YOUTHOPIA
CH03: Fluff

Nick goes missing for one day shift, only to show back up as Finnick's 10 year old nephew and claiming the parentage of two Bunnyburrow residents. Meanwhile, is Nicholas catching on with the case?

I do not own Zootopia.

- O – O – O – O – O -

Finnick carefully opened the van door sideways and tried to give a concerned eye at the bunny cop over his hanging skepticism. "The van's not exactly a place to discuss stuff like this."
"Anywhere's fine," Judy answered nervously then looked at the fennec hesitantly. "Is Gideon still in there?"
The small fox looked ready to sigh in exasperation but gave in with a brief reply, "Yeah."
"So you two really haven't seen him yet?" Her tone contrasted the initial skepticism Finnick had for the sudden situation. Plus, she would not act as a liar outside the occasional hustling. This did not seem to be one of those moments.

"The place smells of cig and root beer," Gideon spoke apologetically from the inside, sounding a little farther than just a door's distance away.
"Gideon, what are you doing?" Judy asked.
"We don't really have much option, do we? Ya'll have to stick with our company." He grunted as if he was shifting some furniture.
Finnick gave a short glance inside, before fully opening the door. "Sorry if that was rude."
"No need to get touchy, Finnick," Judy teased, with a small smile. "It's out of your character."
"I've been hearing that a lot recently."

As soon as Judy hopped inside, Finnick closed the door with a huff.
"Sorry the place is untidy," Gideon spoke as if he was the owner.
Finnick did not seem to mind, not really inclined to speak much.
The bunny was still in her police uniform, where she brought out a red handkerchief from. "I found this directly before my room door. There's nothing on it but..."
"The jerk's pulling a prank or something," Finnick readily suggested. "Why would he scare you like that?"
Gideon chuckled uneasily. "Have ya checked with yer neighbors? He couldn't have just left it without anyone noticing."
"Or he's been apprehended by someone," Judy stated grimly. "There were a few scratch marks on the lower part of my door as if he wanted to escape or give a sign."

"We can't be havin' 'nother savage case," Gideon worried over.
Finnick frowned in agreement. "And definitely not Nick. Chap fails at times but he's not that clumsy."
"So that's why I leaned in the possibility of a capture," Judy firmly clarified. "I don't really want to alert the landlord without having a concrete impression about the case. My neighbors don't have any idea when I asked them while we played cards."
The red fox narrowed his eyebrows. "I thought that was jus' an excuse."
"I didn't want to do it," the rabbit admitted. "But Bucky and Pronk aren't really bad company, just a little too rowdy."

Finnick kept glancing over at Gideon, who had nothing good to contribute.
Judy seemed to notice the exclusive act and told them, "Something tells me that's either an idea or a secret you guys are keeping from me, maybe for good reason but..."
The fennec rolled his eyes, denying the responsibility. "I'm not gonna be the one deciding that."
Gideon stuttered for a while, and then found some resolve from a chuckle. "Gimme the recorder."
The smaller fox only grunted, keeping his confusion of the decisions to himself, as he tried to find the recorder somewhere in the front.

"Some of yer police comrades saw us a while back," Gideon initiated for a lighter conversation. "It was just a short vending machine moment though. Would you want some drinks?"
Judy smiled in gratitude. "Maybe later. I'm guessing it's probably Grizzoli and his soda."
"Yeah. And that Fried Knights something."
The bunny laughed pleasantly. "Fried Knights of Fred! It's got the ZPD buzzing. You're not much of an Internet animal, right?"
The red fox shrugged.
"I think I have the vid somewhere in my cellphone."

As Judy tapped through the buttons of her gadget, Gideon glanced over Finnick's progress of his search.
He was given an annoyed look and numerous gestures, which he interpreted as the recorder probably being within one of the little cub's pockets.
He mouthed a warning of "Don't wake him up yet." then left him to his own as Judy nudged him with a flashing phone.
"It's only a minute long but it's got the most views for most of the days of this week," the bunny chattered in cheer. "Imagine it's second to the popularity of Gazelle's new music video in Ewetube last Tuesday!"

The video shortly started after Judy tapped the play button, revealing two almost wrecked animatronics in a cartoonish style, in a room of similar destruction.
"That one is Foxie, as the name implies. The one beside him is Fred, the king."
The video was a little blurred, with Gideon thinking it rather made the video creepy. "I think I haven't asked you what to expect out of it."
Judy giggled a little unexpectedly. "It's better to watch it with no idea."
"All right." It was just then that Gideon realized Fred was indeed a king, having initially not recognized what was over his head was a broken crown and the outfit containing sparkling objects.
He was not sure why he was so inquisitive about that kind of detail, and he couldn't tell much about Foxie.

Fred's mouth opened to speak, but only monotonous beeps came out supported by subtitles.
"Bring in the peasants!"
Foxie turned to his king with an open and toothy mouth. "Are you sure, Your Majest-t-ty?"
"What the-?!" Gideon jumped in surprise as the fox animatronic suddenly titled its head in a jittering manner, as if malfunctioning.
Judy only pursed her lips tighter in an unreadable expression.
"Let the peasants enter!" King Fred raised a mechanical hand.

The camera zoomed in on the large throne room doors, and a childish music box started playing in a relatively empty atmosphere. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your ha-a-a-aaaands!"
Gideon gave a small gasp. There was not any visible animation, but no way did he expect the sound to also be faulty. "Uhh-"
"If you're ugly and you know it-" The doors suddenly opened to admit a screaming rabid Foxie, who suddenly jumped at the screen as fast as Gideon jumped in his position.
His shock left him speechless and a share of pain for his heart.

Judy started laughing, tagging him playfully. "Oh, come on! You have the weakest reaction among the other animals I have showed the video to."
Gideon tried offering a positive reaction, but ended up stammering laughter. "I- I- I-" He gasped for a few sharp breaths. "I'm totally not fine!"
"That's the spirit!"
In reality, he was actually grateful he momentarily lost his ability to even scream, as he probably could have woken up the sleeping fox cub.
He chuckled more, trying to ease his nerves. "Th- that's a good one. Ya'll get me payback soon."
"I wonder if Finnick already-"

"That stuff's more understandable than whatever that Gizelle puts out." Finnick appeared, dropping a carrot-shaped recorder over the baker's lap.
"It's Gazelle," the other two simultaneously corrected.
The fennec rolled his eyes. "Here I thought you two were doing some indecent things."
"Well, internet communities are making theories out of nowhere about it!" chattered Judy. "Like Fred is actually a real old-time restaurant owner who claims offspring just as he eats peasants in this video. I mean, all I see is a parody."
"Parody or not," Finnick grunted. "Those are some terrible movements."
"Animation," Judy amended eagerly, and then lowered her voice for a more appropriate mood. "So what do you guys have there? All I know is that it went famous in the market after I used it for the Night Howler case. Nifty and all."

Gideon smiled in acknowledgment, before pushing the play button.
The recorder proceeded to say, "Yer uncle's not here! Get out!"
"I'm sure ya recognize the message, eh?" the red fox said.
"Of course. You used-" Judy frowned in realization. "So that wasn't Finnick a while ago?"
"Believe it or not, I was talking to the Chief about Nick's absence," Finnick informed. "Though I didn't get anything. Well, he knew at least why Nick took a day off."
"The longer he stays out of sight, the less sensible his reasons would be," the officer said.
"Well, the fact is..." Gideon began slowly. "We don't know what kind of lead we got here." He turned to his fellow fox. "Is he awake?"
Judy blinked in confusion. "Hmm? Who?"
"Come out here, kiddo," Finnick called after a sigh.
"The one whom we initially thought was Finnick's son," Gideon introduced. "He calls himself Nicholas."

Finnick gave a tired look over his companion and began reciting readily prepared lines. "Nicholas is the cub's name. I'm the standing uncle, nicknamed Nick and Gideon's the father... for now."
Judy shook her head. "Wait, this is a bit too fast."
"Dad, you got my Carrots!" Nicholas jumped over his lap to get the orange recorder.
The bunny cop frowned. "Carrots?"
The baker playfully gestured at the small gadget for Judy to notice. "He calls the thing Carrots."
He turned back to the cub with a sincere look. "Sorry, we had to use it for the visitor. Her name is Judy Hopps and-"
"She's your mother," Finnick interrupted with a skewed smirk.
"What?"
"What?"
"Eh?" The fox cub froze at first, as if in similar disbelief, but brightened up as he absorbed the words. "Mum!"

Judy was quickly given a soft hug, to which she could not do much about but return with similar affection. As the cub was immersed with the act, Judy frowned at the fennec who held his smile.
"I can't take care of the fox in this place." He nonchalantly gestured at the surroundings. "And questioning's not my type. Maybe you'll get more answers out of him."
"That's-" Judy paused, watching her use of words around the youngest animal. It was also the first time she noticed the gray powder around his body. "But I'm a cop! I can't..."
"And I got my business, too," Gideon added uncertainly.
"We all definitely have our jobs." Finnick scowled. "But I'm definitely not one for parenting."
"Wh- what happened to yer eagerness?" the red fox asked.
"I found a way out of this. I'll be taking it," the fennec confessed. "Besides, the bunny can volunteer for parking duty again and adjust her time for Nicholas."

"Look," Judy laid out cautiously. "I can do just that for the well-being of..." She paused as she realized the fox cub looking at her fondly from their embrace. Was her fur that naturally soft?
"My son, uhh, no matter how political or social aspects see it. But you can't just bail out of this. He may be the key to finding out stuff about Nick! Isn't he your comrade?"
Finnick's scowl seemed to deepen as he fixated his eyes on Nicholas for a few seconds. "I can do stuff... but not as a caretaker." He carelessly moved to the door and opened it wide. "And this thing is not a means of transportation for your homes. You're both from Bunnyburrow, right?"
As the other animals moved outside, Nicholas nudged the lower hand of Judy. "Why does Uncle look so sad?"
"Mad is the right word." She sighed heavily. "I don't know. Sometimes, we just need our time alone."
Gideon raised a paw. "See ya, then?"
He was only answered by a grunt and a push of the door. "Suit yourselves."

The two elder animals traded awkward and worried looks, while Nicholas played with his recorder.
"Her name is Judy Hopps and she's your mother."
He gave a short honest laugh. "So that's how it works. Carrots is such a fun tool."
Judy smiled at the cub's innocence. "Don't go hugging it on your sleep."
"How do I play the previous message?" he inquired, missing her words out of curiosity.
The bunny cop chuckled. "Let me help you with that. Do you know I also have one of those?"
"Oh, really?" The cub brightened up as if meeting a new friend. "What does your Carrots say?"

Judy gave an eye over Gideon, who seemed to be struggling on conversing with Finnick from the other side of the closed van door. She took the scene with interest as she never saw Gideon as a father figure, admittedly with any fox she set her eyes upon.
She sighed to relieve herself of a growing negative mood and entertained Little Nicholas, kneeling down and getting her own carrot recorder from a pocket.
"Hand me yours, and I'll give you mine."
"Okay!" He willingly handed away his recorder with high spirits, only for Judy to smirk mischievously.
"I got your Carrots now. Too bad for you!"
"Hey!" A line of conflicting emotions passed through the fox's face as he tried to grasp the situation.

Judy maintained her smile and said, "It's called a hustle, sweetheart."
It was enough to have Nicholas remain reassured, as the bunny finally gave her recorder to the cub.
"Is hustling a good thing?" Nick asked.
"You have no idea." Judy clicked her tongue in good humor, as she recalled some particular moments with her police partner. "You'll definitely use it as you grow up."

Nicholas eyed his newly acquired recorder like it was a free pawpsicle and pushed its play button. "Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff! Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff!"
Judy laughed pleasantly. "I still haven't changed my message. And oh, you can only get one. You must've accidentally deleted your previous recording with all your tweaks."
For a short moment, the fox cub seemed to stare closely at the bunny's recorder with fascinated eyes... and then it was gone.
He raised her gadget delightfully, as if it was his own. "Nick, I like it when you smirch! Eh, smirk!"
She frowned, feeling like she already heard it somewhere. "What's this about Nick... your uncle?"
"That's what my Carrots was saying, before Uncle changed it." He giggled, as if he was starting to get embarrassed acting so fond with the thing.
"Ah!"

Judy gasped as she finally recognized the message.
Two days ago, she had played a game with the original Nick for a day where they could record a specific message said by each other. She had the perfect opportunity to settle with the silly 'fluffity fluff'.
The bunny recalled that yesterday was supposed to be their moment of revealing their recordings, which initially made her amused... but soon made her more anxious.
Nick could have asked for a day off, but no way would he willingly miss a planned moment.

It was then that she became aware that Nicholas had gotten hold of both recorders and were playing them side by side.
"Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff!"
"Her name is Judy-"
Then with an attempt for imitation, he added, "I like it when you smirk!"
He laughed pleasantly and told his acting mother, "There's so many Carrots!"
Judy could not resist a grin with the affectionate display. "You're so unlike Nick..."
She raised an amused eyebrow as she never noticed that he was on his Junior Ranger Scouts uniform and the seemingly mischievous glint in his eyes. "No, you're so much like Nick."
"Like Uncle?"
Judy beamed at him sweetly. "I'm sure there's more than one Nick in Zootopia."
"And Carrots!" he exclaimed, as he playfully raised the two recorders he had collected.

"Uhh, J- Jud... Nich'las." Gideon appeared beside them with a weary look, yet he managed to offer a smile at the fox cub.
"Dad! Ya done talking with Uncle?" Nicholas asked with enthusiasm.
"Yeah. We'll be meeting again tomorrow." The larger red fox turned to Judy, with a lowered voice to keep their selves from the cub. "It's already late. As much as I would like to help, my 'rents will be so suspicious if I suddenly bring home a small kin. E- even yers, right? So maybe he could-"
"Gideon, it's alright," the police officer assured him. "I stay in the apartment during weekdays. He's a clever one. I got enough space in my bed, and he'll definitely love the plushies!"
"I- 's that so?" He sighed. "I'll try to co'rdinate the busyness hours and we can even treat Nich'las together, while tryin' to find answers."
"Got it, Dad." She raised an encouraging fist.
He responded with a toothy grin. "This will take some growing used to."

Gideon leaned down to pat the fox cub on the head. "Don't be too naughty 'out yer Dad. Mom's gonna get angrrrry! I should probably get my own Carrots by tomorrow."
"Silly." Judy chuckled, as the baker got up decisively and winked at her.
"I'll be bringing special dessert too."
"Take care, Gideon Gray."
"Both of ya, too."

X

Nicholas proved silent and compliant as Judy guided him carefully to her apartment, trying to avoid the eyes of any acquaintances.
As they approached her room even with the time of the night, they soon realized her neighbors were still awake and noisy as usual.
"Now, we just have to make sure Bucky and Pronk don't see us... of all animals, maybe except Clawhauser."
The fox only nodded as if on affirmation. He looked ready to say something of cheerful interest, but decided against it.
Judy was keen enough to notice and winked. "Tell me about it later."

"Hey, Judy! Is that you?"

Nicholas stiffened in place, while Judy fumbled a little with her keys.
The place faced an abrupt silence as the other residents seemed to wait for a reply.
The door to her room finally opened, and Judy gestured for Nick to get inside and to do what he wanted.
"Yeah?"
"You're not with anyone, right?"
"Still alone." Judy chuckled, while waving a reassuring hand for Nicholas.
She then closed the door again and shook her keys in the doorknob nervously.

A large antelope got out the nearby room and eyed her suspiciously.
"What's taking you so long with your keys?"
The bunny shrugged. "Must be tired from the job hours."
"Chasing weasels, eh?" He was then pulled back by his brother, who looked at Judy apologetically.
"Judy! He's still mad you beat him by that Flush." Pronk, the more sociable of the two albeit barely, gave a small smirk. "You up for a few minutes?"
Judy smiled as she feigned fulfillment upon opening the door again. "Who are you kidding? Minutes turn easily into hours. I have to get my energy through regular sleep."
"Bah! That's what she says!" Bucky taunted from the inside. "We'll leave you at that!"
The other antelope chuckled, as he closed the door. "He'll keep on begging for a rematch."

Judy made sure neither of the antelopes was going to show up again, leaving the door creaking open.
She could make up the back of Nicholas on the bed, with what seemed to be a different arrangement for her bunny dolls.
She took the reemergence of her neighbors' rowdiness as a cue for her to enter her room and attend to the fox.
"Hey, Nicholas!" The bunny turned on the single light in the room and drawled playfully, "What are you doing in the dark?"
"Ah!" The red fox jumped cheerfully and presented himself sideways with the dolls. "Our Mum's here!"
The last for both sides had the recorders placed on them and Nicholas played them simultaneously. "Carrots. Carrots. - She's your mother."
"How chipper of you!" Judy jumped on the bed, subconsciously deciding she would have to change her clothes later when the fox was asleep.

"So what were you trying to say a while ago?" Judy asked, as she got herself one doll.
Nicholas embraced the rest of the bunnies and spoke excitedly, "Mum, that was like a Junior Ranger Scouts hide and seek game!"
The bunny hummed in thought. "You guys had a meeting today?"
"Uhh..." The fox paused as if there was a lapse in his trail of thought, then frowned. "I think it was postponed for tomorrow, but I'm excited to see new friends!"
Judy pursed her lips uncomfortably. "I think I remember you telling me it was supposed to be… next week. You just got too excited, dummy!"
"The uniform feels good indeed!" Nicholas waved his arms energetically.
Judy only thought that she was not planning to let the fox experience a horrible moment.
He could not exactly be Nick - or did another science project like a Night Howler serum, one that shrinks animals, get loose? - but for any being to face such prejudice for a young age... it was not going to happen.

"Mum, are we gonna sleep together?" Nicholas asked happily, to which Judy nodded to.
"Of course. There's only one bed in here... and lots of bunny siblings!"
"Aaahhh!" Nick crawled around the bed, while Judy showered him with dolls.
"The night attacks and the wolves howl!" The bunny's shadow loomed over the bedsheet ominously with her hands raised. "Awoooooo!"
"Mum's gonna catch us!" Nicholas stood up heroically and searched for an object in his pockets. "Uh, I'm missing something."
"Are you looking for..." Judy tied a red handkerchief over her mouth. "This?!"
"Nooo!" The fox knelt with a defeated expression. "The Rangers' Treasure!"

As if on cue, the next room started getting wilder and provided a slight shaking for the area.
"With great power comes a great monster!" Judy growled the loudest sound she could.
Nicholas yelped, with his tail curling defensively and his paws returning to his pockets.
"We got a secret weapon..."
Judy laughed devilishly, only to receive something circular on her face. "Blueberries! Nooo! It tastes so sweet!"
The red fox continued firing with a seemingly unlimited supply while shouting "Smirk!" repeatedly like a war cry.

Judy shook her head and finally charged to him, pushing them together to the bed.
"That's not how that word works!"
"Aaahh! Blood! Blood! Blood!" His hands froze mid-air to hold a dramatic pose then he followed with a limp body, continuing the line. "And death!"
"Come on you, it's time to sleep!" Judy offered some more tickles, much to enjoyment of Nicholas… followed by the soft comfort of her ears around the fox, who eventually slept soundly.

As Judy felt his gentle breaths against her skin, she surprisingly started feeling emotional and gave a much tighter hug.
With all the signs and memories he basically reenacted or reacted to, she found relief in knowing that Nick was still around somewhere and somehow, inside the fox cub.
"You're just gone for a day and I already miss you so much!" She rubbed her slightly twitching nose on his head and heaved another deep breath.
"You're so adorable, Nicholas Wilde."
Soon, both animals had fallen asleep together with their crumpled uniforms.

Hours long after midnight, there were a few shuffled movements on the bed and the weak vibration of a carrot recorder. The gadget proceeded to speak and repeat the words of a message.

"Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff! Carrots. Carrots. Fluff-"

There was a short static sound.
Then there was the silent dawn.

- O – O – O – O – O -