Chapter 35 Frantic Fox

Edited by Euphonemes

Nick hated lying with a passion. Which had grown into a bemusing subject for him over the years he had played the part of Zorro. An amazingly oxymoronic dichotomy, and one that, with the death of his cousin Gideon, he wasn't sure what to do about.

Should I tell her? Or just let Zorro die? Or will that just betray the memory of Gideon?

Those thoughts and others repeated through his mind like a ticking clock as he walked away from Judy, closely followed by his two guards. It wasn't until he was safely out of view of his darling grey doe that he waved off his escort.

"I will be fine from here on out," Nick muttered softly, nodding at each guard's startled expression. "I am just needing to visit an old friend and...him...before I leave and would rather do that alone." He began to walk away, but halted and turned. "Just make sure to take the back alleys and roads home so Judy won't see you and worry."

With a murmured, 'As you wish', from the guards, the two wolves left him, splitting into a nearby alley and disappearing from sight and sound. With a heavy sigh, Nick trundled ahead, making his way slowly towards The Feisty Feline.

Weidii was growing annoyed with her current customer. The wolfess had been running around her bar all day, smacking into things and accidentally knocking vases and drinks over on her other better-paying customers.

The margay slapped a paw over her face as yet another mug fell to the floor. "Kira, would you please just stay in one seat and at least try to contain your tail's wagging?"

The wolfess looked up with an embarrassed grin. "Sorry Weidii, but that seat looked much more comfortable than my own." Tracing the line of the outstretched paw, Weidii had to stifle yet another groan. "You just moved from that seat a minute ago because it kept snagging your tail!"

Her comment was greeted by a slight turn of the wolf's head. "I had?" The glare Weidii sent her had the larger predator nervously chuckling. "I'll just sit back down here then..."

"Good," Weidii stated before continuing to wipe down dishware behind the counter. The door opened, allowing the morning light and warmth flow into the bar. Now who is it...

CRAAASH!

The plate Weidii had been cleaning dropped to the ground. "Nicholas!"

The fox looked up, only to feel the impact of the furred feline hitting his chest, her arms wrapping around him. "Oh mi amigo! I was so worried about you after I heard the news of what happened at your villa!" Weidii stifled a few sniffles, yet the tears still came. "I was so worried when they said that Zorro had been killed and thought it was..."

Nick clamped a paw over the margay's mouth, eyes widening just a bit as he looked around at the other patrons. Most were glancing at the fox and margay curiously as Nick gulped, his mind scrambling for a solution to the current predicament.

"I'm safe, Weidii," the fox stated, patting her back. "I think Zorro was trying to protect the guests and myself when he fell, may God rest his soul, but Capitán Hopps fought off the assailant."

Weidii blinked. "But, Hopps isn't a capitán-"

Nick cut her off. "She'll always be Zootopia's true capitán."

Looking up at Nick, Weidii smiled. "You really have it bad for that little conejita."

Nodding, Nick pulled the feline's arms away from his chest. "And that is one thing I came to talk to you about." He leaned in further, and Weidii could hear his voice catch. "As well as about my...my cousin."

Weidii could feel the pain in Don Wilde's voice. Nodding, she walked him towards the stairwell while shouting at the bar. "Taconny, you're in charge. Try not to break anything, alright?"

Rolling her eyes at the rabbit ears that popped up from behind the bar, a white-and-black splotched bunny face quickly appeared over the counter. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Alright! Free tacos for all!" Taconny shouted, running towards the kitchen. Weidii just groaned and led Nick upstairs. It was only a few moments before they reached the end of the upstairs hallway and turned into the last room on the right. She was barely into the room, leading Nick inside when the fox collapsed to his knees. Tears and great heaving breaths escaped the tod as he wept. Following her instincts, Weidii knelt down as well, wrapping her arms around him as his whole frame shuddered.

"There, there...it's alright, Nicholas. It's okay to grieve for your cousin." A few tears came to Weidii's eyes as she attempted to soothe her friend. "You don't have to force yourself to hide your emotions. We all know you are strong, and nobody, especially not that cute bunny of yours would think any less of you for shedding a few tears."

Nick couldn't say anything, the tears streaming down his cheeks and muzzle, dripping onto Weidii's blouse. It evaporated as the overwhelming grief he had been holding back since last night came rushing in, filling the empty void ripped from his heart that was left by the death of his cousin.

It took several hours for Nick to finally calm down. All the while Weidii knelt by him, stroking his back tenderly as a mother would to calm a frightened kit. Weidii knew that Nick hadn't been extremely close to Gideon, but blood was still blood, and to have someone ripped away like that...

Weidii sighed as she looked down at the fox who, while no longer weeping, still radiated heartache and distress.

"How are you doing, mi amigo? Better?"

Nick nodded softly. Pushing up slowly, he rose from Weidii's lap, as he had collapsed soon after his emotions had overrun his mind. "Thank you, Weidii." Nick wiped at the moist and sodden fur beneath his eyes, then stretched out his arms towards the feline. Rolling her eyes, she embraced the fox.

She knew he needed it.

Several minutes passed, however, and he still hadn't let go.

At about the five minute mark, Weidii had enough.

"Alright, alright," Weidii said as she patted Nick's back, his hug tightening around her as she tried to push away. "I know you like to hug, but if this goes on any longer, I'll let Judy know so...leave the fluff for the bunny, comprende?"

She felt Nick's hug instantly vanish as a smile appeared on her muzzle. "Now there's a good fox. I still don't understand why you couldn't have just let this out on that bunny. You know she loves you."

"Do I know that?" Nick said with a chuckle. "Yes, yes I do, however...I also know that when I get emotional I sometimes say...things..."

"Oh...right," Weidii replied dryly. "Though I don't think anything you blubbered out this time about how you should have been Zorro last night, or should have proposed to Skye sooner so she wouldn't have left and become a murderer, or how being Zorro caused all this, would have caught Judy's attention at all."

Nick blinked rapidly. "Did I...say...all that?"

Weidii grinned. "That is for me to know, and you to never find out."

Nick's jaw dropped slightly as the feline cackled with glee. "You are one evil kitty," Nick mused before his expression sobered. "Thank you, though. For letting me-"

Weidii waved him off with a paw. "Forget about it. Mi casa es su casa. You are more than welcome here anytime." Nick smiled, though it faltered as Weidii poked him in his chest...hard. "But you better leave this mopey-ness to the bunny. I can tell she owns your heart and soul, so if you have to bare either of those to anyone, show them to the one you trust enough to have given them to, okay"

A warm smile slid its way across Nick's muzzle. "Thank you, Weidii."

"You're welcome," she replied. "Now let's get back downstairs to see how many tacos Taconny has managed to eat while we've been away. Lunch is on me as well."

"Thank you for the generosity," Nick began before giving a nervous chuckle, knowing he was about to tread dangerous ground. "However, I need to be going."

It was something that halted the margay in her tracks. She completely froze, tail mid-swish behind her as the room chilled.

Yep...definitely a bad idea...Nick thought as he shivered.

Weidii didn't even turn around to look at him, yet her words filled the room with ice. "You'd refuse a meal from me?"

"Well, when you word it that way..." Nick laughed lightly, only for it to peter out rather quickly.

Weidii slowly turned until one narrowed eye was focused on the fox. "That was not a request, Don de la Wilde."

"Ahhe...hehe...right...one taco, coming up!" Nick said as his shoulders slumped. The atmosphere lightened considerably as Weidii moved once more.

"Good. I'm sure whatever you have to do, unless it is to propose to that adorable bunny that's won your heart, is not worth as much as a meal."

Weidii disappeared out the door, her claws click-clacking against the floorboards as Nick let out a heavy sigh. "Sure...at least I didn't have an appointment with my father..."

Feeling much heavier than when he arrived, Nick shuffled out of The Feisty Feline, sighing as he began walking towards the docks. Glancing at the sky told him he had lost several hours of precious sunlight for their journey, though it had been time well used. He'd managed to go over his plans for the trip with Weidii, the margay giving him nearly a week's worth of food-stuffs for the journey for Nick, Judy and Ake'cheta.

He'd also been able to leave her notes, asking her to keep an eye on Bellwether, watch his estate, and try not to do anything reckless against the irate sheep leading the city. She'd agreed to them all, though gave no promises on pranking the offending ewe.

"It's not like she can get any worse than she is now. She can no longer pull any wool over our eyes...or her own."

It was a groan-worthy pun, of which Nick fulfilled the amount of groans it was worth. As he had been about to leave, Weidii had stopped him for one last question.

"What's next?" she had asked him. He had hung his head, his mind considering exactly what he was going to do. As his head rose, she had seen a newfound determination in his eyes.

"I need to fix up one last thing before I go in case I don't return."

And that is what led him here. Nick eyed the pathway leading towards the docks, and one in particular. The Nighthowler sat at its pier with all the splendor and glory of una reina on her throne, the mighty ship-of-the-line towering above the other boats docked around it. As he neared, he saw a familiar sight: his father standing at the top of the gangplank. The aged fox still commanded a dominating presence with his straightened posture and regal uniform. The height of the ship above the docks allowed him to casually look down upon all who approached his domain.

He now was using that eagle's perch to gaze down upon his son.

Nick resolutely strode up the gangplank until he reached his father, staring him in the eyes.

"Dad."

"Admiral," came the callous retort. "I heard you were coming."

"Where is the crew?" Nick said, diverting the conversation so he could try and piece together how his father would have known his plans.

"Down below and up above," came the artful reply. Nick saw several deckpaws working on the forecastle and poop decks, as well as others climbing gracefully through the rigging above. "We're setting sail in a few hours. Won't be back for several weeks as we patrol the nearby coastline."

"Do you believe I care about when and where you're taking your precious boat?" Nick asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Admiral Wilde glared at his son after the offensive comment towards his ship. "You're here, aren't you?"

"I could be here for many reasons."

"Namely?"

"To tell you I'm leaving as well."

The only reaction to Nick's comment was a smirk. "Already knew that, so why the visit?" The admiral turned and walked further onto the main deck, showing his back to the younger tod.

All or nothing...Nick thought. "I'm going to finish what you should have started with Bellwether."

That got a reaction from the elder tod. Admiral Wilde froze midstep, his tail poofing out immediately. "Did my ears deceive me, or did I hear you say something even more profane and idiotic than your usual drivel?"

Nick took a step forward. "You heard what I said," Nick countered. "I'm going after Bellwether with Judy. Like you should have done long ago."

"You're an idiot," the admiral snarled.

"And you're a coward," Nick shot back, taking another step towards his father. "Do you think that Zootopia is any better for what you didn't do? What you still aren't doing? Mammals are suffering while you sit high and mighty aboard this ship and wash your paws of everything. Do the mammals here mean nothing to you?"

"You don't fight the tides and wind, Nicholas," his father nearly spat, his head turning slightly to glare at his son. "You never win fighting against forces that will destroy you if you don't know how to use them properly."

"Oh," Nick laughed. "Oh, ho, ho, that is brilliant, mi padre. I guess that means that you've just been waiting around for twenty years for Bellwether to what, fall into your paws? To give herself up?" Nick approached his father, walking around to face him fully. "You are a coward who's afraid of a little gale."

The Admiral's gaze hardened. "You know nothing of the hurricane that ewe can produce. She will sweep you up and tear to bits everything I've done for you."

"That you've done for me?" Nick yelled, waving his arms to the side. "You've done NOTHING!"

"I've done EVERYTHING!" the Admiral shouted back. Nick was shocked, leaning backwards as his arms fell to his side. He had never seen his father display anything past his normal contempt for him, let alone outright anger.

Seeing his son's silence, the admiral took in several deep breaths before continuing. "You know why your mother is gone, Nicholas?"

It was a rhetorical question if Nick had ever heard one. Though he actually didn't know what had happened to his mother. It had been a mystery that his father had never divulged, and something that Nick had simply stopped pursing after years of effort to unlock that secret from his father.

The Admiral continued. "You think that I've never tried to go up against Bellwether before? Or against any of the capitáns that Bogo has sent here? I tried before, secretly...and your mother paid for it with her life."

Nick was stunned beyond belief. "Wha...what?"

Nick's father sighed. "Your mother and I..."

He halted, his eyes quickly glancing around, spotting several members of his crew staring in silence at the two arguing foxes. The admiral coughed into his paw. "Let's take this to my quarters...it's a story that might take a while."

Nodding, Nick followed his father into the ship, halting only when his father paused and looked at him with genuine fear in his eyes. "I have been working your entire life to keep you safe, and yet you've decided to do exactly what your mother pleaded with me to do years ago." Placing his paw upon Nick's shoulder, the admiral offered a sad smile. "You have someone you love now. Don't let Bellwether do to you what she did to your mother and me."

With that, Nick's father turned and entered his cabin, the younger tod left blinking in the dim light for several moments before following.

AN: Sorry about the wait again, however, I really, really, really, needed to get this chapter right and that took some time. It is a bit shorter than usual, however, it contains everything it needs. Plus a lovely little cliffhanger for me to leave you all with until next time. And I promise an update before Christmas, as well as a few other surprises in my other stories. :D