That's quite progressive of you" Bonnie stated.
"Will will tell you all mammals are brothers, and sisters in the eyes of the gods, and he lives by that certainty as true as rain falls from the sky. I for my part grew up in an orphanage so for me family is what you make it, and part of why I joined the military when I was old enough was to funnel money back into the place where I grew up though my talents ended up being more in tech stuff than actually firing a gun. Not that I'm a slouch behind the trigger though for the most part in the unit Will, and I served in I was his spotter, and primary back-up" Layla replied.
"I've noticed Will doesn't talk much about his time in special forces" Judy said.
"Well most of what we did is classified, but I can tell you this we were partners much like you, and Nick are albeit we were killing the bad guys not arresting them so the bonds we developed happened, and strengthened like we were in a pressure cooker of sorts" Layla responded.
At about this point when dinner was getting near to ready the males returned, and all three seemed to have the same thoughts as Stu came to kiss his wife on the cheek, Will came to bury his nose in Layla's neck fur, and Nick just smiled at Judy, and gave her a one armed hug. Then they settled themselves at the kitchen table joking, and laughing together.
"You know Will I wish I could keep you around, and you too Nick. You guys really were a big help with that last push to get everything out of the ground." Stu said to them.
"Don't mention it. I actually like digging in the dirt, and am not unfamiliar with the ag basics since I was in the Ulfhaven Conservation Corps. when I got out of high school" Will said.
"I don't know if the farm life is for me, but I certainly enjoyed the change of pace just remind me not to compete with that beast of a wolf. I am getting too old for that . . . ugh I feel old just saying that" Nick added with a half-hearted laugh.
"Well yeah dude you're like what seven years older than me? Not to mention how much bigger than you I am; what were you showing off for?" Will laughed at him.
"Uh-huh Beastie, and you weren't showing off either?" Nick snarked back.
"I was getting into my groove, I ain't got nothin' to prove . . . Okay yeah I like that I can carry a lot; I was showing off a little" Will retorted laughing again.
"Well hey let me just call on you this time next year, and I'll make it worth your while. I really appreciated your help guys" Stu said with a chuckle.
"I'll do it for all the blueberries Will can carry" Nick responded without hesitation earning a laugh from both Judy, and Layla.
"And I'll do it just cause I like helping others, and maybe a fox sized crate of mixed strawberries, and blackberries" Will added with a chuckle.
"I think we can work something out" Stu responded.
At this point dinner was ready, and the rest of the Hopps family seemed to instinctively sense it so soon the whole dining area was full of bunnies though room was made so Layla could sit next to Will with Bonnie taking a seat left open next to Stu, and Judy taking one next to Nick. Will for his part ate with gusto living up to his reputation for making food disappear truly flooring Judy's parents, and Judy along with Layla laughed at the expressions on the elder bunnies muzzles.
"You guys haven't seen the video of him eating that pie have you? Or the donut eating competition he won against Clawhauser yesterday for that matter" Nick said pulling out his phone to show them.
"I swear someone needs to time me, or something. So I can see just how fast I can clean a plate, and just how long it takes for me to get full" Will laughed as he was first to go for seconds.
When Stu, and Bonnie's jaws dropped at how he massacred that blueberry pie, and then beat the fluffy cheetah with his paws cuffed behind him Will, Layla, Judy, and Nick all laughed heartily. Will was the first one done with dinner having stopped after his second plateful while he was ahead with a quite satisfied look on his muzzle.
"I must say ladies that if you keep cooking like this I'm gonna get fat, like I'd have to run halfway to Zootopia just to burn off the calories" Will complimented them half jokingly.
"So how long have you two been married?" Bonnie asked Will, and Layla.
"Oh, no we're not married" they both answered at almost the same time.
"Well you could've fooled me the way you two look at each other. You said you were mates didn't you?" Bonnie replied.
"We are" Will responded
"It's just complicated . . ." Layla added.
"We fought, and bled beside eachother so many times it was inevitable we'd get close, and then when I was at my darkest hour she saw me for what I really am like no other, and won my heart. As I told my sister Lola we share the same scars" Will tried to explain though it seemed hard for him.
"The goodness in him was too great for me not to fall for him when I saw just how deep it goes even when he is covered in blood. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for his blood in my veins" Layla said taking Will's paw in her own giving it a comforting squeeze.
"There is no length a canid worth their fur won't go to for a mammal they care about, let alone the one they love" Will added his words heavy with the warmth of his sincerity.
"There really isn't" Nick added looking at Judy who couldn't help, but blush in response to the soft smile he gave her, and though she didn't see it her parents did that Nick looked at her the same way Will looked at Layla.
"It sounds to me like any girl would be lucky to have one of your kind in that way" Stu said to them honestly.
"I would even dare to say blessed. You guys seem to take matters of the heart very strongly" Bonnie added.
"The bonds of love are our most sacred, and powerful even in simple friendship, and we do not feel them lightly though sometimes they seem out of our control" Nick said uncharacteristically candid without realizing himself until Will spoke.
"Even when they are unrequited which is part of why we wolves have the proverb we do about how we so easily unintentionally hurt, and get hurt by those we care about most. Before I met this vixen with my heart I had grown as cold as the arctic tundra itself, and nearly forgotten that I even had a heart" Will added, and as he did so the expression on his muzzle fell, and his eyes lost their light for a moment before Layla squeezed his paw with her own, and it was as if the fire in his eyes came back with a vengeance.
While they finished their meal their banter turned towards more light hearted topics, and soon enough they were all laughing thanks to the snarking jokes Will, and Nick seemed to bounce off each other with timely quips from Layla, and Judy peppered in. When they were done Will, and Layla retired to the back porch of the Hopps main house to enjoy a smoke, or two while Nick, and Judy took a short walk enjoying the growing twilight.
When they'd walked a ways from the house Nick stopped, and turned to Judy who in turn stopped to look at him as he spoke to her.
"Judy I . . . I know you so often hear me say to never let them see that they get to you, but I need you to know that you get to me, and that you have gotten to me. I wouldn't be the mammal I am today if it weren't for you, you have saved more than just my life literally. Because of you I found the hope, and strength to be the better me I never thought I could be after what happened when I was a kit. I can't hide it anymore; I love you more than those simple words do justice" Nick said to her looking on the verge of tears as his normal mask of sly confidence fell away.
"Oh, Nick . . . You have been more than just the best friend a girl could hope for in this crazy world. I don't just want to be your friend, and your partner. I want to be your bunny, and I want you to be my fox" Judy said her stunning amethyst eyes sparkled in the last rays of the falling sun.
All Nick could do was lean down to kiss her, but she leapt into his arms to meet his lips with hers in expression of all she felt. Their moment seemed to last more than the mere seconds it did before they both heard Will's shout of "Yes!" before he howled a joyous sound that seemed to celebrate their embrace.
Will's howl attracted quite the fluffle to see what had elicited the sound, and while many of the bunnies were quite surprised seeing Judy, and Nick as they parted they looked to their parents to judge their reaction. Bonnie didn't seem surprised at all seeing just how happy her daughter looked knowing she was never a bunny to not buck tradition. Stu managed not to cry in his happiness for his unconventional daughter. At the ooh, and aahs of the rest of Judy's siblings including a couple comments of "really, a fox?" or "but he's a predator . . ." Will turned, and opened his mouth to speak, but the Hopps family goth stole the words from him.
"Love knows no boundaries, and will grow wherever it can." the goth bunny doe chided them.
"You took the very words from me, pretty one. Crisp high paw?" Will said to her holding out his paw downward which she smacked with her own before he addressed the fluffle in front of him "You all do not know just how Judy is pred-like in her inner strength. You wonder why she never found a buck of her own? Only someone like Nick could truly complement her. Let alone handle her."
"Any girl would be lucky to know the love of a canid. There is nothing they won't do to protect the ones they love. It is an echo of the Wolf Father they all carry within; they will kill with their fangs, or sacrifice their very lives if that is what it takes. I know this first hand . . . as many bullets as he's taken for me even when he didn't need to; it's why his blood is in my veins." Layla added gesturing towards Will.
"If I could cut out my heart to give it to you for safe keeping, and not die I would." Will said to Layla, but her reaction to his words was not what he expected, and his face fell in concern, but before he could make his inquiry he was again beaten to the punch by a lapine doe.
"Layla what's wrong?" Judy asked her as she, and Nick walked up the back porch paw in paw her muzzle concerned seeing the vixen's expression that seemed a mix of hurt, dread, and anger.
"Babe you've got to tell me how my words were the wrong ones" Will said, and he looked like he might cry for having unintentionally causing her pain intimate as he was with that damn wolf proverb.
"She showed me you doing just that before you fell, and were her's again. She even told me just how blessed I am for having it, and that you'd both be waiting there for me with open arms" Layla answered unable to control her sobs.
"Oh, my silly vixen" Will said as he crossed the distance between them to wrap her in his arms, and lick away her tears before continuing "That's not how I'm going to go."
"I'm not sure how I'd feel about you doing that to me" Judy said to Nick seeing Will continue to fervently lick Layla's muzzle until she laughed, and told him to stop which he didn't until she started lightly beating on his chest.
"I'd only do that if the situation warranted it. I think going that far is more of a wolf thing . . ." Nick responded looking as if he'd never considered actually licking her face.
"Oh, you can look forward to this when winter has come Judy. Nick you know you won't be able to help yourself; resistance is futile. Believe it, or not Judy this is actually very comforting . . ." Layla said to them while Will busied himself moving behind her to lick the back of her neck, and ears only pausing to nuzzle, and sniff her head, and neck in various spots. Layla seemed to lose herself in her mate's affections until he began gently biting her scruff, and he had to catch her weight with his arms before she fell to the floor.
"Alright, enough. Stop. Sit." Layla said to Will evenly in her command when his gentle biting threatened to push her from a state of relaxedness into arousal, and everyone except for her was surprised at how swiftly Will obeyed releasing her to sit on his haunches.
"Good boy" Layla said turning towards him to pet his head, and ears which Will responded to by lifting his muzzle into her touch closing his eyes as he did so. When she turned around leaving her paw on his head she saw the expressions on the muzzles of the mammals witnessing all this, and with a laugh she said to Judy "As you get closer to your fox you'll find ways you can bend him to your will usually by dialing up your kawaii factor, but you won't be able to control him like this, or get necessarily these kinds of reactions. This is mostly from Will's weakness for the fairer sex, and the fact his heart is in my paw. That said I could even teach you how to exercise a modicum of control over him. It'd be pretty easy since he already thinks you're sexy, but I already know you'll say no"
"Of course I'd say no. Why would I want control over another mammal in any way? I'm not into that kind of thing . . ." Judy responded trailing off.
"You don't have to be into it to enjoy aspects of it. I'm not really a sub, or into being a dom, but I do enjoy being cuffed" Will said
"It can come in handy with this beast, and in general. Sometimes a girl's gotta wield what she's got like a weapon" Layla said with a smirk, and suggestive sashay of her hips that caused Nick to look down at Judy wondering to himself if she'd ever do something like that for him in the future, and he hoped so.
"Alright kids go inside" Bonnie ordered her kits already not knowing how she would field the questions Will's words "sub, dom, cuffed" would elicit from the younger ones. Somehow this reminded Will they hadn't gotten their stuff from the Shelby, and he'd left his duffle on the trunk so he said to Nick "Hey buddy why don't we go grab the luggage we kinda forgot, eh?"
At that the two canines made their way to Will's Shelby which he unlocked so Nick could get his, and Judy's stuff while Will just slung his duffle over his shoulder as it had been untouched. Nick was silently thankful Judy hadn't needed to pack much since she still had things of hers here at her family home, and followed Will back inside where Judy showed them, and Layla to their rooms. While the main house was itself three stories above ground with the third story mostly being an attic most of the residential space on the Hopps farm was underground. The first floor underground was split between guest rooms, and the root cellar though the access points were different so if anyone wanted to sneak something from the cellar they had to go through the kitchen on the ground floor, and were more likely to be caught in the act. Will actually had to duck slightly since the ceilings underground were slightly lower, but he didn't mind since his own personal home on the Grimm family property was similar albeit more den like, and built to his scale. When Judy mentioned that she hoped they didn't mind being underground since a burrow was a burrow after all Will was first to respond with a laugh before assuring her he felt at home already as this reminded him of the hobbit hole he'd built for himself. Layla added that foxes of old, and wolves alike favored dens for dwellings so the three of them would be just fine since fundamentally a den was similar to a burrow albeit burrows were typically more extensive.
Once they'd gotten settled in their rooms Will, and Layla along with Nick, and Judy who had stayed to chat with her now boyfriend decided to head back upstairs, but were stopped when kits who were off to bed wanted to be told a story by one of Judy's guests. Will without hesitation, or much thought it seemed offered to be their storyteller, and so was lead along with the other three to the underground common room on the second floor where Bonnie also was trying to get the younger one's to settle down. The kits who led him deeper underground announced to their mother, and fellow kits that they had found someone new to tell them a story before bed excited that it would be interesting. When Bonnie tried to insist Will didn't need to tell them a story if he didn't want to after he revealed himself to be this night's entertainment he almost seemed hurt by her suggestion as he told her how he'd grown up always listening to the stories his elders told, and relished the opportunity to finally be the one telling a story.
It took Will a minute to think of which story to tell them since he still remembered a couple by heart, but once he had settled on telling them his personal favorite he requested that they give him enough space so he could tell it right. After they'd made a small circle around him in the middle of the common area so he had enough room to get on all fours, and turn in a small circle he began telling a story none of the mammals listening had heard though Layla, and Nick were familiar with a similar story foxes told to their kits.
"Now I know you've never heard this fairy tale since it's sort of unique to where I'm from, and it has always been one of my favorites. It comes from a time when we mammals had started to walk on our hindpaws, and wear clothes, but before predator, and prey had made peace with eachother. This story begins in an old forest with trees as tall as skyscrapers in a land far north of here where even in summer there was always snow on the ground. The wolves in this forest could walk on their hindpaws, but said to themselves we run so much faster on all fours" and Will got on all fours to show example as he continued "The wolves also scoffed at wearing clothes since they had thick fur to keep them warm, and hide them in the snow from their prey. Now almost all of the wolves in this forest were white, and all they had to do was lay in the snow, and close their eyes to be invisible to anyone not knowing how to look especially prey" Will layed on his stomach, and closed his eyes at this part before going on "The wolf this story is about however was not like his fellows for his fur was completely black. Where the other wolves could hunt during the day by hiding in the snow this wolf could only hide by standing against a dead tree on his hindpaws, or at night. For being so different even his own mother had abandoned him, but the Wolf Mother smiled upon him, and it is said she herself came forth to raise him till he could hunt on his own" at this part Will sat up on his haunches so he could lift his head properly "Now since he could only hunt successfully at night he slept all day in a cave, and in this cave there were bats who he eventually befriended though these bats were not like others who ate fruit, or insects no these bats drank blood. So every night he would go out to hunt, and his bat friends helped him find prey for he had learned their language, and in lean times let those in need take his blood, and as large as he was he could feed many of them without loosing too much of his own blood. Every night before he hunted he would lift up his head to howl out to the Wolf Mother asking for success in finding food, and thanking her for watching out for him for she was the only mother he'd ever known." at this point Will vocalized a very low howl that sent shivers through his audience, and he stayed on his haunches as he finished the tale "Every night many of the white wolves who lived nearby would hear him sing his prayers for wolf howling is a certain type of singing, but that they had abandoned a brother of theirs just for the color of his fur the Wolf Mother frowned upon them so his howls chilled them to their bones with loneliness, and despair. The white wolves made a story about the black wolf, not that they had ever really seen him, about how he was the big bad wolf cursed by the Mother to forever call out to her, and never have his howls reach her so that they might feel better, and he became known to them simply as the big bad wolf. Now when he was barely full grown he was a bit bigger than all the others though not quite as big as me, but he was never bad, and the vampire bats would've told anyone so had they been asked which they weren't. So it happened one night that the black wolf had been catching fish by a stream which he'd learned to do from watching bears one day when he could not sleep that he came across a vixen in a red cloak on her way to her grandmother's den having been taken in after white wolves had eaten her parents. The black wolf had never thought to eat a fox since to him they looked like him even if they were smaller, and had different colored fur, and this vixen caught his eye for at times she would walk on her hindpaws something the black wolf did only when he had to hide against a tree. So the black wolf followed her, and watched first the one night, and then the next, and then the next after that. Many nights the black wolf followed, and watched until eventually he became like her shadow, and as he would leave his cave his howl to the Wolf Mother changed to reflect his desire to see this vixen safe through her forays through the woods, and the white wolves who heard it felt fear at the sound of it. Eventually their fear became too great for them, and the white wolves of the nearest pack slept all day that they might hunt this terror in the night to rid themselves of it for good. However they would never see the black wolf as he shadowed this vixen he still had not found the courage to speak to. That night when they hunted him they found her instead, and frustrated that they could not find the wolf they sought they settled for a midnight snack of fox. The black wolf was not aware of them until it was too late since he had finally found his courage to speak with this mysterious vixen in a red cloak. This pack of white wolves had the vixen surrounded, and the black wolf too before either was aware of them; outnumbered the vixen tried to run, and the black wolf who shadowed her tried to take out the white wolves in her way so she could escape. At first it seemed she would get away, but she could not believe her luck so she turned around to see the black wolf fighting against two of the white wolves while the rest closed in on him. In that moment the Wolf Mother granted the vixen an understanding that the presence she'd felt protecting her was that of the black wolf, and the vixen could not stand to see him fall without thanking him for all the nights he kept her safe so she charged back to fight beside him. Because she could walk, and run on her hind paws she was not necessarily faster than the white wolves, but she could move in ways they did not expect, and managed to kill one before wounding a second. The vixen, and the black wolf were only two however, and this pack of white wolves was at least six strong so it is told thus one white wolf managed to get the vixen's throat in his jaws. The black wolf saw this, and it filled him with the fury of the Wolf Father himself who it is said fought beside his son at this moment. That night the black wolf killed that whole pack of white wolves, but the injuries he had taken were too much, and he died his body curled around the vixen. Yet the story does not end here for the Wolf Mother, and Father both whispered it to those of their children who would listen, and learn. Though they had died on this earth the black wolf, and the vixen in the red cloak were reunited in the forests of the Wolf Mother, and Wolf Father where the vixen got to thank the wolf for keeping her company on so many lonely nights, and the black wolf got to ask her all the questions he had thought of while they both were alive, and the bond between them that had not gotten to grow in life, grew there in death much to the happiness of the Wolf Mother, and Father who blessed them, and promised them that one day when the world had changed they would be reincarnated, and get to share a life together if they so chose, but they have not asked for that promise to be fulfilled such is the happiness they know together in Ulfheim" Will finally finished the story, and the fluffle that surrounded him saw him weep openly with the telling of it, and Layla came to rest a paw on his shoulder crying much as he did.
"Wolfie baby why have you never told me this story? How many times have I referred to you as my big bad wolf, and you referred to me as your Akazukin?" Layla asked Will.
"Because we are different. I am the big bad wolf for the reasons you well know, and you are my Akazukin just the same" Will answered recovering his composure.
"Well this really puts a shade on my plans for our halloween costumes. I just thought it was a really cool idea to truly be scary preds for once, and now . . ." Layla responded managing to stop crying though she was still upset.
"You shush. I may now have a decent guess at what your idea was, but I don't care we're still gonna do it. It'll be fun." Will cut her off managing to give her a warm smile before kits voiced questions.
"Uncle Will why is that one of your favorite stories?" Belle who was an avid reader who could handle books a couple school grades higher than where she was asked.
Will just smiled warmly before answering "My favorite parts of this story are where the Wolf Mother herself raises the black wolf, how she makes it so the white wolves don't hear his howls as they really are, and when the Wolf Father shares his power with his son, and fights alongside him. As a cub I always imagined myself as a white wolf who would've helped the black wolf, and his vixen fight, and maybe they would've survived."
"Can you tell us about the Wolf Mother, and Father?" one of the more curious kits asked.
"Well you know each species has it's angel, or angels depending? The Wolf Mother, and Father are the primary angels for all canids though there are couple more wolf angels that make up the pack in our heaven. One is the black wolf of the night sky, and the other is the red wolf of the mountain wood who are both female. The Wolf Mother, and Father look a lot like me, and my fraternal twin, but different." Will answered pulling out his phone to show them a photo he had of him, and Lola standing together each with an arm around the other wearing matching black outfits.
"Alright everyone storytime is over now for bed. Say thank you to Mr. Will, and off to bed" Bonnie said to her little ones who responding as a fluffle said "Thank you Uncle Will for telling us a story."
"Anytime kits, anytime. Now you sleep well, and we'll all have fun at the festival this weekend won't we?" Will answered them with a question, and nearly all of them stopped on their way out to give him, and "Auntie Layla" hugs with some even giving "Uncle Nick" his share of embraces.
Once the common room was cleared of the kit-fluffle Bonnie bid her daughter, and guests a good night after asking Will to next time not tell such a sad story even if the ending was happy. Will just smiled as he likewise wished her a good night thinking to himself that the tale he told was better than recounting one of his CLAWS missions with details fudged for the sake of those listening. Judy, and Nick led the way back upstairs to the guest rooms where Will, and Layla were first to enter theirs barely bothering to close the door before collapsing on the bed to drift into sleep. Nick said his goodnight to Judy who simply responded by kissing him then pushing him into his room before telling him that though she would share the bed with him she only wanted to cuddle, and he was happy enough to oblige her feeling more content than he had in a long while as he fell asleep with her in his arms.