Chapter 18 It's Curtains for You, Fox!

Edited by KungFuFreak07 & R3D Fawkes

The next morning came early for Judy. The activities of the previous night had taken a toll on her, both physically and emotionally. Losing to Zorro, just when she had him cornered, was one thing. Losing to him, being wounded in the process, and having him coddle her like a child afterwards?

That was humiliating.

Thankfully none of her soldiers had been around to see her defeat at the paws of the vigilante, nor did she feel the need to expound upon it at all. She would get her revenge against The Fox, and the only thing that would satisfy her at this point was seeing him behind iron bars.

Though on the other paw...

Why did he care so much about me? she wondered, pausing to look at the vial of medicine on her desk. After the criminals of the Po and Bearnstein Bear gangs were taking into custody, she went to the field medic at the barracks with the vial to make sure of its contents.

"Zorro gave this to you?" the doctor, a female honey badger, had asked. With Judy's reply came in the affirmative, a surprised shake of the predator's head was followed by whispered appreciation. "Then Zorro must have either deep pockets or a pharmacy as this is some expensive medicine. That or he must like you for some reason and wants to keep you around or something."

Judy had left with a huff, but not before taking the bottle with her, and was why she was now studying it, paws clasped beneath her chin as she sat on the oversized bed facing her desk.

So many unanswered questions...she mused.

Why would Zorro give her the medicine when he could have just left her to fend for herself? Why did he apologize for hitting her and what was this mysterious mission he had claimed to have, and that he would have to finish before willingly giving himself up?

That last question was the most puzzling of them all. In every experience she had with the fox, or had learned from other officers and soldier's accounts, Zorro was quite adept at escaping any type of trap sprung on him. Even the honey pit that Corporal Pooh had come up with had failed to catch the sticky vigilante.

What is Zorro's mission...

Thoughts played out in her mind about exactly what it could be. He had mentioned just before he had fled something about not letting another good Capitán be destroyed by this town?

"What does that even mean," Judy grumbled, staring again at the ointment on the table. "At least he thinks I'm a good Capitán." She accepted his compliment, even if it had just came after taking a lantern to the face though why would The Fox care on whether she was a good Capitán or not, considering that all he had done in the past was run them out of town.

"Something is going on here," Judy murmured, sliding off the bed and walking toward the door. There were only a few mammals that she trusted could give her accurate information in this town, and she was sure if there was a way to catch a fox, the best way would be with the advice from one she knew.

Judy had barely made it out of the courtyard of the fort before she heard a familiar laugh coming from inside the barrack's cantina. Looks like I won't have to walk there after all...she thought, grinning as she quickly switched routes and made a beeline for where her soldiers were having breakfast. Several voices could be heard, laughing and talking as she pushed open the door, the air filled with the delectable smells of breakfast wafting through the air. The mammal she was looking for was sitting atop a table,his feet propped up upon a nearby seat.

"So then I said to her," Don Wilde chuckled, the soldiers listening to him with eager ears. "Madam, if I were your husband, I'd drink it!"

The group roared in laughter, the fox chuckling along with them, as, unbeknownst to the group, a certain grey bunny had walked up behind them, jumping up on the table so she was precisely behind the smartly dressed fox.

"And what would you drink, Don Wilde?" She grinned as the fox leapt slightly at her surprise comment being spoken nearly directly into his ear. Catching himself before he fell off the table, and leaning on one elbow, he looked behind him into the grinning face of Capitán Hopps.

"Oh, Capitána, I did not hear you coming," he laughed nervously as he brushed off his black vest with gold trim and readjusted his red sash. "If I had, I would have given you a proper introduction befitting such a beauty as yourself."

Judy couldn't help the heat rising in her ears as he gently took her paw from where it was placed on her hip and brought it to his lips for a chase kiss. Both heard subtle snickers from several of the gathered troops, as well as a rather loud "awww" from the back of the group where Judy saw a familiar portly cheetah with clasped paws staring at them rather affectionately.

Rolling her eyes, Judy smiled at the Don as she caught his eye. "So, you saved me a trip up to your casa, Don Wilde."

Smirking broadly, the fox couldn't resist wriggling his eyebrows. "Oh, did a certain fox enhance your dreams so much so that you couldn't resist seeing me as soon as you awoke?"

"More like haunted my dreams," Judy chuckled.

"So you admit I was in them," Nick replied, the sauciness of his tone not going unnoticed by the bunny. Slightly flustered, Judy crossed her paws across her chest.

"As much as I'd like to deny that statement," she paused to glare at a few soldiers who had begun snickering, grinning as they instantly quieted and looking anywhere besides at their Capitán, "I actually had something to discuss with you that needs to be done in private."

"Awwwwwwww!"

Judy rolled her eyes for what seemed would become quite a habit while commanding this fort. "Clawhauser..." her voice was filled with both a hint of reproach and slight annoyance.

"Oh, oh...sorry Capitána. It's just that-

"Clawhauser..." she again admonished.

"Alright, keeping quiet. I will remain quiet. No haré un sonido," he replied while crossing his heart.

"Well, if the señorita insists," Nick stated, hopping off the table while extending his paw for Judy to take to help her off the table. Smiling, Judy took his offered paw and jumped off the table but before she could even thank him, he had deftly wrapped her paw into the crook of his elbow, leading her towards the door.

"So, shall we?" he asked, eyes glimmering with amusement.

"Of course.

"So," Nick began, looking around the room with interest as Judy walked in behind him. Still as spartan as the last time I was here...Nick mused. Judy mustn't like decorating very much... "What would you have to speak with me about Capitána?"

Judy shut the door behind her, though not before glaring at several soldiers who had attempted at following them to her quarters. The icy stare caused them to bolt rather quickly to her amusement. She turned her attention to the Don who had just jumped up onto her bed while placing his paws upon his knees.

"Well," Judy began, taking off her bolero and throwing it upon the coat hanger. "I was wondering if you would be able to help me out with a case I'm currently working on?"

Nick's ears perked. "Oh, what would you need the help of one such as I when you are so capable of dealing with anything that would come your way?" He sent her a grin, it growing larger as he noticed the reddening of her ears.

"It's..." the rabbit stated, rubbing her paws together as she jumped up into the rather oversized chair next to the desk. "It's about Zorro."

Ah...

Nick's grin dropped quickly as he assumed the full theatrical presentation that was his disdain for his alter ego. "So...what is it that the desperado has done now?"

"What do you know about him?" Judy could see a momentary flickering of the fox's ears as he raised an eyebrow.

"Do you mean to say that I am working with him?" he questioned. "Is this because I'm a fox, as well as he?"

He was grateful to see Judy's ears shooting up in alarm. "Oh no, no, no...nothing like that. I mean, yes, but not in that way. You see..." Judy murmured as Nick's expression only became more despondant. "Oh sweet cheese and crackers," Judy finally growled, rubbing her paws across her eyes. "Don..."

"Nick," he replied, keeping up the saddened gaze he held upon her, which only seemed to make her ears droop further if it were even possible.

"Nick, I didn't mean to intone anything of the sort that you were in league with him. I just don't know anyone besides you, Weidii and the soldiers at the fort in town who I could go to for help."

"And I'm guessing you don't want to see Weidii again?" Nick asked, the barest of smirks appearing on his face. He was happy to see an amused smile appear on Judy's face as well.

"That would probably not go well," she intoned. "And the soldiers here don't know anything about him other than that they are afraid to face him, so that leaves you as the only friend I have that can help me."

Nick leaned back upon his elbows, looking up at the ceiling instead of meeting Judy's amethyst filled gaze. "Well, I do know everyone."

"You're quite modest," Judy laughed to Nick's nod.

"Quite so, Señorita. I'd have you know I'm the humblest Don in all of Califurnia." They both shared a laugh before the fox continued. "Though I do not know much about Zorro," he paused to allow a sneer cross his features, "but I do know some of the history that he has in this region."

Judy's ears perked up quickly. "Oh!" she stammered, quickly jumping up from her seat and onto the desk to grab a piece of parchment and a quill pen. Nick held in his chuckle at the rabbit's enthusiasm. Maybe this might change her opinion of Zorro and his actions...he mused, thinking of how he could play this conversation to his advantage. He hadn't planned on speaking to Judy about Zorro today, but had run down to see how she was doing after their fight the night before. A shiver of shame slid down his spine at the memory. Rather than focus on it however, he placed a faux smile upon his face as Judy looked up from her paper, entirely missing the look of sadness that had been there moments before.

"So," Nick began, leaning forward and clapping his paws together. "What would you like to know about our city's illusive fiend?"

"For starters," Judy began, "how long has he been operating in the area?"

Nick scratched at his chin. "Well, of that I am not too sure, though I'd have to believe he has been around for at least five years or so."

"Has he ever killed anyone?"

"No."

Judy looked at Nick after his fairly quick answer, an eyebrow raised. "Capitán, that is one thing that all of us locals have learned about him, or her, or whoever this Zorro mammal is. Nobody has ever heard nor seen him kill anyone. Wound? Yes. Mock? Absolutely. Humiliate?" Nick left off with a chuckle at that one.

"What's so funny?" Judy asked, putting her ink quill and paper down.

"Sorry, sorry." Nick waved off her concern as he managed to control his chuckling. "A few years ago, when Capitán Blastmoot was here, there were some desperados raiding my villa's lands, kidnapping my servants and asking for ransoms. Naturally I went to the Capitán for help, but he simply shrugged it off and said it didn't concern him."

"Why are you laughing then!" Judy scolded. "That's terrible! No Capitán should treat citizens like that."

"You didn't know Blastmoot," Don Wilde calmly replied. "The only thing that got him out of the cantina was a promise of stronger drink outside of it. Anyways, I digress...where were we?"

Judy replied through her astonishment at hearing yet another horrible story of what the city had gone through. "You were at your servants being kidnapped?"

"Oh, right, of course. Well you see, after that meeting, I walked home, feeling quite low and unsettled at how to help protect my family, of which I include my servants as such, when to my much astonishment, I saw those same desperados that had been raiding my villa tied to a saguaro cactus upside down with a note saying, You're welcome, and signed simply with 'Z'."

Of course, Nick wasn't going to tell her when we was walking home like that, as that event had actually taken place several days later, giving him enough time to stage the event. It took him most of that time to figure out how to write as Zorro so that his penmammalship wouldn't give him away if anyone looked at the note.

He looked up to see a quite pensive Judy staring down at the floor. His laughter died in his throat when she finally caught his gaze and he noticed how sad she looked, her eyes looking like they were filled with a sense of dread and the realization of something terrible had happened and she was powerless to help.

"Have all the Capitán's here been evil?" she asked. "Is that why whenever I walk around, even when I try to help, mammals reject me or hide inside their homes?"

"Capi...Judy, listen to me." Nick moved from his place on the bed and walked over to Judy, placing his paws on her shoulder. "Not every Capitán has been bad. There was one exception in the past few years, but that is a rather tender memory and there isn't enough tequila here to let me tell that story. However," the fox lifted up her chin so her eyes could meet his. "Zorro is about the only law this town has seen in years. The vigilante kind, but law none the less. It might take a while for Zootopians to see you as I do, but give them a chance and some time, no? They might just see you for the crime-fighting, kind, cute bunny you are."

Judy couldn't help but chuckle as she gently tapped the Don's arm. "Don't call me cute."

Nick made a statement of rubbing his arm tenderly. "What did you do to get such strength Señorita. I'm afraid I won't be able to feel my arm for a month." He made an effort of picking up and dropping his 'useless' arm, much to the laughter of Judy.

"Alright," she laughed softly, a smile finally appearing on her face. "You've convinced me. I'll wait until Zootopia is clean once more before making my last arrest of all the villains in this country to be that cunning fox. He may have been the law in this town, however, he has assaulted an officer last night, and that I will not have."

"Wait...WHAT?" Nick yelled before looking all over Judy's body as the rabbit flinched at his reaction. "What did he do to you?" Nick paused, timing his outburst as he let his paw raise to her cheek, gently rotating her head so he could see the wound from the night before. Good, you're using my medicine...Nick thought with relief as he saw what otherwise would have been a dark, jagged red line, be only a light pink one. I will apologize to you someday for this Judy. Just not now...

"Did he do this to you?" Nick asked in faux wonderment, putting on as much an act as he dared. Though he wasn't sure what was an act, and what was his actual feelings, as he still was feeling the shame of his actions the night before. Judy shrugged off his paw, turning while standing on the step so she was facing the door. One nod was the answer he needed.

"I know I shouldn't let it get to me but..." Judy began, rolling her shoulders as she turned back to face Nick, "and I shouldn't judge you or any of fox for what Zorro did but...he sounded so much like you last night and...that hurt. I don't know why, but it did." Again she turned. "I apologize. That was wrong of me to lump you and all of your species in with that rogue."

Nick was angry with himself at her response. Her fists were balled, ears lowered and before she turned, he saw her nose twitch a single time. There could have been another way you estúpido fox. She didn't deserve that, not when she's the only one since Skye who wants to help.

Seeing Judy staring at nothing in particular made Nick's heart twinge in pain. I have to do something to help... Nick glanced beyond the Capitán to a small container next to the door. A grin settled upon his muzzle.

Perfecto.

"I can't have that now can I?" Nick resolutely stated as he raised himself up to his full height and walked over to the door.

"What...what are you doing?" Judy asked, blinking several times as the fox grabbed an umbrella from the clay pot next to the door. Nick looked down at the umbrella, then to Judy.

"What does it look like Capitána? I'm going to go avenge your honor upon that villainous scoundrel!"

Judy was in front of the door before he could open it, shaking her head. "I can't allow you to do that Nick," she stated, her use of his name causing a faint tingling in his heart. "He's proven to me he is quite apt with the use of a blade, so I doubt you and that umbrella would fare well against him if you found him."

"But...your honor my lady," he replied, lifting the 'sword' in his right paw as he held up the umbrella with a gleam in his eyes. "With this umbrella of justice, I shall avenge thee seven fold upon this hapless rogue. It shall become my sword of honor, striking down my foes with a-"

Judy's laughter interrupted his monologue as he gazed upon Capitán Hopps. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Do you even know how to use that, 'sword'?" she asked. "I remember you mentioned at our first dinner that you have never used one."

Nick blinked. "Of course I know how to use it," he replied, while pointing towards the end of the umbrella. "Put the pointy end into the other mammal."

Judy groaned and shook her head. "There is so much more to it than that Nick," she replied as she began to laugh.

"Again, your honor!" Nick replied, swinging the umbrella, only to have it smack against a bedpost with a wooden thunk, 'startling' him.

"I think my honor would take an even bigger hit if I allowed you out like that without training you first."

Nick's eyes opened as a cheeky grin enveloped his muzzle. "You...would train, me? To avenge your honor?" Judy nodded and in a flash, Nick bolted to the window, throwing it open with glee.

"Don Wilde, what are you doing?" she yelled, scrambling after him as he began shouting out the window.

"Glorious day everyone! Your Capitán has decided to train me in the use of a blade to defend her honor against Zorro!" His shouts startled many a soldier to look up in at the umbrella wielding fox currently hanging halfway out of their Capitán's window.

"What do you think that's about?" Corporal Wolford asked a nearby soldier as he pointed towards the still shouting fox. The other soldier shrugged.

" No lo sé," he replied blandly, watching as two grey paws began grabbing at the fox's lapel, trying to drag him back into the room. "And I'm not paid enough to care."

Finally, Judy was able to drag Nick back into the window. "Nick, what were you doing?!" she hissed, her arms raising with her question as she pointed one at the window and one at him.

"I will be defending your honor, your beautifulness," he decreed, waving the umbrella with a flourish, only to get it caught up in the drapery around the window. When he attempted to pull the umbrella free, he only managed to get his foot snagged in the fabric. With a loud yelp, he tumbled forward, grabbing at the cloth and with a mighty tearing sound, brought it down to the floor with him.

"Do not worry Señorita, I will escape from this rascally evil!" Nick shouted, his voice muffled by the drapes that he was attempting to escape and was now near completely enclosed within.

"What have I gotten myself into," Judy groaned as she began to unwrap the fox from his cage. After a minute of his struggling, she at last managed to get his head out of the fabric, though couldn't stop the giggle from escaping when she saw how mused up his otherwise perfect fur was.

"Thank you my Capitán," he stated with a heavy breath, his muzzle mere inches away from Judy's own. The two stared at each other for a moment, the reflection of the other mirrored in each other's eyes. "I was afraid I'd never see the light of day again, nor a beauty that surpasses all the earth's glories."

"And what would that be, hmm?" Judy asked, giggling as she helped to unwrap the rest of him.

"You."

His single word froze her like a statute. Which was a good thing for Nick as he froze as well. Both were still for several moments, before Nick cleared his throat. "I should be going."

Judy was still standing rooted to her place, eyes wide and paw still holding the curtain as Nick wormed his way out of his containment.

"Capitán Hopps!"

"What is it?!" Judy asked, startled by the sudden entry of Clawhauser into her room. She walked around the bed until she saw the massive feline, her eyes still somewhat wide from Nick's comment. Did he really just say what I thought he said?" She threw that thought aside as she approached the feline, putting on an air of professionalism as the big cat gave her a crisp salute while extending his other paw which held a letter.

"This came for you by errand boy, a mere momento ago."

Judy raised a single eyebrow as she accepted the letter, not noticing the curious look Nick was giving her as he peered over her shoulder at the paper. She quickly scanned the writing, growing more astonished before she raised her gaze from the letter to the cheetah.

"Who gave you this?" she asked, waving the paper in front of her.

"As I said Capitán, an errand boy."

"Did you catch a name?"

"Today."

"You'll tell me his name then?" she repeated.

"But I just did," Clawhauser replied, a bit flustered.

"No, you said you'd tell me today."

"Yes, that's his name," Clawhauser repeated.

Judy groaned, not up for any more crazy antics at the moment and began to read the letter. It only took a few seconds for her to read it, a look of steely resolve settling upon her face.

Judy turned and walked towards the coat rack, leaping up and deftly grabbing her cap from off it. "Sergeant, assemble your best squad and have them wait near Pier One while..."

"Oh, I love going there with Valorie! She loves shopping for fabric and..." Clawhauser squealed, only earning a puzzled stare from Judy as he trailed off into a nervous chuckle. "Sorry Capitán."

"Right," she replied. "While a second squad lies in wait down near Pier 12."

"What is going on, Capitán?" the cheetah asked. "What did the letter say?"

Judy let out a heavy sigh before fixing her gaze on the big cat. "It was a tip to a smuggler ring unloading a shipment of drugs at the wharfs today. We are going to be intercepting that shipment and making sure it doesn't wind up in the paws of innocent civilians and ruin their lives."

Clawhauser's smile could have been brighter than the sun with the way he was grinning. "I will assemble the soldiers immediately, Capitán!" With a swift salute, he jogged off down the hallway, the stairs creaking as he made his way down them. Seriously, how did he sneak up here? Judy mentally asked herself again.

"Capitán? If I may?"

Judy turned to see Nick standing next to the bed, a serious expression on his face. "Yes Don Wilde?"

"I know I am no soldier, and that even though I want to help you, putting a sword in my paws would probably only injure myself, but what can I do to help?"

Sighing, Judy walked up to her friend and clasped his paws in her own. "I'm sorry, but I do not think there is anything you can do, especially with...that," she replied calmly pointing at the curtains with a twinge of sadness. "Unless the fiends are curtains though, as we could use your abilities in taking them down if they were those."

A shadow of a smirk crossed his face as both mammals turned to see the destroyed curtains hanging in ribbons from the wall. "Is it a bad thing that I wish they were, Señorita?"

"Not at all," Judy giggled, grinning up at Nick who returned her gaze with his own filled with affection. Judy felt something churn inside her, a warmth that gradually ascended inside her as she saw Don Wilde smiling down at her.

"Well, if I can't help you out in dealing with these scallywags, then at least I can send you off with this," the fox stated, and with a flourish, brought Judy's paws up to his lips and placed a rather tender kiss upon it. "Stay safe, Judy."

Then, to the surprise of both rabbit and fox, Judy broke his hold and the Don suddenly found himself wrapped up in the arms of the rabbit. It was all too soon before she broke away, nervously petting at one of her ears.

"Um..." she began, nervously laughing as she took a step backwards. "I'll make sure to come back safe and sound, as I did promise to teach you the ways of the sword."

"I look forward to it," Nick replied, feeling his heart leaping in his chest as Judy turned and marched out of the room. He watched her leave, placing a paw over his quaking heart as if it would help calm its racing tempo.

AN: Sorry about that delay. I'm working on crafting a weekly schedule for this story so no more two weeks wait in between. And I think you are going to enjoy the next few chapters I have cooking up already. :D