It has been said that forgiveness, not intimacy, is the final form of love.
Forgiveness. It stands on a level of its own. Above the likes of comrades, friends, and even lovers. Because to forgive someone is to bestow the purest form of love; Mercy.
Showing someone mercy is the ultimate form of appreciation, acceptance, and forgiveness.
The two lovers had been through much. Discrimination. Hate. Threats. Even blackmail. Those terrible grievances never left their mind. They would always remember the worst: Burned into their minds like brands. But they chose to remember them. Like the great city of Zootopia itself, those threats stood as a testament to their resolve. Their will. Their Love, above all else. They remembered them so that whenever they were facing dark moments, they could reach into the depths of their minds and pluck fourth one such memory. They would use it to their advantage, reminding themselves that they have always faced the worst of society. Did they forgive those that cursed them so?
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Yet over the years many of those same that blasphemed their relationship as unnatural and wrong, realized the error of their ways. They were only causing pain. Citizens began accepting the idea that not only could anyone be anything... but that anyone could love anyone ... and that it was an unalienable right to all who lived within the reaches of their expansive, diverse, and forgiving world. But still, there were those who chose not to. Stubbornly refusing to accept changes; in society and within themselves. These were the ones who would swat aside any ideas of, say, a wolf Loving a sheep. These were the ones who organized rallies in protest of this "disgusting practice". The ones who gave ruthless glares at a certain pair of inter-species lovers, in particular. Their glares did not go unnoticed. Unrecognized. Or unappreciated.
They hurt.
Each glare that accumulated upon their small forms was painful. So much so, that there was a point where neither animal would hold hands with one another in public, over fear of public-humiliation. Discrimination. Hate.
It was a sad time.
But those that were forgiving enough to turn a new leaf, as they say, were the wise ones. Those that recognized such behavior as normal, and accepted it, or even partook in it were deemed such. Wise. Socially-accepting. Forgiving.
Over time, the city and its inhabitants accepted and culturally-legalized the concept. And the two little animals that were the face of such prospect, were raised on shields and cheered for. They were the first, it was believed. The first of two different animals to partake in an inter-species relationship. A predator and prey, no less. A fox and bunny.
Unfortunately, this wasn't viewed by all as acceptable. Many still deemed the pair unworthy of one another. They still felt the hard glances of resentment on their backs as they walked down the street, hand in hand. They didn't care. The world had changed. They had achieved their goal. They had shown society that anyone can love anyone. The heart-wrenching concept stood as a representation of Zootopia, almost akin to the likes of 'anyone can be anything!' Life was good. Life was accepting. Life was merciful.
But then why did the fox still feel so bleak? He this thought to himself for days after the argument. He tried to tell himself that it was in the past, that he need not worry about it now. Yet he couldn't help but feel so distracted. So incomplete. So... not himself. Emotional. Nick didn't like it when he got overly emotional, especially around others.
Of course, he didn't let his demons shine through, especially around his mate. He believed himself to have thick skin as it was, but it was hard for him to keep it bottled up. It had gotten so bad, that for a terrifying moment, he thought his father's hurtful words had reached to him. There was a time when he and Judy were enjoying a movie together: After hours of staring at the screen, respectively silent, Nick turned to check on Judy, who lay curled against his right side. When he looked into her face, he heard his father's words in his head.
Disgusting. Unnatural. Unorthodox.
He had leaned away from her when he imagined the quotes. And to his horror, Judy noticed. Judy noticed the apprehensive action, but the look on his face was what gave it away. It was guilt, as she had described it to him after the tears had dried and the apologies had been gifted.
Nick wasn't guilty of his relationship with Judy... was he?
No...
He didn't have a single regret towards Judy or their relationship. But the event from that night had put a stain on the tapestry of their relationship, One Nick was afraid he wouldn't be able to clean off. The days went by continually, yet the words never left him. The memory of Judy's face and his reaction to it never left him. They haunted him. Unrelenting. Unstoppable. Unforgiving.
Nick couldn't get rid of them.
Finally, the stress got to him. He had to resolve this, one way or another. He could no longer stand idle while these unbound thoughts tore apart his relationship with Judy. His love. His wife. His mate.
His everything.
10:37, P.M.
It was a restless night. One of no sleep and much stress. It had been a full day at the ZPD, much work was accomplished in the rays of the sun. But now, the only light was the moon, shining fruitfully through the window in their bedroom. Nick sat upon his bed, staring at the phone in his hand.
Just one call... just one call... .come on Nick, Fix this crapstorm!
Nick mentally repeated those thoughts until his brain could handle no more. He cracked and opened up his phone's contact list. He scrolled down. Finnick. Bogo. Flash. Judy. He saw all those pass by as he scrolled downward. He stopped. One single world illuminating itself right into his very soul. A word he'd always spoken of in disdain or disgust or disappointment. Now, he was to speak to it with forgiveness. At that, he clicked the button in his contact list he'd only ever clicked once before, with disastrous results.
Father.
A new page displayed itself on the screen. The icon circle was empty. He had no pictures of his father: His mother had destroyed all the photos of his father after his leave. She obviously tried hard to erase him completely from their lives. The only real recent memory he had of his father was the argument with him. That thought made him sad.
Without further hesitation, he stamped the 'call' button and placed the phone to his ear. It buzzed. It buzzed again. And again. And again. When Nick had just about given up, the buzzing abruptly stopped. He heard breathing on the other side. Then, he heard a voice. One he had come to despise. But it was also one he knew that he had to forgive.
"Hey dad... I, uh, just thought I'd call you one last time." Nick started slowly. "I'm sorry about some of the things I said, but... It's just that... Ugh."
The fox stammered off. Truth was, he barely even knew what to say.
"Nick... Son." The voice stopped. Silence.
Seven seconds of it.
Then...
"Find me." The voice told Nick right before its owner hung up.
Nick brought the phone down from his ear and stared at it longingly. He understood. This was a union that had to be done face-to-face.
He thought back to the words his father had told him. He knew what he had to do. He muttered reassuringly to himself the goal that he would achieve;
"Find him"
He chuckled a single time to himself, and then turned off his phone, slipping in into his left pocket and standing up before walking out of the closed door of the bedroom and into the living room. He saw Judy leaning on the counter-top in their kitchen. She glanced nervously at him, but Nick smiled reassuringly and walked up to his mate, wrapping her in a hug. He kissed her forehead. Judy smiled herself and broke the silence moments later:
"So, how did it go? It went by pretty quick." She said with worry laced in her tone.
The Fox remembered the short conversation with his dad. He had said nothing, and his dad had said only four words words. But he had given Nick the opportunity to make amends in the most efficient way possible. It was an opportunity he was not going to let slip away. He gave her his answer:
"It went better then I could have possibly imagined. But we're not finished just yet. There's one more thing we need to wrap up."
Judy's face morphed into one of confusion. "And what would that be?" She asked.
"We have to find him... We need to talk face-to-face. It's the only way. Problem is, I have no idea where he lives." His then face shifted into his favorite half-lidded smile.
"But I think I know someone who does."
Hello everyone! I'm pleased that you've made it this far, and I sincerely hope that you've enjoyed what I've dished out so far! :D
I believe I have two (maybe three) more chapters left before I conclude this story. And don't worry, I'll make sure there is more dialogue in the coming chapters, so you can get the chemistry between these two animals down nice and good. I let this chapter be one of those more reflective and thoughtful ones, with sparse dialogue and lots of thinking. But I'll make it up to you. I promise. Intimacy will follow suite! The candle of romance will burn onward!
Be sure to leave a review if you wish, It'd be most appreciated! And as always, I hope you enjoyed! It only gets even better from here on out. Stay tuned! :D
'Till next time...
Peace!