Chapter Six: A Glimpse of the Inner Darkness
It took all of Nick's self-control not to take off towards Judy's apartment on all fours like a primal fox. Knowing that his bunny was waiting anxiously for his return was like the most powerful opiate he'd ever experienced. Nick loved the high it gave him, but at the same time he hated that it reminded him of the lowest points of his life. There had been a time when he and Finn had worked as couriers for drug cartels, being paid in product. He had been addicted to far too many narcotics in his past, but he was proud to say he's been clean for just over a decade. Getting clean had been a long, hard, and painful process, but he'd done it because he hadn't wanted to end up one of those nameless bodies found in an alleyway by a dumpster.
Stopping at the final intersection between him and his destination, waiting for the crosswalk light to give him the go ahead, Nick felt a droplet of water strike his nose. Tilting his head back, he saw that, for once, the weather forecast had actually been right. The cloud coverage blanketed the sky, signifying that a storm would soon hit the city. Sighing, Nick looked at the crosswalk light impatiently. 'It was a night like tonight' Nick thought to himself as that memory from so long ago came to the forefront of his mind. Flashes of that night's events played within his head like an old film reel.
The light changed, and Nick took off across the street, making a beeline for Judy's apartment complex. He entered the building just in time for the rain to begin. Looking out at the dreariness of the world, Nick found his mind wandering. The sound of a throat clearing next to him drew his attention. Turning around, Nick found himself staring at the last mammal he expected to see: his old buddy Finn. "Hey, Finn."
"Wilde." Finn greeted in reply. "Mind telling me wha' ya doing here." Folding his paws over his chest, Finn gave his old hustling partner a look over. "Ya just here to get outta the rain? Or ya here to visit ya bun?"
Nick gave the fennec a small grin. "Both. I just wanted to watch the rain for a bit." He didn't have to explain why. Finn was one of only two animals that was aware of the reason he did that on occasion. They had been partners in crime for years and you didn't stay that way without learning a little about who you worked with. "What are you doing here, Finn? Visiting someone?"
"Nah, I got a job here as the super for the building." Finn answered, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "Thanks to ya bun, no less. She put in a good word for me with the buildings owner." Taking a puff, he said, "She brings me food every now and again, saying I shouldn't only eat microwavable dinners. I don't have the heart to tell her she can't cook for shit." This brought out a chuckle from the red fox tod. "Did you finally tell her?"
Cocking his head to the side, Nick asked, "Tell her what? That I love her? Yes, I did." Judging by the expression on the diminutive fox's muzzle, that wasn't what he meant. Sighing, Nick rubbed the back of his next as he looked at the world outside the glass of the door. "It isn't just something one can tell somebody, Finn." He wanted nothing more than to tell Judy what it was that he and Finn were discussing, but it was something that had taken Nick years to come to accept about himself. Lowering his paw to his side, Nick whispered, "What if she feels frightened, disgusted, or comes to loathe me?"
Finn rolled his eyes. "For the love of…I'm not telling you to just divulge every one of your secrets to her at once. I'm just asking if you've told her." Cigarette on the verge of being finished, Finn snuffed and flicked it into a special wastebasket designed for them. "But I need to remind you that you can't always outrun your past. Eventually, it will catch up to you." Walking away, he called back, "If you ever want to grab a drink, my door's open."
Watching Finn walk away, Nick wrapped his arms around himself. 'It'd be so easy to just simply tell her, but I'm scared of what she'll think.' Nick watched the rainfall for a little while longer before making his way to Judy's apartment. Knocking on the door, Nick waited to be let in. He could hear the shuffling of hindpaws beyond it and Nick couldn't help wondering what she'd been doing while she waited for him.
Judy opened the door to let Nick inside. After he had only taken one step across the threshold, she grabbed his shirt and hauled him into a deep kiss. She heard him kick the door closed behind them as he lifted her and carried her to the couch. They waged a tongue war with one another, vying for supremacy. Judy could hear Nick's heart pounding in his chest as adrenaline coursed through his veins. "You're wearing far too much clothing, Slick." she whispered after pulling away just enough to do so.
Wasting no time, Nick merely ripped his shirt off, not willing to break the kiss. He groaned into as Judy raked her claws down the front of his chest down to his abs, almost as if inspecting him. Nick separated from the kiss and pressed his nose to the crook of her neck as Judy continued using her paws to explore his body. He was panting lightly, his breath rippling through her soft, delicate fur. Feeling her legs encircle his waist, Nick looked up to gaze into her lustful eyes. Slowly, almost ominously, he opened his maw and captured her neck with his fangs, pressing down just enough to leave a mark.
The sensation sent Judy over the edge, causing her to climax. As she had waited for him, Judy had taken the time to fantasize various scenarios that she wanted to try. That had been one of them, to feel his fangs against her throat, pressing down, leaving indentations, proof that she was his. It wasn't a mating bite, nor was it a claiming one, but to Judy that didn't matter. To her it was proof that Nick did indeed love her dearly. It wasn't until she came down from her euphoric high that Judy realized that Nick had stopped. Looking at him as he gazed down at her with an indiscernible expression, Judy softly inquired, "What is it, Nick?"
Nick could only shake his head as he tried to find a way to answer her question. Did he give her the honest answer? Or that of the con artist? 'They say the truth will set you free' Nick thought to himself as he lost himself within the violet sea of her eyes. Sighing, Nick whispered, "I…I have things about me, about my past that I'm afraid to tell you. It's not that I don't want to, believe me, but I'm frightened that you'll leave me once I do." They never once broke eye contact and Nick could see various emotions flash across her muzzle.
On Judy's end, what she saw was fear, apprehension, and nervousness within Nick's eyes. A tender smile slowly made its way across Judy's muzzle. "Hey," she whispered, "No matter what you did in the past, I know who you are now. That's all that matters." Judy saw the fear begin to fade away and disappear, but the nervousness and apprehension remained. "You can tell me whenever you're ready. I won't push."
Hearing that, Nick rolled them over so that he was lying on his back with Judy on top of him. Closing his eyes, he thought, 'One step at a time'. Taking a deep, calming breath, Nick said, "When I was younger, like after the junior ranger incident, I asked my mother why my dad was never around. I expected some story like he died, or he was stationed overseas, or something. Instead, the answer I got was getting slapped around, screamed at, and told to never mention, and these are her words, 'that bloody motherfucking sack of goddamn dogshit again'. The beating was so bad that I didn't even bother going to school the next day. That same night, while my mother was drinking herself into a stupor, I ran away."
Remaining quiet as she listened to Nick, Judy shifted her head to find Nick looking off into space. She maneuvered herself so that her head was in the hollow of Nick's throat. This seemed to break Nick out of his trance somewhat, for his arms tightened around her body, holding her close to him. She could feel his heartbeat from how tightly he held her to his chest.
"I didn't know if I would survive." Nick whispered. "I was all alone with no one to depend on for anything. Imagine it, a 10-year-old kit wandering the streets trying his hardest to survive. I saw and heard things that no kit should ever come across. I was on the verge of death when I stumbled into Mr. Big's territory in Tundratown. Back then, it was his Grandmama who was in power. She took me in, fed me, raised me. I was only thirteen when the skunk butt rug incident took place. I wasn't aware of what it really was. I thought I was doing something to repay her kindness, but I was fucked over by the swine I bought it from. Rodolfo knew that I wasn't at fault exactly, but he still needed to portray the vindictive Don for those in the family that had it out for me. He let me escape."
Judy nuzzled comfortingly into Nick's neck. "You don't have to continue Nick. You don't have to push yourself to tell me everything right now." She didn't want Nick for force himself to tell her everything about his past.
"No, I know. I just…" Nick hesitated for a moment. "I need to at least finish telling you this story." Inhaling deeply, he exhaled slowly. "I met Finn shortly afterwards. He was in the middle of a hustle, but stopped once he found me underneath a bridge crying. He didn't ask any questions, just sat there with me for a bit until I calmed down. I don't remember the exact sequence of events that followed, but Finn ended up taking me to his van to drive me home. He walked me to my mom's front door expecting to find a vixen happy to know her son was returned after years. Only, instead of that, my mother looked at us, saw me then said 'I thought I finally got rid of your stupid face. Get lost.', then slammed the door in our muzzles. Finn was furious, but instead of breaking down the door, he dragged me back to his van telling me that we were family now."
She didn't say anything, but it was due to not wanting to begin screaming in righteous fury. 'How could a mother do something like that to her own offspring?' she demanded silently. Judy wondered if there was any way to track down Nick's mother and find something to charge her with. Suddenly a question presented itself. "Nick? What about your father? Did you ever learn anything about him?" She knew it was probably asking too much, but she had to know, needed to know, there was a chance for Nick to have a familial relative that cared for him.
Nodding, Nick whispered, "I did. It was around my 17th birthday that I stumbled upon his name. After some research, I tried to get in contact with him. I eventually got a response, but it was only that one time. The letter said that if he was ever able to he'd come home. That was 18 years ago. I haven't heard anything since."
Sadness overwhelmed Judy as it dawned on her that there was a very clear possibility that Nick's father had died shortly after sending his letter. Holding Nick in a strong embrace, Judy whispered, "I'm so sorry, Nick. I wish that there was something that I could do for you." It hurt her heart that all this had happened to Nick. Judy didn't even know if that was the worst of it.
Nick reciprocated the embrace. "Just stay with me." he replied softly. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you in my life. So, just stay with me, please." The emotional toll that this took exhausted him. It was clear in how soft and tired his voice sounded. Nick fought valiantly to remain awake, but it was a futile effort and he drifted asleep with Judy not far behind as she cried herself to sleep.
The Zootopian Police Department's Precinct One was bustling with activity as the officers of the nightshift moved from one area of the building to another. Benjamin Clawhauser, the large, jubilant cheetah dispatch officer, was in the middle of organizing the reports he was to deliver to Chief Bogo when he heard someone clear their throat. Not seeing anyone, he peered over the edge of his desk counter to find a red fox tod with bloody, crimson fur and the richest emerald green eyes he'd only ever come across once before. "Uh, can I help you, sir?"
The tod smiled politely. "I'm looking for Chief Bogo. I have an appointment, though I'm a little late." He took out an old timepiece from his pocket. "By like seven minutes. I don't usually make excuses, as it's unprofessional, but I haven't been in the city in years, so I kind of got turned around and lost trying to find this place."
"Oh! Name?"
"Interpol Special Operative Nicholas Piberius Wilde, Senior."
Across town – Sahara Square
Frank and Nathaniel stared in horror as the vampire bat drained the poor ram of his entire blood supply. Frank shivered in fear as the body slumped to the floor. Nathaniel diverted his gaze as the vampire bat licked his snout to clean it of blood. Neither knew what to do next as their original purpose for being here was no longer required. So, they simply stood there silently, awaiting further orders.
The vampire bat turned to his minions and ordered, "Get rid of the evidence. All of it. I don't want anything to remain here that can be traced back to us." He began to walk towards the exit, but stopped short as the sound of soft cackling started to echo through the warehouse. "Who's there? Show yourself. Or else I'll burn this building to the ground."
Nothing.
Total silence.
Looking back to the wolf and jackal, the vampire bat saw that they had been knocked unconscious. Terror surged through him as he slowly scanned his surroundings.
Nothing.
Total silence.
Breathing heavily, the vampire bat crept slowly towards the door. Upon reaching it, he found that the door wouldn't open. Try as hard as he might, it wouldn't budge. The sound of approaching pawsteps came up from behind him, but he didn't dare turn around. Then, a voice, cold as death, filled his ears.
"Did you miss me, Vladimir?" it asked. "It's been so long, hasn't it? Tell me, did you think I was dead? Did you think that I would forget everything you did to me?"
Vladimir Batsarab felt his heart stop as he recognized the voice. It wasn't the one he had expected. It was one that was far, far worse that the worst nightmare he had ever experienced. "Please. I didn't know. I wasn't aware of what they were doing. I promise you, I didn't know."
Nothing.
Total silence.
His instincts told him not to look back, but curiosity got the better of him. Turning around, Vladimir found himself alone. Spying a small piece of parchment on the floor, he stooped down to pick it up. Reading it, he quaked in dread. Swallowing, he read it out loud, just to make sure that he hadn't misread it. "You've got one week. If you don't repent, I'll show you how savage I can truly be thanks to your precious experiments. Signed, The Apex Omnivore."
Judy's Apartment – 5:15 AM
Judy woke up to the sound of her alarm. She groaned, not wanting to get up. She felt so comfortable where she was. 'I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to.' Judy thought to herself repeatedly. Unfortunately, her mattress started to shift and the alarm came to an end mid-beep. Then, she felt a loving kiss get placed between her ears.
"Time to get up, Judy." Nick whispered. "We've got to go talk to Chief Bogo, remember? Besides, we can't sleep all day since we're on the nightshift."
She hated that he was right. With another groan, Judy rolled off Nick chest. "Fine. Let's get up." She let out a squeak as Nick lifted her to his chest and begin to carry her to the bathroom. "Nick," she giggled. "What are you doing?"
"Shower time!" Nick said like a rapper, making Judy giggle more.
They gave each other a thorough scrub down. Nick had to make do with Judy's shower gel as he didn't have his regular. Judy made sure that her attentions got the gel down to his skin, knowing that Nick required a deep cleansing.
As they washed each other, the two slowly drew closer together. It inevitably resulted with a kiss. Though it started chaste, the kiss quickly became a raging inferno. Judy pulled herself up onto Nick's chest, wrapping her legs around his midsection. Nick groped Judy's ass, giving each a firm squeeze. Soon, Nick had Judy pressed up against the shower wall, a growl emanating from him. Judy pulled Nick closer, as if trying to suck his soul through the kiss. A 'meep' escaped her as Judy felt Nick's cock tip press itself to her asshole. Separating herself from their liplock, Judy whispered, "Not yet, Slick. Soon, though. I promise."
Nick growled passionately as he pushed his nose into Judy's neck. "Sorry. I can't help it. I've got the most drop dead gorgeous female alive in the shower with me." He felt extremely pleased that his words caused Judy to hum with pleasure. "So, you're tell me that you've picked a specific date?"
"Uh-huh." Judy answered in a whisper. "Tell me something, do you remember what's special about this weekend?" She nibbled his ear a bit after asking the question.
Judy's action had Nick growl lustfully, so it took him a few seconds to remember what that weekend was. "I-it's our anniversary of becoming partners." Two years, they would be celebrating their two-year anniversary as police partners.
"That's right." Judy whispered sensually into Nick's ear. "Can you think of a better time for us to become a different kind of partners?"
Nick couldn't answer. His senses were being assaulted by the scent of Judy's arousal. It was so strong that it overpowered the smell of the shower gel. All Nick could do was growl. He had been limited to growling a lot lately.
They finally managed to get out of the shower and dressed. They whipped up a quick little breakfast then were out the door. Climbing into the truck, Judy behind the wheel, the two took off towards the precinct. They tossed their thoughts back and forth about what would soon take place.
Arriving at the precinct, Nick and Judy gave each other's paw a squeeze then walked inside. They froze in place at the sight of an older red fox tod speaking to Clawhauser. He was wearing a black business suit and his fur was a bloody crimson. His ears were pure black, his tail the same, but with a bit of white at the tip. They saw his ear flick a second before he turned to look at them.
The instant Nick's eyes locked with the other tod's, his whole world slowed to almost a complete standstill. Memories came rushing forth at the sight of this other tod, who slowly approached them. Nick wanted to say something, but the other tod beat him to the punch.
"Hello, Junior. Sorry it took me so long to come home."
"D-Dad?"
Bunnyburrow
Bonnie Hopps was busy trying to make brunch in the kitchen of her family's burrow in Bunnyburrow. Having returned only a few hours ago, one would think she would try and sleep off the jet lag, but then Bonnie wasn't a normal doe. Being the mother to nearly 300 kits, she was used to pulling multiple days without much sleep. Turning her head to look at her husband, Stu, she saw that he was still squinting into the distance, lost in thought. "Oh, Stu. Will you please stop this nonsense? Judy doesn't even know I know."
Stu grumbled and downed the cup of carrot infused tea. "I don't like it, Bon. I just don't like it. Why? Why wouldn't she just tell us straight?" Try as hard as he might, Stu was finding it extremely difficult to comprehend that his daughter was in love with a predator, specifically her fox partner. He admittedly liked Nick, based on his wife's opinion of the tod and Judy's constant praise of him, but this wasn't normal.
Rolling her eyes, Bonnie replied, "You know why Stu. Don't play dumb." Under her breathe, she added, "Not that it would be difficult for you to play dumb." Bonnie truly loved her husband, but ever since that accident years ago Stu wasn't the same male she fell in love with. 'He used to be so bright, in more ways than one. But now?' she thought with a sigh. "Besides, Nick's always been looking out for her, never hurt her, and plus, he's more of a gentlemammal than most of the others we've tried to send her way." Bonnie was getting really tired of Stu's constant attempts to set Judy up with someone she wouldn't give the time of day.
Resting his forehead against the tabletop, Stu asked in a quiet voice, "Bon? Do you think it's time for me to go back to the hospital?"
The question gave Bonnie pause and she turned to look at her husband. Stu had been putting off every rescheduled appointment with the specialist for a follow up from his accident for the past five years. If he was asking her for her opinion on going back something had to be up. "You already know my answer, Stu. It hasn't changed."
"Then, please make me an appointment for later today." Stu mumbled. Approximately five years ago, Stu and a few of his sons had been trying to reroof the large storage unit. Having lost his footing, Stu had fallen the three-story drop, impacting the ground hard enough that it had given him minimal brain damage. He was still smart, but he did suffer from mild impairment as a result. Visits to the hospital for this always made him feel stupid, but there was nothing he could do about that. Part of his issue with Judy's reluctance to tell them the truth, in his mind, was that she knew his aversion to things of this…nature.
"I'll do that as soon as I finish making brunch." Bonnie promised. Her ear swiveled as the door to the kitchen opened. Turning to see her four of her eldest sons enter the kitchen, she smiled. "Morning!" She was then swarmed by them all wanting to be the first to hug her welcome. "Oh, I feel so loved." Bonnie told them, returning their group hug as best she could.
The Hopps burrow was soon lively as ever, kits bouncing around, teens arguing over the most kittish things, Finally, Michael Hopps, the eldest of all their children entered the eating area carrying a early edition newspaper. Being a reporter, he always had a early copy for his father.
Taking the paper from his son, Stu began to read. "Bon? What did you say Judy and her friend Nick were investigating?"
"A series of murders, I think. They were both rather vague about the details."
"You might want to read this then." Stu told her as he passed it over.
Bonnie wiped her paws on her apron and took the paper from her husband. The front-page headline was: "The Apex Omnivore Returns: Death's Emissary walks the streets of Zootopia once more!" "Oh, dear!"
Zootopia
*"For the love of…I'm not cheating on you, Katharine!"
"How do I know that!? HOW!? DO? I!? FUCKING!? KNOW!? THAT!? I literally just answered a call from some female asking for you!"
"What was her name?"
"Alice! Why does it matter anyway? If you're not cheating on me, why would you know her?"
"That was my old handler, Kat! Remember? The female that over saw my missions for Interpol? You met her before?"
"So, you were cheating on me with your coworker?"
"NO! I HAVE NEVER CHEATED ON YOU!"
"You have no proof of that!"
"I've been retired since you told me that you were pregnant! I KNOTTED YOU!"
"That doesn't mean shit and you know it!"
"Look, it was probably some clerical error in records. They probably miss filed my retirement as deactivation. I'll go in and sort it all out."
"HA! Right! All you're going to do is run to Alice and fuck her. You know what? Get the fuck out of my house!"
"What about Junior? What are you going to tell him?"
"Whatever the fuck I want! I'll fucking tell him you're dead if I choose to!"
"Kat!"
"GET OUT!"
"After that, I went to the branch office to try and straighten the issue out, but as soon as I stepped inside, I found myself on a one-way flight to the scene of the investigation I was being called in for without a chance to protest." Nicholas Sr. explained as he cleaned his teeth with a wisp. "As much as I tried to get back home, I was constantly refused. The only time I did manage to get back to home office, I found my office flooded with letters. Al of them from Junior. I managed to get one letter out, but that was all. I told Director Howlington that if it wasn't for the fact he was a good friend, I'd shoot him dead without pause."
Judy and Nick stared at Nick's dad in shock. They had just witnessed him put away enough food for a pack of wolves and were now listening to the story that culminated in the explanation for his disappearance as they walked through the streets of Zootopia. Nick was still in disbelief that his father was still alive after all this time. Judy, on the other paw, was juggling a mixture of emotions that she couldn't quite put names to yet.
"So, the reason you couldn't contact me was…?" Nick asked.
"Due to not knowing where I'd be next. I wanted to be able to let you know that way I'd be able to respond, but I've got shit luck." Senior answered.
"You've been chasing the Apex Omnivore all this time?" Judy queried. "I mean, that's the reason for his extended absence isn't it? He's been overseas?"
"Yes and No." Senior replied. "This…Incarnation, let's say, is both a copycat and an original. I don't know exactly how to explain it. Good news is I won't really have to. That's why I was talking with your chief this morning. I've commandeered you two to help me. Full access of course."
"Wait. So, we're going to be working for you?" Nick inquired.
"With me. Not for me. For all intents and purposes, you two will be acting Interpol Special Operatives with all the perks." Senior answered, smiling.
Nick and Judy were silent as they processed that information.
"Anyway," Senior began. "Let's talk about you two. That's another reason I asked for private dining. How long have you two been intimate?" He couldn't stop his smug smirk if he tried as he watched them desperately try to sputter out denials. "Don't bother trying to hide it from me. I may be old, but I still got a good nose and a keen set of eyes. Besides, Nick's tail is practically wrapped around your ankles Ms. Hopps. That's a sure-fire way to know the two of you are 'seeing' one another."
The two looked down to see that Nicholas Sr. was right when pointing out the position of Nick's tail. Nick couldn't find it within himself to extract it from Judy's ankles. For her own part, Judy instinctively grasped Nick's paw for assurance. The action caused Sr. to chuckle drawing their attention back to him. He had a warm smile on his face, one like a proud father.
"You chose a splendid one, Junior. She's everything you need." Sr. stated as he continued on his way down the street. He heard them hurry to catch up to him. "I know that this place won't let you do a lot of things. Hell, they're all for letting mammals be anything, but they refuse to let them do what their heart truly desires. I, for one, wish I could tell them off. I've seen tons of predator-prey couples during my time overseas. It's not unheard of, but it is something that Zootopia refuses to accept."
Nick frowned at his father's admittance of witnessing predator-prey couples overseas. It made him wonder if his father had someone new in his life. "Do you have anyone waiting for you somewhere? Or have you stayed faithful to Mom?"
Sr. stopped, and his ears fell flat against his head. "No. I don't have anyone waiting for me." Sr. whispered. "Besides, I'm guessing you don't know about your mom, do you?" Seeing the confused expression his son had, he sighed. "You're mom's dead Junior. Been dead for a while. I got word of her passing around the time of your 23rd birthday."
Judy felt her heart clench as Nick's face contorted in what appeared to be despair, misery, and shame. She embraced him in a tight, strong hug. There were so many things Judy wanted to say, but not one of them seemed to be the right thing to tell him. She knew nothing about Nick's mother except for what Nick had told her at the concert.
As for Nick, he was crushed. A teeny tiny part of him had hoped that he'd be able to try and mend things with her, but alas it was not to be. While a good portion of his younger years were filled with terrible, horrendous memories, there had been a couple of nice ones too. Knowing that his mother had died before he could make amends, Nick felt a torrent of emotions that he couldn't quite describe, but he was sure Judy knew.
Nicholas Sr. hung his head mournfully. He hadn't wanted to be the one responsible for telling his son the news of his mother's death, but unfortunately, he had. "I'm planning on visiting her grave while I'm here. You're welcome to come along when I do."
All Nick could do was nod in response. He felt Judy begin to guide him by his paw as they continued to walk down the street. He couldn't say anything. No words lent themselves to him. Guilt, regret, and remorse weighed heavily on his heart and mind.
Seeing Nick like this pained Judy immensely, but there was little she could do to ease what he was dealing with at the moment. "How about we go to my place for a bit? It isn't too far a walk from her and we could talk about other things for a while." She was ever so grateful when Nicholas Sr. agreed.
The walk back to Judy's place was, in fact, a short one. Letting the two vulpines inside, she guided Nick to the couch. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Sr.'s nose twitched, and her ears heated up realizing what it was he smelled. "Sorry about the, uh, stench. I…"
"I'm not bothered by it." Nicholas Sr. interrupted. "Not like I don't remember being young and in love. Though, it was a long time ago." Sitting on the small chair available, he stretched then relaxed. "Now, you have questions about the Apex Omnivore, or rather as I know him, BTK. Let's hear them."
"How long has this guy been around?" Judy inquired. "Obviously, he's been around for a long time. We've got unsolved murders dating back to before most of the current officers in the ZPD were born. You, however, stated that the killer is both a copycat and an original, which doesn't make any sense. Can you explain?"
Nicholas Sr. gave her a grin and nodded. "Straight to the point. I like that." he observed. "Very well. BTK is a copycat of another killer dating back over a century ago. Highly intelligent, extremely methodical, and meticulous to a fault. The original killer was never caught, but they didn't have the technology we have today. We now know the identity of the original perp: Jonathan Whiskerson. Now, this killer is also all of those things, but he's making a game of it. Our new perp is exceedingly well trained in both militaristic and surgical prowess, making him that much more lethal, that much more dangerous. He's travelled all over the world, going from continent to continent, challenging the best law enforcement agencies to a game of 'Catch me if you think you can'. Little to nothing is known about who he is or his species, which means he could be anything. I know he's male simply due to the fact that the murders are so gruesome. Females tend to be very neat when killing others, normally using poison. I know that he's too young to have committed the original murders because he's arrogant. Older perps usually aren't, preferring to not draw attention to their work. There's also the fact that these murders didn't start here. The first known murder by our Unsub was in the same location as the originals: Whitechapel. His modus operandi is the same as the original's, as far as we know. No discrimination, all of his victims are of different genders, ages, species, and religions with no known connections. How he kills is where he deviates as his own. He uses various means of brutal torture, weapons, and he leaves nothing he doesn't want us to find. The original was simply slash-and-go, no torture, using a V-42 Stiletto. Our quarry uses different types of blades, as well as firearms to kill his victims, often after either hours of torture or immediately upon choosing them."
It was a bit much to take in within such a short span of time, but Judy managed. Discovering that the original murders didn't take place either here in Zootopia nor even in this era wasn't something she expected to learn. The thought that this killer they were chasing had committed such heinous crimes not only here but overseas was almost too much for her to handle.
"How many victims has he claimed." Nick asked, finally collecting himself enough to partake in the conversation. "How many victims has this monster murdered for his own sick pleasure?" While he hadn't paid close attention, Nick had heard enough. The thought that this beastly abomination was doing this for fun sickened and enraged him. When his father hesitated, Nick said, "Answer the question, Dad."
Frowning deeply, Nicholas Sr. replied, "As of your most recent victim, the death tally for this monster is now well over a hundred. He's killed people across six continents, multiple countries, and various jurisdictions. Once captured, Interpol wants to have him prosecuted in front of the International Criminal Court. This way every law enforcement agency gets to indict him simultaneously."
Nick and Judy nodded in understanding. Prosecuting the killer through the ICC meant that everyone was equally represented. Meaning that it was the perfect compromise for all law enforcement agencies. The two had their work cut out for them.
"When do we leave?" Nick asked. He'd have to make another run to his apartment if they were leaving soon.
"In three days." Sr. answered. "I have contacts I need to meet and associates I need to check in with before we can leave." Taking a look at his watch, Sr. said, "We still have a few hours before I need to check into my hotel. Either of you have anything you want to do?"
Neither Judy nor Nick had anything come to mind. That was until they realized they hadn't done the one thing they had planned on doing today: inform Bogo about their relationship. "Crap!" "Shit!" They shot to their feet.
"We need to go back to the station." Nick told his father. "Judy and I had gone there this morning to talk to him about us."
The three of them began heading back to the precinct. Along the way, Nick and his father chatted a bit about the things they missed out on together. Judy remained at Nick's side the entire time, smiling warmly as she watched Nick interact with his father. It really did warm her heart. 'I'm so happy for you Nick. You deserve this.'
The Nocturnal District
Vladimir Batsarab was pacing within his home, lost in thought. 'He can't be alive. It's impossible. We were there when he died.'
'We never saw the body. It was never recovered.' a part of his brain was quick to refute.
"No one could have survived that.' he countered.
Memories of the event surged forth.
Fire. The blazing inferno that devoured the compound, killing everyone that hadn't managed to escape.
Vladimir shuddered as he recalled the death wails that echoed throughout air. So many deaths. Vladimir remembered the names of each one, as if they were forever carved into his mind. His nephew's killer was one of them, but the question was…which? He hadn't a clue. The voice had been familiar, but he couldn't recall to whom it belonged.
The door opened to reveal an older female vampire bat, who watched as her husband paced the floor frantically. He hadn't kissed her upon his return, which was out of character for him and worried her. Stepping into his path, she asked, "What has happened? What is the cause for your unease, Vlad? Tell me please. I can't bear to see you this way."
Vladimir looked at his wife with eyes that expressed a sadness and fear unlike any she had ever seen. Cupping her snout lovingly, he said, "I can't. I'm so, so sorry, but I simply cannot tell you, my darling. It isn't that I wish to keep it a secret. That I promise you. However, I cannot, in good conscience, tell you what has me behaving like this, for it would mean confessing to crimes that would forever subject me to eternal damnation."
Placing her own paws upon her husband's, she whispered, "This has to do with that night years ago does it not? That's the reason for Timothy's death, isn't it? Whatever you were involved with." Not getting a denial from her husband, she backed away. "There will never be any consequences for what happened. That's what you told me. What do you expect us to tell Ingres and his mate? How will we explain that your mistakes have cost them their only offspring?"
Vladimir hung his head in shame. There was no way that they could tell his brother and sister-in-law that their line had reached its end. Timothy hadn't just been their only child, but he was the only child the two would ever have. They had been told that children were an impossibility, but soon life found a way and Timothy had been born. "I don't know. I truly, honestly don't know."
Tears spilled from her eyes as she gazed at her husband's expression of despair. Hugging him, she whimpered out, through sobs, "Vlad, we can't keep this from them. Timothy was their child. They're bound to get a notification from the police. They should hear it from us first."
"Y-you're right." Vlad admitted. "We…no, I, will tell them." Separating himself from their embrace, Vlad straightened his attire. "I'll go now. I should have told them the moment I learned of his death." Kissing his wife, Vlad walked outside and took flight.
Watching as her husband departed, the female vampire bat whispered a prayer of safe journeys. Suddenly, a cold chill passed through her. Fear enveloped her heart as a voice behind her whispered, "Seems as if though I made a crucial error in judgement earlier. I must rectify this. Fear not my dear, for I won't kill you. Just hurt you really, really badly."
Office of Chief Bogo
Staring at two of his best officers as they divulged that something was going on between them, Chief Bogo rubbed his temple. 'They couldn't just have kept it a secret for a little bit longer?' Setting his hooves on his desk, Bogo sighed. "As long as it doesn't affect your job performance, I don't care. Just keep this on the down low for now while I try and smooth this out with Mammal Resources." Under his breath, he muttered, "This is going to be a shitload of paperwork."
Nicholas Sr. stood in the back of the room near the door, watching as his son and his son's doefriend braved explaining their change in relationship status. It was well known to those who dealt with foxes regularly that once a fox has chosen someone they want to spend their lives with, that was it. Bogo's reaction was trademark for one who knew that well enough. Being Police Chief, one was expected to know things about each species culture.
"Thank you, Sir." Judy and Nick replied simultaneously. The fear that Chief Bogo would end their partnership dissipated. They both knew they'd have to be careful not to let their feelings dictate their decisions. Being given permission to leave, Nick and Judy, followed by Sr., left the precinct.
"That was serendipitous. I was sure that he'd separate us." Nick mused as he pulled Judy close.
"I did too, Slick." Judy replied, feeling relieved. "I guess we're just that good together."
Sr. chuckled silently as they watched them. 'Oh, you two are something else.' he thought. "We still have time before I must check into my hotel. What should we do now?"
"Let's go grab a snack at this little food cart near Serengeti Plaza." Judy suggested. "The foodie is a friend of ours. He'll be excited to meet you, I'm sure of it."
They hailed a taxicab for their destination, which was all the way across the district. Disembarking, the three made their way to the food cart. Judy and Nick waved to the weasel running the cart.
Duke Weaselton hadn't expected a lot out of life. He had been known as the Duke of Bootleg, after all. A regular arrest of Flopsy the Copsy and Wilde for months after they took the city by storm. Eventually, he had no choice but to try and go legit. One of the few talents, besides bootlegging, he had was cooking. So, after managing to convince them to let him try owning a food cart, Duke had been surprised to find many actually enjoyed his food. Hopps and Wilde became semi-regulars when they were assigned Savannah Central. "How're two of my regulars? And who's this?" Duke asked as he finished flipping a flapjack with bananas.
"Nicholas Piberius Wilde, Sr." Sr. answered, as he took a look at the available treats on display. "My, my, I'm looking forward to tasting one of those." he said, pointing to something that appeared to be an egg roll stuffed with spiders and tofu. "Tell me, does it taste good?"
Duke nearly had a heart attack at the older tod's words. "Hold on a sec? You're this one's old tod?" Duke asked, pointing to Nick with his spatula. Getting a nod in reply, Duke muttered, "Well, I'll be damned. How do ya like that? One Tofu Spider Egg Roll coming up."
"Thank you." Sr. said as he waited patiently. Looking to his son, he asked, "So, what's the story here? Old rivals on the streets or something?"
"Ya could say that." Duke answered in Nick's place. "Used to be a criminal for a long time before I started doing this. My new goal is a food truck, but that's still a long way off."
"Hm." Sr. hummed as he took the surprisingly large egg roll. "I'm sensing more, but I can wait." Taking a bite, Sr.'s eyes widened. "Good God, this is delicious!" he exclaimed.
"Isn't it?" Nick asked. "Duke here's learned to take regular, everyday foodstuff and turn it into something tasty." Taking one of the free samples, Nick bit down on the mini-pancake. "These taste a bit different this time."
"I cooked them around a banana slice." Duke answered as he prepared to cook cricket chips.
"Nice." Judy said as she too took one. "Really as a nice flavor to them."
"Thanks." Duke replied with a grin. Then a frown found its way to his muzzle. "I've heard a few whispers going around. Thought I'd see if there was anything I could learn for y'all." Scanning around, Duke lowered his voice. "That bat y'all found, Tim. His uncle is Vladimir Batsarab, a drug lord and mafia boss outta the Nocturnal District. Tim was a druggie that used to 'sample' his uncle's product. But, I don't think Tim was a target. I think he was a message to his Uncle Vlad."
"Continue, please." Nicholas Sr. ordered. Seeing the weasel's look of confusion, he displayed his own badge. "I'm vetted."
Nodding, Duke shut off his cart for a bit. "Vlad wasn't always based here. He's originally from overseas. Rumors have it that he was once involved with a bunch of bad shit. Nothing was proven, but he may have been involved with that incident at the Whitby Asylum."
Nicholas Sr. paused. Whitby Asylum was the site for one of the most horrible events in London's history. Dozens of inmates had been burned alive when the facility erupted into an inferno. There was no record of any known survivors from the event. Sr. tried to remember what he knew about the Whitby Asylum, but nothing stood out. Staying silent, he hoped that Duke would continue.
"From what little I've managed to hear, Vlad's got someone gunning for him from overseas. Now, I don't know whether this has anything to do with your serial killer or not, but I thought you should know." Duke told them. "I'll also keep my ears open for anything else."
"Thanks, Duke. We appreciate it." Judy told the weasel.
Saying their goodbyes, Nicholas Sr., Judy, and Nick started walking into the nearby park. They enjoyed watching as life thrived around them. Taking a seat at a picnic table, the three fell into casual conversation. Nick and his dad resumed filling each other in on their lives.
Judy listened as Nick regaled to his dad their adventure during the Missing and Savage Mammals investigations. Every so often, she'd cut in and correct some exaggeration Nick spewed, much to Sr.'s amusement. Nick would just roll his eyes playfully at Judy's interruptions.
Soon, the sun was beginning to set, and Sr. said, "Well, looks like I missed check in."
"You could just stay at my place, Dad." Nick told the older tod. "I'm staying at Judy's anyway."
Sr. shook his head. "Nah, I'll see if the front desk will let me check in late. I simply say work took longer than expected."
"You sure?" Nick questioned as his father stood up. "I don't mind you staying at my apartment."
"Yeah. I wouldn't want to intrude into your den." Sr. expressed. "Now, mind telling me the fastest way to the Palm Casino and Hotel?"
Nick and Judy gawked in astonishment at which hotel Sr. was staying.
A few minutes later, Nick and Judy stood within view of the Palm Casino and Hotel. Technically the most high-class resort in Zootopia, the Palms, as it was commonly known, was constantly seen as the epitome of modern structural engineering. Designed in the shape of a large palm tree, the leaves were, in fact, solar panels that powered the building. The roots took over at night to power through hydroelectricity using the underground reservoir and subterranean streams within the district. The trunk of the treelike design was where the hotel rooms were located. The base held the casino.
"I can't believe you've got a room here." Nick grumbled as he and Judy stared at the place.
Judy, for her part, was still awestruck by the sight of the large structure. No matter how many times she saw it, Judy couldn't help feeling amazed at seeing it up close.
"Is it really that amazing?" Sr. wondered out loud. "It's just a standard Casino Hotel, isn't it?"
Nick rolled his eyes as he realized that his father more than likely stayed as some of the more high-class casino hotels in the world during his overseas stints. "For you maybe, but for mammals like us? This place is a luxury most can barely afford."
"Ah." Sr. murmured, now understanding his son's viewpoint. "Well, I'll see you two tomorrow. Sleep well, Junior. Ms. Hopps."
Watching as Sr. disappeared inside, Nick felt Judy take ahold of his paw. Looking at her, he asked, "Ready to head home?"
Judy gave him a smirk and raised eyebrow. "Home? We're going to my apartment, Slick. I don't remember you moving in."
"You, Judy, are my home." Nick whispered as he knelt before her. "I have an apartment, but it isn't a home. My home is wherever you are."
Her smirk softening into a warm, tender loving smile, Judy whispered, "Same here. Let's go home." She guided him back to her place by the paw. A few inquisitive stares were sent their way by other pedestrians, but they ignored them. Coming up to Judy's apartment building, they were greeted by Finn, who gave them a one finger salute.
Entering the apartment, Judy closed the door then turned around only to be slammed into the wall by Nick, who kissed her hungrily. "Mm. Where is this coming from, Red?" she moaned out.
"Well, we didn't continue like we planned last night." Nick sensually growled. Taking a light nip of her neck, he whispered, "And I find that criminal."
Judy giggled, then pushed Nick away. "Well then, as it was basically your fault, I'm placing you under arrest." She led Nick to her room and closed the door.
Palm Casino and Hotel
Nicholas Piberius Wilde, Sr. entered his hotel room and collapsed on the bed with a grunt. He was feeling his age, which was, amazingly, in his mid-50's. He stared at the ceiling, a smile on his muzzle. 'Nick's found a wonderful female.' he thought to himself. He wondered what Katharine would've thought of Judy. 'Probably would have been speciest.' he grumbled mentally.
Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to recall the day he met Katharine. It had been a rainy day in Zootopia, the sky was gray with storm clouds. He had run under a store awning on his way home. Katharine had worked inside and was prepping one of the mannequins in the window. She had tapped on the glass to get his attention then invited him inside.
Katharine had been one of the loveliest vixens he had ever seen. Gorgeous russet fur, soft and fluffy, with a lean body and sparkling sapphire eyes. She had played the game better than anyone he knew. Smart, witty, and beautiful, Senior had a difficult time convincing her to give him the time of day. He finally managed it after weeks of tenacity.
There had been months of courting, dozens of dates, and hours of discussion about their relationship. Eventually, they had moved in together into a small studio apartment. They had had problems, but they always worked it out. At least, until the night she kicked him out. He remembered what started the fight. Unlike what he told Junior, which was that it started with the phone call, the fight had begun because of something Nick had done. He was so young Sr. doubted Nick remembered.
Nick had inadvertently ruined one of Katharine's projects for work. Katharine had been livid and when he had gotten home, Sr. had gotten an earful about how everything wrong with her life was his fault. Katharine had never wanted a kit, but he had convinced her to have Nick saying that it may change her view on motherhood. It hadn't. To her, it only proved her point that kits were more trouble than they were worth.
There had been many nights when he'd come home that Sr. would find Katharine beating Junior. After he left, he learned that Katharine had changed somewhat. She had become kinder to Nick, worked harder to provide for him. He was happy when word reached him that she had gotten Nick into the ranger scouts. It all went to hell after that though.
Katharine had spiraled. She lost her job, no longer had any prospects, and had a troublesome kit to care for to top it off. Her world effectively collapsed all around her, leading to a world of drugs, alcohol, and shameless prostitution. He had wanted to go back for Nick, knowing it was too late to save Katharine from herself. However, his superiors had refused to let him. By the time he'd been given permission, Nick was in the wind, Katharine was dead, and his investigation had become far more heated.
"It all worked out in the end, though." Nicholas Sr. whispered to himself. "Junior's met a wonderful female. One that loves him, faults, flaws, and all." Senior remembered when word of Judith L. Hopps had reached his ears. A sense of pride had filled him, for her feats helped proved that there were others who outright challenged and defied the social norms. Now? Now, Senior was happy to see that she was the one his son had chosen. 'You've chosen a good one, Junior. Hold onto her with everything you've got. Otherwise, they'll take her from you.'
Judy's bedroom
The kiss was like an inferno tempest. Hot. Passionate. They fell off the precipice of instinct and devolved to near primeval savages. Nick released a predatory snarl as he ravaged Judy's maw. Judy in turned moaned into their liplock, spurring him on. Having her pressed up against the wall of her bedroom, Nick ground his arousal into her own. Judy had her legs wrapped around his waist to pull him as far into her as possible. The paw that Nick was using to brace himself was leaving gouges in the drywall.
"Bed." Judy managed to gasp after pulling away to breath. She felt herself flying through the air then land onto the mattress of her bed. The next thing Judy felt was Nick's body pressing down onto her. Their eyes looked for only an instant before they were attacking one another again. Judy began to claw at Nick's clothing, trying to tear it off of him. She wanted to feel his furry chest, to run her paws over his lithe musculature, but having such naturally dull claws didn't help her. Judy let out a noise of frustration.
Luckily, Nick knew exactly what his bunny wanted and separated himself from the kiss just long enough to rip his shirt off his body before diving back into their kiss. God, could he smell her. Her scent was absolutely intoxicating, addictive. He hated it, but the only thing he could analogize it with was a designer narcotic. Nick wanted more, more of her aroused scent. He needed more of it. Deepening the kiss, Nick got what he wanted. Carefully with a claw, Nick sliced through Judy's shirt and bra. He felt as Judy wiggled out of the ruined garments then wrap her arms around the back of his head, Nick growled lustfully at the actions, as it was she were saying 'I want more. Give me more.' Nick complied pressing her further into the mattress, trapping her underneath him.
Judy should have felt frightened out of her mind, but instead she never felt safer, more protected in her life. She wanted, needed, him, but now wasn't the time. There were still things that needed to be addressed. For now, though, tonight they would do as much as they could before they traversed that final barrier. Judy used her hindpaws in an attempt to rid Nick of his pants. With deft accuracy, she unlatched his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his pant, and shoved them down his legs with his boxers. Feeling his throbbing erection now situated between the apex of her thighs, Judy whined in need. 'Not now. Not now. Not now.'
Nick had to pull himself away from their heated kiss, chest heaving. Gazing down at his lovely, beautiful bunny, Nick had to asked her, "H-How…how far are w-we going to go?" He needed to know, so he knew where to stop. That lustful expression she gave him made it hard to resist taking her now, claiming her as his lifemate, but through sheer willpower, Nick managed it. Leaning in close, noses almost touching, he whispered, "I need my mistress's order to tell me how much freedom I have."
Just hearing the words had Judy's back arch and her eyes roll back in her head as she released a sultry moan. "I'll tell you when to stop, pup." Judy told him seductively. "Now get to work." She gasped when Nick immediately removed her pants and panties teasingly, tantalizingly slow. She could feel the stickiness of her fluids cling to the fur around her vag. Her breath was hot and heavy as she watched Nick bring them to his nose and heard him take a deep inhalation of the scent of her juices.
The scent triggered something deep within Nick's mind, heart, body, and soul. It was honestly terrifying to him. Never before had he ever felt such a powerful instinctive drive to claim someone else as his lifemate. Nick wasn't even aware that he had begun to snarl and drool as he opened his eyes to look at the very receptive doe under him. His brain, naturally wired for vixen hormones, purged itself of all former scent memories as it registered the scent of Judy's arousal as that of his mate. The memories of his former flings and girlfriends were expunged from his mind. The only female that existed at the center of Nick's own personal reality was this doe, his Judy.
Judy's eye dilated to their maximum capacity in arousal as she watched him toss her panties off to the side, the pupils of his eyes primal slits instead of the roundness of a civilized mammal. She laid herself out, spread-eagled before her tod, showing him everything that was his. "Come on, pup. Don't keep me waiting. I don't like waiting." Judy squealed in rapture as Nick all but dove between her legs, lapping at the overflowing honey seeping from her pussy. Unlike last time, she could feel him slowly go deeper into her core with his thick, rough tongue.
His exploration of her inner walls revealed something to Nick that he had been skeptical about for a while. 'Her hymen is still intact!' he thought to himself in disbelief. She had told him that she was a virgin, but a part of his mind, the speciest, stereotypical portion of it, hadn't believed her. 'I'm her first. I'm going to be her first and her last.' The thought forced him to pull away to gazed in wonder at his Judy. 'She's really never had anyone else.'
Having been right on the cusp of reaching her first orgasm of the evening, Judy was a bit miffed when Nick removed his tongue from her caverns. She wanted to glare at him, but the sad expression on his muzzle stopped her. "Hey? You okay?" she asked softly. Judy watched as Nick seemed to shrink in on himself. "Nick?"
"Y-you've…" Nick swallowed. "You've really never been with anyone before." His words were so soft, almost a whisper of wind, that unless one was a bunny they wouldn't have heard them. "I…I'll be your first."
Judy maneuvered herself close to Nick and hugged him in a strong embrace. "I already told you that, Slick." she murmured. "I guess it really is difficult to believe isn't it?" Judy felt Nick return the hug. "Do you want to talk about it? I have no problem hearing about your past experiences. After all, I have no place to be angry since they were pretty much before…this, us."
Nick nuzzled his nose into the crook of Judy's neck and shoulder. He didn't want to put Judy through that. This, them, was so much more than all of his previous sexual encounters. She was so much more. This doe had his heart, his soul, within her tiny paws in such a strong, vicelike grip that it was impossible for anyone to pry them from her. He felt his world darken as thoughts of some of his former flings crept into his mind. Would they hurt her? No, Nick would never let that happen. He took a deep breath through his nose, taking in Judy's calming scent, and felt his world illuminate again. "That's a rather long list, Judy." Nick whispered. "Are you sure you want to hear about all of them?"
"Tell me, Nick." Judy replied just as softly, as she nuzzled his cheek affectionately. "As I said, I have no right to be angry, but I'll admit I'm a bit jealous that I won't be your first." The words drew a long, pained whine and whimper from her fox. "Hush now. It's okay." Judy comfortingly stroked Nick's ears to try and calm him down. When he did, she placed a tender, loving kiss to his lips. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Nick. I just thought I'd offer."
Unable to handle how understanding Judy was, Nick released a heavy sigh. "M-my first time isn't a happy memory, Judy. It was nightmarish in nature. I really can't tell exactly how horrendous it was for me." He guided them as they fell on their sides onto the mattress below them. "It was my 17th birthday and Finn wanted to celebrate what he called the right way. He took me to a sex club out in the Nocturnal District's Red-Light Sector. It's not an area most are willing to go unless they're looking for a 'good time', if you catch my meaning."
Nick's voice started to sound distant as he started to reexperience the events of that night within the confines of his mind.
"It started off so well. Finn was purchasing drinks for us at the bar, I was sitting at a table waiting for him. I looked older than I was, but that didn't matter there. There were mammals younger that I was sitting not too far away engaging in intercourse in plain sight of everyone else in the club. Male and female employees worked totally nude, showing themselves off to the clientele as if marketing their bodies. One seemed so familiar, but I couldn't place her for the life of me. We locked eyes and she smiled at me, making me feel excited that a vixen was willing to bother looking at me that way. Finn arrived with our drinks and the two of us started tossing drinks back. From there everything's a little hazy. I remember the vixen subtly approaching, offering me a roll in the sheets. I can recall Finn telling her that I had just turned 17 and her excitement at being the one to take my virginity. I remember following her into one of the club's private rooms, the vixen providing me with some powdery substance, telling me to snort it. After that, I can remember everything we did, every position, every act. My next memory is waking up cuddled to the vixen. When she opened her eyes, I finally realized why it felt like I knew her." In a voice so low that he didn't even know if Judy could hear, Nick whispered, "It wasn't really her, but the vixen looked just like my mother."
Judy didn't know how to react to hearing that. Clearly there were mammals that appeared strikingly similar to others, but to her that Nick's first time was with someone that reminded him of his mother. She couldn't imagine what ran through his mind when his brain made that connection.
'Disgusted, revulsed, and appalled most likely.' Judy thought to herself. 'I'd guess that anyone would if they found themselves in such a situation. I don't know how I'd react if something like that happened to me.'
"I was so disgusted with myself." Nick continued, unaware of Judy's internal conflict. "I kicked her out of bed, shouted at her. The poor vixen had no idea what was happening. I didn't see her as someone else. I could only see me as my mother. The entire time she looked at me like I was some escapee from an insane asylum. Finally, I asked her if she recognized who I was, but of course she said no. I broke out in maniacal laughter at that. I told her who I was, and she ran away like the Envoy of Hell was after her. After that, it just all went down hill from there. I eventually slept with every vixen in the area, as if trying to erase the fact that I fucked a vixen that looked like my own mother. I slept with mothers of young kits to those of just barely legal age. I had a few actual girlfriends during that time. I even tried to drown the memories in alcohol and fry my memories of that evening with drugs. Nothing worked until Finn got me professional help. I went through hundreds of hours of therapy before I realized none of it was truly my fault. Finn even admitted later that his decision wasn't the greatest idea he ever had and apologized. Finn and I originally stayed friends out of necessity, but over time I forgave him." Resting his cheek atop Judy's head, Nick said, "Then I met you. Somehow, over the course of 48 hours, I found myself captivated by a bunny. We later separated for three months because of our own stupidity, but the two of us eventually reconciled. Yet, for those three months, I never had a one-night stand, nor did I enter another relationship with anyone, all because I had fallen in love with a bunny."
Unable to stop herself, Judy locked lips with Nick in a deep, passionate kiss. "I was in a very bad place during those three months too." Judy whispered. "On more than one occasion, my parents would tell me that they were afraid I'd go out the same way as my mom's dad. Bunnies can die from depression over losing a loved one. They tried everything they could think of to bring me out of my funk. They set up dates, paid for dinners with old friends, nothing worked. I was pining over the loss of the one mammal that I had come to view as a worthy mate, and it was literally killing me. After everything that happened that brought us back together, I decided that since you would probably never see me in that light then I'd just be happy to be with you for as long as I was capable."
"We're two pretty broken mammals, aren't we, Judy" Nick asked quietly, after a couple of seconds. "We're broken when apart, but when together we are whole." He felt her nod into his chest then heard her yawn. "Let's go to sleep. We were fortunate that Buffalo Butt was kind enough to give us today as an extra day off, but we've got work tomorrow evening."
The two drifted off to sleep fairly quickly, wrapped in each other's arms.
Unbeknownst to them, just outside, on the fire escape, sat a jackrabbit with black tiger stripes, holding a bouquet of purple tulips. On his face was a sad smile. 'You were too late, ya old fool. She's found someone else. Someone who obviously means more to her than you.' the jackrabbit thought to himself. Quickly racing to the roof, he met with an arctic vixen who seemed to be waiting for him.
"Did you see her?" the arctic vixen asked.
"Nope." the jackrabbit replied. "She's found someone else. But surprisingly, I'm happy for her. Never thought I'd feel that way about a situation like this."
"Hm." the white-furred vixen hummed. "Well, you ready to go see our old friend? I think he's staying at the Palm Casino and Hotel."
"Yep. Let's go."