Raspberries Challenge #3: Dumbo

Jimbo

Nick Wilde and Judy Wilde-Hopps both loved the circus. It is how they met after all. To them there was no greater thing they loved more than going out together in front of the crowd and entertaining them with their incredible acrobatic feats.

That is until…

Their son was born. Then, there was something far more important in their lives.

Little James Wilde, or rather "Jimbo" as his father so affectionately loved to call him, became the talk of the circus upon his arrival. Not because the other circus performers were excited about the new baby, but because they couldn't stop gossiping about the baby's... unique appearance.

Being the hybrid son of a fox and a rabbit, James' physical appearance was considered anything but normal - having been born with the overall appearance of a fox, but still having some clear distinguishing rabbit-like features. His fur for example, gray and soft, just like his mother's with a white underbelly reaching all the way down to the lower half of his tail. But with black paws, feet, ears and tail tip like his father. His eyes, a dark shade of amethyst and a small pair of buck teeth at the forefront of his mouth. His tail, long like his father's, though curved a bit upward, puffy, and a little wider on the sides; giving it a similar look to a stretched out cotton tail.

Though much of his overall appearance didn't seem too otherworldly, the one physical feature that no one could seem to resist pointing out were his ears.

Pointed and mostly triangular like his father's, but unnaturally long and a bit narrower at the base. Thin in girth, soft, pink on the inside, and sensitive to touch like his mother's own ears.

Though his loving parents found absolutely nothing wrong with James, the same sentiments did not hold with the other members of the circus, particularly his parent's fellow acrobats - the sheep. To them it was commonplace to berate the young hybrid with harsh names such as "freak", "funny ears", and of course...their absolute favorite, "Dumbo". A harsh play on the loving nickname given to the kit by his father and of the fact that he was half rabbit, ie half dumb bunny.

Things were tough for Nick, Judy, and James during the baby's first year of life, but they managed to make due. What was hardest though was to keep the kit concealed from judgemental eyes. His father Nick, though unsure if the boy could understand him yet would constantly remind him, "Don't ever let them see that they get to you" followed by Judy adding, "And know that we'll always love you no matter what." Though barely able to understand them given his young age, James would simply smile up at them and cuddle into his parent's warm embrace.

As long as he had them and their love, James didn't need anything else.

But one day…

James' happiness was torn away.

A dark day when his parents were arrested and labeled as savages by the press for attacking a crowd of circus goers. What the papers refused to cover however, was that the fox and rabbit couple only attacked the crowd because their child was being mocked, physically tortured, and treated as if he were a part of the circus' freakshow division by a group of troublesome boys led by a young orange-eyed elephant.

Nick and Judy naturally defended their child - Judy by grabbing the young troublemaker mocking her baby and spanking him in attempt to discipline him. While Nick, defended both his wife and child when the mocking boy's father attempted to violently stop Judy from disciplining his son.

When the authorities arrived, they immediately sided with the elephants as neither they nor anyone trusted the word of freaks against the word of an "innocent" child. Because of this, James was separated from his mother and father. And to make matters worse he was made into a clown and shunned by the other acrobats - even more so than he already was.

He hadn't a friend in the world…

Except, for a short fennec fox named Finnick. A circus usher, Finnick had long been James' father, Nick's best friend and when he learned what had happened to the boy's parents he took it upon himself to care for the young hybrid kit.

Though gruff and rough around the edges, Finnick knew what it was like to be an outcast and ridiculed for having large ears. Feeling sorry for him, Finnick made it his mission to make James the most beloved class A circus star the world has ever seen! Big ears or not.

.

Finnick and little James sat just outside the clown tent as Finnick cleaned the smeared makeup off of the young hybrid's face. The clowns inside the tent meanwhile, made greater fools of themselves in their drunken stupor - gabbing about how successful their latest performance was and giving a toast to James or rather…"Dumbo".

They, along with little James had just finished performing the ringmaster's newest money making circus act: The baby clown rescue from a burning building - with James serving as the baby who had to jump out of a burning building down to a trampoline hovering over a large cream filled pie dish.

"See? I told ya you'd be a big hit. They're drinkin' a toast to ya!" Finnick said as he washed the young mixed kit's face. James however didn't care, all he knew was that he missed his mommy and daddy. The mere thought of them brought a much warranted tear down the baby's cheeks. He sniffled.

Finnick gave an awkward pause, not knowing how to comfort the young child. "You uh...you're terrific! Colossal! Stupendous!" Finnick finished wiping the toddler's sniffling face clean. "There ya go kid. Good as new." James continued to sniffle with new fresh tears running down his face. "Come on don't cry like that kid. You're uh...you're a success. You oughta be proud!"

James only teared up some more. "Uh…" Finnick scratched the back of his head. What can he do to cheer him up? He reached into his pocket, "Hey look! I got a peanut! Want it? It's full of vitamins…and..."

James only responded with an irritated mewl and shoved finnick's arm away. He's not understanding! That's not what he wants! James hopped off the small box he sat on and waddled across to the tent in front of them. He stood on the tips of his toes to point up to an ad promoting Nick and Judy's acrobatic act. "Mm…" he whimpered, still unable to properly speak. Finnick looked up realizing that he was pointing up to an image of his parents.

Finnick grimaced sadly, "Sorry kid. Your mom and dad can't be here right now."

Unable to understand, James pointed up at them again and whimpered desperately.

"No Jimbo. It's late. And they're like ten blocks up the road. I can't-"

"Mm…" James whimpered again, while hiccuping new tears. Though Finnick never believed he could ever have a soft spot, the look the kit gave him just made his heart hurt.

He groaned agitatingly, "Can't believe I'm doin' this…" Finnick sighed. "Alright, I'll take you to see your folks."

James smiled, somehow immediately understanding the fennec fox's words. The happy baby rushed to hug Finnick.

Finnick smiled, but quickly shook it off. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. No Need to get mushy kid. Come on, I'll take you to your parents." Little James took Finnick's paw and the two snuck out of the circus.

It was a long trek, but they finally made it to the police station where James' parents were being held.

Within one of the holding cells, Judy sniffled, tears running down her cheeks, while her muzzled husband could only comfort her through the metal bars from his adjoining cell. Though he tried to be strong for her, Nick was trembling - he'd always had a secret fear of muzzles and now he was forced to wear one. He felt so emotionally broken, what with the cold feel of the metallic device restricting his mouth, the evident pain his wife was in, and of course the thought of their little son being all alone. Despite his fears, the sight of his normally strong wife crying was far more painful to him than having to wear a muzzle.

Nick peeked toward the guard in charge of the holding cells - he was asleep.

Nick reached into Judy's cell to cup her chin, "It's okay darlin'. It'll all be okay…" he muffled through the muzzle with a shaky voice, struggling to keep from tearing up himself.

"No it's not," Judy said between sobs, "We're here, locked up in a prison cell when all we were trying to do was protect our baby." She paused as her breath hitched, "And now...poor little James is all by himself...he's probably so scared...and-and…" A fresh stream of tears ran down her cheeks. "I don't know if anyone's even taking care of him." Judy covered her eyes with her paws, sobbing.

Nick felt a greater need to caress her cheek in comfort. He swallowed hard as a tear managed to escape him. He couldn't stand to see her like this and of course he couldn't stand either knowing that their one year old son was helpless and alone.

"Why did I think I could discipline that kid?!" Judy cried suddenly, "If I hadn't lost it and spanked him then little James wouldn't be alone right now and we wouldn't be here," Judy placed a paw over Nick's. She looked up at him with tears at the brim of her eyes and ran a finger over the metal of the muzzle, "I'm so sorry sweetheart...you wouldn't be wearing this horrible thing if it weren't for me…"

"Hey, hey," Nick comforted as he wiped a thumb over a running tear on her cheek. "Don't say that. It's my fault I'm stuck wearing this thing. I'm the one who bit that charging elephant's tail after all. But believe me Carrots, I'd do it all over again if it means keeping you and James safe. And even though we are here, I'm proud of you for trying to keep our boy safe. I never knew a bunny could tackle an elephant, even a young one," he chuckled lightly.

Judy hiccuped, wiping a tear from her eye. Despite her fears for their son, Nick's words managed to bring a semblance of a smile.

"There," he smiled at her, "Now no more crying or else you're gonna get me going too, hehe." Nick chuckled with a single tear running down his cheek. Judy chuckled with him, her eyes still glossy. "Besides," Nick continued, "I'll bet Finnick's been watching over James for us."

Judy sniffled, "You think so?"

"You bet. He's talks big and acts like he doesn't care, but that talk really doesn't match his height."

Judy let out a breathy chuckle. She wiped her remaining tears away and rested her head against the bars next to Nick's head. She sighed with a shaky breath, "I just wish we could see our baby. I miss him so much…"

Finnick and James turned the corner into the alleyway just outside Nick and Judy's holding cells. "There it is," Finnick said pointing to the barred windows. "Cozy little place ain't it?"

Right outside the cell windows, there were a stack of crates leading up to the windows. "Huh, that's convenient." Finnick carried James as best he could up the large crates, until they were at the very top. Finnick stood in front of James, wanting to make it a surprise to his parents. "Just hope your folks are in here. Psst...Psst! Nick! Judy!"

Nick and Judy's ears stood on end when they heard the familiar gruff voice. Without a word, the two climbed on top of their cell benches to look out their respective windows.

"Finnick!" exclaimed the two in an excited whisper upon laying eyes on their friend.

"Hey guys," Finnick gave them a two finger salute in greeting.

"What're you doing here? How's James?" Judy asked desperately.

"Well," Finnick stepped aside, revealing their son standing right behind him, "Why don't you ask 'im yourself?"

Judy gasped happily with tears of joy swelling in her eyes.

"James!"

"Jimbo!" both Judy and Nick called out happily.

James smiled wide and reached out two little paws, "Mama! Dada!" He wobbled over against the wall beneath their cell windows. Nick and Judy stretched out an arm each while James clasped both his little paws up to his parents. Before the little kit knew it, his tiny paws had at last clasped at his mother and father's fingers. A surge of warm affection ran through the baby. He cooed up at them with an innocent smile.

Tears of joy ran down both Nick and Judy's cheeks as they moved their paws up to their child's face, each of them caressing one of the baby's soft cheeks. James smiled, until joy overwhelmed him and he immediately wrapped his little arms around his parent's arms, tearing up as he did. The baby wiped his tears away on his parent's paws, resting his relieved face on both their paws.

Judy released a sobbing breath, for though they were still parted by prison walls they were a family again. Even if it was just for this moment.

Still…

It wasn't enough. She wished so much that she could hold her baby and rock him to sleep as she used to. To just let him know that his mommy and daddy were there for him.

James looked up to her and as if reading her thoughts, he tried to climb onto their paws. He was still so tiny. Often times he would easily fit into one of Nick's paws alone. Nick and Judy's eyes widened and an idea popped into their minds simultaneously. They pulled their paws away for a moment from the baby and Nick offered his paw to Judy. Judy placed her paw over his with palm up. They lowered their joined paws back down to the baby, like a swing in a playground. Knowing what to do, the baby took a seat on their conjoined paws as they rocked him gently to and fro.

Judy began to sing the baby his favorite lullaby with Nick adding in the occasional "Baby Mine"...

Baby mine,

Don't you cry

Baby mine,

Dry your eyes

Rest your head

Close to my heart,

Never to part,

Baby of mine

Despite his rough exterior, Finnick smiled happily and stepped aside to let them have their family moment together. He looked up to the sky as a warm parental air spread throughout the city…

Everywhere around the city mothers and fathers tucked their children in for the night. Kissing them goodnight and sweet dreams. It was as if James' lullaby was for every child, no matter the species or their current living condition.

Little one when you play,

Don't you mind what they say,

Let those eyes sparkle and shine

Never a tear,

Baby of mine

Judy and Nick hummed, as around the circus some of the other performers with children rocked their little ones to sleep. To them, there were no fears about whether or not they'd see each other come morning. They knew they had another day to look forward to together and without the fear of being judged as a freak for simply being what they were.

Regardless if his parents could come with him or not, all James knew was that he was enjoying this moment and wished it could last forever.

Overwhelmed with the sweet air of it all, Finnick teared up a bit, letting a lone tear run down his face. He wiped it off and cleared his throat.

As much as he hated to end the sweet moment...it was time to go.

From your head

To your toes

Baby mine,

You're so sweet, goodness knows

Baby mine,

Finnick gave Nick and Judy a sign that they had to head back. They nodded sadly. "Don't worry. I promise I'll bring 'im back if I can," he whispered to them.

Judy nodded and teared up at the lullaby's next lyric...

You are so precious to me,

Nick teared up as well the second he heard Judy sing that. James was just as precious to him too and didn't want to part ways with him either.

Cute as can be,

Baby of mine

Baby mine,

Finnick gently carried James down from his parents' paws. "Come on kid, we gotta go." James held on tight to his parent's paws before Finnick could go down the first crate.

Baby mine…...

Finnick carried the baby down, while the little hybrid kit's paws slowly parted with those of his parents. Once they were down the crates, Finnick held James' paw and led him away back to the circus, while James kept waving good-bye to his imprisoned parents.

Finnick and James turned a corner and were gone from sight. Despite that she couldn't see them anymore, Judy desperately hopped over to the other window her cell had available and continued to wave good-bye to her baby.