YOUTHOPIA
CH04: Sound

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.

I do not own Zootopia.

- O – O – O – O – O -

Gideon grunted as he gingerly placed the small box of baked food on the floor. He hung his right paw over the door to knock then stopped as he saw the next room's door open, to show an angry-looking antelope... and a tall one at that.
He was given a scowl, as the antelope's eyes shifted their focus from his face to the box on the floor. "Who are you?"
"I'm Gideon Grey... You-" He had a short moment of thought about his current situation, and decided not to act as if he was familiar with Judy's neighbors. "Jus' doin' my delivery busyness, Sir!"
"I don't see much foxes around here..." The door was closed behind him as he raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in there?"
The red fox figured it was safe enough to show him the contents of the box, and opened it slowly.
As much as he wanted to elaborate on the various designs of the bread, he did not see much of an enthusiast in the antelope.

"Good grief." He just rolled his eyes and walked past the fox, his carried plastic bag hitting him roughly on the side. "You can just knock. She doesn't bite."
Gideon instinctively wanted to endorse his brand name, but was relieved to find no words to convey it to the unfriendly animal.
A few seconds passed and he realized he was left staring at the door before him, which actually had small claw marks somewhere on its lower right corner.
If Nick had really done it, it definitely looked to be of a worrying matter; but what Finnick told him yesterday made him feel more unsettled.
"Wait until you hear Nick speak through that fox. I'm not going to play the fool's part for him!''
He did not want to doubt the innocence of a small critter, much more a kin of his but yet again, Finnick was not a type of a liar. What sort of hint was that?

Laughter vibrated from inside the room, which confirmed the presence of the two figures he wanted to meet. He knocked decisively and spoke, "Hey, it's me!"
He leaned on word safety, over the risk of being overheard and misinterpreted.
It was Nicholas who opened the door and looked up with a bright smile. "Dad! Mum's got a lot of nice music!" He was given one excited pull before the fox cub returned to the bed and inserted both plugs of Judy's earphones to his ears.
The rabbit, who was on her meter maid uniform, stood up with a smirk and addressed the newcomer, "Do you think the actual Nick is a fan of Gazelle?"
Gideon placed the box in the nearest desk, which was one of the few furniture in the area.
"Sorry," Judy apologized. "The place isn't really meant for a large group."
"Tha's okay." Gideon shrugged and settled himself on the space beside Nicholas. "But it would be funny to hear Nick singing Try Everything."
"I'd definitely try to have a recording of that!" said Judy as she hopped to the other side of Nicholas.

While the young fox would hum recognizable lyrics or sway happily to an uplifting beat, Judy and Gideon would laugh and poke the little cub with affection.
"How about we play a game using my songs?" Judy offered.
Nicholas removed the earphones with an eager expression, while Gideon shrugged. "I'm not really good with games. Whattaya got 'ere?"
"Well... since Little Nicholas likes listening to the songs..." Judy drawled playfully. "How would you like it if you saw your Mom and Dad singing those songs?"
Nich' gasped delightfully. "Can i get to hear Dad singing the Pawkmon theme song?!"
"Yes, you can!"
At Gideon's growing refusal, the bunny chuckled confidently. "But there will be rules. You, Nicholas, will get only one band or artist from each letter and we will take turns in singing some lines!"
The larger red fox finally stopped stuttering as he found a proper reply, "I dunno many songs. I- I'm also not a good singer."
"Cheer up, Dad!" Judy nudged him on the arm gently. "We're all in this together."

As Nicholas stood up before them in anticipation already scrolling through Judy's phone, the bunny told the cub, "You can have one earphone on and compare our voices! Just say the names and we'll start."
Gideon chuckled nervously and said, "Yer Mum's such an energetic bunny."
Nicholas giggled as he suddenly felt two pairs of eyes looking intently at him. "Letter A. Arhino Grande!"
Judy cleared her throat with professionalism and spoke, "Grande! I shall be first, for sample purposes. And oh!" She raised a bare finger. "No recording!"
Gideon laughed in relief. "Thank goodness!"

Both foxes waited expectantly as Judy mumbled some words to herself. "I love the way you make my meals! I love it! I love it!"
Nicholas clapped cheerfully as Judy bowed, while Gideon blinked in surprise. "I thought we'll be singin' the whole songs here! We can jus' settle on one lines, eh?"
"Well, if you're willing..." Judy smirked.
"B is for Black Eyed Fish!" Nicholas showed them the music list.

Judy raised her eyebrow in interest. "They were pretty famous years ago. All the clubs would have their music on. Pretty sure you know a song or two, Dad?"
"Come on!" Gideon chuckled. "I'm jus' not used to singin' much. Black Eyed Fish?"
Nicholas nodded with his already pumped up energy.
"I..." That was when he decided to let loose. "I gotta peel it! Oooooh oooh!" To his embarrassment, his attempt for singing had a loud reception of claps.
"That's the spirit!" Judy teased.

"I finally got to hear my parents sing!" Nicholas said proudly as he looked back at the phone. "Next is Catty Perry!"
"Oooh! I like her!" Judy stated as she perked up. "I can't wait to hear a new album!"
"I'm not sure I know her," Gideon admitted.
"You'll recognize this song..." After one deep breath, she started singing once more. "Baby you got pie and fork! Come and show 'em how it's done! Make 'em go oh! Oh-"
As even Gideon started bobbing his head to the tune, Judy chuckled. "I told you so."

"The next is David Cheetah!" Nicholas declared.
Gideon chortled. "This the guy who I thought had a girl's voice. Turns out he's jus' the DJ."
Judy gave a merry gasp. "I was in the exact same situation too when I first heard about him!"
"Glad to know I wasn't the only one."
As the initial nervousness faded away almost entirely, Gideon immediately followed with a song. "I'm lookin' good, nothin' to lose. Fire away, fire away!"
"Dad, is that the song with the singer See Ya?" Nick asked, to which both elders confirmed.
Judy brushed her partner jokingly. "And look who's telling us he wouldn't sing!"
"I jus' said I'm not good with 'em songs!"

Nicholas hummed as he stared at the phone. "There's only Eelvis for letter E."
Judy immediately started laughing at the mention of the name. "Eelvis! They got the most viral song in Zootopia!"
Gideon's eyes widened upon recognition. "So that's what the group's name is! I didn't know."
"Pretty much everyone only knows one song by Eelvis." Judy shrugged. "But they got more than one!"

"What does viral mean?" The fox cub asked.
"Somethin' that sticks to ya, just like a tickle!" supplied Gideon as he aimed a finger on one of the cub's sensitive areas. "Dad, no!"
"So, who's next?" Judy asked.
"It's-"
"Wait, ya haven't sung for Eelvis yet!" Gideon interrupted with a toothy grin. "Why so excited?"
"Oops. Well, I can't really sing the chorus... How does a fox neigh?"
Gideon laughed, turning to his smaller kin. "Ya'll def'nitely have fun lis'nin' to this repeatedly. Keep it on the random playlist or something.

Judy pushed him gently. "Don't influence him with the viral stuff. So, who's next?"
"It's Flo Rideer," Nicholas answered dutifully, although still giggling a little from Gideon's attempts for tickling.
The larger red fox grunted in amusement at the mention of the name. "I didn't take you for an animal to listen to this type of music."
"Hey, I'm a music enthusiast!" Judy said smugly. "Though I'm trying to find people outside the mainstream area."
"Ehhh... pretty unsafe for Nich'las' ears."
Judy smiled knowingly. "Depends on the song."

Gideon easily settled for one and sang. "Can you blow my weasel baby, weasel baby, let me kno-"
"Okay, stop. Flo Rideer is a bad idea," Judy interrupted.
"I told ya I dun' know much," Gideon defended. "And ya cuttin' in makes it more awkward."
Judy rolled her eyes. "You should've just done the whistle part."
It was just then that they saw Nicholas was moving his head up and down, likely with the most recently chosen song.
"It's not really that bad," Gideon said. "The whistle jus' sticks to ya."
The bunny sighed. "It's the only reason I have the song in my phone. Next song!"

Nicholas grumbled as he forcefully stopped the playing song. "I liked that song." He seemed to follow it with a few blows from his mouth.
"Oh, great. Nick is that kinda listener," Gideon said.
Judy brushed it off with a laugh. "Silly! I got more songs that can easily beat it."
"Geese Harmony?" Nicholas frowned.
"Yeah. That's their name," the bunny confirmed. "They're one of the newer female groups in the industry. But you gotta use the fork fork fork fork fork fork fork! I think I missed one fork."
"Is it actually meant to be suggestive?" Gideon comically widened his eyes.
"I know, right?"
"Ya done, Mum?" Nicholas hummed as he scrolled lower in the list. "I pick this Howeasel."

"Howea!" Gideon brightened up. "It's one of my ol' friend's fav'rite! But I dun' remember a song..."
Judy smiled encouragingly and started humming. "You recognize it?"
"Oh, tha's very helpful!"
Judy prodded him encouragingly. "Go on."
"Even the best mall close sometimes! Even the cars refuse the fine."
"Your voice fits the song, Dad!" Nicholas stated to which Judy nodded.

"Next is Iggy Azalion!"
"She's Fangmeyer's guilty pleasure," Judy informed jokily. "I saw pansies! Oooh oooh oooh oooh!"
The larger red fox guffawed in place. "Everybody hated that song!"
"But it was one of those songs that stayed for so long in the radio!"

"Mum, there's two Justins in here," Nicholas read from the list. "Beaver and Timbearlake."
Judy raised a hand up high. "Justin Beaver's on a streak of good songs."
Gideon found himself nodding in agreement. "Is it too late now to say 'Pause it'? Cause I'm missing more than the story!"
"Hey, I thought Nicholas is the one who'll do the picking," Judy admonished.
Gideon chuckled. "Yer Dad gets excited at times."

"It's still music for the ears," Nicholas offered as a light pun. "K is for Kanine West!"
"That's Little Rodentia's favorite rapper!" Gideon mentioned. "He's got like a hidden agenda in mind." "All of the mice! All of the mice!" Judy proceeded to do a terrible impression of the trumpet ensemble in the song.
The red fox laughed pleasantly. "Exactly!"

"Mum, can we have a soundtrack, too?" Nicholas asked. "You got the Lion Queen here."
"One of my all-time favorite movies!" Judy said merrily.
"Caaan you feel the rum toniiight? We got some sweetened cheese!" Gideon rolled out lightly. "Like that even makes any sense."
"But the movie's one of the best until today!" Judy said proudly.

"Next is Manta del Ray!"
"Animals always misspell the Ray part," Judy ranted. "Not if you're an actual fan."
"I'm not," Gideon confessed. "But she's usually compared in the other jen- jun... genrees, right?"
"Genre. You know any song of hers?"
The pastry chef shook his head.
"I got that collar tie, collar tie madness oh! Oh oh oh oooh."
"Mum, you got the lyrics wrong!" Nicholas reproached. "It's colored tie!"
"'S that so? And I was getting into it!"
Judy pushed him humorously. "Now, you're acting like my Dad, Gideon!"

"Neko Minaj!" Nicholas frowned. "I think I've heard Neko somewhere..."
"Doesn't neko mean cat in Japanese?" Judy said, which Gideon confirmed.
"She's the one who got the wool group running. War sheep are meant to fly!"
Judy gasped in recognition. "So that's what Assistant Mayor Bellwether was humming that one time… when she was still in that position."

"Ooh! Oooh!" Nicholas jumped excitedly in position. "How about this Owl Sea Tea? "
"They're like an animal act'vist group with all their song names," Judy said with genuine laughter. "Oh darling I was you were deer!"
"They're yer best bet for songs with the influence of nature!"
"And Tundratown was pleased with the mention of a vanilla twilight," Judy supplied delightfully.

"Next in line is Passengerbil!"
Gideon gasped enjoyably. " He created the time when the male side of every species got more confident."
"And the time when almost everyone got into singing love songs! " Judy added pleasingly. "Not me though! I was... busy being your Mom!"
"Mum, you're making me embarrassed!" Nicholas said.
"Not with yer Dad here!" Judy lightly pulled Gideon closer, who began singing. "Only know you love fur when you let her go!"

"Quailey Williams is next!"
"Does it have to be a sep'rate feature or songs with the band?" Judy queried.
Gideon rolled his eyes. "Mum, sing what you want."
"You can't eat two kernels anymore? You got to eat out more! Mooore!"
Gideon gasped in actual disbelief. "Out of all their good songs, you picked that?"
"Hey, it's the first song that crossed my mind!"

"Dad, it's Ratsal Flatts' turn!"
"Another Little Rodentia sensation," Gideon said in amusement.
"I only have their old songs," Judy admitted. "I'm not updated with the group."
The acting father began singing readily. "That should be free, holding your bag! That should be freeee, buying you feasts!"

"Next is this Sealena Gomez!"
"She's the source of the funniest rabbit song parodies!" Gideon stated.
Judy laughed. "I have fourteen carrots! I have fourteen carrots!"
"Carrots as in the Carrots?" Nicholas asked.
"Oh, silly." Judy shook her head.
"Your Mum meant the carrot veggies."

"Oh, how about Twenty One Pythons, Dad?"
Gideon turned to the bunny inquisitively. "They only got famous after one of their songs got featured in a movie, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Judy grumbled. "And there I was, a fan since their first single."
"Really? I might check them out. All my friends are vegans, take it slow!" Gideon sang then dropped an imaginary mic.

"Mum, there's only Utter for U."
"I thought he's already retired," Gideon admitted.
"He's probably going to be back with a new album," Judy said rather proudly. "He's always been a strong contender."
"Not with any songs I could remember."
"Hey! Baby, tonight! The jay's gonna fall with doves again!"

"This one's got a weird name. Vulture?"
"He's that rapper who sings about the Future yet you can't understand!" Judy chuckled.
"And still gets featured by diff'rent famous an'mals!" Gideon added lightly.
"You give wheat to me everyday! Everyday! Everyday!"

"Oh, Mum! This one's a funny name! Whaley Steinfood!"
Gideon chuckled. "One of her vids got a controversial message. She's dancin' with that SelfService shirt!"
Judy rolled her eyes in laughter. "Everyone just loved to make a silly assumption out of an innocent message."
"That vid though…"
"Dad, please!" Judy tuned him out with an impression of a silly dance. "Every hair aligned, I love me!"
"I give it a pass." Gideon gave a toothy grin.

"X-Ray Jepsen?" Nick drawled.
"She's the only one I know who starts with an X," Judy confessed cheerfully. "I'm lucky enough to get an artist for every letter!
"And I only know one song from her!" Gideon shook his head humorously, then heaved a deep breath to sing, "Hey, i just fed you and this is grazing! But here's my farmer, he's so amazing!"
Judy laughed. "Feeding activists heavily supported the song in a totally different way."

"This one's got a silly name too! Yum Smith!"
Gideon hummed in interest. "He's got that voice everyone is trying to imitate."
"That some say would be yummy in..." Judy stopped, chuckling as she gave an eye at the fox cub.
"You saaaay I'm crazy, but you don't stink. I know what you've done!"
"That's as poor a song choice as you claimed I did for Quailey!" Judy pointed out.
"Hey!"

"Final song comes from Zegg!" Nicholas waved the phone gleefully. "That's 24 different songs!"
Judy grinned. "How appropriate! Dad, go sing the one where he collaborated with Quailey Williams."
"Ya got it, Mom! And for our finisher..." Gideon cleared his throat. "Are you gonna bake the pie? Are you gonna bake the pie?!"

When the final lyric was laid out, everyone laughed out loud with Nicholas charging straight for his acting parents.
Everyone scrambled around the bed, with Gideon barely fitting in the available space.
"Oh, Gideon. You're so unfair!" Judy wriggled her hands to give him a pinch. "You hurried up all your songs!"
The larger fox chuckled. "I told ya I'm not great at singing!"
"Mum's definitely better at singing!" Nicholas claimed, muffled by some of the sheets.
"Ey, it's my voice ya inherited, Nich'las!" Gideon told him proudly.
"You got everything foxy in you!" Judy smiled sweetly as she squeezed the cub's pair of cheeks.
"Muuuum, stop it!"

"Dun' get too rowdy now!" Gideon cautioned. "Yer feet might hit the pies Dad got for us!"
"Really?!" Nicholas' ears perked up as he looked around. "I thought that wasn't meant for us."
"I nearly forgot!" Judy said pleasantly, and then instinctively checked a nearby clock. "Oh my gosh, my break's almost over! I have to check in with the Chief by the next hour."
"But Fin... his uncle might come here soon," Gideon worried out loud. "And the room key. Plus, what if yer neighbors check in on us?"
"Uncle's gonna be here?!"

"Nick, I- I'll be back quick." Judy fumbled with her keys and removed one from the set. "I don't have much choice, Gid. Tell his uncle to stay until I get back here. We need some-"
"My name's Nicholas, Mum!"
Judy sighed with a smile. "Goodbye, dumb fox. I'll be seeing you."
She frowned as she faced Gideon. "Wait, how about you? I thought you got business hours."
Gideon reassured her with a shrug. "I let yer Dad drive the van and take the busyness for the aft'; cos yer family's pickup was sent to the Rainforest for some repairs and he had to get some transpo'."
"Wait, you came here by train?"
Gideon shrugged.
"Oh, okay… I- I'll be going!"

"Wait, yer forgettin' yer Carrots." Gideon turned to the scattered bunny dolls across the room and got one carrot-shaped gadget, playing it to check. "Carrots. Carrots. Fluffity fluff!"
"This is yers."
Judy was about to get the recorder when she seemed to look around it and frowned. "Wait, that isn't mine."
"But it's got yer..."
Judy searched for the other Carrots, and then turned it around upon contact. "See? Nicholas and I put some stickers to identify our own recorders. He's got a blueberry. I got a carrot... on my Carrots."

Gideon gently took the recorder from Judy's grasp, and then played the two devices together.
Albeit not mixing nicely, both recorders definitely repeated only one message for all ears in the room to hear.
"When did you change my message, Mum?" Nicholas asked as he got the gadget with the blueberry sticker back from Gideon. "Recording of a recording!"
"I..." Judy stammered as she traded confused looks with Gideon. "Finnick might have an idea...?"
The red fox's eyes widened at the mention of the name. "Tha's right!"
Judy looked like she wanted to pursue with the inquiry, but looked helplessly at the time in her phone. "Stay put."
They gave each other an embrace, solely for the display of affection for Nicholas.
Judy got her own recorder from Gideon then got out the room.

"Mum's gone!" said Nicholas with a tinge of sadness. "Dad, can I get some ice cream?"
"We still in that Junior Ranger Scout hide n' seek," Gideon told him. "Who knows? Maybe yer uncle will bring somethin'!"
"Maybe we can surprise Mum with a new message for my Carrots!" Nicholas eyed his gadget sweetly, almost as if it was a partner in crime.
"Let me see," the acting father requested politely.
"What are you going to do it with?" the younger fox asked as he handed it over.

Without answering, Gideon only pushed the play button of the cub's Carrots and listened intently. "It's def'nitely the same."
"Isn't that cool?!" Nicholas said with enthusiasm. "Mum's partner must have come by when I was still asleep."
The pastry chef frowned. "Ya mean ya never checked in the mornin'? What did ya do when ya're alone 'ere?"
"Mum told me to stay here and only go out to the left most corner of the hallway for the toilet," Nicholas answered dutifully but cheerfully. "So I played with the funnies and set ourselves for a grand roleplay!"

"Funnies?"
"That's what I decided to call them!" Nicholas presented his statement through raising some of the dolls using his paws. "Foxes and bunnies form funnies!"
Gideon chuckled in amusement. It was not like the idea never crossed his mind, what with two of his friends of the same species' close involvement with each other.
Still, it did not answer the current mystery of the recording.
That was when a soft knock on the door was heard, followed by a grumpy grumble of a familiar voice.
"Uh, if any of you are in..."

"Uncle!" Gideon watched as his younger kin jumped off the bed to open the door and welcome the fennec, who was carrying an elephant suit. To both their surprises, Finnick also had a small pack of blueberries in hand.
"Ooh, you're the best uncle ever!" Nicholas exclaimed, before pointing a finger at his body. "What's that you're carrying?"
"I told you about the suit, right? We'll do it when your Mom's here."
The slight grunt of the fennec as Nicholas took the blueberries and upon closing the door on his back made Gideon think he actually liked getting praised by the cub, which made him hum in interest.
"I thought you gave up already."
"I can't just refuse the bunny's plea," Finnick stated, as if it should have been obvious, and placed the suit on the tidiest part of the bedroom's floor. "The other Nick would definitely not like it."
"Speaking of..."

The chef gave a glance at the distracted fox cub, who was teasing the bunny dolls with his set of blueberries. He got the unattended carrot recorder and swayed Finnick's attention to it.
"It's got the same message as Judy's Carrots. I thought about what you said..."
"Recording of a recording," the fennec spoke in skepticism. "Any of them could have tried-"
Gideon rather expected the reaction from the grumpy fox. "Jus' listen to it then."

"Carros. Carrots. Fluffity fluff!"

Nicholas gave them a brief eye contact before turning back to his game innocently.
Finnick's frown deepened as his eyebrows furrowed. "I knew something was up. It's likely the fool's fighting whatever substance he's got on him. Well at this rate, he'll be back in no time."
"So he'll just grow tall again or something?" Gideon asked, feeling a little dumb upon putting out the thought.
"What else? I wouldn't like to think of possible adverse effects so as not to worry his bunny. Everyone is happy for now." Finnick shrugged as he placed his paws on the pastry box. "Is this for us?"
"Yeah. Though I dun' know yer pref'rence n' all," Gideon admitted with a scratch on the back of his head. "Jus' keep the one with blueberry for Nich'las. It's the one on the upper left."

The white fox grunted as he considered the nine doughnuts neatly assorted inside, before finally getting one covered with chocolate and sprinkles. "I thought you're restricted to pies."
"I've been tryin' out stuff to expand the busyness. Gotta keep the cust'mers interested," Gideon chattered lightly. "I'm even considerin' changin' the brand logo. But Judy's Dad doesn't feel like makin' it a priority."
As the smell of the pastry wafted through the area, Nicholas' ears perked up in attention and he instantly dropped the funnies to check out the open box.

"I want this one!" The fox cub pointed at the donut with a carrot mark.
Gideon hurriedly spoke to the cub, "Are ya sure ya dun' want the blueberry one?"
Nicholas was already about to eat the pastry when he hesitated upon hearing the words.
"You can just give that to your Mom," Finnick said.
"But she doesn't like everything to be carrots," Nicholas countered with a defiant look, which abruptly faded to delight. "Oh, Uncle's right. Which one's the blueberry?"

Gideon was wordless for a few seconds as Nicholas returned the carrot donut whole inside the box. Finnick did not show any apparent disturbance as he just informed the cub of the desired donut's location. "Upper left."
"Thanks, Dad!"
"I was the one who told you which one's which…" Finnick grumbled.
The smaller red fox rushed to the bed as if planning to include his newly acquired donut with his imaginative story with his toy friends.
"N- no prob'em, son. Uhh, dun let the crumbs fall on the bed."

Finnick gave the pastry chef a smirk. "Well, we just have to get used with this Nick, I guess."
Gideon hummed worriedly. "Judy will be so confused."
"Nah. She'll only notice how cute that fox is. For once, it's not her who'll be the cute one in the group." The fennec got a bite off his second doughnut.
He was regarded with interest by the baker. "Never thought I'd hear you say cute."
"I hate the word."
- O – O – O – O – O -