Nick didn't care much for winter.
The cold nipping at his mostly-lithe form was the worst part, and having to wear extra just to be the slightest bit more comfortable didn't appeal to him. He wore a more fancy suit than usual and his colors didn't clash as much as they normally did. This did little to protect him from the cold, which seemed to pierce right through the suit's fabric and into his fur. He held his jacket closed with his paw and soldiered on; he had somewhere to be.
The All Kinds restaurant was on a prime piece of land right on Sahara Square's border, and offered a good view of Savanna Central and the body of water that Zootopia was situated on, all without actually being in Sahara Square. Being so close meant the temperature plunged in the evening, but Nick knew the climate inside the establishment was always kept right at an amicable middle ground of coolness. He checked his phone with a blank stare and headed into the restaurant.
"Table for how many sir?" A friendly brown bear greeted him at the front. The structure of the building was quite contemporary. The dress style wasn't too casual, nor too formal, and the relaxed atmosphere of the staff was quite appealing to Nick.
"Ah, two, should be under Wilde?" Nick grinned.
"So it is," the seating bear nodded. "Friend of the manager, huh? He put little sparkles by your entry, ha ha... right this way!" He magnanimously gestured with his large paw to let the small animal pass.
"Tiff will be your server; she'll be right with you," the bear said in a warm tone.
"Thank you," Nick said, distractedly looking out the window.
Sheez, what a view.
The sun coming down in the west shot fiery tones of purple and amber through the air, where they played upon the water. The table was right at the window; the manager had given him one of the best seats in the house. He looked off to the side, and other mammals of various types and sizes were enjoying their food. The music in the air was contemporary, yet not overly poppy. Pred and prey alike enjoyed meals, yet there wasn't an overwhelming din in the area.
The atmosphere was just amazing. This was the kind of restaurant Nick really liked to hang out at.
It was just a shame his date wasn't coming.
Nick's eyes flicked over as he saw a cottontail cheerfully heading over to his table.
Aw great, Nick said in his head. A bunny.
"Hello! I'm Tiff," the mostly-brown bunny greeted, giving a wave. "Can I start you out with something to drink?"
"Some water, please," Nick replied evenly.
"Of course!" Tiff nodded, looking at the empty chair across from him. "Are you waiting for someone else... or...?"
"Yeah, she'll be right here," Nick lied immaculately, with a convincing nod.
Tiff's smile brightened as she returned the nod, and headed off. It was all Nick could do not to roll his eyes. Bunnies. They were the easiest to fool.
But who really was the idiot here, Wilde? Nick's inner voice prodded at him with pointy shame. Who are you trying to fool? Did you just not want to give up this favor?
Nick took out his phone and sighed heavily, scrolling through his texts, his glazed expression threatening a frown. Minutes went by after Nick got his water. The visible light was dimming, not that it mattered to Nick. Not only would the view of the Sahara Square be amazing once the stars came out, the dark barely registered to Nick's gifted eyes anyway.
He really wanted to share this moment, and in that weakness he started to text.
[I know you said you didn't want to come] Nick started, then deleted that line.
[Hey, was just wondering if you still] Deleted.
[This is one of the best views I've ever seen in] Deleted.
[Hey, decided to head down to All Kinds after all. Seat's still open if you're hungry.]
Nick's thumb hovered above the "send" button, and it almost hurt him spiritually to press it.
"...Still waiting?" Tiff appeared next to Nick, looking a little anxious.
"Yeah um, could I just see a menu?" Nick asked distractedly. "Sorry, she's usually not like this."
"Of course," Tiff nodded eagerly, giving him a menu.
Everything looked good. Nick hadn't had a fancy meal in a long time, but he didn't want to order with his stomach. His stomach, while hungry, was also churning with feelings of shame and hopelessness. He was trying his best not to let that infect his brain.
Nick's tail frizzed a bit when he finally heard his phone's text noise.
[I told you it's not going to work. Should have listened to Dad. You foxes are so clingy.]
He couldn't help his muzzle scrunching up a bit, or a hesitant exhale of air coming from his mouth. He placed the phone face-down on the table and his head hung. He ran his hands through his head fur and his ears, letting out a huge sigh. When he looked back up, his eyes only caught the cottontail's brown ones for a moment before the bunny was rushing back to his seat.
"Do you know what you want?" Tiff smiled tentatively.
Oh yeah, he did. But it wasn't food.
"Um, what do you recommend?" Nick asked, hoping he had just imagined the slight hitch in his voice.
"Well, ah..." Tiff nipped at her front lip. "For a predator... our shrimp pasta is supposed to be really good. Creamy and with a pinch of spice. Really decadent, you know? Or are you the more omnivorous type? My suggestion-"
"No, that- that sounds good," Nick nodded quickly. "One of those."
Tiff smiled faintly and headed off.
Nick pressed his claws gently on his temples and rubbed. Just the one thing he couldn't seem to get right in his life was a good, solid relationship.
Desperate to hear a familiar voice, Nick picked up his phone again, maneuvered away from the text screen, and placed a call.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, Finn," Nick greeted, his mask settling back onto his voice. "Tomorrow, about the whole hustle thing, callin' it off."
"Oh yeah?" Finnick didn't sound too pleased. "Well, next hustle we gotta do 60-40, my favor. Gotta eat, Nick."
"Right, of course," Nick nodded. "Let's do a sure bet, an easy one, like, ah- I dunno, the Pawpsicle one."
"Tch, just as well we ain't doin' it tomorrow," Finnick spat, "I gotta get that fool elephant thing washed. Hey, didn't you have that hot date tonight?"
"That's right," Nick said, "I'm on my way there right now."
"Oh I got you, I got you," Finnick's voice developed an audible leer, "you ain't wanna go hustlin' tomorrow cause you gonna be hustlin' tonight. I got you!" Finnick's coarse bark bit into Nick's ear. "Aight, aight, that's cool. You get yours, Nick."
"Right," Nick clicked his tongue. "See you the day after."
"Aight, don't bug me till then," Finnick hung up.
Tiff wandered over. Didn't look like she had food with her, so Nick gave her a wary glance.
"Hey, um," Tiff smiled faintly, looking at the empty chair. "If you need me for anything, just ask, okay?"
"Got it, thanks," Nick smiled pleasantly.
His smile was a fake. He saw what that bunny was doing. Thinking she could just intuit what was going on. That just because bunnies were emotional wrecks meant they were good at empathy or something? What a laugh.
A scornful bark of a laugh did escape Nick's muzzle. He shook his head, looking out the window. This city. Zootopia. It looked pretty on the outside, but in? Could be just as rotten as- well, something not trying to look pretty. Nick looked down at his outfit instinctively and scoffed quietly.
Eventually, his food came out. Tiff set it down carefully at his place, trying not to let the smell of the shrimp crinkle her nose.
"Just let me know if I can get you anything else, okay?" The cottontail smiled patiently, then headed off.
Like a shoulder to cry on? Nick mentally added bitterly.
He did eat, though. He was hungry.
Tiff plagued his table yet another time.
"Hi, um, sorry to bother you," she started, "but I was just wondering if our other guest would be joining you or not because-"
"No, she's not coming, okay!?" Nick snapped, but then quickly drew back his voice when he saw the bunny get startled. "Listen, it's- if it's a problem, just tell the manager, okay? Josh is here tonight, yeah?"
"I'm sorry, so sorry!" Tiff cringed, her ears going back, "I was just- there's a family in need of a chair over there and this table is f- I didn't mean to presume that-"
"Oh no, take the chair," Nick looked away, ashamed. "That's fine."
Tiff quietly obliged, adding the chair to the table of a family of hyenas, one of which was still looking at him funny over his little outburst.
"Aaand that's what happens when they get to you," Nick held up his glass of water and shook it at the invisible animal sitting across from him, who didn't even have a seat to sit on now. "It's ugly. No one wants to see that."
Tiff approached meekly yet again to refill his water. "Sir, if there's anything I've done to make your stay uncomfortable, let me just say that I apologize, and-"
"You're fine," Nick said curtly, but with some degree of pleasantness.
"I don't mean to presume I know what's going on with you," she went on, clutching the water pitcher closer to herself, "but if you want to say anything, I'm all ears." She let out a failing giggle.
He didn't want to say anything, really.
"I appreciate it," Nick nodded at her, "but I'm fine. Everything's been fine. You don't have to worry that your tip's gonna be cut into."
"Oh!" Tiff looked spooked. "No no no, no sir- that is not my primary concern at all."
Nick clicked his tongue and pointed at her. "Gotcha. It's okay."
Tiff looked embarrassed, and awkwardly left.
He would actually tip her well. She was kind of cute, polite, and helpful. She was a bunny though, and had that naive simpleness to her that made them such a joke to him. Dumb bunnies, all of them.
Just like Melanie.
Ugh, don't take it back there. Don't take it back there.
It was good food, good service, and good atmosphere anyway. What more could a fox really ask for? A bunny?
Nick scoffed, grinning and shaking his head.
"That'll be the day," Nick sat back in his chair and took a long gulp of water.