Ch. 4: The Muzzle
A day later Judy hopped through the precinct, her phone to her ear and a smile on her face, "You are the best, Mr. Jingle, we'll be right over!"
"No problem, and please darling, call me Sven," the reindeer replied happily on the other line, "I'm always read to help."
"By the way, how'd your date with Miss Charlotte go? If you don't mind me asking," she added.
Sven made an adorable chuckle that told Judy all she needed to know.
She found Nick with Clawhauser; it looked like the fox was trying to teach him some kind of special paw shake.
"Good news," she told them, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Gazelle is back in Zootopia and Sven got us a meeting with her!"
"Are you serious," Clawhauser gasped and Judy halted, realizing saying that to the singer's biggest fan boy probably wasn't the smartest move. "It was that easy?"
"Wouldn't call it that easy," Nick told him, "I nearly got my tail bitten off by an old friend."
"Well whose fault is that," Judy added maybe a little too sharply. "Besides you two looked to be on good terms when we left yesterday."
Nick looked at her like she had just tried to bite his tail off, but Clawhauser hadn't escaped the first topic. "So, you two are meeting Gazelle, the Gazelle, face to face…today?"
"Later tonight," Judy informed, "Do-do you want to come along?" She didn't find it fair that she got to meet Gazelle and not Clawhauser who was an even bigger fan than her.
Clawhauser's eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped and he looked to have become brain dead.
"Hey, Spots, can you excuse us for a sec, buddy," Nick asked as he pushed Judy away and out of ear shot of the cheetah.
"Are you insane," he snapped at her when he stopped, "You want to bring Clawhauser to talk to Gazelle."
"Yeah, why not," Judy asked and Nick looked like he wanted to smack her.
"Have you met Clawhauser," he demanded, "Have you seen his desk? It's like a shrine!"
"And this could be his only chance to meet her," Judy argued, "He's a cop just like us, he'll be professional."
"Like you were when you just made a phone call to her," Nick countered and Judy frowned.
"He's coming with us," Judy said with finality, "But if you'd rather stay here and guard the fort I'll understand."
Nick returned the frown, looking annoyed but Judy knew when she had won an argument.
.
"Okay, remember, this isn't for fun," Nick sternly told Clawhauser as the four walked into the large condo apartment in the heart of Zootopia, outside the moon was rising.
"This is a professional meeting," Nick kept going on, "We are here so Gazelle will talk down the riots. Not to shine your snow globe or mug or face."
Clawhauser didn't reply, he was too busy bouncing in place, biting his bottom lip, his eyes shining with star-studded excitement.
"Calm down, Nick," Judy ordered, she just nearly avoided knocking into a drowsy looking tiger who was walking out of the lobby of the building. "This is a little fun, enjoy it."
"I'm not as easily impressed by one animal who can sing," Nick replied as they crowded into the elevator.
"But she's more than just that!" Clawhauser looked affronted by the mere thought. "She's a symbol of Zootopia! Proving you can make it big no matter what you are!"
"As long as you're pretty and talented," Nick added cynically.
Clawhauser almost growled something he never did. "She's more than just a pretty face! You've seen how much she loves the diversity and co-existence of the city! And her songs are so uplifting and spunky!"
"Besides, Nick," Judy piped up, not wanting the two to start a fight in a cramped elevator, "You're pretty and talented, too."
Nick snorted and turned away, meanwhile Clawhauser looked incredibly smug and for some reason Judy felt it wasn't just about winning the Gazelle argument.
The elevator dinged open and they were greeted with a familiar face.
"Winter!" Nick and Judy said in unison, both not sounding overly ecstatic.
"Thought you forgot to come," she blinked up at Clawhauser, "And who is this?"
"Fellow officer," Judy answered, talking his chubby paw and leading him out into the hall.
"And huge fan," Clawhauser added as the four made their way to the end of the hall.
"Marvelous," Winter said, looking as nervous as Nick had.
They reached the door at the end of the hall and without much fanfare Winter opened it to reveal a large condo full of trees and beautiful vegetation.
Nick whistled appreciatively as Winter led them in, telling them to wait in the living room while she fetched her boss and Gazelle.
Judy and Clawhauser grinned madly at each other, neither could believe they were in the home of the most famous celebrity in all of Zootopia.
"How does my fur look," the cheetah asked, licking his paw to try and fix the messy fur atop his head.
"I doubt your head will be the first thing she notices," Nick told him, his eyes going to his generous belly.
"You're right," Clawhauser declared and tried to smooth out his tail that was just out of reach. This led to him chasing his tail around like a dog. Judy gave Nick a look and he smiled innocently.
"Officer Bunny!" Sven's cheerful boom had them whirling around to see the reindeer with Winter at his side, and right next to them: Gazelle.
Clawhauser made a high keening noise when his eyes landed on her and Judy was positive he'd faint, Nick elbowed him in the stomach to make him go mute.
"M-Miss Gazelle," Judy hurried over and offered a paw. Gazelle shook it.
"It's so nice to finally meet you. You know, face to face."
Gazelle smiled, "It's nice to meet you too, Judy."
"This-this is my partner, Nick Wilde." Judy clawed at the air for a second while Nick waltzed over, grabbing his arm when he was finally in reach. The two shook paws, Nick keeping his cool the entire time and Judy wondered how he did it.
"And that cheetah over there staring at you is our fellow officer, Benjamin Clawhauser." Nick jerked a thumb at Clawhauser who was, indeed, staring dumbly at Gazelle.
She smiled at him nonetheless, "I'm happy to meet you, Officer Clawhauser."
"B-B-Benjamin-I mean, uh, you can just call me Ben," he said, practically gasping. "And it's an honor to meet you, Lady Gazelle."
She chuckled, "You're sweet. Would anyone like some tea while we talk?"
A few minutes later they all sat in Gazelle's living room, sipping tea with a notepad in front of them, brainstorming an inspirational speech.
"Maybe we should bring up the Night Howler case," Judy said, her brow furrowed and ears laid back in concentration.
"I don't know if bringing up such a scary time would be the best idea," Winter commented, Sven and Nick nodded in agreement.
"However," Gazelle spoke up, "It would also remind everyone that we got through such a dark time, that we could do the same this time." She scribbled down a few notes. "What else?"
"Zootopia is full of really nice animals," Clawhauser spoke up, "Maybe we could point out that it's a good city filled with good animals?"
Gazelle nodded and wrote down more notes, Clawhauser looked elated.
"And Zootopia has been around for more years than I can count," Sven added, "More years than I have money and I have a lot of money, isn't that right Winter?"
"Yes, sir," Winter answered with gusto.
"And it's still ticking," Sven finished.
A few ideas later Gazelle decided they should take a break and Winter hopped up to get snacks, apparently she had been in Gazelle's home long enough to know what was where.
"I'll help you," Nick offered, breaking his silent vigil as he stood up.
"You don't have to," Winter replied and Judy had to bite her tongue to keep from saying the same thing. Nick shrugged, "It's not big deal, not like I was offering anything with the inspirational speech."
The two foxes disappeared into the kitchen and Judy was surprised that Clawhauser looked as angry as she felt.
"What does he think he's doing," he whispered to Judy and she shook her head helplessly.
"Why didn't that lovely Charlie of yours come, I've missed her," Gazelle turned to Sven.
The reindeer placed his hooves over his heart, "Bless my beloved's heart. She went out to the start spreading the word of this predicament; she's good at getting animals excited, her being a famous athlete and all."
"You both need to come have dinner with me sometime," Gazelle invited.
"Can I ask a question, Mr. Jingle," Judy spoke up.
"I told you to call me Sven," the reindeer answered, "And yes."
"How did you and Miss Charlotte meet?"
Sven smiled, his eyes going far away to a pleasant memory. "We met when we were just kids. My dad was visiting a friend out in Sahara Square and I got lost, I panicked naturally, mainly because I didn't know where to find any Popsicle stands. There I was bawling my eyes out when a cute little cheetah cub walked over and told me to stop whining. And then she led me to the nearest Popsicle stand and I was a goner. After that we kept in touch and after graduating school I finally asked her to date me and we've been going steady since."
"Aww," Judy and Clawhauser said in unison.
Nick and Winter returned, the snowy white fox giggling at something Nick had said which killed the bunny and cheetah's good moods, they glared at Nick who appeared to not notice. They placed two trays of finger sandwiches on the table, though the only ones to eat were the herbivores of the group.
The foxes had just sat back down when suddenly the lights flickered out.
"Nick," Judy said immediately, reaching her paws out to try and find him, despite the moon shining through the window she couldn't see the animals around her. She felt Nick take her paw in his and she relaxed.
"Right here, Carrots," he assured. "What happened to the lights?"
"I have no idea," Gazelle answered and Judy could hear her standing up and feeling around. "Let me go find a flashlight and then I'll try to call for the lobby, maybe there's been a black out."
Frantic jingling told everyone Sven was up and moving around.
"Please calm down, sir," Winter told him calmly.
"I don't like not seeing, Winter,' Sven replied in a tight voice, "Why aren't you predators freaking out!?"
"Because we can see in the dark," Clawhauser answered. Judy could just make out him standing up and he turned on his phone flashlight. Judy felt foolish for not thinking the same and pulled out her own, the glare following over the table before going to Sven who was being calmed down by Winter, and Gazelle who had stopped in the middle of the living room, staring at the door.
Judy was wondering why when she heard the door open.
And then everything happened too fast.
A striped body flew into the room with a viscous snarl, heading straight for Gazelle, Judy and Nick jumped to their feet but somehow Clawhauser was faster and managed to leap forward, pushing Gazelle out of harm's way just in time.
The figure landed on the floor and Judy recognized it as the tiger from the lobby. Fear clogged her throat as the tiger stood up and glared around with wild eyes that brought her back to the rainforest district and a rabid panther…
"Claude," Gazelle spoke up, shocked and the tiger slowly turned his eyes to glare at her and Clawhauser, but then suddenly Winter and Sven were on the tiger's back, their weight forcing the tiger down as he tried to thrash free.
"Carrots, come on," Nick ordered and Judy followed him and they both grabbed a massive arm, the muscles bulging under the tiger's slick fur. Muscles straining the two forced the struggling tiger's arms behind his back as Winter and Sven did their best to keep him contained.
"Clawhauser-cuff him," Judy yelled, her voice strained with the effort of holding onto the tiger's paw.
Clawhauser scurried over, handcuffs at the ready, when suddenly the tiger let out a roar that shook Judy's bones and was able to thrash Sven and Winter off his back and free his arms, he fled the room back out into the hall.
The room was silent as everyone caught their breath; in the distance Judy could hear police sirens.
"That…that was Claude, one of my dancers," Gazelle finally broke the silence, sounding dazed. "He…he's never acted like that before…"
Judy shared a frightened look with Nick, "That was something else."
"Are we sure no one else got a hold of some Night Howlers," Nick muttered to himself.
Sven helped Winter up, asking her if she was okay with fatherly concern. Judy's eyes fell on a metal object on the floor that she had realized Claude had dropped. She picked it up and realized it was a muzzle, fit for a predator larger than Nick and Clawhauser. She turned to her partner with a confused/scared look, but her eyes stopped on Clawhauser who was staring at the muzzle with recognition and horror.
"Oh no," he mumbled and all eyes turned to him.
"What's wrong, Clawhauser," Judy asked.
"That muzzle…I hate to say it you guys, but I don't know if an inspirational speech from Gazelle is going to cut it this time."