AN: Yeah I ended up doing it after all. This will be a bit of an experiment chapter to see if there is enough interest in these type of side stories to keep writing typing them up. Shorter chapters then the main story of Distilled Dreams to help fill in the AU around the OCs that will be reoccurring. Much like some side quests while they add to the main story they are not necessary to the main plot so feel free to skip them if you wish. I hope you enjoy.

Distilled Dreams: Side Stories

A Bandit to Steal a Bunny's Heart

Chapter One

Rocky Rodgers slumped into an empty booth at the Carrot Shack in Bunnyburrow setting file folders and a document tube down besides him. It was late and the diner was nearly empty. He needed food, he needed coffee, and he needed some sleep before everything arrived tomorrow to begin work. He was too young at twenty-eight to feel this old. The last five days had been a hectic scramble for the raccoon all thanks to a special work order signed by Mr. Big himself. Closing his eyes he rubbed his paws against the black fur bandit mask around his eyes while he thought about what he had already done and what was left to do.

Lighting a fire under the tails of the construction firms architects had been easy enough once he waved the work order around to get renovation plans. Thankfully they had an inside mammal in Bunnyburrow, the rather infamous Family Enforcer Jack 'Savage' O'Hare from back in the day, who was able to rush a copy of the current warren blueprints over as soon as the Wildes made their offer. It took them just three days to modify the plans. A record as far as Rocky was concerned though it left him wondering at the delays they had caused in the past with how long they normally took.

While the renovation plans where being worked on Rocky had to find an available crew and equipment. He ended up having to pull some mammals and equipment from already active projects around Zootopia much to the ire of his fellow fore-mammal. Again that work order had come in handy smoothing ruffled fur as no one could argue with the priority given to the work order with that signature.

The building supplies had been the easiest part in the end. The supply warehouses that the construction firm owned and bought from just needed the final list once the blueprints where done but had already started to load the basic wiring, piping, paint, tools, and other universal building supplies and fixtures needed for any project from the first day. Once all of that was set up and he had his copy of the building plans he made the long four hour drive out to Bunnyburrow to meet with Jack and see the property with his own two eyes in case they needed anything added to the trucks before they left.

His meeting with Jack was short and at the property itself killing two birds with one stone. Nervous would be one word to describe how Rocky felt shaking paws with Jack 'Savage' O'Hare. While he was Bunnyburrow's Head-Chairmammal on the town council and could derail this building project if he wanted to that is not what made Rocky nervous. Although graying, and enjoying his retirement from the more active side of the Family operations he had been in for the majority of his life, the strength still in his paws left the impression Jack could make Rocky 'disappear' if he needed to without much trouble. Four or five decades ago Jack earned the moniker 'Savage' having taken part in some of the more public enforcement and consolidation of power for the Big Family. Back then the Zootopia Underworld was still split into many different faction unlike today where it was all ran though the Big Family at one level or another.

The pleasant mood Jack gave off and the light conversation with him had relaxed Rocky as they inspected the warren and Jack looked over the blueprints. He wasn't the same mammal from the old days. He still had an edge to him but mellowed with age Rocky thought. A quick trip back to town once they where done at the property ended in Jack's office and had gotten him the stamps and permits he would need resting comfortably in the folders and document tube next to him.

"I haven't seen you around before," a cheery voice interrupted Rocky's musings. "You just passing though?" Rocky looked the waitress up and down quickly with tired eyes. She was about his size if you counted the ears. Dark black fur contrasted the light pink dress falling to mid calf. The bright white apron and cuffs of the dress nearly matching the patch of white fur running from her neck and disappearing into the vee of her dresses neckline. The dress would fit right in with some of those retro diners in Zootopia. His eyes lingered on her curvy hip cocked to the side with a paw resting on it. "Eyes are up here mister." Quickly he met her eyes. She had a slight frown from being looked over but it relaxed a bit when she saw the tired look in his eyes. "Coffee to start?"

"Yes please...uhh Audrey." Rocky said looking to the name tag on her chest. He had to lean in and squint slightly to read the small print on it. His eyes darting away in embarrassment at his accidental ogling of her chest as he tried to read the name. He grabbed the menu in a rush and quickly hid his eyes in it. "Sorry about staring...its been a long day...hell a long week. Eyes don't want to focus right it seems."

She laughed lightly. Plenty of bucks anymore didn't even try to hide their ogling let alone apologize for it when she called them out. "Yeah cannot really blame you for that one. The name tag is a bit on the small side hon. I'll be right back with your coffee."

Rocky shook his head trying to clear it while looking over the menu. He peaked around it to watch Audrey walking away to get the coffee pot and a mug. The wiggle of her tail countering the sway of her hips was distracting and he only just managed to return to the menu before she turned around. He strained to keep his eyes on the menu as she leaned forward to pour the coffee for him. "Cream or sugar?"

"Ah no thanks. I prefer it black." Rocky said taking a long drink from the mug. It was hot but he needed the caffeine and the distraction.

"Normally I would say 'I've heard that line before' but I think you are the first mammal I've served to really be talking about your coffee. Plus you managed to take a drink of black coffee without grimacing at the bitterness." Audrey said with a smile that quickly turned to concern as Rocky coughed into his cup. "Oh I am sorry! Here let me get that for you." She hopped away and came back with a couple of cleaning rags and quickly dabbed up the split coffee.

"Its alright...until you said it I didn't realize how that could be taken," Rocky said taking a spare cloth and helping clean up his mess. He jerked and reached for the folders making sure they didn't get any coffee on them. He sighed with relief when he saw they escaped the mess. A coffee stained permit did not look good hanging up.

"What are those? You look concerned that they may have gotten coffee on them." Aubrey asked refilling the coffee cup once the table was clean again.

"Building permits," Rocky said quickly glancing though them before scooting them a little farther away from any possible disaster. "I am in town from Zootopia to do a renovation on a warren that recently sold."

Audrey's ears perked up, "The Proudfeet place! I sold that place!"

Rocky looked at her in confusion. "Really? A real-estate agent needs to moonlight in a diner? Most agents I know in the city can barely keep up with all listing they have." He felt bad when he saw her ears fall. "Uh sorry...sore spot I hit on accident I am guessing."

"Yeah," Audrey said shifting her weight from side to side, "Most of the property around here changes hands without being listed. The Proudfeet place and a shop in town were the only listing I had. With the commission from that I was planning to move into Zootopia to try my paw over there. Until then this pays the bills."

Sipping carefully this time Rocky took a drink from his coffee mug. "Well you did a good job getting the sale documents for the Proudfeet place in order. Just as good as some of the seasoned pros I've worked with back in the city. I wouldn't be here this fast if not for that. Any of the agency's there would be lucky to have you."

A light red blush spread over her ears at the praise. "Thanks. Hearing that makes me feel better about sticking with it all these years," she said putting paw on the raccoon's shoulder briefly before pulling it back and grabbing the order pad from her apron. "Now until that check clears I should probably show how well I can do this job. So have you decided what you want?"

Rocky swallowed the first answer of 'you' that tried to escape his mouth. Quick witted, friendly, smart, putting a real effort into her work from what he could tell, and cute where really making it hard for him to keep things professional. 'Relax Rocky' he thought to himself, 'She is just being a friendly waitress probably for a better tip. She isn't flirting with you.' "Uhh..." he managed to get out instead glancing down at the menu he had only really looked at to avoid ogling the cute bunny in front of him. He set it down and instead looked at Audrey, "You would know what is good here better then I do. Surprise me. I trust you to pick something good."

She smiled while making a quick note on her order pad. "Oh I can be full of surprises hon. Name for the order?" She asked with a shy smile. She didn't need his name for the order but he hadn't offered it yet.

"Rocky. Rocky Rodgers fore-mammal extraordinaire," Rocky said with a slight seated bow. He noticed she did not write down his name on the order pad as she walked away with a 'I'll get this going for you.' He didn't have the menu anymore to hide his eyes from looking at her backside with what looked like an extra little sway thrown in.

"Maybe this wont be such a bad job after all," Rocky murmured to himself finally looking away. He took a sip from his coffee and looked at the pile of folders. "This place looks as good as any to get food from while I am here." It was the food he was coming back for he told himself not the cute bunny carrying it around.