"Nick," Finnick said quietly, "is it really you?"
All eyes were on Nick, waiting for his reply. Usually Nick didn't mind being in the spotlight. His former days as a conman in fact often required him to be in the spotlight, but this time it was different. One pair of those eyes belonged to Finnick. With his heart pounding and his paws sweaty, Nick wasn't the smooth talker he usually was. All he could muster was a nod.
Nick's confirmation caused Finnick to let out a gasp and widen his eyes with disbelief and confusion. Slowly but surely, Nick could see the anger showing on Finnick's face, whether it be his gritted teeth or his sharp eyebrows. Nick gulped in response. However, as Nick looked harder, he could see the deep sadness behind Finnick's anger. He realized that his own presence might've brought up painful memories for Finnick and started to question if he should've come or not.
Nick's thoughts were interrupted when Finnick gave him a stern look and said, "Come into the back with me Nick."
Finnick turned to one of his employees and asked her to watch the cash register. Meanwhile, Nick stayed where he was, his body frozen with fear. He was unaware of all the customers' eyes on him. All he could see was Finnick's fury and was petrified about what he was going to do to him.
He unfroze when Finnick turned back to Nick and grunted, "Come on Nick!"
Nick finally did what he was told and briskly walked into the back with Finnick, ignoring all the eyes following his every movement.
He followed Finnick through the kitchen into the supply closet. In the barely lit room were shelves that lined around the walls, filled with equipment and raw materials. Finnick sat on a bag of flour and looked at Nick, standing as stiff as a board.
His anger subsided for now, Finnick sighed and asked, "So…why the fuck are you here?"
Nick's mind went a million miles an hour, trying to come up with the perfect thing to say. Seconds passed and he realized he had been silent for too long. He tried to talk but his throat went dry.
Nick stammered, "I…uh…"
Finnick rolled his eyes, "Okay, how about, how the fuck did you know where I was? I told no one where I was going."
Nick felt his cheeks growing warm. He looked down sheepishly as his tail swished left and right. He couldn't come up with a good answer that didn't make him sound like a crazy stalker.
Finnick gritted his teeth, "Jesus fucking Christ Nick, I don't get it! Who do you think you are, that after walking out of my life for…for 2 years, you think you can just come back in like that? I swear to fucking g-
Nick blurted out, "I'm sorry!"
Finnick raised an eyebrow, "Wh-what?"
Nick took a deep breath, allowing his heart to relax a little and for him to regain focus.
He said calmly, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything, for all the sadness and pain I caused in your life.
He felt his confidence coming back and slowly walked towards Finnick. He kneeled down to Finnick's eye level and placed both of his paws cautiously but tenderly onto Finnick's shoulders. He looked at Finnick for consent, who gave it with a slight nod.
Nick looked into Finnick's eyes and continued, "You never deserved to be treated this way. You had always been a great partner and a great friend. You did nothing wrong. I am and have always been in the wrong."
Nick's ears drooped and he looked to the side, ashamed of his past actions. The shame he felt was almost enough to bring him to tears
Nick took a deep breath and shakily said, "Please believe me when I say I never meant to make it seem like I was manipulating you. I wasn't. I...truly valued our friendship, you were my best bud. I just…," Nick winced as he remembered the rejection and hurt he felt that day before the pawpsicle scam. The day when Finnick teased him for calling him his best friend, right before he was about to confess his love.
"I was just hurt," Nick softly said, "but that doesn't excuse what i did!" NIck quickly shouted afterwards.
Nick placed his right paw on Finnick's left cheek who almost instinctively rubbed it against his paw.
"My greatest desire would…" (be to kiss you) "...just for us to at least be talking again. I missed you, I missed you so much. Life feels so much emptier without you. So I hope...I really hope you can forgive me for what I did. But if you cannot, then...I understand."
Throughout the apology, Finnick looked at Nick, his eyes sparkling and fully focused on Nick's eyes. He seemed almost enthralled when Nick was speaking. However, when Nick finished speaking, the sparkle went away and the sadness returned in Finnick's eyes. He removed Nick's paws from his body and gently pushed Nick away. Nick took a few small steps back and put his paws behind his back, unsure if he did something wrong.
"Look Finnick, I-"
Finnick put his paw up, "Just stop man. Please. Just give me some time right now to just...process everything you said." Finnick laid on his back with his paws behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
Nick nervously stared at Finnick, waiting for him to say something. To pass the time, he replayed the apology in his head and tried to analyze whether he said enough or not. As he looked into the scene more though, he started focusing more on how the chemistry was sparking between Finnick and him. He was sure that there was something between them. However, when he now looked at Finnick, he didn't see a fennec fox in love with a red fox. He saw a fennec fox hurt and confused by a red fox. Once again, Nick wondered if he just made things worse.
With just a few minutes of silence passing by, Nick grew impatient and assumed the worst.
He turned around and said, "You know what...this was a mistake, I shouldn't have come. I'll just...I'll just see my-"
Finnick interrupted, "Shut the fuck up."
Nick turned back to Finnick and saw a smirk on Finnick's face. In addition, Nick saw the hurt in his eyes had gone away.
Finnick teased, "I forgot how much you talked."
Finnick walked towards Nick, motioning Nick to kneel down. Nick did so, and Finnick held his paws.
"Thanks, thanks for all that." Finnick said with a genuine smile.
Nick couldn't help but smile back as well.
Finnick then looked down, trying to avoid any form of eye contact with Nick. Nick looked closely and he could see little drops of sweat going down Finnick. It made him chuckle to see Finnick trying to hide his embarrassment. He was still just adorable as he remembered. Nick started to feel his guilt about abandoning Finnick strip away, leaving behind was the great love he had for Finnick.
Nick's tail stiffened up as he felt Finnick now squeezing his paw. He looked at Finnick who was just still looking away from Nick.
"I think we should try catching up so…," Finnick's cheeks started getting warm, "let's go get a drink?"
Nick's heart swelled up, "Yeah…l'd like that."
After closing up shop, Finnick and Nick walked down the street, heading to Finnick's favorite bar.
Finnick said enthusiastically, "The Carnivulpes is a fucking awesome bar! It's like the Vuplines in that it's owned by foxes, but it's different in that it actually has good fucking beer."
Nick chuckled, "Heh, it's not like we had much choice other than the Vulpines back in Zootopia."
"Yeah, fucking Christ, I feel like barfing just thinking about the beer in the Vulpines. It was either piss or if we're lucky, backwash."
Nick laughed.
Finnick asked, "Have you been there lately, how's Skye?"
"Yeah dude, I just went today. She's doing well, she's dating someone in the ZBI."
"Whoa! What!? How did that happen?"
Nick shrugged, "She has connections."
"Yeah she does. Never underestimate her I guess."
"Relying on her never failed us, especially when uh…"
Finnick looked at Nick confused, raising an eyebrow.
Shit! Is it too awkward to bring up our past partnership now? Shit I'm a dumbass!
"Anyways," Finnick said, trying to break the awkward tension, "Tell me all about being a copper now."
Though there were still a few awkward moments in the rest of their conversation to the bar, Nick felt his nerves calming down as they continued talking. It felt like the good ol' days for Nick to be able to chat and joke around with Finnick. While there were still definitely some walls to break down, he was already starting to feel that close friendship he had with Finnick, and that was enough to make him grin from ear to ear.
"What's with that dumbass smile on your face?" Finnick teased.
"You would be this happy too if you had a face as good-looking as mine," Nick countered.
Nick was enthralled once they entered the bar. It still had the nostalgic feel of a dive bar, but it was much more modern. It had more of a younger crowd, the furnishings were new and sleek, and the displays of beer and liquor selection was at the very least impressive. Finnick directed them towards a booth and they sat down on opposite sides.
"Goddamn Finnick, you were right, this is definitely quite an upgrade."
"This is what happens when I rely on conning mammals through legal means rather than questionable means."
They both chuckled.
"Yeah so I've been meaning to ask, how did you start business? Your ice cream business looks fucking awesome and you still had customers late into the night!"
Finnick rolled his eyes, "Dude you don't want to listen to that boring shit."
Nick leaned in forward and smiled, "No, my little fennec friend, I actually do."
Nick still knew Finnick well enough to see that he was hiding his excitement and happiness that he wanted to know all about his business.
Finnick said, "Well if you say so…"
And so Finnick told how the idea of having an ice cream store came from their pawpsicle scam. Building around that idea, he began thinking of all the different aspects that would make his business successful. Coming up with the location and design was relatively simple for him. The hardest part was finding the money to fund it.
"Did you whore yourself out to the fine mammals of Zootropolis on the streets?" Nick teased.
"Shut up!" Finnick barked.
Finnick had some money saved up from previous cons, but it only covered half of the costs. He knew from Nick's experience that banks were unlikely to give him a loan, so he went directly to loan sharks at the shadier parts of Zootropolis.
Nick said, "You what? Dude! That's...loan sharks shouldn't be messed with!"
Finnick shrugged while sipping his third bottle of beer.
"What the fuck were you thinking?"
Finnick flatly said, "At the time, it was pretty much an all or nothing kind of thing for me. I didn't exactly have anyone to back me up.
Nick said, "Oh, sorry. I just...I guess I thought of the worst that could happen, and well...I don't know what I would've done if something happened to you."
Finnick made a guilty look and rubbed the back of his head with his paw, "Ahh Nick, don't be fucking like that."
"Ahh, I'm just being overemotional, you can ignore me."
"Nah Nick, it's fine. I actually like that trait about you."
Nick felt tickled inside, but did his hardest to fight back the absolutely natural instinct to smile and blush at such a cute comment.
Finnick concluded the story by briefly overviewing how his store has been going so far. He was surprised that on the first day, he already had huge lines of mammals, many of them college students, waiting for his ice cream. The excitement had died as the months passed by but he was able to maintain a sufficient loyal fanbase.
Finnick said, "Yeah, so I guess now that I think about it, none of this would've happened if you hadn't thought about that pawpsicle con."
"Nah dude, you're a smart fox, you would've come up with another idea just as brilliant if not better."
Finnick smiled, "Thanks man, appreciate that."
Finnick then asked, "How are you and Judy doing?"
Nick almost spit out his beer. His attention had been completely on Finnick for the past few hours, he completely forgot about Judy. He felt guilty; he felt like he was being a bad boyfriend, He had been talking with and affectionately touching Finnick, a not-so-formerly crush of his. Yet, this guilt felt much more superficial than the deep, burning guilt he had for Finnick earlier this day. He knew intellectually that he shouldn't be doing these things, but yet his heart felt nothing about it.
He looked up at Finnick, who was starting to have a bit of a puzzled look.
But why is it when I look at Finnick, my heart screams his name? Why is it that everything about him feels...feels so right?
Finnick then said, "Dude sorry, I guess it's a touchy subject for you?"
Nick waved his paws wildly in front of him, "No! No! No, it's fine."
Nick crossed his arms against his stomach, "It's just...I guess I just realized it's a bit more complicated than I thought."
Finnick cocked his head to the side, "Huh? But dude last time I saw you, you two were…," it seemed to pain Finnick a little to say this, "were in love. Did something happen?"
You did.
"No, nothing happened. We're still together and she's great, she's really great in a lot of ways. I really like her, but..."
Nick didn't quite want to tell Finnick about his feelings for him, no matter how much his heart demanded it. It seemed too soon and too inappropriate right now. They had just met after two years after all.
"But I guess...maybe I don't actually love her."
Finnick looked at Nick carefully, he then said, "I'm sorry dude, hey man, we can change the subject if you want. I shouldn't have pried any further."
Nick said, "No man, it's fine. Ask me anything else, I'm sure I can answer that better."
Nick smirked and placed a paw on his chest, "Scout's honor."
Finnick smirked back and said, "Fine then, tell me how you found me."
Nick froze.
Couldn't keep my big fucking muzzle shut, huh. Even had to do the scout's honor bit.
Nick said, "Man you are really grilling me today huh?"
Finnick took a sip of his beer and chuckled, "Dude, I won't judge. To be honest, I'm actually a little impressed."
Nick's ears perked up, "Really? Impressed? I thought you were creeped out."
Finnick said, "Yeah I was before, but you haven't been that fucking creepy the rest of the time, so just tell me."
Nick still felt reluctant to tell Finnick, until Finnick said, "Don't worry dude, you're still my best bud no matter what."
Nick felt his heart melting, he was willing to do anything this little fennec fox told him to do.
He started off, "Heh, well honestly I was really lucky."
Nick then proceeded to recount in detail about his adventures earlier today. Finnick listened intently to Nick, only interrupting to ask for more details. There were a few times when Finnick laughed, mostly at Nick's failures, and one time he screamed, "What the fuck," in astonishment when he learned how Skye helped him. Nick noticed that throughout the story, Finnick started to smile more and more as he learned about Nick's dedication and efforts to find him just to apologize.
Nick chuckled nervously, "So yeah heh, I hope I don't sound like a fucking creeper. You could just say that I was a mammal on a mission that was just a bit crazy and creepy."
Finnick smirked, "Despite how it sounds, you fucking insane bastard, I'm really glad you did it."
Nick felt his cheeks warming up, "Really?"
Finnick still chuckling, "Yeah Nick, it's been really nice to see you."
Finnick then set down his bottle, in a more somber tone, he said, "I really missed you man. Like a lot. There hasn't been a fucking day where I don't think about you."
Nick said, "Finnick…"
Finnick continued, "Look when I first moved here, it was...really difficult for me. There would be nights that I would just get so mad at you. Then there would be nights where I would just be sobbing. Then there would be nights that I just sat on my bed and wallowed in my own loneliness. I fucking hated those nights man."
Nick's heart went out for Finnick, he knew he had to comfort him somehow. He got up from his seat, and walked over to Finnick's side on the booth to sat down. He wrapped his right arm around Finnick and kissed him on the top of his head. Finnick was touched and surprised by his actions, hugged Nick's right side and remained at that position. Nick gently pet Finnick's head as he continued to talk.
"I tried really hard to forget you, to not think about you every day. And it worked to a certain point, you didn't keep me up at nights anymore. But you never went away. You never did, and I hated that. That despite all the pain you put me through, at the end of the day, it still felt like there was still someone missing in my life.
Finnick looked up at Nick with tears coming down his face. Nick felt his heart swelling up and felt this great desire to kiss Finnick, hoping it'll make him feel better. However, he felt his mind telling him to resist as he still belonged to Judy. Nick instead tenderly wiped his tears with his finger. Finnick responded with a smile and a quiet thanks.
"Just seeing you at my store for the first time in two years, it brought up some painful memories that I repressed. But this is also the happiest I've been since coming here. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I…I….," Finnick looked down, "no I shouldn't say."
Nick's heart couldn't handle it more. He had to kiss the Finnick, no matter what his mind said.
Finnick let out a quick gasp when Nick gently placed his paw under his chin and brought it up so he was facing Nick. Nick's nose gently touched Finnick's.
Nick then quietly said, "I love you too Finnick."
He then kissed Finnick. It was a gentle, short kiss, but in that moment of time was when their hearts fully connected for the first time. It was the best feeling that both had ever felt in their lifetimes.
Nick then leaned back, but still kept a close distance, their noses still touching.
For a few seconds, they just stared into each other's eyes, neither one making a single movement. Then suddenly, Finnick jumped onto him, causing him to fall onto his back.
With a mischievous grin, Finnick said, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment."
Before Nick could respond, Finnick grabbed his face, and planted his mouth into Nick's. He repeatedly gave Nick deep and passionate kisses which Nick would wholeheartedly reciprocate. This was the moment that they've both dreamed of for a long time, and they hoped that it would never end. Unfortunately, it was interrupted when a nosy, anteater waitress passed by.
The waitress teased, "Jeez you two, get a room."
They leaned back from each other, heavily breathing and smiling widely.
Nick said, "We should've done this way earlier."
Finnick said, "Fuck yeah, we should've."
"Wanna continue this somewhere else?"
"My van is just a block away."
Nick gave him a surprised look, "You still live in your van?"
Finnick said, "Yeah, is that a problem?"
Nick picked up Finnick and said, "Nope, not at all."
They both threw some money onto their table, then Nick carried Finnick out of the bar, with Finnick laughing the whole time.