Change starts with You
by Winerp
For Notes regarding this work and myself, refer to the bottom of this Chapter.
Chapter 3 – Hearts and Minds Pt 2
Regardless of how many times she went to Nick's place – which was a lot by now – seeing the dull beige coloured building that blended in perfectly with the dozens of others of the same type on the outskirts of Savannah Central always brought a smile to Judy's face and, sometimes, a warm fuzzy feeling to her core (though that one she couldn't exactly explain…).
After the Nighthowler case, she had found out that Nick actually lived pretty much exactly where she found him when she came racing back to Zootopia. While he didn't sleep under the bridge, that's where he'd usually spend most of his non-hustling time. There and in the old warehouse just beyond – where he'd fashioned himself a decent enough bedroom in one of the old offices.
Turns out he had actually come to own the place while working as a fixer for Mr Big. He'd found out one the crime Boss' car suppliers had been tampering with the vehicles he sold, making them appear in top shape when in reality they'd just break down after a couple hundred miles. Simple stuff like filling the gearboxes with a thick oil and sawdust mix to make them feel smooth or rigging the temperature gauges to hide overheating engines. As you'd expect from a mobster who deals in contraband and depends on getaway vehicles, Mr. Big was less than pleased. The boar in question got a complimentary chilling bath, and the fox got his warehouse as a thanks.
Still, it was miles away from both the city centre and therefore the ZPD and there were no public transports anywhere close either. Back then, he either got picked up by Finnick and his van or used one of Mr Big's cars to conduct business in his name.
Of course when Nick decided to join the ZPD he realized he'd either have to get up at five in the morning or earlier to go catch a bus or he would have to find a new place to stay. No real decision there…
Of course finding an apartment for the tod was easier said than done. You know, fox stigma and all. But since she had also decided to move – she liked to be able to breathe in her apartment and she could only take so much of Bucky and Pronk – she would go place-casing with him, and with Judy by his side their new found fame helped sway most landlords into not shutting the door in their muzzles.
There was also the fact that Nick wanted to change pretty much every aspect of his life to cut off any ties with his old self, and where and how he lived was naturally a big part of that. Pretty much the one thing he didn't manage to leave behind was his connection with Mr Big, which was at least in good terms thanks to her.
Other than seeing Nick succeed however, Judy's smile as she neared that completely unremarkable building also came from what it meant for her specifically: she'd helped someone turn their life around and gained a friend, a best friend even, in the process. Not only had she accomplished precisely what she came to Zootopia to do in the first place, she'd finally found someone who didn't give her sideways glances because of her dreams and personality.
Still, getting called to meet up with Nick because he need to talk about something the Chief told him while he sounded very queasy about it did cut her smile shorter than usual.
Ringing the buzzer up to Nick's apartment, the intercom soon crackled to life.
"Yeah?"
"Hey Nick, it's me."
"Oh Carrots, come right up, door's unlocked."
At that a metallic Clink signalled that the building door had just unlocked and she pushed herself into the building.
It was a lot like Pangolin Arms, though more spacious on the inside and with less grease stains on the walls. Right in front of the front door was the super's apartment, and next to it were the stairs to the rest of the floors.
Going up to the first floor she did indeed find the door she was looking for unlocked. Still, her manners commanded her to at least knock before letting herself in.
"Come on in" she heard Nick call out from inside.
At that she stepped into the actual apartment. It was by no means luxurious or big, but it had a main living area with a kitchenette, a bed room that was in on of itself bigger than Judy's old place, and something that they both cherished and had been the deciding factor when it came to which apartment to pick: a private bathroom. It felt so much better knowing that you were the one to use and manage such a private place.
As far as the decoration and stuffing of the apartment went, Nick had had a few things he wanted to preserve, most of which were pictures: a few with his mother and one with his father, a couple with Finnick and the rest were from his time in the Force, including the graduation ceremony, Judy being a part of most of them. There was one photo she'd never seen before though… It was just a simple clothes shop, nothing really special about it save for the name: 'Suitopia'. She'd have to ask Nick about it…
Other than that there was an old vinyl record player and a modernish TV he had brought from the warehouse and a big chest-like trunk with the rest of his belongings that weren't clothes or everyday items. Furniture was already included when he came into the apartment. Just the essentials though. A couch, a couple of cupboards, a small table and a few chairs and the bed and bedroom closet.
As Judy went into the apartment she found Nick by the kitchenette counter pouring what looked like tea into two cups.
"Thought I'd brew us a cup of tea." Nick said turning around. He had his face set and neutral with just a hint of his usual smirk. "Green for you, wild berries for me and please spare me the pun."
She just rolled her eyes as he offered one of the steaming cups.
He motioned towards the couch, in which both sat on opposite ends. They'd usually be much more laid back and casual around each other but whether they admitted it or not they were both uneasy: Nick had a lot on his mind and was still reeling a bit from the Chief's talk and Judy knew something was bothering him.
"So if the Chief has a new case for us, me and you, why'd he get you alone with him and give me a fake assignment… one which I happen to despise?" Given Nick didn't seem too keen on getting the talk going – even if he was the one who called her there – Judy decided it was best to start somewhere.
Nick chuckled slightly. "Well, as far as you're concerned you must've done something to tick him off lately… As for me? My natural foxy charm I suppose."
"Nick." Her tone made him internally wince. "Be serious for once. When you called me an hour ago you sounded like Bogo was going to either arrest you or fire you."
She was now looking at him with somewhat hurt expression, which only made him wince harder.
"So please, be straightforward with me, what case, or whatever, did Bogo want to talk with you about, and why didn't he call me in as well."
Slowly, Nick's neutral expression began to crumble. His ears lowered and his shoulders slouched. He put his tea cup down beside the couch and sighed.
"Sorry Judy, you know how I get defensive sometimes…" Ok he was using her real name. That was a very good sign serious Nick was taking over.
"While I do think you DID tick him off at some point and that's why you got parking duty, that's not why he didn't want you with me."
Really? What had she done to get the Chief cross and acting in such a petty… Ooohhhh… Her last week's parking duty stint: she'd ticketed his car fifty seconds after the meter expired. She should really pay more attention to how long had passed since –
"He was afraid of your reaction to what he had to say."
Huh?
"What do you mean?"
Finally Nick managed to face her, though his sorrowful expression remained unchanged.
"You know I'm not good at sugar-coating things and if I don't say them outright I usually just hide them, so I'll be blunt."
"A number of our colleagues, both in Precinct 1 and in the other stations, are corrupt."
Judy felt her nose twitch and she blinked.
"Not only that but they've apparently formed a syndicate and have been working with or for the city's major kingpins to make their businesses safer and more efficient. The syndicate also seems to extend to City Hall, given their reach as far as the judicial system goes."
Seeing Judy was wide eyed and wordless, Nick turned his head back towards the floor and concluded. "That was all the Chief told me about the situation. He said if we decided to work this case he'd share the rest of the details." And then he sighed again.
If on the outside Judy looked completely floored and at a loss for words, on the inside she had too many thoughts to deal with. How could they. Why are they doing this? What exactly do they do? Are we in danger? What –
Whatever line of thought her mind was following was however severed as Nick unexpectedly continued. Only this time, he was just starring at nothing.
"That's not all Bogo told me though."
"As you'd expect he had already started thinking of ways to fight back against this new syndicate, and he's come to the conclusion that the most reliable way to get the incriminating information we need is to get someone on the inside while undercover…"
At the mention of actual police work Judy's mind finally managed to settle down enough to form coherent thoughts, though she still struggled to convey them normally. "Well, yeah… um… that makes sense… they're probably very careful with their tracks… but – " And then something important came to the forefront of her mind " – who'd do it? We're being asked to take the case, but the Chief doesn't know who to trust, so who would – ".
"That would be me Carrots."
She could swear her heart stopped for a bit. And her ears definitely got glued to her back.
"That's why Bogo asked for me specifically and before actually presenting the case: he wanted to come clean with me and give me the chance to consider my options very carefully."
"But why you?! I can't investigate whatever leads come up alone, and we can't be the only cops he trusts. Not to mention there are other more experienced – "
"Judy, who am I?"
She was taken aback by the question. What was he talking about, he was Nick Wilde, her partner and best friend. Someone who she couldn't even dream of spending her life without! And now he was getting asked to undergo the most dangerous assignment ever.
She didn't get to say anything though.
"How long did it take for even half the Precinct to believe I wasn't there just to pull some heist?"
Nick was now looking at her with a pained expression.
"Some of our co-workers still think I have an ulterior motive to work at the ZPD. I'm the one that would raise the least suspicion if I went awol just like that. Bogo knows it and I know it. I'm the logical choice! Because it seems my past always has a way of coming back to haunt me."
Talking through grit teeth, he wasn't directing his anger at Judy, if anything he was frustrated. Still, the low growl emanating from deep within Nick was certainly unsettling. He was now venting with her, pouring out all the bile that had been clogging his mind since the meeting with the Chief.
"But of course this had to come up now. Now that I have an actual job, and one I'm proud of. Now that I have friends that aren't just business associates. Now that I have an actual home. Now that I've finally made up with my mom and I'm a fox my father might be proud of, now I have to go back to being a good for nothing conniving crook!"
After that outburst he took a deep breath and picked up his tea cup, by now filled with cold brew, and began sipping it for whatever little comfort it could give.
Judy didn't initially have anything to say. He was right, things were finally good for him. And that last part did make her feel a knot in her throat.
She had met Marion Wilde, Nick's mother, at his graduation ceremony. After a few tries Nick had managed to get into contact with her, and while she was a bit incredulous at first, that little smidgen of hope that she had always kept tucked away in her heart maid Marion actually show up at the park where the Graduation was taking place. With all the hippos rhinos and bears though, she didn't actually manage to see Nick until he got onto the stage. She had already been moved by the cheerful bunny cop's speech, but seeing her son, who had been lost to her and in a way to the world for more than a dozen years, get a badge pinned to his chest, a badge which represented the ideals he had cherished in his youth, and that he had lost to society's scorn… At that point the dam broke, and tears were shed. Happy ones, relieved even, but also tears of pride.
After the formal ceremony was over, it was Marion who found Nick, who at first just stood there unsure of what to do and reluctant to look his mother in the eye, years of disappointment still weighing heavily on him. When he finally mustered enough courage to talk, he didn't get too, as he found himself once again in the embrace of his mother. Somewhere he'd almost given up hope of finding himself in again. Standing beside them, Judy could do nothing but smile and wipe a tear of her own.
That memory did at least jerk Judy's mind, and she started thinking more clearly. She put on the friendliest expression she could muster, perking her ears up, and reached for Nick's shoulder.
"Nick, look at me."
Reluctantly, the tod complied, with a grimace and heavy eyes tainting his otherwise sharp image.
"I understand that you need to talk this through with me, but in the end this is your call."
"Should we take the case, you'd be the one putting yourself at greater risk. And while I don't like the prospect of working in a corrupt ZPD, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to keep going without you, corruption or not."
At that Nick closed his eyes and put his own paw over the one she had on his shoulder.
"Remember the speech you gave at my graduation Judy?"
"That speech sums up my motivation for joining the ZPD" Other than staying with you, he added to himself. "And it's also the reason why I've already made up my mind on the undercover job."
Judy unconsciously gripped his shoulder tighter.
"If we don't change ourselves and our surroundings we can't expect the world to do it for us and how we want it done. Change starts with us, you said. Well you were right."
"If that's your decision…" Judy said, while scooting over closer to her friend.
Nick sighed and released her hand, joining both of his over his knees and lowering his head.
"I'm just afraid of what might happen if we… if I, fail."
"If Bogo can't vouch for me for some reason, or I get in to deep and don't pull through, I run the risk of losing everything. My job, the family that I alienated for so long, and most of all you…"
"And I'm not sure I'd be able to take it."
Judy then got off the couch and crouched in front of the fox. Gently placing her paw under his chin, she lifted his head up until he was eye level with her. Then she softly reassured him.
"No matter what happens, to either of us, you'll never, EVER, lose me."
She then proceeded to push herself up, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. "That I promise."
Slightly surprised at first Nick slowly eased into the hug, soon wrapping his own arms around her back. Soon enough Judy could feel one or two warm drops fall on her shoulder.
And there they stayed for some time, comforting each other and steeling themselves for the ordeal that lay ahead.
A/N
Wooo mama!
That was a doozy to write, though I have to say I'm pleased with the outcome. And since it's technically still Wednesday here in Portugal I've kept my word :D
I only fear the end of the chapter might seem a bit abrupt… Tell me what you think.
Now, I have to give a shout out to 2 artists: Spintherella and Yudukichi, who both have pages on Deviantart.
Their art both inspired a couple of scenes on this chapter and it means you can see what they'd actually look like!
Yudukichi's "I'm so proud of you" is just beautiful.
Spintherella's Interschminter is an amazing comic, just flat out awesome and the page 4.11 fits this chapter's ending perfectly (save for what happens before and after, though that's good too :P).
A quick note regarding Nick's work for the mob. While there are many interpretations of what he exactly did while under Mr Big's tutelage (and I've even talked about this with other authors, like Upplet) and they can all be reasonable in the right story, here's my take. Nick would have started conning after high school. His schemes would have made him appear in the mob's radar. Seeing the potential in him and perhaps feeling a bit of pity, Mr Big takes him in rather than punish him. With his quick wit and silver tongue, Nick would have made a great deal broker (hence the term fixer) for the mobster.
It's impossible that everyone will agree with me, but this is just what I imagine would have happened. You're all welcome to share your views of course :).
Next chapter should be up by Saturday.
As before, all reviews and PMs are highly welcome so that I know what I should improve or just change.
Cheers!
P.S.
Roll credits… sort of XD
