We're back with the newest chapter! The plot thickens as our heroes try their best, fighting against unexpected odds, to carry out their plans.
Enjoy the chapter (for the first time preceded by an appropriate quotation) and stay tuned for a question and a (tentative) announcement following in the author's comment at the end.
'There are truths that it is better not to reach. Truths that are like the forbidden fruit on the Tree of Knowledge.'
'This is not Paradise, Monsieur de Bernis.'
'I cannot be so sure on that. In these last days it has grown nearer to Paradise for me than any I have known in life.'
- Rafael Sabatini, "The Black Swan"
Mrs FruFru Big Grande was a reasonable shrew. True, at times she lost her temper – in her defense, most such occasions had to do with her father's oh-so-slightly-skirting-the-law activities. There were also times when FruFru could be flighty, or easily distracted – especially where hairstyles or bold-print jeggings were concerned. She was, nonetheless, a kind soul with a heart of gold and fierce loyalty where her friends were concerned. To really annoy her, you had to go quite far.
It seemed at the moment that tiny Judy Grande (nicknamed JuJu) was rather close to that dangerous limit.
The toddler stood defiantly, facing her mother, the willow-patterned serving tray still gripped in her minute paws. FruFru was standing squarely in front of her daughter, fuming, the debris of broken china and spilled tea separating them.
"Sweety," FruFru was breathing rather heavily, and her voice was a notch more high-pitched than usual. "What did we say?"
JuJu shrugged carelessly, her tiny brow furrowed in an uncanny imitation of her grandfather Mr Big, the serving tray still clasped in front of her for all the world as some sort of shield.
When dealing with FruFru, it was hardly necessary to answer in any case – the shrew often replied to her own questions after having stated them. She did so now, wringing her paws in a woebegone gesture of pure agitation.
"Two minutes," FruFru exhaled, her paws now on her hips. "I was only leaving you for two minutes in the sitting room. The tea tray was to stay on the coffee table while I went to fetch the buns from the oven – Sweety, can't you stay put for two minutes together? My gosh! What were you trying to achieve, for goodness' sake?"
JuJu sniffed in annoyance, before retorting shortly:
"Fort!"
This seemed to be ample explanation in the child's opinion. FruFru stared a moment at her, before leaning back dramatically and slapping her right paw across her forehead.
"Honey, you can't be serious," the young mother was trying to keep sounding imposing, although she was starting to splutter a bit, a fit of giggles taking hold of her. "Mommy saw the fort you were building in the corner of the sitting room – Mommy thought you only wanted the cushions from the couch though-?"
"Table," JuJu brandished the serving tray at her mother, her squeak of a voice growing more confident as she perceived that her mother was not, after all, really mad anymore. "Fort. Table."
"I see," FruFru shook her head in bemusement, as she started bending over to gather the broken bits of teapot and teacups. "So the tray was to serve as the table inside your fort? You really plan to live there now, do you Sweety?"
"Yiss," JuJu stated in a superior tone, beginning to drag the tray, won with so much damage, back to her make-shift fort.
"My my," FruFru observed her daughter, her eyes twinkling. "You did break the tea set though Baby. You'll just have to get in the habit of asking Mommy when you want something for playing now, won't you?"
"Yiss," JuJu seemed to have ceased listening to her parent; she was already busy setting the recuperated tray with her own set of toy cups and saucers, after having cautiously pulled the pink rose-patterned blanket that served as the fort's entrance shut.
"Oh Sweety," FruFru was scurrying around, fetching a mop. "Now Mommy just has to hurry up and clean this mess and fix a fresh pot of tea before your godmamma gets here! Like Mommy already didn't have her paws full with you."
JuJu was hardly paying attention to the conversation anymore, having already been transformed in her imagination into the youngest shrew general busy preparing a repast inside her fort for the other generals and captains that would be stopping by soon to break bread and hold council. If she had still been paying attention to what her mother was saying, she would probably have expressed her surprise at her parent busily brewing a pot of tea to offer as refreshment for her godmother – the latter was, after all, such a very big animal. The teapot used by the shrew family would barely have sufficed for a sip so far as JuJu's godmother was concerned.
The aforementioned godmother had no idea just what a fuss was currently being made for her benefit at the Grande household. She was walking cautiously along Bluebell street - one of the few that had been specifically set up so that larger mammals would access and navigate Little Rodentia without terrorizing its tiny settlers. Nick was striding after Judy in silence, if you didn't count his occasional light-hearted whistling. Indeed, as the evening sun sank slowly lower and the first colors of twilight touched the sky, there was all in all little noise to break up the calm that had succeeded the storm – except for the very faint chitter chatter of Rodentia residents hailing their neighbors here and there as they headed home after work or out to dinner – and the occasional tiny snatch of a miniscule fiddle from some café's open window as a mouse musician entertained the clientele. The between the pêaceful end of the day and the raucous weather that had preceded it was flagrant.
Judy appreciated this quiet background dimly, as it left her free to mull over how she was to launch into her discussion with Mr Big. She felt quite sure at the time that she was concentrated fully on her plans and on not stepping into a puddle; in days to follow however, when she were to look back, she would be surprised to see that she remembered the entire scene quite vividly, not just her thoughts of the moment. This was undoubtedly due to all that was to come out of that fateful day and its events, not to mention that visit to the Big/Grande home.
Nick's breezy whistling in particular as he strolled along behind her would come back to her with a striking clarity.
FruFru's small face was glowing with a triumphant smile as she skipped over to answer the doorbell. She had indeed saved the day – or the evening, as it were – in the very nick of time. Barely had she set down a fresh tray of tea things in the sitting room that the two friends were arriving on her doorstep. After a hurried squeak in her husband's general direction to inform him that he was expected to watch JuJu till she came back with the guests – no more chances – Mrs Grande rushed over to answer the door and usher her guests in.
It was very lucky that the Grande family was well off and that its members were used to entertaining larger animals – Nick and Judy would hardly have ever fit into the foyer of a standard Little Rodentia house. As it were, it was a bit of a squeeze, particularly for Nick who had to keep his neck bent constantly to avoid the crystal chandelier.
"Darling!" was how FruFru greeted her friend and her child's godparent. The shrew rushed forward to embrace Judy. Judy had to all but go down on all fours to kiss FruFru's cheeks – she did so as cautiously as she could, avoiding the miniature furniture underfoot.
"Oh Judy dear," FruFru clung to the rabbit's paw with both of her own, beaming. "We really do not see enough of you! And Nicholas-" she turned to greet the fox in turn and perceived how very low her domed ceiling seemed to be for him.
"Goodness!" FruFru spluttered, her whiskers twitching in a smile.
"Make nothing of it, Mrs Grande," Nick put in courteously, all the while trying to find a position that was not entirely uncomfortable and to nod politely at the miniscule hostess. "As my friend Miss Hopps undoubtedly told you, when passing our police training as cadets we are made to occupy spaces much more confined than this for hours at a time. And in much less pleasant company besides," he added gallantly. Mrs Grande tittered, but still looked preoccupied for a moment. Then her brow cleared.
"I know! I'll have Cooky set the tea things outside! Our garden will be spacious enough for you by far – and it faces south! The grass'll be dry, despite all that horrid rain we've had earlier."
"How incredibly ingenious of you Madam," Nick smiled down at her, as Judy sighed in some relief.
"Thanks FruFru," the rabbit said gratefully, before adding, "Oh, and I love the new look!"
"Really?" FruFru squirmed happily, patting her bouffant new updo with its many glittering hairpins fondly. "Oh, thank you! Do go on through the veranda then, I won't be a minute!"
It was thus that the two friends found themselves seated on the well-trimmed lawn of the Grande garden, basking in the very last rays of the setting sun, as FruFru bustled out through the veranda doors, closely followed by the Grande family cook whom she'd nicknamed 'Cooky', the two of them bearing between them the infamous tea tray, a small pot of freshly-brewed coffee and a plate of teensy buns, piping hot. Tiny JuJu was also brought outside, much to her protests at leaving her fort – only to find to her sheer amazement and pleasure the present Nick and Judy had prepared for her. As the toddler ran squealing in and out of the mouse-size dollhouse, FruFru poured the drinks out.
"Sugar with your coffee Nicholas?" she chimed, settling herself comfortably in a garden chair, as she poured carefully.
"One lump only, if you'd be so kind Ma'am,' Nick returned gravely. "Let's be reasonable."
Judy hid her smile behind her right paw, as she observed the microscopic lump of sugar that FruFru accordingly dropped into Nick's cup, before passing it to him. The rabbit had to bite her lip even harder and avoid watching Nick as the latter accepted his coffee and, for all the world like this was the size of mug he always took his drinks in, started to stir the minute teaspoon around, the handle precariously clasped between his claws.
"Dear me," FruFru piped, slightly distressed, as she realized suddenly just how tiny the portions contained by her teacups were for her guests. "That's hardly enough for a proper swallow now, is that?"
"Quality trumps quantity Mrs Grande," Nick replied quickly, inclining his head politely. "Everytime. Think nothing of it – your coffee has to be the best I've ever tried – the amount hardly makes any difference, when one reaches this league."
"You are so kind," FruFru beamed, passing Judy a tiny scone balanced on a pretty china saucer that the rabbit had to place on her open palm with care. "And the toy house you've brought for little JuJu," the shrew continued excitedly, whipping around in her seat to cast a fond look at her toddler. JuJu was busily arranging her stuffed toys inside the playpen, emitting tiny satisfied squeaks now and again. Judy cast the child a glance too, forgetting the real purpose of her visit for a moment as she took a second to admire her godchild. JuJu had indeed grown up very much during the last year – the bunny could appreciate it all the more from not having seen her very often. It was uncanny to see the resemblance to Mister Big that was becoming apparent in the child's bearing, the stubborn expression she got at times and the deep-set black eyes that were definitely inherited from Mr Big's side of the family.
"From Grandmamma," Mr Big commented gruffly, as he joined the small party seated in the garden some fifteen minutes later. "Baby," here he indicated FruFru, who was cutting her father a slice of raspberry tart (one raspberry having sufficed to cover the whole tart), "Baby has her mother's eyes. But little JuJu there has my Grandmamma's," he produced a minute handkerchief from the inside pocket of his suit at this and proceeded to blow his nose on it with a sound that was a cross between a whoopee-cushion and a weeny trumpet.
Judy was putting her empty saucer back on the table inside – she could reach the porch without getting up after all – and wisely refrained from any comment in answer to Mr Big's mention of his grandmother. She remembered only too well her original meeting with the crime boss and his subsequent anger at Nick, following the skunk-butt-rug incident.
The twilight had thickened around them and the first stars were popping out above. Mister Big was seated in his ever-present favorite armchair, his humongous polar bear bodyguards having retreated outside after depositing him on the grass. JuJu had left her new dollhouse at length and come to sit on her grandfather's lap, to steal bits of food from his plate and play with the gold pocket watch dangling from his waistcoat pocket. FruFru alternately bustled in and out of the house to bring her father some more refreshment, to grab a jacket for JuJu as the evening dew fell or to exchange a word with her husband who was smoking his pipe, rocking in his little wicker chair on the terrace.
Judy and Nick sat side by side on the only stretch of lawn that was large enough to accommodate them, Judy holding the warm woolen wrap one of Mr Big's bodyguards had brought her from the car around her shoulders as the temperature dropped slowly. Nick was lighting mouse-sized fairy lights and stringing them up in the dwarf apple-trees to amuse JuJu – who clapped happily to see her parents' big friend deposit the shining lanterns at the very tops of the trees with such ease. Judy watched the myriad of fairy lights rustle quietly in the breeze, for all the world like so many colored fireflies, as JuJu piped excitedly 'Bright! Bright!' from way down on her grandfather's knee. Her squeals mingled with her parents' murmuring voices and the occasional clink of tiny cutlery on china.
"My child," it was Mr Big's raspy voice that brought Judy back to her senses with a snap. "Baby here says you wished to speak to me?"
Judy's mind leaped back to the affair at hand and her heart started beating a mite stronger. She could tell Nick was paying close attention, although he seemed outwardly to still be focused on his immediate task, holding a green and a pink lantern in front of JuJu, so the toddler could decide which one she wanted lighted next.
"I did want to talk to you," Judy agreed, her voice sounding a bit strained to her own ears. She tried to marshal her thoughts into order. "Mister Big… I had a… well, a business proposition of sorts for you."
The rabbit steeled herself after having spoken, turning her eyes away firmly from Nick – the fox had turned to fix his stare at her, one eyebrow raised, following her words.
"Child," Mr Big waved an airy paw. "You are like family to me. You saved my daughter… and christened my granddaughter. For your services, I am forever indebted. But what kind of business could we do together? You being a police officer and myself being…" Mr Big made a small gesture with his paw and sipped his tea instead of finishing his phrase.
"That's true of course," Judy said hurriedly, to allow Mr Big the leisure of not labeling his job in the presence of two representatives of the ZPD. "I was just wondering if – well, very frankly, if you'd loan me – well, what is quite a big sum of money, for me at least." She heard Nick snap one of the apple-tree's branches in a warning way but ignored him, still facing the criminal chief earnestly.
"And what might this money be for, my child?"
"Well, it's about this building," Judy measured her words out evenly. "Where we were going to buy a penthouse – except that, well, the owner seems uninclined to see us. So I thought that… that if we made him an offer he couldn't refuse, he'd accept in the end."
"What is this offer he'd never refuse?" Mr Big was watching Judy intently, disregarding JuJu entirely, even though she was pulling at his whiskers.
"I thought – with your help – of buying the whole building. And of – well, of getting a profit on it – that'd go to you of course – by reselling the rest of the flats in it one by one – and maybe having something useful on the ground floor, like a gym for training future police recruits. Or something – anything – to attract animals over." She chanced a glance at Nick – the fox was watching her, both eyebrows raised now, the expression behind his emerald eyes unreadable in the dusky light.
"Hummm.." Mister Big sighed a bit, settling back in his armchair. "Interesting. Sounds like a lot of work for you child, and all for… what would you get out of this, if the profit were to go to me?"
"I'd get to live in the penthouse, as planned – and Nick too – and I'd prove a point," Judy sat up straight, the wrap sliding off her shoulders a bit as her violet eyes shone with the fierce little spark they always got when the rabbit felt her principles were attacked. "I'm positive," she continued earnestly, " that we'd manage well enough with getting your money back – and a percentage too – Nick knows quite a bit about this sort of thing, and he says the building has potential-"
"Sure, drag me into this Carrots," the fox muttered at her side. Judy shot him an annoyed look.
"Proving a point…" Mr Big looked up at Judy gravely, his beady eyes flashing under his bushy overhung eyebrows. "My child… how young you still are," he twisted a whisker with his tiny claw thoughtfully.
"By 'young' he means 'stupid and naive' Carrots," the fox supplied helpfully in an audible whisper. Judy chose to ignore the remark.
Mr Big seemed to be deliberating – his daughter had paused in her endless scurrying and was watching him closely, her eyes narrowed a bit.
"My child," Mr Big said finally, addressing himself to Judy. "I will help you with this venture. But I place two conditions on our deal," his eyes gleamed dangerously and Judy felt her stomach clench a bit.
"Daddy!" This from FruFru, who threw her paws up in a gesture of frustration and indignation. "I could have thought that for Judy's sake-"
"The bunny will always be like a child to me Baby," Mr Big told her, swiveling around in his armchair. "However, business is business," he cackled darkly.
"What are the conditions?" Judy asked, her voice suddenly husky.
"The first one, my child," Mr Big looked up at her evenly. "Would be that, if you do not manage to reimburse me within the year – well, then you leave the entire building to me as retribution."
"DADDY!" This was wrenched from FruFru in a tone of outrage. "You are effectively telling our friends that they will be out in the street if they don't manage to—"
"It's fair, I think," Judy said quietly. "You're the one financing the affair after all Mr Big." She glanced at Nick and the latter shrugged and grimaced a bit. The first condition sounded all in all not too bad to Judy – she would, all things considered, not be much the worse for wear if things did go that way – she would be homeless, true, but at least she will have tried her luck.
"The second condition then, child is this – you and Nicky owe me a favor, which I can call in any time. A favor where your job is concerned, I mean." Mr Big leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers triumphantly, as JuJu bounced up and down on his lap. Judy stared at him, as the fur on her back seemed to stand on end and prick slowly.
"I couldn't possibly promise-"she stuttered.
"Mr Big, that all depends," Nick cut across her suddenly. "What kind of a favor we're talking about here. Say if you were asking us to look away from some unseemly affair you were involved in say – bury the thought – me and officer Hopps here could hardly comply. What an example that would be for your grandchild!" he laughed carelessly and waved an airy paw in the air. "Now if you were to, I don't know, request a favor that went along the lines of investigating someone for you – some unfortunate business competitor say – why then, you'd me bringing information to the attention of the ZPD like any responsible citizen of Zootropolis might. We'd be only too happy to oblige in that case."
Judy gulped, unnerved, and thrust her paw back on the lawn till she found Nick's. She held on to him in what she hoped was a manner that expressed her gratitude – she would hardly have had the presence of mind to place a condition on Mr Big's condition at that critical moment. Nick squeezed her paw quickly and reassuringly in reply, as they waited with bated breath for Mr Big's response.
The mafia boss took his time over it, slowly reaching out to place his empty cup in the grass, all the while keeping JuJu in place with the other paw. After straightening up in his seat, he said simply to the two friends:
"Children.. you may consider we have a deal."
Judy still felt shaky as they made their way back in the evening light, Little Rodentia now behind their backs.
"I can't believe I got us into that," she said, her paws dragging along the pavement. "Call it silly – I thought Mr Big would lend us the cash, no questions asked, just on the offer of the profit he'd eventually get."
"You don't know him enough Carrots," Nick shrugged, his hands in his pockets as he strolled along. "He didn't get to the top without always managing matters in such a way that they served him best. Cheer up though – things are working out fine for us in the end. With a little luck, we won't have to do anything shady for him either."
"And if we're out of luck?" Judy asked drearily.
"Then we'll see the other side of our job," Nick chortled. "The one from behind prison bars Carrots," he clarified, seeing her questioning look.
Judy groaned. "Sure, you can laugh."
"I can," Nick agreed easily. "I have many acquaintances on that side."
"Har Har."
"I'm serious Carrots! We'll have plenty of animals to show us the ropes."
"Please just lay off the jokes," Judy begged. "I feel wiped out – and I still have that pain of a report to finish tonight for the street brawl in Rainforest the other day."
"You're a perfectionist Carrots, that's your problem," Nick said accusingly. "Well, one of your problems at least. Thought you'd skipped lunch to finish that thing?"
"I did," Judy covered a massive yawn with her paw. "It wasn't enough. Still one or two pages to go over."
Nick clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
"So – you didn't eat any of the lovely breakfast your parents had prepared this morning because you were – ahem, undisposed – you skipped lunch, unless one counts the weird pie your acquaintance the all-too-easy-to-rob pastry chef supplied – and you only had mouse-sized scones for supper?"
"Just leave me be," Judy grumbled. "What's it to you?"
"What it is to me partner dear, is that I have the misfortune to share your office and consequently suffer your morning moods tomorrow after you sleep badly on an empty stomach," Nick said severely, taking Judy by the shoulder and steering her into a side street firmly. "Now, we happen to be by one of Sahara's finest all-night diners areas – like it or not, we're dropping by one of them."
Judy was still protesting as they sat down at a table at one such diner, the koala waiting on the tables setting menus in front of them dispassionately; "Fresh beetroot and fennel bouillon, wholegrain bread and dill dip on the side" caught her eye though, and she promptly forgot her protests, burying her nose in the 'starters' section.
Several short minutes later, the aforementioned 'fresh bouillon' was steaming on the table in front of the bunny, alongside the wholegrain bread bun and an avocado-and-cherry-tomato salad. Judy dug in happily, as Nick sipped a mug of decaf (it was late by that time after all) slurping and dipping a gingerbread cookie in it.
"It's such a shame," he remarked, after sampling the biscuit. "This blessed decaf is killing the memory of Mrs Grande's lovely home-brewed coffee."
Judy took a mighty gulp of broth – her mouth was very full - before answering.
"You drink way too much coffee Nick – you should cut down to the number of cups you consume at this time, but in shrew-sized mugs. However did you manage during your training at the academy? They never let us take coffee breaks – or any kind of breaks, for that matter."
"I pulled through – obviously," Nick smiled in a mock-reminiscing manner. "You'd be surprised to see what I can achieve once I've put my mind to it Carrots. Though I'm nowhere near you in that respect, Miss I'll-make-deals-with-Big-himself-just-to-prove-a-random-point."
"Touché," Judy winced at the memory. "And I owe you a thank you I guess, for saving us back there a bit when Mr Big was placing his second condition."
"You never spoke a truer word Miss Hopps," Nick downed the remainder of his drink in one go, shuddered slightly at the flavor, and turned to face his friend.
"I had to say something after all," the fox raised his shoulders quizzically, "Once I saw that you were in your 'fighting for the rights of rabbits and other emotionally unstable mammals' mode."
"I can't accept some things," Judy shot back, with as much dignity as she could muster considering the fact that her mouth was full of wholegrain bread and avocado shavings. "It's the principle behind that kind of attitude – I believe you know, that fighting back will make animals change their viewpoint little by little."
"Uh-hum," Nick was folding his napkin into some kind of origami-esque shape. "Tell me if this sounds familiar Officer Bunny – telling yourself proudly and gushingly time and again that you are fighting for the best interest of animals everywhere – which may well be, on the one paw – on the other paw though, you are quite desperately fighting for something that is actually your own vision of a – happy ending, let's call it – that is finally nothing more than Miss Hopps' idea of what's right and what's bright."
"Which is?" Judy braced herself, a bit annoyed, prepared to counter any argument that was thrown at her.
"That you want to take Bogo's place someday," Nick pointed his folded up napkin at her (it now resembled something between a hat and a wonky boat) in an accusing manner. "Preferably sooner than later."
Judy gaped at her friend, silenced. The chatter of the other late diners around them buzzed and hummed, as Judy digested what Nick had just stated. She dropped her gaze to the remaining shreds of salad in her plate, as she felt her ears slowly grow warmer – it was strange, she had never realized up till that moment, never clearly formulated in her head what her professional goal was – had not even stopped to think about it. Which was why she felt a bit wrong-footed to hear Nick make such a bland assumption– all the more so as she realized with a jolt of amazement that his statement was absolutely accurate.
"Why would you say that?" She asked finally, looking up at Nick curiously.
"It's just pure logic compadre," Nick returned easily. "You've never been one to just go with the flow – having achieved one level, you'd automatically start rowing for the next one – and then the next one after that. Exhausting stuff! And aiming to be chief one day – well, that's the only thing to aim for now –for someone like you that is, who always has to row against the current. No resting on her laurels for this rabbit – not ever," he made a vague gesture with his right paw, like some sort of lecturer delivering a final point.
"Well," Judy said, after a little pause. She wondered why Nick always had to make hard work and ambition sound quite so – well, tacky. "I guess I'm glad to aim for something and work for something – not just drag my paws along like the next animal." She thumped a decisive fist on the tabletop. "I'll give it my all, going after my dreams – I might win in the end. You never know."
"You do that Carrots," the fox was building a little tower of sugar lumps absently. "You live your dream, I'll live mine – stop by and see how I'm lapping in luxury when you get bored of handing out assignments to your troops, will you?"
Judy waited a tiny heartbeat, incredulous at having managed to get Nick to let something slip – and apparently he had not even noticed, for he was still focused on the lumps of sugar.
"So then… you do dream of your perfect future sometimes?" she probed after a second.
The fox froze, his paw holding the sugar tower in place, his eyes on it. After a slight pause, the handmade structure toppled – Judy could have sworn it was on purpose.
"Whoopsie," Nick commented airily. "Well, what's fallen down stays down. What say you we pay and get out of here Carrots? Provided you've curbed hunger's noble edge sufficiently?"
Judy was hardly giving up though. She accepted to be steered out of the restaurant and walked down the street a few paces before tackling her friend with a fresh tactic.
"Did you play 'Truth and Tricky Dare' with the other cadets while in the academy Nick?" she asked innocently, as they walked side by side in the yellowish lantern light.
"Not that I recall," the fox returned. "I never recall anything so frivolous though. Ask me if I remember all thirty-something ways of setting up surveillance they made us memorize though. I'm sure I invented as many when I was writing my final paper."
"You must have played it," Judy said in a superior tone. "Everyone did, at least during initiation. You recall now? When you have to tell the truth and perform some tricky manoeuvre – and the loser has to buy lunches for the winner thrice?"
"Well, now that you mention it, it does come back to me that I had free food during a month or so. Those animals – like anyone could outwit a fox at a game like that."
"Oh now," Judy said sweetly, skipping along the pavement, "You can hardly throw down a challenge like that and then refuse me the temptation of at least attempting to prove you wrong! Shall we say – three rounds then? What do you say?" Following a short pause and a lack of reply on the fox's side, she added, a hint of challenge in her voice – "Come now, nothing to be frightened of Mr Wilde! You just said so yourself, more or less."
"That's neither here nor there," Nick replied breezily, and Judy saw, in the light of a streetlamp, that his face was completely relaxed, his expression nonchalant. "Go ahead then, if you've nothing better to think of. I go first though – you're the one who launched the round after all."
"So you do remember the rules!" Judy gave a brief nod. "Go on then! Shoot!"
"Very well," Nick drew his breath in with a faint whistling noise, deliberating a moment, before going on. "For the daring trick then – cross the street."
Judy snorted.
"What kind of dare is that supposed to be?"
"I'm going easy on you," Nick replied mildly. "Just cross the street here – we're headed that way anyhow, if you want to get back to your mouse-proportioned apartment."
Judy rolled her eyes, before turning on her heel to obey the demand of the dare – and noticing suddenly that they found themselves at the outskirts of Sahara already, notorious for its slightly hilly, sloped alleys – and that the street she was now required to cross was about ten inches lower than the pedestrian area. And to cross it, she would have to effectively wade in a couple of inches of running muddy water – courtesy of the ghastly weather they'd endured earlier that day. She shot a quick look at Nick, who smiled down at her innocently.
"No shame in quitting here and now, Miss Hopps," the fox said brightly. "You'd not want to get your tiny paws wet after all."
Judy sniffed at him disdainfully.
"Bite me Wilde," she shot at him in the most superior tone she could summon, before taking a few paces back from the edge of the sidewalk. She then proceeded to sprint as quickly as she could forwards, taking a mighty leap. It was, obviously, hardly enough to cover the width of the street, even though Judy was a model hopper. Luckily, she had grabbed a bamboo stalk that had been sticking out of the garden waste pile of a nearby house – she balanced precariously atop of it in the middle of the street, like some Asian martial arts guru, before swinging ahead to cover the remaining distance. She very barely managed to land on her toes on the other side of the street, regained her balance with a huff, and turned in an imitation of a pirouette to face Nick, the latter still on the far end of the street.
"And ta-dah!" she announced, throwing her paws up in triumph.
"Wow. Now that's the spirit," Nick commented, smiling lazily, as he crossed to join Judy on the other end – the fox simply waded through the dirty rain water, heedless of the condition it put his feet in. Judy winced when she saw how splattered they were once he'd gotten on the other side.
"Alright then, truth now!" she said fairly. "And you know the rules! I fulfilled the trick demand, so-"
"So you have the right to lie or tell the truth in answer to my question," Nick agreed. "Contrary to if you'd failed the trick or refused it altogether, when you'd have had to confess the real answer to any interrogation I'd have cared to throw at you. Well then, let's make it quick Miss – and you can go ahead and tell tales."
"Yes?" Judy asked, a bit apprehensive although she was now safe to avoid the question, having fulfilled the first part of the game, the trick.
Nick faced her seriously.
"So tell me then – that pie you had for dinner, courtesy of the pudgy fox – just how tasteless was it?"
Judy spluttered with laughter.
"Nick! You're just impossible! And the turnover was just fine and – it was tasty actually, and it was very kind of Gideon Grey to give us something for the road –"
"So you choose lying," Nick heaved a theatrical sigh. "Ah well. You're up then I guess – first round, part two!"
Judy gave an exasperated little hop, before falling in stride next to Nick as they continued walking. She considered matters carefully for a moment, before speaking, wondering how she could nudge things in the direction she was counting on. One thing she needed to start was a trick Nick would be sure to fail – so that he would then be forced to admit a truth. She cast her eyes heavenwards, in search of inspiration. Her gaze fell on a string of tiny decorative wind chimes above head. The wind chimes were dangling from the branches of a handsome birch tree they were passing; they were tiny and shaped like little bells. They brass knockers were moving in the faint breeze and occasionally one or the other would let out a faint tinkle.
Judy pointed upwards triumphantly, indicating the branches that hung a few feet over her head.
"Those bells," she addressed Nick authoritatively. "Grab one."
"You've really gone soft Officer Fluff," Nick chuckled, rolling up his sleeves in preparation for climbing the tree. "Give us a hard one next time."
"I. Wasn't. Finished," Judy countered evenly. "Now – get one of those bells – it has to be plucked from the branch while it's chiming though."
Nick stared at her for a second before narrowing his eyes.
"Do let me get this straight Carrots," he said pleasantly. "You want me to detach one of those little trinkets from the branch – at the exact moment it's actually chiming. Myself not possessing the perfect hearing you do – and you, a rabbit, the one who is to judge me. Tell me how I can possibly manage this one please?"
"How should I know?" Judy gave him a doe-eyed look. "I'm just a dumb bunny. You're the fox and the expert at this kind of game. You're on!"
"Riiight," Nick looked at the bells hanging above head – then at Judy absently – then suddenly back at the branches and back at the rabbit, fast as lightening.
"Admit it when you're beaten," Judy scoffed, paws on her hips. "Just admit—"
She didn't get to finish her sentence, the wind was suddenly knocked out of her lungs as Nick caught her up, fast as a blink, and held her up in the air, his paws firmly clasped around her midriff. Judy gaped, her feet kicking in the air in impotent rage.
"Put me down Nick!" she clawed at his fingers angrily.
The fox held on tight, not budging. "Not a chance Miss Hopps," he said cheerfully. "Not until you get the bell off."
"You're cheating Nick!" Judy tried to kick out at him in exasperation. The fox was holding her at arm's length though, so she failed miserably.
"Hardly," her friend shot back. "You told me to get one of those bells off while it was chiming. You didn't tell me how – so I'm using the tool that is best qualified for the task – in this case, a rabbit."
Judy was so outraged at this that she pulled and pushed harder than ever at Nick's arms. She had to admit that the training back at the police academy must have paid off in his case though – she had not realized his strength up till then. It was clear as clear that she'd not manage to overpower him.
"No shame in admitting defeat now Carrots," the fox called from below.
Judy grit her teeth. "Yes. Yes there is," she replied stubbornly, before reaching out and plucking one of the little bells off the overhanging branches.
"Well done Miss," Nick congratulated her as he deposited her safely on the ground again. "So, that's my dare done for the first round. Question for the truth bit? Knowing that I can reply what I fancy now?"
Judy took a moment to reply, brushing her slacks down testily and placing the recuperated trinket carefully in her pocket. She then faced the fox solemnly.
"Question: do you really think we'll be able to keep the penthouse and get the other flats sold and return Mr Big's money to him – will we win in this story on the long run, do you think?"
"Ah," Nick tilted his head to one side thoughtfully. "Fair interrogation Officer Carrots. Well, I'd say that… yes, I think we'll manage it; barely, perhaps. But, given careful planning and a bit of luck – that always helps – we should pull through nicely."
"Is that the truth then? Or are you profiting from your right to lie in this round?" Judy asked, looking up at Nick a bit dubiously.
"Wouldn't you like to know," her friend replied, his eyes glinting merrily. "That's the beauty of the game, isn't it – I hardly need to be straight with you, provided I've managed the trick & dare bit."
"I managed it for you," Judy grumbled. "Well, round two then. You go," she continued walking down the street, heading in the general direction of her home.
"This grows tedious," Nick strolled along leisurely. "Let's see, what we could have you do that you'd find a mite too difficult to accomplish Carrots?" he cast around for inspiration thoughtfully. The two animals were at that moment passing down an alley lined with handsome pine trees. The sidewalk underneath the heavy branches was littered with hefty sweet-smelling pine cones, glistening wet after the day's rainfalls. Nick picked one such pinecone up and looked at it experimentally.
"Yes," he said, and passed it to Judy after having observed it. "This'll do. You toss this in the air – and make it to the end of this lane before it hits the ground. That's your dare."
Judy looked at the cone and then at the lane she was supposed to run down in the time it would take for the object to land. The bunny was a fair runner, but not such a great pitcher – and the lane was a couple of hundred yards long.
"Perhaps you can make rabbits everywhere proud of your throwing arm one day Carrots – but you have to practice," Nick suggested brightly.
Judy took a snap decision.
"Perhaps," she agreed sweetly, accepting the pine cone. She then proceeded to bend over and collect three other pine cones from the asphalt, much to Nick's surprise.
"We did say that you have only until this cone reaches the ground Carrots," he said hurriedly.
"Yes we did," Judy agreed lightly. "Here I go then."
She proceeded to toss the first pine cone in the air, as high up as she could, so that it flew in an arch in the same direction she had to run in. She kept an eye on it as she ran forwards as fast as she could – the time afforded by the falling object was hardly enough though. The pine cone was already descending quickly while Judy was only halfway to her destination – the rabbit paused in mid-sprint though, took aim with one of the other cones, and shot it up to meet the first one. Meeting smartly in midair, the first cone effectively ricocheted and flew upwards and forwards again, buying Judy some extra time. The bunny gave a hearty 'whoop' as she careened after it, Nick following in her stead, giving a faint whistle of admiration in spite of himself.
Judy finished her race at a bit of a zigzag, as she had to repeat the maneuver twice and as the pine cone did not ricochet completely straight every time – she was however over the end of the alley of pines when the cone finally clattered down with a distinct sort of 'clunk'.
"And two!" she announced proudly, her paws in the air once again. She bowed dramatically as Nick came up after her. The fox applauded, only half-mocking.
"Not bad at all Carrots," he admitted. "I see I am paying for not having been at the academy at the same time as you – I'd hardly realized what you were capable of."
"Never underestimate a rabbit," Judy said, a bit breathless after her run, but proud nevertheless. "Particularly not this rabbit. Let's have your question Nick!"
"Fine. Why do you insist we waste time on this mad hare game when it's late, we should both be in bed, we've got work tomorrow morning – this is the kind of line you usually deliver me – and you are probably getting indigestion, running around like that after that lovely late supper you've just consumed Carrots?"
The question caught Judy slightly off-guard. She kicked the pine cones away from under her paws to buy a bit of time. She hardly felt up to admitting that she had started the whole game in an attempt to trap Nick between a dare he could not or would not be able to complete and his firm wish to never come out as the butt of any joke (or the loser in any bet) – thus forcing him into an honest answer to the question that had occurred to her at the diner, the question she would ask if he lost his next dare.
"What's a bit of fun? It's the very zest of life – you are always saying that Nick," she replied airily in the end, waiving a would-be-careless-paw.
Nick's eyes met hers searchingly in the dim light. Judy was reminded uncomfortably that Nick's night vision was much better than her own.
"Interesting," he said finally, according her the lie. "Well, you did win your dare, and rather impressively at that I don't mind adding. Your turn, I guess."
"Yes," Judy tried to gather her wits and think fast. Playing 'Truth and Tricky Dare' with Nick was starting to feel very much like some sort of friendly duel – perhaps the fox knew she was fishing for information. And if he did – well, she knew that heart-to-hearts were hardly his thing, though he could of course trust her implicitly. Any which way, she needed a dare he'd not manage. What were foxes not too good at?
"Eat this," she said suddenly, whirling around. "Right now! No putting things off for later."
Nick blinked and backed one step away from her.
"What in sheep's sake is that Carrots?"
"The doggy bag they packed me at the restaurant," Judy replied innocently. "You didn't notice that I couldn't finish my salad after all that broth?"
"I did," Nick had opened the paper bag Judy had given him and he was scrutinizing its contents in distaste. "I did not know you'd taken the remains with you though."
"Waste not!" Judy replied happily. "And now it's all yours! So eat up. Or you lose!"
"Now this is starting to sound just like college," Nick was sniffing the bag and wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Except that we should be downing shots in desperate competition."
"Some vegetables will do you no harm," Judy rebuked him. "Or, like I said, you could admit it when you're beaten…"
"Not a chance," Nick gave her a quick look and a triumphant grin. "Think this'll be enough to make me lose Carrots? You hardly know me at all."
Then, to Judy's sincere astonishment the fox tilted his head back, overturned the paper bag and dumped nearly all of its contents in his mouth in one go.
"Pepper cream puffs! Not so fast Nick, you'll choke!" Judy admonished in alarm, grabbing onto her friend's sleeve. The fox gave an almighty gulp, swallowing the remains of the salad.
"Like I'd ever choke," Nick answered, panting slightly. "If I can eat thirty popsicles for a bet I can sure as pudding swallow this muck."
"Well, seems like you have," Judy agreed, recuperating the now empty doggy bag, a bit disappointed. "And kudos. I never thought to see you go near a vegetable."
"Under duress only," Nick shuddered a bit, "and not in a long time now. Don't you wonder how amusing our game would look to any animals that'd be stuck passing in the nearby streets at this time? Well then, anyway – I believe the second round is nearly up."
"I guess," Judy agreed, disappointed. She had no guarantee to get a truthful answer to her second question either, so she just went ahead and asked the first thing that came to her at random. "Will you ever agree to go jogging with me Nick? Like when we're housemates?"
"Now that depends," the fox replied evenly.
"On what?"
"On whether I survive tonight, after the poisonous mixture I just downed," Nick winked at her.
Judy rolled her eyes.
"Nick, stop being such a big—"
"Should I survive," the fox cut her off. "I will gladly go on one of your famous jogging sessions Carrots. See what all that fuss is about."
Judy blinked and looked up at Nick in some surprise. She couldn't tell whether Nick was serious or not – heaven knew he had the liberty to answer anything, according to the rules of the game – but she felt her heart lift a bit nonetheless.
"That's nice of you," she said simply. "Thanks."
"Pleasure," Nick returned gallantly. "Now, are we not finally and laboriously arrived at your luxurious suite?" He indicated the building they found themselves at. It was indeed the building that housed Judy's tiny rental apartment.
"Yes, we're here," the rabbit agreed, looking up at her dark windows.
"Well then, why not call it a night Miss Hopes? Two rounds of this blasted game is enough to do any animal in, don't you think?"
"We said three rounds! Judy said stubbornly, thumping her foot on the ground. "So we have to do three rounds! Don't try and weasel your way out of this, Mr Wilde!"
She pushed the doors of her building open decisively.
"For Pete's sake," Nick muttered wearily, following her nonetheless.
"Come again? Do you admit defeat? Free lunches for me?" Judy asked, arching her eyebrow.
"Hardly," Nick rubbed his temples, as they made their way up in the lift. "And don't forget it's my turn Carrots. I'm just thinking of something good to finish you off."
The elevator gave a soft ping as they emerged in the corridor on Judy's floor.
"My flat is at that end," Judy commented, waving her paw down the hall.
"That's just it then," Nick smiled down at her. "Here's your dare Carrots – and I hope it will end this turmoil. Make your way to your door down this corridor – but you can't walk, run, hop –you are not to move on your hind paws alone, in short. Got it?"
"You want me to walk upside down, like a front-paw-stand?" Judy scowled. "I'm no good at that – not for such a long distance at least."
"I am aware of that Carrots," Nick nodded at her. "And I am betting everything that you'll hardly be willing to crawl along your own foyer – given what you've let slip about your charming neighbors, it would hardly be easy to explain if they were to catch you in such a predicament."
"Make a fool of me, why don't you?" Judy tossed her ears back in a decisive manner. "But here is where you'll be proven wrong Nicholas – now if you'll excuse me—"
She turned smartly on the ball of her paw, put her front paws up and stood sideways. Then, with a deep breath, she lunged into the corridor, right paw first – and proceeded to cartwheel down the length of the passage, stopping neatly in front of her flat.
"And ta dah a third time, if I may," she announced in a proud whisper – she was very close from her neighbors' flat after all.
"I've been proved wrong too many times tonight," Nick whispered back, as he joined her in front of her door, his eyebrows raised. "You hide your superpowers well, bunny. That's a fair win."
"Question?" Judy demanded, facing him.
Nick raised his paws heavenwards.
"How do you manage to be so chipper every morning, though you get up at half past five Carrots?"
"I told you – no coffee, only herbal tea, plenty of vegetables and a regular workout routine. I'll help you plan one when we're housemates," Judy replied.
"You do that," Nick shook his head at her. "And now – my turn to finish the round is it? You'll never be satisfied otherwise, that it?"
"That's it," Judy nodded vigorously, making her ears bounce. "Tell me Nick – do you remember when we went to Gazelle's concert after solving the Night Howlers' case? Remember all those tigers Gazelle has doing the back-up dancing routine with her?"
Nick snorted, then covered his mouth quickly with a glance at Judy's neighbors' door.
"Do I ever," he chortled quietly. "You made me suffer through three hours of torture that day. Why you – and every other animal – is nuts about that singer I'll never get –"
"You recall? Great then, here's your dare," Judy felt herself grin, despite every effort to stop herself. "Go back up the corridor – but doing the tiger's dance as you go."
The fox looked at her with an expression of such incredulous horror that Judy started spluttering.
"On the other paw," Nick said, after a pause. "I think I don't remember what the dance you're talking about looked like at all. My memory is all hazy. It comes with old age – when you've lived as long as I have you'll see. Well, and the vegetables I was bullied into eating tonight aren't helping. My brain just about shut down after I ate them."
Judy was hardly accepting defeat though.
"Not a problem," she whispered decisively. "I'll help you out! The dance routine went like this," she sprung forwardand started dancing down the corridor as quietly as she could, her movements cushioned by her soft paws, imitating the tiger dance as well as she could. "I wanna try everything… I wanna try everything. I wanna trrrrryyy-" she hissed quietly, as she performed the leaps and paw movements, imitating them as closely as she could.
"Carrots. Stop this," Nick covered his eyes, wincing. "For the love of your favorite cream cheese dip, stop. What if someone comes into the corridor?" he cringed at the idea.
"Haha!" Judy jumped up and down in front of him triumphantly, still carrying out the motions of the dance moves. "Admit defeat then Nick? Ready to purchase my lunches for a week?"
"Alright Miss," the fox gave her a small smile, as he looked down at her. "No dare and no lunches either – so that means I'll have to be straight with whatever you ask me. So why don't you go ahead and ask whatever's been on your mind and end this?"
"OK!" Judy stopped hopping around and stood still. She cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and said, looking up at the fox and lowering her voice even further with a cautious look at the neighboring door, "Following our discussion at the diner Nick, truthful answer please: what is it you dream about – what is your perfect future like, I mean?"
In the silence that suddenly followed Judy's question, the two animals could hear her neighbors Bucky and Gary arguing about which flavor popcorn to pop into the microwave (the only common favorite, caramel, apparently being out).
She looked up at Nick evenly – from what she could see in the semi darkness, his face was completely blank and only his eyes were bright. The seconds ticked by and she wondered suddenly if she had not over-stepped some line.
"You sure don't do things by halves, do you Carrots?" the fox said finally, lightly and inconsequently, and Judy smiled up at him.
"Nope, I guess not," she agreed, and waited.
"OK," she saw him shrug. "Since you want to know so much – in my ideal future… well, I start off every morning by drinking a nice hefty cup of Mrs FruFru's excellent coffee – in a proper sized mug though."
Judy paused a heartbeat, and then raised her face up, her ears going down simultaneously.
"You can hardly expect to get away with that short answerNick," she whispered.
"Why not?" Nick's voice was back to its usual jokey tone. "You asked me what I dream about. Well, that answer is perfectly truthful – I assure you. You hardly asked me to paint a full picture – so one detail will have to suffice to feed your curiosity Madam."
Judy ground her teeth in futile frustration.
"Sly fox," she said finally.
"And you must be a sleepy bunny," Nick replied, indicating her door and stepping back courteously to let her pass. "So then, cheer up – I hardly see what the point of your question was anyway, partner. Perfect never happens in real life – you'd do well to learn that by now. Besides perfect, if it really does exist, if it ever happens – well, it would be different from what one imagines, I take it. And on that philosophical note – adieu and good night."
"Sweet dreams," Judy agreed, turning in her doorway to wave at Nick before coming in. "See you tomorrow!"
"Ta!" the fox said, before turning away and sauntering down the corridor, saluting Bucky and Gary who had finally heard the commotion and had just opened their door to see what it was all about.
Judy, climbing into her small bed a very few minutes later after having hurriedly brushed her fur and her teeth and changed into some PJs, yawned hugely and flopped on her back. It was funny, but she felt almost like she had won the game, though of course she had not gotten Nick to admit to much – she felt sure he had some sort of definite ideas and hopes in life, but what they were, she had no idea. Still, he hadn't been angry at her question – perhaps just surprised. And he had shared the tiny detail about the coffee, frivolous though it might be. Her question had been rather personal after all, even though it more or less followed the talk they had had in the diner.
The thing with Nick was, she decided, as she punched her pillow to try and make it fluffier, that he didn't believe things could all go his way – probably because of all he had had to go through in life. Well, luckily – or unluckily – for him, his friend and future housemate Judy Hopps did believe in things, and she would make it her mission to sniff out whatever Nick was holding back – and then help him fight for - and believe in - his future. Or happy ending. Or whatever.
"If it ever happens," she repeated out loud to the ceiling, before turning on her side – and then she fell asleep seamlessly, heedless of Bucky and Gary discussing her evening visitor on the other side of the wall.
... Thank you for reading :) As usual, feel free to leave your comments mentioning anything you liked - or not - below.
Huge thanks and appreciation goes to my amazing friend and beta Pauline, whose enormous help and support keeps this story steadily chugging along so far :)
And now, before wishing everyone a good week, the promised remarks!
First off, in order to keep improving the quality of our fic, we feel it would be nice to throw some of our questions out to you guys and get some feedback - delving deeper and deeper into the Zootopia universe, one has many interrogations, and it would be cool to hear your views, if you've got a moment. So today's question:
Do you guys think there is income disparity between different species in Zootopia?
This might seem unexpected, but think about it for a second - a shrew family can feed themselves with just one tiny radish for a week, but the elephants' popsicle costs fifteen bucks. Does it mean larger mammals get a larger wage? Or wages are equal, meaning that little mammals, who naturally need to spend very few on food and necessities, easily become rich as they have no problem setting extra money aside? (Notions of how Mr Big built his empire?)
How do you think the question is managed by the authorities?
And finally - our small announcement - but first, I have a confession to make.
Ahem.
I like to draw.
You can deduce the news from this - I will be mixing up my Zootopia fanart with the present fanfic, the idea being to manage to put up some illustrations along with the new chapters, and perhaps make some small bits in comic form, and hopefully have colored illustrations too.
First illustration to the present chapter is ready - so here are the links back to my dA and tumblr pages, as from what I can see one can't just integrate a drawing in FF. (If this is untrue, someone tell me how please! lol)
deviantArt: irina-bourry dot deviantart dot com
tumblr: irina-bourry dot tumblr dot com
This first sketch appropriately illustrates one of the final scenes from the current chapter, as in Nick quoting the title - 'If It Ever Happens'. :)
And now, on that note, as Nick said - have a super duper week dear readers! Spring is in full swing! Yay!