Barkeeps 1: First Round
Written by Bluelighthouse
Edited by LapisLucius42
Cover art by Ocerydia
Note: Happy Birthday gift from me to you guys. Hope you enjoy as this story is amazing!
"There it is!" Judy exclaimed as Nick drove up to a parking spot near a large black door with a neon sign glowing with a set of numbers above it.
"Really Carrots? I couldn't tell," The fox said from the driver seat as he parked the car and looked over at the excited gray doe next to him. Judy's eyes shined as she looked ahead at the numbers. They didn't designate the address as several mammals assumed. No, these simple numbers indicated that one had arrived at the famous 10-7 bar. A kind of watering hole reserved specifically for a unique group. The bar had a very exclusive guest list of sorts. In order to get in, a mammal had to be a member of either the ZPD, ZFD, or ZMS. In other words, it was the cities only first responder bar.
Nick and Judy had frequented there many times before, and it had become a sort of staple to them and many of their ZPD coworkers. Whenever the police department had a reason to celebrate, you better believe that the 10-7 bar was the place to hold it.
Tonight, however, Judy was excited to be at the bar for a different reason. Lately, overtime at the ZPD had all but dried up. This wasn't the end of the world since Nick and Judy made enough to live comfortably. Nick had actually planned on spending much of their time off together and looked forward to it. That was until a particular brown pain in his side had mentioned that the 10-7 bar was going to be short staffed for the next couple of days with their main bouncer going on vacation and a few workers needing time off.
One thing led to another and before Nick could even stop his partner, Judy had gone off and volunteered them to help out. Originally, the plan was for them to play security at the front door to make sure that only members of certain departments entered. The crowd inside normally behaved themselves, and security inside wasn't needed. Well at least most of the mammals did, the firefighters however tended to get into trouble sometimes.
That plan changed, however, when that same brown pain in Nick's side who got him into the current mess mentioned that they would need help at the bar all week as well. So now, Nick had the daunting task of playing door mammal on his own. The only reason he agreed to the task was the thought of him getting to spend time with Judy as they turned away a few nosey mammals and gave anyone in a firehouse uniform a hard time.
But it wasn't all bad. Judy had been hooked up with a few shirts from the 10-7 bar that Nick admitted made her look especially cute in. Of course to this day the fox was still hesitant to use the C word out of fear of the possible repercussions. The shirts were a little tight on Judy and she was a slightly hesitant to wear them at first. Nick had reminded her of the doe who gave her the shirts though. They were most likely tight on purpose. One to show off the bunny's fit form, two to help with tips, and three…
"Ahh! You look amazing!" a bubbly voice exclaimed as the two off-duty officers stepped out of Nick's car. Being on the driver's side, Nick didn't see the impact but heard a thud against the side of his car. The fox strolled around casually, already knowing what had happened. The scene was actually kind of amusing. Judy was somewhat pinned against the passenger door by a brown bunny wrapping her arms around her and squeezing the gray doe while pushing her against the car.
"Trisha!" Judy exclaimed as she rubbed her cheek against her friend's which made the brown doe purr happily.
Nick just stood and watched the scene as he leaned against the hood of his car with his arms crossed.
Trisha and Judy had a unique bond even for bunnies. The two does had hit it off right away the first time Nick brought Judy to the 10-7. Trisha admitted to having a small crush on the bunny in blue. But it was all in fun and Nick trusted the bunny…most of the time.
Trisha released Judy from her grasp and then turned to Nick with a wicked grin on her face. Nick tensed up as his green eyes met Trisha's bright blue ones.
"Don't…" Nick said trying his best to sound firm.
But the order fell on deaf ears as the brown bunny lowered herself and shook her rear slightly, preparing to attack.
Trisha was slightly shorter than Judy and though not as fit as the police bunny, had a rather slim figure. Where she lacked in muscles she made up for other assets. Ones which got her a lot of attention from a few male patrons. One thing that Judy and Trisha did share though physically was their strong legs. Nick watched in terror as Trisha flexed her muscles and before he could turn to run, the brown doe propelled herself into the air directly at the fox.
Nick only had enough time to turn to his side, but it wasn't enough to escape Trisha who wrapped her paws around the fox's neck.
"You look so handsome!" Trisha exclaimed as she nuzzled against his neck and showed him some affection. Nick, however, tried to wiggle free of Trisha's grasp which only strengthened when the doe wrapped her legs around him. The fox knew what came next and was helpless to stop it.
Trisha was a very affectionate mammal, even for a bunny, and she made friends rather easily. Not just because of her beauty but also her bubbly personality.
The brown bunny took in a deep breath and then pressed her lips to Nick's cheek, blowing against his fur and giving him a rather loud raspberry.
The fox groaned as he tried to swipe Trisha away but in the end relented to his fate and decided to let the bunny have her way. Something he had grown used to since he started dating Judy. When a bunny wanted to show you affection, you just stood there and took it.
There was a clicking noise to Nick's side, and he could feel his eye twitch as he slowly looked over to see Judy holding out her cellphone. The gray bunny obviously taking a picture of the moment. She admired her handy work and to Nick's relief, Trisha released her grasp around the fox and scurried over to take a look at the picture.
"Awww, we are so cute Nick," Trisha said as she admired the picture. "If I lowered my standards a little, Judy would have to worry about me sneaking you away."
This earned a chuckle from Judy and an eye roll from Nick. The group knowing full well that Trisha would never do anything to get in the way of Nick and Judy. The fox, however, noticed the way Trisha was eyeing his bunny and made a mental note to make sure they weren't left alone for extended periods of time that night.
Judy held up the phone and wrapped an arm around Trisha's waist and beamed at the camera. Trisha struck a pose and smiled at the camera as well.
Nick watched the two does as they continued their photo session. He had to admit they looked good. Trisha was wearing her standard blue 10-7 shirt which showed off some cleavage and her stomach. Her tight khaki shorts hugged her legs and gave a nice view of the bunny's dark brown fur. Judy was in a similar outfit. Though the shirt kept her stomach covered, Nick couldn't help but notice there was a little more gray fur revealed up top than he would have liked to see. Sure he enjoyed the view, but he was a little worried at who else might. The gray rabbit had gone with a pair of black leggings which she normally wore on long workouts.
"Ok! One of you two next!" Trisha instructed as she ushered Judy over to Nick.
Judy skipped over and wrapped her arms around Nick's waist and beamed at her fox who smiled down at her. There was a snapping noise and Judy looked over with a confused look. "We weren't ready!"
"But it was such a cute pose!" Trisha said happily as she looked at the picture.
"Trisha!" came a female's voice which caught the three mammals attention. They all looked over to see an otter in a firehouse red shirt. "You done with the newbies? I got some cases I need to move behind the bar!"
"Sorry Em! One sec!" Trisha shouted back. The brown bunny then looked back at the two officers and grinned. "You two ready to earn your keep around here?"
A few minutes later, Judy was standing behind the bar as Em showed her where everything was. "It's really easy, Judy. We just need you to handle beer orders. Let Trisha and I deal with specialty drinks." The otter explained as she noticed the rather hesitant look crossing the gray doe's face.
Judy had no experience as a bartender and was already realizing that she may have bitten off a little too much here. She was a little more relaxed though as Em explained that all they needed her to do was run drinks to tables, pour beer, and occasionally help clean a table or two. Judy insisted she could try and do more to earn her keep, but Em just smiled and informed her that she was very confident the doe would be a great help that night.
Meanwhile, Trisha was walking back and forth in front of Nick, who was standing with a rather amused look on his face as Trisha tried to prepare him for his bouncing duties. She acted like a drill instructor but failed miserably at putting on a serious face whenever she started to giggle at the fox's antics.
"And if they ask if they can come in?" Trisha asked as she looked at Nick firmly.
"I let them in without question." Nick teased, knowing full well it wasn't the answer the doe was looking for. Nick quickly corrected the answer before Trisha could say anything. "Ask them for credentials. If they are ZPD or ZMS, then I let them in no problem."
"Don't forget ZFD," Trisha added.
"I didn't," Nick said with a Sly smile, "I just plan on giving them a hard time that's all."
Trisha rolled her eyes, "What's with ZPD and ZFD?"
"Nothing. We just like to remind them who is better is all," Nick shot back with a smug look. The words were all in jest though. Most members of the ZPD and ZFD respected one another and the vital services they provided to the citizens of Zootopia. That, of course, didn't stop them from giving each other a hard time.
"What if a cute vixen walks up and asks to come in and starts laying it on pretty thick?" Trisha asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Really?" Nick asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Okay bad example," Trisha said while waving her arm lazily about. An evil grin crossed her lips as she looked past Nick, "What if a super cute bunny asks to come in? Like the most beautiful doe you have ever seen."
"Why would Judy be asking to come in when she is already working at the bar?"
Judy and Em heard a yelp from the other side of the bar, and both mammals looked over to see what caused the noise. Nick was standing with his paws in the air as Trisha squeezed her arms around the fox's waist and nuzzled.
"What he do?" Judy asked as she put a paw on her hip.
"Reminded me why he is the best fox for you!" Trisha yelled happily as she gave the fox one last squeeze.
Once Trisha and Em felt that the two off duty officers were acclimated to the work, they got them into position. Trisha was leading Nick outside, the fox helping her move a stool normally used by the resident rhino bouncer. Nick insisted he would be fine standing, but Trisha convinced him to at least have it ready since he would be outside for a few hours and probably need to rest his paws occasionally.
Judy, meanwhile, was behind the bar looking through the many different mini fridges as she tried to memorize the location of each beer. The bar offered a wide selection which was a gift to the patrons but a curse for the bar staff. Judy finally lost track after reading the label of the fortieth beer.
As the sun set and cast the city in the warm glow of dusk, the citizens of Zootopia started to head home. But in reality, the city never really slept. While some mammals headed home for the night, new groups started taking to the streets. Couples on dates, girl nights out, business mammals celebrating a new deal. No matter where one looked, they would most likely see a group on their way to a bar.
Nick leaned against the frame of the door as he scanned the sidewalk. His phone in his paw and a rather bored look on his face. "So much for a day off," He grumbled as he looked down at the screen. The fox detected movement nearby and guessed it would be the first set of patrons for the night.
"Oh geeze, they will hire just about anyone these days won't they?" Came a strong females voice. The fox instantly recognized the owner of the voice and smirked.
"Sorry ladies," Nick said as he looked up and saw a pair of felines approach, "But this place only caters to upstanding officers of the ZPD, not the trouble makers."
The two females stepped into the light as they shared a laugh and looked at the fox. One was a strong looking tigress still in her ZPD blues. Her amber eyes looking at the fox with amusement.
The other female was a cheetah who was currently fumbling with her cellphone. Nick groaned and let his head fall back against the door frame as the feline brought the device up to her face and snapped a picture of the fox.
"I think you missed your calling Nick," The cheetah teased as she admired her new picture.
"That your subtle hint of getting me to leave the ZPD Tammy?" Nick asked with a wink.
"Oh no you are not allowed to leave," Tammy said as she stuck out her tongue, "If you and Hopps left, who can I torture?"
"How about Lylah?" Nick said with a smug look as he nodded over at the Tiger.
"Watch it Foxy. Don't need anyone giving her any ideas!" The tigress said with a toothy grin.
"Awww, I could never do that to my pretty kitty," Tammy said sweetly as she leaned against her partner and began to nuzzle her head under Tammy's chin, purring lovingly.
"I wonder if bouncers get a discount on drinks," Nick grumbled.
"Hey! We are cute and loveable," Tammy shot back at the fox who rolled his eyes.
"Especially after a few drinks," Lylah hinted as she took her cheetahs paw and headed towards the door of the 10-7.
"Excuse me!" Nick said as he stepped in front of the door and held out his paw. "Forgetting something?"
Both felines looked at the fox in shock. They all worked together at the ZPD. Lylah and Nick had even gone to the academy together. Yet here Nick was, asking for… "I need to see some badges if you intend to enter."
There was a muffled roar of laughter that caused Judy and Trisha's ears to shoot up as they looked at the door. They both heard an "awww" behind them and turned as one to see Em gushing as she stared at the does who had been going over where certain glasses had been kept.
Judy gave Em a confused look who just smiled, "Ya'll are just adorable is all."
Trisha rolled her eyes, "Well duh! Tell me something I didn't know."
The brown doe then turned to smirk at Judy and gave her friend a playful wink.
The front doors burst open, and Judy turned to see a very annoyed looking Lylah followed close behind a giggling Tammy. Judy managed to peak around the felines and saw Nick giving her a handsome smirk followed by a wink. She beamed and waved at him as the door closed, cutting off her view of her fox.
"You need to think about hiring a new bouncer," Lylah grumbled as she stomped up to the bar and slouched into a seat.
"He ain't permanent," Trisha said playfully as she placed two coasters down in front of the newly arrived couple. Without even waiting to hear an order, Trisha turned to Judy. "Rain wheat please. Third fridge."
Just didn't question Trisha and started to search for the beer in the third fridge. Trisha, meanwhile, started to gather a few different bottles as she created a concoction.
Judy found the fridge behind the bar labeled "3" and rummaged through the different beers. She bent down to check the lower shelf but came up empty pawed. She bit her lip as she did one last check and sighed.
"Hey Trisha, I can't find the beer.." Judy said as she looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened as she noticed three different sets of eyes all looked over at her. She realized the way she bent over and the pants she wore was probably giving all three mammals quite the show. Judy felt her cheeks warm as she blushed furiously. The gray doe stood up and turned to face them, trying to think of something to say. She then noticed that both Tammy and Lylah had two mixed drinks glasses placed in front of them.
"So how long is she gonna be working here?" Tammy asked as she smiled over at Trisha who never looked away from Judy. Her bright blue eyes looking the embarrassed gray bunny up and down.
"Not long enough," Trisha said as she gave Judy a rather hungry look.
Special thanks to Fox in the hen house for the use of his OC Lylah who can be read about in his awesome story: A Bunny Can Go Savage. Oh and I would be remise if I didn't mention the wonderful tale: A Ghostly Love.
If you liked Lylah's date Tammy you can also see her in some of Fox's work. Tammy is a collaboration character between myself and that rather charismatic stallion of a writer.
Trisha is an OC of my own creation and will be causing some more silly hijinks in the coming chapters. I mean what would the 10-7 bar be without that brown ball of energy? If you enjoyed her and all the craziness she caused then check out some of my work: We Just Call Them Nighthowlers, Zootopia: Firewatch, and A Bar, a Bunny, a Bond.
Special thanks to one of my favorite artists OceRydia for her hard work on the new cover for this story. She was truly amazing when it came down to this. We had a very short window and the request was made by me last minute for the cover. She took on the challenge and not only delivered but made a truly amazing cover that I feel honored to have! Thank you so much my dear! I cant tell you enough just how awesome you are and how wonderful it was working with such a talented individual such as yourself. If you all get the chance please go check out her account on DA and tell her how awesome she is!
Cya next time.
-Blue